Many CEOs struggle with stalled pipelines and costly sales hires that don’t work out. In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr speaks with Christopher Filipiak about why the CEO is the best person to drive revenue—and how to do it with clarity, consistency, and confidence. You’ll learn:

• Why CEOs become bottlenecks in sales—and how to break free
• The hidden cost of outsourcing sales too early
• How mindset and emotions directly shape sales outcomes
• What it takes to build a truly sales-ready organization

If you’re a business owner, consultant, or AEC leader seeking predictable growth, this episode will show you how to master sales without losing focus on leading your company.


Connect with Christopher Filipiak:
Website: https://christopherfilipiak.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherfilipiak

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

Too many business owners confuse more activity with more sales. In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr talks with Joe Gregory, known as The Sales Catalyst, about how leaders can simplify sales, eliminate costly mistakes, and build scalable systems that actually drive business growth. Joe shares his journey from struggling early in his sales career to becoming a trusted advisor for business owners and sales teams across industries. Together, they uncover:

• Why “one-size-fits-all” sales tactics fail in professional services and consulting
• How business owners can move from being the rainmaker to building repeatable sales success
• Why clarity—not activity—is the biggest driver of results
• The psychology behind how buyers make decisions (and why they need a guide, not a pitch)
• How to disqualify poor-fit opportunities and protect profit margins
• The real question every leader should ask: What does a good day look like for you and your team?

If you’re an AEC firm leader, consultant, or professional services executive struggling with stalled pipelines, unclear sales processes, or overreliance on your own rainmaking, this conversation will help you rethink how you approach growth.

Connect with Joe Gregory:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joegregorythesalescatalyst 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

Running complex environmental projects isn’t just about technical expertise—it’s about leadership, communication, and trust. In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr talks with David McIntyre, founder of McIntyre Environmental, about what it takes to move from technical work to leading major projects with multiple stakeholders.

David shares lessons from his journey—from the Marine Corps to environmental consulting to running his own firm—including:

• How shifting laws and regulations (like NEPA and the Clean Water Act) affect projects today
• Why proactive planning and communication save time, money, and headaches
• How to balance technical expertise with project management and stakeholder engagement
• The importance of building relationships with subcontractors, agencies, and the public
• Why trust and transparency lead to repeat business and better outcomes

If you’re a leader in environmental consulting, AEC, or professional services, this episode will help you see why successful projects depend on more than technical compliance—they rely on clarity, collaboration, and confident leadership.

Connect with David McIntyre:
Website: http://mcintyreenvironmental.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mcintyre

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

How do you go from NASA strategy rooms to disrupting HVAC and building decarbonization?

On this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr sits down with Jordan Sotudeh, CEO and cofounder of Venaera, a startup redefining HVAC with modular, intelligent heat pump systems. With deep roots in science, policy, and innovation—from NASA to JPL to the Department of Defense—Jordan brings an unmatched systems-thinking approach to solving some of the most significant climate infrastructure challenges of our time. 

This conversation explores how technical brilliance meets entrepreneurial grit, and what it really takes to lead a mission-critical venture that marries sustainability, technology, and market execution. If you’re a founder, consultant, or leader in the AEC, energy, or technology sector, Jordan’s insights into policy-informed innovation and her vision for scalable decarbonization will challenge your assumptions and inspire smarter action. What You’ll Learn:

• How Jordan’s experience in aerospace and government shaped his entrepreneurial mindset
• The mission behind Venaera—and how it’s solving outdated HVAC inefficiencies
• Why decarbonization must be modular, adaptive, and resilient
• Lessons on leadership, clarity, and scaling technical teams
• How to navigate the “builder’s paradox”: fast growth vs. long-term impact
• Why founders must think in systems, not silos

About Jordan Sotudeh
Jordan is the CEO of Venaera, where he leads a team reinventing HVAC systems for a sustainable future. Previously, he served in leadership roles across NASA, JPL, the Department of Defense, and top aerospace firms, supporting strategy, innovation, and emerging technologies. A certified PMP with a Master’s from GWU, she also advises UCSB’s Engineering Leadership Program. 
Website: https://venaera.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordansotudeh

About the Host
David W. Carr is the founder of Steward Your Business and host of the Business Roundtable Podcast. He helps leaders and firms align people, process, and purpose for confident, scalable growth.
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help amplify leaders like Jordan doing transformational work in mission-critical sectors.

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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr is joined by cybersecurity strategist and Zero Trust advocate Dr. Victor Monga for a high-impact conversation on the intersection of leadership, AI, and cyber maturity. With over two decades of experience in both technical and advisory roles, Victor unpacks how cybersecurity can serve as a foundation for scalable, trustworthy business growth—especially for founders and leadership teams in the small to mid-sized market. Together, they explore how AI, automation, and team trust can create systems that remove friction, protect brand reputation, and reclaim leadership focus. Topics include:

• Why Zero Trust is more than a technical framework
• How AI can enhance productivity without replacing people
• Common mistakes leaders make when delegating or scaling
• Practical steps to strengthen cybersecurity culture in any business
• Why clarity, curiosity, and culture are the real keys to sustainable growth

If you’re a business owner, operator, or tech-enabled leader navigating complexity and scale, this episode will challenge how you think about trust, protection, and progress. Connect with Victor Monga:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorvirtual
Zero Trust Journey Podcast: https://zerotrustjourney.com/ Learn more about David W. Carr and Steward Your Business:
https://stewardyourbusiness.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr Subscribe for more conversations with leaders who build with clarity and lead with purpose.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

Watch more episodes on YouTube and subscribe here:
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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

What if the biggest obstacle to your leadership isn’t strategy… but your nervous system? In this thought-provoking episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr sits down with Claire Hayek, speaker, author, and certified neurocoach, for a raw and revealing conversation about the science of leadership, trauma, and personal transformation. Claire shares her journey from clinical burnout to full nervous system recovery and how understanding the biology of the brain completely changed her capacity to lead, connect, and build lasting influence. They explore how neuroleadership can help entrepreneurs and professionals break free from survival patterns, rewire limiting beliefs, and reclaim the clarity needed to lead with grounded confidence. This isn’t about mindset hacks—it’s about real inner work backed by neuroscience. 🧠 What You'll Learn:

• The brain’s role in leadership: fight/flight vs. presence and power
• How unresolved trauma shows up in your business and relationships
• The connection between nervous system regulation and executive function
• What “identity shifts” really look like in high-level leadership
• Why emotional suppression kills creativity, clarity, and trust
• A better way to lead: from regulation, not reaction

👤 About Claire Hayek
Claire is a certified neurocoach, trauma-informed facilitator, and author of Enough Was Enough. She guides leaders through the internal rewiring necessary to heal, grow, and lead from a place of self-awareness, integrity, and wholeness. Her work blends neuroscience, somatic integration, and real-world leadership development. 🔗 https://clairehayek.com
🔗 https://linkedin.com/in/clairehayek 🎙️ Hosted by David W. Carr
David W. Carr is the founder of Steward Your Business, a leadership and growth consultancy helping values-driven businesses scale sustainably. Through coaching, strategy, and team development, he helps leaders align purpose, people, and process to build legacy-driven businesses. 🌐 https://stewardyourbusiness.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

Watch more episodes on YouTube and subscribe here:
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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

Most business leaders treat insurance like a checkbox—until it becomes their biggest blind spot. In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, David W. Carr sits down with Dillon Hawkins of HUB International to tackle the topic nobody talks about—but everyone needs to understand.

This isn’t a boring breakdown of policy types. It’s a candid conversation about how your insurance strategy reflects your leadership, your culture, and your future readiness.

Dillon shares the behind-the-scenes view on how brokers really pitch your business to carriers, the questions leaders should be asking (but usually aren’t), and how insurance can actually become a competitive advantage when it’s used proactively.

Whether you’re a founder, operator, or HR lead, this episode will challenge how you think about risk—and show you how to stop leaving your business exposed.

In this episode:

• The “narrative” your broker presents to underwriters—and why it matters
• How to shift from reactive renewals to proactive strategy
• Hidden gaps in coverage that could cost you everything
• Why most insurance advisors don’t ask the right questions—and how Dillon does
• The power of true collaboration between leaders, consultants, and insurance pros

Listen now and turn this overlooked area into a growth lever.

Connect with Dillon Hawkins of HUB Fort Worth
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillon-hawkins-hubintl/

Subscribe to the Business Roundtable Podcast


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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

If you’re scaling your business, chances are the real bottleneck isn’t strategy—it’s misalignment.

In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr sits down with Ron Higgs, Fractional COO and trusted advisor to founder-led businesses navigating rapid growth. With a background in aerospace engineering, military leadership, and C-suite roles, Ron brings a rare ability to diagnose operational dysfunction and rebuild trust across teams.

Together, Ron and David explore the often overlooked gap between visionary leadership and practical execution, where most companies stall out or lose momentum.

This conversation cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of leadership: trust, systems, and aligned people.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most leadership teams talk at each other, not with each other
• How to identify (and fix) your leadership blind spots
• The cost of misalignment in founder-led companies
• The traits of high-trust, execution-ready teams
• Why leadership development is a business necessity, not a luxury
• How a Fractional COO complements—not competes with—other leadership experts

Ron and David also discuss how collaborative coaching creates lasting transformation and why great companies are built by leaders who are willing to be challenged.

If you’re leading a company, building a team, or preparing to scale, this episode is your blueprint.

Connect with Ron Higgs
🌐 https://www.wolfmanagementsolutions.com/ 
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-higgs/


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

Watch more episodes on YouTube and subscribe here:
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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

What happens when you combine a powerful personal story with strategic business messaging? You get Jo Bryan.

In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David Carr sits down with Jo Bryan, message strategist, visibility expert, and founder of Show Up and Be Seen, to talk about how business owners and leaders can unlock the power of their voice to attract clients, grow influence, and build sustainable momentum.

Jo shares how she helps clients shape messaging that feels good, sounds great, and most importantly, sells. With a background in public relations and brand storytelling, she brings a unique blend of intuition and strategy to help coaches, consultants, and creative entrepreneurs get out of their heads and into alignment with the message their audience needs to hear.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why messaging is more than marketing—it’s about connection
• How to find the “spark words” that activate your audience
• Common traps business owners fall into when writing about themselves
• What it means to embody your brand across platforms
• How visibility and vulnerability go hand in hand in today’s market

If you’re struggling to get traction in your marketing or if your message feels stuck, this episode is a must-listen. You’ll walk away with real strategies and a renewed belief that your voice—your story—matters.

🎧 Listen now and start showing up as the leader your audience has been waiting for.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

Watch more episodes on YouTube and subscribe here:
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Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr

What if your business could run without you—and actually sell for more because of it?
In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David Carr sits down with John Martinka, known as The Escape Artist®, to unpack how business owners can plan for a successful, profitable exit while preserving their legacy and taking care of their people. With decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions, John shares actionable advice, surprising stories, and the most common mistakes owners make when trying to sell.
 
This is not just theory—it’s a masterclass in what to do (and what to avoid) when it comes to transitioning your business with intention.


What You’ll Learn:

• Why most business exits fail—and how to beat the odds
• How to reduce owner dependency and increase business value
• What graceful exits look like (and how to plan for them years in advance)
• Creative ways to structure employee buyouts
• Why the little things (like accurate financials and team development) make all the difference

Whether you’re five years out from selling—or just want to build a stronger, less owner-reliant company—this episode is packed with real-world insights you can’t afford to miss. 

Free Gift: Want a free e-copy of John’s book Exit with Style, Grace, and More Money? Mention this podcast episode when you reach out via his website below.

Connect with John Martinka:

• Nokomis Advisory Services – https://nokomisadvisory.com 
• Martinka Consulting – https://www.martinkaconsulting.com
• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmartinka

Connect with host David Carr:

• Steward Your Business – https://stewardyourbusiness.com
• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidcarr
• YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-roundtable--6049255/support.

Watch more episodes on YouTube and subscribe here:
https://www.youtube.com/@steward_your_business

Connect with Steward Your Business:
Website: https://stewardyourbusiness.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwcarr