Closing Conversations

Costas Papaikonomou is a half Greek, half Dutch engineer, innovation consultant, entrepreneur, and co-founder of UNATERA, an investment fund focused on sustainability, circularity, and the materials transition.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why an engineering background gives Costas an edge in investing

How factories, products, and systems can be seen like building blocks

Why selling to big companies requires confidence, not intimidation

How to tell the difference between real buyers and time-wasters

Why the best sales conversations feel like partnerships

How to give clients options without losing control of the deal

Why a “yes” on the first proposal may mean you priced too low

Why retainers can quietly make teams lazy

Costas brings a practical, thoughtful view of innovation, risk, consulting, sales, and business building. This one is about knowing what you sell, knowing who it is really for, and having the confidence to walk away when it is not a fit.

Todd Raphael has spent three decades working across human resources, recruiting technology, media, and B2B marketing. From HR Magazine and ERE to Eightfold and SkyHive, Todd has watched the HR technology industry evolve and now helps companies figure out what makes them different.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why so many HR tech companies are starting to look the same
• Why having AI is no longer enough to stand out
• How to turn product capabilities into measurable business outcomes
• Why companies often misunderstand the skills of their own employees
• Why hiring the right people means nothing without proper support
• The difference between hiring for culture fit and culture add
• What the treatment of former employees reveals about company culture
• How AI can improve efficiency without sacrificing authenticity

Todd brings a sharp, experienced perspective on marketing, technology, hiring, and leadership. This conversation goes well beyond HR tech, exploring why what companies promise, what they deliver, and how they treat people all matter.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Erin Flynn is a salesperson at BigSpeak, a speaker’s bureau based in Santa Barbara. She has worked across sales, corporate development, business development, mergers and acquisitions, and long-term strategic relationship building.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Why being liked is not the same as being respected
- How trust is built through action and consistency
- Why great salespeople make life easier for their clients
- How to balance quick wins with strategic accounts
- Why new reps need to learn the process before chasing the biggest deals
- How to coach upward with real market feedback
- Why no is often the start of the conversation
- How human relationships matter even more in an automated world

Erin brings a seasoned, practical view of sales. This one is about earning trust, building real relationships, staying useful, and knowing when to chase singles, doubles, and the bigger long-term wins.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Erin Flynn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theerinflynn/ 

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Marianne Bays is a founding board member and vice president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association. Before cannabis, she worked as a personnel psychologist, management professor, and corporate consultant. Now, she is focused on building a more sensible, sustainable cannabis industry in New Jersey.

In this episode, we talk about:

- How Marianne moved from corporate consulting into cannabis
- Why cannabis policy is different state by state
- How New Jersey is trying to create an opportunity for smaller operators
- Why hemp products created a major regulatory mess
- What happens when politics slows down business progress
- Why real estate is one of the hardest parts of launching in cannabis
- How brands can grow regionally without crossing state lines
- Why building in cannabis takes patience, strategy, and persistence

Marianne brings a clear, practical view of an industry that is still being built in real time. This one is about policy, business, regulation, real estate, and finding the work that actually keeps you interested.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Marianne Bays: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-bays/ 

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Oliver Libby is a venture capitalist, founder, author, and cross-sector builder. He co-founded HL Ventures, helped build The Resolution Project, and recently published Strong Floor and No Ceiling, a vision for how America can rebuild opportunity without limiting ambition.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Oliver’s family history, legacy, and Nobel Prize lineage
- Why every generation has to earn what it inherits
- How venture capital can be more builder than gambler
- Why founders need Sherpas, not just check writers
- What AI, robotics, and quantum could mean for work
- Why America needs both a stronger floor and no ceiling
- How capitalism can create opportunity when the system works
- Why ownership changes how people show up

Oliver brings a big-picture view of business, policy, investing, technology, and civic responsibility. This one moves from family history to venture capital to AI to the American dream, but the thread is consistent: build things that matter, and make sure more people have a real shot.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Oliver Libby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olibby/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Kevin Appleby is the managing partner at RUHL, a New York City-based MEP design and engineering consulting firm focused on building electrification, energy efficiency, HVAC, and high-rise commercial and residential buildings.

In this episode, we talk about:

- How Kevin helped bring a 70-year German family business to New York
- Why New York City is one of the hardest markets to break into
- Why networking matters more in closed industries
- How handwritten letters can still beat automated outreach
- Why sales culture feels different in Germany versus the U.S.
- What it takes to earn trust in real estate
- Why the wrong partners can cost money, time, and enthusiasm
- How family businesses can work when the vision and values are shared

Kevin brings a sharp perspective on sales, market entry, trust, partnerships, and what it means to build in New York. This one is about taking a proven business into a new market and earning your way in.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Kevin Appleby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-appleby/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Joshua Lindsey is the founder and CEO of American Business Brokers and PHX Private Equity. He has bought and sold his own companies, taken a company public, represented hundreds of small business owners, and now uses his brokerage as both a business and a feeder for private equity deals.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Why selling a small business is nothing like selling a house
- Why most business owners should not try to sell their own company
- How Josh separates serious buyers from tire kickers
- Why deal packaging matters for buyers and banks
- How his brokerage and private equity firm work together
- Why “enough” matters more as you get older
- How entrepreneurs can chase success without losing their lives
- Why Josh’s family built a weekly gratitude wall

Josh brings a rare mix of sales experience, deal experience, and perspective. This one starts with mergers and acquisitions, but it turns into a bigger conversation about freedom, family, ambition, gratitude, and what all the work is actually for.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Urszula Bosco was born and raised in Milan, moved to the U.S. for school, built a career in packaging, production, and development for beauty brands, and eventually co-founded Amor 27 with her husband in New York City.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Why starting a company means getting comfortable with uncertainty
- How corporate skills can become the foundation for entrepreneurship
- Why buying an engagement ring can feel so overwhelming
- The difference between a transaction and a true consultative experience
- How Amor 27 helps couples design custom jewelry without pressure
- Why referrals matter so much in a trust-based business
- How social media acts like a modern storefront
- What it takes to scale a personal, high-touch brand

Urszula brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective on building a business with your spouse, helping customers through emotional purchases, and creating jewelry that feels personal instead of intimidating.

This conversation is about entrepreneurship, trust, taste, family, risk, and why the best buying experiences make people feel comfortable before they make them feel impressed.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Urszula Bosco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urszulabosco/ 

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

David Kidder has built and exited multiple companies. Grace has worked alongside him for six years, from Bionic through its acquisition by Accenture and now into David’s newest companies, Board of Life and Primordium.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Why there’s a difference between being nice and being kind
- How founders build trust without creating dependency
- Why growth cannot just belong to the sales team
- How AI changes the expectations for every person in a company
- Why human-first communication matters more than ever
- How to build systems that scale beyond the founder
- Why commercial truth comes from customers, not investors
- What the 7-to-1 rule teaches teams about risk, feedback, and trust

David and Grace bring a rare inside look at what it actually takes to build companies in the AI era: high standards, deep care, clear systems, honest feedback, and a team where everyone owns growth.

This conversation is about sales, but it is also about culture, leadership, operating discipline, and what it means to build a company that can grow without losing its soul.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

David Kidder: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phletko/ 

Grace Keenan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-k/

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/

Paul Hletko is an entrepreneur in the adult consumption space who built FEW Spirits, helped roll up brands including Widow Jane, Bluecoat Gin, Tequila Ocho, Mezcal Vago, and Brenne, and now runs Skull & Petal, a men’s cosmetics and skincare company.

In this episode, we talk about:

- How family history led Paul into whiskey
- Why the invisible work matters most when building a company
- The relationship between hard work, luck, and timing
- Why entrepreneurship is one problem after another
- How Paul thinks about the journey, not the destination
- Why men’s skincare is becoming more relevant
- What the consumption space teaches you about discipline
- Why successful people often consume less, not more

Paul brings a sharp, relaxed, no-BS perspective on building, selling, starting over, and staying grounded through the ups and downs.

🎙️ Hosted by Max Notis | Learn more at comissionsales.com

Connect with us:

Paul Hletko: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phletko/ 

Max Notis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxnotis/

CoMission: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comissionsales/