Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm chats with Reid Blackman, founder of Virtue Consultants and author of Ethical Machines (Harvard Business Review Press). Reid shares his transition from philosophy professor to AI ethics consultant, helping Fortune 500 companies like Amazon and Merck navigate the ethical, regulatory, and reputational risks of AI.

He discusses how social movements and rising corporate accountability inspired the launch of Virtue, which now delivers customized AI risk programs—including diagnostics, training, and governance frameworks. Reid also reflects on his content-driven growth strategy through speaking, writing, and LinkedIn, and opens up about the challenges of scaling sales and marketing. Packed with insights, this episode is essential for anyone navigating AI’s ethical frontier.

In this episode of Founders Future, , host Mishal Saeed sits down with Johnathan Newman , co-founder and strategist of Good Theory, a branding agency on a mission to transform small businesses through clear messaging, conversion-focused design, and automation.

With 12+ years of experience in digital marketing and web development, Johnathan  shares his unconventional path into entrepreneurship — from growing up in a military household to being unexpectedly let go from a job shortly after a promotion, an event that catalyzed his leap into business ownership. Alongside his co-founder Lydia, Johnathan  built Good Theory to help entrepreneurs scale with clarity, confidence, and sustainability.

We dive into how Good Theory evolved from a traffic-driving service into a full-stack growth partner, offering branding, digital marketing, and AI automation to unlock efficiencies and drive long-term growth. Johnathan  explains how his team helps clients avoid the "growth at all costs" trap by creating systems that allow founders to scale without burning out.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Ammar Elm talks with Nadine Green, founder of the C-Suite Group and seasoned fractional COO. Nadine shares how she helps small to mid-sized businesses scale smarter through operational leadership and fractional executive support.

They explore Nadine’s authentic lead generation via LinkedIn and her new book Unleash Efficiency, her thoughtful sales approach during tough economic times, and the power of planning ahead. Nadine also reveals exciting plans to grow her team and launch new tools to support business growth. Plus, she shares her top scaling tip—slow down to speed up—and the AI tools fueling her productivity. If you want practical strategies to scale with confidence and build strong business foundations, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jay Encarnacion sits down with Ken Winell, Co-CEO of Nexus Digital Group, to explore the transformative power of digital innovation and AI. With over 20 years of experience, Ken shares how Nexus Digital Group is revolutionizing small and mid-sized businesses through strategic consultancy, omni-channel marketing, and cutting-edge AI solutions. He delves into the future of agentic AI, immersive technologies, and the critical mindset shift needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.

Ken also opens up about scaling Nexus Digital Group with a client-first approach, the importance of strategic partnerships, and his vision for merging AI with humanoid robotics. From debunking metaverse hype to practical advice on leveraging AI, this episode is a masterclass in forward-thinking leadership. Ken’s key takeaway? "You won’t be replaced by AI—but someone who knows AI will replace you.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Dianne Flory Intal, founder of Success Matcher, a recruitment agency specializing in aligning businesses with top talent across industries like healthcare, engineering, and finance. Dianne shares her inspiring journey from personal loss to building a thriving business, emphasizing the importance of human connection in recruitment, even in the age of AI. She discusses her company’s unique approach to passive sourcing, client partnerships, and her vision for global expansion, including entering the UK, Middle East, and Asian markets.

Dianne also opens up about the challenges of 2024, the resilience required in entrepreneurship, and how Success Matcher achieved 100% year-over-year growth in 2025. She highlights the balance between leveraging technology and maintaining authentic relationships in recruitment, offering valuable insights for aspiring agency owners.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Great Akudo, founder of Moniphy a fintech platform revolutionizing short-term business funding through merchant cash advances (MCA) and credit lines. Great shares his journey from insurance agent to finance entrepreneur, detailing how he identified the urgent funding needs of small businesses and built a system to deliver capital in as little as 24-72 hours. He discusses the balance between high-speed funding and factor rates, his vision for scaling into syndication and eventually a hedge fund, and why human relationships still dominate AI in this industry.

Great also dives into his dual focus on growing a marketing/ AI automation agency alongside Moniphy, offering insights on lead generation through cold email and Facebook ads. He shares advice for aspiring MCA brokers, emphasizing sweat equity and local outreach, while teasing his ambitious 12-month goals—including expanding his team and exploring global markets.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Dr. Rhonda Farrell, CEO of Global Innovation Strategies, a boutique consulting firm specializing in growth acceleration, operational scaling, and executive development for mission-driven enterprises. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran turned high-performance strategist, Dr. Rhonda shares her journey from the barracks to the boardroom, revealing how her background in cybersecurity, Lean Six Sigma, and systems thinking shaped her unique approach to helping leaders bridge the gap between strategy and execution. She discusses her passion for guiding entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders through transformational growth by focusing on clarity, alignment, and performance—whether through her Scale Up Accelerator, Leader Up Roundtable, or WealthWise 2025 financial resilience program.

Dr. Rhonda also opens up about the challenges of scaling a consulting business, from refining offers to automating lead generation, and shares powerful insights on why "pruning" (letting go of what no longer serves you) is critical for sustainable growth. With a vision to impact 1–3 million lives globally in the next 18–24 months, she emphasizes the importance of community, strategic hiring, and staying anchored in your "why." Whether you’re a solopreneur or a seasoned executive, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom on scaling smart—without burning out.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Phil Masiello, founder and CEO of Crunch Growth, a leading performance-based agency specializing in scaling e-commerce and digital marketing for consumer brands. Phil shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey—from early failures in the restaurant and retail industries to building and exiting multiple successful consumer product businesses. He dives into how Crunch Growth differentiates itself by focusing on brand-building strategies, leveraging video marketing, and implementing multi-channel advertising to drive long-term growth.

Phil also discusses his targeted approach to client acquisition, the importance of authenticity in outreach, and his vision for scaling Crunch Growth over the next few years. With decades of experience in consumer products, Phil offers invaluable insights for agency owners on picking the right niche, refining workflows, and building a sustainable business model. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an established agency owner, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Dylan Vergara, founder of the Serial Sales Community, a high-ticket membership helping sales professionals transition into lucrative remote closing roles. Dylan shares his unconventional journey from introverted roofing sales rep to building a 5M agency (which he later sold) and now running a thriving community that combines job placement, coaching, and exclusive access to 200+ monthly remote sales opportunities. He reveals why organic content and audience trust—not paid ads—drive his growth, and how he’s leveraging his community’s success to fund his next venture: Because of Sales, a media brand for sales professionals. Dylan pulls back the curtain on the realities of the remote sales industry, debunking "get-rich-quick" myths and emphasizing strategic positioning over endless training. For aspiring entrepreneurs, he drops golden advice: "People buy YOU, not your guarantees—transparent, imperfect content builds real trust." He also shares his long-term vision: scaling Because of Sales into a Morning Brew-style media empire while keeping the Serial Sales Community lean, profitable, and fulfilling.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Jake Schaefer, Founder of Renewed Minds Consulting, an organizational leadership consultancy that helps businesses strengthen mission, improve operations, and build powerful cultures. Jake shares his unconventional journey from behavioral health clinician to entrepreneur, revealing how his frontline experience treating work-related stress inspired him to shift from reactive mental health care to proactive organizational transformation. He breaks down his unique "lifestyle over balance" philosophy for founders and introduces his methodology for aligning vision, values, and team dynamics—including his innovative peer management system that eliminates unnecessary meetings and empowers employees.

Jake opens up about transitioning from word-of-mouth referrals to scalable growth strategies, emphasizing authenticity in leadership development. From his upcoming book Tools for Lasting Impact to his "Safety Effect" workshop for team collaboration, Jake demonstrates how his clinical background informs practical frameworks for reducing workplace stress at scale. He also shares his ambitious 12-month vision to hit seven figures while maintaining the human-centric approach that sets Renewed Minds apart—proving that the best organizational change starts with understanding people first.