Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Brian Shea, founder of Lucrum Partners, to explore his journey in revolutionizing B2B sales enablement. Brian shares how his deep expertise in sales strategy and organizational transformation led him to launch Lucrum Partners, focusing on helping CEOs navigate today’s chaotic marketplace by aligning go-to-market strategies, talent development, and buyer decision science.

Brian dives into why traditional sales training often falls short and how Lucrum Partners takes a systemic approach—starting with foundational strategy before execution. He also discusses scaling through thought leadership, community engagement, and leveraging research to drive impactful transformations for clients. Tune in for insights on evolving sales enablement and why curiosity is key to staying ahead in a rapidly changing industry.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we meet Caleb Owens, founder of Ascend Travel Management, who's redefining corporate travel with a white-glove approach for small-to-medium businesses. Based in Seoul but serving clients globally, Caleb shares how listening to customer frustrations about flight disruptions and visa complexities led him to pivot from mass relocation services to premium business travel solutions. He reveals the "three-tiered" system that ranges from basic bookings to elite concierge service—including private charters and crisis management—while emphasizing how human touch beats automation in high-stakes travel scenarios.

From his nomadic entrepreneur lifestyle to building systems that handle everything from visa processing to AI-powered itinerary management, Caleb offers raw insights on bootstrapping a travel startup. He discusses the challenges of long B2B sales cycles, why LinkedIn outperforms paid ads for his niche, and his "fail forward" philosophy of launching before perfection. For founders balancing multiple ventures (including his established Premier Insurance Housing), Caleb's story is a masterclass in adapting to market needs while maintaining that crucial human connection in a tech-driven industry.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Travis M. Powers, co-owner and senior managing partner at Escendent LLC, a human capital and talent services firm. Travis shares his 22-year evolution from early ventures in telecom and consulting to co-founding Escendent, navigating economic shifts, and leveraging AI to revolutionize workforce development. He discusses his latest ventures, including Visamé AI—a visual resume platform—and Workforce 21, a next-gen talent ecosystem designed to reduce hiring bias and empower underrepresented talent.

Travis opens up about overcoming challenges in funding, tech, and marketing while emphasizing the importance of intuition, resilience, and AI literacy for modern entrepreneurs. He offers actionable advice for new founders, urging them to embrace AI and step boldly into their vision. The conversation is a masterclass in reinvention, scaling with purpose, and building businesses that create social impact.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we explore the entrepreneurial journey of Dr. Roselin Rosario-Meléndez, founder of RRM Inventive Solutions Hub, LLC, a New York-based consulting firm empowering startups in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and medical devices to overcome technical barriers. With 37 global patents from her tenure at L'Oréal and a Ph.D. in chemistry, Roselin shares how her transition from corporate scientist to solopreneur was sparked by identifying a gap in on-demand scientific expertise for small businesses. She discusses her retainer-based model, tailored to solve niche formulation, testing, and IP challenges, and her intentional approach to scaling through deep client relationships rather than rapid expansion.

Roselin opens up about the mindset shifts required to bridge science and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the power of networking, LinkedIn visibility, and "doing it before you’re ready." She envisions the future of her industry leaning toward leaner, specialized teams and positions her business at the forefront of this shift. With goals to match her corporate salary while preserving autonomy, Roselin’s story is a masterclass in leveraging expertise to build a mission-driven venture—one technical solution at a time.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Andrew Pierce, founder of IBOUNCE UP INC and Bounce Resilience, who transforms high-pressure leadership through performance psychology. Andrew shares his fascinating journey from big-wave surfing to training Special Operations soldiers, revealing how he developed mental resilience frameworks now used by CEOs and executives worldwide. He breaks down practical stress-management techniques like diaphragmatic breathing and attention control, showing how reframing thoughts can turn stress into peak performance fuel—whether you're facing a boardroom or a 50-foot wave.

Andrew dives into the science behind high-stakes performance, explaining why elite leaders succeed where others falter under pressure. From his military contracting experience to global corporate trainings, he reveals why self-awareness and task-focused attention are the ultimate competitive advantages. With plans to scale his transformative 1-day trainings internationally, Andrew offers actionable insights for founders battling stress, plus his vision to help leaders "bounce up" from adversity rather than just survive it.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Darryl Matthews, Founder and Creative Lead of Primrose Consulting, a branding boutique that transforms businesses through strategic design and cohesive brand narratives. With over 14 years in design and leadership, Darryl shares his journey from co-founding multiple businesses in hospitality and publishing to launching Primrose Consulting. He dives into the importance of clarity in branding, how he helps stagnant businesses rediscover their purpose, and his approach to blending strategy with execution. Darryl also discusses his vision for the next 12 months, including establishing himself as a thought leader and scaling to mid-six figures.

Darryl emphasizes the power of listening, community engagement, and mastering AI as a tool—not a crutch—for creative professionals. He reflects on lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, including why "beauty without context has no point" and why selling transformation—not just deliverables—is key to growth. Whether you're a startup or an established business, Darryl’s insights on branding, networking, and intentional growth are packed with actionable wisdom.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Alan Arlt, Founder of Arlt Consulting Co., a business consultancy and executive coaching firm dedicated to unlocking hidden potential in leaders and sports organizations. Alan shares his journey from launching Ultimate Hoops—a grassroots basketball league acquired by Lifetime Fitness—to founding Arlt Consulting, where he blends strategy, development, and growth to help clients bridge gaps between vision and execution. He dives into the challenges of scaling a bespoke consulting model, the power of intuition in decision-making, and why "beauty without context has no point" when building impactful brands.

Alan also breaks down his unique "triangle model" (strategy, development, growth) and how he balances high-touch client work with scalable solutions like his P30 Sessions. From leveraging word-of-mouth referrals to leaning into unconventional platforms like X (Twitter), Alan reveals how he stays grounded in authenticity while expanding his footprint in sports tech. Whether discussing operational bottlenecks or the magic of "kinetic energy" in business, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for founders aiming to align creativity with measurable results.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we meet Rimjhim ACCA, founder of MIST Accounting, who transformed personal adversity into a mission-driven accounting firm. Rimjhim shares her harrowing journey from surviving divorce and custody battles to building a business that empowers clients through proactive financial guidance—proving that accounting isn't just about compliance, but strategic growth. With a focus on UK tax services and real-time advisory, she reveals how she’s scaling her solopreneur venture through LinkedIn and content marketing while preparing to leverage AI tools for client-centric solutions.

Rimjhim’s story is a masterclass in resilience. She discusses her vision to shift from transactional services to strategic advisory, her grassroots marketing approach, and her plans to systematize lead generation as a solo founder. From her "start before you’re ready" philosophy to her pragmatic use of free tools like ChatGPT, Rimjhim offers raw insights for early-stage entrepreneurs—especially women balancing business with personal battles—on turning survival into sustainable success.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Lawrence Schau, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of KAL Design Co., an experience-driven design agency reshaping how brands connect with audiences. Lawrence shares his journey from VP at Havas Health to entrepreneurship—a leap made possible by a client's one-year commitment that gave him the confidence to launch. With 17 years in creative strategy spanning healthcare, CPG, and tech, he reveals why KAL Design thrives as an "industry-agnostic" partner focused on solving business challenges through trust and strategic creativity rather than transactional relationships.

Lawrence pulls back the curtain on navigating the agency world's shifting landscape, from adapting to AI tools without sacrificing creative integrity to building a referral engine that now drives their multi-seven-figure business. He discusses the delicate balance between scaling efficiently and maintaining the human touch that defines their work, offering hard-won advice for new agency owners: "Spend disproportionate time educating yourself—tools change, but relationships always matter." For anyone wrestling with how to position creative services in an automated world, this conversation is a masterclass in staying relevant while staying human.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Josh Patrick, founder of The Sustainable Business, a consultancy helping blue-collar business owners build economically and personally sustainable companies. With over 40 years of entrepreneurial experience—including scaling a food service business to 90 employees—Josh shares his hard-won lessons on profit-first scaling, delegation, and why most businesses fail at sustainability. He breaks down his "50/50 Profit Accelerator" framework (50% more profit, 50% less owner time) and reveals why doubling profits is often easier than doubling sales.

Josh also dives into the myths of business growth, the power of pricing strategies over hourly billing, and how to build systems that make businesses thrive without the owner. Now pivoting to authorship, he discusses his upcoming books and why he’s shifting focus from consulting to writing—while still offering laser coaching and risk-reversed guarantees. Whether you’re a founder drowning in day-to-day ops or a solopreneur chasing scalability, this episode is packed with counterintuitive wisdom from a veteran who’s seen it all.