Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, Chad Williamson, founder and CEO of Athari Advisors, shares his unconventional approach to business brokerage—merging M&A expertise with hands-on growth consulting. Chad discusses his transition from running a marketing agency to building an 8-company portfolio, exposing the flaws in traditional brokerage models and detailing his firm’s unique 90-day, no-upfront-fee guarantee. He also unpacks the rising "build or buy" mindset across industries and how Authority Advisors balances exit strategies ($20M in new listings last quarter) with scaling advisory services to foster long-term client success.

Chad dives into the hurdles of scaling his advisory arm, from persuading owners to commit to growth ("If it was easy, everyone would be doing it") to leveraging webinars and email marketing for lead generation. He shares a powerful mantra for entrepreneurs: "It's supposed to hurt"—highlighting the necessity of enduring financial strain and uncertainty for real growth. The conversation also touches on minority founder funding gaps (<1% of VC dollars), the $13T opportunity in baby boomer retirements, and Chad’s plans to triple revenue by implementing the same scaling strategies he teaches clients.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the world of financial recovery with Philip Kenneth, Principal Partner of Clearview Accounting Services. Philip shares how his 24 years in accounts payable recovery revealed an industry-wide lack of transparency—prompting him to launch a firm that not only recovers lost funds but reduces client errors by 15-20% annually through detailed root-cause analysis. He breaks down Clearview’s unique contingency model (where clients pay nothing unless money is recovered) and why he avoids the term "audit" to build trust with manufacturing and pharmaceutical clients handling billions in transactions.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Mishal Saeed, Kate Bays, founder and CEO of Virtual Agility, shares her journey of empowering small to mid-sized businesses with agile virtual support. Kate discusses how her boutique firm addresses operational inefficiencies by fostering trust, psychological safety, and adaptability in teams through coaching, keynoting, and customized leadership development. She highlights the importance of staying attuned to client needs and industry trends while balancing the challenges of being a solopreneur and mom of four.

Kate also delves into her vision for scaling Virtual Agility, emphasizing her goal to shift from hands-on facilitation to more keynote speaking, allowing her to reach broader audiences. She reflects on the evolving virtual consulting landscape and the value of maintaining agility in a rapidly changing business environment. Throughout the conversation, Kate’s passion for learning, relationship-building, and empowering leaders shines through, offering inspiration to fellow entrepreneurs navigating growth and transformation.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Clevelande Joseph-Dayton, founder and CEO of Lande & Co. HCM, who's revolutionizing HR for 7-figure companies through strategic infrastructure rather than reactive compliance. With 15 years of HR experience spanning every level from coordinator to Head of People, Clevelande reveals how she helps founders avoid costly people mistakes by building scalable HR systems upfront—including her unique "Allotment Score" assessment that uses data to pinpoint cultural and operational gaps before they become fires. She shares why most companies wait until crisis mode to address HR, and how her "done-for-you" accelerator programs help growing businesses double their teams without the typical 5-month department-building headaches.

Clevelande also pulls back the curtain on her rapid 2025 growth plans—from expanding her consultant team to integrating AI into people strategies—while dropping golden insights for fellow entrepreneurs: "That dash between your birthdate and death date? That's your life—build it on your terms." A must-listen for any founder scaling fast, this episode delivers actionable frameworks for turning HR from a cost center into a growth engine, plus Clevelande's bold vision for the future of human-centric, tech-enabled people operations. Don't miss her contrarian take on why AI won't replace HR—it'll make great culture builders irreplaceable.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Michael Seeley, founder and CEO of Liminal Group Ventures, a pioneering venture studio bridging the gap between ideas and investable businesses. With 17 years of experience working with global brands like IKEA and Walmart—and holding nearly 100 patents—Michael shares how his human-centered design approach solves a critical startup problem: most founders focus on feasibility or viability first, while neglecting desirability. He reveals how Liminal’s unique methodology (rooted in industrial design principles) helps startups and students validate market needs before building products—and why this approach is revolutionizing early-stage venture development in West Michigan’s innovation ecosystem.

Michael pulls back the curtain on Liminal’s community-driven model, blending education, incubation, and hard-tech expertise to create what he calls “filter and amplify” pipelines for high-potential ventures. He discusses the challenges of scaling a venture studio (“We’re building the ship as we sail”), his predictions about the return of physical products in an AI-dominated world, and why measurable outcomes—not just participation metrics—are key to transforming fragmented startup communities. For founders, his advice cuts through the noise: “Feasibility means nothing if nobody wants what you’re making.” A must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of hardware innovation and human-centric entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we're joined by Dr. Tana M. Session, an HR and DEIB pioneer who transformed her 30-year corporate career into a thriving consultancy. Tana shares her bold leap from executive roles to entrepreneurship, revealing how she built a business serving 200+ clients while completing law school. She discusses the shifting tides of DEIB work, her psychology-backed approach to cultural transformation, and why she's betting on Gen Z to reignite corporate commitments to inclusion.

Tana pulls back the curtain on her consulting playbook - from executive coaching to outsourced HR services - and how she's adapting to industry headwinds. She offers golden advice for fellow founders on resilience ("Rejection is just 'not yet'"), the power of small but mighty teams, and her surprising embrace of AI tools like ChatGPT. With law school graduation approaching, Tana also teases her vision for "Tana 3.0" - blending legal expertise with her HR legacy to create even greater impact. It's a masterclass in reinvention from a leader who continues to evolve while staying true to her mission.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we dive into the journey of Debbie Millen, founder and CEO of UpperLevel Solutions. With over 25 years of experience in disruptive industries, Debbie shares how she scaled Globalization Partners from 3 employees to a $4.2 billion valuation as its founding COO. She discusses her passion for helping first-time tech CEOs navigate scaling challenges, the importance of balancing technology with humanity, and her unique approach as a thought partner rather than a traditional consultant. Debbie also reveals her vision for the future, including a potential crash course for VC-backed startups to accelerate their growth.

Debbie offers invaluable advice, emphasizing the need to "slow down to go faster" and trust your gut as a founder. She highlights how AI has transformed her productivity and the industry at large, while stressing the enduring importance of human connection in business. From her portfolio lifestyle to her insights on rapid industry changes, this episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders alike. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on scaling, adaptability, and building impactful ventures.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we sit down with Lori Crever, founder of Protégé Power LLC, to explore how she’s transforming mentorship from a corporate luxury into an accessible superpower. Lori shares her journey from designing global mentorship programs at a Fortune 500 company to authoring Protégé Power, a guide for professionals who lack institutional support. She reveals her unique blend of mentorship consulting and improv comedy—unexpected tools that help clients master career development through presence, listening, and authentic connection.

Lori opens up about her "imaginal soup" phase—decluttering her business (and garage!) to refine her vision—while pursuing long-term corporate partnerships to scale her impact. She shares unconventional lead-gen wins (like 90-second video pitches that landed CEO meetings) and why radical self-care fuels entrepreneurial resilience. For founders juggling multiple hats, Lori’s advice cuts deep: "People do business with those they want to be in relationship with—create space for that." Tune in for masterclass insights on niching with purpose, the neuroscience of mentorship, and why sometimes the best growth strategy starts with cleaning your physical workspace.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Weaver Ellard, co-founder and CEO of Dodeka Digital, a data-first marketing agency. Weaver shares his transition from working with Fortune 500 companies and venture capital to launching his own agency, driven by frustration with traditional marketing agencies and a desire to build a culture-focused, client-centric business. He discusses overcoming the "golden handcuffs" of corporate success, the challenges of scaling a boutique agency, and his vision for Dodeka Digital’s future, including hitting $5M in ARR.

Weaver also breaks down Dodeka’s unique fractional marketing team model, ideal client profile (B2B tech companies with $1M+ revenue), and their organic growth strategy centered on warm intros and LinkedIn outreach. He highlights the importance of prioritizing fulfillment and team structure to maintain quality as the agency scales, while candidly sharing his evolving relationship with sales and the balancing act of founder responsibilities. Tune in for actionable insights on building a scalable, values-driven agency.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we sit down with Brian Enright, founder and managing partner of Burgeon Capital Co.., to explore his journey from franchisee to franchise consultant and his mission to help aspiring entrepreneurs find the perfect franchise opportunities. Brian shares how his personal experience purchasing a children’s hair salon franchise inspired him to bridge the gap between motivated buyers and emerging brands, emphasizing the emotional and financial stakes of franchise ownership. He breaks down Virgin Capital’s unique approach, blending personalized matchmaking with ongoing coaching for franchise consultants, while also discussing the challenges of scaling a service-based business and his vision for systematizing operations in 2025.

Brian opens up about the power of referrals, community-building, and why human connection still trumps AI in high-stakes franchise consulting. He reveals his plans to expand through thought leadership—potentially launching a podcast—and outsourcing non-revenue tasks to focus on client success. For founders and consultants alike, Brian offers golden advice: network relentlessly, provide value before monetizing, and stay open to unexpected opportunities. Whether you’re considering franchising or scaling a service business, this episode is packed with insights on niching down, operationalizing growth, and the future of franchise consulting.