Afleveringen
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Alfonso Guerreri, A Harvard-educated lawyer turned hands-on entrepreneur, founded RICI Contracting in 2022 and has since grown it into a full-service powerhouse. Today, RICI delivers construction, asphalt paving, snow & property maintenance, waste management, and facility services across Ontario. Alfonso shares how he parlayed legal training into strategic vision, weathered early food-truck misfires, and now innovates a once-old-school industry with sustainability, operational excellence, and client-first focus.
Key Discussion Points:
Law Meets Hard Hats: How a top-tier legal education taught Alfonso discipline, risk assessment, and negotiation skills he now applies to multimillion-dollar contracting bids.
Early Failures to Firm Foundations: The food-truck chapter that taught him to test market fit, manage debt serviceability, and pivot swiftly into construction.
Building RICI’s Service Portfolio: The step-by-step playbook for adding roll-off trucks, portable toilets, paving rigs, and snow-plow fleets—each driven by recurring revenue needs.
Ideally Niche Clients: Why focusing on property managers, REITs, and pension-fund portfolios ensures monthly billing reliability and repeat business.
Innovation & Sustainability: How Alfonso is modernizing a legacy sector through advanced equipment, AI-powered fleet surveillance, and eco-minded operational upgrades.
Scaling with Discipline: His criteria for debt-financed expansion, in-house versus subcontractor work, and turning low-risk jobs into entry points for higher-ticket contracts.
Key Takeaways:
Strategic Pivoting: Embrace early failures as fast-feedback loops that uncover scalable opportunities.Debt Serviceability Test: Only invest in capital assets when your recurring cash-flows can safely cover the payments.Client Lifetime Value: Lock in high-margin, recurring services for the same ideal customers rather than chasing one-off gigs.Operational Excellence: Leverage technology, standardize processes, and build sustainability into every service offering.Closing Thoughts:
Alfonso Guerreri’s journey from articling desks to asphalt crews illustrates that true entrepreneurial grit lies in mastering finance-savvy expansion and relentless client focus. Tune in to discover how RICI Contracting is redefining Canadian facility services—one strategically financed roll-off bin at a time.
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After engineering stints and an immigrant-family push toward a PhD, Brian Le accidentally fell into entrepreneurship, first by noticing Bird scooters on campus, then by solving students’ last-minute snack and supply crises with app-powered micro-convenience. A Y Combinator alum, Brian tells how COVID tested Need’s model, why blind ambition is a superpower in your twenties, and how he sees college (and AI) shaping the next generation of founders.
Key Discussion Points
Engineering Roots → Accidental Startup: How Bird scooters at UCLA sparked a “Why not?” moment.
YC Crash Course: The plunge from no-name founders into the world’s top accelerator—and why every twenty-something should consider it.
Pandemic Pivot: When campus shutdowns zeroed out revenue, why doubling down on your mission becomes your strongest play.
Pitching 101: The art of “selling” your startup: story-driven conviction and painting a vivid vision five-to-ten years out.
College’s True Value: It isn’t just classes—it’s community, hands-on experiments, and leadership labs for budding founders.
AI as a Tool, Not a Threat: Why aspiring entrepreneurs should harness AI to supercharge impact, not replace human ingenuity.
Key Takeaways
Ignorance Is Bliss: Youthful “delulu” ambition fuels moonshot ventures that grizzled veterans second-guess.Sell the Vision: A great pitch isn’t a slide deck—it’s an emotional story backed by unwavering conviction.Embrace Crisis: A downturn isn’t a dead end—it’s a moment to build your foundation and outpace slow movers.College = Sandbox: Beyond tuition, campus life offers accelerators, orgs, and friendships that forge real-world entrepreneurs.Check them out https://wefunder.com/need
Closing Thoughts
Brian Le’s journey proves that true founders are often “accidental”—ignited by frustration, honed by trial, and scaled by audacious positivity. Whether you’re racing a scooter or racing a market, the college decade remains the ultimate launchpad for ventures that dare to deliver.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Colin Walsh CEO & Co‑Founder of YayDay; CEO of P&G Specialty Beauty and Dr. Roshini Raj board‑certified gastroenterologist, Gut Renovation author, co‑founder of Tula & YayDay share how beauty meets biotech in a gut‑first wellness brand. They reveal why fiber + magnesium is only the start, and how gut health underpins sleep, mood, immunity—and even skin health.
Key Discussion Points
Roots in Beauty & Medicine: How Roshini’s probiotic skincare journey at Tula and Colin’s 20‑year beauty career sparked a gut‑health collaboration.
Gut Microbiome 101: What exactly lives in your gut, why its balance matters for everything from digestion to mood, and how fiber (prebiotics), beneficial bacteria (probiotics), and postbiotics play their part.
YayDay’s “Triple Play”: The science behind their prebiotic fiber blend, digestive enzymes and sleep‑boosting magnesium glycinate—why it works where Metamucil and melatonin fall short.
Brand with a Cause: Reinventing embarrassing “health” routines into a joyful, results‑driven ritual—how great packaging, expert science and rapid, tangible benefits build trust in a crowded wellness market.
Marketing & Growth: Lessons from Procter & Gamble on creating proven efficacy, growing word‑of‑mouth, and earning “trust capital” through real customer results.
Exit Strategies: What acquirers really buy (growth potential + leadership) and why thoughtful timing—and full clarity on post‑exit roles—matters for founders.
Key Takeaways
Your gut is its own “organ”—its microbes influence sleep, skin, mood and immunity.Simple rituals win: combining prebiotic fiber + enzymes + magnesium delivers near‑instant sleep and digestion benefits.Brand trust is built on proven results, expert endorsement and joyful, approachable design.Marketing health means sampling broadly, showcasing real reviews and earning attention over time.Whether you build or sell, acquirers want teams who can scale the brand far beyond today’s footprint.Closing Thoughts
Tune in to learn how two industry legends turned an awkward health topic into YayDay’s delightful daily ritual—plus practical tips on gut wellness, branding in a noisy market, and creating exit‑worthy growth.
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Korosh Farazad traded a UK law career for two decades of pioneering structured finance in hospitality real estate. Today, his Farazad Advisory specializes in value-add hotel acquisitions—85–200 rooms, no global brands, 3–5-year hold—in gateway cities across North America and Western Europe. From SLS Dubai to a sudden Swiss relocation, Korosh reveals the deal architecture, market pivots, and hard-won lessons behind his boutique empire.Key Discussion Points:
The Spark: How a people-person’s obsession with behind-the-scenes hotel value drove Korosh from courtroom to keys.
Deal DNA: Why only sub-200-room, unbranded hotels qualify, and how minority stakes plus franchise tie-ins deliver 1.8–3× returns.
“SLS Dubai” Benchmark: The guest-experience blueprint that turns check-in into a 24-hour mousetrap of F&B and nightlife options.
Market Pivot: Exiting a cooling UK scene, relocating to Switzerland in five weeks, and sealing first Swiss deals in record time.
Architects of Upside: Balancing debt-serviceability and in-house expertise to self-power roll-off trucks, paving rigs, and franchise roll-outs.
Failure → Fuel: Why every crash taught him more than success, and how relentless iteration builds the confident dealmaker.Key Takeaways:
Start Small, Crawl First: Deeply master every back-and-front-of-house nuance before running.Value-Add Over Core: Seek the “unfinished canvas” hotels that reward hands-on branding and operational revamps.Crystal-Clear Criteria: 85–200 rooms • no legacy brand • three-to-five-year hold • gateway city tourist flow.Speed to Market: Quick pivots (e.g., Switzerland in five weeks) beat protracted, high-cost transformations.Closing Thoughts:
Korosh Farazad’s journey reminds us that hospitality deals aren’t hotel-chain clones but stories begging to be rewritten. Tune in to discover how structured finance, guest-obsessed engineering, and bold market moves can redefine real estate success—one boutique acquisition at a time.
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Kuty Shalev shares how a college accounting grad became a pioneer of fully remote software consulting—25 years before “work from home” was a thing. He explains why speed, adaptability, and “soft skills” (EQ as deliberate practice) trump raw IQ in today’s agile, AI-driven world.
Key Discussion Points:
A Serendipitous Start
From PwC-sponsored coding at Columbia to founding a lean software firm with Pricewaterhouse as Year-One client.
Early adoption of Skype‐powered remote teams to solve developer shortages.
Building a True Remote Culture
Lessons learned: codifying checklists, connectivity standards, and clear response SLAs.
Hiring only those who thrive in remote settings—surfing from the beach, caring for family, or rural living.
Soft Skills as a “Must-Have”
Reframing EQ as a learnable “soft skill” through deliberate practice and gamified coaching.
Engineers with high EQ excel at adapting to rapid change, cross-team collaboration, and maintaining motivation.
Digital Transformation Reimagined
Rejecting one-size-fits-all platforms in favor of modular, vendor-agnostic architectures.
Rapid, low-risk proofs of concept that scale, saving time and budget.
Remote model enables access to global talent, faster staffing (2–3 weeks), and reinvesting office savings in senior engineers.
Speed & Resilience
Speed as competitive advantage in a landscape where AI and new tools emerge daily.
Overcoming early stumbles by showing up, iterating fast, and leveraging trust and feedback loops.
Key Takeaways:
Speed Wins: Rapid iteration and fast staffing trump slow, monolithic “big-bang” IT projects.
EQ Matters: Soft skills can be learned; they unlock collaboration, resilience, and better outcomes.
Remote Is a Strength: A 25-year remote track record proves that location-agnostic teams deliver quality, flexibility, and cost efficiency.
Modularity Over Monoliths: Architect for choice—cloud providers, SaaS, and stacks—so you can pivot as technology evolves.
Show Up Relentlessly: Consistent effort, forgiveness of failure, and learning from mistakes fuel long-term success.
Closing Thoughts:
Lueinalta’s journey shows that innovation isn’t just about tech—it’s about people, practices, and the courage to redefine work itself. By mastering speed, empathy, and modular design, founders can build resilient organizations ready for whatever comes next.
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April (“Waepril”) shares how battling teenage acne sparked her obsession with ingredient-led skincare and launched her Instagram career. From zero views in quarantine to brand partnerships and a new website, she reveals the mindset, strategies, and resilience needed to turn personal struggle into a thriving beauty business.
Key Discussion Points:
Origins of Her Passion:
Teenage acne eroded April’s confidence, driving her to decode product labels and hunt active ingredients that truly work.
Emphasis on teaching followers how to read ingredients rather than chase marketing claims.
Authentic Community Growth:
Early quarantine boredom turned into daily posting despite tiny view counts—passion kept her going.
Advice for new creators: embrace originality, adapt trends into your own voice, and persist through slow growth.
Monetization Pathways:
As follower count climbs, brands seek her out for product launches and paid collaborations.
Amazon affiliate links and TikTok/IG Shop as accessible entry points before launching a full e-commerce site.
Content Differentiation:
Stand out by infusing every reel with your personality and story, not just mimicking top trends.
Trend hijacking vs. trend transformation: use popular formats as springboards for unique angles.
Overcoming Personal Loss:
A pause after her father’s passing led to renewed clarity and commitment—turning grief into motivation.
Balancing vulnerability and positivity to build deeper audience trust.
The Future of Social Commerce:
Huge potential in live selling on TikTok, YouTube Commerce, and Amazon Live, especially for beauty demos.
The importance of user-friendly affiliate programs for creators without bespoke websites.
Key Takeaways:
Ingredient Literacy Is Power: Teach your audience to look past branding and focus on actives that actually deliver.
Passion Fuels Persistence: When growth stalls, genuine enthusiasm and a personal “why” will carry you forward.
Authenticity Wins: Audiences connect with real stories and personalities more than polished, generic content.
Accessible Monetization: Start with affiliate links and brand collaborations before scaling to full e-commerce.
Closing Thoughts:
April’s journey proves that turning personal pain into purpose can create a loyal, engaged community—and a viable business. By prioritizing ingredient expertise, authentic storytelling, and resilience, any creator can transform their passion into influence and income.
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Sheelam Chadha discusses her bold journey from two decades in corporate real estate to launching her own firm, Dry Capital, symbolically founded on International Women’s Day 2025. Driven by the desire to break the glass ceiling and leverage her extensive experience in the volatile European real estate market, Sheelam shares insights into navigating uncertainty, the importance of trust, and the power of strategic networking.
Key Discussion Points:
From Corporate to Founder:
The motivation behind launching Dry Capital after encountering limitations in the traditional corporate structure.How Sheelam turned professional frustrations into entrepreneurial opportunity by creating a company aligned with her vision and values.Navigating Market Volatility:
Insights on how major events—like Brexit, COVID-19, and recent interest rate hikes—have reshaped the European commercial real estate landscape.Why traditional bank financing is increasingly limited, and how Dry Capital provides alternative private capital solutions to help companies navigate prolonged market challenges.Challenges and Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:
The barriers faced by women in traditionally male-dominated industries and how Sheelam overcame criticism by cultivating resilience and self-belief.Practical advice on why women should embrace risk, leverage supportive networks, and pursue their entrepreneurial visions without hesitation.Strategic Networking and Building Trust:
How critical building and maintaining a professional network has been throughout Sheelam’s career.Advice for young professionals: proactively attend industry events, build genuine relationships, and cultivate trust that can last decades.Valuable Corporate Experience:
How experiences during economic downturns and corporate restructuring periods provided Sheelam with invaluable insights and resilience.Why challenging times offer greater learning opportunities compared to periods of easy growth.Key Takeaways:
Embracing discomfort and uncertainty can drive significant personal and professional growth.Genuine trust and integrity within professional relationships can be a key differentiator and asset throughout one's career.Courage, belief in oneself, and leveraging past corporate experiences can empower entrepreneurs to launch and scale their own businesses successfully.
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Aaron Marcum spent over two decades in the home care industry before founding Breakaway365, a coaching program designed to help agency owners scale their businesses while reclaiming the time, energy, and freedom they’ve lost. In this episode, Aaron shares what inspired him to launch Breakaway365, how positive psychology transformed his approach to leadership, and what he's learned from coaching hundreds of overwhelmed home care entrepreneurs.
Drawing on data from his previous venture, Home Care Pulse, Aaron explains how burnout, poor delegation, and always-on leadership are silently eroding the effectiveness of many agency owners. Through Breakaway365, he now empowers leaders to rethink how they build their businesses—with scalable systems, strong culture, and purpose-driven leadership at the core.
Key Discussion Points:
The Burnout Epidemic in Home Care Leadership:
Aaron shares how most agency owners lose sight of their original vision due to constant stress and reactive leadership. Breakaway365 was created to help them "break away" from always being on and return to the freedom they set out to create.
Positive Psychology Meets Entrepreneurship:
Backed by a master’s degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, Aaron explains how mindset shifts—like reframing setbacks as temporary—can radically transform business owners’ resilience and performance.
Keeping Culture Framework:
A proprietary model developed by Breakaway365 focused on retention and team growth.
K.E.E.P. stands for Knowledge, Empowerment, Engagement, and Partnership.Emphasizes autonomy, relationships, and confidence as the “arc of growth” that drives team loyalty and performance.AI-Driven Purpose Matching:
Aaron introduces a powerful tool Breakaway members use to help caregivers define their personal purpose, aligning it with the company’s mission—enhancing retention and employee engagement from day one.
Three-Day Immersive to Three-Year Commitment:
Breakaway365 starts with a transformational three-day event where owners define their Breakaway Blueprint—a roadmap tailored to what they truly want from their business. The program then continues for up to three years, offering tools, coaching, and AI-powered systems to build lasting success.
Why This Matters:
Home care is a mission-driven industry deeply impacted by leadership burnout and staff turnover.Breakaway365 is not just about growing revenue—it's about restoring joy and purpose to business ownership.Aaron’s approach is adaptable across industries, offering a blueprint for any founder looking to scale with sanity.
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Yaroslav Lazor and Sergiy Korolov take us on their fascinating journey from passionate software engineers to innovative entrepreneurs at Railsware. They share how their love for building software evolved from personal passion into a thriving business, influencing multiple industries and countless lives. Railsware’s approach of treating every internal process as a product is central to their ability to innovate, scale, and continuously improve.
Key Discussion Points:
Origins & Inspiration:
How their genuine passion for software as a transformative force inspired the founding of Railsware.Viewing software development as an exciting sport—endlessly challenging and infinitely rewarding.Product Mindset & Business Evolution:
The philosophy of approaching every company function (legal, finance, recruitment) as a "product" to enhance efficiency and user experience.Balancing in-house product development with collaborative ventures to constantly engage with fresh ideas and challenges.Building & Scaling Successful Companies:
Why early-stage entrepreneurs must juggle multiple roles, from visionary to executor.The critical importance of team-building, sharp decision-making, and scaling thoughtfully as the business grows.Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs:
Embracing a "founder mode craziness," coupled with conscious decision-making, intuition, and deep domain knowledge.How luck, timing, persistence ("don't quit"), and managing your own psychology are underestimated yet critical factors in entrepreneurial success.The Impact of AI:
AI’s role as a productivity booster rather than a complete replacement for creative roles such as writing, design, and software development.How AI fosters clearer articulation of ideas, better prototyping, and expanded creative possibilities.Key Takeaways:
Passion and continuous learning fuel entrepreneurial longevity.Treating business processes as products helps create clarity and efficiency.Understanding timing, persistence, and adaptability is critical for sustained success.Leveraging AI effectively enhances human potential rather than replacing it.
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In this episode of Founder's Story, Raza Sheikh, Founder & CEO of Identable, explains how he distilled his own frustration with fragmented SEO, content, and social tools into Identable—“one platform, zero fragmentation.” Designed for businesses of every size, Identable combines AI-powered SEO, content creation, social scheduling, and lead capture into a single dashboard. Raza describes how his technologist roots and Antler VC experience revealed a universal pain point: marketing teams wasted hours wrestling with disconnected systems instead of crafting strategy.
Key Discussion Points:
Inspiration & Problem: Juggling multiple free AI utilities, legacy SEO tools, and agencies left teams burned out.Founder’s Path: Solving his own go-to-market struggles led to a platform that any entrepreneur can use.Core Features: Unified website optimization, AI-driven content generation, social posting, and real-time lead tracking.SEO Meets GSO: Integrating traditional backlink SEO with generative search optimization for structured, AI-aware content.AI’s Role: Speed and scale—using AI to handle repetitive tasks so humans can focus on strategy and creativity.Takeaways:
Fragmented marketing stacks cost time and talent; consolidation boosts both productivity and results.Generative Search Optimization (GSO) is the next evolution of SEO—structure and semantics matter.AI tools amplify human insight but must be steered by clear strategy and intent.Closing Thoughts:
Whether you run brick-and-mortar shops or digital agencies, Identable offers a streamlined, AI-powered path from content idea to customer capture—freeing teams to innovate rather than integrate.
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Shane Smith is a seasoned med spa entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience and the CEO of Upkeep Ventures—one of America’s fastest-growing aesthetic brands. With multiple Inc. 5000 awards and 1000%+ year-over-year growth, Shane has built a national business by making high-quality med spa services accessible to the customers most companies overlook.
His fearless approach to scaling and commitment to affordability are changing the face of the industry.s a seasoned med spa entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience, responsible for building and leading some of the world’s top-performing spa and med spa companies, including multiple Inc. 5000-ranked businesses. As the CEO of Upkeep Ventures, Shane has scaled a national med spa brand focused on affordable, high-quality aesthetic services, driven by rapid growth, fearless strategy, and a commitment to serving customers others overlook.
We dive into: – Why being too smart can hold you back as a founder
– What Shane learned by shadowing elite CEOs
– His no-fluff take on entrepreneurship and risk
– Why doing what others won’t is the secret to growth
– And how to scale a service business without losing your soul
💻 Visit: https://www.upkeepmedspa.com
🌐 More: https://www.upkeepventures.com
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Divakar Vijayasarathy is the founder of DVS, a global platform revolutionizing the accounting and business services industry with a presence in the USA, India, Singapore, and Dubai. A self-described Thought Capitalist, Divakar is also the author of 16 books on taxation and a globally respected strategist in scaling professional services. His mission? To help CPAs and small firms overcome fragmentation, eliminate fear, and scale toward global impact and freedom.
💬 In This Episode:What if scaling your firm wasn’t just about better tools, but about completely rethinking your mindset?
In this mind-expanding episode, Divakar breaks down the illusions that hold entrepreneurs back, especially in the professional services industry. From growing up in the slums of India to building a multi-country platform for CPAs, he shares how fear, perception, and discipline shape success.
If you're a service-based founder, CPA, or anyone who feels stuck doing everything in your business, this episode is your wake-up call.
🧠 Topics We Cover:What “Thought Capitalism” really means—and how it drives modern valueWhy most CPAs and service providers stay small (and how to escape it)The three-part transformation every founder must go through: mindset, vision, actionHow to turn a one-person firm into a $10M+ business through DVS’s growth modelThe truth about exits—and how DVS creates liquidity from day oneWhy scaling is less about hard skills and more about decluttering your roleThe hidden costs of fear in fragmented industriesWhy discipline + direction = inevitable success🔑 Key Quotes:“The accounting world isn’t playing to win—they’re playing not to lose.” “One plus one doesn’t equal two. It equals infinity.” “Success isn’t about effort—it’s about perception and discipline.”📍 Want to connect with Divakar?
🌐 www.onedvs.com
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Melody Wilding is a professor of human behavior at Hunter College, a licensed therapist, an executive coach, and the author of Managing Up. She was named one of Insider’s Most Innovative Career Coaches and has been praised by thought leaders like Daniel Pink. Through her research and coaching, Melody has helped thousands of high-achievers navigate the complex relationships and unspoken rules that define career success.
💬 In This Episode:Melody Wilding joins Founder's Story to unpack the real reason many talented professionals get stuck in their careers—it’s not about skill, it’s about mastering the psychology of the people around you. From decoding power dynamics to influencing with integrity, Melody explains how to “manage up” to leaders, navigate workplace politics, and take ownership of your career trajectory.
Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or building your own business, this conversation is packed with actionable tools to help you lead, influence, and grow.
🧠 Topics We Cover:Why your biggest workplace challenges aren’t technical—they’re psychologicalThe 10 Conversations that unlock influence, visibility, and career growthHow to master both your inner psychology and the psychology of othersThe difference between managing up at junior vs. senior levelsWhy avoiding workplace politics is a dangerous mistakeHow to communicate with different leadership styles and power personalitiesThe “ownership conversation” and how to act like a business owner in your jobHow small, strategic asks (aka “foot in the door” technique) create big changeHow to build internal visibility without being self-promotional💡 Key Quote:“Politics are going to happen whether you like it or not. If you opt out, you do so at your own peril.”📘 Grab the book → ManagingUp.com
🎁 Bonus templates & scripts included with sign-up!
Connect with Melody:
🌐 ManagingUp.com
📚 Author of Managing Up
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In this urgent and eye-opening episode of Founder's Story, Daniel sits down with Ricardo Amper, the CEO and Founder of Incode, the revolutionary identity verification platform trusted by Amazon, Citibank, and even U.S. elections.
Ricardo reveals how deepfakes, AI fraud, and impersonation scams are rapidly increasing—and why the future of the internet depends on solving trust. From building a pre-Facebook social app to securing elections with facial biometrics, his journey is filled with unexpected pivots, high-stakes innovation, and global impact.
If you've ever wondered how we’ll know who’s real in the AI era, this episode answers it.
Topics Covered:Ricardo’s failed first startup and why timing matters more than you thinkThe near fraud that almost cost Incode a major dealWhy AI is breaking the internet—and how Incode is fixing itHow governments and Fortune 500s are using IncodeThe future of digital identity, trust, and agentic AIWhat Ricardo believes is the next frontier after facial recognitionHow identity fraud is impacting everyone from small businesses to democracy itselfGuest Info:Ricardo Amper
Founder & CEO, Incode
🌐 https://incode.com
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In this powerful episode of Founder's Story, we sit down with world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Osman Bashir Tahir—also known as Dr. OBT—whose aesthetic clinics span London, Dubai, and Lahore. From cleft surgeries to cutting-edge regenerative treatments, Dr. OBT reveals how he combines art and science to help people not just look better, but feel better, too.
We talk about the true purpose of plastic surgery, the myths social media has fueled, and how a well-done procedure can transform more than just appearance—it can change someone’s entire life. Dr. OBT also dives into regenerative medicine, including fat transfer, salmon DNA facials, and exosome therapy, and how he’s pioneering a more natural, undetectable approach to aesthetics.
Whether you're curious about the latest in aesthetic medicine or want to understand the emotional side of plastic surgery, this episode is honest, insightful, and inspiring.
Topics Covered:
How Dr. OBT got into plastic & aesthetic surgeryWhy blending art with surgery mattersThe problem with “overdone” faces and filler trendsThe right reasons people should get aesthetic proceduresWhat’s next in regenerative aestheticsThe truth about fat transfer, stem cells, and salmon sperm facialsHis views on confidence, wellness, and aging wellConnect with Dr. OBT:
🌐 Website & Clinic Info
📍 Locations: London | Dubai | Lahore
📲 Follow on Instagram: @drobt
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John Mattone is more than just the world’s #1 executive coach—he’s a trailblazer in leadership transformation. Globalgurus.org recognized him six times in seven years (2019–2025). John is the creator of the revolutionary Intelligent Leadership® (IL) framework. His work has impacted nearly 1 million individuals and thousands of organizations across 55 countries, earning him the trust of world leaders, Fortune 500 CEOs, and high-growth entrepreneurs.
In This Episode:
John Mattone joins Founder's Story to unpack the journey that led him from corporate trainer to one of the most respected executive coaches in the world. He shares deeply personal stories—like his transformative five sessions with Steve Jobs—and offers practical, heartfelt wisdom for leaders looking to unlock their full potential.
This episode is about more than just leadership. It’s about legacy, soul work, and the commitment to becoming the best version of yourself—at home, at work, and beyond.
We cover:
The pivotal moment Steve Jobs reflected on his growth as a leader and fatherWhy John’s first book failed—and how it led to everything that came nextThe Intelligent Leadership® framework: what it is, how it works, and why it’s changing livesWhat most executive coaches get wrong (and how John does it differently)The one question every great leader must ask themselvesWhy the best leaders operate from heart, mind, and soul—not just ambitionJohn’s personal evolution, mentors, setbacks, and the calling that reshaped his lifeHow to build trust with high-performing executives and hold them accountableThe importance of giving back—and John’s powerful story of creating scholarships to honor his family legacyKey Quote:
“Most people die without creating their masterpiece. My job is to help them build it before it’s too late.”Connect with John:
🌐 www.johnmattone.com
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Kyle Matthews shares how getting “cut” from a dream career in professional sports ultimately led him to founding the largest privately held commercial real estate brokerage firm in the U.S. With over 1,000 employees, 25 offices, and $66B in sales volume since 2015, his journey is a masterclass in grit, sacrifice, and long-game leadership.
💡 Topics Covered:
The moment football ended—and real estate beganFrom solo agent to building a $66B empireMental vs. financial freedom as a founderWhy “ignorance is bliss” was his best advantageHiring, scaling, and leading 1,000+ peopleHis obsession with mental toughness (and Kobe Bryant)Balancing CEO life with being a father of fourThe real cost of freedom no one talks aboutWhy his last name on the company raised the stakes🔥 Notable Quotes:
"When I started, I thought I was just building a small boutique. It became a monster.""If I can do it, you can do it. It’s not brilliance—it’s mental toughness.""Freedom comes at a price. You might get financial freedom, but you’ll lose mental freedom first."📲 Follow Kyle Matthews:
Instagram & X: @kylematthewsceo
Website: Matthews.com
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Today’s guest is Louis Bélanger-Martin, the visionary co-founder of DTI Software, the company that pioneered the in-flight entertainment systems we now take for granted. From the first flicker of a boring flight to Washington D.C., Louis saw an opportunity where others saw nothing and turned it into a multi-billion-dollar industry. His entrepreneurial journey didn’t stop at takeoff. Louis is also the founder of Groupe W Inc., a Canadian private equity firm that helps businesses scale globally with smart capital and real-world experience.
In this episode, Louis shares:
How a dull flight became the spark behind a global innovationWhat it takes to build a category-defining company over 8 long yearsThe biggest challenges and rewards of B2B enterprise sales to major airlinesHis transition from entrepreneur to investor—and why he rarely backs startupsThe one trait he looks for in every founder he fundsWhy clarity, simplicity, and knowing your audience are critical in a pitchHow Canadian private equity is evolving in 2025Louis also gives founders actionable insights on how to stand out in a crowded capital market and how to approach private equity with strategy, not just ambition.
📩 Connect with Louis:
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Louis Bélanger-Martin
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Jared Probst, Founder & President, Rapid Axis, details his journey from working in his stepfather’s machine shop to founding Rapid Axis—a company that revolutionizes short-term manufacturing and component fabrication. Jared shares his experience overcoming early cash flow challenges, building a robust sales system, and prioritizing operational excellence. His insights on customer service, innovative lead generation, and sustainable growth offer invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs in manufacturing and beyond.
Key Discussion Points:
Roots & Inspiration:Transition from a family machine shop to a dynamic sales and leadership role.The vision behind Rapid Axis, born from firsthand industry experience.Overcoming Challenges:Navigating early financial hurdles and avoiding cash flow pitfalls.The importance of disciplined operations and responsive customer service.Growth & Innovation:Leveraging cold outreach and digital tools for lead generation.Scaling sustainably without debt through strategic planning and resource sharing.Takeaways:
Precision, persistence, and a customer-first mindset are crucial for scaling.Operational excellence and innovative sales tactics drive sustainable growth.Jared’s journey highlights the power of transforming challenges into opportunities.
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In this episode of Founder's Story, host Daniel sits down with Dr. Mary C Hames to explore her remarkable journey into the pharma industry. Driven by personal experiences with epilepsy within her family, Dr. Hames founded BioLogic Pharma Solutions to address the volatility and challenges in pharma. By pioneering an innovative fractional medical team model and leveraging AI to enhance efficiency, she is reshaping how pharma and biotech companies navigate product launches and market fluctuations.
Key Topics Covered:
Inspiration & Personal Connection:Early family experiences with epilepsy sparked her passion for neurology and rare diseases.Industry Challenges:Tackling unpredictable product approvals and frequent team turnovers in pharma.Innovative Fractional Model:Introduction of a scalable, flexible fractional medical team to support companies during periods of flux.Leveraging AI & Emerging Technologies:Using AI to draft medical communications and summarize complex data, with human oversight to ensure accuracy and compliance.Advice for Aspiring Founders:Embracing a fearless “act as if you cannot fail” mindset to seize opportunities and address unmet needs in the industry.Action Steps:
Connect & Learn More: Visit biologicpharmasolutions.com and connect with Dr. Hames on LinkedIn.Reflect: Consider how a flexible, multi-skilled team approach could enhance your business strategy.Final Takeaway:
Dr. Mary C Hames’ insights blend personal passion with innovative business strategies, offering a compelling roadmap for success in a volatile industry. Her approach demonstrates the power of adaptability, decisive action, and the smart integration of technology in driving lasting impact.
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