Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we meet Philip Chipping, serial entrepreneur and founder of Operation Read, as he shares his mission to transform literacy for struggling and dyslexic readers. Drawing from his personal experience as a father of four children with reading challenges—and his background scaling Zag to $10M—Philip reveals how his patent-pending Divvi platform bridges the gap between reading mechanics and engagement by matching content to each child's skill level and interests. He discusses Operation Read’s grassroots strategy of starting with tutors before expanding to schools, mirroring his proven "mom-and-pop before big box" scaling approach.

Philip unpacks the literacy industry’s shift from outdated methods to science-backed structured literacy, positioning Divvi at the forefront of this change. With 70% of American students reading below grade level, he explains his three-pillar solution—early screening, intervention, and making practice fun—while candidly addressing startup hurdles like CRM selection and converting free users. For edtech founders, Philip emphasizes the importance of validating customer acquisition with a small user base before scaling, offering practical insights from his own lean startup journey.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we meet Ryan Ashby, the visionary founder of Madali LLC, who's bridging ancient wisdom with modern business through his unique blend of quantum human design coaching and operational consulting. Ryan shares his deeply personal journey from corporate disillusionment to creating a "backstage crew" for purpose-driven entrepreneurs—particularly healers, therapists, and spiritual guides—helping them align their energy with business systems while honoring their intuitive gifts. He reveals how his own awakening as a "manifestor" in human design (one of five energy archetypes) transformed his approach to entrepreneurship, emphasizing consent-based sociocracy over traditional hierarchies and the power of starting "messy" rather than waiting for perfection.

Ryan offers rare transparency about the spiritual entrepreneur's path—from esoteric challenges like throat chakra blocks during interviews to practical struggles with messaging for audiences unfamiliar with terms like CRM. His counterintuitive growth strategy? Rejecting conventional marketing playbooks to follow divine timing ("I'm detached from outcomes—if I only serve two people, so be it") while calling in his "soul tribe" of co-creators. For founders feeling out of alignment, Ryan's wisdom on competing only with oneself and defining success as "showing up authentically" provides a radical reframe—one he's now embodying by launching his podcast to spotlight other unconventional founders.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we dive into the journey of Mauricio Mendoza, founder and CEO of Bixli, a mission-driven venture transforming digital accessibility for businesses. With over 25 years in web development, Mauricio shares how Bixli's Core Access System helps companies comply with global regulations like the European Accessibility Act while unlocking untapped markets. He discusses the misconceptions around accessibility, the importance of education, and why scalable, sustainable solutions are critical for growth in an increasingly regulated digital landscape.

Mauricio also opens up about Bixli's client acquisition strategies, including their data-driven Core Loop System, and how partnerships and referrals fuel their success. He emphasizes the urgency for U.S. businesses to act now, not just to avoid penalties but to build trust and expand their reach. 

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we sit down with Shawn "Man On Fire" Nason, founder and CEO of Nason Group, to explore how his Disney-inspired approach to customer experience is transforming industries. With a deep background in human-centered design, Shawn shares how his boutique consulting firm helps organizations build seamless "experience ecosystems"—balancing people, processes, and technology. He reveals why referrals and LinkedIn thought leadership (with 117K followers) fuel his growth, and why he refuses to chase clients solely for revenue, emphasizing radical relationships over transactions.

Shawn dives into the challenges of scaling a high-touch consultancy while staying true to its mission, including the delicate balance of AI adoption ("high tech and high touch"). He shares hard-earned lessons on why founders should never compromise fit for short-term gains and teases his upcoming book on balancing power, care, and transactions in leadership. For entrepreneurs, his advice is clear: Consistency, authenticity, and a relentless focus on the human experience drive lasting success—in business and beyond.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, we meet George Kriza, CEO of Challenging Decisions and Inc. 500 honoree, as he reflects on his 40-year journey scaling businesses and solving complex leadership challenges. George shares how he grew MTC Performance by 470% through innovative enterprise software for sales incentives—experience he now applies to help CEOs overcome growth barriers, from fundraising challenges to leadership accountability gaps. He reveals his three-part consulting framework blending executive coaching, software project guidance, and capital-raising strategies refined through his work with billion-dollar firms.

George offers a masterclass in authentic business development, emphasizing expertise demonstration over direct selling—whether through free restructuring of pitch decks or his YouTube podcast featuring elite executives like Geoffrey Moore. His counterintuitive networking philosophy ("it takes 21 impressions to break through") and partnerships with "supercharged" connectors reveal a playbook built on patience and value-first engagement. For consultants aiming to scale, George stresses differentiation through lived experience: "I'm not theorizing—I've survived hypergrowth's tornado and can show CEOs exactly which buttons to push."

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Jonathan Reynolds, the visionary behind Mindful Life, Mindful Work, Inc., to explore how mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and conscious leadership are reshaping executive coaching. With a focus on long-term behavioral change, Jonathan shares their philosophy of structured engagements—ranging from three months to a year—designed to help leaders, especially underrepresented women, step fully into their potential.

The conversation delves into the company’s scalable model, which prioritizes deep client impact through follow-on services. Jonathan also highlights their mindful approach to growth, leveraging LinkedIn and authentic thought leadership to build meaningful connections rather than chasing trends. It’s a refreshing take on purpose-driven entrepreneurship and sustainable leadership development.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Muhammad Maarij Zeeshan, founder and CEO of BeFound Social, a digital marketing agency that scales startups and personal brands through strategic funnels and social media. Muhammad shares his evolution from a university student freelancing in ghostwriting for CEOs to building a million-dollar agency. He discusses the pivotal shift from creative-dependent freelancing to scalable solutions like Facebook ads and automated funnels, driven by his desire to decouple his business from his personal output. Muhammad also reveals his fascination with psychology and trust-building in the age of AI, framing his mission to empower authentic personal brands as a counter to the rising tide of AI-generated content.

The conversation explores Muhammad's niche focus on AI startups and personal brands, highlighting the unique challenges of “AI deception” and the growing importance of human-centric storytelling in marketing. He breaks down his agency’s 14-day onboarding process, client engagement strategies, and the three pillars of his customer acquisition: Facebook branding, AI-powered cold outreach, and the irreplaceable value of word-of-mouth networking. Muhammad's insights underscore the balance between leveraging automation and preserving genuine human connection in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Nuria Garcia, founder of NBN Media—a marketing agency that helps tech founders amplify their brands through strategic video storytelling. Nuria shares her unexpected journey from Instagram content creator to agency owner, revealing how she turned her passion for storytelling into a business serving clients like Avira, Forbes, and NodPod. She opens up about the early challenges of convincing founders to invest in content ("the double sell"), why she refuses to cold outreach, and how she built her client base purely through organic LinkedIn engagement and in-person networking.

Nuria breaks down her unique 6-step video production process, from mission-driven storytelling to multi-platform distribution, and why she insists on traveling to record clients in person (despite scalability questions). The conversation also dives into her shiny-object syndrome struggles with courses vs. services, her "vibes-only" sales philosophy, and her ambitious plans to expand teams in New York and Miami. Packed with raw insights on trusting your gut, resisting paid ads, and why founders need to stop hiding behind their products, this episode is a masterclass in authentic business growth—with a side of Nuria’s signature humor about cold DMs and accent-driven relatability

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Alexander Duck II , founder of A Duck Training and Development, to explore his journey in leadership and organizational development training. With a master's in adult education, Alexander shares how his passion for improving workplace culture led him to start his company, focusing on enhancing soft skills like communication and conflict navigation for professionals across various industries, from government sectors to cybersecurity and manufacturing.

Alexander delves into the challenges of transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship, the importance of predictable lead generation, and his strategies for attracting clients through LinkedIn and word-of-mouth. He also discusses his vision for the next 12 months, aiming to build a more reliable client base and scale his impact. The episode closes with a lightning round, where Alexander shares his favorite tools, best advice, and the driving "why" behind his mission to make workplaces suck less.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Mishal Saeed dives into the real-world strategies behind building a successful fractional HR agency from the ground up with Miranda Sharpnack, founder of SHARP HR, LLC.

Miranda shares her authentic approach to marketing and sales, emphasizing the power of meaningful in-person networking and strategic partnerships over traditional social media ads that generate activity but little business. She reveals how SHARP HR, LLC leverages LinkedIn Boolean searches and taps into long-standing personal connections as key drivers for generating quality leads and establishing trust with potential clients.

Mishal and Miranda also explore the challenges of scaling a solo operation while balancing the security of a 9-to-5 job and the ambition to grow SHARP HR, LLC into a full-time income. They discuss how creating polished marketing materials and establishing a professional online presence helped legitimize the brand, while also acknowledging the internal hesitation that comes with taking bigger risks.