Better Together

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Kiley Romero, co-founder of Smooth Mortgage Company, to explore what it really takes to transition from a corporate career into entrepreneurship.

Kiley shares her journey of stepping away from the structure of corporate life and building a business rooted in transparency, strong leadership, and a client-first approach. The conversation dives into the mindset shifts required to succeed as a founder from making confident decisions under pressure to learning how to navigate rejection and uncertainty.

A key theme throughout the episode is control focusing on what you can influence, moving quickly, and staying disciplined in the face of challenges. Kiley also highlights the importance of time management, delegation, and building systems that allow you to grow without burning out.

Beyond strategy, this episode offers insight into the qualities that define high-performing leaders and why mentorship and knowledge-sharing play a critical role in long-term success.

If you’re building a business or stepping into leadership, this conversation provides a clear and practical perspective on what it takes to grow with intention.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiley-romero-15870075/

If you want your brand and strategy to align with that level of growth, connect with us today.

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Tiffany Castagno, an HR and people culture consultant, to explore what it truly means to build a healthy, people-first workplace.

Drawing from her experience in corporate HR and consulting, Tiffany shares practical insights on how organizations especially small to mid-sized businesses can strengthen their culture through intentional leadership, clear communication, and better people practices.

A key focus of the conversation is psychological safety why it matters, how it impacts performance, and what leaders can do to create environments where teams feel heard, supported, and empowered to contribute.

The episode also highlights the importance of leaning into difficult conversations, listening with intention, and building workplaces where both performance and well-being can coexist.

If you’re leading a team or building a business, this conversation offers a grounded and actionable perspective on creating a stronger, more aligned culture.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanycastagno-people-culture-consultant/

If you want your brand and leadership approach to reflect that level of clarity and impact, connect with us today.

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Tiffany Deans, founder of Grounding Work LLC, to explore what it really looks like to step into entrepreneurship especially when the path isn’t planned.

After a 20-year career in federal HR, Tiffany shares how she transitioned into building her own people-centered business during one of the most uncertain times the COVID-19 pandemic.

What began as a shift quickly turned into a deeper journey of growth, identity, and leadership.

This conversation goes beyond career change.

It highlights the realities of entrepreneurship learning as you go, navigating uncertainty, and building resilience in real time.

Tiffany also shares the importance of aligning with the right clients, setting clear boundaries, and redefining success through work-life integration rather than balance.

A key theme throughout the episode is stepping into leadership authentically even before you feel fully ready and recognizing that growth often comes from situations you didn’t initially plan for.

If you’re navigating a transition, building something of your own, or learning how to lead with more clarity and intention, this episode offers a grounded and honest perspective.

(15) Tiffany Deans, SPHR, SHRM-SCP | LinkedIn

If you want your brand and strategy to reflect that same level of clarity and alignment, connect with us today.

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Jeff Leach, co-founder of Adaptivity Group, to explore the realities of transitioning from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship.

Drawing from his experience at Accenture and building his own business, Jeff shares insights on navigating self-doubt, making faster decisions, and surrounding yourself with the right people. The conversation highlights the importance of working on the business, not just in it and how intentionality plays a key role in long-term growth.

Jeff also dives into critical topics for business owners, including hiring with clarity, handling setbacks like losing major clients, and the importance of diversifying revenue streams. A key theme throughout the episode is understanding what you’re actually building whether it’s a lifestyle business or one designed for an eventual exit.

Beyond strategy, this episode emphasizes mentorship, community, and the value of learning from others who have navigated similar paths.

If you’re building a business and thinking about growth, structure, and long-term direction, this conversation offers a practical and grounded perspective.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferyleach/

If you want your brand, strategy, and growth to align, connect with us today.


#Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #FounderLife #StartupJourney #BusinessStrategy #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #EntrepreneurMindset #Podcast

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Tina Larsson, co-founder of The Folson Group and author of Living the High Life, to explore what it really takes to challenge systems and build something meaningful.

Tina’s journey from Wall Street analyst to co-op reformer in New York City is anything but conventional. What started as a personal challenge within her own building turned into a business that now helps reshape how co-ops and condos are managed bringing financial clarity, accountability, and structure to a space that often lacks it.

This conversation goes beyond business strategy.

It’s about persistence continuing forward when things don’t move easily. It’s about leadership especially in environments where change is resisted. And it’s about navigating the “messy middle” of entrepreneurship, where progress isn’t always visible but the work continues.

We also dive into the dynamics of building a business with a partner, the mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur, and the responsibility that comes with leading systems that impact others.

If you’re building something, facing resistance, or working through the in-between stages of growth, this episode offers a grounded and practical perspective.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinalarssonli/

If you want your brand, messaging, and strategy to support real growth and impact, connect with us today.

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Matt Nettleton, a sales trainer and entrepreneur, to talk about what actually drives consistent business growth.

This conversation cuts through the noise around sales and focuses on what matters prospecting, accountability, and building a culture where sales is understood and executed consistently.

Matt shares lessons from his journey into sales training, why most business owners overlook the fundamentals, and what it means to build a “default profitable” business.

The episode also highlights the importance of financial literacy, leadership, and taking ownership of growth whether you’re leading a team or building on your own.

If you’re looking to create more clarity and consistency in how your business grows, this episode offers a practical perspective.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/getmatt/

To align your brand, messaging, and growth strategy, connect with GoldBear Media today.

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Olivier Egli, founder of Be Like an Apple Tree and creator of the Do Happy Work Movement, for a conversation that goes far beyond business into identity, purpose, and what it really means to live and work in alignment.

Olivier’s journey didn’t start with clarity. It started with a breaking point.

After building a successful career as a high-performing executive in advertising, he found himself questioning everything success, happiness, and the cost of constantly operating out of alignment. That moment became the catalyst for a deeper shift: from external achievement to internal truth.

In this episode, Olivier shares the philosophy behind Do Happy Work a simple but powerful idea that challenges the way most people approach their careers. Instead of chasing happiness through work, what if you brought your happiness into it?

The conversation explores the three pillars that shape his work today liberation, self-discovery, and expression and how each one plays a role in building a life and career that actually feels authentic.

From breaking away from conditioning to understanding your unique gifts and having the courage to express them, this is a grounded look at what intentional leadership really requires.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dohappywork/

If you want your brand, message, and growth to reflect real alignment and purpose, connect with Us today.

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Eric Keosky-Smith, a conscious entrepreneur and fractional executive, to explore how businesses can grow more intentionally in today’s environment.

Drawing from his experience across multiple industries, Eric shares insights on the role of a fractional executive, the importance of strategic thinking, and how partnerships can become a powerful lever for growth. He introduces the idea of “strategic instigation” challenging existing ways of operating to create better outcomes.

The conversation also dives into practical lessons for business owners, including why listening to customer feedback (especially negative feedback) is critical, how failures can shape stronger decisions, and why stepping away from work is often necessary for creativity and clarity.

Beyond strategy, this episode highlights the mindset shifts required for sustainable growth moving away from doing everything alone and toward collaboration, adaptability, and continuous learning.

If you’re building a business and looking for a more thoughtful and strategic approach to growth, this episode offers valuable perspective.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickeoskysmith/

👉 If you want your brand, messaging, and growth strategy to align, connect with us today.

#Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Strategy #Leadership #Partnerships #Collaboration #BusinessStrategy #GrowthMindset

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Keith Meyerson, a learning and talent strategist, to explore what it really takes to build strong leaders inside organizations.

From his early experience in the Marine Corps to launching over 50 learning and talent systems, Keith shares a grounded perspective on why leadership development often falls short — and what needs to change.

This conversation goes beyond traditional training.

It dives into why succession planning is often reactive, how defining clear leadership competencies can transform organizations, and why accountability and coaching are critical to building high-performing teams.

Keith also challenges common thinking around performance management, emphasizing the need to focus on root causes rather than surface-level fixes and why lifelong learning is essential for leaders who want to stay relevant.

If you’re leading a team or building an organization, this episode offers a practical and forward-looking perspective on creating a culture that actually develops people.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithmeyerson/

👉 If you want your brand, leadership, and growth strategy to align, connect with us today.

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Adi Klevit, founder of Business Success Consulting Group, to explore one of the most overlooked drivers of business growth: systems.

Adi built her company around a simple but powerful idea businesses don’t scale on effort alone, they scale on clarity, structure, and repeatable processes.

In this conversation, she breaks down why so many entrepreneurs resist systemization, even when they know they need it and how that resistance often becomes the very thing holding their business back.

We dive into the role of documented processes in creating consistency, improving team performance, and making delegation actually work. Adi also shares real examples of how implementing the right systems has transformed client businesses not just operationally, but strategically.

But beyond systems, this episode touches on something just as important:
the mindset required to step out of doing everything yourself and start building a business that can run and grow beyond you.

From lessons learned over 15+ years in business to insights from hosting her own podcast, Adi brings a grounded and practical perspective on what it really takes to build sustainably.

If you’re a founder, operator, or business owner looking to grow without constant overwhelm, this episode will give you a clearer path forward.

If you want your brand, systems, and growth strategy to actually work together, connect with us today.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adiklevit/