How much revenue could your business be losing every time nobody answers the phone?

In this episode, I sit down with Laurent Cohen, founder and CTO of Getoblic, a voice-first AI platform helping local businesses answer customer questions, book appointments, and capture opportunities automatically.

Laurent has more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience across Europe and the United States. He has built e-commerce businesses, worked extensively in SEO and conversion optimization, and now focuses on practical voice AI applications for local businesses.

Laurent believes voice will become one of the primary ways customers interact with businesses online. Instead of waiting for an email response, completing a form, or navigating a complicated website, customers will increasingly expect immediate, conversational answers.

We discuss why missed calls are an underestimated revenue leak, particularly for businesses such as salons, clinics, repair companies, restaurants, and other appointment-based service providers.

Connect With Laurent Cohen

Website: https://getoblic.com/

Search for your business on Getoblic to explore its listing and test a voice AI agent.

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Get practical business ideas, behind-the-scenes lessons, and useful strategies you can apply to your own business.

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Timestamp Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Class of Business

00:21 Introducing Laurent Cohen

00:59 Lessons from building online businesses since 2002

01:08 Why there is always another opportunity

02:16 How SEO shaped Laurent’s approach to AI

03:07 Creating useful AI-supported content

04:36 How voice AI may improve website engagement

05:39 Why missed calls are an underestimated revenue leak

06:54 How voice AI recognizes and responds to emotions

08:16 Building trust through automated conversations

08:38 Join the Class of Business newsletter

09:14 What missing ten calls a week could cost a business

10:00 Calculating the time and revenue lost answering calls

11:11 Serving customers after closing time

12:15 Does an AI receptionist replace employees?

13:15 The simplest way for a local business to test AI

14:08 Creating and testing a free voice AI agent

15:19 Adding voice AI to phone lines and websites

15:45 How quickly voice AI technology is advancing

16:08 Why AI startups should work with larger technology companies

17:23 How local businesses may operate differently in five years

18:40 Rapid-fire questions

19:00 Voice-first experiences and the future of websites

19:04 Automation versus delegation

19:09 Growth hacking versus long-term brand building

19:17 The most overrated belief about AI

19:34 One AI tool every business owner should understand

20:07 Where to test Getoblic

20:50 Final takeaway and newsletter invitation

Do entrepreneurs really need an expensive business degree to build and grow a successful company?

In this episode, I sit down with John Cousins, entrepreneur, investor, professor, and bestselling author of more than 60 books, including Corporate Finance ASAP.

John is the founder of MBA ASAP, a global business education platform that has served more than 30,000 students across over 160 countries. His training has also been used by teams at companies including Apple, Adidas, PayPal, Lyft, Pinterest, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.

Before becoming an educator, John spent 15 years as a public-company CEO and CFO, took two companies public, and earned his MBA from the Wharton School.

But after spending approximately $400,000 between tuition and lost income to complete his MBA, John began questioning whether practical business knowledge needed to be so expensive, complicated, and inaccessible.

In this conversation, John breaks business down to its essential components

Connect With John Cousins

Website: https://mba-asap.com

Search MBA ASAP to find John’s courses, books, videos, and other business education resources.

Join the Class of Business Newsletter

Get practical business ideas, behind-the-scenes lessons, and useful strategies you can apply to your own business.

Join here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Timestamp Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Class of Business
00:24 Introducing John Cousins
01:35 Business education versus business reality
02:00 The true cost of earning an elite MBA
03:02 The simple foundation of every business
04:01 Finding product-market fit and building profitably
05:00 What running public companies taught John
05:42 Why traditional business textbooks often create confusion
06:45 Making practical business knowledge accessible
07:40 What entrepreneurs are really paying for with an MBA
08:09 How prestigious degrees act as career signals
09:28 Why the value of an MBA changes for entrepreneurs
10:26 Using affordable education to test your interest in business
11:35 Has higher education become a luxury product?
12:21 Democratizing business knowledge around the world
13:12 Join the Class of Business newsletter
13:44 Financial mental models every founder should understand
14:36 Why accounting is the language of business
15:31 The three essential financial statements
16:17 The difference between accounting and finance
17:20 Understanding present value and net present value
18:28 Using financial models to make objective decisions
19:33 Where beginners should start learning finance
20:40 Why business jargon creates unnecessary intimidation
21:28 Applying business thinking to everyday life
21:43 Where to find John and MBA ASAP
22:30 Final thoughts from John
22:54 Apply one lesson and join the newsletter

Most service providers respond to slow growth by adding more—more offers, more content, more marketing, and more work.

But what happens when doing more is the very thing keeping your business stuck?

In this episode, I sit down with Kanika Vasudeva, a business coach and former corporate project leader who spent more than 16 years managing complex, multimillion-dollar initiatives at organizations including BHP, PwC, and ING.

Kanika’s work involved walking into complicated situations, identifying what was slowing progress down, and creating systems that made growth easier and more sustainable.

Today, she applies those same skills to service-based businesses.

Kanika explains why many businesses do not need more leads, offers, or team members. Instead, they need to improve what is already happening inside the business—from their positioning and sales conversations to their offers, client journey, and internal processes.

We discuss how service providers become trapped in an operator mindset, why effort can only scale a business so far, and what must change for a founder to step into a true leadership role.

You’ll also learn how to identify unnecessary tasks, create repeatable processes, give your team greater ownership, and build a business that can continue operating without requiring your attention every minute.

This conversation is for service providers who are working hard, generating some revenue, but still feel overwhelmed, overextended, or stuck at the same level.

Connect With Kanika Vasudeva

Website: https://artoflifecenter.com

LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube: Kanika Energy Coach

Join the Class of Business Newsletter

Get practical business ideas, behind-the-scenes lessons, and useful strategies you can apply to your own business.

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Timestamp Chapters

00:00 Why doing more may be keeping your business stuck
00:31 Introducing Kanika Vasudeva
01:28 Simplifying multimillion-dollar corporate projects
02:40 Why organizations become unnecessarily complicated
03:36 Improving what already works instead of adding more
04:22 How better conversions increase revenue without more leads
05:02 The clogged-straw business analogy
05:45 What is happening inside struggling service businesses
06:46 Moving from an operator mindset to leadership
07:08 Standardizing offers, onboarding and delivery
08:15 The client who believed she needed more marketing
09:00 How fear weakens your ideal-client boundaries
10:17 Letting go of the wrong clients
10:53 Building clear positioning around one industry
11:30 Attracting better inbound leads
12:14 How specialization helped triple her revenue
12:54 Join the Class of Business newsletter
13:23 Kanika’s business-simplification framework
13:52 Evaluating clients, offers and the founder’s time
14:33 Simplifying the structure of the business
15:13 Standardizing services and saving the team time
15:52 Creating better customer experiences
17:19 What a simplified business looks like
18:22 Why founders struggle to mentally switch off
19:01 Getting hours back without stopping business growth
20:27 Can a founder with a small team stop being the operator?
21:20 The first step toward a leadership mindset
22:02 Questions to uncover what is blocking growth
22:18 Understanding your ideal client deeply
23:32 Building the business around the ideal-client journey
24:23 Ruthlessly removing unnecessary work
25:41 Where to connect with Kanika
26:27 Kanika’s final message for service providers
26:53 Final takeaway and newsletter invitation

What happens when the business you created for freedom slowly becomes another prison?

In this episode, I sit down with Valérie Demont, conscious business mentor, creator of the FLUIDE process, and author of Being Is the New Doing: The 6-Step Soul-Led Path to an Aligned Life and Business

After experiencing two burnouts before the age of 30, Valérie began questioning the traditional formula for success: work harder, achieve more, and keep proving yourself.

She had the career, income, and external signs of success—but internally, she was exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from her life.

Valérie explains why hard work can become an expensive illusion, how entrepreneurs unknowingly recreate the jobs they were trying to escape, and why success means very little when you no longer have the time or energy to enjoy it.

We also explore the idea of inner governance: making business decisions from clarity, intuition, and alignment rather than fear, urgency, or external pressure.

Valérie shares practical ways founders can recognize when their ambition is being driven by fear, manage their energy more intentionally, and create a business that supports their life instead of consuming it.

This conversation is for entrepreneurs who appear successful on the outside but feel tired, trapped, or disconnected behind the scenes.

Connect With Valérie Demont

Website: https://valeriedemont.ch/en/

Book and resources: https://beingisthenewdoing.com

Join the Class of Business Newsletter

Discover practical, realistic business ideas and lessons from entrepreneurs who are building businesses that actually work.

Join here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Timestamp Chapters

00:00 When business success starts feeling like a prison

01:04 Introducing Valérie Demont

02:10 The warning signs she ignored before burnout

03:43 Working long hours, anxiety, and constant pressure

05:30 Recovering from burnout—and repeating the same pattern

06:24 Looking successful while struggling internally

08:44 Choosing love, life, and a different way of working

10:33 Why hard work can become an expensive illusion

11:55 How entrepreneurs become trapped inside their businesses

13:09 Success, survival mode, and professional exhaustion

15:38 What inner governance means in business

16:42 Making decisions from clarity instead of pressure

17:34 Join the Class of Business newsletter

17:59 Is your ambition aligned or driven by fear?

20:10 Completing difficult tasks without forcing yourself

21:13 Managing your energy alongside your to-do list

23:01 A lighter moment in the conversation

23:41 The first shift exhausted founders can make this week

24:25 Being Is the New Doing and the FLUIDE process

26:02 Final thoughts and where to connect with Valérie

If you've ever wondered why your business feels "busy" but cash still seems tight, this one's for you. Fractional CFO and Eagle Rock CFO co-founder Nick Jain sits down with host Wisdom Okonkwo to unpack what healthy businesses, investors, and founders should actually focus on—beyond the top line.

You'll pick up the real meaning of profitability, why even growing companies run out of cash, and the three numbers every owner must track (no matter your size). We also get into when to trust intuition versus systems, smart hiring that de-bottlenecks growth, and cash flow essentials you can check this week. Plus, practical steps you can follow to get clarity on your finances right now. Tune in for clear-eyed finance advice you can actually use.

Connect With Nick Jain
Website: https://eaglerockcfo.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmjain/

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 The Disconnect Between Founders and Investors
01:08 Three Kinds of Profitability Explained
02:35 What True Profitability Looks Like
03:38 When Intuition Stops Working
04:35 Physics Principles Shaping Business Decisions
05:24 Why Experimentation Matters
06:20 The Cost of Ignoring Unit Economics
07:23 How Big Companies Get It So Wrong
08:33 Why Fast-Growing Companies Run Out of Cash
10:02 Healthy Business or Just Busy?
11:15 The Easiest Way to Check Business Health
12:35 Demystifying Cash Flow Management
13:54 The First Numbers to Check When in Trouble
15:08 The Three Metrics Every Founder Needs
16:58 Hiring—Growth Engine or Hidden Risk?
17:47 Hiring Decisions and Bottlenecks
19:15 Systems Matter Once the Team Grows
20:27 Remembering Names and Building Simple Systems
21:24 Where to Start: 90-Day Financial Checkup
22:43 Connect With Nick Jain
23:33 Closing Thoughts and Newsletter Invite

If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to leave a structured career and build your own thriving business, you’ll get a real look inside in this episode. Business coach, entrepreneur, and Australian army veteran Ronald Osborne unpacks how he went from military service to growing a telecom company with $5.7 million in revenue before age thirty.

You’ll pick up lessons on adapting leadership styles from army discipline to civilian teams, why being hands-on and learning from peers paid off early, and what almost shut the business down for good. We also get into facing confidence gaps, hiring mistakes, and how Ronald’s definition of success shifted along the way. Plus, hear how he approaches helping clients spot hidden revenue. Tune in for honest stories you rarely hear behind the highlight reel.

Connect With Ronald Osborne
Website: https://ronaldosborne.org/

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Army Leadership vs. Business Reality
00:22 From Military Injury to New Beginnings
01:24 Losing a Long-Term Dream Overnight
02:20 First Steps—Talking to Industry Insiders
03:18 Finding Opportunity in Telecommunications
03:49 Working Extra to Learn the Business
04:50 Financial Fears and Calculated Risks
05:44 Standing Out by Doing the Work Early
06:48 The Real Costs—Tools and Early Growth
07:24 Copycats, Competition, and Barriers to Entry
08:10 Making Sacrifices—More Work, Less Rest
09:17 Confidence in Skill vs. Confidence in Business
10:03 The Big Management Mistake—"Army Style" at Work
11:20 Adapting Leadership for Civilian Teams
12:14 The First $10,000 Month—and Why It Came Fast
13:32 Scaling Up—Templates and Growth Plateaus
14:10 Hardest Parts—Fitting Into Corporate Culture
15:35 Struggling to Fit and Keep It Real
16:29 Learning Corporate Speak and Soft Skills
17:44 Crisis—Nearly Losing Everything Overnight
18:50 Investigating a Major Telecom Outage
20:49 Proving It Wasn’t Their Fault
22:07 The Business Mistake That Could've Ended It All
23:06 Biggest Actual Mistake—Complacency and Bad Hires
25:18 Building Slowly vs. Chasing Fast Results
26:07 Recognizing and Avoiding Burnout
27:03 Hitting Financial Goals—And Emptiness After
28:30 Dealing With Stress, Health, and Balance
29:25 Family, Priorities, and Redefining Success
30:20 Why Ronald Still Works—Enjoyment Over Money
31:00 Where Listeners Can Learn More
32:38 Defining Your Own Game in Business

If you’ve ever wondered what it really feels like to lead a company when everything’s out of your hands, this episode will resonate. Bill Derrick shares his journey helming a family construction business through the 2008 recession, then battling incurable cancer—all while reexamining what leadership and control really mean.

You’ll pick up how Bill balanced company vision with people-first leadership, learn about letting go when life throws the unthinkable at you, and explore the practical ways he found support amid uncertainty. We also get into reframing loss, living "in between," and advice he'd give his younger self. Tune in for a raw look at leadership under pressure.

Connect With Bill Derrick
Website: https://www.billderrick.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billderrick/

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Becoming a Leader of People
00:38 Breaking Down Real Leadership Pressure
01:21 Facing the Unexpected: Cancer and Recession
02:00 Illusions of Control in Business
02:32 Where Control Really Comes From
03:11 First Signs the Recession Was Different
04:26 When Selling Wasn’t an Option
04:36 The Realization It Could Get Worse
05:38 Leading Without Certain Answers
06:05 Projecting Calm Amid Unknowns
07:19 Facing a New Storm: Health Crisis
08:00 Questioning the Link Between Stress and Illness
08:20 From Business Storms to Personal Storms
08:43 Releasing Control and Trusting Others
09:01 Shifting From Outcomes to People
09:42 Why Bill’s Leadership Evolved
10:17 The Two Things You Can Control
10:42 Making Decisions During Unpredictable Times
11:26 Seeking Advice and Humility in Leadership
12:22 Leaders Don’t Have All the Answers
13:05 Living “In Between” Storms
13:51 Embracing a New Normal
15:07 The Difference Between Failing and Quitting
15:51 Turning Loss Into an Advantage
16:12 Health’s Unexpected Blessings
17:58 What Truly Matters After Losses
18:23 Advice to a Younger Self
20:06 Being Ready to Pivot When Plans Fail
21:33 The Power of Asking for Help
22:10 Where to Find Bill and His Work

If you've ever wondered why your technology spend feels more like a cost than a catalyst for growth, this episode is for you. Software architect and founder Rob Broadhead joins us to share how decades of consulting have shaped his approach to tech as an investment.

You'll pick up clear strategies for connecting tools to meaningful business outcomes, figure out why so much software sits unused, and get down-to-earth ideas for process audits and low-effort elimination plays. We also get into practical frameworks for when to build vs. buy, and how to actually harness AI and automation without breaking what works. Tune in for real stories and actionable ideas on making tech serve your business.

Connect With Rob Broadhead
Website: https://rb-sns.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbroadhead/

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 What Problem Are You Solving?
00:53 Welcome to Class of Business
01:14 Rob Broadhead’s Background and Approach
01:59 The Story Behind "Developreneur"
02:13 Why Business Owners See Tech as Expense
02:51 Tools, Value, and Real ROI
03:07 When Tech Becomes Strategy, Not Support
04:11 How Mindset Shifts Business Outcomes
04:50 When Tools Fail to Deliver
05:24 Shelfware and Forgotten Investments
06:08 Be Intentional—Training and Follow-Through
06:22 Connecting Tools Directly to Outcomes
06:45 Set Goals Before You Buy
07:45 Metrics Reveal Productive Gaps
08:17 Daily Use and Building Outcomes
08:43 Create Regular Check-Ins and Milestones
09:36 First Steps in a System Audit
10:52 Measuring Real Outputs and Execution
11:15 Prioritizing What to Fix First
12:22 Pain Points vs. Quick Wins
13:18 Fix What Affects the Business Most
14:08 Not Every Broken Process Needs Fixing
14:38 Elimination—The Overlooked Efficiency Tool
15:02 The Limits of Automation and AI
15:16 Why Automate? When to Wait
15:44 Automation Can Multiply Problems
16:28 Document Before You Delegate (or Automate)
17:02 Build vs. Buy—How to Decide
18:21 Evaluating Costs Beyond the Sticker Price
19:32 Identifying Inefficiencies Fast
20:00 Where Is Your Time Going?
21:03 Bottlenecks Reveal Process Gaps
21:44 Real Success Story—Transforming Research Work
22:56 How Better Processes Sharpen Results
24:37 Connecting With Rob Broadhead
25:33 Applying One Idea From the Episode

If you’ve ever wondered why some business strategies work in theory but fall flat in real life, this episode is for you. Brad Smith, founder and CEO of Stellar Insight, Inc., draws on his varied career—analytical chemist, business manager, executive coach—to reveal how self-awareness, trust, and intuition shape business outcomes. You’ll pick up why company “blind spots” hold leaders back, how to turn intuition into a practical decision tool, and actionable steps for building sustainable growth. We also get into repeatable systems, employee relationship dynamics, and the difference between gut instinct and true intuition. Plus, Brad shares a step-by-step exercise for focusing your growth over the next decade. Tune in and learn from a leader who’s coached CEOs for over 25 years.

Connect With Brad Smith
Website: https://stellarinsightinc.com

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Brad Smith’s Unconventional Journey
00:50 Lessons From a Chemist’s Beaker
01:49 Escaping the Leadership Bubble
02:22 Business Is a Human System
03:35 Why Trust Drives Business Growth
04:15 Building Rapport—Listening vs. Talking
05:12 The “Leader Has All Ideas” Fallacy
06:20 Founder’s Dilemma and Growth Limits
07:41 Why Time Is Every CEO’s Cap
08:06 Turning Awareness Into Better Decisions
08:48 Mapping the “Missing Puzzle Pieces”
09:31 Epiphanies, Intuition, and Subconscious Solutions
10:49 Internal Employees—Listening and Results
11:16 Coaching Case: $3M to $13M Growth
12:48 Company, Process, and Self Awareness
13:14 Making Intuition Practical
14:07 Training the Intuitive Mind
15:08 Gut Instinct vs. Deep Intuition
16:11 How to Actually Train Intuition
16:47 Brainwaves, Presence, and Meditation
17:37 Managing the Presence Muscle
18:16 The 10-Year Compounding Growth Exercise
18:51 Where to Connect With Brad
19:22 Applying One Idea From the Show

If you’ve ever wondered why your business growth stalls despite knowing exactly what to do, this episode is for you. Dr. Joseph Drolshagen, a rapid growth specialist and coach for founders and sales pros, unpacks how our subconscious programming can sabotage even the best strategies. You’ll pick up why clarity of vision matters, how to bridge the knowing-doing gap, and what happens when you align mindset, habits, and execution. We also get into why “fixing problems” can make things worse and hear stories of transformation unlocked by shifting one internal pattern. Plus, Dr. Drolshagen shares practical steps to notice your own limiting thoughts and habits. Tune in for a conversation that just might shift how you approach growth.

Connect With Dr. Joseph Drolshagen
Website: https://coachwithjoey.com

If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.
There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.
Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join

Chapters
00:00 Why Founders Plateau—And How to Break Through
00:43 Misdiagnosing Business Growth Problems
01:44 Building a Dynamic Vision that Sticks
02:16 Seeing Obstacles as Vision Unfolding
02:32 Settling for Less Than You Want
03:05 How Subconscious Programming Sets Your Ceiling
04:04 The Real First Sign of Being Stuck
04:27 Perception vs. Reality in Business Challenges
05:15 Patterns Before a Growth Collapse
05:55 What Happens When You Only Fix Problems
06:14 Turning Businesses Around—Focusing on What’s Working
07:11 Actions and Results Depend on Mindset
07:39 The Knowing-Doing Gap Explained
08:38 How Alignment Closes the Execution Gap
09:14 Why Even Smart Owners Self-Sabotage
10:09 Creating Growth That’s “Unrealistic”
10:43 Why Shifting Your Programming Is Essential
11:13 What Is the SMT Method?
12:01 Tailoring Vision and Systems to Individuals
13:18 Why Habit Systems Alone Don’t Work
14:13 Real Story—Changing One Pattern, Huge Results
15:47 Noticing Your Thoughts—A Daily Exercise
16:27 Spotting Mindset Problems Disguised as Habit Issues
17:01 Beating Overwhelm by Slowing Down
17:31 First Steps to Close Your Knowing-Doing Gap
18:12 Wrapping Up and Staying Connected