In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Josh Taylor, Founder and CEO of Product EVO
—a product development and sourcing agency that helps entrepreneurs transform ideas into market-ready products. Josh shares his unconventional journey from finance and art to becoming a product development expert, revealing how his blend of analytical and creative skills led him to build a company that bridges the gap between vision and execution.

With a focus on founders generating $3M–$30M in revenue, Josh explains how Product EVO’s data-driven approach helps clients avoid the 90% failure rate of new products by validating ideas, streamlining features, and managing manufacturing—whether it’s a simple 6-month project or a complex 3-year build like the 6,000-part CNC machine they developed.

Josh dives into the challenges of scaling a high-touch service business, from his 15X ROAS Meta ad funnel to the struggle of replicating his founder-led sales process. He shares hard-won lessons on hiring sales teams (hint: hire 3 AEs at once) and why most product companies fail by overcomplicating their offerings.

Whether you’re a hardware startup or an established brand looking to expand your product line, Josh’s insights on manufacturing diversification (including his viral “Pros and Cons of Manufacturing Outside China” guide) and lean validation techniques are a masterclass in product-led growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Mishal Saeed sits down with Brittany S. Hale, Founder & CEO of BND Consulting Group, a leadership strategy firm empowering women executives with clarity and confidence. Brittany shares her unique journey from securities litigation to executive coaching, revealing how she helps leaders bridge the gap between intention and action. She discusses her three-tiered consulting model—fractional leadership, operational strategy, and performance enablement—and how she’s scaling her impact through AI-driven solutions while staying true to her "Be Nobody’s Darling" philosophy.

Brittany dives into the challenges of predictable lead generation, delegation vs. abdication, and why fractional leadership is in high demand. She also shares her vision for BND’s next phase—expanding into intimate, high-value engagements for startup founders and nonprofits. With insights on decision-making frameworks and fostering resilient teams, this episode is packed with wisdom for leaders ready to elevate their organizations.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Andrew Murkens, founder and CEO of 828 Biz Marketing, a faith-driven digital marketing agency based in North Carolina. Andrew shares his journey from running a ministry to launching a results-driven marketing business, emphasizing the power of authentic relationships, SEO, and AI in today’s digital landscape. He dives into his core strategies—web design, social media, and local SEO—while revealing how he’s scaling his agency with recurring revenue and intentional client acquisition.

Andrew also unpacks the future of digital marketing, highlighting the growing influence of AI, content clustering, and LinkedIn’s resurgence. He leaves listeners with a powerful piece of advice: “Be strategic, but don’t be afraid to buck the norms.” Whether you’re a small business owner or a fellow entrepreneur, this episode is packed with actionable insights on marketing, mindset, and sustainable growth.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we dive into the visionary world of AI-powered go-to-market strategies with Jim Recker, Founder & CEO of Invenir AI. Jim shares how his company is revolutionizing business launches by using agentic AI to orchestrate marketing, sales, and customer care—eliminating inefficiencies and accelerating revenue. From the inspiration behind Invenir (hint: Zoom’s rapid feature releases) to the future of AI-human collaboration, Jim breaks down how autonomous agents will reshape industries while keeping human oversight essential.

Jim also discusses the challenges of AI adoption, security concerns, and how Invenir’s unique approach helps SMBs and enterprises streamline product launches 35-60% faster—without sacrificing quality. He shares insights on the evolving role of AI engineers, the impact on traditional job roles, and why businesses must balance tech innovation with human intuition. A must-listen for entrepreneurs and leaders navigating the AI revolution!

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Jevon Wooden, Bronze Star veteran and CEO of BrightMind Consulting Group, a leadership development firm revolutionizing empathetic, people-centered growth. Jevon shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship, revealing how toxic leadership inspired his mission to help leaders and teams unlock their potential through emotional intelligence, coaching, and cultural transformation. He dives into his 5Y Framework—a root-cause approach to leadership—and how BrightMind’s customized "learning solutions" (not just training) empower small-to-midsize businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.

Jevon also unpacks his scaling strategy, leveraging a collaborative network of vetted coaches and consultants to maintain excellence without bloating overhead. He highlights the power of relationships over transactions, the pitfalls of traditional ads, and why LinkedIn and Google My Business are his top lead gen tools. For leaders navigating today’s uncertain economy, Jevon leaves a golden nugget: "Success isn’t lonely—pull others up as you climb."

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Effenus Henderson, President & CEO of HenderWorks Inc., a pioneering consultancy in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). With decades of experience—from corporate HR leadership at Weyerhaeuser to co-authoring the first ISO global standard for DEI—Effenus shares how he guides organizations to embed equity into their DNA. He reveals the challenges of today’s polarized climate, where DEI initiatives face backlash, and how HenderWorks adapts by reframing inclusion as a business imperative, not just a moral obligation.

Effenus also opens up about his unconventional approach to scaling: prioritizing impact over revenue. As a semi-retired leader, he focuses on thought leadership (like his upcoming book SPINE) and strategic partnerships—leveraging LinkedIn, podcasts, and national organizations like the National Organization of Minority Architects. For aspiring consultants, his advice is timeless: “Follow your passion, but stay agile—what worked 5 years ago won’t cut it today.”

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Mark VanDyke, President of TranscendX, a consulting firm revolutionizing emergency preparedness and business continuity—especially in healthcare and regulated industries. Mark shares how TranscendX helps organizations move beyond redundancy to true resilience, ensuring they can thrive during disruptions like cyberattacks, power outages, or even active shooter scenarios. From their unique assessment-based approach to their newly acquired expertise in energy, government, and education sectors, Mark reveals why resilience isn’t just a "check-the-box" compliance task—it’s a survival strategy.

Mark also drops an exclusive: TranscendX recently merged with a 30-year global consulting firm, expanding their reach into nuclear power, universities, and municipal governments. Plus, he teases their upcoming XOS (TranscendX Operating System), a framework to help teams fix problems faster while maintaining clear communication during crises. Whether you’re in healthcare, manufacturing, or local government, this episode is a masterclass in building organizations that don’t just endure chaos—they outperform in it.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Dr. Camille Preston, Founder & CEO of AIM Leadership, a pioneering executive coaching firm transforming how leaders navigate complexity. With 22 years of experience—from counseling police chiefs post-9/11 to guiding family businesses through generational transitions—Camille reveals her "compounded crisis" framework for helping high-achievers rediscover purpose beyond profit. She shares how her latest bestselling book, Living Real, and an upcoming AI-powered platform are democratizing leadership development, while staying true to her core belief: "Tension creates consciousness—and breakthroughs."

Camille also pulls back the curtain on AIM’s unconventional growth strategy—relying on "whisper circuit" referrals and velvet-rope CEO gatherings—while teasing a 4x revenue expansion plan. For founders feeling the weight of leadership in turbulent times, she offers a rallying cry: "Destruction precedes construction. The most enlivening opportunities emerge from adversity."

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Erika Mand, Founder and CEO of Elite Talent Partners, a boutique recruiting and staffing firm. Erika shares her nearly 20-year journey in talent acquisition, from starting in Houston, Texas, to leading high-impact recruiting teams across industries. She discusses how Elite Talent Partners has pivoted in today’s challenging market—shifting from traditional contingency staffing to outplacement services and fractional HR solutions—while maintaining a high-touch, relationship-driven approach to client success.

Erika also dives into the evolving recruitment landscape, from remote work demands to corporate layoffs, and how her firm adapts to economic shifts. She highlights the importance of exclusivity in client partnerships, her global recruiting model (including offshore teams), and why networking and referrals remain her top lead generation strategies. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, hiring manager, or talent professional, Erika’s insights offer a roadmap for navigating the future of recruitment.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we sit down with Tracey Evans, a former VP of Marketing at American Express who left the corporate world after 20 years to pursue her passion for horses and founded Dreamwinds Equine Assisted Learning. Tracey shares her unconventional journey from leading high-stakes marketing teams to pioneering a unique approach to leadership development through equine-assisted learning (EAL). She discusses how her realization that horses could serve as unbiased mirrors for human behavior led her to create programs that bridge the gap between traditional corporate training and authentic, experiential growth. Tracey explains how Dreamwinds’ corporate team-building and facilitator certification programs help participants reveal blind spots in communication, emotional intelligence, and team dynamics—often missed by conventional methods—by working directly with horses in ground-based, non-riding activities that emphasize clarity, trust, and nonverbal cues.

Tracey also delves into the challenges of scaling a niche business, from navigating unpredictable sales cycles in corporate training to leveraging targeted Facebook ads for her EAL certification programs. She emphasizes the importance of niching down with the mantra "choose what you love, not just what’s profitable," and shares her vision for 2025: expanding specialized retreats like Ignite Her Leadership and increasing broader awareness of EAL’s proven ROI, noting that her programs have achieved 100% top-box satisfaction rates. For aspiring entrepreneurs, she offers profound advice: "Your passion will fuel you through the ‘no’s’—it’s the only way to build something sustainable".