Each day, we will profile an innovative leader who was selected for the 2026 edition of Az Business Leaders magazine. Today, meet Rick Shapiro, president of The Wheatley Group.
Rick Shapiro, president, The Wheatley Group
Background: Shapiro actively manages all aspects of his clients’ initiatives and engagements. He’s a former practicing attorney (New York and Arizona) and has sold companies in virtually every sector of the marketplace to: public companies, private equity groups, strategic acquirers, and affluent buyers. He has been a guest speaker at: many bar associations, M&A Conferences, university MBA programs, and other business gatherings. He works closely with his clients to deliver optimal value-prices, terms, conditions, and minimal liability, with integrity from start to finish.
Upcoming challenge: “Potential regulatory changes, rapid technology advances, economic volatility, and tighter lending criteria represent plausible challenges, and potential opportunities, depending upon one’s ability to be strategically-nimble. Staying continually focused on these evolving issues, in real-time, and delivering “ongoing best practices,” to our clients allows us to successfully navigate any potential challenge.”
Leadership lesson: “Some clichés are pertinent and worth repeating: Integrity, transparency, and honesty are unbreachable leadership traits I have strived to deliver to my clients, throughout my career. Many other so-called leaders attempt to lead with hyperbole, oversimplification and, sometimes, distortion. Leading and living life with the aforementioned unbreachable traits, has served me, and my clients well.”
Surprising fact: “I’m the author of an Amazon Bestseller, titled ‘Hope Never Dies,’ which tells the inspirational stories of 20 terminal cancer patients who are thriving 15-20 years, after their dire prognosis. I’ve also been a guest speaker on many podcasts, radio shows, and at cancer conferences, informing people about beneficial evidence-based, integrative treatments and therapies, unknown to most people.”
