In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we sit down with Tara McKelvey, the visionary founder behind It's Virtually Tara. Tara shares her fascinating journey from environmental project manager to entrepreneur, detailing the pivotal moment she realized she needed a career that offered a more direct, personal impact. She opens up about the challenges and emotional rollercoaster of transitioning from a solo virtual assistant to building a boutique agency, including the difficult process of learning to trust her clients' work with a team. Tara provides an honest look at the realities of scaling a service-based business and her ambitious goal to build an agency that can thrive independently of her direct involvement.

Tara delves into her effective, albeit experimental, social media strategy that forms the core of her client acquisition, primarily on Instagram. She discusses the importance of repurposing content, adapting to algorithm changes, and the power of authentic messaging to attract the right clients. Looking ahead, Tara offers her insights on the future of the VA industry, emphasizing how adaptability and the integration of new technologies like AI will be key to success. This episode is a masterclass in pivoting with purpose, the art of strategic delegation, and building a business that supports both your ambitions and your desired lifestyle.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we meet Hana Marigmen, the dynamic founder behind Marigmen Insurance Services (MIS) and EA Academy. Hana shares her inspiring journey from immigrating to the U.S. and working as a healthcare aide to becoming a successful insurance advisor and entrepreneur. She delves into how her passion for providing opportunities and her focus on exceptional client service led her to hire her first executive assistant, which was a game-changer for her business. This experience revealed a broader need in the market, inspiring her to create EA Academy to train and connect skilled virtual assistants with entrepreneurs, fostering growth for both the professionals and the businesses they serve.

Hana provides a powerful look into the mindset and discipline required to succeed as a virtual assistant, emphasizing the invaluable opportunity to learn directly from executives. She discusses the tremendous growth of EA Academy, which attracted nearly 500 members in less than a month, and her vision to create over 1,000 jobs in the next few years. The conversation explores the future of the VA industry, the importance of resilience, and Hana's core philosophy of "building people" as the fundamental key to scaling any successful venture.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we meet Tania Ciobanu, a women's mindset coach on a powerful mission. Tania shares her deeply personal journey from a sales professional facing motherhood and depression to becoming the founder of "The Mama Mirror," a transformative program for mothers. She reveals how her own struggle with identity and inherited limiting beliefs led her to a life-changing coaching academy, sparking her passion to help other women break free from their conditioning.

Tania delves into the core of her work, explaining how she helps ambitious mothers heal their inner child, rewire their mindset, and release anxiety to build calm, confident lives. She details her compassionate approach, which combines one-on-one deep transformation sessions with ongoing support, empowering women to find "home within themselves" and stop seeking external validation. The conversation also explores Tania's vision for scaling her impact through group coaching and a future podcast, all while navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and staying true to her mission of supporting mothers worldwide.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we meet Wendy Alexander, a career coach at Happy Career Hub who turned her own rock-bottom experience—leaving a traumatic relationship while pregnant and facing significant debt—into a powerful mission. Wendy shares her inspiring journey of meticulously learning the art of the job search, which led to a 50% income increase and, eventually, a 20+ year side business coaching others. She reveals the practical, non-fluff strategies she uses to help midlife professionals, especially women navigating menopause and career burnout, to rediscover their drive, craft compelling resumes, master interviews, and strategically land fulfilling roles.

Wendy delves into her core methodology, which begins with "mining your story" to find the deep-seated driver for change, ensuring clients have the resilience to persevere. She emphasizes the critical importance of creating a practical exit strategy from a soul-sucking job, which may include volunteering, upskilling in areas like AI, and leveraging LinkedIn. While AI is changing the resume-writing landscape, Wendy argues that her unique value lies in aligning a person's written profile with their authentic communication style, a disparity interviewers quickly spot. The conversation also covers her future goals, including publishing a book on leadership and focusing on the interview coaching she loves, where she witnesses the most rapid and rewarding transformations in her clients.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we dive into the inspiring journey of Dave and Adam Bird, the brothers behind the financial education company, Mastering the Markets. The conversation begins with Dave's origin story, from being a primary school teacher seeking financial freedom for his family to launching a charity initiative that unexpectedly blossomed into a global movement. They discuss how Dave's unique ability to demystify the "why" behind market movements, using his teaching background, formed the core of their educational philosophy.

Adam and Dave detail the rapid growth of Mastering the Markets, which has evolved into a thriving community of over 3,000 members and a school with more than 1,000 students. The brothers emphasize that their mission is purpose-driven, extending far beyond profit to include scholarships and empowering incredible stories, such as a student in Africa who used their education to start his own local school. They share their vision for a global lifestyle brand that not only teaches financial literacy but also fosters human connection and helps people find purpose beyond their desks.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we meet Luke Lorefice, LCSW, the founder of Wave Point Counseling. Luke shares his journey from a "bad sales job" to discovering his calling in mental health, inspired by his family of helpers and a desire to support young adults. He delves into his unique niche of "bro therapy," working primarily with young men and neurodivergent individuals (especially those with ADHD and high-functioning autism) by combining practical, action-oriented coaching with traditional therapy, both in-person and virtually.

Luke discusses the current boom in the mental health industry and his multi-faceted approach to client acquisition, from online platforms like Psychology Today to in-person resource fairs. He also opens up about his ambitious future plans, which include scaling his "Social Connections" dinner parties for autistic adults, authoring a book, and a long-term, visionary goal of creating a trade school that offers a traditional college experience for skilled vocations, making it an affordable and valuable alternative to conventional higher education.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we sit down with Basam Murtaza Tahoor, the founder of Tahoors Creative Marketing. Basam shares the origin story of his entrepreneurial journey, which began in 2019 when he identified a critical gap in the market while working for a corporate firm. Frustrated with marketing agencies that only offered siloed services, he was inspired to create a one-stop shop that provides cohesive and consistent branding, web design, and digital marketing strategies. He opens up about the immense challenges of launching his first venture, iClick Agency, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and how that experience now fuels his mission to support early-stage entrepreneurs and creative artists with his new company.

Basam delves into the unique, value-driven approach of Tahoors Creative Marketing, which focuses on building human connections and equipping clients with the tools and knowledge—like editable Canva templates and pre-set ad campaigns—for long-term success. He discusses his targeted customer acquisition strategies, the importance of building a strong team for scalable growth, and his ambitious five-year vision to expand into European markets. The conversation concludes with a powerful piece of advice from Basam to his younger self: to embrace mistakes and failures as the essential building blocks for future strength and success.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Sam Aramando, we are joined by Saturnie L. Antoine, a certified professional executive and relationship femininity coach. Saturnie shares her profound journey of pivoting from a pre-med track to answering her true calling in coaching, a path revealed through deep personal and spiritual discovery. She discusses the 20-plus years of life experience that form the foundation of her practice, Flowing Love, and how her own healing process became the blueprint for empowering other women.

Saturnie delves into the core mission of her work: helping professional women and leaders overcome relational struggles in both their personal and professional lives by reconnecting with their feminine energy. She explains how societal pressures often force women into a masculine operational mode, creating conflict, and how her coaching and video guide, "Feminine Accelerator," provide a practical framework for healing, tapping into self-worth, and achieving effortless flow in all relationships.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we sit down with Matt Payne, co-founder of the Outer Circle Foundation. Matt shares his powerful journey from a U.S. Air Force combat controller and retired law enforcement chief to launching a nonprofit dedicated to supporting military veterans and first responders. He delves into the Foundation's critical mission focused on PTSD awareness, suicide prevention, and career transition support, explaining how his own experiences with loss and his deep faith inspired him to create a tangible solution for those who have served.

Matt provides a candid look at the realities of starting and running a nonprofit, from the initial hurdles of securing 501(c)(3) status to the strategic growth that has expanded their impact. He discusses the Foundation's evolution, including its pivot to assist Afghan allies during the 2021 crisis and its return to its core mission. The conversation also covers their goals for breaking the stigma around mental health as a workplace injury for first responders and how building the right partnerships and board is key to scaling their vital work.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Sam Aramando, we sit down with Youi Marinelli, a high-ticket sales coach and affiliate marketing specialist. Youi shares his incredible journey from working in the trades and running a sports therapy clinic to discovering the world of online business. He opens up about the pivotal moment a friend introduced him to high-ticket affiliate marketing, which led him to quit his job in just three and a half months. Youi discusses his mission to help others escape the 9-to-5 grind by providing them with the skills, products, and community to build a successful online business and achieve financial freedom.

Youi delves into the core of his business, explaining his client acquisition strategy which heavily leverages TikTok ads for their lower cost per lead. He outlines his transparent sales process, from the initial ad click to a direct phone call and free business model videos, ensuring potential clients are fully informed before making an investment. Looking ahead, Youi shares his vision of scaling his team with dedicated appointment setters and closers to better serve his community, while also revealing his personal goal of hitting his first $100k month. He leaves us with a powerful piece of advice for his younger self: "If you want to be the best leader and produce leaders, you first must lead yourself."