Founders Future

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Mishal Saeed, sit down with Joseph Braithwaite, founder of Evolved Thinking, to explore what it truly means to approach consulting differently. After years working in traditional consulting environments, including time with the Big 4, Joseph saw the shortcomings of the industry firsthand—transformation initiatives that didn’t stick, clients left with binders of strategy but no way to act, and a focus on deliverables over outcomes. Choosing to walk a different path, Joseph built Evolved Thinking around long-term relationships, hands-on collaboration, and authenticity that can't be faked. In our conversation, he shares how his values show up in every client interaction, how he leverages LinkedIn to create real, trust-based connections, and why expanding beyond Toronto is not just about growth, but about learning from diverse industries and people. For consultants, founders, and leaders navigating a world that often rewards surface over substance, Joseph’s journey is a reminder that doing things differently—on purpose—can be your greatest advantage.

In this episode, host Mishal Saeed interviews Brianna Garza, founder of Shooters Shoot LLC, a company revolutionizing basketball shooting training through science-based coaching and innovative technology. Brianna shares how she identified gaps in traditional training, developed a mastery-focused approach, and built a scalable business combining in-person clinics and a cutting-edge shooting app.

Discover Brianna’s strategies for customer acquisition, the challenges of managing growth, and her vision to streamline operations and enhance athlete development. This episode offers valuable insights into blending sports expertise with entrepreneurship and tech innovation.

IIn this episode of Founders, Future, with host Mishal Saeed, Chris Gauvin, Fractional CFO and co-founder of Local, Fractional, shares invaluable insights on scaling companies the right way—with the right people. Chris demystifies fractional leadership, explaining how startups can access top-tier executive talent without overextending resources, while emphasizing the importance of local community, vision alignment, and founder fit.

Drawing from his own founder journey and CFO expertise, Chris discusses practical strategies for hiring, delegation, and growth, including applying EOS principles and avoiding the pitfalls of hiring for LinkedIn clout. The conversation also touches on personal pivots, shared Canadian roots, and the power of authentic community-building, offering a wealth of wisdom for founders navigating the complexities of scaling their businesses.

In this episode of Founders, Future , host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Dr. David Baker-Hargrove, co-CEO and co-founder of Bhc Assessment and Consulting. With over 25 years as a licensed mental health counselor and a background in clinical psychology, David blends his expertise to lead a $100 million company focused on empowering nonprofits and businesses through leadership development and organizational growth. He shares his journey from running a community health agency to building a consulting firm that specializes in board development, executive transitions, and culture building—revealing how his hands-on, relationship-driven approach has fueled his success.

David opens up about the challenges and opportunities of scaling Bhc nationwide, including how he’s leveraging AI and digital tools to grow without losing the personal touch. He discusses shifting away from traditional networking toward creating authority via podcasts and content, and shares his vision for helping nonprofits embrace fundraising fundamentals and overcome leadership fears through psychology. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about blending empathy, innovation, and strategic growth to build impactful, sustainable organizations.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, Josh Oliver, founder of Rhythmic Title Company, shares how he's transforming the title insurance industry through technology and collaboration. What began as a casual conversation with his son's football coach evolved into a mission to modernize the traditionally manual title process, leveraging proprietary systems to reduce turnaround times from weeks to minutes while fostering trust-based partnerships with real estate professionals.

Josh reveals how Rhythmic's unique approach prioritizes generosity and shared success over high-margin deals, creating a collaborative ecosystem with closing attorneys and agents. He also discusses the company's upcoming AI-powered property search tool and the delicate balance of innovating within a highly regulated industry—all while maintaining a vision of working alongside (rather than against) legacy players to elevate the entire title insurance space.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Charlotte Rooney, founder of Half Managed Mind, to unpack the realities of scaling a mission-driven business as a solopreneur. Charlotte shares why she stepped back from outsourced sales to focus on deeper, personal client connections—and how that decision impacted her growth.

She opens up about the bottlenecks she's navigating, her ambitious revenue and impact goals for 2025, and the mindset work that fuels her progress. From refining outreach strategies to embracing the power of coaching, this conversation is full of grounded insights for founders building with purpose.

A must-listen for entrepreneurs balancing authenticity and ambition.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar  Elm sits down with Riley Sharwood, the founder of Adscendency, a marketing consultancy focused on helping e-commerce entrepreneurs scale through data-driven paid social strategies, and Invincible, a sports apparel brand rooted in sports science innovation.

Riley shares his unique journey from aspiring marine and working in a UK chicken shop to launching two dynamic businesses within a year. He dives into the motivations behind starting Adscendency and Invincible, explaining how his passion for psychology and sports science influenced his ventures.

Listeners get an inside look at Riley’s marketing agency’s innovative model — taking a percentage of return on ad spend rather than upfront fees — and how he balances organic content with paid LinkedIn ads to build trust and convert clients.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, Jennifer Glass, CEO and founder of BGSI Coaching, shares her expertise in helping small businesses scale their revenues and secure funding. With over two decades of experience in marketing and business growth, Jennifer discusses her journey from simplifying payment processing to developing a coaching framework that addresses critical challenges like lead generation and operational overwhelm. She highlights practical strategies such as joint ventures, client nurturing, and media exposure to build credibility and drive growth.

Jennifer also offers valuable advice on avoiding common scaling pitfalls and the importance of mentorship, emphasizing how focusing on time, money, and resources can transform a business. She reveals her vision for BGSI Coaching’s future, underscoring the power of personalized relationships and robust CRM systems to sustain long-term client success. Tune in for actionable insights and inspiring stories to help entrepreneurs rethink growth and lead generation with confidence.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, Maria Lavithi, founder of Heroes Made, discusses how her edtech startup is transforming learning experiences across Europe. Through their innovative SaaS platform, students gain the unique ability to publish their own stories, creating personalized educational journeys that drive remarkable engagement and retention.

Maria shares the challenges of navigating education's complex ecosystem, from managing longer development cycles to strategically expanding her team. She reveals exciting plans for the platform's future, including Spanish language support to reach new markets, while emphasizing the importance of product-led growth and customer-centric innovation in scaling a tech venture.

In this episode, Mishal Saeed sits down with Brian Oliver Smith, CEO and founder of CEO Performance Network. With over 30 years of leadership experience, Brian has a proven track record of helping businesses double revenue and transform teams through dynamic keynotes and behavior-based coaching.

Brian shares his inspiring founding story—from his early days with tech startups during the dot-com era, to pioneering audio publishing before the age of Audible, and scaling a global mobile English-learning platform through financial crises. He reveals how these rich experiences shaped his passion to help early-stage founders break into the elite “7% club” of startup success.

Dive deep into the CEO Performance Network’s approach, where Brian combines strategic optimization, leadership coaching, and fractional executive services to support founders on their path to scalable growth. Learn about the importance of balancing too little versus too much—capital, time, and resources—and how careful structuring, fundraising tactics, and investor relations can make or break a startup’s future.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur seeking to refine your leadership or a founder aiming to optimize your fundraising and team-building strategy, this episode offers actionable insights from a seasoned executive who’s been in the trenches and helped countless startups thrive.