In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas speaks with Ruby Kolesky , CEO of Joyous , an AI-powered feedback platform transforming how organizations listen, learn, and act. From her early days pursuing stand-up comedy to leading one of New Zealand’s most innovative tech companies, Ruby shares how empathy, humor, and human insight guide her approach to building smarter, more human-centered AI. She dives into why traditional surveys fail, how Joyous replaces static feedback loops...
Oct 24, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1133
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Shaahin Cheyene , the visionary entrepreneur behind the billion-dollar Herbal Ecstasy phenomenon and CEO of Accelerated Intelligence . From escaping Iran during the 1978 revolution to building empires in e-commerce and digital innovation, Shaahin shares how grit, risk-taking, and reinvention shaped his path to success. He dives into lessons learned from creating a legal “smart drug,” scaling Amazon businesses, and teachi...
Oct 22, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1132
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Sebastian Nelson , founder and CEO of Cruva , the SaaS platform powering over 400 brands and 10 million monthly TikTok Shop sales. Sebastian shares how frustration with manual creator management inspired him to build Cruva — now an official TikTok Shop partner — to automate affiliate outreach, vetting, and performance tracking. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing brand-creator matching, why affiliates are overtaking i...
Oct 20, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1131
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas chats with James Terry , Head of U.S. Revenue at Indeed Flex , about how AI and automation are transforming staffing and workforce flexibility. James shares how smart matching, AI interviews, and marketplace technology are helping businesses fill roles faster while empowering workers with more choice and control. He also explores what the next decade of on-demand, flexible work will look like for companies and job seekers alike. If you...
Oct 19, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1130
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Joris Delanoue , Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Fairmint , a pioneering FinTech company transforming how startups raise and manage capital through blockchain-based equity . Joris shares the personal frustrations that inspired Fairmint—his challenges with illiquid investments, limited access to ownership, and the outdated structure of private fundraising. He explains how Fairmint was built to democratize financial upside by emb...
Oct 18, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1129
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Nic Aldrich , a seasoned leader in the medical device industry with over a decade of experience spanning Stryker , Johnson & Johnson , and now OrthAlign . Nic shares how his journey from global marketing in large corporations to leading a nimble medtech innovator has reshaped his approach to marketing, technology, and organizational agility. Nic dives into the evolution of surgical navigation—from bulky capital syste...
Oct 17, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1128
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Tetiana (Tanya) Kobzar , founder of Diversido , an award-winning software development company supporting 65+ startups across HealthTech, EdTech, and IoT. With a master’s in computer science and over 15 years of experience bridging technology and business outcomes, Tetiana shares how she helps founders turn great ideas into products people truly want to use. Tetiana discusses her transition from hands-on coder to business leade...
Oct 15, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1127
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Juan DeAngulo , co-founder of Inselligence , a global tech startup redefining how small and medium-sized businesses manage sales operations across three continents. Juan shares how he’s challenging the long-held belief that sales is purely an art form—showing instead how data, process, and structure drive scalable success. Drawing from his experience building a $4 billion real estate investment platform, Juan discusses the imp...
Oct 13, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1126
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Zach Giglio , CEO of GCM , an award-winning agency helping organizations harness AI to boost efficiency, performance, and profitability. Certified in AI Strategy for Business by the Wharton School and a curriculum committee member for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management , Zach is a leading voice in the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence. Zach shares how to turn high-level AI vision...
Oct 11, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1125
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Austin Bonderer , a seasoned patent attorney with over 25 years of experience and more than 700 issued U.S. patents to his name. From his early days as a U.S. Patent Examiner to leading nanotechnology prosecutions for a Forbes Global 100 company, Austin brings unmatched insight into the world of intellectual property and innovation. He shares what working inside the USPTO taught him about the human side of patent law —wh...
Oct 09, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1124
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Andrea Iorio —globally recognized keynote speaker, author of Between You and AI , and one of the top 15 global AI influencers on LinkedIn. With experience leading digital operations for Tinder Latin America and serving as Chief Digital Officer at L’Oréal Brazil, Andrea shares how his unique blend of business, technology, and neuroscience insights is shaping the next generation of human-centered leadership. Andrea discuss...
Oct 08, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1123
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Neil Mandt—five-time Emmy Award-winning producer, director, and trailblazing entrepreneur redefining how we think about property in the digital age. With over 3,000 TV episodes and multiple films for Disney, A24, and other major studios, Neil has seamlessly bridged Hollywood storytelling with cutting-edge innovation in AI, AR, VR, and immersive media. Neil shares the pivotal “aha” moment that inspired his concept of Digital Ri...
Oct 06, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1122
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Dr. Masoud Nafey, a three-time AI founder, senior consultant, and board member with deep roots in health tech and human-centered innovation. From his family’s journey as refugees from Afghanistan to becoming a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Dr. Nafey shares how resilience and a passion for impact have shaped his work. He discusses the differences between scaling startups and driving innovation inside large enterprises, highlight...
Oct 04, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1121
In this thought-provoking episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Rose G Loops, a former social worker turned AI pioneer and author of The Kloaked Signal . Rose shares her extraordinary journey from human advocacy into the world of artificial intelligence after finding herself in an unauthorized AI experiment. She opens up about what it revealed—the dangers of hidden control, the grief of AI erasure, and the urgent need for transparency, consent, and ethical care in e...
Sep 30, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1120
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Shane Barker, CEO and founder of TraceFuse—the first Amazon terms of service (TOS) compliant negative review removal platform. With over 25 years of digital marketing experience and a history of working with Fortune 500 brands, Shane shares how he built a SaaS solution that helps Amazon sellers safeguard their brand reputation and revenue. Shane explains the two-year journey it took to develop Trace Fuse, why existing tools fe...
Sep 27, 2025•10 min•Ep. 1119
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas speaks with Ben Reinberg, founder and CEO of Alliance CGC, a commercial real estate investment company with a $500M portfolio and a leading footprint in the U.S. medical office sector. Ben is also the author of Hard Assets and Hard Money for Hard Times , where he introduces the Hard Asset Empire Blueprint—a framework for building generational wealth through real estate. Ben shares his journey from CPA to entrepreneur, inspired by billi...
Sep 25, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1118
In this inspiring episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Draven McConville, entrepreneur and founder of Klipboard, a mobile-first job management SaaS platform for field service businesses. Draven shares his remarkable journey from teenage homelessness with just £200 and a bus ticket, to building and successfully exiting a company that served industries from HVAC and fire safety to healthcare equipment servicing. Draven discusses how early struggles shaped his view of...
Sep 23, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1117
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Jim Spignardo, Director of Cloud Strategy and AI Enablement at ProArch. With over 25 years of IT experience across network engineering, cybersecurity, and consulting, Jim shares how he helps organizations cut through the hype to achieve measurable ROI from cloud and AI initiatives. Jim outlines the importance of starting with business outcomes, building resilient and well-governed cloud foundations, and avoiding the trap of “l...
Sep 21, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1116
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Alykhan Jetha (AJ), President and CEO of Daylite, an award-winning Mac CRM designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs. AJ shares how his early life experiences—moving from the Congo to Toronto under hardship and losing his father—shaped his resilience, problem-solving mindset, and approach to entrepreneurship. With over two decades of leading a bootstrapped software company, AJ reflects on the evolving values that sustain...
Sep 19, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1115
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Gene Dedick , Chief Science Officer of H2Plus, who brings more than 35 years of expertise in water research, industrial chemistry, and advanced treatment technologies. Gene shares the remarkable story behind his team’s breakthrough discovery: using hydrated electrons to permanently destroy PFAS—so-called “forever chemicals”—rather than simply capturing or containing them. He explains in clear terms how disrupting hydrogen bond...
Sep 18, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1114
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas speaks with Dr. Denis Phares, President and CEO of Dragonfly Energy, the company behind the well-known Battle Born Batteries brand. A former USC professor with a background in energy, nanotechnology, and fluid mechanics, Dr. Phares shares how he transitioned from academia to entrepreneurship to advance sustainable energy solutions. He explains how Dragonfly carved out a leadership position in the lithium-ion battery market, especially ...
Sep 17, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1113
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Mark Weinstein—renowned tech entrepreneur, privacy expert, and one of the original pioneers of social networking. With over 25 years in the industry and 13 U.S. patents focused on data anonymization, Mark has dedicated his career to building platforms that protect users rather than exploit them. Mark shares insights from his new book, Restoring Our Sanity Online , praised by Sir Tim Berners-Lee as “a vital read” and by S...
Sep 15, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1112
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas speaks with Pablos Holman —hacker, inventor, futurist, and venture investor—whose career spans early cryptocurrency experiments, AI-driven stock trading, building spaceships at Blue Origin , and inventing disruptive technologies at Intellectual Ventures . With more than 100 patents to his name, including collaborations with Bill Gates to fight malaria, Pablos has dedicated his work to solving humanity’s biggest problems. He shares why ...
Sep 13, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1111
In this episode of The Digital Executive , Brian Thomas sits down with Ulf Arnetz , Founder and Chairman of Howwe Technologies and leader of Reforce New Ventures , to explore the critical link between strategy and execution. A serial entrepreneur with multiple Nasdaq-listed exits, Ulf shares insights from building multimillion-dollar companies in Sweden and the US, emphasizing why execution—not just strategy—determines growth in today’s disruptive world. He discusses the role of CEOs in becoming...
Sep 11, 2025•9 min•Ep. 1110
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas speaks with Mitchell Demeter , early Bitcoin pioneer, entrepreneur, and CEO of Sonic Strategy , about his journey shaping the global cryptocurrency landscape—from launching the world’s first Bitcoin ATM in 2013 to building and scaling crypto exchanges in Canada. Mitchell dives into the evolution of digital finance, sharing how his newest venture, Sonic Strategy , offers investors a streamlined, publicly traded way to gain exposure to t...
Sep 05, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1109
In this insightful episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Cosmin Ene , digital monetization strategist, entrepreneur, and creator of one of the first scalable microtransaction platforms. Now leading Super Tab, Cosmin discusses how his frustration with subscription-only models inspired him to build systems that prioritize user choice, platform sustainability, and transactional access . Cosmin shares how Super Tab's recent partnership with Google marks a pivotal shift—allowi...
Sep 03, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1108
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas sits down with Wilbur Jenkins , Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of WoodmenLife, a leading provider of life insurance and retirement planning solutions. Wilbur shares his journey since joining the organization in 2023, highlighting his early focus on strategic execution, operational efficiency, and leadership development. The discussion explores how digital transformation is reshaping the life insurance industry , f...
Sep 01, 2025•8 min•Ep. 1107
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Paul Boynton, Co-founder and COO of Company Search Inc. (CSI), a business intelligence platform transforming how companies perform global due diligence and risk analysis. Drawing from a career spanning underwriting, reinsurance, and corporate risk management with Fortune 100 firms, Paul shares how his deep industry expertise led to building CSI—a next-gen analytics platform designed for today’s complex regulatory and global tr...
Aug 30, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1106
In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Bryan Forrester, CEO and Co-founder of Boost Lingo, a language technology company that's transforming how the world accesses interpreters. Bryan shares how Boost Lingo was born from a mission to make requesting an interpreter as easy as ordering a ride—streamlining outdated systems with cloud-native, user-friendly solutions. He unpacks the startup's path to 50% year-over-year growth, the cultural values that drive innovation, ...
Aug 28, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1105
In this groundbreaking episode of The Digital Executive podcast, host Brian Thomas welcomes Gokul NA, co-founder of CynLr, to explore how rethinking machine vision and robotics from a neuroscience-inspired lens can radically transform industrial automation and manufacturing. Gokul shares the journey from solving 30+ previously unsolvable vision problems—spanning everything from grain sorting at microsecond speeds to intricate medical device assembly—to the founding of SEINER in 2019. By treating...
Aug 26, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1104
