Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Larry Szeliga, founder of MYOB Publishing, LLC, as he shares his unconventional journey from financial literacy advocate to organizational development expert. After retiring from a successful corporate career, Larry initially focused on teaching financial literacy to students before pivoting back to his true passion: helping companies build high-performance teams and transform toxic workplace cultures. With decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, Larry reveals his unique "diagnosis before prescription" approach and why he insists on in-person consultations to truly understand an organization's needs.

Larry breaks down his three-phase culture transformation framework and four-step team-building methodology, emphasizing that he teaches companies to fish rather than doing the work for them. He shares powerful anecdotes—including how he transformed a toxic CEO who would schedule Saturday meetings just to yell at employees—into a collaborative leader through a simple $100 accountability system. For entrepreneurs struggling with business pivots or consultants wondering how to balance passion with profitability, Larry offers hard-won wisdom about knowing when to walk away from what doesn't work and doubling down on what does.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Todd Nilson, founder of Clocktower Advisors, as he shares his journey from agency strategist to independent consultant specializing in online community building. Todd reveals how a personal need for flexibility to care for aging parents led him to launch his consultancy, where he now helps B2B companies and nonprofits create engaging digital spaces that foster authentic connections. With refreshing honesty, he discusses overcoming the mental hurdles of entrepreneurship, the importance of outsourcing early, and why he's built his business primarily through warm networking rather than cold outreach—a philosophy rooted in his belief in human-centered connections.

Todd breaks down his unique approach to community strategy, explaining how he helps organizations either launch new digital communities or revive struggling ones through customized 3-6 month engagements. He shares exciting details about his new venture, Talent Led—a SaaS platform aiming to humanize the hiring process—and reflects on lessons learned over nearly a decade in business, including the value of leaning into business development sooner. For any consultant wrestling with scalability or professionals interested in the future of digital communities, Todd offers practical wisdom about maintaining quality while growing strategically.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Mishal Saeed sits down with Alfredo Paredes, CEO of Capitol Consulting & Communication, an award-winning strategic communications firm with roots dating back to 1965. Alfredo shares how his journey from working with a Washington consulting firm to founding his own agency was driven by a passion for solving complex communication challenges—from political campaigns to corporate branding across Latin America and beyond. He reveals the power of word-of-mouth referrals and deep client relationships in scaling a boutique consultancy, while navigating challenges like corruption and competition in emerging markets.

Alfredo dives into the evolving landscape of strategic communication, where neuromarketing and AI are transforming how brands connect with audiences. He also sheds light on his unexpected venture into water treatment technology, highlighting the urgent global need for sustainable solutions.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we explore the art of negotiation with Philip Brown, founder of The Negotiation Club (TNC). Philip shares his journey from frustration with traditional negotiation training to creating a dynamic platform where professionals can practice and refine their skills through real-world scenarios. He discusses how his unique approach—rooted in repetition, feedback, and community—helps individuals and businesses move beyond theory into confident, practical application. From procurement professionals to entrepreneurs, Philip reveals why negotiation is a universal skill and how his club model empowers members to build competence and confidence.

Philip breaks down the core offerings of The Negotiation Club (TNC), including monthly practice sessions, one-on-one coaching, and his innovative negotiation cards. He emphasizes the importance of slowing down in negotiations, asking strategic questions, and creating movement in conversations. With plans to expand his club model globally—similar to Toastmasters—Philip envisions a future where negotiation training is accessible, practical, and transformative. Whether you're a seasoned negotiator or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable insights to elevate your professional and personal interactions.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with  Sara Orellana, founder of 3Raptor Consulting, as she shares her inspiring journey from nonprofit CEO to entrepreneur. Sarah opens up about hitting a wall with compassion fatigue in her nonprofit role and how this led her to create a consulting firm that helps small businesses and nonprofits achieve their goals through customized strategic solutions. She discusses the scary but rewarding transition to entrepreneurship, her philosophy of facing fears head-on, and how she balances running a business while traveling the country in an RV with her family.

Sarah breaks down her unique approach to consulting, emphasizing customized solutions over standardized packages and the importance of maintaining white-glove service for clients. She shares valuable insights on overcoming challenges in scaling, the 80/20 rule of business (where most effort goes to marketing/sales), and her strategies for meaningful client acquisition through authentic connections rather than traditional sales tactics. For any entrepreneur struggling with self-doubt or scalability questions, Sarah's perspective on dreaming big and not letting negativity hold you back is both refreshing and motivating.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Karyn Vadnais, John Harney—founder of Courageous Coaching and self-described "battery-powered introvert"—shares how his journey as an only child led him to revolutionize leadership development. John reveals his "anti-conference" approach, challenging the "Great Training Robbery" (where companies waste thousands on forgettable seminars) by offering bespoke coaching that blends self-awareness, trust-building algorithms, and what he calls "throttling"—teaching leaders to adapt their style to each team member. His clients range from electrical engineers to school lunch staff, all united by a shared need: humility to admit they need help.

John opens up about scaling his analog-first business (where referrals and LinkedIn posts outperform ads) while preserving his "slow growth" philosophy—comparing rushed scaling to a child’s damaged growth plates. He teases the Ohio Leader Collective, a quarterly in-person trust-building initiative, and his radical belief that true leadership transformation requires uncomfortable conversations most workplaces avoid. A masterclass in building a values-driven business without sacrificing personal boundaries.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Gibran McNeal, founder of McNeal and Company Creative Solutions, a minority-owned creative agency revolutionizing brand-building for small businesses. Gibran shares how a layoff during the 2008 recession sparked his journey into design, leading him to solve a critical gap for entrepreneurs: professional, cohesive branding. From logos to full-scale digital marketing, McNeal and Company takes a hands-on, relationship-driven approach—treating clients like family while helping them stand out in a crowded market 45.

Gibran dives into the challenges of scaling a creative business in an era of "race-to-the-bottom" pricing (think Fiverr) and AI disruption, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human expertise in design psychology and brand storytelling. He also reveals his 2025 vision: expanding into government contracting, Disney-partnered ad production, and building a distributed team to bring boutique-quality creativity nationwide. For founders, his advice is simple: "Stay consistent, bold, and confident—opportunities find those who step outside their comfort zone"

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Brian Kostka, founder and CEO of TC2 Advisors, a fractional CFO and advisory firm transforming how small to medium businesses optimize finance and operations. With decades of Wall Street experience, Brian shares how he bridges institutional financial expertise with Main Street businesses, helping them secure funding, streamline operations, and scale strategically. He also dives into the evolving role of CFOs in the AI era and why personalized advisory remains irreplaceable despite automation.

Brian discusses the biggest bottlenecks small businesses face—access to capital and financial literacy—and how TC2 Advisors tailors its pricing model to serve clients at every growth stage. From leveraging AI to elevating bookkeepers into analytical roles, he unpacks the future of finance consulting and why investing in the right talent (and yourself) is non-negotiable for founders.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, Sherry Sims—founder of Black Career Women’s Network (BCWN)—shares her journey from being overlooked for a promotion in 2008 to building a national organization that empowers Black women through coaching, mentorship, and professional development. Sherry reveals how a dormant LinkedIn group she created in frustration blossomed into a thriving business, and her "BCWN Way" framework (self-awareness, career management, workplace mastery, and continuous development) that helps women navigate systemic workplace barriers.

Sherry dives into BCWN’s growth strategies, from LinkedIn Lives that convert followers into clients to her surprising outreach tactic (congratulating Black men on promotions to onboard their female colleagues). She also opens up about the impact of the DEI backlash on corporate partnerships, how she’s pivoting to serve a surge of women of color facing job losses, and her vision for scaling BCWN beyond her personal brand. A must-listen for mission-driven founders balancing social impact with sustainable growth.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Karyn Vadnais, Marcos Placona—founder of DevRel Bridge and former Twilio DevRel leader—shares how he accidentally stumbled into developer relations and now helps B2B tech startups turn developer engagement into revenue. Marcos reveals his "anti-cookie-cutter" approach, where he tailors every client engagement (from content creation to community building) to specific friction points in developer adoption—while grappling with the challenge of scaling a service business built entirely around his personal expertise.*

Marcos opens up about his ambitious goal to grow DevRel Bridge from $25K/month to $1M ARR by packaging services (like video production and technical content) to reduce his role as the bottleneck. He discusses the AI tools (like Cursor) that act as his "technical co-founder," the emotional shift from hands-on coding to CEO-level strategy, and his hard-won lesson for DevRel founders: "Go deep on your ICP, not wide." A must-listen for technical founders building service businesses.