Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion welcomes Carol Schultz, the founder and CEO of Vertical Elevation. With over 30 years of experience in leadership coaching and talent development, Carol shares her mission to help businesses build talent-centric organizations that drive retention, engagement, and long-term profitability. The discussion explores her journey from founding Vertical Elevation to writing her bestselling book Powered by People, and how she’s helping companies—especially in tech—align their talent strategies with business outcomes. Carol also provides invaluable insights on leadership blind spots, organizational clarity, and the future of work culture.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm chats with Helanie Scott, founder and CEO of Align4Profit, a leadership development firm focused on building high-performing, high-engagement workplace cultures. Helanie shares her journey from running a modeling agency in South Africa to coaching executives around the world.

With 25+ years of experience across 42 countries, Helanie explains how Align4Profit uses science-backed coaching, team workshops, and culture consulting to align leadership behaviors with business strategy. She also reflects on the challenges of scaling a boutique firm and the importance of habit change over quick fixes. Tune in for leadership insights, global perspective, and actionable strategies to drive lasting organizational impact.

In this episode, Jae sits down with Steve Yacovelli, founder of Top Dog Learning Group, to discuss his journey from being fired to founding a company focused on inclusive and resilient leadership. Since 2002, Top Dog Learning Group has evolved from subcontracting facilitation work to offering specialized leadership training, including LGBTQ+ leadership and strategies for leading through change. Steve shares insights from his latest book, Your Career, which empowers individuals to harness their unique experiences for career growth. The conversation also delves into the future of leadership development, with Steve expressing openness to new partnerships and collaborations. A meeting with Laura Skinner is set to further explore growth opportunities in resilient leadership.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Tim Martinez, also known as “The Inside Man.” With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and a track record of consulting over 240 companies, Tim shares insights from his journey building, exiting, and advising multi-million dollar businesses. He delves into the core principles of “The Inside Method,” a strategic framework that empowers companies generating $25M–$100M to scale effectively. The conversation explores the importance of leadership alignment, the pitfalls of growth without direction, and how culture and clarity shape long-term business success. Listeners will walk away with tactical strategies for scaling, building resilient teams, and leading with purpose.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Matthew Jenkins, the co-founder and CTO of Forkast — an AI-powered platform transforming pricing strategies in the hospitality industry. Matthew shares how Forkast empowers restaurants and cafes to optimize pricing, boost revenue, and stay competitive through real-time insights and automation. The discussion delves into the entrepreneurial journey behind Forkast, the challenges of building AI solutions in traditional industries, and the vision for the future of hospitality tech.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm welcomes John Kepley, founder and CEO of Solved Health AI. With a rich background in IT consulting and a successful track record leading Tech Systems to major growth, John now sets his sights on revolutionizing U.S. healthcare diagnostics. Through cutting-edge AI-powered solutions, Solved Health AI aims to address the chronic inefficiencies that plague the healthcare system. John shares his entrepreneurial journey, his insights into leveraging data and artificial intelligence for better health outcomes, and the bold vision driving his latest venture.

In this powerful episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Dr. Jane Ebot-Bish—global health expert turned career coach and founder of the Career Elevation Academy. Jane shares the deeply personal and life-altering experiences that pushed her to walk away from a successful corporate career and build a business that helps ambitious women reclaim their lives. From battling burnout to redefining career success, Dr. Jane talks about the importance of one-on-one coaching, why trust is the new currency in client relationships, and how she’s building a high-impact business—one coffee chat and community event at a time. We also explore how she’s navigating client acquisition, embracing AI in coaching, and staying grounded while scaling. 

In this episode of Founders Future, hosted by Jae Encarnacion, Sam Preston, CEO of Service Scalers, reveals the systems that helped him grow to $2.5M in just two years — and his roadmap to $5M and beyond.

Learn how mastering lead generation, sales, fulfillment, and client retention drives unstoppable growth. Sam shares why replacing yourself as a founder is key, how to create next-level client experiences, and how AI is shaping the future of digital marketing in home services.

 n this episode of Founders, Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we sit down with Gerardo Gauthier-Zayas, Ed.D., founder and president of Avant Consulting and Training. With over two decades of experience in leadership and workforce development, Gerardo shares how a pivotal moment at a Hispanic Serving Institutions conference sparked his mission to address the lack of Latinx leadership in higher education. That moment led him to pursue a doctorate and build a consulting firm focused on strategic guidance, professional development, and systemic equity solutions.

Gerardo discusses how Avant Consulting helps organizations create sustainable, inclusive leadership pipelines through tailored coaching, equity-centered strategy, and impactful training programs. He also shares a preview of his upcoming initiative—the Training Entrepreneur Network—which aims to connect facilitators and trainers to amplify their social capital and reach. This episode is packed with insights for leaders, nonprofits, and changemakers striving to build more empowered and authentically inclusive workplaces.

In this episode of Founders Future, Ammar Elm sits down with Diana Sen, co-founder of Guided Venture, to explore how she’s helping high performers—from athletes to executives—turn career pivots into thriving businesses. Discover how Diana’s journey from corporate consulting to entrepreneurship sparked innovative programs like the Founders Edge accelerator and game-changing business plans. Tune in to hear how Guided Venture navigates the complex world of immigration consulting while empowering clients to launch, scale, and succeed with confidence.