We all have ideas that make up our life's dream. But turning those aspirations into reality is the tricky part. John Miller is a master of making dreams come to life. John is CEO of Cali Group, a holding company focused on using new technologies to transform the restaurant and retail industries. Cali Group owns a global QSR restaurant chain, CaliBurger, and has major equity positions in Dive afDiliated technology companies (Super League Gaming, FunWall, Miso Robotics, PopID, and Kitchen United)....
Oct 27, 2020•33 min•Ep. 134
Food and sales are the principal components of businesses and our lives. Mark Eggerding intertwines both of them in his life and career to spark learning, excellence, confidence, positivity, enthusiasm, creativity, and love. Mark is Vice President of Brand Activation at US Foods and the author of Mastering the Sales Recipe: Creating Memorable Customer Experiences and Sales Success. His love for selling and cooking began at a young age when his school teacher gave him the confidence to reach for ...
Oct 15, 2020•28 min•Ep. 133
Everyone has unique qualities and characteristics. It's what makes our wonderful world so diverse and exciting. But understanding how to harness your unique attributes and use them to propel you forward is what determines our success. Chris Adams is an expert at utilizing uniqueness to create a strong and diverse company culture. Chris is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Park Place Technologies, building one of the country's fastest-growing companies, with over 1,200 employees. He is...
Oct 14, 2020•35 min•Ep. 132
Failure - It's something we all face and struggle with. How we overcome our failures define who we become. Jeremy Harbour took his failure and turned it into humility. He learned that when you fail, you realize the rope was only inches off the ground. Jeremy is a serial investor and expert in Mergers & Acquisitions. He is also the founder of Unity Group, on which he’s advised on more than 300 acquisitions of both distressed and solvent businesses. He grew up driven to make an impact. Leaving...
Oct 13, 2020•30 min•Ep. 131
We all go through difficult times when growing up, but how we react to those times determine how we show up as adults. Narine Galstian took her childhood challenges and grew into a driven, curious, and open minded leader. Narine is one of the most promising CMO's in the technology sector, at the helm of the 14x - Inc. 500 Company, SADA. SADA was named Google Cloud Reseller Partner of the Year for 2018 and 2019. SADA was also named the Google Cloud Global Partner of the Year Award for 2018. Comin...
Sep 29, 2020•31 min•Ep. 130
Representation has always been important, especially in this day and age. Many people see the world in black and white, but there is more to life than that. There has been a constant need for a role model that sees in between the lines and is able to use their privilege (and burden) for good. Lori Cornmesser is the perfect example that embodies all these traits. Lori is a successful biracial woman who is also an accomplished Global Channel and Commercial Management Executive with more than 20 ye...
Sep 17, 2020•26 min•Ep. 129
The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success. Stephen Hightower is the perfect representation of the American Dream. Stephen is an experienced Chief Operating Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & energy industry. He grew up with humble beginnings but through persistence, drive, and determination, he was able to transform Hightowers Petroleum into the fast-grow...
Sep 15, 2020•29 min•Ep. 128
Everyone wants to be the change they want to see in the world. To do that, you have to be a catalyst for your own growth, as well as for the people around you. Don't know where to start? Ozzie Nelson has the answers you need. Ozzie is an accomplished Chief Executive Officer and chairman of Nelson who has applied entrepreneurial skills to the design, architecture, and planning industry. Even though he is the second generation to have leadership within Nelson, he was the catalyst they needed to be...
Sep 14, 2020•33 min•Ep. 127
Everyone wants to have someone they look up to, someone who inspires them to become the best versions of themselves despite difficult circumstances. Jeff Bush is one of those people you can look up to. Jeff is a highly motivated, goal-oriented Operations Executive with an established history of exceeding goals in many areas. Despite growing up with his odds stacked against him, he was able to learn how to treat every moment like an opportunity which led him to become the current President of Par...
Sep 09, 2020•29 min•Ep. 126
Claude Silver is VaynerMedia's Chief Heart Officer, the capstone of a career focused on guiding client relationships, global brand strategies, operations, and management. An abiding passion for creating spaces in which people can thrive defined her previous leadership positions at JWT London, Publicis London, SAYMedia, and Organic, among others. Connect with and find out more about Claude at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilver...
Dec 09, 2019•24 min•Ep. 125
Ryan is a three-time entrepreneur who’s previous technology companies were successfully acquired by USA TODAY and Groupon. Now as the founder and CEO of Electric, Ryan is leveraging data and automation to deliver enterprise-grade IT services to small and midsize companies all over the US. Since founding in 2016, Electric has raised $39M and employs a team of 150 full-time employees across four offices in the US and abroad. Find out more about Ryan at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandenehy/...
Dec 04, 2019•41 min•Ep. 124
As CEO of Toffler Associates, Maria taps into deep experience with strategy development and execution, customer experience, business performance management, acquisition integration, and organizational transformation. Before joining Toffler Associates, Maria was a managing director at North Highland, overseeing media, entertainment, and communications industry. As the division president, she led the Data Analytics and Sparks Grove groups and directly contributed to the profitability and growth of...
Dec 02, 2019•33 min•Ep. 123
Lena Trudeau is CEO of U.Group, an advanced technology and creative design company committed to creating customer-centric innovation in the public and private sectors. An early advocate for government modernization, Lena spearheaded the creation of 18F, an in-house digital services team at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and brought a similar model to the Canadian Digital Service (CDS). Lena’s expertise was also tapped in the private sector as she led the Amazon Web Services Publ...
Nov 27, 2019•33 min•Ep. 122
In 2010, Bryan and Shannon Miles felt a stirring from God. After experiencing the virtual assistant (VA) model for themselves, the couple was inspired to start their own business providing virtual support to busy leaders. After much prayer and due diligence, Bryan and Shannon followed God’s call and founded Miles Advisory Group. Within two months, they had signed four contracts with leaders in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Wyoming – generating a wave of momentum that continues to this d...
Nov 25, 2019•31 min•Ep. 121
As a Bahnsen Group Managing Director/Partner, Kimberlee specializes in personal wealth advising and oversees financial and retirement planning solutions for high net worth individuals and multi-generational families. She creates, and guides implementation of, cohesive strategies that incorporate all aspects of clients’ financial lives.Kimberlee’s proficiency also includes helping individuals transition to financial independence after life-altering events such as death or divorce. She is a Certif...
Nov 20, 2019•44 min•Ep. 120
Michael Farber is a social entrepreneur and founder of Breakout. Through his work with Breakout, Michael organizes transformative and powerful events in cities across the country to celebrate and give a voice to local change makers who lift up their communities. Find out more about Michael at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-farber-851a927/
Nov 18, 2019•45 min•Ep. 119
Mark Rothschild is the founder and CEO of Right at School. Prior to that, he was COO of the JCC of Chicago and CEO of the Cincinnati JCC. Mark has held senior-level posts at Fastweb.com, Knowledge Advisors, and the Human Capital Research Corporation, has been a consultant in workforce development, training, and communications with McKinsey and Company and Arthur Andersen, and has taught at several universities, including Loyola University, Indiana University, and Northwestern University. Mark wa...
Nov 13, 2019•29 min•Ep. 118
Stuart, is the Chair and CEO of Audubon, a membership group of St. Louis area civic-minded investors. Its 3 pillars are increasing wealth management knowledge, encouraging collaboration to make St. Louis area philanthropic efforts more effective and growing the vibrant St. Louis area start-up scene. Find out more about Stuart at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuzimmer/
Nov 11, 2019•32 min•Ep. 117
James earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Miami University in 2000. Before joining Wealthquest, James spent five years with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network as a Financial Representative. He spent most of that time training other Financial Representatives in financial planning techniques. James earned the right to use the CFP® mark in 2004. James is married with three children. He enjoys golfing and running. He is very active in service projects through his church incl...
Nov 06, 2019•27 min•Ep. 116
Over his 25 years as a technology entrepreneur, Tom has built and led several highly profitable, industry-defining companies. Always a passionate champion of disruptive technologies, Tom began his career as an associate at BCG, where he was immersed in the shift to “big box” retail. He later served as president of Ticketmaster.com (LYV), where he helped lead the transition to online ticketing. Then, as CEO of Ancestry.com, he built one of the Internet’s first and largest online content subscript...
Nov 04, 2019•23 min•Ep. 115
Anson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Battery, honored as a 3-time Ad Age Small Agency of the Year and ranked as a top 10 Fastest growing private company by the Los Angeles Business Journal 3 years in a row. In June 2019, Havas acquired a majority stake in Battery. Prior to Battery, he co-founded one of the first pure play social media agencies called Rocket XL, growing the company to 5 offices across 4 countries before selling to Cossette Communications Group in 2008. Anson is an active member of ...
Oct 30, 2019•26 min•Ep. 114
Joel Holland is the CEO of Harvest Hosts (harvesthosts.com), a membership network that connects RVers with unique overnight experiences at 1000+ wineries, farms, breweries, museums, golf courses and other interesting destinations in the US and Canada. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Storyblocks (storyblocks.com), a one-stop-shop for high quality stock media and the first subscription-based platform in the industry for high-quality creative content: stock video, production music, stock pho...
Oct 28, 2019•40 min•Ep. 113
As a leading social innovator and TEDx speaker, Mark Shapiro is inspiring businesses, communities, and individuals to a kinder standard of influence. From his 12 years at Showtime Networks in a sales, training, and leadership role, his extensive research on authenticity (through the ‘Are You Being Real’ Podcast), and having sent 8,000 personalized shoutout videos to those he cares about, Mark is pioneering a new code of influence – which he lives, and lives to share. For more, visit www.KindFlue...
Oct 23, 2019•37 min•Ep. 112
An accomplished leader with a proven track record of aggressive, yet honorable leadership, Brian has led CMI to double digit growth, every year since 2008. Coming from humble beginnings, Brian was first hired to sweep the floors at CMI at 14 years old. He's come to love the industry AND the Company that has provided so much opportunity for himself, his family and their 100+ loyal and dedicated employees and countless supplier partners. Find out more about Brian at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/br...
Oct 21, 2019•17 min•Ep. 111
Mike began his investment career in the early 1980s in Columbus, OH as a research analyst at the Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio. He founded Willingdon Wealth Management in 2003, and continues to utilize his extensive experience in research and fundamental analysis to play a leadership role in the firm’s overall investment process. Mike also has primary responsibility for the management of the Core Equity Portfolio. In addition, Mike writes a monthly newsletter, Willingdon Views, in w...
Oct 16, 2019•23 min•Ep. 110
Since founding LHA, formerly known as Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates in 1984, Keith Lippert has built a leading industry‐wide reputation as a highly respected strategist to public, private and foreign emerging‐growth companies. Along with his partner, John Heilshorn, Keith has provided counsel to thousands of companies from large-cap to micro-cap establishing LHA as a pioneer and a premier provider of investor relations. In addition, Keith advises clients in a wide variety of industries and ...
Oct 14, 2019•29 min•Ep. 109
Courtney Nichols Gould is the Co-Founder/Co-CEO of SmartyPants Vitamins, the leading maker of premium comprehensive supplements with a commitment to bring more health to more people every day. Since launching online in 2011, SmartyPants has led the industry in making ingredient choices focused on quality and transparency and wrapping them in a delicious package. The company's products are top-ranked on Amazon and sold everywhere from Whole Foods and Target to Costco and beyond. Previously the fo...
Aug 12, 2019•29 min•Ep. 108
Jillian is committed to creating connection and community by organizing places where people feel seen, heard, and valued. As a professional community builder, public speaker, and writer, Jillian is most known for being the founder of The Joy List, a weekly newsletter with the mission of reducing loneliness in New York City and eventually the world. She's been sending it out every Monday morning for over two years, helping people build connection to both place and each other. In addition to her s...
Aug 08, 2019•35 min•Ep. 107
Dan Nester, President, and Chief Executive Officer co-founded Polaris Logistics Group in 2013 after 13 years at a large Third Party Logistics company. Dan brings a vast range of experience to Polaris, including the development and expansion of a broad customer and carrier base. He is responsible for operations, training, sales and accounting for the organization. He also serves as a mentoring resource for his entire staff, helping them develop their logistics skills and ensuring that they provid...
Aug 05, 2019•23 min•Ep. 106
One of today’s most influential voices in workplace trends, Chester Elton has spent two decades helping clients engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. In his provocative, inspiring and always entertaining talks, #1 bestselling leadership author Chester Elton provides real solutions to leaders looking to manage change, drive innovation, and lead a multi-generational workforce. Elton’s work is supported by research with more than 850,000 working adults, revealing the pr...
Aug 01, 2019•35 min•Ep. 105
