AmiSights: Financing the Future For Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

In this conversation, Jessica Munday shares her entrepreneurial journey, discussing her dual roles as the founder of Trio Solutions Inc. and Partner of Cloud Nine Nonprofit Advisors. She emphasizes the importance of team culture, client relationships, and the impact of AI on marketing. Jessica also reflects on the challenges of balancing work and family life, the significance of mentorship, and her experiences during the pandemic. The discussion highlights her commitment to helping nonprofits and small businesses thrive while maintaining a strong company culture.Connect with Jessica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmunday/Check out Trio Marketing: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trio-solutions-inc/Check out Cloud Nine Nonprofit Advisors: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrivewithcloud9/Recorded on 1/17/25

In this week's episode, we talk to Scott Eisenberg, Founder and Managing Director of Franklin Capital Advisors, a firm specializing in mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring for small and lower middle-market businesses. In this conversation, Scott shares his extensive experience in M&A, discussing the complexities of evaluating businesses for sale, identifying buyer types, and emphasizing the importance of understanding business value. "The more planning you can put into it, the more you can do things to, get the business ready for sale. Maybe you've got your financial statements, your financial reporting function isn't really strong—you can fix that. Maybe you've got a couple of customers you kind of are trying to get contracts in place and get those contracts in place. estate planning—maybe your estate planning is in place, maybe it's not. there's a lot of things you can do to plan."

The main topics of today's episode include why those looking to sell their business—whether to someone within the company or externally—should always have an advisor, the importance of determining if the business is sellable and envisioning how the transition will look, and the key differences in the process of working with companies that need to sell versus those that choose to sell.

Connect with Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotteisenbergfranklin/ Recorded on 1/14/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to David Becker, founder and CEO of First Internet Bank. He explains why he started the online bank way before internet banking became a common convenience and shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing the financial industry. "I think the power of AI will be more revolutionary than the Internet was 25 years ago. A lot of people are scared to death... You, as the human, will get to decipher that data, take out the results, and resolve problems. So you'll get to actually do tasks that the machine can't do, while it takes care of the mundane stuff. This should make productivity go up. It allows people to really use their minds and do creative, good work—not just task-oriented transactions. So, I think in the next 3 to 5 years, we're going to see changes we never dreamed of."

The main topics of today's episode include how Becker keeps banking innovative by hiring outside the traditional banking talent pool, the value of hiring great people even without an immediate role as a smart long-term strategy, and Becker's perspective on why artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize the industry in the next three to five years. Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-becker-29bb679/ Check out First Internet Bank: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-internet-bank/posts/?feedView=all Recorded on 1/3/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Ed Robinson, Founder and President of Capacity Building Solutions and Vistage Chair for six CEO peer groups in the Baltimore area. He shares insights on how he successfully manages and supports so many top executives. "We're dealing with a silver tsunami. There's more businesses that are going to sell. If you believe the data, there's more businesses that are going to change hands in the next 5 to 10 years than have changed hands in the last 20 because of the age of entrepreneurs and business owners. So now there's going to be a bunch of deals flooding the market with a bunch of people who've been counting on this deal to get out. That's why I tell my folks: don't put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to your business."

The main topics of today's episode include the ongoing challenge small businesses face in finding and retaining talent, the importance of executives admitting when they don't have all the answers and seeking advice from peers, and the anticipated burst of economic activity expected in the first and second quarters of 2025.

Connect with Ed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edrobinson/

Check out Capacity Building Solutions Inc: https://capacity-building.com/ Recorded on 12/2/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we speak with Natalia Matveeva, the Founder of PeakGenesis, a mentorship platform designed to empower entrepreneurs by helping them unlock their unique superpowers and align their inner strengths with business strategies and industry trends. Natalia also shares the story behind her decision to sell her gaming business, Realore, in 2017, at the height of its success. "Because you have to understand, 20 percent of players make 80 percent of your income. So, you only make money from those who are addicted, who buy games non-stop, and play them non-stop. And it got me thinking: what is the purpose of my life? Am I here just to get people addicted and make money from that? Or is there something beyond that? If there is something beyond, what is it? What can I do to create a positive change?" Natalia shares her entrepreneurial journey and her realization on how we use our unique gifts determines the level of fulfillment we experience in life. She emphasizes the importance of managing energy and focusing it in the present to successfully navigate the ever-changing business landscape. Additionally, Natalia discusses why connecting with other entrepreneurs is essential for gaining fresh perspectives and seeing your business through a new lens. Connect with Natalia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-matveeva-a8b158/

Check out PeakGenesis: https://peakgenesis.com/

Recorded on 11/15/24

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Richard Walton, founder of Outsell Sales, a company specializing in helping B2B businesses succeed with outbound sales development. Richard shares why he champions traditional marketing activities over relying solely on online networking. "The traditional marketing back in the '80s was all about meeting people, shaking people's hands, and then somehow we got lazy…technology made us lazy," he said. "I help our clients go back to the '80s, and I help them embrace more traditional marketing activities and to use technology to be very successful." Today's episode explores key insights for business professionals, particularly in sales. We'll discuss the importance of using a broad suite of approaches to keep customers engaged, the shift from being seen as just a supplier to positioning yourself as a trusted partner, and how writing can help entrepreneurs clarify their thoughts and sharpen their strategic thinking. Connect with Richard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardwalton2/ Check out Outsell Sales: https://outsellsales.com/ Recorded on 11/13/24

In this week's episode of the AmiSights Podcast, we speak with Nir Zavaro, founder and CEO of Streetwise, a marketing company based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Nir, also an author, shares the inspiration behind the eye-opening title of his latest book, F*ck the Slides: Creating a Winning Pitch Using Storytelling Techniques. "I thought I can bring something new to that industry. And that's when I started my consulting company. And I started to fix businesses like that. And within 2 or 3 years, I became one of the top 5 in the country. So, take the bad things, learn from them, and understand that most of the time people will do roughly the same thing because that's how they got used to doing it. That's how the industry is." Today's episode explores how a failed business venture provided Nir with the valuable experience needed to start his own consulting company, the power of selling an experience or emotion to drive business success beyond just the product, and the critical role unique storytelling techniques play in building a successful brand. Connect with Nir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirzavaro/ Subscribe to Nir's Newsletter: https://storyletter.beehiiv.com/Recorded on 11/1/2024

In this week's AmiSights Podcast, we dive into Joe McAleer's journey and experience as Senior Director of Business Financing at MultiFunding. Joe talks about how he knew MultiFunding was the right fit from his first visit 11 years ago. He shares insights into MultiFunding's unique approach, where the team acts as analysts first to ensure every loan opportunity is carefully evaluated and presented in the best light. "We are so hands-on; you know we are analysts before we are brokers. We dig in, we understand things, and we make sure that we're positioning an opportunity—or a loan request—in the best light possible. We also focus on understanding potential hurdles, the rules and regulations, and how we're going to guide and advise people. Ultimately, we position them with the best resources to create success." We discuss key insights from MultiFunding, including how the team's approach focuses on thorough analysis before acting as brokers, ensuring they position each loan request in the best light possible. We also explore how a prospective business buyer's personal debt and financial needs impact their loan eligibility, as well as the unpredictable journey of running a business, which often follows the natural ebbs and flows rather than a straight line.

Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-p-mcaleer-42939085/ Interested in growing your business? Get started with one of our advisors today: https://www.multifunding.com/contact-us Recorded on 10/18/24

This week, we're thrilled to welcome Nirit Cohen, a leading HR strategist and thought leader on the Future of Work. With 30 years of global experience at Intel in HR and M&A leadership, Nirit bridges emerging trends with actionable insights to help organizations thrive in an evolving landscape. She's a Forbes columnist, author, and sought-after speaker with deep expertise in workforce transformation. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on the trends shaping tomorrow's workforce and how to future-proof your career and organization. "Back is not a direction into the future. And saying, Let's go back into the office or back to the way things were, because frankly, if we're honest, they weren't that t right. We talked about work-life balance for a really long time. We talked about women not participating in the workforce because of families. We talked about diversity issues because some people don't fit into the boxes of how we defined work. So we need to redesign. And we need to redesign given the tools we have, which give us more choices, and more flexibility, and more personalization."

Today's episode covers how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the future of work for both employers and employees, expanding the talent pool for those open to redefining how and where work can be done. We'll also discuss the evolving social contract of work, especially as new generations enter the workforce with different expectations. Connect with Nirit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niritcohen/

Subscribe to Nirit's Newsletter: https://niritcohen.substack.com/?r=39zw1x&utm_campaign=subscribe-page-share-screen&utm_medium=web Recorded on 9/5/2024

In this week's episode of the AmiSights Podcast, Ami has the pleasure of interviewing co-host Lynn Ozer, President of MultiFunding and fondly referred to as the "SBA Queen." Tune in as Lynn shares her journey to MultiFunding, which began about three and a half years ago, leading her to a role where she could support the incredible group of lenders that Ami assembled and connect with the entrepreneurs who turn to MultiFunding for guidance.

"They always say when a door closes, a window opens," she said. "Well, this was the best window I ever walked through and found myself in a position to be of assistance to the group of incredible lenders that Ami had put together, and also to be able to meet the world of entrepreneurs that come to MultiFunding for information."

Today's episode dives into the differences between corporate and small business management layers and decision-making, highlighting how, in corporate America, rising in the ranks often means getting further from the actual product being delivered. We'll also discuss the need for better systems to monitor and track how SBA lenders treat clients facing challenges.

Connect with Lynn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-ozer/

Interested in growing your business? Get started with one of our advisors today: https://www.multifunding.com/contact-us

Recorded on 10/8/2024