Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we sit down with Catherine Glynn, the founder and CEO of Voce Veritas. Catherine takes us back to the challenging climate of the 2008 recession, where she bravely transitioned from freelance work to founding her own company. She shares the inspiration behind the name Voce Veritas (meaning "True Voice" in Latin) and how her background as a classically trained actor provided the unique methodology—focusing on breath, posture, gesture, content, and mindset—that she uses to coach leaders, entrepreneurs, and business students.

Catherine discusses her philosophy of creating independent, self-aware clients rather than fostering dependency, typically through powerful 6-8 hour coaching packages. She reveals her exciting plans for the future: launching retreats at her new "Art Sanctuary" in Lanesboro, Minnesota, to help clients "recreate and recreate themselves." The conversation concludes with her invaluable advice for founders: embrace patience, admit what you don't know, laugh at yourself, and remember that the entrepreneurial journey "is not as serious as you think it is."

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we sit down with Dr. Praveena Reddy K., founder of Think Tales Academy, an innovative tutoring center focused on making learning joyful for K-12 students. Dr. Praveena shares her inspiring journey from being a physics professor to launching her own academy after witnessing her son’s struggles with traditional learning methods. She discusses her unique approach to education, blending math and English with life skills, and her vision for creating a "kid’s heaven"—a holistic after-school hub where children can explore diverse activities in a nurturing, mentorship-driven environment.

Dr. Praveena also opens up about the challenges of scaling her business, the importance of organic growth, and her plans to expand Think Tales Academy into a comprehensive learning space. From her early days of crafting custom curricula to her future goals of integrating arts, public speaking, and hands-on projects, she emphasizes the value of fostering a love for learning. Tune in for actionable insights on balancing entrepreneurship with purpose and her advice for aspiring founders: start slow, stay intentional, and find the right mentors.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the journey of Michael Cirillo, the visionary CEO behind FlexDealer. Michael shares his profound insights on the power of mindset, detailing his early struggles with failure and depression and how they forged the resilient, authentic leadership style he embodies today. He passionately argues against the "get-rich-quick" influencer formulas, advocating instead for a foundation built on genuine human connection and providing immense value without holding back.

Michael breaks down the practical strategies that transformed FlexDealer into an industry powerhouse, from his initial resistance to cold calling to the creation of a powerful inbound marketing funnel centered on a best-selling book and a consistently produced podcast. He reveals how this commitment to content built a trusted personal brand that now drives high-quality, qualified leads, allowing his agency to operate on a month-to-month basis with clients who have stayed for over two decades. The conversation culminates in a powerful vision for the future, where Michael places all his bets on meaningful human connection as the ultimate differentiator in an increasingly automated and AI-driven world.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Drew Harden, the visionary founder and CEO of Blue Compass. Drew takes us back to the genesis of his premier digital marketing agency, recounting how a combination of a shifting workplace culture and a passion for the dynamic potential of the web led him and a colleague to take a leap of faith in 2007. He shares the foundational lessons learned from his early career in graphic design and animation, and how the desire to build meaningful, long-term client partnerships—not just execute one-off projects—became the core of Blue Compass's philosophy.

Drew delves into the agency's strategic approach, which centers on a powerful one-two punch: first, building a highly strategic, SEO-first website designed for maximum user conversion, and second, supporting it with an ongoing retainer focused on active monitoring, optimization, and transparent client relationships. The conversation also explores the evolving landscape of digital marketing, including the impactful rise of AI and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Drew provides his expert insight on why high-quality, generously shared content is more crucial than ever and how meeting users where they are—whether on traditional search or new AI platforms—is the key to future-proofing a digital presence.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Luke Gough, career coach and founder of Luke Gough Coaching. Luke shares his journey from a 14-year recruitment career across London, Sydney, and Australia to launching his coaching business, dedicated to helping professionals gain clarity and accelerate their career transitions. He breaks down his three-tiered service model—consulting, coaching, and cybersecurity specialization—and discusses the challenges of scaling, niching down, and the power of organic growth through social media and YouTube.

Luke opens up about his vision for becoming the go-to career consultant in his space and the internal debate between general career coaching and specializing in cybersecurity. The conversation also explores lead generation strategies, pricing psychology, and the importance of defining the ideal client avatar. Ammar offers insights on premium positioning and scaling, leaving Luke—and listeners—with actionable takeaways for business growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the inspiring journey of Alison McLean, founder of Ignite Ur Wellness. Alison shares how she transitioned from a burnt-out healthcare practitioner to a thriving business coach, helping wellness professionals build profitable, sustainable businesses without sacrificing their well-being. She discusses her scrappy beginnings, the power of organic marketing, and her signature coaching programs—including her 6-month one-on-one mentorship and her Instagram-focused group program. Alison also opens up about overcoming sales call anxieties, the importance of mindset work, and her vision for scaling her business through audience growth and community-driven masterminds.

Alison’s story is a testament to resilience and strategic pivots. She emphasizes the value of hybrid marketing (online + in-person collaborations), pricing confidence, and niching down authentically. For aspiring wellness entrepreneurs, her advice is clear: start small, prioritize signing clients over perfection, and keep refining your approach. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or practitioner, Alison’s insights on balancing scalability with personal fulfillment are gold.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Zac Armstrong, founder and CEO of Empowerment Fitness. Zac shares his incredible journey from a 26-year military career to building a highly personalized fitness coaching business that helps high-achieving executives and entrepreneurs reclaim their health. He delves into the origins of his business, which started organically when a neighbor persistently asked for training, forcing him to develop a streamlined, tech-enabled approach to replace archaic Excel sheets and create a truly bespoke client experience.

Zac provides a masterclass in authentic sales and client fulfillment, explaining why he moved exclusively to LinkedIn for its professional demographic and higher show-up rates. He discusses the importance of building genuine relationships over transactional ones, his hands-on approach that includes opening his home to clients, and his philosophy that after six months, clients should never need another trainer again—though 90% stay due to the powerful connection forged. He also offers raw, invaluable advice for new coaches entering the crowded online space, emphasizing that success requires immense work, resilience through hard lessons, and a commitment to never stop learning.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Thomas Morales, the founder of Thomas Morales Online. Thomas shares his incredible journey from launching a local air testing company to mastering the art of automation and operations, eventually leading him to help other B2B founders and agencies scale. He delves into the critical challenges of scaling a service-based business, breaking down the three core bottlenecks every founder faces: leads, sales, and operations.

Thomas provides a masterclass on lead generation, explaining why he believes automated LinkedIn outreach is the most effective starting point for creating predictable conversations with your ideal client. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on a clear, outcome-based offer rather than just the "how" of your service, and underscores the vital principle that success comes from having more quality conversations, not just from creating more content.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the inspiring journey of Sereniti Simpson, the founder and CEO of BAMDE LLC, a Gen Z-led digital marketing agency built for modern small businesses. Sereniti shares how her passion for social media management evolved from a college side hustle into a full-fledged agency, specializing in content strategy, social media management, and community-driven growth. She discusses her vision for scaling BAMDE beyond its local roots while maintaining a personal touch with clients, and offers valuable advice for young entrepreneurs on overcoming age-related barriers in business.

Sereniti also breaks down BAMDE’s business model, ideal clients, and sales process, emphasizing the importance of systems and adaptability in scaling. With a goal to expand nationally and hit $750K in revenue within the next year, she highlights the power of Gen Z’s digital fluency in helping businesses thrive. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode is packed with insights on branding, client acquisition, and strategic growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we sit down with Kristie K. Jones, founder of Sales Acceleration Group. Kristie shares the unexpected, universe-led journey that took her from seeking a traditional sales leadership role to becoming a sought-after consultant for early-stage B2B SaaS startups. She delves into the critical transition founders face when moving from founder-led selling to building their first formal sales team, emphasizing the importance of documenting processes and preparing the company culture for this significant growth step.

Kristie provides invaluable advice for founders at the beginning of their journey, urging them to "become a student of the game" and understand sales fundamentals even if they plan to hire experts later. She also offers a powerful perspective on scaling, sharing the best advice she received: "get small to get big," explaining how niching down to specialize in serving VC-backed startups between $1-5M in revenue actually propelled her business forward through referrals and established her as a true expert in her lane.