Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Jeffro, founder and CEO of FroBro Web Technologies, a digital agency on a mission to eliminate terrible websites. Jeffro shares his journey from computer science student to entrepreneur, blending technical expertise with creative flair to build high-converting websites for service businesses. He dives into common website mistakes—like poor SEO and weak headlines—and explains why your site should be more than just a "glorified business card." Jeffro also reveals how he generates leads through organic content, networking, and speaking engagements, while emphasizing the importance of focus and systems before scaling.

Jeffro opens up about past challenges, including overextending his agency’s offerings too soon, and how simplifying his services helped him refocus. He discusses his vision for FroBro’s future, including creating an educational community to empower business owners to build better websites themselves. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Jeffro’s key advice is to "follow one course until successful" (FOCUS) and prioritize revenue-generating activities before expanding. Tune in for actionable insights on web design, lead generation, and sustainable business growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we meet Mike Wittenstein, the founder of Story Miners, a consulting firm that helps companies craft transformative business narratives to align strategy, culture, and customer experience. Mike shares his journey from IBM visionary to entrepreneurship, revealing how storytelling can unlock innovation, drive alignment, and help leaders architect—rather than command—the future. He discusses his unique approach to executive coaching, the power of "future stories," and how AI is revolutionizing creative strategy work—all while staying grounded in human-centric design.

Mike dives into the challenges of modern marketing, the importance of ethical value creation, and his vision for blending AI with creativity to help businesses thrive in an era of reinvention. From redefining industrial brands to the neuroscience of storytelling, this conversation is packed with insights on leadership, reinvention, and why the best strategies start with emotion. Listeners will walk away rethinking how they communicate vision—and perhaps even their own approach to the future.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we meet Carlos Ponce, Managing Partner and Podcast Producer at PeopleBound Marketing, an agency that helps B2B founders turn authentic conversations into powerful lead-generation tools through live video podcasts. Carlos shares his accidental journey into podcasting—from hosting internal company talks to building a full-fledged business that connects founders with ideal clients through meaningful dialogue. He reveals how his "lifestyle business" philosophy prioritizes organic growth, human connection, and working with mission-driven companies—all while avoiding the pitfalls of over-reliance on "whale clients."

Carlos dives into his unique approach to podcasting as a relationship-building tool, the challenges of standing out in a noisy digital landscape, and why he believes AI can’t replace the magic of live human conversation. From his early days interviewing tech legends like the voice of Siri to his vision for a small, impactful firm, this episode is packed with insights on leveraging podcasts for business growth—without sacrificing authenticity or joy.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we meet Isha Kamara, the visionary founder of Breaking the Ice, an ecosystem development firm dedicated to empowering Black entrepreneurs. Isha shares her journey from working in entrepreneurial support organizations to launching her own venture, driven by the need to dismantle systemic barriers in business. She discusses how Breaking the Ice provides tailored mentorship, access to capital, and strategic consulting for founders across the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean—helping them navigate challenges and scale their ventures.

Isha dives into her unique approach to supporting entrepreneurs at different stages—students, professionals, and seasoned business owners—and explains how she customizes her services to fit their needs. She also opens up about the challenges of balancing multiple roles as a founder, the importance of consistent marketing, and her vision for expanding youth-focused programs like Future Ecosystem Builders. Listeners will walk away inspired by her mission to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, Réland Logan, founder of Gray Digital Mktg, shares her raw journey from pandemic layoff to building an award-winning branding agency for female entrepreneurs. What began as a desperate attempt to pay for Disney+ evolved into a powerful niche—helping women coaches and consultants uncover their authentic brand voice through her proprietary "Brand Extraordinary Method." Réland reveals how she 6X'd her revenue in 2 months by pivoting from social media management to high-ticket branding intensives ($20K-$40K), and why she refuses to offer "McDonald’s menu" services.*

Réland opens up about her 7-figure vision for 2025—including her radical "summers off" philosophy—and how she’s preparing for industry shifts with AI-powered video content and community building. She also shares hard-won lessons on overcoming mindset blocks in sales, the power of podcasting for lead generation, and why she’s betting on "extraordinary authority" (52 weeks of pre-made content) to replace the social media hamster wheel. For founders torn between scaling and staying human, Réland’s blend of strategic rigor and unapologetic authenticity is a masterclass.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, James Jeffrey, founder of Radar BI, shares his journey from freelancing in data visualization to building a boutique analytics firm that helps businesses transform raw data into actionable insights. James reveals how he identified a critical gap in the market—clients overcomplicating their dashboard needs—and developed 3 core services (fractional BI, dashboard diagnostics, and embedded analytics) to deliver focused, user-friendly solutions. He also discusses the evolving role of AI in business intelligence and why human-centric design still reigns supreme for storytelling and fundraising visuals.*

James offers a candid look at his 6-year evolution from freelancer to CEO, including key mindset shifts around pricing, branding, and productizing services. For data professionals aspiring to entrepreneurship, he shares hard-won lessons on transitioning from hourly work to scalable offerings, plus his vision for Radar BI’s next phase—balancing AI-powered efficiency with the irreplaceable art of data storytelling. A must-listen for consultants ready to systemize their expertise.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, Angel Cruzado, founder and CEO of Respiris, shares his mission to revolutionize outplacement services by combining human empathy with AI-powered career coaching. Drawing from his HR leadership roles at Microsoft and Medtronic, Angel reveals how traditional outplacement fails mid-career professionals—and how Respiris is flipping the script with personalized coaching, community support, and AI tools to help people rediscover their career purpose during transitions.

Angel breaks down his "triple win" marketplace model (connecting companies, job seekers, and coaches) and why he’s intentionally avoiding paid ads to build organic growth. He also shares bold predictions for the outplacement industry’s future—including expanding support to veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals—and his "speed, execution, and iteration" philosophy for bootstrapped founders. For entrepreneurs balancing mission and scalability, Angel’s insights on revenue-funded growth and ethical AI integration are gold.*

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, Kirstin Carey, founder and CEO of Evolve Minded, shares her incredible journey from launching her first business in a dorm room to becoming a holistic business coach. Kirstin discusses how her personal health struggles led her to integrate mind, body, and soul into her work, helping high-achieving founders scale with alignment and resilience. She dives into her unique "Clarity Method," the pitfalls of burnout culture, and why deep, intentional connections—not just more leads—are the key to sustainable success.

Kirstin also opens up about her vision for the future, including retreats that blend business strategy with well-being, and offers invaluable advice for new entrepreneurs. She emphasizes the importance of normalizing money mindset and maintaining holistic health while building a business. Whether you're a founder seeking alignment or someone tired of the "hustle at all costs" mentality, Kirstin’s wisdom provides a refreshing roadmap for growth with soul.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, Justin Janowski, founder and CEO of Faith2Influence, shares his journey from selling Cutco knives to building a thriving faith-based coaching business. Justin reveals how Christian entrepreneurs often struggle with sales and money mindset—viewing them as "greedy" or "manipulative"—and how he reframes sales as an act of service rooted in integrity. He breaks down his three-tiered business model (membership, mid-tier training, and high-ticket coaching) and why starting with high-ticket offers is critical for new coaches.

Justin also dives into his top lead-generation strategies—relationships, speaking engagements, and webinar funnels—and why founders should be the last to delegate sales. He shares his vision for scaling Faith2Influence, the importance of mentorship, and how prayer and bold action have fueled his success. For Christian entrepreneurs looking to grow with purpose, Justin’s insights on aligning faith, sales, and business growth are a game-changer.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Mike Malloy, Founder & CEO of Malloy Industries, to explore his journey from bankrupt sunglasses salesman to building a thriving fractional executive marketplace. Mike shares how personal tragedies—losing his mother the same week he learned he’d become a father—forced him to rethink scalability, leading to a model where 400+ vetted fractional executives (COOs, CMOs, CFOs) help $2M–$50M companies grow without full-time overhead. With clients like Convoke and a 365-day "Second Match Free Guarantee," Mike reveals how his "relentlessly generous" approach fuels retention, while Hawaiian shirts and dad jokes break the ice in his high-touch sales process.

Mike dives into the flywheel of supply (fractional talent) vs. demand (CEOs), emphasizing "build in public, not in private" to align solutions with real pain points. He unpacks his 3-call close framework, the power of AI call coaches, and why in-person events—despite their unpredictability—remain his top lead gen channel. For founders, his hard-won advice is gold: "Fall in love with your customers’ problems, not your V1 solution—and always talk to them before building."