Founders Future

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, Teresa Jacobsson—CEO and co-founder of JWIG Industries Group—shares her remarkable journey from leading an Alaska Native corporation to building an SBA 8(a) firm that transforms government agencies and indigenous organizations. With 30+ years in organizational development and federal contracting, Teresa reveals how she pivoted JWIG from local services to aerospace/defense consulting, including their current NASA subcontract. She discusses the "fail-learn-repeat" cycle of entrepreneurship and her Vegas strategy session that rallied her team around their bold new vision for land-and-sky government solutions.*

Teresa breaks down JWIG’s crisis-to-compliance model, where they rescue organizations from financial disarray while fostering cultures where "work doesn’t have to be a 4-letter word." She shares hard-won lessons on government contracting (like SAM.gov bot audits) and why she starts client meetings with gratitude—even during years when "all I could say was ‘I had a good cup of coffee this morning.’" For founders facing impossible odds, Teresa’s story proves that resilience + servant leadership can build enterprises that last generations.*

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we dive into the journey of Eddie Saunders Jr., the founder and CEO of Speak Friend, a B2B marketing agency revolutionizing demand generation and LinkedIn strategies for industrial and tech companies. Eddie shares how his passion for human decision-making led him to bridge the gap in industrial marketing, which often lags 3-5 years behind other industries. He breaks down his lean, high-impact agency model, emphasizing authentic connections, data-driven strategies, and why AI is the future of marketing—whether businesses like it or not.

Eddie also opens up about scaling Speak Friend, his "bench" team philosophy, and why he prioritizes lifestyle freedom over unnecessary growth. From his early days as a sales-driven marketer to becoming a thought leader, he reveals the power of personal branding, intentional demand generation, and why 95% of your audience isn’t ready to buy—yet. Whether you're in B2B marketing or scaling an agency, Eddie’s insights on efficiency, leadership, and staying ahead of trends are gold.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, Michael Edwards—Principal Consultant at The Edwards Group Texas—shares his unconventional journey from telecom executive to real estate investor and founder enabler. With 30+ years of experience building high-performance teams in sales and customer experience, Michael reveals how his "servant leadership" philosophy helps growth-stage founders craft intentional cultures and scalable operations. He discusses the pivotal mindset shift from being a "do-it-all" leader to empowering teams, drawing parallels between his corporate career and coaching real estate agents to success through discipline, consistency, and systems.*

Michael breaks down why he exclusively works with founders through referrals, prioritizing quality over scale in his consulting practice. He offers candid advice on avoiding cultural debt ("Culture must be intentional from day one") and shares his unique position as a financially independent advisor who chooses passion projects over revenue targets. From transforming struggling sales teams to building passive income through real estate, Michael's story is a masterclass in aligning business with purpose.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we sit down with Ryan Stieg, founder and CEO of Finnovate, an AI consulting agency helping small businesses and real estate professionals streamline operations with practical AI tools. Ryan shares his entrepreneurial journey—from insurance and franchise gyms to real estate investing—and how identifying bottlenecks in his own ventures led him to demystify AI for time-strapped entrepreneurs. He reveals how Finnovate’s tailored audits uncover high-impact AI use cases, from automating knowledge bases to optimizing communications, while navigating the challenges of adoption resistance in traditional industries.

Ryan also dives into his "slow and methodical" approach to scaling, balancing personalized consulting with productized solutions, and why he’s building a developer network to bridge the gap between custom AI tools and client needs. From AI-powered calendars to voice-to-text tech, he shares game-changing tools for efficiency—and why the key to standing out in a noisy AI market is niching down and delivering undeniable value.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we dive into the journey of Sheena Eizmendiz, the founder and CEO of WellBiz, a leadership development and culture transformation firm. Sheena shares how her personal resilience—founded at just 23 years old as a divorced mother of two—shaped her mission to bridge personal and professional growth for leaders and teams. With a 26-year evolution from private practice to corporate consulting, she reveals how WellBiz’s tailored frameworks, diagnostics, and team alignment strategies help organizations foster inclusivity, emotional intelligence, and AI-ready cultures—all while rejecting "check-the-box" DEI initiatives 1517.

From scaling through speaking engagements and referrals to navigating the challenges of burnout in a post-pandemic world, Sheena unpacks her vision for WellBiz’s next chapter: expanding her team to meet growing demand while staying true to values of empathy and ethical AI integration. She also highlights the power of vetting clients for cultural alignment and the surprising reality that 90% of their business comes from long-term partnerships

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Tamanisha Casey Mayberry, CEO of TMC Consulting Group, a Houston-based firm revolutionizing access to government contracts for minority and women-owned businesses. What began as a tax consultancy in 2012 evolved into a mission-driven powerhouse after Tamanisha spotted a critical gap: while governments allocate billions annually to diverse businesses, most entrepreneurs don’t know how to tap into these funds. Through TMC’s blend of 1:1 consulting, DIY courses, and her nonprofit Her Gov Summit, she’s creating pathways for underrepresented founders to scale—proving "certifications aren’t paperwork; they’re paychecks."

Tamanisha shares her playbook for growth—from leveraging LinkedIn over traditional social media to the surprising power of old-school networking ("pick up the phone!"). She reveals why celebrating small wins attracts big opportunities and how her GoHighLevel CRM system streamlines scaling. For founders doubting their next move, her advice is razor-sharp: *"Get an accountant and lawyer first—it’s the foundation every $1M+ business is built on."

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the inspiring journey of Heather McGonigal, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Empowering Leadership Teams. Heather shares her unique path from aspiring teacher to theater performer, and eventually to leadership development expert. She discusses the origins of her company, which helps organizations build aligned, high-performing teams through human behavior insights. Heather also highlights her passion for fostering healthy business cultures, the importance of self-leadership in today’s fast-paced world, and how her programs empower both leaders and teams to thrive in collaborative environments.

Heather delves into her company’s offerings, including the year-long leadership program, the Mindset Reset Intensive, and the Mindful Leader Program, which combines self-paced videos with weekly group coaching. She emphasizes the value of building a robust leadership community and the importance of adapting to the evolving workforce, particularly with younger professionals advocating for healthier business cultures. Heather’s grounded, human-centered approach to leadership development is a testament to her dedication to helping individuals and teams achieve their full potential while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Ed Cortez, the founder and CEO of Sales Coach Guru. Ed shares his extensive background in sales, spanning industries from insurance and banking to fintech and startups. He discusses how his experiences led him to create Sales Coach Guru, a coaching business aimed at helping companies uncover hidden revenue and scale effectively. Ed emphasizes the importance of market dominance, clear messaging, and strategic planning in driving business success. He also highlights his tailored coaching approach, which includes one-on-one sessions, group cohorts, and consulting engagements, all designed to help businesses achieve their growth goals.

Ed provides valuable insights into his sales process, client acquisition strategies, and the challenges of finding qualified leads. He stresses the importance of genuine client relationships and the need for business owners to be open to coaching and mentorship. Ed’s passion for helping businesses thrive is evident as he shares practical advice for new coaches and entrepreneurs, encouraging them to focus on their clients’ needs and challenges. Listeners can connect with Ed through his website, TheSalesCoachGuru.com, and learn more about his mission to transform businesses and drive profitability.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Dr. Shakeer Abdullah, founder and CEO of Practical Diversity Associates, a leadership and equity consulting firm. Dr. Abdullah shares his journey from his early experiences in diverse communities to founding his company, driven by his passion for multicultural competence. He explains how multicultural competence—comprising knowledge, skills, and awareness—can transform organizations and individuals. Dr. Abdullah also discusses his College Degrees program, which helps students optimize their personal growth and career trajectories. With over two decades of experience in higher education and corporate leadership, Dr. Abdullah provides actionable insights on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as practical strategies for navigating the complexities of college and career success.

Dr. Abdullah delves into the challenges and opportunities of running a consulting firm in today’s shifting political and social climate. He highlights the importance of pivoting to meet market demands, such as focusing on career readiness programs for students when diversity initiatives face resistance. Dr. Abdullah also shares his vision for the future, aiming to grow awareness of his brand and expand his reach. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, educator, or professional, this episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, adaptability, and the power of curiosity in driving meaningful change.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Dan Goodman, founder and CEO of Dan Goodman Employment Advisory (DGEA). Dan shares his unexpected journey from a 30-year corporate career to becoming a leading employee advocate, helping over 3,200 clients navigate workplace challenges like severance negotiations, commission disputes, and unfair employment agreements. With no formal training—just deep empathy and sharp intuition—Dan has built a thriving consultancy purely through authentic LinkedIn engagement, proving that trust and transparency can drive massive impact.

Dan opens up about the emotional core of his work: empowering employees who’ve been mistreated, lied to, or gaslit by their employers. He reveals why his business isn’t just about fixing paychecks but restoring dignity—and why scaling without losing that human touch keeps him up at night. From turning down $40K vacations to predicting employer manipulation tactics before clients even describe them, Dan’s story is a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship.