Podcasts about COO

In this episode of the Second in Command Podcast, guest host Sivana Brewer sits down with Daniel Quinonez, Chief Operating Officer of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) — one of the oldest trade associations in the United States, founded nearly 140 years ago.Daniel shares how this long-standing organization is transforming to meet the modern era while honoring its heritage. From training apprentices who go on to run multimillion-dollar companies, to integrating AI and new tech tools into the trades, the PHCC is proving that innovation and tradition can coexist.He also opens up about leadership lessons from his own journey, from mopping floors at his father's bar to leading a national $30M organization, and how his personal mantra, “Be nice,” has shaped his management style, his culture, and his success.If you lead a legacy business, manage a growing team, or want to understand how blue-collar industries are embracing technology, this episode offers both inspiration and strategy.Timestamped Highlights[00:01:00] – The PHCC's 140-year history and why plumbing is a pillar of public health.[00:02:40] – How the industry came together to standardize clean water systems in the 1920s.[00:03:44] – What PHCC offers its members today: education, licensing, and community.[00:05:08] – From one truck to $10M: stories of self-made contractors in the trades.[00:06:14] – Why nearly every successful owner started as a hands-on apprentice.[00:08:00] – How AI is transforming the trades and why it's an ally, not a threat.[00:09:34] – Changing perceptions: convincing parents that the trades are a smart career path.[00:10:39] – The rise of entrepreneurship and financial freedom in plumbing and HVAC.[00:11:42] – Daniel's own career path from government and lobbying to COO.[00:13:57] – Becoming the first COO in PHCC's 140-year history.[00:15:25] – Helping a century-old organization modernize its operations and systems.[00:17:03] – Growing membership and education as PHCC's two strategic pillars.[00:18:55] – The PHCC Online Academy: 15,000 students and counting.[00:21:00] – The challenge of evolving legacy culture and systems in long-standing institutions.[00:22:30] – Why more contractors are creating COO roles for succession planning.[00:25:17] – Family businesses, private equity, and the changing face of ownership.[00:27:56] – Daniel's leadership mantra: “Be nice.”[00:33:38] – Balancing kindness with accountability and setting measurable goals.[00:35:00] – Building buy-in and bringing staff along during organizational change.[00:39:00] – Teaching business finance and leadership to new COOs in the trades.[00:43:36] – Daniel's excitement for PHCC Connect 2024 and the next generation of apprentices.Resources & MentionsPHCC – Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors AssociationPHCC Academy – Online education and apprenticeship trainingQuality Service Contractors (PHCC Program) – Business coaching for contractorsFederated Insurance – PHCC partner for business succession planningSkillsUSA & WorldSkills Competitions – Annual events supporting young tradespeopleAbout the GuestDaniel Quinonez is...

If your guests keep telling you your place is too cheap, this episode is for you.This week on the Hosting Hotline, Sarah is joined by COO and revenue management expert Colleen Prochaska to unpack one of the trickiest parts of hosting—pricing your short-term rental.They break down:How to know if your property is truly “doing well” (spoiler: five-star reviews don't pay the bills)The difference between feeling successful and being profitableHow to use dynamic pricing tools like PriceLabs the right wayWhy pricing is never “set it and forget it,” and how to make data-driven tweaks that keep you ahead of the marketWhether you're new to hosting or a seasoned pro, this conversation will help you rethink your pricing strategy so you can stop leaving money on the table and start running your property like a real business.Tune in to learn how to confidently charge what your space is worth.Resources mentioned: PriceLabs – Dynamic pricing software that automatically adjusts your rates based on real-time demand. Mentioned in this episode:Lodgify | Use code TFV20

Survival isn't just for dystopian dramas. The best B2B marketing strategies demand experimentation, curiosity, and the ability to outlast weaker ideas.That's the lesson of Squid Game, the global phenomenon where only the strongest contestants made it through each round. In this episode, we explore its marketing parallels with the help of our special guest Scott Leatherman, Chief Marketing Officer at Aviatrix.Together, we uncover what B2B marketers can learn from gamifying campaigns to pull audiences in, running multiple “Squid Games” to see which campaigns win, and staying relentlessly curious by listening to what customers really say.About our guest, Scott LeathermanScott Leatherman is an award-winning full-stack marketing and operations executive with 25+ years of leadership and business management experience. Scott is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at Aviatrix. Prior to joining Aviatrix, he was the CMO at Veritone, an AI platform company. Scott served as COO at SAP Labs US for 5 years. Scott was a Global Vice President of Marketing and was a founding member of the SAP HANA go-to-market team that disrupted the database market and built a billion-dollar business in less than three years. Also during Scott's tenure at SAP he was part of the Strategic Account Sales Team and created new channel programs to reduce shelfware and support new solution adoption. Prior to SAP, Scott held senior marketing and business development roles at several startups.Scott was recognized by the Silicon Valley Business Journal for his lifelong commitment to helping his local community with the 2018 Individual Community Champion Award. Both at work and in his personal life, Scott is focused on helping communities reduce food insecurities, supporting underserved children, funding cancer research and Native American educational programs.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Squid Game:Gamify campaigns to move your audience. Marketing works best when it pulls people in emotionally, just like Squid Game. Scott explains, “Anytime you want to move an audience together, gamifying it so that they have an emotional pull on the winner is gonna make you successful.” By creating campaigns that feel participatory, competitive, or playful, brands can inspire curiosity and investment from their audience. It's not just messaging—it's making people feel like they have a stake in the outcome.Run “Squid Games” for your campaigns. Rather than guessing which message will resonate, Scott's team tested multiple campaign “games” at once. “We invested over 500 engagements…we had 74 one-on-one engagements…to narrow it down to what we have as eight campaigns in the Squid Games.” Each campaign has a top, middle, and bottom funnel component, and their performance is tracked side by side. Scott explains, “The gamification of Squid Games is working in our B2B marketing approach…we rolled it out to the company as Squid Games…and it's been really fun to have engineers across the world leaning in on what they think is gonna move the audience fastest.” The lesson: treat campaigns like contestants. Test widely, kill off the weak performers quickly, and double down on what wins.Stay curious and listen to your audience. One of Scott's biggest lessons is that marketers often assume they know what works—but data and customer feedback may prove otherwise. He notes, “It really comes back to just what are your customers saying about you? And what are your prospects saying about you?…That listening exercise, while it sounds remedial and 101, it gets lost on a lot of us ‘cause we're all running so fast.” Just like in Squid Game, survival depends on paying close attention and adapting quickly. In B2B marketing, curiosity and active listening turn campaigns into insights, and insights into growth.Quote“The gamification of Squid Games is working in our B2B marketing approach…we rolled it out to the company as Squid Games…and it's been really fun to have engineers across the world leaning in on what they think is gonna move the audience fastest.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Scott Leatherman, Chief Marketing Officer at Aviatrix[01:32] Why Squid Game?[03:08] Behind-the-Scenes of Squid Game[14:18] AI in Marketing[17:33] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Squid Game[42:39] AI Integration and Brand Evolution[46:46] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Scott on LinkedInLearn more about AviatrixAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The hardest part of transformation is knowing what to let go of.Dan O'Connell, now leading Front as CEO and formerly on the board at Dialpad, joins Joubin Mirzadegan to explore the delicate balance between legacy and innovation as he leads a decade old company through the AI revolution.He also reflects on why courage and control can coexist in leadership, and what it means to “make decisions that give you energy.”Guest: Dan O'Connell, CEO of Front​Connect with Dan O'ConnellXLinkedIn​Connect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

In this episode, Steven is joined by author and COO of Ritholz Wealth Management, Nick Maggiulli. In addition to sharing all about his new book, the Wealth Ladder, Nick dives into the details of how Ritholz added tax preparation 4 years ago and the journey they've been on since. Listen to the end as Nick and Steven share examples of how integrating tax services is about more than simply hiring or acquiring. https://zurl.co/VREtU

What if the secret to thriving in wedding planning isn't just about serving clients—it's about finding your people?In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on one of the most powerful (and underrated) relationships in the wedding industry: the planner-to-planner friendship that actually saves your business—and your sanity.Joining the COO of the CWP Society, Krisy Thomas, are Certified Wedding Planners Hailey Beard and Amanda Borrero, who met at CWP Society Certification conference,  and built something rare: a genuine alliance where they assist on each other's weddings, exchange honest feedback, and serve as each other's emergency backup when chaos strikes. You'll discover:Why having an "in case of emergency" planner with actual access and authority protects your couples (and your reputation)The phone calls that happen after hard weddings, and why that permission to rest matters more than you thinkTheir refreshingly direct take on "community over competition": there are more couples than any of us can serve, and not every couple is your coupleFeeling stuck, new, or shut out of your local scene? They share the playbook: send the DM, show up to open houses, ask for introductions, keep showing up. And if your market feels closed? Go global—your planner bestie might be three states away.Ready to find your people? Join the CWP Society—the world's leading certification program and largest community of certified wedding professionals—where education meets real connection, so you never have to carry the load alone. Visit cwpsociety.com to become certified today! www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

Are you sitting on a pile of expensive, underused software that is supposed to make business easier but it doesn't. Pam Duffy, COO and co-founder of Powerhouse Consulting Group helps you take stock of all of the technology platforms you are using and the one simple question you must ask of each platform. Free P&L Statement and Balance Sheet https://tinyurl.com/2rjd6wxu Ruth King Twitter - @RuthKing LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthking1/   Podcast Produced by Nick Uttam

Dennis Kozak is the CEO of Ivanti, a leading enterprise IT and security company generating over $1 billion in annual revenue and serving more than 40,000 customers. He previously served as Ivanti's COO after holding senior leadership roles at Avaya. Earlier in his career, Dennis spent nearly 23 years at CA Software (now Broadcom), where he led global partnership sales and services teams. He holds a BS in Accounting from St. Joseph's University in Long Island.In this conversation, we discuss:Dennis's leadership journey from CA Technologies and Avaya to becoming CEO of Ivanti, and what prepared him to lead a billion-dollar IT security companyWhy convergence between cybersecurity and IT operations is accelerating, and how Ivanti is positioning itself at the center of that shiftThe impact of generative AI on IT support, including how Ivanti is building AI agents to handle routine tickets and empower human techniciansHow organizations can reduce cyber risk by closing visibility gaps and simplifying their tech stackThe challenges of securing distributed workforces in a hybrid world, and why automation is critical to stay ahead of threatsWhy Dennis believes the future of enterprise IT is about blending user experience with security, not choosing between themResources:Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work NewsletterConnect with Dennis on LinkedInAI fun fact articleOn How to Reimagine Fan Experiences and Digital Transformation.

Ever feel like your gut tells you one thing, but the numbers tell you another—and you're not sure which to trust as a CEO? If you've ever felt overwhelmed by financial reports, hesitant to ask "basic" money questions, or unsure how your cash flow can look great on paper but tight in practice, this episode is for you. You'll hear how understanding your company's finances at a deeper level can help you make smarter, faster decisions—without needing to become an accountant. In this conversation with financial leader Pam Meissner, you'll learn how to: Simplify financial statements so you actually use them to lead, not fear them. Build cash flow confidence by spotting problems before they become crises. Turn financial data into clear, actionable strategies for growth. Listen now to discover how trusting your gut and mastering your numbers can transform the way you lead your business. Check out: [07:45] – Pam shares her bold early-career leap from Pricewaterhouse to privatization work in post–Cold War Poland, setting the tone for her "say yes to risk" philosophy. [26:20] – A powerful exchange on why CEOs shouldn't be afraid to admit they don't fully understand the balance sheet—and how asking the right questions can transform financial confidence. [48:10] – Jim and Pam break down practical, real-world cash flow forecasting tips, including how to spot "bad money" and avoid the traps that quietly sink growing businesses. About Pam Meissner Pam Meissner is a seasoned financial and operational leader with experience as CFO, COO, and CEO across multiple industries. She's helped scale companies to billion-dollar valuations by turning complex financial data into clear, actionable strategies for growth. With a global outlook shaped by extensive travel and cultural immersion, Pam champions adaptability, innovation, and diverse thinking in leadership. Her career is marked by resilience—recently widowed after 30 years of marriage, she continues to lead with purpose and strength. She's also a proud mother: her son, who has autism, recently graduated from college, and her daughter runs marathons to raise funds for autism research.

What does cybersecurity look like beyond Earth's atmosphere? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Kristiina Omri, Vice President of Special Programs at CybExer Technologies, and Aare Reintam, the company's COO. We met in Tallinn on the eve of the Software Defined Space Conference to explore how Estonia, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, is helping define the future of space cybersecurity through the world's first Space Cyber Range. The story begins unexpectedly—with a childhood memory of marmalade in a tube, the same kind sent to Soviet astronauts in orbit. For Aare Reintam, that small detail became the first spark of fascination with space, one that decades later evolved into CybExer's partnership with ESA. Together they've created a digital testing environment where satellites, ground stations, and communication protocols can be stress-tested for cyber resilience long before launch.  It's a bold move in an era when satellites underpin everything from GPS and precision farming to air travel and climate observation, yet often rely on decades-old technology vulnerable to attack. Kristiina Omri explains how the Space Cyber Range replicates real-world missions, allowing engineers and analysts to train under simulated attack conditions that feel indistinguishable from their actual control systems. The range combines the precision of digital twins with the competitive intensity of cyber exercises, preparing teams for threats that can ripple from orbit to everyday life on Earth. The conversation covers everything from the growing space-debris crisis to the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals, and the urgent need to blend space engineering with cyber education. We also discuss the deeper strategic implications. What happens when quantum computing enters the battlefield? How should Europe prepare for the convergence of cyber and kinetic threats in orbit? And what lessons can be learned from Estonia's leadership in NATO cyber defense as it extends that expertise to the stars? By the end of the discussion, one theme stands out clearly: the future of cybersecurity is no longer confined to our planet. From digital twins to orbital trust networks, CybExer Technologies and the European Space Agency are proving that the next frontier for cyber readiness lies in space itself.

We are in a culture where it seems success is about being in the spotlight. Everyone must be a content creator. Everyone must become a known personality. Everyone must grow a platform, be on stage, and perform. But I don't find this strategy tenable or reasonable. Not for everyone. I feel we are treating business like baseball and telling everyone they must be the pitcher. Baseball works because of the value of the entire team, not just one position. So I'm bringing back a conversation with Tim Schurrer. Tim spent a decade working as COO with renowned spiritual author and now business leader, Donald Miller, who I've had on this podcast multiple times. Tim helped launch Storybrand and then Business Made Simple, with Don, and while Don had the spotlight, Tim ran the business and built and led the team that made it all possible. Before that Tim worked at TOMS as well as Apple Inc.. Tim authored a book titled, The Secret Society of Success: Stop Chasing The Spotlight And Learn To Enjoy Your Work [And Life] Again. He hosts the Build a Winning Team podcast, where he offers listeners actionable advice as he interviews some of the top leaders in business. We talk about the far greater opportunity for success and fulfillment, outside the spotlight and off the stage. Find Tim at buildawinningteam.com/ Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dominic “DJ” Mazza walks through how a third-generation New Jersey scrap and demo outfit became one of the region's most diversified recycling platforms—spanning transfer stations, a single-stream MRF, mulch & bagging, roll-off and commercial collection, scrap, concrete, and more. The Blue-Collar Twins dig into capital intensity, acquisitions (Liberty/Bull), building a professional management layer, and why process, cost accounting, and tech are DJ's real superpowers. You'll hear: How a Big Four CPA ditched fluorescent auditor rooms to scale the family business with cousin Jimmy.The “feed your own transfer station” move: launching roll-off & commercial collection to control inbound.Building a state-of-the-art single-stream MRF and a Scotts mulch bagging line—plus what they'd do differently.Buying right: Liberty & Bull, when to keep local brands, and bringing in an A-player COO from Waste Management.Valuation reality in waste/recycling, why the industry is capital- and compliance-heavy, and where DJ's building next. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: capital-intensive ops, team size, and early acquisitions (Liberty/Bull) 00:49 – Intros; first waste/recycling guest on the Buzz 01:32 – BU → Deloitte CPA years; why auditing felt like “double-checking” not building 02:36 – Back to the family business; the 1964 roots and grandfather's original operation 05:12 – The cousins' plan: DJ + Jimmy begin shaping the next chapter 07:24 – From local scrap to regional platform; footprint across New Jersey and greater Philly 07:46 – Exiting demolition to focus: redeploying time/capital into scalable lines 09:15 – “Feed the transfer station”: launching roll-off with a truck and ten cans 10:32 – New bagging plant: producing Scotts mulch for Home Depot/Lowe's in the Northeast 11:17 – Inside the single-stream MRF: optical sorters, PET capture, and why the facility's different 12:59 – Why processing costs are high; plant capex and how the permit strategy started (cardboard → full stream) 15:08 – Touring plants, picking vendors, and what they'd change in hindsight 15:41 – Size, scope, and staying privately owned; leading a 250-person team 18:45 – Property bets from the '80s and how real estate underpins growth 25:22 – Business lines roll-call: transfer stations, MRF, mulch/topsoil, scrap, concrete, tires, roll-off & commercial routes 27:17 – Open to the public; marketing mix and in-house director driving search & demand 31:20 – M&A integration: DJ runs diligence/legal, Jimmy runs deal sourcing; adding a seasoned COO 32:47 – Valuation talk, regulatory moat, and why scaling takes management depth 35:24 – Planning horizon, pivots, and what it takes to double again 38:03 – Hours & throughput: accepting to 5pm, processing to 10pm; hiring/keeping A-players

Listen in as we talk tech, AI, and data as a tool in the fight for immigrant rights.In this episode, I'm joined by Bartlomiej Skorupa, Co-Founder & COO of Mobile Pathways, a tech nonprofit using AI and mobile data tools to support immigrants navigating the U.S. court system.Bartlomiej's story - from fleeing communism in Poland, to burning out in corporate America, to almost losing his vision in Madagascar, and eventually building a mission-led tech platform - is proof that purpose and impact are not linear. They're shaped through life experience and our values.Together, we unpack:

Tony chats with Danny Aronson, CEO and Ann Boger, COO at Tuned Care, they are revolutionizing hearing health benefits by helping employers offer full spectrum hearing care for their workers. Currently only 11% of workers have any hearing coverage and historically it's merely a discount on hearing aids. Tuned Care brings a much more comprehensive approach to protecting our hearing throughout our lives. A super fascinating conversation!Danny Aronson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyaronson/Ann Boger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-boger/Tuned Care: https://www.tunedcare.com/Video Version: https://youtu.be/n5uymOdMt0c

Tony chats with Toby Hung, Co-Founder and COO at 1Fort, they are an all-in-one solution for commercial insurance agents to grow revenue and save time and money. Their AI digs through your book and finds cross-sale opportunities, analyzes the risk exposures based on third party data, and even gives you talking points to make the sale. It can also help submitting on different carrier portals, creating proposals, and much more.Toby Hung: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobyhung/1Fort: https://www.1fort.com/Video Version: https://youtu.be/EnbC_xebC6c

This week, we went live with KAIO's COO, Olivier, to discuss KAIO's goal of improving access to hedge funds, private equity, and private credit through blockchain composability, regulatory challenges and TradFi adoption, and plans to expand retail accessibility via a non-KYC diversified yield product. Afterwards, we dive into the MegaETH and Monad launches, token unlock dynamics, valuation pressures, and market behavior around prediction markets. Thanks for tuning in! As always, remember this podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely their opinions, not financial advice. -- Follow Blockworks Research: https://x.com/blockworksres Follow KAIO: https://x.com/KAIO_xyz Follow Olivier: https://x.com/odang75 Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Follow Boccaccio: https://x.com/salveboccaccio -- Bitcoin DeFi is heating up on Aptos, the BTCFi growth chain with nearly $400M in BTC assets supported by a secure, fast, and affordable MVM environment. Aptos users can acquire, hold, and earn attractive BTCFi yields via Echo aBTC and OKX xBTC, without typical bridge risks and high fees. Explore BTC yield opportunities on Aptos via OKX Earn and Aptos-native platforms https://web3.okx.com/earn/activity/xbtc-aptos -- A yearly Blockworks Research subscription is $4,500, but now you can get our latest MetaDAO research report absolutely free. Read up on the latest funding models and what it all could mean for the future of ICOs: https://link.blockworks.co/metadaoreport -- Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3foDS38 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3SNhUEt Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NlP1hA Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (1:56) What KAIO Is Building (6:01) Bringing RWAs Onchain (14:47) Market Appetite For KAIO's Offerings (17:25) Bringing More Options to Retail Investors (21:00) The Regulatory Environment (23:34) TradFi's Adoption of Crypto (27:52) What's Next For KAIO? (30:45) Key Takeaways (33:46) Aptos Ad (34:28) Thoughts on MegaETH and Monad (1:12:29) Aptos Ad (1:13:08) The Coinbase Earnings Call -- Check out Blockworks Research today! Research, data, governance, tokenomics, and models – now, all in one place Blockworks Research: https://www.blockworksresearch.com/ Free Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on 0xResearch is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Boccaccio, Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

At the Crexendo UGM, Doug Gaylor, President & COO of Crexendo, told Technology Reseller News Publisher Doug Green that AI is the next industry “game changer”—not just for cost savings, but for making money. Gaylor outlined how Crexendo's ecosystem now includes pre-integrated, ready-to-sell AI applications—such as an AI receptionist—that partners can brand, lightly tailor, and deploy quickly. “It's not about how they save money with AI—it's how they make more money with AI,” he said, citing examples like a 15-person HVAC firm in Phoenix using AI to book, reschedule, and triage calls 24/7, driving more completed jobs and higher dispatch efficiency. Gaylor emphasized that these AI services layer onto Crexendo's concurrent-use UCaaS model, enabling partners to widen margins versus per-seat competitors and expand account value. The typical customer paying about $350/month could grow to $500/month with AI-enabled workflows—“a win for the end customer, a win for our partners, and a win for Crexendo,” he noted. He also highlighted hospitality use cases (e.g., guest services requests, spa scheduling, towel deliveries) where instant responses boost satisfaction while human associates focus on higher-value tasks. The UGM itself reflected strong momentum, with record attendance and sponsorship and partners asking for Gaylor's slides to brief their teams. Looking beyond the Crexendo community, Gaylor invited BroadSoft and MetaSwitch operators to consider migrating, pointing to multiple recent conversions and asserting that the move delivers gains in technology, cost structure, and partnership support. Learn more: crexendo.com.

In this powerful episode of the Second in Command Podcast, co-host Sivana Brewer sits down with Brittany Dunn, COO and co-founder of Safe House Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to eradicating human trafficking in the United States.Brittany shares the remarkable story of how she and her co-founder built Safe House Project from an idea into a nationwide movement, launching a full organization in just 90 days while balancing motherhood, military life, and a mission to save lives.She discusses how her background in international business and M&A shaped her operational mindset, and how she's using corporate systems to solve one of the world's most complex humanitarian challenges. From developing Simply Report, a tech platform helping identify trafficking cases, to fostering a trauma-informed team culture, Brittany offers a masterclass in leadership under pressure, emotional resilience, and purpose-driven innovation.Timestamped Highlights[00:01:00] – Brittany shares the mission behind Safe House Project and how it began.[00:02:15] – Only 100 safe house beds existed for 300,000 trafficked kids—why resources were so scarce.[00:04:26] – How two military spouses built a national nonprofit in 90 days.[00:06:01] – Why they launched nationally instead of locally (and how it changed everything).[00:08:00] – A day in the life: policy, survivor support, sting operations, and leadership.[00:10:20] – The corporate skills that transferred and the ones that didn't.[00:12:17] – Balancing strategy with empathy: why people aren't “projects.”[00:13:01] – Hiring survivors to co-create programs that work in real life.[00:15:27] – The emotional weight of leading in trauma-informed work.[00:17:14] – Launching Simply Report, a new tech platform for anonymous trafficking tips.[00:19:00] – The behavioral algorithm behind Simply Report and how it works.[00:21:17] – The power of partnerships and why Brittany took every call early on.[00:22:41] – Preventing burnout: clarity, communication, and individualized care.[00:25:37] – Inside her relationship with her co-founder and how they model healthy conflict.[00:29:23] – Building a culture of trust, ownership, and open dialogue (“Cuss and Discuss”).[00:34:05] – How Safe House Project hires intentionally and why cultural fit matters most.[00:36:10] – The art of letting go: why firing fast protects mission and morale.[00:37:30] – A recent setback and how the team turned disappointment into innovation.[00:40:18] – Choosing integrity over comfort: giving back salaries during COVID to keep promises.[00:42:01] – Daily rhythms that keep Brittany grounded in hard seasons.[00:43:23] – The next big challenge: state-level adoption of Simply Report.[00:44:13] – A hopeful look ahead: documentary, podcast, and shifting public awareness.Resources & MentionsSafe House ProjectSimply Report App (iOS & Android) – Anonymous reporting tool for human...

On today's episode, Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler talks with Nathan Knottingham, the CEO of MLO Force, COO of Vetted VA and a loan officer with reAlpha Mortgage, about the intersection of mortgage and real estate — and how serving veterans has changed. Related to this episode: Industry vet launches new mortgage CE company, MLO Force ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HousingWire | YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More info about HousingWire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To learn more about Trust & Will, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enjoy the episode! The HousingWire Daily podcast brings the full picture of the most compelling stories in the housing market reported across HousingWire. Each morning, listen to editor in chief Sarah Wheeler talk to leading industry voices and get a deeper look behind the scenes of the top mortgage and real estate stories. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the InPowered Life Podcast, Rudi Riekstins sits down with Tim Thomas, founder and COO of Biz 360, to discuss how companies can revolutionize their healthcare benefits using tax-efficient, technology-driven solutions. Tim shares how Biz 360’s innovative model helps organizations save thousands while improving employee well-being, retention, and satisfaction. From telehealth integration to mental health access and preventive care, this episode offers practical insights for every business leader who wants to make a lasting impact on their people.

Bob Barker sits down with Kevin Renley, President & COO of Market & Johnson, to discuss Kevin's unique career path, his experience as an AGC Board Member, and the ongoing opportunities and challenges facing the industry, including technology, workforce development, and professional development. 

In this session, Dr. Lisa Faast sits down with Anthony Eshaghi, COO of Journey Health, to discuss how small business owners can regain control over their group benefits and fix what's broken in the current health insurance system. Discover practical strategies to take charge of your employees' health plans, cut unnecessary costs, and create smarter, more sustainable benefits that work for both employers and staff.   **Show Notes:** 1. **Introduction** [0:00] 2. **Introduction of Journey Health and Health Insurance Challenges** [4:41] 3. **Historical Context and Current Health Insurance Issues** [10:51] 4. **Understanding Health Insurance Plans and Funding Models* [22:30] 5. **The Parallel Health Economy and Future of Health Insurance** [31:53] 6. **Q&A and Next Steps** [47:32]     ----- #### **Becoming a Badass Pharmacy Owner Podcast is a Proud to be Apart of the Pharmacy Podcast Network**  

October 30, 2025 ~ Michelle Reynaert, COO of Michigan Farm Bureau, joins Chris, Lloyd, and Jamie to discuss what the farm organization has seen recently, the connection to Michigan State University, and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's show features: Jami Langham, COO of Coleman Automotive Group Brian Ortega, Creative Director at Valley Hi Toyota Brittney Dean, Sales Business Development Manager at Van Horn Automotive Group This episode is brought to you by: KPA – Non-compliance isn't an option. OSHA, FTC, and state regulators are actively targeting dealers with escalating fines and enforcement actions across safety, privacy, and F&I compliance. KPA's Complete Compliance Suite is the only all-in-one solution that protects dealers from every compliance risk. Our integrated software, expert consulting, and award-winning training address every compliance gap, helping you reduce insurance premiums, mitigate liability exposure, and protect your dealership's reputation from business-threatening violations. Stop managing compliance manually with patchwork solutions that leave you vulnerable to audits and lawsuits. Visit https://info.kpa.io/cdg to learn more. Car Dealership Guy is back with our second annual NADA Party—happening in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 5th. It's the hottest ticket at NADA 2026. Spots are limited and unfortunately we can't invite everyone —so RSVP today at https://carguymedia.com/cdglive and we hope to see you in Vegas! — Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com

Chase Lochmiller is the CEO and co-founder of Crusoe. If you're a regular listener, Crusoe isn't new to the pod. This summer, Cody sat down with Chase's Co-founder and COO, Cully Cavness, during our live event in Austin.This latest episode was recorded live at the inaugural MCJ Summit in San Francisco at the beautiful Autodesk Gallery. Cody and Chase dive into how Crusoe is building data centers at the intersection of AI and energy. Chase traces his path from MIT soccer captain and mountaineer to climate-focused entrepreneur, and how those experiences shaped Crusoe's core values of preparation, curiosity, and speed.He shares the story behind the company's 1.2-gigawatt Abilene, TX project, its energy-first approach to powering AI infrastructure, and his vision for an era of abundant energy and intelligence. The discussion also explores the future of AI labor, grid integration, and what digital abundance could mean for society at large.Special thanks to our MCJ Summit attendees and our kind sponsors: Autodesk Foundation, Borusan, Cedar Grove, CSC Leasing, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Obayashi, Palantir, and Safire Partners.Episode recorded on Oct 15, 2025 (Published on Oct 29, 2025)In this episode, we cover: ⁠ [01:14] ⁠Chase's early love of math, science, and soccer⁠ [02:42] ⁠Realizing academia moved too slow for his energy⁠ [04:32] ⁠How his entrepreneurial father shaped his path⁠ [05:05] ⁠Climbing Everest and the origins of “Think Like a Mountaineer”⁠ [09:32] ⁠Defining Crusoe as a clean AI infrastructure company⁠ [10:47] ⁠Building vertically integrated “AI factories”⁠ [16:24] ⁠Inside the 1.2 GW Abilene project for OpenAI and Oracle⁠ [20:52] ⁠Crusoe's energy-first approach to compute build-outs⁠ [25:36] ⁠Using AI demand to accelerate next-gen energy solutions⁠ [30:24] ⁠When AI becomes a power orchestrator⁠ [33:31] ⁠Digital labor and AI's impact on GDP and society⁠ [38:41] ⁠How Chase hopes Crusoe is remembered in 30 years Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Welcome to this week's edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, I'm John Engleman, thanks for being here! This week, we're at one of the most popular breweries in our area, Rendezvous Junction Brewing Company in Rogers where we're talking with Founder and Owner Mike Peerson and Head Brewer and COO Kenny Warden, but before we get to them?!? (*FOOD NEWS*) Mallory Files of the Ozark Charcuterie and Wine Bar BREAKS NEWS WITH US!! The Cellar on B Street opened last weekend Top Chef NWA took place on Saturday. We'll hear from the winner! Sugar Llama's opened over the weekend in downtown Rogers. We'll hear about their journey! Happy Anniversary to El Rey Bar and Grill and Pleasant Counter! We'll tell you all about Bistro 16's wine dinner and how you can score free tickets! The iconic Herman's Ribhouse is for sale. We'll hear why. The soon-to-open Sestina at the soon-to-open Compton Hotel in the Bentonville Square has named their chef! Sassafras Springs Winery has a gorgeous new spot on their premises The Dumont Creamery opened their doors in Bentonville this weekend Wright's Barbecue's Johnson location is close... VERY close to being done. Mike Peerson didn't start Rendezvous Junction at their current location. In fact, it started at the old Foster's Pint and Plate in Rogers... Of course, Foster's closed and that left them without a home and without folks to drink their beer. Who bought it during that time? We've interviewed them on here, so it won't be a surprise to many of you. In fact, Mike ended up taking one of his employees and now he's the head brewer and COO of the company, Ken Warden, who we'll be talking to as well. Mike and Ken will tell us how they got into beer, the successes and failures, and Mike talks about dying. Yes, he's officially died and been brought back. Some great stories- thanks for being with us here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!

Scott McCartney with Guests: Andrew Watterson, COO, SWA and Jay Sorensen, Pres, IdeaWorks; Topics: An SWA update; 2025 ancillary revenue report. Also: Results for American, Southwest, and Alaska; Nat Pieper joins American as CCO; Listener input from Storrington, England.

Artificial intelligence has moved fast, but trust has not kept pace. In this episode, Nam Nguyen, co-founder and COO of TruthSystems.ai, joins Greg Lambert and Marlene Gebauer to unpack what it means to build “trust infrastructure” for AI in law. Nguyen's background is unusually cross-wired—linguistics, computer science, and applied AI research at Stanford Law—giving him a clear view of both the language and logic behind responsible machine reasoning. From his early work in Vietnam to collaborations at Stanford with Dr. Megan Ma, Nguyen has focused on a central question: who ensures that the systems shaping legal work remain safe, compliant, and accountable?Nguyen explains that TruthSystems emerged from this question as a company focused on operationalizing trust, not theorizing about it. Rather than publishing white papers on AI ethics, his team builds the guardrails law firms need now. Their platform, Charter, acts as a governance layer that can monitor, restrict, and guide AI use across firm environments in real time. Whether a lawyer is drafting in ChatGPT, experimenting with CoCounsel, or testing Copilot, Charter helps firms enforce both client restrictions and internal policies before a breach or misstep occurs. It's an attempt to turn trust from a static policy on a SharePoint site into a living, automated practice.A core principle of Nguyen's work is that AI should be both the subject and the infrastructure of governance. In other words, AI deserves oversight but is also uniquely suited to implement it. Because large language models excel at interpreting text and managing unstructured data, they can help detect compliance or ethical risks as they happen. TruthSystems' vision is to make governance continuous and adaptive, embedding it directly into lawyers' daily workflows. The aim is not to slow innovation, but to make it sustainable and auditable.The conversation also tackles the myth of “hallucination-free” systems. Nguyen is candid about the limitations of retrieval-augmented generation, noting that both retrieval and generation introduce their own failure modes. He argues that most models have been trained to sound confident rather than be accurate, penalizing expressions of uncertainty. TruthSystems takes the opposite approach, favoring smaller, predictable models that reward contradiction-spotting and verification. His critique offers a reminder that speed and safety in AI rarely coexist by accident—they must be engineered together.Finally, Nguyen discusses TruthSystems' recent $4 million seed round, led by Gradient Ventures and Lightspeed, which will fund the expansion of their real-time visibility tools and firm partnerships. He envisions a future where firms treat governance not as red tape but as a differentiator, using data on AI use to assure clients and regulators alike. As he puts it, compliance will no longer be the blocker to innovation—it will be the proof of trust at scale.Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.comMusic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transcript:

In this episode host Melissa Franks takes you behind the scenes of her entrepreneurial journey. From losing her job and starting over as a single mom with no plan, to building a thriving seven-figure company in just two years.Melissa shares the 10 most important lessons she's learned along the way. The real, unfiltered truths about what it takes to go from surviving to thriving in business.You'll learn:Why every entrepreneur starts clueless (and why that's okay)The power of finding the helpers and surrounding yourself with the right peopleHow to try everything until something works and when to stopWhat it means to redefine your destination as your business evolvesHow to process losses without wallowingWhy you must ignore the critics and stop lying to yourselfThe importance of celebrating every win (no matter how small)And why it's totally fine and sometimes necessary to go dark and build quietlyThis episode is equal parts reflection, motivation, and reality check for anyone who's building something from scratch. Whether you're just getting started or in the thick of growth, Melissa's insights will remind you that you're not alone and that success is always on the other side of struggle.Tune in to hear:What two years of grit, growth, and chaos have really taught one fractional COO about business, resilience, and reinvention. To learn more about On Call COO visit https://www.melissafranks.comConnect with Melissa: Watch the Episodes on Youtube Instagram: instagram.com/melissa_franks Schedule a call: melissafranks.com

At the Crexendo UGM, Mike Somers, Founder and COO of Beetexting, sat down with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, to discuss Beetexting's newest integrations and AI innovations for compliance and customer engagement. Beetexting provides a corporate texting platform designed to help teams move beyond email, offering shared inboxes, automation, and collaboration features that streamline customer communication. “We built Beetexting to help teams communicate faster and more effectively,” said Somers. “It's about enabling businesses to connect with their customers in a modern, compliant way.” At the Crexendo UGM, Somers announced that Beetexting has launched a direct integration with NetSapiens, making it easier for Crexendo resellers to provision and manage accounts. “Partners can now log in via SSO, set up accounts, and monitor onboarding success—all within a unified dashboard,” he explained. Somers also revealed a new partnership with Phone.com and several AI-driven tools that address one of the industry's biggest challenges: 10DLC compliance. Beetexting's TCR Agent uses conversational AI to guide businesses through the 10DLC registration process in minutes, while its AI-powered Compliance Agents monitor outgoing messages to ensure adherence to company policies and regulations, including FINRA and HIPAA. “The Compliance Agent is like a hall monitor for messaging,” Somers said. “It helps users stay compliant in real time, prevents issues before they happen, and continuously learns company-specific policies.” With Beetexting's innovations, resellers and service providers can deliver a fully white-labeled, compliant business texting solution that adds measurable value to their communications offerings. To learn more about Beetexting, visit www.beetexting.com.

BONUS - The Retail Razor: Data Blades Season 2 TrailerData Blades Returns: AI, CX, and Retail Media for Executive Leaders Welcome to a special cross-release of the Season 2 trailer for The Retail Razor: Data Blades—the podcast that slices through complex retail research to deliver sharp, actionable insights and retail strategies for executive leaders in the AI era.  In Season 1, we cut through the clutter with data-backed insights to identify strategies for:Inflation's uneven impact across age groups—where seniors felt the pinch more than younger shoppers.Shifting shopping habits—like 74% of consumers using lists to control spending.The power of values in loyalty—with 77% of consumers saying brand values matter more than discounts.Self-checkout and employee experience—where well-informed store teams drove a 27% increase in average spend. Now in Season 2, we're going deeper. Hosts Ricardo Belmar, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert & NRF 2025 Retail Voice, and Casey Golden, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert, preview what's ahead:Exclusive insights from TruRating and top retail analysts to hone your data-driven retail strategies.A focus on three pillars: Customer Experience, Retail Media, and Employee Experience.How AI is reshaping retail strategy—from predictive personalization to AI-powered workforce tools.Revisiting themes of trust, transparency, and loyalty with fresh data and new perspectives. If you're a VP, CMO, COO, or CEO in retail looking to make smarter, data-driven decisions for AI-first retail strategies, this is your podcast. Subscribe now in your favorite podcast player and stay ahead of the curve with insights that drive conversion, loyalty, and operational excellence.New episodes drop starting tomorrow!

In this episode of the Second in Command Podcast, co-host Sivana Brewer chats with Will Smith, COO and Managing Partner of Lone Star Pups, a multi-location Dogtopia franchise with 15 stores across San Antonio and Denver.Will shares how he's scaled his team from zero to 140 employees in just a few years by leading with servant leadership, radical transparency, and a simple but powerful formula: Time + Trust = Influence.From teaching his staff about personal finance to running anonymous team surveys and writing heartfelt newsletters himself, Will breaks down how he creates a workplace where people feel seen, supported, and connected to the company's mission. He also dives into financial literacy and why understanding money, personally and professionally, is the missing link for many leaders.Whether you're managing a large service team or growing a people-first brand, this episode is packed with actionable leadership and financial principles that can transform both your team and your bottom line.Timestamped Highlights[00:04:15] – How Lone Star Pups began as a post-COVID passion project.[00:05:47] – The story behind Will's partnership with his CEO, Devin.[00:07:43] – Building trust by adding value—not ego—to leadership.[00:09:19] – Why Will left a 30-year hospitality career to run a dog business.[00:11:00] – Making decisions that impact 140 people every day.[00:12:00] – Servant leadership in action: clearing plates, fixing walls, setting culture.[00:13:34] – How Time + Trust = Influence became the company's core formula.[00:16:10] – What Will learned from his first company-wide employee survey.[00:17:00] – How monthly newsletters create connection and clarity.[00:19:10] – The truth about communication—why “no one ever over-communicated.”[00:25:20] – The meaning behind Watering Your Bamboo and why patience drives growth.[00:27:26] – How Will learned financial discipline from his grandfather.[00:29:00] – Teaching personal finance to staff—and why it improves retention.[00:31:36] – “Canary Metrics”: a system to track the financial health of each location.[00:33:49] – Why every manager must learn to write their own P&L variances.[00:35:00] – The link between personal spending habits and leadership performance.[00:40:35] – Helping the next generation reclaim their time, focus, and financial control.[00:41:15] – What's next: growth, teaching, and giving back.Resources & MentionsLone Star Pups, LLC Dogtopia Watering Your Bamboo by Greg BellThe 80-10-10 Rule – Will's personal finance framework (80% bills, 10% savings, 10% giving)The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

Our show today is being sponsored by Free Float Analytics, the only platform measuring board power, connections, and performance for FREE.DAMIONAmazon to announce largest layoffs in company history, in AI push. WHO DO YOU BLAME?Former CEO Jeff BezosAICovid (This wave of layoffs results from overhiring during the pandemic)Executive Chair and largest shareholder Jeff BezosF5 Expects Revenue Hit From Cyber Attack. F5, a $20B billion technology company with impressive gross profit margins of 81%, experienced a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain company systems by a sophisticated nation-state threat actor. WHO DO YOU BLAME?The Risk committee: Dreyer, Klein, Montoya, Budnik*Chair Marianne Budnik is deemed to have Cybersecurity experience because she serves as a Chief Marketing Officer in the cybersecurity industryPeter Klein was the CFO at Microsoft for less than 4 years, then was the CFO for WME for 6 months and then has only been a director since 2014.Risk committee member Michael Montoya specifically. F5 revealed that the director mysteriously resigned in the same filing it disclosed the cyberattack, despite having served for only 4 years. According to the proxy, had “extensive experience as an information security executive.” Following his resignation from the Board, Mr. Montoya continued his service with the Company and has been appointed as F5's Chief Technology Operations Officer.The entire board, for doing dumb modern day board things: announced that CEO François Locoh-Donou, would assume the additional role of Chair of the Board following the Company's next Annual Meeting of Shareholders 12 days after they announced the cyberattack.Investors. 98% YES average this year: 7 over 99.2%, including Risk Committee Chair Marriane Budnik with 99.6%. Nobody feels like they have to work hard to impress anyoneF5! It's a god damn cybersecurity company!How climate change is fueling Hurricane Melissa's ferocity. WHO DO YOU BLAME?Exxon CEO Darren Woods because he sued his own shareholders last year: Arjuna Capital, LLC and Follow ThisExxon CEO Darren Woods because just yesterday: Exxon sues California over new laws requiring corporate climate disclosuresExxon CEO Darren Woods because gas and oilClimate ChangeOpenAI says U.S. needs more power to stay ahead of China in AI: ‘Electrons are the new oil' WHO DO YOU BLAME?The fear-and-spending geniuses behind the original Cold War: Truman, Stalin, ChurchillPeople who historically ignored Eisenhower and his statements on the U.S. military-industrial complex when he explicitly warned that defense contractors and the military could exert undue influence on government policy. Sound familiar?Anyone who empowered the board to not be empowered when they tried to fire Sam Altman for such reasons as:Conflicts over OpenAI's rapid growth and direction, especially the tension between aggressive AI deployment vs. safety oversight.Power dynamics between Altman, key researchers, and board members — some may have felt he had too much unilateral control.The college that let Sam Altman drop outSammy Altman Citi's Jane Fraser consolidates power with board chair vote — and a $25 million-plus bonus to boot. WHO DO YOU BLAME?The entire Compensation, Performance Management and Culture CommitteeThese two long-tenured Compensation, Performance Management and Culture Committee membersDiana L. Taylor* 10 other directorships: Brookfield Corporation, Accion (Chair), Columbia Business School (Board of Overseers),Friends of Hudson River Park (Chair), Mailman School of Public Health (Board of Overseers), The Economic Club of New York (Member), Council on Foreign Relations (Member), Hot Bread Kitchen (Board Chair), Cold Spring Harbor Lab (Member), and New York City Ballet (Board Chair)Peter B. Henry*8 other directorships: Nike, Inc., Analog Devices, Inc., National Bureau of Economic Research (Board), The Economic Club of New York (Board), Protiviti (Advisory Board), Biospring Partners (Advisory Board), Makena Capital (Advisory Board), and Two Bridges Football Club (Board)The lowest common denominator effect of bank compensation committees:Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf: ~$30M special equity grant tied to becoming Chair as well as CEO (3 months after meeting)Goldman Sachs: CEO David Solomon & COO John Waldron ~$80M each (retention RSUs vesting in ~5 yrs)KeyCorp: CEO Chris Gorman & four other senior execs: ~$8M for Gorman; ~$17M combined for the five NEOsThe passive ownership (re: management-friendly) of BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard (combined 22%): without their votes at Goldman then Say on Pay was nearly tied, which might have dissuaded the year of one-off bonuses for banking CEOs??The world is about $4.5 trillion short of securing a sustainable food supply for the future, global food and ag business CEO [Sunny Verghese, CEO of food and ag company Olam Group] says. WHO DO YOU BLAME?The world's top 28 richest people (those worth ~$160 B each) together would equal $4.5 trillionThe world's greatest sycophant Tesla chair RobynDenholm: “On the pay package specifically: “It's not about the money for him. If there had been a way of delivering voting rights that didn't necessarily deliver dollars, that would have been an interesting proposition.”Any two of these basically redundant techbro companies' market caps would sufficeNvidia ~$4.2 trillion Microsoft ~$3.8 trillion Apple ~$3.1 trillion Amazon ~$2.4 trillion Alphabet ~$2.2 trillion Meta Platforms ~$1.8 trillion Broadcom ~$1.3 trillion Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ~$1.2 trillionBill Ackman. Because he's a douche.MATTTarget is eliminating 1,800 roles as new CEO Michael Fiddelke gets set to take over the struggling retailer - WHO DO YOU BLAME?Current CEO Brian Cornell, who's “stepping down” to the role of Executive Chair - which is basically still CEO, just on the board and doesn't have to talk to employees anymore, so he can eliminate 1800 jobs and then fade away into a multimillion dollar unaccountable board roleFuture CEO Michael Fiddelke, who starts February 1, 2026, but is current COO and was forced to send the memo to employees telling them 8% of the workforce will be cutMonica Lozano, chair of the compensation and human capital management committee of the board, who's also on the BofA and Apple boards and is the most connected board member at a highly connected board - does the chair of the human capital committee have to weigh in on firing?OpenAI - the memo makes zero mention of the fact that part of Target's problem is that it shit on gays and blacks because of a feckless internet toad named Robby Starbuck, but feels very written by AI which would account for phrases like:“Adjusting our structure is one part of the work ahead of us. It will also require new behaviors and sharper priorities that strengthen our retail leadership in style and design and enable faster execution so we can: Lead with merchandising authority; Elevate the guest experience with every interaction; and Accelerate technology to enable our team and delight our guests.”Does anyone know what that word salad actually means? Doesn't it just mean “you're fired because we basically sucked at our jobs”?Hormel recalls 4.9M pounds of chicken possibly 'contaminated with pieces of metal' - WHO DO YOU BLAME?The audit committee, the closest committee responsible for enterprise risk (ie, metal in chicken) - Stephen M. Lacy, William A. Newlands (also lead director), Debbra L. Schoneman, Sally J. Smith (chair), Steven A. White, Michael P. ZechmeisterThe governance committee - James Snee, the now retired CEO who retired somehow in January but the company still hasn't found a permanent replacement 9 months later - so they're being run by Jeff Ettinger, interim CEO? Chair Gary C. Bhojwani, Elsa A. Murano, Ph.D., William A. Newlands (also lead director), Debbra L. Schoneman, Steven A. WhiteThe one black guy on the board - Steve White - who works at Comcast, is somehow qualified to be on Hormel board, and is on BOTH the audit committee AND governance committeeThe conveyor belt that spit pieces of metal as large as 17mm long into “fire braised chicken” sent to hotels and restaurantsCervoMed appoints McKinsey veteran David Quigley to board of directors - WHO DO YOU BLAME? Board is 2 VCs, a longtime biotech CFO, and five MD/PhDs. And among those 8, there are just two woman - the co-founder/wife of the CEO and a VC. And when they did their search, they could only find a longtime professional opinion haver - a consultant from the big three?Nominating committee for lack of imaginationEx or current McKinsey, Bain, and BCG employed directors - the opinion industrial complex - make up a whopping 4% of ALL US DIRECTORSAmong boards with MULTIPLE ex opinion directors: Kohl's is 25% consultantStarbucks is 27% consultantDisney is 30% consultantsWilliams-Sonoma is 38% consultantCBRE is 40% consultant!Nominating committee chair Jane Hollingsworth, for not looking around the room and saying, “hey dudes, can we add, like, maybe, ONE other lady?”Co founders Sylvie Gregoire and John Alam (also CEO) who own 17.3% of voting power - add in Josh Boger, board chair and 12.3% voter, and you basically have the CEO daddy and his buddy Josh with 29.6% of voting controlSylvie and John's bios, which neglect to mention they're married to one anotherWe are all terrified of the future - which headline is worse for your terror? WHO DO YOU BLAME?The world is about $4.5 trillion short of securing a sustainable food supply for the future, global food and ag business CEO saysBill Gates Says Climate Change ‘Will Not Lead to Humanity's Demise' - ostensibly because billionaires in bunkers will, in fact, survive on cans of metal-filled Hormel chili.Sorry, Yoda. Mentors are going out of styleMan Alarmed to Discover His Smart Vacuum Was Broadcasting a Secret Map of His HouseJennifer Garner's baby food company is going public on the NYSE — should investors be putting their eggs in this basket?Woman Repeatedly Warned by Canadian Exchange Not to Transfer Crypto, Gets Scammed AnywayOpenAI completes restructure, solidifying Microsoft as a major shareholder - MSFT owns 27%, the non profit which controlled the company “for the benefit of humanity” now will only control it for 26% of humanity?Tesla risks losing CEO Musk if $1 trillion pay package isn't approved, board chair says - IF MUSK LEAVES, WHO DO YOU BLAME?Robyn Denholm, board chair, whose job it is to manage Musk, but does it like an overwhelmed permissive mother who parents with chocolate and Teletubbies when the kid has a tantrumKimbal Musk - I was told by a bunch of directors and institutional investors at a conference, no joke, that Kimbal was still on the board (ie, not voted out) to control his brother's ketamine intake and crazy episodes. So if he throws a tantrum and leaves, isn't it bro's fault? This is a binary trade - Musk gets extra pay/control, stock goes up and isn't de-meme'd. Musk doesn't, he leaves and the stock is de-meme'd and drops arguably by 66% or more to be more like a car company with some tech. So do we blame investors, no matter what they do? They meme'd the stock in the first place, he couldn't get a trillion extra dollars if they hadn't pumped up the stock - and now they could vote with humanity (no pay) or meme capitalism (pay)!Techbro middle school conservatism - is this Ben Shapiro and Joe Rogan's fault? A Yale economist paper suggests that Musk's politics cost between 1 and 1.26 million Tesla car sales… Would we even be worried if Musk stayed out of politics? Wouldn't the market have just paid him whatever?Pop quiz: which directors stay on the board if Musk leaves in a tantrum?Jeffrey StraubelKimbal MuskRobyn DenholmJames MurdochKathleen Wilson-ThompsonIra EhrenpreisJack HartungJoe Gebbia

As precious and critical minerals shape the future, Sidney Resources' (OTC Pink: SDRC) is strategically positioned for long-term growth with its diversified polymetallic portfolio.In this interview, three key members of Sidney Resources' leadership team, CEO Sean-Rae Zalewski, COO & Treasurer Dan Hally, and Project Geologist Steve Dobson, share insights into the factors driving the company's upward trajectory. From strategically located mining claims that offer a distinct advantage to their development plans and timeline, this conversation provides investors with an exclusive look at Sidney Resources' ongoing progress in exploring and advancing the Warren Mining District of central Idaho.Discover how Sidney Resources is unlocking value from Idaho's gold, silver, platinum group metals (PGMs), and rare earth elements (REEs) in the full video.Explore: https://sidneyresources.com/Watch the full YouTube interview here: https://youtu.be/w3zRqbOFg14And follow us to stay updated: https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalOneMedia

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we're joined by Muhammad Bin Sabir, Co-Founder & COO of Uplift AI, a Y Combinator-backed Pakistani startup building AI voice models for every regional language of Pakistan. From Urdu to Punjabi, Sindhi, and Balochi, Uplift AI is on a mission to make sure language is never a barrier to knowledge.We explore:The collaboration with Khan Academy and their vision for AI tutorsHow they're training voice models for Urdu, Sindhi, and BalochiThe rise of regional-language AI in PakistanHow they're making AI affordable and inclusive for developing marketsSocials:TBT's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT's TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT's Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sabir's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhammad-sabir/⁠Special thanks to Daftarkhwan for providing us with the studio space.You can find out more about them at: ⁠https://www.daftarkhwan.com/⁠Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

This week on the Long Island Tea Podcast, Sharon and Stacy are catching up on another exciting week across Long Island, from organizational updates and community wins to highlights from the Suffolk County Marathon and all things Haunted Long Island. They're diving into local happenings, seasonal fun, and a few spooky stories—and to make things extra fun, they're joined by Angelica Miceli, Discover Long Island's Director of Partnerships and Engagement and resident lover of all things Halloween.#ShowUsYourLongIslanderThis week's spotlight shines on Tim Howe, COO of Spectrum Designs Foundation, recently honored with the “Live Long & Prosper” Tribute Award from the Nimoy Knight Foundation alongside Temple Grandin. Under his leadership, 70% of Spectrum's employees are on the autism spectrum, redefining inclusion and innovation while partnering with major brands like Google, J.Crew, the Born This Way Foundation and of course, Discover Long Island.#LongIslandLifeHauppauge's Tom Primrose took first place at the Suffolk County Marathon with a time of 2:50:30, dedicating his run to Long Island veterans.Haunted Long Island: From Sagtikos Manor and Camp Hero to Oheka Castle and Sweet Hollow Road, discover 13 spooky spots that make Long Island a Halloween hotbed — read more at discoverlongisland.com/blog.Fall Long Island Restaurant Week runs November 2–9, offering two-course lunches for $24 and three-course dinners from $29–$46 at top restaurants including Calissa, Shandon Court, and more — book early at longislandrestaurantweek.com.Last Chance Giveaway: Win tickets to the Blanc & Franc Summit on November 14 at RG|NY, celebrating Long Island wines — or use code BAFS20 for 20% off at liwines.com/events.The NY Jets will honor Suffolk first responders Dylan Hever, Sean Higgins, and Travis Yacovone, who saved a man's life during a senior picnic, at First Responder Appreciation Day at MetLife Stadium.Bethpage entrepreneur Angela Carillo, founder of Alegna Soap, wowed crowds at the Women's Expo, turning her kitchen-table soap-making hobby into a thriving Long Island business.Cohen Children's Medical Center has launched Long Island's first pediatric heart transplant program, offering world-class care in a new $110 million facility in New Hyde Park.Toys “R” Us returns to Long Island with a new 7,000 sq. ft. store at Tanger Outlets Deer Park, opening in late November with nostalgic brands like LEGO and Barbie.#ThisWeekendOnLongIslandSegment sponsored by East End Getaway – your source for the best Long Island events and experiences.Friday, October 31Sag Harbor Pumpkin Trail | Sag Harbor | 1 PMHalloween Party for Kids | Glover's Park, Westhampton Beach | 3:30–5:30 PMRed Carpet Dance Party with Scary-oke | Bay Street Theater | 4–6 PMSaturday, November 1Ghost Hunting on the Cutchogue Village Green | 6–7:30 PM (Session 1) or 8–9:30 PM (Session 2)Monster House Matinee Screening | Sag Harbor Cinema | 11 AM (Sat & Sun)Plan your Halloween adventure at EastEndGetaway.com#CelebriTEAMariska Hargitay revealed that Long Island psychic John Edward predicted her Law & Order: SVU fame before she landed the role of Olivia Benson — a true Long Island twist of fate.CONNECT WITH USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/longislandteapodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DiscoverLongIslandNYTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@longislandteapodcastX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/liteapodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/longislandteapodcastEmail: spillthetea@discoverlongisland.comShop: https://shop.discoverlongisland.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Maggiulli is the COO and data scientist at Ritholtz Wealth Management, where he oversees operations across the firm and provides insights on business intelligence. He is the author of two books, Just Keep Buying and The Wealth Ladder, and Of Dollars and Data, a blog focused on the intersection of data and personal finance. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and the Los Angeles Times. Get his brilliant new NYT bestselling book The Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies for Every Step of Your Financial Life here: https://amzn.to/4qpBJE5 Also, check out his first absolutely phenomenal book, Just Keep Buying: Proven ways to save money and build your wealth here: https://amzn.to/4nIONSx Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. He is the host of the podcast Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci. A graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School, he lives in Manhasset, Long Island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 This episode with Jason James from Tezi briefly vanished from Spotify. Don't ask us why. But it's too good to not share again. So here's Jason unpacking the future of recruiting. Please enjoy.Jason James doesn't sugarcoat it: recruiting coordinators and sourcers won't exist in 5 years. In this episode, James (Co-founder and COO of Tezi) sits down with Kelli and Nolan to discuss how to screen 3000 applicants in minutes, why most great resumes just rode the elevator up at hypergrowth companies, and why AI bias audits set a higher standard than humans ever could.Support our Sponsors:Ethena is the compliance training platform built for modern workplaces. Visit goethena.com/heretics and get 10% off your first year.Metaview is the AI platform built for recruiting. Check it out: https://www.metaview.ai/heretics* Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.* Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can't live without Metaview.* It only takes minutes to get up and running.KEEP UP WITH JASON, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINJason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasontezi/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/—Tezi: https://tezi.ai/-For coaching and advising inquire athttps://kellidragovich.com/—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:55) Meet Max: The AI Agent Replacing Recruiting Busywork(03:16) AI Bias vs Human Bias: Which Is Fairer?(06:08) Human-in-the-Loop: AI Recommends, Humans Decide(07:34) AI Interviews at Top of Funnel: What Works, What Doesn't(11:00) Standing Out in a Crowded AI Recruiting Market(14:26) Sponsors: Ethena & Metaview(17:18) “RCs and Sourcers, Find Something Else”(20:30) The New Grad Opportunity: Alpha in a Tough Market(22:23) “Riding the Elevator Up”: The Resume Pedigree Problem(24:26) How to Spot Resume Riders vs Real Contributors(26:00) 100-Hour Weeks and the 9-9-6 Culture Debate(30:00) “The Best Culture Is Growth”(31:00) Tezi's Culture: Committed to Calm, Team of Adults(34:00) What's Next for Tezi?(34:56) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

Dr Alex Iantaffi talks with Tristan Katz about conscious marketing, social justice, and how to navigate the intersection of personal integrity and professional practices. They explore the complexities of marketing in the so-called “wellness space”, the importance of engaging in critical thinking, the responsibilities that come with online visibility, and the role of social media in shaping cultural narratives.  Tristan Katz (they/he) is a business consultant, conscious marketing strategist, and equity-inclusion facilitator with a lifelong commitment to human rights and justice. Tristan supports individuals and organizations in aligning their values with their messaging through an intersectional, anti-oppression lens. Tristan's work centers authenticity, relationship, and accessibility, and they've collaborated with authors, educators, and cultural leaders as well as organizations like Stanford University, HubSpot, Portland Public Schools, and Port of Portland. Currently, Tristan serves as COO and Director of Programming at Fruition Growth Network. He is also a longtime yoga student, Yoga Journal game-changer (2021), and former board member of Accessible Yoga. At the core of everything Tristan offers is the belief that marketing can be a tool for connection, truth-telling, and cultural change—not just sales. Find out more about Tristan and follow their work at the following links:   https://www.katz-creative.com/ https://instagram.com/tristankatzcreative  Instagram: GenderStoriesHosted by Alex IantaffiMusic by Maxwell von RavenGender Stories logo by Lior Effinger-Weintraub

Courtney Harkness is a serial entrepreneur and Certified Divorce Coach® who helps successful women protect their peace and assets while navigating high-conflict divorce. A former private-equity-backed COO who built an eight-figure wireless infrastructure company, Courtney now applies her strategic business mindset to one of life's most personal and high-stakes transitions. Through her signature Divorce Is a Business Deal™ approach, she empowers clients to get organized, build a clear strategy, and move through divorce with clarity and confidence.Visit Courtney's Website: www.divorcestrategy.comFollow Courtney on IG: Courtney Harkness, MBA | Divorce Strategist (@divorce.strategy) • Instagram photos and videos

From Zocdoc to Cascade, COO Anna Elwood breaks down the systems, rhythms, and AI tools that turn chaos into execution. In this episode of Between Two COOs, Michael sits down with Anna Elwood, COO of Cascade, the strategy-execution platform helping companies turn plans into results.Anna shares how she evolved from Broadway actor to operator, scaling companies like Zocdoc, Knotel, and Teachable before joining Cascade to build the muscle of strategy execution. She explains how to create an “operating rhythm” that keeps teams aligned across time zones, the tension between governance and red tape, and how Cascade helps leaders link vision to measurable execution.The conversation dives deep into AI's role in operations, the future of hybrid work, and what it takes to move from chaos to clarity in a global startup. Anna's storytelling — especially her account of leading through Superstorm Sandy — highlights what real-time operational leadership looks like when everything goes sideways. Timestamps00:00 – Intro & sponsor01:00 – The chaos of Superstorm Sandy02:00 – Anna's journey: from theater to tech06:00 – The making of a generalist10:00 – Joining Cascade and fixing retention11:00 – Creating a “working rhythm”14:00 – Governance vs. red tape17:00 – The 5 pillars of strategic maturity19:00 – Turning strategy into execution24:00 – How Cascade uses AI internally28:00 – OKRs, KPIs, and strategy frameworks33:00 – Who owns strategy?36:00 – Rebuilding a business overnight43:00 – Closing thoughts Between Two COO's - https://betweentwocoos.com Episode Website - https://betweentwocoos.com/anna-elwood-coo-cascadeAnna Elwood on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaelwoodMichael Koenig on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/michael-koenig514 

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Sydney Ball, Founder and CEO of Ballpoint Business Solutions, who shares her entrepreneurial journey and discusses the importance of mentorship in career development. Her company provides strategy and operations consulting services to mid-sized, high-growth companies, focusing on filling C-suite gaps and developing strategic operations. The discussion concludes with insights on community service and leadership development, emphasizing its role in personal and professional growth, as well as current business trends focusing on community impact and operational enhancements for sustainable business growth.SummaryEntrepreneurial Journey and Mentorship Insights - Sydney Ball, Founder and CEO of Ballpoint Business Solutions, shares her entrepreneurial journey, which began at age 10 with a flip-flop business she ran through graduate school. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, distinguishing between mentors who provide guidance and sponsors who advocate for career advancement. Ballpoint Business Solutions offers strategy and operations consulting, including interim executive leadership and fractional COO services.C-Suite Consulting for High-Growth Companies - Sydney explains that her team of consultants works with mid-sized, high-growth companies to fill C-suite gaps and build out strategic operations. She shares two recent projects: working with a construction company to develop systems and processes for rapid growth, and providing temporary support to The Escape Game for launching new locations. The team's approach focuses on helping organizations anticipate growth and develop strategic plans, with the ability to provide both interim executive roles and short-term project support.Consulting Strategy and Leadership Development - Sydney explains that her company helps organizations solve strategic and growth-oriented problems by matching them with the appropriate consultants, regardless of industry. She emphasizes that while they are industry-agnostic, they focus on strategy and growth, avoiding finance, accounting, and legal matters. Sydney also discusses her personal leadership development, highlighting her involvement in the Young Leaders Council program, which provided her with the skills and knowledge to effectively serve on nonprofit boards. She encourages others to engage in community service and leadership programs to build their philanthropic and leadership skills.Community Service and Business Impact - Jeremy and Sydney discuss the importance of community service and volunteerism in personal and professional development, highlighting its role in fostering leadership, empathy, and networking. Sydney shares trends in business, noting a growing focus on aligning community impact with business success and the need for sustainable operations as companies scale.Visit https://ballpointbusiness.com to learn more about Ballpoint Business Solutions or email Sydney at sydney.ball@ballpointbusiness.com to connect directly.

Jim Bitticks, President and COO of Dave's Hot Chicken, shares insider insights on building a billion-dollar hospitality brand. From a humble $900 East Hollywood pop-up to one of the fastest-growing food industry sensations, Jim reveals leadership strategies, hospitality culture, and growth secrets vital for scaling with integrity. Dive into hospitality trends and the power of viral moments that have propelled Dave's Hot Chicken to phenomenal success. Whether you're interested in hospitality investment, emerging brands, or innovative food service approaches, this episode offers expert strategies and inspiring stories for entrepreneurs and industry professionals alike. Episode Credits:Produced by: Branded Hospitality MediaHosted by: Michael Schatzberg, JImmy FrischlingProducer: Julie ZuckerCreative Director: Adam LevineShow Runner: Drewe RaimiPost Production: Three Cheers Creativewww.thehospitalityhangout.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before AI became a buzzword, a few true believers were already building.Since early 2022, Mati Staniszewski and his team at ElevenLabs have been among them, working to create voices that “actually represent emotions.”He shares with Joubin Mirzadegan how voice AI is transforming diverse fields, from delivering personalized healthcare for different age groups to amplifying creativity in filmmaking.Guest: Mati Staniszewski, co-founder and CEO of ElevenLabsConnect with Mati StaniszewskiXLinkedIn​Connect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we're joined by Muhammad Bin Sabir, Co-Founder & COO of Uplift AI, a Y Combinator-backed Pakistani startup building AI voice models for every regional language of Pakistan. From Urdu to Punjabi, Sindhi, and Balochi, Uplift AI is on a mission to make sure language is never a barrier to knowledge.We explore:The collaboration with Khan Academy and their vision for AI tutorsHow they're training voice models for Urdu, Sindhi, and BalochiThe rise of regional-language AI in PakistanHow they're making AI affordable and inclusive for developing marketsSocials:TBT's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT's TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT's Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sabir's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhammad-sabir/Special thanks to Daftarkhwan for providing us with the studio space.You can find out more about them at: https://www.daftarkhwan.com/Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

Surprise moments should make hearts lift, not race. In this episode, Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, welcomes Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator Brianne Ackerland to explore how planners can create high-impact celebrations that honor military guests and anyone living with PTSD or sensory sensitivities—without sacrificing the magic couples dream about.The reality is that surprise cannons, strobes, and smoke machines can trigger panic attacks, flashbacks, and genuine medical emergencies for guests who've served or who live with invisible conditions. Yet most planners don't know when or how to raise these concerns without alarming their couples or killing the celebration vibe. Brianne shares field-tested strategies that balance spectacle with true care, proving you can protect vulnerable guests while still delivering unforgettable moments.We start with timing: why the eight-week planning meeting is the strategic sweet spot to introduce potential triggers—after guest lists are finalized and add-ons are being discussed, but before vendors lock in their plans. Brianne walks you through how to frame the conversation so couples feel supported rather than scared, using thoughtful questions about loud sounds, flashing lights, and smoke effects to shape plans that protect guests while preserving the couple's vision.You'll get a practical toolkit you can implement immediately: how to send private heads-up messages to at-risk guests, create discreet program cues that signal what's coming next, map out quiet zones with clear exit routes, and deliver calm, grounding scripts when emergencies like fire alarms or first responders show up unannounced. We get deeply tactical on vendor communication—briefing DJs on volume limits and strobe alternatives, aligning photographers and videographers on flash frequency and smoke timing, and confirming venue policies for cold sparks and fog machines so surprises don't escalate into crises.Brianne also shares a deeply personal story that reveals why this work matters and how planners can lead with steadiness and compassion when the unexpected happens. This isn't about being the fun police—it's about designing inclusive joy that allows every guest to be fully present.You'll walk away with three immediately actionable steps: ask about accommodations at the eight-week mark, verify venue safety protocols and effect approvals before booking, and establish a designated safe space with a clear exit route and point person. Plus, we spotlight trusted resources like Wounded Warrior Project and NAMI to help you learn the right language and responses when guests need support.Ready to design celebrations where everyone can truly celebrate? Subscribe, share this episode with a fellow wedding planner. Want to master the skills that set certified planners apart? Discover how CWP Society certification equips you with the knowledge, tools, and community support to handle every situation with professionalism and heart—visit cwpsociety.com today.www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Sonaya Williams. The two talk about the journey of building and scaling sustainable businesses, the vital importance of documenting systems and operations, a fundamental part of Saniya's role as a fractional COO, and how deliberate choices in business design can lead to greater freedom in life. In this episode, we discuss: How intentional planning and a strong team foster work-life integration What leaders often overlook when building teams and running business operations When Sonaya realized the importance of aligning her business structure with her personal life goals Why documenting processes and systems is essential—even for solo entrepreneurs How Sonaya helps her clients become intentional about their business and lifestyle vision Sonaya Williams is a Fractional COO, systems strategist, and founder of The CEO Partner® and Your Expat Life™. Guided by the mantra “do less, better,” she helps high-achieving women turn expertise into steady revenue while reclaiming family time.  A former Wall Street financial-systems analyst, she launched her agency from a one-bedroom condo in New Jersey and replaced her six-figure salary in nine months. Her Streamline & Scale with Systems™ framework—clear offers, automation, and lean teams—has shortened workweeks and boosted margins for hundreds of CEOs, most by referral.  Based in Doha with her husband and two energetic daughters, Sonaya hosts the podcast STILL: The Business of Doing Less, Better, proving success with peace is the new baseline. Website: https://theceopartner.com/   Social Media Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonayawilliams/    

What if your favorite podcast host wasn't human? AI-generated podcasts are on the rise, and one company is already producing thousands of AI-voiced episodes every week. It's called Inception Point AI. Co-founder and CEO Jeanine Wright (formerly COO of Wondery) joins us to talk about how her team is using artificial intelligence to create and manage a slew of AI personalities. She explains why she believes AI and human creators can coexist, answers questions about accuracy and ethics, and shares her perspective on what this all means for the future of podcasting and media as we know it.   Learn more about our guest: https://www.theNewsWorthy.com/shownotes Join us again for our 10-minute daily news roundups every Mon-Fri!  Become an INSIDER and get ad-free episodes here: https://www.theNewsWorthy.com/insider Get The NewsWorthy MERCH here: https://www.theNewsWorthy.com/merch Sponsors: Calm has an exclusive offer to get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/NEWSWORTHY Receive 50% off your first order of Hiya's best-selling children's vitamins at hiyahealth.com/NEWSWORTHY To advertise on our podcast, please reach out to ad-sales@libsyn.com

In this episode of the Second in Command Podcast, Cameron Herold sits down with Ebert Grobler, COO and co-founder of Ruby Digital, one of South Africa's top-ranked digital agencies now expanding across the globe.Ebert shares how his company has achieved near-perfect team retention and why their internal mantra—“Grow People, Grow Global, Grow Profit”—has fueled both performance and culture. From developing a system called The Ruby Way to empowering every team member to operate like an entrepreneur, Ebert breaks down how Ruby Digital builds sustainable high performance without burnout.He also explains how they've turned retention, trust, and human connection into a competitive advantage in a saturated market and why premium service is still one of the rarest differentiators in the U.S. marketing landscape.Timestamped Highlights [00:01:45] – Why Ruby Digital is expanding from South Africa into the U.S. [00:05:25] – The surprising gap in the U.S. market: quality and retention. [00:08:12] – How Ruby Digital achieves 95–100% staff retention. [00:10:20] – Creating “The Ruby Way”: an operating system built on trust. [00:12:45] – Letting employees act like entrepreneurs without the risk. [00:16:00] – “Step Up”: the six-month advancement model that keeps people growing. [00:18:30] – Guardrails against burnout: scorecards, balance wheels, and wellbeing KPIs. [00:22:40] – Why culture drives premium client delivery. [00:25:05] – How Ebert measures success: Grow People → Grow Global → Grow Profit. [00:27:15] – Ruby's philosophy: manage risk, not just marketing. [00:30:10] – B2B growth: focusing on long-term relationships, not quick wins. [00:33:25] – The “SMC client” model—serving sophisticated, mature companies. [00:36:10] – How much companies should invest in marketing (and why most don't). [00:41:10] – Ruby's 15% marketing reinvestment and in-house client mindset. [00:45:30] – Turning unused leads into referral revenue. [00:48:10] – The biggest lesson from failure: trust is earned, not given.Resources & MentionsSmart Marketing 2.0 Podcast – Co-hosted by Ebert GroblerScaling Up by Verne HarnishGood to Great by Jim CollinsAbout the GuestEbert Grobler is the COO and co-founder of Ruby Digital, a global performance marketing agency headquartered in South Africa with hubs in the U.K. and U.S. A former communication-science student turned “human-systems engineer,” Ebert is known for creating organizational models that blend business growth with human sustainability. Under his leadership, Ruby Digital has been recognized as one of the Top 20 Companies to Work For in South Africa by the U.K. Sunday Times and continues to redefine what it means to run a people-first, performance-driven company.