Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Scott Smeester, founder of CIO Mastermind, a peer-powered leadership accelerator transforming tech executives into strategic business leaders. Scott shares his journey from civil engineer to serial entrepreneur, detailing how his own frustrations as a fractional CTO led him to create a vendor-free, confidential space for CIOs and tech leaders to solve real-world challenges. He breaks down his high-value offerings—from peer advisory groups ($6,500/year) to team training packages ($20,000+)—and reveals how a recent sales framework overhaul skyrocketed average client value by 40%.

Scott also dives into the "engineer’s mindset" behind scaling his business, emphasizing infrastructure and automation to hit 7 figures without traditional employees. He candidly discusses the pivotal decision to reinvest personal funds into revamping marketing and sales—a move inspired by a financial advisor’s blunt advice: "A 100X return is possible in your business, not the stock market." For tech leaders navigating C-suite politics or consultants hesitant to bet on themselves, this episode is a masterclass in strategic pivots and systems-driven growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Corey Dissin, founder of The Corey Dissin Companies, LLC—a powerhouse coaching and marketing consultancy. Corey shares his transition from a 30-year career in broadcast production to becoming "Your Business Bodyguard," helping solopreneurs and small business owners transform their expertise into scalable success. With his signature no-nonsense approach, he breaks down his unique coaching model, emphasizing actionable systems over emotion, and reveals how he built a thriving business that prioritizes "Quality Time Left" (QTL) over traditional scaling.

Corey also drops golden nuggets on LinkedIn mastery, debunking myths about "professional" behavior and advocating for authenticity as the ultimate growth tool. From his "Shawshank Plan" for career pivots to his disdain for shiny-object CRMs (his is a 10-cent notebook!), this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom for coaches, consultants, and anyone tired of spinning their wheels in business.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the inspiring journey of Jake Stahl, a renowned behavioral sales strategist and founder of Jake Stahl Consulting. Jake shares his transition from top-performing pharmaceutical sales rep to building a unique consulting firm that blends psychology, NLP, and sales strategy to help entrepreneurs and businesses thrive. He also discusses his latest venture, Orchestrate, an AI-powered platform designed to help professionals craft high-converting offers and sales strategies based on human decision-making patterns.

Jake opens up about his client acquisition strategies, emphasizing the power of nurturing long-term relationships and referrals. He also provides valuable insights into the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of understanding human behavior in sales, and his vision for scaling Orchestrate with potential investors. Whether you're a startup founder or an established business owner, Jake’s expertise offers actionable takeaways for sustainable growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the journey of Dr. Amy Athey, a nationally recognized performance psychologist and founder of Athey Performance. Amy shares her 25+ years of experience optimizing elite performance in sports, military, and business, and how she transitioned into entrepreneurship to bring a gold-standard, holistic performance model to executives and corporate teams. She breaks down her core offerings—high-touch coaching, speaking engagements, and training programs—while discussing the challenges of lead generation, sales cycles, and scaling a boutique consultancy.

Amy also reflects on key lessons from her first year in business, including the importance of delegation ("Just because I can do it doesn’t mean I should") and her vision for growth through strategic partnerships, webinars, and podcast appearances. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or performance enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on bridging high-performance science with real-world business success.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, Shelby Jo Long—CEO of Business Dynamics, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist—shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and how she helps visionaries transform their expertise into influential brands. Shelby discusses the power of strategic communication, constructive disagreement, and speaking as tools to elevate businesses, along with her mission to help leaders refine their messaging and scale sustainably.

Shelby dives into her unique approach of using debate-inspired strategies to spur innovation in organizations, the importance of visibility in business growth, and common pitfalls entrepreneurs face when communicating their offers. She also shares practical advice for aspiring speakers and how aligning your message with audience needs can accelerate trust and revenue.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with JM Ryerson, founder and CEO of Let’s Go Win, a mindset and leadership coaching company revolutionizing how high achievers align personal and professional success. JM shares his journey from being an overworked executive on the verge of burnout to building a purpose-driven business that helps leaders double their revenue while achieving work-life harmony. He dives into his unique ABC Framework (Align, Belief, Choose) and why holistic growth—not just financial success—is the key to sustainable leadership.

JM also opens up about the challenges of scaling brand awareness, the power of authentic connection in business, and how AI is transforming his workflow. Whether discussing his passion for coaching, his vision for certifying future leaders, or the importance of belief in achieving big goals, this episode is packed with actionable insights for founders and executives ready to win in business—and life.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Jeffrey Bryant, founder of Clear Path Coaching, to explore how his 20-year background in pastoral leadership evolved into a transformative coaching practice. Jeffrey shares his journey from guiding spiritual growth to helping professionals and organizations unlock their potential through Gallup-certified strengths coaching. His unique approach focuses on aligning natural talents with career paths—whether for individuals seeking direction or companies aiming to optimize team dynamics. With programs ranging from 12-week one-on-one coaching to quarterly corporate engagements, Jeffrey reveals how self-awareness can slash meeting times, boost productivity, and create workplaces where people thrive.

Jeffrey also dives into the challenges of scaling a personalized coaching business, the power of warm referrals versus cold outreach, and why he views ads as long-term brand investments rather than quick wins. For fellow coaches, he offers a golden mindset: See every interaction as planting seeds, not just harvesting clients. Whether discussing his failed LinkedIn ad experiments or the spiritual roots of his "wealth beyond money" philosophy, Jeffrey’s insights blend practicality with profound purpose—proving that the clearest path to success starts with knowing who you are.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, Travis Hatch—founder of Travis Hawks Media—shares his unconventional journey from corporate marketing to building a thriving video production business during the pandemic. Travis reveals why he prefers one-off projects over retainers for creative freedom, how he leverages LinkedIn as a "blue ocean" for high-ticket clients, and his counterintuitive approach to scaling through systems rather than hustle.

Travis breaks down his "content waterfall" strategy for maximizing video deliverables, the financial math behind choosing ideal clients (hint: $200K equipment manufacturers > $7 coffee shops), and why creatives must balance sales with operational systems to avoid burnout. He also shares hard-won lessons on trusting your gut, why networking beats cold pitching, and how to turn self-doubt into action—proving that even non-technical founders can build successful agencies by playing to their strengths.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, Tony Jeton Selimi—founder of TJS Cognition and globally renowned transformational coach—shares his extraordinary journey from war-torn adversity to becoming a trusted advisor for high-achieving leaders. Tony reveals how his unique blend of neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurial resilience helps executives and thought leaders overcome burnout, align their inner purpose, and scale their impact through exclusive retreats and VIP coaching.

Tony dives into his "Climb Greater Heights" methodology, emphasizing the power of authenticity, inner work, and strategic exclusivity in business growth. He unpacks his unconventional client acquisition strategies—from media appearances to serendipitous connections at luxury retreats—and leaves listeners with a profound takeaway: true success begins with transforming your inner world to create outer abundance.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, Scott Gooch—founder of SBG Strategy and fractional growth operations expert—shares his journey from Big 4 consulting to helping early-stage and high-growth businesses scale efficiently. Scott dives into his tech-enabled approach to revenue operations, delegation strategies for founder-led teams, and how fractional leaders can fill critical gaps for companies not yet ready for full-time C-suite hires.

Scott also opens up about the realities of transitioning from corporate consulting to entrepreneurship, including financial preparation, healthcare costs, and the importance of building a referral network. He offers tactical advice for fellow consultants considering the fractional route and emphasizes the power of unbiased, strategic guidance in unlocking transformational growth for small-to-midsize businesses.