Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with James Bennett, CEO and co-founder of Firefly Team Building Events, to explore how he transformed a bachelor party startup into a thriving corporate team-building empire. James shares how Firefly not only survived but thrived during the pandemic by pivoting to virtual experiences—including an RV-based escape room—and grew from 80 to 500+ annual events. He reveals the secret sauce behind their "golden guest experience" philosophy and how they balance fun with meaningful connection for clients like Dell and Ingram Micro.

James dives into Firefly’s next phase of scaling, from DIY team-building kits to hands-on creativity workshops, while staying true to their core belief: AI can’t replace the human touch. He also drops invaluable leadership wisdom, emphasizing that culture starts at the top, and reflects on industry shifts—like shorter events and niche competitors—that are reshaping corporate team building.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we dive into the inspiring journey of Tami Reiss, founder and CEO of Leader Within. Tami shares how her 15 years of product leadership experience led her to identify a critical gap in executive development—transforming product managers into influential leaders. She discusses her scalable approach, from executive coaching to corporate training and keynote speeches, and her vision for empowering leaders through her unique frameworks like "Life’s a Pitch" and the MAP framework for influence.

Tami also opens up about her strategies for growth, including leveraging AI for personalized outreach and her upcoming projects like an executive presence course and a children’s book on product management. With infectious energy, she emphasizes the importance of influence over authority and playing the "long game" in business. Whether you’re a founder, executive, or aspiring leader, Tami’s insights on scaling impact and building relational—not transactional—connections are invaluable. Tune in for a dynamic conversation packed with actionable wisdom!

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Don Davis, founder and CEO of D3 Digital Media Marketing, an agency specializing in strategic marketing for healthcare and life science companies. Don shares his journey from frustrated client ("I spent a lot of my own money on ineffective digital marketing") to agency founder, revealing how his team delivers measurable results through SEO, content creation, and web design—with an 84% client retention rate. He breaks down his "start-to-finish" approach to generating qualified leads, emphasizing the importance of aligning content with what audiences actually search for, not just what clients think they need.**

Don also opens up about scaling challenges, including his reluctance to fully delegate sales ("I don’t like the ‘manipulative’ side of closing") and his counterintuitive advice for new agency owners: Master the service you’re selling before hiring. With D3 on track to hit $1M in revenue by September, Don shares hard-won lessons on client onboarding (6-month retainers only), team culture (his core team has stayed since day one), and why LinkedIn content—not cold outreach—fuels his referral-driven growth. For founders tired of "vanity metric" marketers, this episode is a masterclass in accountability-driven agency building.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Miriam Ortiz y Pino, founder of More Than Organized, a consultancy helping entrepreneurs declutter their physical and mental spaces to create more time, space, and money. Miriam shares her unique 5-D Framework (Dream, Declutter, Design, Develop, Delight) for simplifying life and business, along with practical tips for organizing digital chaos, streamlining workflows, and building sustainable habits for entrepreneurs.

Miriam also discusses her journey from corporate inventory control to entrepreneurship, the power of consistency in lead generation, and her upcoming membership community focused on aligning work, home, and mindset. Whether you're drowning in unread emails or struggling with business systems, this episode offers actionable insights to reclaim clarity and productivity.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive deep with Kieve Huffman, founder of Engager Labs, a boutique consultancy helping alternative wellness brands (from cannabis to psychedelics to functional mushrooms) scale beyond 7 figures. Kieve shares his unconventional journey from music/tech to becoming LinkedIn’s "Top Voice" in wellness entrepreneurship, revealing how his "plant-over-pills" philosophy drives his mission to disrupt Big Pharma. He breaks down his 3-month brand acceleration framework—from competitive analysis to investor-ready decks—and why protecting founder energy is the most underrated scaling strategy.

Kieve also opens up about the challenges of marketing regulated wellness products, his organic LinkedIn lead-gen engine (with zero cold outreach), and why he vets clients through a "vibe check" before engagements. Listeners will walk away with tactical advice on balancing hustle with energy management, plus Kieve’s non-negotiable morning routine (hint: never check your phone first!). For founders in taboo or regulated industries, this episode is a masterclass in building authentic cultural brands while navigating platform landmines.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Karl Klausewitz, founder and CEO of Success Marketing, to explore his journey from IT expert to empowering entrepreneurs through holistic coaching. Karl shares how his 20+ years of experience shaped his mission-driven approach, blending mindset work, brand clarity, and AI strategy to help leaders and coaches achieve long-term success. He dives into the evolution of his business, the challenges of scaling authentically, and why human connection remains irreplaceable in an increasingly digital world.

Karl also opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, the power of AI tools in modern coaching, and his vision for creating immersive retreats that bridge personal growth with professional strategy. Listeners will gain insights on standing out in a saturated market, building from personal truth (not trends), and why coaching requires both depth and adaptability in today’s fast-changing landscape.

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In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Frank Lockwood, founder of I Will Be Frank With You, to explore his journey from digital advertising to coaching creative leaders through systemic clarity. Frank shares how his decade-long agency experience revealed a gap in chaos-to-clarity frameworks for in-house teams, inspiring his pivot to coaching. He breaks down his unique approach—blending UX design principles with focal point coaching—to help founders and creative directors streamline operations, boost morale, and delegate effectively while staying true to their vision.

Frank also dives into his 90-day growth plan, emphasizing the power of thought leadership and organic trust-building in a noisy market. He reflects on AI as a collaborative (not replacement) tool for solopreneurs and leaves listeners with a golden nugget: Every growth phase is preceded by a learning phase. Whether discussing burnout prevention or the "Sigmoid Curve" of business evolution, Frank’s insights are a masterclass in balancing ambition with intentionality.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Amy Jimenez, co-owner of Backrush Digital, to explore her decade-long journey revolutionizing marketing through AI-driven strategies. Amy shares how she pivoted from a thriving agency to homeschooling mom during the pandemic, then rebuilt her business with a focus on fractional CMO services and AI-powered agency transformations. She reveals her latest venture—the CMO Collective—a cohort model designed to help startups and agencies access strategic guidance without the full cost of a fractional hire, while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human connection in an automated world.

Amy dives into the future of digital marketing, predicting a wave of lean, AI-empowered solopreneurs and agencies—but warns against cutting human talent blindly. Her advice? "Take what you learn and pivot." From leveraging voice memos on LinkedIn to balancing automation with "strategically placed humans," Amy’s insights are a masterclass in resilience, adaptation, and scaling with heart in the age of AI.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with David Kryszczak, President of Spartan Digital Solutions LLC, a South Jersey-based agency transforming businesses through SEO, web design, and social media marketing since 2016. David shares his unconventional journey from fixing neighbors’ computers as a teen to landing a $5K website deal that sparked his entrepreneurial fire. He dives into Spartan’s mission—delivering "websites and marketing that don’t suck"—and their dual approach: serving sub-$5M revenue businesses as their full-service marketing department, while also acting as strategic partners for larger companies needing specialized digital firepower.

David reveals how Spartan thrives on founder-led sales, experiential marketing (like trade shows), and a relentless focus on operational efficiency. He tackles the AI question head-on, advocating for measured adoption without losing the human touch. With plans to scale through acquisitions and internal tools, David’s advice is gold: "Build your own board of directors—find people with more money than you and be genuinely invested in their success."

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Jake Pigatto, owner of Integrated Financial Solutions, a full-service tax and financial firm helping individuals and businesses navigate IRS debt, tax strategy, and CFO services. Jake shares his unique journey from Deloitte accountant to acquisition entrepreneur, revealing how he bought an established tax business and transformed it into a scalable, remote-first operation. He breaks down his "one-stop-shop" approach to financial services, the challenges of lead generation in a niche industry, and why personal touch is his competitive edge in a world dominated by impersonal AI-driven tax resolution companies.

Jake also dives into his vision for scaling to $100K/month, the importance of systems before growth, and his dual focus on acquiring recurring revenue streams (like bookkeeping and fractional CFO work) while expanding tax resolution services. He offers golden advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: "Don’t wait for perfection—just jump in" and emphasizes learning from those already where you want to be. Listeners will walk away with actionable insights on buying vs. building businesses, balancing scalability with personalization, and leveraging industry experience to spot undervalued opportunities.