Podcast appearances and mentions of ernst young

​Shaun Clark is the CEO and Co-founder of HighLevel, an all-in-one marketing and CRM platform designed to help agencies and businesses streamline their operations. Before establishing HighLevel in 2018, he founded InvoiceSherpa, a platform focused on automating accounts receivable and invoice payments. Shaun's entrepreneurial journey is underpinned by his education in Computer Science at Oregon State University and participation in Stanford University's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. Under his leadership, HighLevel has experienced significant growth and was named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Southwest Award by Ernst & Young.​ In this episode… Growing a software company is hard enough — but building a community of loyal users, minimizing churn, and scaling support simultaneously? That's the challenge facing many SaaS founders as they move from startup to sustainable success. So, how do you turn one-time users into long-term advocates while keeping your team and customers happy? Shaun Clark, a seasoned SaaS entrepreneur, shares how he overcame early failures selling directly to small businesses by shifting focus to the agencies that serve them. He emphasizes solving the nurture gap in marketing with automation and prioritizing customer experience through real-time Zoom support. He explains how leaning into white-labeling, building a transparent feature voting system, and investing in an affiliate program helped create a community-driven ecosystem where clients became evangelists. Shaun's approach underscores the power of listening deeply, building with user feedback, and scaling with heart. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Shaun Clark, Co-founder and CEO of HighLevel, about building a customer-focused SaaS powerhouse. Shaun shares how a failed go-to-market strategy led to a breakthrough with agencies. He also discusses co-founder dynamics, the SaaSpreneur movement, and using community feedback to guide product development.

In this final installment of our four-part deep dive, we conclude our review of White Coat Investor's critique of the Ernst & Young whitepaper on insurance products. If you've stuck with us from Episode 315 through now, you know this has been a winding journey through annuities, whole life policies, investment assumptions—and plenty of eyebrow-raising takes. Today, we wrap it all up with our closing thoughts on the White Coat Investor review. We also zoom out to look at the big picture: What's really at stake when professionals argue about insurance-backed retirement strategies? What does this mean for actual investors trying to make informed decisions?

In this episode of The Digital Executive, Brian Thomas sits down with Dr. Eva Marie Muller-Stuler, a distinguished leader in data and AI across the Middle East and North Africa. Now heading the data and AI practice at Ernst & Young, Dr. Muller-Stuler shares her interdisciplinary journey through mathematics, computer science, and business, and how this unique foundation led her to become one of the top minds in ethical AI. She recounts pivotal moments in her career that fueled her mission to create responsible, transparent, and fair AI systems—long before mainstream concerns took root.Dr. Muller-Stuler discusses the evolution of AI governance, the importance of continuous learning, and the responsibility tech leaders carry in shaping a just digital future. From leading some of Europe's first data science teams to advising global governments, her insights illuminate the challenges and opportunities of today's AI-driven world.Tune in to hear how Eva is influencing the future of AI—and what that means for businesses, society, and aspiring professionals.

Eunicia is an accomplished wealth strategist and business owner with over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, her hands on involvement having delivered over $500M in savings across hundreds of clients.   As the founder of the Excelstra, Eunicia and her team provide unbiased wealth strategy coaching and hands on consulting to 7 and 8 figure high achievers and business owners.  As a company, they are intentionally not affiliated with any specific banks or institution.   Eunicia loves serving her community of fellow leaders and successful business owners and proudly serves on the Board of Directors with the Gwinnett Chamber and the Gwinnett Chamber Foundation. She also served as Atlanta's UPWARD Chapter Leader, and was previously on the Board of Advisors for Women's Initiative Networks at Ernst & Young, Booz & Company, and Deloitte.   Website (which is currently under re-construction):  www.excelstra.com   © 2007-2025 Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. All rights reserved.   CONCIERGE MEDICINE TODAY IS THE INDUSTRY'S TRADE PUBLICATION, EST. 2007. DISCLAIMER: THIS SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL, FINANCIAL, LEGAL OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. © 2025 CONCIERGE MEDICINE TODAY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS CONTENT/SITE IS NOT WITHOUT ERROR OR OMISSIONS.

In Part 3 of our deep dive into White Coat Investor Disagrees with Ernst & Young, we tackle some of the strangest assumptions in the analysis. We break down how whole life policies are managed (or mismanaged), questionable projections of policy performance, and bizarre reinvestment strategies for annuity proceeds. Plus, we explore the odd decision to replace fixed-income investments solely with insurance products, the implications of paying back a whole life policy, and a 70-year time horizon that raises more questions than it answers. Tune in as we continue to expose the flaws in this controversial financial assessment!   --   This Material is Intended for General Public Use. By providing this material, we are not undertaking to provide investment advice for any specific individual or situation or to otherwise act in a fiduciary capacity. Please contact one of our financial professionals for guidance and information specific to your individual situation. Sound Financial LLC dba Sound Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Insurance products and services are offered and sold through Sound Financial LLC dba Sound Financial Group and individually licensed and appointed agents in all appropriate jurisdictions. This podcast is meant for general informational purposes and is not to be construed as tax, legal, or investment advice. You should consult a financial professional regarding your individual situation. Guest speakers are not affiliated with Sound Financial LLC dba Sound Financial Group unless otherwise stated, and their opinions are their own. Opinions, estimates, forecasts, and statements of financial market trends are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Elizabeth Shortino, Former Acting U.S. Executive Director at the IMF, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the role of the IMF and U.S. Executive Director, how the IMF assesses political risk, IMF engagement in emerging and frontier markets, and insights for business expanding into new markets. BIOGRAPHY: Elizabeth Shortino recently served as the Acting U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an international financial institution charged with promoting international monetary and financial stability and growth. In this role, Ms. Shortino represented the United States at the IMF Executive Board and advanced U.S. interests on a range of issues, including IMF lending to strategic countries such as Argentina, Egypt, Pakistan and other; IMF surveillance of global markets and growth; and all IMF institutional and policy issues. Prior to working at the IMF, Ms. Shortino spent 20 years in public service at the U.S. Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget covering international economic and development issues. She served as Director for the International Monetary Policy office and led Treasury's staff engagement and coordination on all G7 and G20 Finance Track issues, including communique negotiations, designing and advancing the U.S. agenda for its p. Ms. Shortino also oversaw the Treasury stance on all IMF policy issues and country lending programs. Prior to this role, Ms. Shortino managed the Office of Middle East and North Africa and helped coordinate an international response amongst the G7, Gulf partners, and international financial institutions to support countries undergoing democratic transitions as part of the Arab Spring. She also oversaw U.S. Treasury economic engagement in strategic countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and negotiated U.S. sovereign loan guarantees to several Middle East countries. Prior to joining the U.S. Treasury, Ms. Shortino worked at the Office of Management and Budget covering international and defense spending and served as a management consultant for Cap Gemini and at Ernst & Young. Ms. Shortino holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters in International Studies from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Global Strategy Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

Join Marquette as she interviews Eric Bennett,Managing Partner at Brain Capital Partners. Eric launched Brain Capital Partners and the Brain Superfund in 2025 to invest in brain science venture and growth capital. The Brain Superfund will focus on investing in companies in the areas of mental health and related disorders, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, brain injuries such as concussions and strokes, health and wellness to enhance mental health and brain performance, and longevity. Companies will include those that offer new drugs and other therapeutics, neuro technology and devices, diagnostics, digital health, and clinical access. By investing in innovative companies with proven science, we aim to accelerate the development of breakthrough treatments and technologies that improve the quality of life and brain performance. The Fund's goal is to provide strong investment returns for our investors and make a meaningful societal impact.Eric began working with John Tolleson's single-family office in 1998 before co-founding Tolleson Wealth Management in 2000. He was Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Investment Committee, and Board Member, growing the firm from 3 people to 150.Eric's passion for brain science was accelerated in 2013, when he left Tolleson to become the founding Executive Director of the Brain Performance Institute (BPI) at the Center for BrainHealth – part of The University of Texas at Dallas. BPI focused on scaling evidence-based cognitive neuroscience programs and assessments, developed at the Center for BrainHealth, to larger populations. He was on the advisory board at the Center for BrainHealth for ten years and joined full-time in 2013 in a leadership role to build and grow BPI. Under his leadership, BPI secured over $105,000,000 in funding, grew to over 35 people, built a new facility to provide services, including an fMRI center, and reached over 50,000 people in their evidence-based programs.After a planned succession to a new Executive Director at BPI in 2017, Eric re-joined Tolleson Wealth Management as Chief Investment Officer, where he managed $10 Billion in portfolios. During this time, he led investments of over $400 Million in over 20 funds and co-investments in healthcare and biotech. He transitioned out of Tolleson in early 2025 to launch Brain Capital Partners.Eric remains involved with the Center for BrainHealth Board, as well as other health care organizations including the Meadows Mental Health Institute, the Brain Capital Alliance, the Baylor Healthcare Foundation Board, Health Wildcatters, and Impact Shares.Eric began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 1987 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with honors from the University of Missouri. He later joined Ernst & Young, where he served as Senior Manager for private clients and led the firm's DFW Investment Advisory Services team.Eric is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is also an operating partner with Satori Capital and a member of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), having served on the executive board of his YPO chapter for four years. He formerly served on the investment committees for the Baylor University Endowment, the Dallas Symphony Foundation, and Communities Foundation of Texas in addition to serving on the boards of several private companies, including financial services, retail, and media industries. *Please note that this discussion is not an offer or solicitation to invest in any fund or other security.

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In this episode of More than Commas, we take a deep dive into Ernst & Young's latest white paper on integrating life insurance and annuities into a financial plan. With a projected $240 trillion retirement savings gap by 2030, EY's research highlights how strategies beyond traditional investments—such as permanent life insurance and deferred income annuities—can enhance income stability and legacy value. We break down the key takeaways from their analysis and what it means for your retirement planning. Tune in to learn how a smarter, more balanced approach could optimize your financial future.   Download the Ernst & Young Full Whitepaper: https://www.ey.com/content/dam/ey-unified-site/ey-com/en-us/insights/insurance/documents/ey-benefits-of-integrating-insurance-products-into-a-retirement-plan.pdf   Related episode: https://sfgway.com/2022/05/18/podcast-episode-239-income-investing-in-retirement/   --   This Material is Intended for General Public Use. By providing this material, we are not undertaking to provide investment advice for any specific individual or situation or to otherwise act in a fiduciary capacity. Please contact one of our financial professionals for guidance and information specific to your individual situation. Sound Financial LLC dba Sound Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Insurance products and services are offered and sold through Sound Financial LLC dba Sound Financial Group and individually licensed and appointed agents in all appropriate jurisdictions. This podcast is meant for general informational purposes and is not to be construed as tax, legal, or investment advice. You should consult a financial professional regarding your individual situation. Guest speakers are not affiliated with Sound Financial LLC dba Sound Financial Group unless otherwise stated, and their opinions are their own. Opinions, estimates, forecasts, and statements of financial market trends are based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Are you ready to uncover the secrets that transformed a single brand into a global powerhouse? On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I'm joined by Ray Titus, the mastermind behind United Franchise Group's phenomenal growth from one franchise to 11 thriving brands across 80 countries. Join me as Ray shares his proven strategies on decision-making, the magic of synergy, and how embracing his family in business fueled long-term success. Discover how focusing on people, continuous learning, and a family-based approach can not only sustain a business but allow it to flourish on a global scale. If you ever thought of starting a franchise or buying a  franchise, you won't want to miss Ray's advice on how to decide if franchising is right for you! Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned leader, this conversation is packed with wisdom and actionable insights to elevate your business to new heights. Don't miss this chance to learn from one of the most successful leaders in the franchise world. Tune in and get ready to transform your business journey! About Ray, Ray Titus is a franchising visionary and the founder & CEO of United Franchise Group (UFG), a global powerhouse with over 1,800 locations across 80+ countries. From launching the first Signarama store in 1986 to expanding a family of brands spanning business services, coworking, and hospitality, Ray has transformed franchising into his life's mission. His leadership is rooted in a commitment to growth, positivity, and family—a legacy inspired by his father, Roy Titus, founder of Minuteman Press. A former collegiate athlete, Ray applies teamwork and perseverance to business, earning accolades like Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year and the prestigious “E” Award for U.S. export excellence. Deeply invested in franchising education, he established the Titus Center for Franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University, shaping the next generation of industry leaders. Under Ray's leadership, UFG isn't just a business—it's a family, with his wife, sons, and extended family actively involved. His passion for innovation, people, and service continues to drive UFG's success worldwide. He has published several books including “Laws of Inevitability”, “Ray's Week”, “Put a Little JJ in Your Life", “You're Not Listening to Me" and most recently "Do You Have It?"   Here's a few additional resources for you... Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11 Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It's advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters. Save your spot for Training Camp Live in Ponte Vedra, Florida, MAY 15th, 2025! Elevate your leadership skills and engage in an experience designed for growth, purpose, and excellence with incredible leaders such as Sean McVay, Eddie George, Dabo Swinney, Chaunte Lowe and Kevin O'Connell. Game-Changing Coaches, Once-in-a-Lifetime Insights! Join me for my Day of Development! You'll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You'll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It's time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here. Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare.

MILANO (ITALPRESS) - "La comunicazione è sempre più strategica, integrata, adattiva e tecnologica". Lo ha detto Alessandro Vanoni, direttore della comunicazione di Ernst & Young Italia, intervistato da Claudio Brachino per il magazine televisivo Italpress Economy. Al centro dell'intervista la terza edizione dell'indagine “Leader della comunicazione” realizzata da EY in collaborazione con SWG. La comunicazione è "strategica, perché quasi il 90% dei responsabili vede la funzione acquisire un'importanza sempre più rilevante all'interno dell'azienda - ha spiegato Vanoni -, soprattutto per posizionarla e per gestire la reputazione. Integrata perché lavora sempre di più e sempre meglio con le funzioni aziendali (e questo non è scontato). Adattiva perché è in grado di cambiare i piani, di adattarli e di adattarsi al contesto esterno ed interno molto più velocemente rispetto a prima: il 90% degli intervistati ha dichiarato che cambia i piani in corso d'anno e non necessariamente una volta all'anno, ma anche anche una volta al mese o a livello trimestrale. Tecnologica perché anche rispetto all'anno scorso aumenta la consapevolezza dell'intelligenza artificiale non più solo come opportunità, ma 'compagno di viaggio' necessario per essere più efficienti, ma anche per iniziare a creare valore". Per Vanoni "la tecnologia influenza e innesca la trasformazione, anche nella comunicazione" che "è una delle discipline dove c'è maggiore possibilità e potenzialità di cambiamento e, in secondo luogo, è una di quelle aree dove la trasformazione sta avvenendo effettivamente". sat/gsl

This episode of The Power of Zero Show is part of David McKnight's podcast interview with Caleb Guilliams and Tom Wall, PhD. David touches upon a recent Ernst & Young study where whole life insurance was used as a buffer-type strategy. When it comes to the “risk continuum”, David sees IUL as slightly on the right side of whole life insurance. IUL is something worth doing only if you think that risk premium can get you a slightly higher rate of return over time. David recognizes that IUL has risks but that, in exchange for those risks, you can get somewhat of a higher rate of return.  Whole life policies aren't something David sees as designed to build money up and then take money out permanently. One of the reasons why David likes the IUL is because you can find a carrier that gives you a guaranteed 0% loan. Some may argue that Wade Pfau, who wrote the foreword for David's latest book, The Guru Gap, prefers whole life instead of IUL. David's stated objective is to build up your net worth as effectively as you can. His suggestion for the accumulation period is to save as well as you can and to mostly invest in stocks. David explains his preference for IUL over whole life policies.   Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Ernst & Young Dave Ramsey Wade Pfau

With Charles Gaudet, the CEO of Predictable Profits and the author of “The Predictable Profits Playbook: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Dominating Any Market and Staying on Top“ (voted #1 Book on Sales & Marketing by Indie Excellence) and host of The Beyond 7-Figures Podcast.Charles has been an entrepreneur since the age of 4, created his first multi-million dollar business at 24, and has helped others generate millions with his strategies. He has received numerous awards and recognition (including founding a company named as “One of the Best Seed Stage Companies” by Ernst & Young), received his Certificate of Leadership Development from The US Army War College and has his business advice featured around in the world – including Inc., Forbes, Salesforce, Success, Entrepreneur, and Fox Business – as well as on podcasts and radio. He was also named one of American Geniuses' Top 50 Industry Influencers.Join us in our conversation as Charles shares invaluable insights on scaling a business sustainably, overcoming burnout, and redefining success beyond financial gains. He breaks down the mindset shifts that helped him navigate challenges, from his early entrepreneurial ventures to advising top CEOs on growth strategies. Tune in for practical lessons on resilience, leadership, and building a business that supports both your goals and your quality of life.To listen to the podcast and access the show notes and any other resources mentioned in this episode, visit us at www.legalwebsitewarrior.com/podcast.

Nick shares his journey from working in corporate America at Ernst & Young to launching Frayter Media, an agency that specializes in building personal brands for high-profile athletes, CEOs, and executives. He dives into how MMA fighters are realizing the power of personal branding, how social media has revolutionized sports marketing, and how new media like podcasts and short-form content are changing the game.This episode is packed with insights on leveraging social media, working with elite clients, and scaling a remote business. If you're interested in brand-building, sports marketing, or digital entrepreneurship, this one's for you!Call to Action

Few things are as nerve-wracking as receiving an IRS audit notice—but how do audits really work, and what can you do to protect yourself? In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe sits down with Anthony Kim, a former IRS Chief Counsel Attorney with 26+ years of experience, to reveal the truth behind IRS audits. Tony, who has litigated complex tax cases for the U.S. Treasury Department and represented Fortune 500 companies and high-net-worth individuals at Ernst & Young, shares insider knowledge on what triggers audits, the IRS selection process, and how to avoid common red flags. You'll learn why IRS audits are rarer than you think, the top mistakes taxpayers make, and why choosing the right representative—CPA or tax attorney?—could make or break your case. Plus, Tony drops a little-known IRS tip that could save you from missed notices and financial headaches. Don't leave your financial future to chance! Listen now to get expert advice on navigating an IRS audit with confidence.   Time-stamped Show Notes: 0:00 Introduction 0:57 Meet Anthony Kim: Former IRS Chief Counsel Attorney & tax expert 3:42 What triggers an IRS audit? Common red flags explained. 6:28 Whistleblower reports and third-party mismatches—how they lead to audits 7:46 The truth about audit risk: How rare are they, really? 8:43 Step one: How the IRS contacts you—don't fall for scams! 10:00 The one IRS form every taxpayer should file after moving 11:00 The biggest mistake taxpayers make—what NOT to say in an audit 15:32 The worst-case audit scenarios and how to avoid them 16:49 Why even a low-risk audit could turn into a criminal case 17:24 Who should represent you in an audit? CPA vs. tax attorney debate 21:38 What happens at the end of an audit—how decisions are made 22:47 How to challenge an IRS audit decision and file a protest letter

This episode of The Power of Zero Show is part of David McKnight's conversation with Caleb Guilliams and Tom Wall, PhD. David touches upon the “dangerous partnership” between the American people and the IRS. David is an advocate for a balanced, comprehensive, approach to tax-free retirement – he explains why that's the case. One of the things David likes about IULs is the fact that they can perform specific applications that no other stream of income, such as Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s, can do. David goes over the unique trait of each of the streams of tax-free income he sees as key components of “the Holy Grail of financial planning”. A Roth IRA, for example, gives you immediate liquidity, while a Roth 401(k) gives you a match. A Roth Conversion allows you to convert an unlimited amount of assets to tax-free. Taking money out of your IRA up to your standard deduction allows you to get a deduction on the front end, grow your money tax-deferred, and take your money out tax-free. An IUL, on the other hand, enables you to get a death benefit in advance, for the purpose of paying for long-term care. A balanced, comprehensive, approach to tax-free retirement capitalizes on all the nooks and crannies in the IRS tax code. David is in agreement with a recent Ernst & Young study inviting people to have 30% of their retirement savings go towards cash-value life insurance. Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com TikTok Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young needs little introduction as one of the world's professional services Big Four firms, which gives it reach into every industry and ways of taking lessons learned from there into the public sector.How does EY go about doing so, while seeking to blend its consulting core with technology know-how? That is the starting point for this episode featuring Doree Keating, leader of the EY Americas government and public sector practice.As Keating tells our Ross Wilkers, success in any tech implementation effort begins and ends with strategic intent on the buyer's part. Workforce expectations are a factor in that, which includes whether people will need new training or upskilling.Keating also goes over the thinking behind EY's acquisition of Dignari in the fall, plus how she sees defense agencies in particular taking a pre-emptive approach to resilience and anti-fragility.

“As you enlist, you get exciting opportunities, hopefully competitive pay, but afterwards, you get a series of benefits that can really help your life." -Paul R. Lawrence Welcome to another insightful episode of the Turmeric & Tequila Podcast, where your host Kristen Olson engages in gracefully disruptive conversations to question a better way. Today, we welcome the esteemed Dr. Paul R. Lawrence to the TNT mic. A longtime advocate and human of service, Dr. Paul R. Lawrence has dedicated his life to helping veterans navigate the often-complex systems of benefits and support. With his new book shedding light on the often-misunderstood benefits available to veterans, this episode dives deep into how we can better serve those who have served us. Kristen and Paul explore the intricacies of veteran benefits, the importance of lived experience in leading veteran-focused initiatives, and the powerful impact of stepping up to make a difference. Alongside this riveting conversation, we'll hear from our sponsor, Lux Neuro, about the transformative power of neurofeedback. Whether you're in the business sector, a veteran, or someone passionate about meaningful change, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of veteran affairs and beyond. Tune in and join the conversation. Time Stamps: 00:00 Passionate Advocacy from Experienced Voices 04:12 From Frustration to Involvement 10:06 Navigating Social Media Information Challenges 10:54 VA Support for Veterans' Mental Health 15:43 Authentic Leadership Through Experience 19:11 "Unexpected Demand for Government Guidance" 21:19 Outlining a Complex Book Structure 26:19 "Influencers as Inspirers" 27:55 Veteran Networking Support 30:54 Embracing Life's Unexpected Paths 33:26 Lux Neuro Sponsorship & Guest Info Paul R. Lawrence is a Public Sector Vice President with Kaiser Associates, a distinctive professional services firm that helps executives make more informed strategic and operational decisions by incorporating external insights and analysis. Paul helps government leaders address their challenges by developing and then implementing unique solutions. Mr. Lawrence has 30 years of experience working closely with government leaders. Prior to joining Kaiser Associates, Mr. Lawrence was a Partner at Ernst & Young, a Vice President with Accenture, an Executive Director with the MITRE Corporation, a Vice President with IBM Business Consulting Services, and a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has researched and written extensively on management and government. He is the co-author of Succeeding as a Political Executive: 50 Insights from Experience; What Government Does: How Political Executives Manage; and Paths to Making a Difference: Leading in Government. He is the co-editor of Transforming Organizations and Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees. He has testified before Congress and several state legislatures. He serves on the Board of Advisors to the Economic Program at the University of Massachusetts and has served on the Board of Advisors of the Thomas Jefferson Public Policy Program at The College of William and Mary. He was twice selected by Federal Computer Week as one of the top 100 public service business leaders. Mr. Lawrence earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Paul Lawrence served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Captain. He graduated from the Army's Airborne School and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. www.paulrlawrence.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaullawrence/ BOOK: Veterans Benefits for You: Get What You Deserve ORDER HERE   Connect with T&T: IG: @TurmericTequila Facebook: @TurmericAndTequila Website: www.TurmericAndTequila.com Host: Kristen Olson IG: @Madonnashero Tik Tok: @Madonnashero Website: www.KOAlliance.com WATCH HERE   MORE LIKE THIS: https://youtu.be/ZCFQSpFoAgI?si=Erg8_2eH8uyEgYZF   https://youtu.be/piCU9JboWuY?si=qLdhFKCGdBzuAeuI https://youtu.be/9Vs2JDzJJXk?si=dpjV31GDqTroUKWH 

On Today's Episode – We are joined by returning guest Donna Jackson from CFACT. Donna gives us a little info on what she'sbeen up to since we last talked to her. Mark and Donna dive right in and talk California Wildfires, SanctuaryCities, and how howd the Left makes it to get anything done, and how fast Trumpis moving. Tune in for all the Fun https://www.cfact.org/ Donna Jackson, CFACT policy analyst,is a seasoned businesswoman with public and private sector experience and hasspent decades as a pro-energy advocate for the minority population, through heradvocacy work with Congressional leaders and ministry leaders. She is asought-after speaker, who has frequently testified before Congressional leaderson the plight of debilitating energy policies on minorities and low-incomepopulations. Her media appearances include Newsmax, One America News Network,NTD TV, BEK TV, and national radio network shows. Her op-eds have appearedonline and in print in national publications such as the Washington Times,Daily Caller, Inside Sources, FOX News, the Detriot News, Sacramento Observer,Las Vegas Review-Jounral, the Federalist and the Washington Examiner. Donnaearned a Bachelor of Accountancy (cum laude) from the California StateUniversity San Marcos. She has worked in accounting, auditing, tax andmanagement roles with major companies such as Ernst Young, Cardinal Health andMarriott International in the private sector before serving in the publicsector as the vice president and deputy controller for the Export-Import Bankof the United States. She is a member of the National Association of BlackAccountants. Prior to her career in accounting, Donna was a political operativein the state of Arkansas, having worked on the successful campaigns of formerGovernor Mike Huckabee, Senator Tim Hutchinson and Representative (laterGovernor) Asa Hutchinson. She played a vital role during the Huckabeegovernorship in recruiting black candidates for executive-appointed boards andcommissions in addition to helping create job-training programs at a localcommunity college and the Arkansas Office of Workforce Development. Shecurrently serves as an advisory board member for the Independent Women's Forum(IWF) Center for Energy and Conservation, an advisory board member of the 2025Project, a member of the Board of Directors of The Conservative Caucus,Membership Director of the black leadership group, Proj. 21, a member of theHeritage Foundation African American Advisory Council, and a member of theBoard of Advisors of Our America. She is a former divinity graduate of CharlesH. Mason Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee. It was there that she wastaught the gift of administration as a vital part of the Christian ministry.Donna is a firm believer in free markets and entrepreneurship, rather thangovernment, as a means of lifting people out of poverty.

If learning is your life-long commitment and passion, prepare to be astounded because today's special guest for The Ripple Effect Podcast takes knowledge-sharing to a whole new level.  Dr. Todd Dewett worked as a consultant at Andersen Consulting and Ernst & Young but later realized he didn't fit the traditional corporate setting. He then earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior at Texas A&M University and jumped right into teaching. After years in the classroom, he retired early at 42, but he never left his passion for education. Dr. Todd Dewett shares how he leveraged the digital medium to share his deep insights about leadership, team management, and organizational behavior. With more than 10 years of experience in LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), Todd amassed over thirty best-selling professional and life skill courses. Todd's teaching and speaking journey changed his and other people's lives for the better. Dr. Todd Dewett is now a full-time Entrepreneur, Speaker, World-Class Educator, and Prolific Author — citing Show Your Ink, Live Hard, The Little Black Book of Leadership, and his latest release, Dancing with Monsters, among some of his masterpieces.  Tune in as we discuss his story, workplace dynamics, and the importance of closing the rift between generations within companies and organizations. Never miss the opportunity to learn from the BEST! ____________________________________________ Learn more about Dr. Todd Dewett's work: https://www.drdewett.com Connect with Dr. Todd Dewett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdewett/ ____________________________________________  Did you find this helpful? Please like and subscribe for more insightful interviews with experts, speakers, and leaders. Ripple with Steve Harper! Instagram: http://instagram.com/rippleon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rippleon X: https://twitter.com/rippleon Website: http://www.ripplecentral.com Join the ever-growing community of Ripplers in The Pond. It's FREE: https://ripplecentral.com/pond To inquire about Steve's availability for conference keynotes, corporate training or performance coaching, please contact info@ripplecentral.com. #TheRippleEffectPodcast #OrganizationalGrowth #Leadership #CareerTips #GenerationalGap #WorkplaceCulture #Workplace #HumanConnections #OrganizationalLeadership #BehavioralInsights

Host Dave Sobel engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Arik Solomon, CEO and co-founder of Cypago, a leading cyber governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) automation platform. The discussion delves into the challenges faced by organizations in the GRC space, particularly the reliance on manual processes despite the abundance of data available. Solomon shares his insights from his experience as CTO at Ernst & Young, where he recognized the need for technology to enhance the efficiency and sophistication of compliance services.Solomon explains that Cypago operates at the intersection of cybersecurity and GRC, aiming to streamline the alignment of security programs with business requirements and regulatory standards. The technology developed by Cypago automates the collection and analysis of data related to security controls, enabling compliance officers and security leaders to gain meaningful insights into their organizations' security posture. This automation, however, raises concerns about the potential for a "checkbox culture," where organizations may rely too heavily on automated processes without meaningful engagement from human experts.The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity regulations, particularly in light of increased scrutiny from governing bodies. Solomon emphasizes the importance of establishing a baseline of minimum security standards while acknowledging the complexities of creating a universal compliance framework. He critiques existing regulations like GDPR, suggesting that a more effective approach would involve providing organizations with best practices and guidelines rather than rigid requirements that may not fit all scenarios.As the episode concludes, Solomon highlights key trends to watch in the GRC space over the next 18 months, including the need for enhanced visibility into data management and the importance of having robust governance processes in place. He underscores that organizations must prioritize understanding where their data resides and implementing necessary security measures to protect it. This insightful discussion provides valuable perspectives for cybersecurity professionals navigating the complexities of compliance in an ever-changing regulatory environment. All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech

Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Janet Arzt, Founder and Managing Partner of Parere Advisory, an independent consulting firm guiding clients across all stages of family office strategy, development, operations, and implementation. Prior to founding Parere Advisory, Janet served as Chief Executive Officer of a newly launched family office in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she built out and oversaw investments and operations for the family and its businesses. In 2020, Janet was named one of the “Top 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds” by The Hedge Fund Journal in association with Ernst & Young. In this episode, we'll talk about the role and experience of women in the world of family wealth and wealth management. Janet shares the historical perspective of how women have been involved and positioned in the enterprise family and family wealth space, both as wealth owners and as wealth manages or advisors. The environment today is transforming quickly, and Janet describes what is happening now in the family office field and the changes she is seeing that impact women in wealth. Janet offers her tips and suggestions for women who are wealth owners, or who are stepping into family leadership or family office principal roles in the midst of the “greatest generational wealth transfer” that is already under way. We also talk about the “supply side”, i.e., the family wealth advisory firms and the women who are family wealth professionals. She provides some tips for wealth advisor firms about serving female clients and to women who are in wealth management, family office, and wealth advisory roles at external advisor firms. Please enjoy this informative conversation with an experienced and successful professional in the family wealth space.

A recent report from Kaseya reveals that 91% of MSPs are prioritizing profitability, with a significant portion expecting revenue growth despite challenges in customer acquisition. The competitive landscape sees smaller MSPs leveraging niche expertise, while the rise of AI-driven threats poses new challenges, with over two-thirds of providers reporting increased attacks. Sobel highlights the findings from a Fiverr survey of U.S. small business owners, which indicates a strong sense of optimism for the year ahead, especially in sectors like education, finance, and retail. Despite concerns about rising costs and potential recession, nearly 90% of respondents remain hopeful, with women-led firms exhibiting even greater optimism. As small businesses prepare for 2025, their focus is on hiring talent, marketing investments, and adopting new technologies to enhance efficiency. The episode also touches on the varied revenue growth performance of the Big Four consulting firms, with Deloitte leading at an 8% increase, while others like Ernst & Young reported declines. This landscape presents opportunities for smaller, agile providers to fill gaps in digital transformation and tailored IT solutions, particularly in compliance services, which have seen significant growth. Sobel emphasizes the importance of understanding regional opportunities and risks as providers navigate the evolving market. In regulatory news, a U.S. appeals court ruling has significant implications for net neutrality, allowing states to maintain their own rules while limiting federal authority. Additionally, new laws in California regulating artificial intelligence and deepfakes are set to reshape the landscape. Sobel warns that the power consumption of AI data centers could strain electricity supplies, urging tech providers to prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability as they plan for the future. The episode concludes with a somber note, remembering two influential figures in the IT services community who recently passed away. Three things to know today 00:00 2025 Optimism Abounds: MSPs and Small Businesses Double Down on Growth, Tech, and Staying Ahead of AI Threats05:10 Net Neutrality Is Out, AI Rules Are In07:34 Watch Out for Those Data Centers Burning the Grid   All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech

Catherine Gray, host of Invest In Her, talks with Sarah Dusek, a venture capitalist and co-founder of EnygmanVentures, a venture capital fund. She invests in women-led businesses in Southern Africa, creates solutions to wealth disparity, and provides access to capital for women.   In 2017, after successfully selling her company, Under Canvas, for more than $100 million, Sarah launched Enygma Ventures. In that same year, Under Canvas received a spot on the coveted Inc. 5000 list, and Sarah was named to Ernst & Young's EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women list. Sarah began her career in the nonprofit world in her early twenties working in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia. After almost eight years, she became disillusioned with the lack of change resulting from her efforts. She realized that the most effective vehicle for driving change and solving big world problems is business. Businesses are sustainable solutions to problems. They drive economies, create self-sufficiencies, and change our world. Business can, and should, be a force for good.   Today, Sarah offers online courses for early-stage entrepreneurs (hosted at www.pranary.com). Over the past year, five thousand entrepreneurs have gone through her programs to become investor-ready and learn how to build valuable companies. She is a regular contributor to Forbes.com, The Telegraph, and TRT World. She is also chairwoman of the Women's Giving Circle for The Global Good Fund, a social entrepreneurship leadership development program, and sits on the board of ten (and rising) startup companies in Southern Africa, as well as Under Canvas. Sarah has an LLB Law degree from Exeter University, UK, and an MA from University of Manchester in Missiology. She divides her time between the US and South Africa with her husband and two children.   www.sheangelinvestors.com  www.pranary.com

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 513, an interview with the author of Leading Giants: A Leader's Guide to Maximum Influence, Dave Durand.   In this episode, Dave explains his decision to approach life as an adventure, without fearing mistakes and prioritizing the best ideas over being right. He talks about building successful organizations by creating the right culture, hiring for values and cultural fit, and adapting to technological changes. He shares how he balances personal and professional responsibilities, advising us to maintain order in life and strive for continuous improvement.   Dave Durand is a 9-figure founder. He has built and sold multiple businesses which have collectively done over one billion dollars in sales in industries including media, digital services, and leadership training. He has been named Most Respected CEO three times by Glassdoor and Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.   Get Dave's new book here: https://shorturl.at/qoogX Leading Giants: A Leader's Guide to Maximum Influence   Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo  

Has honour been restored to the Legitimate Interest legal basis after the CJEU Royal Dutch Tennis Association decision and subsequent EDPB Guidelines? Is the GDPR showing signs of rustiness? Has it instead become a new religion?  Rie Aleksandra Walle brings over seventeen years of professional experience across both the private and public sectors, having worked at Kristiania University College, Ernst & Young, Nordic Innovation and the Norwegian Agency for Public Management and eGovernment. Rie is behind the DPO Hub, which helps busy DPOs by offering concise summaries and key practical takeaways from key CJEU rulings, EDPB documents and DPA decisions, as well as by putting together a community around it. She is also the host of the Grumpy GDPR podcast. References: The Grumpy GDPR Podcast (NoTies Consulting) DPO Hub Rie Aleksandra Walle on LinkedIn Rie Aleksandra Walle on Bluesky KNLTB vs. Dutch DPA (CJEU decision) EDPB Guidelines 1/2024 on processing of personal data based on legitimate interest Guidelines on the technical scope of article 5.3 of the ePrivacy Directive Serious Privacy (Podcast): Comments on the KNLTB case and other updates  Peter Craddock: ePrivacy exceptions, advertising, analytics, the limits of consent and server-side processing (Masters of Privacy) Rie Aleksandra Walle: the DPO's guide to better resources, constructive debates, and a happier life (Masters of Privacy)

This episode is part of David McKnight's guest interview with Kyle Solon. David talks about the importance of math when it comes to decisions related to using cash value, life insurance, and annuities. A recent Ernst & Young study showed a surprising stat about who had the highest income in retirement and passed the most money on to the next generation. David illustrates the concept of the volatility shield, also known as volatility buffer. The #1 concern of Americans all across the country is running out of money before they run out of life. David shares a key question people should ask themselves when listening to gurus such as Dave Ramsey: “Is there a mathematical justification to what I'm being told?”. David is a strong believer of leaning on the strategies that historically give you a much higher mathematical likelihood of increasing the life expectancy of your money. Dave Ramsey is someone who David really likes for some things, while he isn't a big fan of him for other matters. He sees Ramsey as good for getting people out of debt but not good at helping people have their money last through life expectancy. David gives a breakdown of a couple of sections of his new book – The Guru Gap – and what people should do to educate themselves about the financial industry.     Mentioned in this episode: David's new book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Dave Ramsey Ernst & Young  Ken Fisher Suze Orman

In this episode, host Catherine Gray sits down with Cammie Doder and Sandi Bragar of Aspiriant, a premier wealth management firm. Cammie Doder is the Chief Marketing Officer and a partner at Aspiriant. She is passionate about fostering client connections through thoughtful marketing strategies and empowering clients to make well-informed financial decisions. With an MBA from UCLA and a BS from USC, Cammie combines a strong educational background with years of experience in brand leadership. Her role centers on client advocacy, brand consistency, and connecting with new clients who align with Aspiriant's forward-thinking, fiduciary-focused values. Sandi Bragar, Aspiriant's Chief Client Officer, leads the firm's Planning, Strategy & Research team, which offers an advanced wealth planning platform for personalized client support. With a background in tax consulting at Ernst & Young and numerous industry accolades, Sandi brings decades of expertise to Aspiriant, where she has been a partner since 2002. She is a Certified Financial Planner™ and has been recognized as one of Forbes America's Top Women Advisors. A dedicated mentor in the Financial Planning Association and a respected media contributor, Sandi is committed to helping families navigate complex financial landscapes with clarity and confidence. In this episode, Catherine, Cammie, and Sandi discuss the journey of building meaningful client relationships in wealth management, the importance of trust and transparency, and how Aspiriant supports individuals in achieving financial security. They also share insights on the evolving roles of women in finance and the power of mentorship. Join them for an inspiring conversation on creating impact and fostering a client-centered approach in financial planning. https://aspiriant.com/ www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels    

Can a simple update to a 75-year-old decision-making framework give your business an edge with AI? To answer that, Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker, CEO David DeWolf, and CPO/CTO Mohan Rao discuss enhancing the classic OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop with a new step: "Inspect." They explain how "Inspect" can empower companies to evaluate, learn, and refine decision processes in the age of automation, with real-world examples such as autonomous vehicles and medical AI applications. Check out www.knownwell.com/OODAI to download your own copy of the OODAI Loop.  Also, Michael Harnum of ESG Success shares insights on how AI is helping tech firms scale customer success without massive personnel increases. Michael illustrates how digital customer success tools, like automated monthly reviews and even virtual customer success managers, enable companies to nurture a broad customer base efficiently. All that PLUS Pete joins Courtney for AI in the Wild, diving into Ernst & Young's $1.4 billion investment in an in-house AI platform that now supports 96% of their workforce. Known as "Client Zero," this pioneering system is boosting operational efficiency and enhancing customer service—serving as a testing ground before client deployment. Make sure to check out www.knownwell.com/demo to get a look at Knownwell's AI-powered platform for commercial intelligence. 

Sanjay shares how to run a successful franchise by following brand processes and adjusting to the shift towards digital, loyalty-driven operations. He also discusses the value of enterprise risk management, compliance, and consistency. Welcome to Elevating Brick and Mortar. A podcast about how operations and facilities drive brand performance.On today's episode, we talk with Sanjay Jain, the Chairman of the National DCP Board of Directors and independent franchise business owner. NDCP brings global expertise in strategic sourcing, distribution, restaurant solutions, business services, and supply chain to serve Dunkin', one of the world's leading restaurant brands.Guest Bio:Sanjay Jain serves as the Chairman of the National DCP Board of Directors. He brings 35 years of Accounting, Finance, and Information Technology experience with Fortune 500 companies to the supply chain management cooperative.Jain joined the NDCP Board in 2016, representing Series C. Prior to becoming Board Chairman, Jain served as the Treasurer, co-chaired the Sourcing Committee, and spearheaded the Internal Audit function at NDCP through his role on the Finance/Audit Committee. He currently owns a large network of Dunkin'/Baskin Robbins stores in Queens and Long Island, New York. As an elected District Advisory Co-Chair franchisee from Queens, he is actively involved with the Development Committee, Compliance, NY Sales Taxes and the Wage Group. In his capacity as a member of Dunkin's Brand Advisory Committee, he works with the Menu Management and Development Advisory Sub-Committees.Jain's work as a financial executive and certified public accountant in the retail, food and supply chain industry has included an emphasis on internal controls, financial reporting, tax, and risk management. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Internal Auditor of Abovenet Inc., Jain helped turn the Company from bankruptcy into a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange by working closely with the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors. He developed their annual strategy, conducted risk analysis, and developed corporate plans for both domestic and foreign entities.He also has ten years of public accounting and consulting experience. In his role as Audit Director at Ernst & Young and BDO Seidman in the Metro New York area, Jain helped clients streamline both their operations and control processes, managing and leading groups of professional auditors worldwide that saved his clients millions of dollars. He has been actively involved as a Board member with the Institute of Internal Auditors and has presented at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants forum.Jain has a Management Information Systems degree from the University of Hartford, a Master of Business Administration degree from Dallas Baptist University and a Master of Commerce degree from the University of Rajasthan in India. Timestamps:13:45 - About NDCP05:17 - Sanjay's venture into franchise ownership08:53 - Following brand guidelines10:24 - Handling consumer expectations20:31 - How do you ensure consistency? 28:35 - Dealing with scarce human capital33:49 - The consumer of the future39:35 - Advice for franchisees41:13 - Where to find SanjaySPONSOR:ServiceChannel brings you peace of mind through peak facilities performance.Rest easy knowing your locations are:Offering the best possible guest experienceLiving up to brand standardsOperating with minimal downtimeServiceChannel partners with more than 500 leading brands globally to provide visibility across operations, the flexibility to grow and adapt to consumer expectations, and accelerated performance from their asset fleet and service providers.Links:Connect with Sanjay on LinkedInConnect with Sid Shetty on LinkedinCheck out the ServiceChannel Website

Did you know beets can boost your heart health and energy levels? In this episode on the Wellness Revolution podcast, I am joined by Joel Kocher, a successful tech executive turned health entrepreneur. Joel shares how he discovered the power of nitric oxide and beets to support cardiovascular health, leading him to start SuperBeets.  We discuss that as we women age, our natural nitric oxide production declines significantly, but supplements like SuperBeets can help restore levels to support healthy blood pressure, circulation, and energy. We also dive into valuable insights on entrepreneurship in midlife, the importance of passion and having the courage to "take the shot" even if you're afraid of failure. Joel Kocher has over 20 years of senior leadership experience in the technology industry in companies ranging from $100 million in revenue to multi-billion. He is recognized for presiding over Dell's explosive growth in the early to mid 1990's as its number 2 executive behind founder Michael Dell during the company's meteoric rise to the Fortune 500. After he left Dell, he held a broad set of leadership positions in both private and public companies before co-founding Humann, the makers of SuperBeets, America's #1 Beet Brand and the #1 Doctor, Pharmacist, and Cardiologist Recommended Beet Brand for Heart Health Support. Humann is a recipient of the 2017 Nutrition Science Award by NBJ and a 9-time Inc. 5000 America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies Honoree. Most recently Joel was recognized as an Ernst & Young 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Regional Winner. Thank you to our sponsors: Join Crush Life Boot Camp: https://products.ambershaw.com/crushlife HigherDose: Use code AMBER15 to get 15% off at https://higherdose.com    Find more from Joel Kocher: Website: https://humann.com/  Instagram: @livehumann LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkocher/    Find more from Amber: Instagram: @msambershaw TikTok: @msambershaw Website: ambershaw.com    What We Discuss: 03:37 Joel Kocher's Journey from Tech Industry to Health and Wellness Entrepreneurship 07:34 The Underrated Benefit of Beets and Nitric Oxide for Midlife Women 12:44 Different Delivery Forms of SuperBeets and the Importance of Nutrient Density 14:26 Supplements as Nutritional Gaps in Modern Food Production 18:29 The Impact of COVID-19 on Cardiovascular Health and Entrepreneurship 22:29 Passion and Purpose in Entrepreneurship 25:00 Developing Entrepreneurial Skills 28:57 Importance of High-Quality Ingredients in Supplements 32:03 Adaptability: A Key to Entrepreneurial Success 34:26 The Importance of Problem-Solving 41:11 Taking the Shot: Overcoming Fear in Entrepreneurship

One of the major problems that data visualization solves is the need for quick and clear communication of complex insights, particularly to time-constrained executives.  It's about storytelling with data…but how? With her extensive expertise in data analytics and digital transformation, Katie Manty, a professor at Michigan State University's Customer Experience Management Master's program and a leader at Omnicom Health Group, offers unparalleled insights into this crucial aspect of business strategy.  In this episode of "Delighted Customers Podcast," Katie shares compelling strategies and best practices for utilizing data visualization to enhance customer experience and drive executive buy-in. Key Takeaways: 1. Customer Experience Improvements:    - Pain Points in Banking: Katie highlighted how customers in banking and investment sectors often struggle with mobile check deposits and managing dormant 401(k) accounts. The complexity and inaccessibility of instructions lead to dissatisfaction. She shares best practices on how to solve for that. 2. Data Storytelling:    - Katie's personal advice: Focusing on data storytelling and understanding audience incentives can significantly improve your professional influence. She walks through several illustrations of how to effectively tell stories with data. 3. Effective Data Visualization:    - Importance for Executives: Visualizing data is essential for conveying insights quickly and clearly to senior leadership, facilitating swift decision-making. Katie shares common missteps and how to overcome them. Meet Katie: Katie has a passion for building highly-prized customer experiences. Throughout her marketing technology enablement career, she gathers multiple perspectives, analyzes data sets, forges a business vision and puts the initial concept into production using a test and learn mindset for continuous improvement of the product or process. Katie has been with Omnicom Health Group for three years as a leader in digital transformation and data analytics capabilities in the health care sector primarily supporting biotech and pharmaceutical marketing teams.  Katie services clients with Omnichannel marketing solutions based on a framework and capabilities that she derived from years of marketing and data strategy experience. She is a Thought Leader enabling colleagues to upskill and speak marketing acumen underscored by data, data visualization and technology integration concepts. She shares a regular Data Coffee Talk with colleagues on all topics data in marketing including how AI is changing the advertising business. She began her career at Ernst & Young leading application development, business analysis, roadmap visioning and emerging technology teams. Katie earned an MS degree from MIT in the Management of Technology. Her undergraduate degree is from Smith College with a BA in Computer Science and Economics double major.  Katie is an active alum with both of her alma maters. She spends her free time soaking up the sun as an avid beachgoer, consuming fiction and shuttling her teenage daughter to activities.  Additionally, Katie is a Faculty Instructor for MSU's MS in CXM degree. She teaches Data Analysis, Data Integration and Data Visualization as part of the program.

In this week's episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I am delighted to speak to Sigrun, an award-winning business coach, best-selling author, and international speaker. Sigrun shared her inspiring journey from studying architecture to becoming a leading business mentor for online entrepreneurs in Europe. We discuss her transition to computer science, her rise to CEO, and the challenges she faced, including job loss and health issues. We talked about the importance of financial independence, gender equality, and overcoming self-sabotage. Her story is a testament to resilience and the power of entrepreneurship in achieving personal and professional fulfilment.    In this episode:  [00:00:00] Introducing Sigrun, highlighting her achievements and mission in female entrepreneurship. [00:02:24] Sigrun discusses her career changes and challenges, including losing her job and taking a course to learn business planning. [00:06:27] Sigrun talks about being fired for refusing to compromise her values and moving to a new job. [00:07:51] Sigrun shares her experiences with health problems due to work stress and its impact on her career decisions. She discusses the difficulty in getting a proper diagnosis for her health issues while living in Switzerland. [00:12:31] Sigrun talks about exploring various treatments and therapies while grappling with her health challenges, before confronting her unemployability and reassessing her career goals. [00:16:01] The decision and journey to starting her own business and reflecting on business success, including revenue, employees, and investments. [00:19:51] Exploring the moment when clients awaken to new possibilities and realise they can achieve more than their previous salary. [00:21:13] Discussion on the gender pay gap and how entrepreneurship can create equality for women. [00:22:53] The shift from secondary earner to main breadwinner and its impact on women. [00:24:29] The importance of lifestyle choices over traditional career paths for both genders. [00:25:14] Exploring how women's financial empowerment creates opportunities for others in their communities. [00:26:05] The challenges of self-sabotage and recognising potential in business earnings. [00:31:10] Sigrun shares her experience with public accountability and its role in achieving a million-dollar goal. [00:33:19] Setting intentions and taking aligned actions to achieve business goals.   Key Takeaways:  While financial stability is important, true fulfillment often comes from pursuing one's passion and purpose. Both Jessica and Sigrun discuss the impact of chronic illness on their careers. Sigrun's health setback became a turning point, leading her to pivot into entrepreneurship and create a more balanced lifestyle. A key theme in Sigrun's work is accelerating gender equality by empowering women to achieve financial independence through entrepreneurship. She encourages women to pursue their business goals and create their own paths to success.   Quotes:  “We underestimate what we can do in ten years. We overestimate what we can do in a day or a week or a month.” - Sigrun Gudjonsdottir “If you are on that pivoting point, 3, 4, 500,000, if you've made it that far, you can double it. You can triple your revenue. But you've got to believe that you can do it.” - Sigrun Gudjonsdottir “It's amazing - You can really, truly take your passion and turn it into a profitable business. And I think we just have to get over that hump. When is that flipping point of when you realise that you actually have some money mindset issues? And for me, it was in the last month of the first year when I earned $25,000 in one month. And then I was like, oh, that's a lot of money. Do I deserve this? Was this a fluke? Will it ever happen again? And of course, the following month I made $1,700 because I self-sabotaged. And I see women do this.” - Sigrun Gudjonsdottir “There's a magical thing that starts to happen, isn't there, where you realise I can get to where I was before, but seriously, if I try, where could I get to? And it's like the whole world just suddenly opens up.” - Jessica Fearnley “I like manifesting as a concept. I think it's good to get our mindset in the right place, but for most people, it's not enough to sit and visualise it. We need to be taking that aligned action consistently, and we need to always be pushing forward and being like, seriously, what's the next big thing that's really going to move the needle?” - Jessica Fearnley   Useful Links Sigrun:  Free Quiz - Is Your Online Business Ready to Scale? Sigrun's Website - Sigrun.com Follow Sigrun on Instagram Follow Sigrun on LinkedIn Subscribe to Sigrun's YouTube Channel Jessica: Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast Jessica's LinkedIn   Guest Bio Sigrun is an award winning business coach, bestselling author, international speaker and host of the Sigrun Show podcast. She's been called the leading business mentor for online entrepreneurs in Europe. She is on a mission to accelerate gender equality through female entrepreneurship and helps women start and scale their online businesses to 7 figures with her tough love and no-nonsense-approach to business and life. Sigrun has been featured in Forbes, Time and numerous leading media publications in Europe. In 2022 she was accepted into the Hall of Fame of Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Switzerland and in 2021 she won 5 German Stevie Awards; as the Hero of the year, Entrepreneur of the year, Solo entrepreneur of the year, Manager of the year, and Sales Achievement of the year. Sigrun is married, has two stepsons, and splits her time between Reykjavik, Iceland and Zurich, Switzerland. Her latest book is available on Amazon and is called Kickstart Your Online Business - Create an Online Course and Start to Make Sales.

Sam Horn helps people “connect the dots forward” and create one-of-a-kind presentations, pitches, books, brands, businesses, and messages that scale their impact – for good.   Sam has authored 10 books including Tongue Fu!®, POP!, Wash Post bestseller Got Your Attention? Her latest book Talking on Eggshells received a glowing Pub Weekly review, was featured in Forbes, and endorsed by Marie Forleo, Jack Canfield, Lynn Twist, Dr. Ivan Misner (founder of BNI) and Whole Foods founder John Mackey who calls it “The course-correct for today's cancel culture.”  Clients: Sam has presented for hundreds of organizations = Intel, Oracle, Accenture, Cisco, YPO, EO, Nationwide, Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, Kaiser Permanente, Ernst-Young, U.S. Embassy in London. Specialties: Sam served as the Pitch Coach for Springboard Enterprises which has helped entrepreneurs generate $36.8 billion in funding/valuation – and has been brought in by NASA, TED FELLOWS and Richard Branson's NEW NOW LEADERS to teach public speaking/media training. To learn more about Sam, go to her website: www.samhorn.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lyndsay-dowd/support

“The biggest thing a leader can bring to the business is the responsibility to put the right people on the bus. And to have the bravery to say that there's a reason that they need to hop off the bus.”   In this episode of The Inner Chief podcast, I speak to Carolyn Creswell, Founder and MD of Carman's Kitchen, on how to fire people gracefully, doing what you love, understanding menopause and having a genuine work-life balance.

How do you go from a homeless shelter to advising on $25 billion in transactions? This journey is nothing short of extraordinary.   In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, we sit down with Grace Vandercruze, founder and managing director of Grace Global Capital LLC. Grace's story is a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and unyielding ambition. From her challenging upbringing to becoming a leading figure in the world of mergers and acquisitions, Grace shares the unvarnished truth about her journey, the hurdles she's overcome, and the mindset that propelled her to the top.   Episode Highlights:   Grace's early life and the influence of her grandmother  The transformative experience of losing her home to a fire Overcoming adversity while living in a homeless shelter Transitioning from Ernst & Young to Merrill and then founding Grace Global Capital The challenges of being an African-American woman on Wall Street Insights on financial wellness and her best-selling book Mountain climbing and its impact on her mental strength   Who is Grace?   Grace Vandercruze is the founder and managing director of Grace Global Capital LLC, a firm specializing in M&A financial advisory, restructuring, and valuation for the insurance industry. With over $25 billion in advisory transactions under her belt, Grace has a storied career that includes senior roles at Swiss Re, Merrill Lynch, and a private equity firm. She is a Wharton MBA, a CPA, and a board member of several prominent companies. Grace is also an accomplished mountaineer, sailor, and the author of the best-selling book "Homeless to Millionaire: 6 Keys to Uplift Your Financial Abundance."   This episode is a must-listen for every entrepreneur and small business owner looking to learn from a true trailblazer. Discover the mindset and strategies that helped her turn adversity into opportunity. Favorite Quote:   “Allow impostor syndrome to be your companion. Just make sure that it's not the loudest voice you're hearing.” Connect with Grace: https://www.graceglobalcapital.com/ https://www.financialabundancewithgrace.com/   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Our guest on the podcast today is Kathy Stokes. Kathy is director of Fraud Prevention Programs with AARP, where she leads AARP's efforts to educate older adults on the risks that fraud represents to their financial security. Kathy currently serves on the advisory council to the board of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators and on the advisory council to the Senior Issues Committee of the North American Securities Administrators Association. Kathy also serves on a Federal Reserve Working Group on scam information sharing. Before joining AARP, Kathy managed her own company, KSM Communications, and she also held various roles in public affairs at the Brookings Institution, Ernst & Young, Mercer, and the Employee Benefit Research Institute. She received her bachelor's degree in rhetoric and communications at the University of Pittsburgh and her master's in American government at Johns Hopkins University.BackgroundBioInternational Association of Financial Crimes InvestigatorsSenior Issues Committee of the North American Securities Administrators AssociationFederal Reserve Fraud Definitions Work GroupFinancial Fraud“6 Common Types of Investment Fraud and How to Identify Them,” by Cheryl Winokur Munk, aarp.org, April 11, 2024.“Data Spotlight: Who Experiences Scams? A Story for All Ages,” by Emma Fletcher, ftc.gov, Dec. 8, 2022.“Data Spotlight: Social Media: A Golden Goose for Scammers,” by Emma Fletcher, ftc.gov, Oct. 6, 2023.“Americans Reported Losing a Record $10 Billion to Scams and Fraud in 2023,” by Christina Ianzito, aarp.org, Feb. 9, 2024.“Many Americans Worry About Becoming Scam Victims, New Report Finds,” by Christina Ianzito, aarp.org, May 8, 2024.“Precious Metals Scams Target Investors Amid the Pandemic,” by Hanna Kozlowska, aarp.org, Jan. 19, 2022.“What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself Against Bank Scams,” by Patrick J. Kiger, aarp.org, Aug. 12, 2024.Crypto and AI“What to Know About Cryptocurrency Scams,” by Patrick J. Kiger, aarp.org, March 15, 2024.“New Technology Has Supercharged an Old, Formidable Foe: Fraud,” by Martha Boudreau, linkedin.com, April 18, 2024.“AI Fuels New, Frighteningly Effective Scams,” by Christina Ianzito, aarp.org, April 3, 2024.Senior Fraud“‛She Hooked Me': How an Online Scam Cost a Senior Citizen His Life's Savings,” by Feliz Solomon, wsj.com, June 8, 2024.“5 Ways to Prevent Elder Financial Exploitation,” by John Rosengren, aarp.org, June 10, 2024.“How to Keep a Loved One With Cognitive Decline Safe From Scams,” by Christina Ianzito, aarp.org, June 28, 2024.ResourcesBrokercheck.finra.orgInvestor.govBankSafeThinkingaheadroadmap.orgaarp.org/scammapAARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Highlights from this week's conversation include:Lisa's LP Career Journey (1:05)Changes in the Venture Capital Landscape (4:21)Introduction to Screendoor (6:16)GP Advisory Services Explained (8:47)Portfolio Construction Approach (13:20)Analyzing Fund Ones (15:53)Investment of Time (17:44)Common Pitfalls for First-Time Managers (21:22)Legal and Operational Considerations (25:14)Insider Segment: Starting a New Venture (00:27:06)Understanding Equipment Financing (30:07)Lessons from the 2020-2022 Debt Cycle (31:55)Importance of Diversifying Funding Sources (36:10)The Value of Personal Stories in Fundraising (38:39)The Future of Venture Capital Evolution (00:44:17)Understanding Fund Management Challenges (46:17)Challenges Faced by LPs (48:04)Risk Management in Fund Commitments (50:16)Encouragement for Younger LPs (51:27)Final thoughts and takeaways (52:09)Lisa Cawley is the Managing Director at Screendoor, an investment platform that invests in new managers raising early institutional venture funds and building an enduring firm. At Screendoor, Lisa leads efforts to reshape the VC landscape by supporting new fund managers. Lisa leads the firm and is responsible for the entirety of Screendoor's operations and investments. Her commitment extends beyond her professional roles, actively participating in initiatives like Global Women in VC, advocating for economic empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity in the ecosystem. Prior to Screendoor, Lisa worked with a private multi-billion-dollar global investment firm where she was involved in all aspects of managing the firm's private market portfolio, including sourcing and manager due diligence, asset allocation and forecasting, and creating and implementing the firm's investment data tools and analytics. Lisa started her career at Ernst & Young, & earned an MBA, MSF, and BBA from Loyola University Maryland. She is a CFA Charterholder and holds a CPA. Camber Road is the most cost-effective, flexible and nimble leasing company for venture-backed businesses. We are experienced, but not stodgy. We're hungry, like the startup companies we serve. And we hold every lease on our balance sheet. We finance business-essential equipment for venture-backed companies. We do one thing, and we do it better than the rest. Learn more at www.camberroad.com. Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies. The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only.

This episode addresses Suze Orman's epic IUL rant on her Women and Money podcast. Suze Orman begged her audience not to do Index Universal Life insurance policies. This very broad brush and no nuance approach of every financial guru is what David's upcoming book The Guru Gap touches upon. David explains why the generic approach financial gurus tend to have is leading people astray. David brings up Orman's advice to one of her listeners who has been investing $200/month into an IUL policy. David recreated this listener's exact policy through one of the top IUL carriers in the industry – he shares his findings. Starting an IUL is like getting married: it only really works if you plan on keeping it until death do you part. David goes over the reason why IUL should be the last bucket to turn to for liquidity in the early years.  These days, most IUL carriers these days allow you to receive your death benefits in advance for the purpose of paying for long-term care. David believes that “an IUL can serve as a great volatility shield in retirement”. A recent Ernst & Young study showed how people can dramatically increase their sustainable levels of income in retirement in the context of IULs.     Mentioned in this episode: David's upcoming book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Suze Orman's Women and Money Podcast Ernst & Young

In this episode of Building Texas Business, I sit down with serial entrepreneur Steve Reynolds for his perspectives on innovation in corporate travel tech. As CSO of Embers Inc., Steve shares his journey developing TripBam, an early pioneer utilizing algorithms and robotics to optimize hotel rates. He explains TripBam's strategic transformation from consumer to enterprise software, strengthening the company and positioning it for seamless integration under Embers. Steve offers valuable lessons on championing passion within high-performing teams. The importance of actively engaging customers and development staff to creativity solve problems is emphasized. We discuss the challenges of maintaining innovation at scale versus smaller startups. Steve's experiences navigating acquisitions and a turbulent industry offer cautionary advice. A theme emerges—embracing flexibility positions leaders to overcome challenges and achieve lasting impact. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS In this episode, I spoke with Steve Reynolds, Chief Strategy Officer at Emburse Inc., about his journey in corporate travel technology and entrepreneurship. Steve discussed the origins and evolution of TripBam, a platform he founded that uses algorithms and robotics for hotel rate monitoring, which eventually pivoted from a consumer-focused to a B2B model. Steve shared insights on navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the strategic decisions that helped TripBam emerge stronger, including cost optimizations and product enhancements. We explored the importance of fostering a passionate and innovative team, highlighting the value of listening to customers and involving development teams directly in problem-solving. Steve explained the critical difference between passionate programmers and those who are merely formally trained, and how assembling a team that shares the company's vision and offering equity can drive success. The episode delved into strategies for managing company growth and financial stability, such as quick decision-making in right-sizing staff and optimizing operational costs through cloud environments. We discussed the benefits of subscription-based pricing models over transaction-based ones, particularly during economic downturns, and how this approach helped maintain cash flow during the pandemic. Steve reflected on the evolution of workplace environments and leadership styles, noting the shift from rigid, traditional settings to more flexible, results-oriented cultures. We talked about the challenges of maintaining innovation in large companies, contrasting startup environments with big company mindsets, and the importance of hiring the right people for each setting. Finally, Steve shared his thoughts on the future of the travel industry and the innovative approaches that have set new standards in modern practices. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About Emburse GUESTS Steve ReynoldsAbout Steve TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode you will meet Steve Reynolds, chief Strategy Officer for Emburse Inc. Steve has built his career in corporate travel technology and in starting various companies over the four-decade career. Steve looks for opportunities to be disruptive. Steve, thanks for coming on the podcast. It's a pleasure to meet you and appreciate you taking the time. Steve: You bet Chris Glad to be here. Chris: So you know there's a lot that I'd love to get into with you. I know that you know currently you're with a company called M-Burst Travel, but that you started a company before that called TripBam. Tell us a little bit about, I guess, those companies and what they do. What is the business they're known for? Steve: Okay, and just to back up a little bit further, I guess what you could call a serial entrepreneur. Tripbam was my third or fourth venture kind of lost count, but I've been in the corporate travel tech space for 40 some odd years. And TripBam when we started 10 years ago, we recognized that hotel rates change a lot more often than people actually realize. If you were to create some robotics that went out and grabbed the rate at a particular hotel for a certain date in the future, you'd see that rate changes just about every hour and what we found is if you just keep watching it, eventually it's going to drop, especially as you get closer to check-in. So we created some algorithms, robotics, whatever you want to call it that said okay, I've got a rate of $2.99 at the Grand Hyatt in New York. I'm arriving on the first and departing on the third. I want you to just let me know when it drops and if it does, I want you to rebook it for me If everything is the same room, same bed, same cancel policy, blah, blah, blah. So that's what we did. We originally invented it for the consumer market. We put out a website and we got mentions in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today and so on. But sort of my corporate travel buddies called up and said, hey, Steve, we really need you to apply this to corporate travel. And they started writing some pretty significant checks. We followed the money, we pivoted and went all B2B at that point. And so the company grew 40% year over year for the first six years, cashflow positive within just a couple of months. I mean it was great. It was great. And then COVID came along and kind of took our knees out from under us for a bit. Chris: COVID kind of wiped out the fundamental business model for at least a little bit. Steve: At least for a little bit. But fortunately a lot of our customers were paying us subscription fees rather than transaction fees, so we were to stay afloat. We got through COVID and we actually came out on the backside of COVID in a much stronger position, both financially and you name it, because we were able to do a lot of just cost improvements, right-sizing the organization. We kind of got a little bit ahead of our skis, I think, in some areas and created some new products, just all kinds of things, pushed everything out to the cloud and such that dramatically reduced our costs and just were firing all cylinders. Chris: And then we worked out a deal with Emburse in July last year to buy the company. Okay, how does I guess what TripBand does fit within the Emburse excuse me, overall, maybe suite of products or company strategy. Steve: Yeah. So Emburse provides travel and expense to the largest of companies, to the smallest of companies, and what I mean by that? Everybody. When you go, you have kind of a booking tool to start with. Most folks are familiar with Concur. We have our own. The reservation gets created. It then needs to be watched, monitored, audited, improved upon. That's kind of where we fit in. So before the money is spent we actually see if we can actually do better than what the traveler did on their own. Travelers are not going to check the hotel rate every day. They're not going to check their airfare every hour. They're not potentially going to book the preferred property within a particular city. We fix all that before the money's actually spent. We then push all that to mobile. So you've got a companion app in your pocket where the traveler gets a ton of destination content specific to that company. So I'm going to New York, I'm staying at headquarters, what hotel should I stay in? I need to go take a client to dinner, what restaurants do you recommend? All kinds of other stuff, including safety and security perspective and so on. Then the data is all captured and fed into an expense report so that your expense report if the traveler is compliant. It's kind of pre-created and pre-approved, so the traveler in a lot of cases doesn't have to do anything and if they're compliant all the way throughout, they could actually kind of be paid as soon as their plane hits the ground. Then it all feeds into reporting and analytics so that we can improve your travel program, identify additional savings opportunities, find some fraud issues, detect all kinds of other stuff that might be a problem. We also offer a card product if you don't have one, and that's kind of the travel plus expense ecosystem that we provide. Chris: That's fascinating. I obviously wasn't aware that something like that existed, but I can see how large companies with a lot of employees traveling could see the benefit and realize a lot of savings from those services. Steve: Yeah, when you combine travel with expense, some kind of magic happens in that we have enough data and insight to be able to start pre-filling out that expense report. Otherwise, all we're counting on is card transactions and receipts, and that's really not going to do the trick. But if we can get that card information augmented with the receipt scanning and everything else that we do now, we can really do a nice job of pre-filling out that expense report. So really all you have to do is add mileage, hit, click and you're submitted. Chris: So you mentioned that you've been in this industry for 40 plus years. I'm curious how did you first get started in the corporate travel tech space 40 years ago? Steve: It was just by happenstance, I guess you could say. I was originally started as a programmer for Texas Instruments, got accepted into their executive program, which meant I could go off and get an MBA and then come back to TI, but quickly realized that the consulting firms were paying a lot more. So I ended up with Ernst Winnie, at the time with Ernst Young and my first assignment was with a travel agency in Houston, Texas, called LifeGo Travel, which doesn't exist anymore. The owner of that company hired us to come in and build some technology. It really put him on the map and he got tired of paying the bills and seeing the hourly checks that we were charging. And so he approached and said, hey, you know, do you want to come work for us? And I'm like, well, that never thought about working for a travel agency. That doesn't sound all that exciting. But he said look what if we created a company, We'll spin it off and we'll give you some equity. And I'm like, okay, now you're talking. So we left, we started up a company called Competitive Technologies and all of it was bought by American Express Travel two years later. Chris: Oh, wow. So unquestionably you had a little bit of an entrepreneurial spirit going way back then to see an opportunity. Put you in it. Steve: And a lot of it is just kind of, I guess, my personal. I don't do well at big companies. I really struggle because I get so frustrated at just the lack of progress or the lack of innovation or the speed at which things happen, so I tend to sort of find an excuse to hit the exit button, usually within a year or two. Chris: Right. So you said something in that response that I want to talk to you about, and that's innovation. I think that's there's such a common theme, I think, with entrepreneurs about. You know, and innovation can mean so many things. What do you think that you've done, as you've built several companies, as you mentioned, to create or foster and nurture a spirit and environment of innovation? Steve: You know a lot of it is just becoming a really good listener to the buyer, to whoever the customer is. And then when they say things, there are certain kernels that are aspects of what they say that you just go oh, wait a minute, okay, can we go back to that? That sounds important. You know this level of frustration. Why does that frustrate you? And if you have engineering and development in the room when those things are said, oftentimes some real magic starts to happen and we just the creativity, the innovation just comes out naturally as wow, we can solve that problem. That's not that hard, you know, let's go do that. So that's on the B2B side. That's kind of the formula, that conversation. Something falls out as far as a new feature, product, something like that, that we can start working on the B2C side. Chris: Go ahead. Well, it sounds like there's a function there of asking the right questions and really listening. Steve: Well, and just most big companies or companies they try to protect the dev engineering. They're like oh, we're not going to let you talk to customers. You guys sit over here in the back room and we'll come to you with sort of a priority or roadmap of what we think is needed. And I feel like that's just the wrong way to do it. You've got to get the dev and the engineers and the programmers in the room to hear the story, otherwise you get this telephone tag of what actually gets built isn't quite what the customer wants or was even asking for. And for most companies that's really hard. I don't know why, but they just. It's like we can't allow that to happen, but that's just not the way I operate. Chris: Well, I mean, it makes sense that people you're asking to solve the problem probably need to hear what the problem is firsthand, right? Steve: Exactly. And then it's oftentimes the dev guys are like they're coming up with much more creative solutions. If you just hand them a requirement sheet or spec sheet, they're like, oh okay, this is going to take a month. But when they're involved with the client and they actually hear what the true problem is, oftentimes they're like, oh, I can knock this out overnight, I'll have a solution to you by tomorrow. It's just a night and day sort of sense of urgency or sort of the emotion around creating the solution. They're bought in. At that point, when they hear it directly from the client, they can be the hero. Chris: Well, when you think about kind of that and getting the right developers and the right kind of team together, what have you found to be successful as far as what to look for in building the right team and then keeping the team together? Steve: Yeah. So fortunately for me I mean through all of these different companies that I've started I've been able to kind of get the band back together multiple times. A because I, you know, I'm a big believer in sharing the equity. You know, let's get everybody, if not equity, at least options, so that when there is an exit, everybody benefits, and they've all seen that so far today, knock on wood, I haven't had an unsuccessful exit where we've had to, you know, turn out the lights or whatever. My shareholders have all made money, you know, typically around 5x to 10x on their investment, which has been great. So it's easy to get the bad back together. But what I also have found out is there are certain programmers that are passionate about programming and others that are just taught programming, and there's a night and day difference on the result. If they're passionate about it, the results come out quick. I get creative solutions that nobody would think of. They're usually extremely low cost and it's just so much better than if I have someone that's college taught. I'm doing this because it's a paycheck and I took this degree because that's what somebody told me to and I was good enough to get a B in college on all my programming courses, but at the end of the day, if their heart's not in it and they're spending their time, you know, just on the side weekends and nights learning new stuff, they're not going to be very good. So give me one or two of those that are passionate and I'll put them against 10 to 20 of those that are school taught and will kick their ass every time. Chris: So yeah, well again, I think that transcends all industries and disciplines, the key being passion. Right, I think you, as the leader, are the one that has to start with the passion and then find people that share that passion to get to where you're talking about, where there's that flow within the organization. Steve: Yeah, I think development's a little bit different. I mean, you're not going to find anybody super excited about accounting or I don't know the other aspects of it, but with development there's guys that just get so into it. You know they're programming on the side. They get into hackathons, they want to prove that you know they're smarter than the guy next to them and just constantly looking for the next challenge and just coming up with those creative solutions. I don't know of any other discipline that really has that level of it, but there might be. I mean, I could be wrong. Chris: So, just going back and maybe not the first venture where you and the travel agency in Houston started, but maybe I'm just curious to know as you began some of these startups, maybe sharing some of the lessons learned through some of the challenges you found in starting that venture, whether it be raising capital as an example, or any other challenges that may come about, but I think that capital raise can be one in the startup that some entrepreneurs find daunting and maybe can't solve and never get anything off the ground. Steve: Yeah Well, I think, first off, just wait as long as possible to raise capital. You know most of them kind of build an MVP which just kind of barely works and then go out and try to raise money on it. And whenever you go down that path you just end up way undervaluing what you have. And I know people get in certain situations where they just need to have a check, you know, or it's you know, lights out. But if you can wait until you actually have a client actually generating revenue, actually having positive cash flow, whatever, and then you can show someone, look, we just need to add fuel to the fire here. This is not about keeping the lights on, this is about generating growth You're going to have a dramatically better outcome. The other thing I found out is when you take the big check too early, you start making really stupid decisions. You start hiring attorneys that are expensive, you hire a CFO before you need it, you have a head of HR, all kinds of stuff and overhead that's just not necessary and over time it makes you less and less nimble because you're so worried about payroll, you know, and less focused on just delivering a product that has a you know, a bunch of value. Keep your day job, keep working nights and weekends, wait as long as possible. I mean, I always said, look, cash is like oxygen. If you run out you're going to die. So hang on to it with both hands first. I mean beg, borrow and steal from friends and family and whatever to just get stuff. If you need a contract, go out on the web and search for a capolar plate contract. It'll be good enough to get you started. Or find someone that's a buddy, that's a lawyer, that's willing to do some pro bono work in return, maybe for a little bit of equity stuff like that. Just hang on to that cash as much as you can, for as long as you can. Chris: Well, I think there's a lot there that someone can learn from. Obviously, speaking as a chairman of a law firm, I can't endorse legal Zoom for the startup, but I understand your point. We talk to clients a lot about especially know, especially in the startup phase. Maybe you know helping them get going, but you know and being smart about how they spend their money. But make it an investment in getting at least a sound structure and they may not need right the full-blown set of legal documents, but I can promise you I've seen people start on legal Zoom and wish they hadn't, you know, a couple of years later when things were getting a little tight. But I understand your point there. But conserving cash is important to get off the ground. Steve: Yeah, I mean you don't need to come right out of the gate being in an Inc. You know and incorporated in Delaware and pay all the fees, whatever to make that happen. I mean, just start out as a low-cost LLC and then, when you're ready to sort of raise capital and become a real company, you know you use part of that capital to convert at that time. Chris: So you had mentioned earlier, you know just, I guess, going back to kind of trip BAM COVID having, at least initially, a pretty profound impact but then turning it into a positive, and I'm kind of want to take you back to that time and you maybe dig in a little bit deeper. I think it's a beautiful lesson of something where you know a lot of people just throwing up their hands because travel stopped, et cetera, which decimates your business specifically to you. But then you said we actually learned from that and became a better, stronger company because of it. And you've mentioned right-sizing, the organization stuff. But could you share a little more detail and some stories from that our listeners can learn from if and when their business faces something similar? Steve: Yeah, I think, first off, being fairly quick. You know you can always hire people back, you know. But if you keep them on the payroll and you start burning up cash just way too fast or you're starting to trend towards in the red, you just got to pull the trigger. Nobody wants to, nobody likes to do it, but it's really nobody's fault. It's just something as an executive or CEO you have to do, or a founder. So that's one. Second is, as companies grow, you kind of make stupid mistakes along the way. You get kind of inefficient. You don't anticipate the level of growth that might have been reality. So going back and saying, all right, take a step back, let's catch our breath. You know, what should we have done to kind of handle the scale better? And so, for example, just moving everything to a cloud environment, you know, putting it out to bid, switching from one cloud provider to another, whatever it is, you know you can just generate or reduce your costs dramatically. You know, rather quickly, if you just focus the time on it. Everybody gets so white hot, focused on growth and the next client and the revenue they forget to look at the rear view mirror about. You know there was a lot of costs we could have taken out, you know, which could generate even more cash going forward. Advert: Hello friends. This is Chris Hanslick, your Building Texas business host. Did you know that Boyer Miller, the producer of this podcast, is a business law firm that works with entrepreneurs, corporations, and business leaders. Our team of attorneys serve as strategic partners to businesses by providing legal guidance to organizations of all sizes. Get to know the firm at BoyerMiller. com and thanks for listening to the show. So we pulled the trigger pretty quick. We right-sized the staff. We had a pretty good and, fortunately for us, this is the other. We kind of lucked into this. Our customers, for whatever reason, decided they wanted to pay a subscription fee rather than maybe a percentage of the savings or a transaction fee, to where what they were going to spend would fluctuate month over month. By paying a subscription fee, they could budget it and they were going to get a better return on investment. So we did most of our deals that way and thank God we did, because when COVID and everything went into toilet in April of 2020, we still had cash coming in the door. So we were actually stayed cashflow positive because we kind of right-sized the staff fairly quickly. And then, coming out of COVID, as the revenue started to ramp back up and our sales started to continue, we were just on a much better platform that would scale after it because it was just all right-sized and efficient and whatever, and at the same time we added new products. So we had a two-year kind of all right, just keep the lights on, market will come back around. We added an air reshopping solution. We added a bunch of analytics to audit contracts and to benchmark performance, so that we had a whole bunch more to sell coming out of COVID than going in, and so that caused another year of kind of explosive growth as a result. Chris: That's great. So, yeah, obviously part of that is give some deep thought to how you price what your product right. So that subscription-based versus transaction for you sounds like a very. Maybe it didn't seem as meaningful at the time you made it, but it turned out to be. Steve: You know that's a tough one If the ROI of your product is pretty clear, like reshopping. If you've got a rate of $2.99, I drop it to $ to $250. I've got $49 per night in savings If you pay me a couple of bucks. Okay, here's the ROI. And we could run some pilots and all kinds of stuff to prove that out. So that makes it really simple and we try to hit look, I need a ROI that when they take it to their boss the guy that's doing the budgets, you know, won't cause all kinds of frustration and concern. So four to one is usually the minimum. A lot of our customers, the larger ones, are getting eight to one, 10 to one, you know. So you could say like you've probably underpriced it. But that's okay, you know we'll claw back some of that. You know, over time when it's a product that's the ROI is a bit fuzzier. You just got to somehow convince the client that this is the potential savings. They're going to guesstimate and then from there work backwards to a price which kind of gets you back to that four to one ROI. So if I think I'm going to save you five bucks a transaction, I'm probably going to charge you a dollar to $1.50 is what I'm going to aim for. Again, to get to that four to one kind of savings estimate for Relagate. Again to get to that four to one kind of savings estimate. Chris: So part of that goes, I think, in building that customer base, really focusing on strong relationships. Talk a little bit about that and what you've done, because it sounds like over the course of the various businesses, you've done a good job of creating some very good partnerships and alliances. What are some of the things you think that have helped you foster that and keep those for so many years? Steve: I think one is you know you got to under promise and over deliver. So if they're going to sign up, you know, don't make them look bad or stupid to their boss. The other one is identifying the influencers in the market. So I'm sure every industry has some individuals that are kind of on the bleeding edge, willing to try new things. And if they do and it works, they've got the microphone or the megaphone to tell a whole bunch of others. So fortunately for me, I've been able to identify who those influencers are. I've got a reputation for just delivering as promised. So when they sign up they have confidence and then they tell their peers and a lot of our sales in the large enterprise market are peer-to-peer networking. It's not from email campaigns or other stuff that we do. Chris: The kind of part of that, the old adage of just do what you say you committed to do when you said you committed to do it right. Steve: It's just delivering as promised. Don't sell me a can of goods and all this great wonderful thing. And then when the reality is just not there, you know, don't make them look stupid. You know that's the key one. I mean, these are after 40 years they become. We have some pretty tight relationships with these folks and I want them to keep their job and we want them all promoted and moving on to the next big role, because when that happens they just take us with them and we just keep getting bigger and bigger. Chris: So you mentioned that about kind of keeping this, your words, the band back together. You've been able to do that, hiring some of the right people and incentivizing the right way. Any insights into. You know what people could think about when they're looking at their team one, trying to, I guess, evaluate whether they have the right people and then finding the right ways to incentivize them to kind of keep that core group together. Steve: To me it's if they feel like they're a part of a team and they understand the value they're providing to the customer and they see that customer's appreciation. You know they're in the conversation with the client, you know, and that's easy to do at a small company, because who else are they going to talk to? Right, you got to bring the dev and engineering. But when you start layering and bifurcating and have people you know in engineering back there in the back room, kind of stuff that don't talk to clients, that's when it gets a lot harder. But when you get them into the conversation and that sense of this is my company, this is my reputation. I'm a part of something here, you know, that's growing and doing well and whatever. It's not that hard, it's really not that difficult at all. It's just everybody wants to be appreciated and feel like they're, you know, part of a team. So that's the formula, right, I mean I could throw money at them. But I ask my employees I mean I am not the guy that's writing big checks to hire people right? I'm like look, we're going to pay a reasonable salary. You know this is not, you're not going to be broke, but you know we're in it for the long term game, and so we want to keep the cash in the company so that we don't have to go do another capital raise which is going to dilute all of us, and so your equity just keeps getting smaller, you know, over time, and the guys that actually make the money, or the investors this needs to be a collaborative team effort so they get that. Chris: I think that transparent communications is key right. So they again they understand their role on the team, they understand what the goal of the organization is and how they can help further that. Steve: You know it's always been kind of fire slow, fire quick as well. You know the people, everybody makes hiring mistakes. It happens all the time. And you know when you hire someone within like a couple of days you're like this is not feeling right. You know, don't let it just sit, don't let it be two years later when you actually kind of work them out. You have to kind of pull the trigger fairly quick because it messes up the whole culture of the company. Oftentimes, especially at a small company, it can create some real problems. Chris: Yeah, I mean that may be the most sage advice and, I think, maybe the most consistent that I hear from entrepreneurs and business owners. It's been my own experience too, that that kind of fire, you know, don't be slow to fire when you know you made a mistake and it's the hardest, maybe one of the hardest ones to do because you're dealing with people. I spoke to someone yesterday and they were like hired, someone had some uncertainty and literally what I learned was to trust my gut because on day one that they started in a conversation went oh my God, this is a huge mistake. Tried to play it out, tried to make it work and guess what? It didn't. Steve: Yeah, the thing is I don't believe resumes anymore and I don't believe LinkedIn pages at all, especially when it comes to higher dev and engineering. It's just anybody can put whatever language they want and say they've got a ton of experience. You've got to figure out a way to validate Most of our hires. There's kind of referrals and peer-to-peer sort of networking. If I find someone, I can usually find someone they know, especially in the Dallas market where we are, that's worked with them at a prior company. That sort of thing and do some back-channel checking is what really pays off for us. And we know the rock stars. We know the rock stars. We know the rock stars, but they're not that hard to kind of pick out. It's the ones that are kind of questionable. That you know. You just got to do your homework and don't count on the resume. Chris: That's a really good point. It's a hard thing to do, though, and it may be easier in programmers. But, to you know, I totally agree with resumes, and profiles can be, you know, massaged, but it's sifting through and kind of through the smoke to really get to what's behind the curtain. Steve: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean. And Zoom calls, I mean people hire on Zoom calls or whatever. Like dude, you got to get them in the office face to face, go to lunch, have a couple of face to face interactions before you actually bring this person on board. You know, make them pass a coding test or something. You know something tangible. Don't just look, they're very nice people. You know they all have a. You know look great on a phone call or Zoom call, whatever, but that doesn't cut it. Chris: Yeah, I mean no substitute for personal interaction and seeing how people show up. Right. Steve: Yeah, the other thing is, since we're, you know, on a startup mode where everybody's looking at kind of the potential for equity, I'm like, look, if you're as great as you are, why don't you come on board for a month on a contract basis? Let's see how it works out, you know, and we'll go from there All right, and you really get a feel for someone and how well they're going to. We try it, we like to try it, before we buy. Let's put it that way. That's one way to do it. Chris: just talk about you know specific kind of leadership styles and and how you would describe your leadership style, and maybe how you would describe it today versus maybe 20 years ago as you you were emerging as a leader, and how you think it's changed oh, my god, it's night and day. Steve: so first company way back when. Maybe it comes as a surprise or not, but it was a coat and tie environment. Okay, guys, we've got to put on the ties and whatever. That was just so stupid. Checking office hours and all that crap and tracking vacation time just seems so silly. Now, if you can get the job done, I don't care what you wear, I don't care what you look like, I don't care what you wear, I don't care what you look like, I don't care where you do the work, I don't care if you have to take vacation on a pretty regular basis for whatever reason. I don't care if you're going off and disappearing to watch your kid play soccer, I do not care anymore. Just here's the job. Here's kind of an expectation. You know, as long as I understand, you're trying hard to get it done as quick as possible. We are good. You know, it's kind of a thing. So all that other stuff was just noise. That was just stupid, anyway it's. I mean back when I started in this, I mean programming and development and all that and the whole tech world was fairly new, so nobody knew what they were doing or how to manage these folks and it evolved over time, but fairly quickly. I mean, by company two, ties were gone. By company three, office was gone. I mean I've been virtual for 25 years. Unfortunately, we had offices but we just I think they were a waste of money but we did it for optics more than anything. Chris: Yeah, so it sounds like more kind of a traditional and somewhat of a command and control, starting out to now a little more, much more flexible and providing autonomy as long as people deliver on the expectations that they're communicated with. Steve: Which comes down to you just hire the right people, right, if you can get kind of get that sense for what the kind of folks that are going to do well. So, for example, if I see, if you can get kind of get that sense for what are the kind of folks that are going to do well. So, for example, if I see that you've got you spent 20 years at a really big company, you are not going to do well at a startup. I could guarantee you You're used to other people doing work for you. You know you're just kind of the sit back in your office and sort of you know, tell folks what to do. That ain't going to happen. You need to get your hands dirty. You might have to write code. You got to do PowerPoints, you got to do Word docs all that stuff yourself. Big company folks just tend to lose that ability, let's say, or it's beneath them and that's not going to work. Chris: Yeah, I mean it's almost. Yeah, that's not in my role. Mentality versus everything is in everyone's role. Mentality, right, it's almost. Yeah, that's not in my role. Mentality versus everything is in everyone's role. Mentality right, it's about getting a job done, no matter what it takes. Steve: And I think that drives me crazy at a big company because, you know, unfortunately for others, I tend to poke my nose into others' lanes and I get told a lot Steve, stay in your lane. Nothing bugs me more, you know, than to hear that. But that's the big company way. Chris: So you've gone through a few companies and you're now, I guess, inside of a larger company. Now Are you finding it easy to kind of have that mentality of flexible leadership and innovative environment? Steve: In the new company? Yes, I would have to say no, it's kind of as I expected. You know, with other acquisitions you start. You know, this kind of here's how it happens. However, embers, I believe, is trying hard to carve out a role where I can exist, let's put it that way. So my title right now is Chief Strategy Officer, and it's a bit nebulous, kind of by design. I can sort of make it what I want and as a result of being chief strategy officer, I can get outside of my lane and people can question it. I'm like everybody needs strategy. That's my title, I'm going to get in your lane, kind of stuff you know. So I tend to kind of bounce around to lots of different projects, objectives so on. I kind of help make sure that it's cohesive, you know, across this travel and expense story, you know. But at the same time I don't have a lot of direct reports, which is great. That usually doesn't go too well either. So so far, so good. Chris: Fingers crossed, that's great, yeah, we we kind of covered kind of the challenges of COVID If you think back prior to that, any other challenges along the way with the first two or three companies, everybody, yeah, yeah, I think people some of those are the best lessons we learned or some of the challenges we go through. I'm just curious to know any kind of lessons from a challenge that you could share with the listeners that might help them when they face something similar. Steve: Oh my God. I mean everybody's made mistakes and if they got lucky along the way and if they don't admit that they're lying, I mean some of the bigger ones. 9-11, we had a solution that was processing about 80% of all corporate travel reservations made in the US. 9-11 hit and we went to zero within about 24 hours, so that was kind of a gut check. Fortunately, travel bounced back fairly quickly, but it made us take a step back and realize how nimble we were If something like that were going to happen again. So that's one, and you know, and there's all the kind of day-to-day stuff. I mean there's fraud, there's employee HR issues that happen. You know there's. I'm not going to get into details on that, but you know you just kind of all right, let's deal with this. You know, don't just look the other way and take care of it. I think the latest I mean the big one right now is just, you know, the whole third party hacking and getting into your network and holding you hostage, stuff like that. You know that's made everybody just super anxious and nervous and to the point where companies are kind of shutting down their network so much that individuals can't do the job. You know, which is causing concern and it's what else are you going to do? I mean, if some employee can click on a link and bring down your network, do? Chris: you just turn off email. You're right, it's creating such a challenge. Everybody, all companies, are being attacked every day from all kinds of angles, and it just takes one and but you also? You can't operate out of fear and you can't let it stop you from doing your business. Steve: Well, they say there's two kinds of companies out there. There's those that have been hacked and those that don't know they've been hacked. So just kind of keep that in mind and I think it's fairly true. I think, you know, it's just almost too easy to get into someone's network and poke around and kind of see what's going on these days. Chris: It's so scary, but I thought you were going to say those who have been hacked and those that will be hacked, but I guess already have you, just don't know it. Well, see, I really loved hearing your story. It's a fascinating industry, and one that you don't really hear much about, but you definitely. It sounds like for 40 years you've been crushing it at it, so congratulations to that. Well, thanks for that. Steve: But also the one thing people don't know about corporate travel is that it sits on a backbone of legacy technology that's probably 40 years old. That has not changed. The GDSs are antiquated, the travel agency systems are antiquated. It's not that hard to come up with something innovative and new in this environment. So I just got lucky to where I got into it and I'm like this thing is so bad. I mean anything you do is going to be innovative. And so we just started coming up with new stuff solving clients' problems and it just kept evolving from there. Like this thing is so bad. I mean anything you do is going to be innovative. And so we just started coming up with new stuff solving clients' problems, and it just kept evolving from there. Chris: Yeah, that's really. You know so many entrepreneurs I've talked to. It's what you just said solving the customer or client's problem. Because what I said earlier, it goes back to asking the questions and listening and then trying to solve that problem. Steve: So many great ideas that come from that across so many industries. Yeah, and just to set up a little process to where you talk with your customers on a regular basis or a group of clients or people you trust and it just happens naturally, it's really not that difficult. Chris: Well, let's turn to a little bit on the lighter side before we wrap this up. I always like to ask people like yourself what was your first job? Steve: oh, my first job, let's see. Uh, I worked at a pet store at junior high. Well, actually first job was mowing yards, right? So everybody every kid did that just to get my allowance money. Then I worked at a pet store in junior high for a short period but fairly quickly realized waiting tables made a lot more money. So I told a guy I was 18, when actually I was 16, and they never really checked. They hired me as a waiter. I was actually kind of a part-time bartender, so I was serving liquor in Houston the strawberry patch I'll probably get them in trouble back when I was 16 years old and just made a ton of money as a, you know, a high schooler. So that was kind of the first. And then, you know, got into computers and writing code at a very early age. I was part of a program at Shell where they gave us mainframe time to go in and kind of play around and then went off to Baylor for computer science and then went to TI and then went to A&M for grad school. Very good, very good. Chris: So okay. So, being a native Texan, do you prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue? Steve: That is not a fair question, because both are pretty dang awesome, but, being in Texas, I think we've got some of the best barbecue on the planet. So Pecan Lodge here in Dallas is, I think, kind of the best, and there's a lot of Tex-Mex, though that's really good as well, yeah, I agree on all points. Chris: I haven't heard of Pecan Lodge before, so I'll have to check that one out. Steve: Yeah, it's in Deep Ellum, so next time you fly in, go in out of Love Field, and it's not too far, it's a 10-minute drive from there. Chris: Deal Noted. And then last thing is you know you've made early in the career, probably never did this and maybe have done since. But if you could take a 30 day sabbatical, where would you go and what would you do? Steve: I actually got a 30 day sabbatical. So a guy hired me or not hired me, but when he brought me on board to run a company he said hey, you know, I threw in there. Just, I read it in a magazine that it was the hot thing for techies to ask for, so I threw it in there and they accepted it. I guess they thought I'd never make it to my five-year anniversary. Anyway, I did and I took the kids and family, went all the way throughout through Europe. So we went to Italy, paris, france, austria, switzerland, whatever you know, just really unplugged for that 30 days. Actually it was a 90 day sabbatical. That's what I took. Wow, so I got a little bit more time. Yeah, it was great, it was great. So if that were to happen today, I'd probably look to do something similar, but nowadays if I want to take 90 days, I probably could just got to ask for it. Chris: Very good, very good. Well, steve, thanks again for taking the time to come on and love hearing your story and all the innovation you brought to the travel industry. Steve: All right. Well, thanks for having me, chris, I really enjoyed it. Good conversation. Chris: Thanks, well, we'll talk soon. Steve: Okay, you bet. Special Guest: Steve Reynolds.

Michelle Wahler is an entrepreneur, business leader and mother. In 2005, she co-founded the active lifestyle company Beyond Yoga, where as CEO, she built the product and brand from the ground up. What started as a mere concept led to a global wholesale business, e-commerce site and opening of six retail stores, selling tens of millions of units around the world over the course of nearly 20 years. Michelle built a female-focused organization with an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, diversity and empowerment among both employees and customers. She skillfully navigated negotiations and led her team through the brand's acquisition by Levi Strauss & Co. in 2021. Post-acquisition, she continued her role as CEO of Beyond Yoga and joined the Executive Leadership Team of Levi Strauss.Michelle was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 2021 and as a DEIA Visionary by the LA Times in 2023.Michelle is originally from Maryland and began her career while living in New York City. She lives in Los Angeles and is married with two children and two dogs. Michelle is active in several philanthropic causes through the family foundation she created with her husband. She also finds joy in painting, reading, and exploring through travel.***The Founder Hour is brought to you by Outer. Outer makes the world's most beautiful, comfortable, innovative, and high-quality outdoor furniture - ALL from sustainable materials - and is the ONLY outdoor furniture with a patented built-in cover to make protecting it effortless. From teak chairs to fire pit tables, everything Outer makes has the look and feel of what you'd expect at a 5-star resort, for less than you'd pay at a big box store for something that won't last. For a limited time, get 10% off at www.liveouter.com/thefounderhour. Terms and conditions apply.Customers are flocking to your store—do you have a reliable point-of-sale system? Shopify POS is your retail command center, handling payments, inventory, and more. Choose from hardware options like smartphone, tablet, or Shopify's POS Go device. With award-winning support, Shopify helps you succeed every step of the way. Get started with a $1/month trial at www.shopify.com/founderhour.Still using your personal phone number for your startup in 2024? OpenPhone makes it easy to get business phone numbers for your team with an app that works on both phone and computer. It integrates with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, and offers AI-powered call transcripts and summaries. Plus, your whole team can access the same number. Start at $15/user/month, but The Founder Hour listeners get 20% off for 6 months. Visit https://www.openphone.com/founder to start your free trial! ***Follow The Founder Hour on:Instagram | www.instagram.com/thefounderhourTwitter/X | www.x.com/thefounderhourLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/thefounderhourYouTube | www.youtube.com/@thefounderhour

How did a Certified Public Accountant launch and scale his recruitment business from the ground up? In this episode, you will hear about Troy's journey in starting and growing his search business! Troy shares the hurdles he faced and his strategies to overcome them and thrive.   Troy is the President of Benchmark Search Group in Dallas. He founded the company in 2018 after working at one of the Big Four accounting firms and more than a decade with one of the largest national recruiting firms.    Troy has built Benchmark's reputation as a trusted advisor for sourcing and recommending the right accounting talent, specializing in direct hire placement, executive search, and temporary staffing for accounting and finance professionals.    Episode Outline and Highlights [02:02] How Troy got into recruiting and was almost fired in his first 90 days. [08:00] Winning Best Place to Work for Working Parents. [11:57] Key challenges in Troy's journey of building his own business. [21:44] Time tracking exercise to improve efficiency while focusing on value-adding activities. [24:00] Hiring a VA and fostering an environment where your team members are proactive. [33:09] Doing things differently to improve the training component. [42:40] Troy shares insights on what he had learned while running his search firm. [50:01] Troy's three most important metrics in running a search firm.   Overcoming Showstoppers When Launching a Search Firm   How a successful search firm owner started his journey is always interesting. Most often, launching your recruitment business can be extremely challenging! Even if you are an excellent recruiter, running your own business is a different ball game; nothing can fully prepare you for it. Troy shared his journey from being a solo entrepreneur to building his own team. Below are the takeaways from the challenges he had, and I am sure you will be able to relate if you are already running your own recruitment business:   Starting as a solo entrepreneur: Troy knew he needed to hire, but it took him nine months to hire his first employee. Slow initial growth: His hiring process was slow, which resulted in impediments. However, Troy focused on hiring top producers from other firms who were looking for a better culture fit, enabling him to build a core team over time. Lack of infrastructure or processes in place: When he started to scale, Troy realized he didn't have enough infrastructure or processes to support his growth. He established SOPs and initiated training programs to create a more scalable structure. Trying to do everything: Troy became a bottleneck as he felt he needed to get involved in everything. He struggled with the need to control all aspects of the business. He eventually learned to delegate and focus on higher-level activities.   Fostering a Proactive Team Environment for Virtual Team Members   A good sign of a great team is when your members come to you and ask to take stuff off your plate rather than you having to reach out and delegate the tasks. This behavior describes Troy's team, especially his virtual assistants. How do you foster a proactive team environment with a virtual team?    Troy fosters a proactive team environment, even with onboarding virtual assistants, by treating them as integral members of the team rather than just freelancers. He emphasizes the importance of full integration, where the VAs are not just completing tasks but are actively involved in the business. An example is when his first VA quickly took on leadership responsibilities and even helped onboard a new marketing VA while he was away, demonstrating trust and empowerment.   Another approach is to ensure that the VAs are involved in the company's operations and goals, which fosters a sense of ownership and commitment. This approach allows them to proactively take on tasks and support the team, contributing to a strong and cohesive work environment despite the physical distance and different time zones.   Troy's Top Three Metrics in Running a Search Firm Metrics and KPIs are not there to micro-manage your team but rather guide them in ensuring that they are prioritizing tasks that contribute to your organization's bigger objectives. I wanted to know Troy's take on the three most important metrics to measure his team's success. He gave a straightforward response: “Recruiters have to have at least, ten interview screens... And then six client interviews in a week... If you end up with three a week, you're going to end up with one to two placements a month. And so there's a scaling factor to that. Then, on the client side, there are at least two meetings with clients every single week. And then that will be five to eight also interviews a week.”   Troy Ashby Bio and Contact Info Troy Ashby, President and Founder of Benchmark Search Group, founded the company in 2018 after working at one of the Big Four accounting firms, in addition to more than a decade of experience working with one of the largest national recruiting firms. With more than 20 years of professional service experience, Troy has built Benchmark's reputation as a trusted advisor for sourcing and recommending the right accounting talent, specializing in direct hire placement, executive search, and temporary staffing for accounting and finance professionals. Troy is responsible for overseeing business development and talent acquisition along with P&L responsibility, marketing, and operations.   Troy's greatest joy comes from encouraging and helping others, personally and professionally. He has a genuine passion for people, developing long-term relationships while working to make a lasting impact in the Dallas Fort Worth community – Troy takes a servant leader attitude to heart and delivers excellence every day. He has a proven track record of building teams, creating culture, and empowering associates, clients, and candidates to win!   He has a passion for developing long-term relationships in both business and his community. He has been actively involved in various professional and civic organizations around DFW chairing committees or serving on boards including the Richardson Family YMCA, The Family Place, the Dallas Regional Chamber, and the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Leadership Dallas and Leadership Richardson and has also been an active volunteer in March of Dimes, Genesis Women's Shelter, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He has been a guest speaker for multiple professional associations including the Risk Management Association (RMA) Young Risk Management Association (YRMA) and the Dallas Society of CPAs. Troy has also been cited in industry publications such as the Journal of Accountancy as an expert source   Troy received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from Oklahoma State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and previously worked in public accounting at Ernst & Young, Arthur Andersen, and Whitley Penn. He and his wife Cayce have two children, Owen and Claire. Troy places a strong emphasis on family which is why he has built a strong internal corporate culture for his employees, centered around a workplace that has been designated as a Best Place to Work for Working Parents for multiple years.   Troy on LinkedIn Benchmark Search Group website link Benchmark Search on Facebook Benchmark Search on X (Formerly Twitter) Benchmark Search on Instagram Benchmark Search on YouTube   People and Resources Mentioned Clockify Asana The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday   Connect with Mark Whitby Get your FREE 30-minute strategy call Mark on LinkedIn Mark on Twitter: @MarkWhitby Mark on Facebook Mark on Instagram: @RecruitmentCoach   Subscribe to The Resilient Recruiter   If you've been enjoying the podcast, please take two minutes to leave a review. Your review is greatly appreciated because it helps us attract a bigger audience and help more recruiters.  

When was six years old, she asked her father, “Why am I here?” He laughed but did not answer her. She interpreted this as a message to stop asking questions. Deep down, Rashmir knew she had a purpose. It wasn't until she was 40 years old that she leaned into her true purpose. Rashmir grew up in a traditional Sri Lankan family in Africa and the UK, with high, prescribed expectations. Attending university, she intended to prepare for medical school (her mom is a physician) but realized it was not right for her. Instead, Rashmir studied math and computer science and earned her chartered accounting credential while in her first job at Ernst & Young. Next stop: investment banking. From there, Rashmir navigated a variety of career moves, always seeking to learn new things and to make a meaningful impact. These two threads have been essential foundations in guiding her professional decisions and the quest for her true calling. Rashmir took her work from the for-profit sector to explore several nonprofit sector roles, including a 5-year engagement with the Gates Foundation on a newly formed team dedicated to identifying new areas of giving which became their Global Development Program. Today, Rashmir coaches leaders who have bold visions for change that they want to bring to the world. She also offers team coaching, strategic consultations, speaking, and custom professional development programs. Throughout all of Rashmir's strategic career moves, she has emphasized: the importance of listening to one's inner voice the value of taking time off for reflection and growth taking a balanced approach to professional development that emphasizes learning, impact, and authentic living In this week's learn more about Rashmir's journey: Rashmir decided to pursue an MBA at Yale University to learn best practices in management and leadership as applied in social impact enterprises.  She found her experience living in the US to be eye-opening and transformative.  Rashmir highlights the power of meditation, coaching, and inner reflection in navigating career transitions and aligning work with purpose. Learn more and connect with Rashmir here: 

In This Episode Jeff has an enlightening conversation with Nick Rhodes and Shant Suntani from Esperanza Homes as they delve into their experiences as small regional builders in Southwest Texas. They highlight the unique challenges and advantages of serving a market with a low price point and low income levels. They emphasize the importance of understanding the local demographics and designing homes and communities that cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Hispanic population. They also discuss their approach to staffing and onboarding employees who may have no prior experience in the home building industry.    Timestamps 00:00 Build 100 Homes 10 Times 03:19 Most Important Financial Problem Facing Families 08:23 Challenges of High Housing Costs and Affordability 10:35 Introduction to Esperanza Homes 13:15 Transition to Home Building 19:17 Advantages of Being a Small Regional Builder 26:08 Unique Characteristics of the Hispanic Market 29:00 Advice for Builders in Untapped Markets 34:14 Future Growth and Expansion 37:43 Don't Try to Be Like Everyone Else   About Nick & Shant Since 2015, Nick Rhodes has led Esperanza Homes through aggressive expansion establishing Rhodes as the largest land developer/residential builder in South Texas. Under his leadership, Rhodes has developed from a small to mid-size, high-performing employer of choice. Shant Samtani started his career in finance with stints at Ernst & Young and Frost Bank in audit and commercial lending. In 2016 he transitioned his career path to new construction homes sales at Esperanza Homes where he has grown from an Independent Sales Consultant to leading Esperanza's high-performing team of over a dozen sales professionals across the organization.   Acknowledgments Builder365 is powered by Opendoor for Builders. For easy sales and smooth moves, visit www.opendoor.com/builder365

In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you'll learn:According to a recent Ernst & Young report, 32% of CEOs fear their industries are changing so fast they can't keep up, 27% anticipate battling brand-new competitors, and 40% of small biz owners are admitting 2024 could make or break them. Rusty provides some quick solutions!Rusty's teams achieved a record-breaking 22 consecutive state sports championships, and yet, he believes, it's not just about trophies...Rusty's three secrets to building championship leadership that works in any business.  His take on rewarding performance, not results. Proven strategies to stay ahead of the curve and at the top of your market.How Rusty teaches others to successfully coach themselves.Often we battle our own negative thoughts.  Rusty provides some simple steps to reframe your mindset to be superior in business, sports, and life.  To Learn More About This Guest:rustykomori.com

Are you looking to scale your online business to seven figures? Ever wondered how female entrepreneurship can drive gender equality? These compelling questions are at the heart of my conversation with Sigrun Gudjonsdottir, an award-winning business coach, speaker, author, and podcast host. With a mission to accelerate gender equality through female entrepreneurship, Sigrun offers a tough-love, no-nonsense approach to business and life.   We discussed: ⚉  The journey from architecture to business leadership ⚉  Personal health crisis and starting a business ⚉  Dreaming big and making them come true ⚉  How do you know you're successful? ⚉  What are the keys to a successful online business launch? ⚉  Accelerating gender equality through entrepreneurship ⚉  Sigrun's magic moment ⚉  Business advice for online business startups ⚉  What business taught me ⚉  Why optimism and perseverance are important as an entrepreneur? ⚉  Fast talk segment     Sigrun is an award winning business coach, bestselling author, international speaker and host of the Sigrun Show podcast. She's been called the leading business mentor for online entrepreneurs in Europe. She is on a mission to accelerate gender equality through female entrepreneurship and helps women start and scale their online businesses to 7 figures with her tough love and no-nonsense-approach to business and life.  Sigrun has been featured in Forbes, Time and numerous leading media publications in Europe. In 2022 she was accepted into the Hall of Fame of Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Switzerland and in 2021 she won 5 German Stevie Awards; as the Hero of the year, Entrepreneur of the year, Solo entrepreneur of the year, Manager of the year, and Sales Achievement of the year. Sigrun is married, has two stepsons, and splits her time between Reykjavik, Iceland and Zurich, Switzerland.   Her latest book is available on Amazon and is called Kickstart Your Online Business - Create an Online Course and Start to Make Sales.   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: ⚉  [Book] Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't by Jim Collins - https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996  ⚉ [Book] Kickstart Your Online Business: Create an Online Course and Start to Make Sales by Sigrun Gudjonsdottir - https://www.amazon.com/Kickstart-Your-Online-Business-Create/dp/B0B7QLGC1F    CONNECT WITH SIGRUN:

Next in Media caught up with three top industry observers at Cannes - Human Ventures Joe Marchese, Pfizer's Wendy Aldrich and former Ernst & Young analyst Janet Balis on what AI is going to require of marketers, whether there is a generational dividing line in TV, and what YouTube crashing the CTV market means for the future. Guest(s): Joe Marchese, Wendy Aldrich, Josh Palau, Janet BalisHost: Mike ShieldsProduced by: Fresh Take

Today's episode is part 1 of David's interview with Power of Zero co-founder Larry DeLegge.  The two talk about value life insurance policies, children, and whether life insurance can serve as a viable volatility shield in retirement. David shares his thoughts regarding the “IUL vs. whole life insurance policy” debate. For David, starting a life insurance policy is like getting married – he explains why. When it comes to life insurance policies, there are two key things David looks at. The first one is safe and productive growth, the second thing is a guaranteed 0% loan. David touches upon the 4% rule and the so-called volatility buffer. “The problem with the 4% rule is that it's a pretty expensive way to go about saving for retirement,” says David. A recent Ernst & Young study looked at whether there is any reliable way to get an 8% distribution rate. David cites a study that said that bonds are much more correlated to the stock market than we previously thought and are much more volatile than previously thought..  David discusses precautions to take with the LIRP for your children to avoid unpleasant surprises.   Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before You LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free 3-part video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com MetLife Hancock Midland Dave Ramsey Ernst & Young Curtis Ray

Tax deductions are a big deal for real estate investors and there's one important deduction that's dangling from a cliff right now. It's the 100% bonus depreciation that's currently hung up in the Senate, past the date mentioned in this interview. But our guest, Brandon Hall, will fill you in on exactly how this deduction works and why it's so important.  He'll also dive into several other very useful tax topics including how you can qualify as a real estate professional for additional tax savings, whether real estate investors are experiencing more audits right now, and what situations might increase your risk of an audit. Brandon is founder and managing partner at Hall CPA and is also known as The Real Estate CPA (www.therealestatecpa.com). He studied accounting and finance at East Carolina University and specializes in creating “tax smart” portfolios for clients. He's also a real estate investor with more than two dozen units. Previous employment includes PwC and Ernst & Young.  Brandon's team recently held a virtual live event called the Tax, Legal & Wealth Summit May 2024. I was among the speakers. You can still get access to a replay of the event at their website if you click on “reserve your free ticket.” Join RealWealth to jumpstart your real estate portfolio. It's free to join and will give you access to valuable resources like our property tours! We offer on location property tours monthly in the North Dallas area and coming up on July 7th and 8th, we'll be taking clients on a tour of available properties in San Antonio! Join us!  Thanks for joining me for The Real Wealth Show! Kathy Fettke ~~~~ FOLLOW OUR PODCASTS