Founders Future

In this inspiring episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Sean Barnes, founder of WSS Solutions, to dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey—the challenges, the mindset, and the secrets to sustained growth. Sean shares his raw and real advice on perseverance, emphasizing that success and failure share the same road with just different exits. He urges founders not to let ego get in the way and highlights the value of mentorship and coaching to accelerate growth.

Listeners will gain practical insights on how to navigate the inevitable hardships of building a business, the importance of continuous forward momentum, and why investing in guidance can shorten the road to success. Sean’s passion and energy shine through as he offers encouragement to founders at every stage of their journey.

Tune in for actionable advice, inspiring stories, and resources to help you climb your own entrepreneurial mountain.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Eugen Ilie, founder of Growth 100, to unpack his visionary approach to scalable, fractional growth teams tailored for early-stage companies. With a background deeply rooted in growth strategy and demand generation, Eugen shares how Growth 100 is redefining how startups access top-tier marketing and analytics talent—without the overhead of hiring full-time teams.

Eugen opens up about the modular structure of Growth 100, emphasizing how companies can tap into a flexible hub of experts—spanning growth strategy, paid media, analytics, product, and creative—only when they need them. As someone who's worked intimately with founders, Eugen knows firsthand that growth is meaningless without aligning it to business objectives, and that modern growth leaders must think like entrepreneurs themselves.

We dive into how he’s building Growth 100 from the ground up, why he’s laser-focused on client success over volume, and how he’s carefully balancing supply and demand in a service model that relies heavily on trust, efficiency, and strategic thinking. Eugen also shares thoughtful insights on the role of trust circles, staying agile, and maintaining a growth mindset in the face of uncertainty.

If you’re a founder thinking about how to scale without overhiring—or wondering how to bring elite growth capabilities into your business without burning your budget—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Courtney Lohmann, a renowned sustainability strategist and founder of Courtney Lohmann Consulting. With over 25 years of experience in the events, hospitality, and tourism industry, Courtney has become a leading voice in integrating sustainable and regenerative practices into business operations.

Courtney shares her journey from working in corporate event planning to launching her own consulting firm in 2023. She dives into what sustainability really means—beyond just recycling—by emphasizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact. Courtney also introduces her preferred framework of “impact” as a more action-oriented and accessible term for companies looking to create lasting change.

On this episode of Founders Future, host Mishal Saeed sits down with Jasmine Brennan of Mindful Compliance to explore effective client acquisition strategies in the cannabis compliance space. Jasmine shares how LinkedIn has been a game-changer for connecting with key decision-makers like lawyers, chiefs of staff, and C-suite executives, emphasizing the power of organic engagement and consistent, value-driven content over paid ads.

They dive into the importance of building credibility through multiple touchpoints, respectful and solution-oriented messaging, and strategic referral partnerships with insurance companies, banks, and payment processors to drive sustainable growth. Jasmine breaks down the slow-build nature of organic marketing and lead nurturing, underscoring the patience and persistence needed to create predictability in client acquisition.

In this energizing episode of Founders Future, host Mishal Saeed sits down with Carolina Estela Selvidge, the dynamic founder of Facehug Academy, a boutique communication consultancy specializing in bilingual marketing, public speaking, and cross-cultural strategy.

Carolina shares how Facehug Academy is expanding its offerings by building out a powerful, yet previously under-the-radar, professional speaking arm. Known for her thoughtful, human-first approach, she’s now focused on converting keynote engagements into deeper collaborations — including group training and one-on-one mentorships.

Carolina also opens up about a pivotal moment where she nearly gave up — and what pulled her back with even more clarity and purpose. Her story is a must-listen for founders building client-centric, culturally aware businesses in today’s globalized landscape.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Andrea Hoffer, founder of Aha! Talent Experts to unpack how she’s reinventing the hiring game.

From running a 12-person team to building a lean, AI-powered operation, Andrea shares how she’s scaling smarter—not harder. We talk about landing franchise clients, becoming a sought-after speaker, and how she’s using tools like NotebookLM and Otter.ai to streamline her business.

She also reveals:

1. The biggest bottleneck in her sales process
2. Her 2025 growth playbook
3. Why the future of hiring is a split between high-touch service and AI efficiency

If you're thinking about growth, automation, or building a standout team, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

In this episode, Jae welcomes Steven DiIoia, founder of Axiom Coaching, a consulting firm dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive through leadership development, workforce solutions, and strategic support. Steve shares how his passion for mentoring and leadership drove him to launch Axiom Coaching as a side venture, which has since evolved into a full-fledged consultancy. He discusses the firm’s growth beyond manufacturing into retail, service, and consumer industries, and how fractional leadership services have become a key offering. Steve also opens up about his high-touch sales approach, reliance on subcontractors to scale, and the power of referrals and speaking engagements in attracting clients. The conversation wraps with insights on strategic partnerships and a behind-the-scenes look at podcast planning and future collaborations.

Hosted by Mishal Saeed, this episode features Erin Sarles Bowers, founder of Blueprint to Blue Chip, sharing her secrets to scaling a consulting business with authenticity and heart. Discover how Erin leverages LinkedIn and a free 5-day intensive to build trust and turn prospects into loyal clients—without pushy sales tactics.

Learn why mission-driven selling and leading conversations personally can transform your growth strategy, and get inspired by Erin’s bold vision to reshape how businesses connect, serve, and scale.

 Whether you’re a consultant or entrepreneur, this episode delivers actionable insights on growing with purpose and building lasting client relationships.

Tune in for a fresh take on scaling that puts people before profit!

In this episode of Founders Future, Jae Encarnacion chats with Emilio Loya, founder of Affordable Business Evaluations. Emilio shares his journey building a business that makes valuations accessible and affordable for entrepreneurs, how he’s using education and storytelling to stand out, and his plans to scale through building a strong team and leveraging AI tools.

Tune in for actionable insights on navigating a niche industry, scaling with limited resources, and the power of betting on yourself. Emilio also shares invaluable advice for founders at any stage about curiosity, connection, and taking the leap

In this visionary episode of Founders, Future, host [Your Name] sits down with Myles Smith, also known as Humble G the Fiddla — an award-winning violinist turned tech entrepreneur and the founder & CEO of International Multimedia Group . AI (IMG.AI).

Myles shares his remarkable journey from performing on world stages to building custom AI solutions for small businesses, nonprofits, and institutions. At the intersection of creativity, noetic science, and automation, he’s crafting intelligent tools that serve real people — from 24/7 AI voice agents to pre/during/post event bots that redefine service delivery and community engagement.

With a deep-rooted belief that AI is a mirror of our intentions, Myles opens up about infusing faith, culture, and authenticity into his business model. He reveals how he’s helping clients shift from “hustle mode” to sustainable growth by leveraging automation for clarity, consistency, and capacity. Whether it’s reimagining lead gen through AI-powered workflows or hosting corporate roundtables with live violin performances, Myles is on a mission to prove that imagination isn't a luxury — it’s a leadership skill.

If you’re curious about the future of AI, soulful entrepreneurship, or how to build technology that uplifts rather than replaces, this conversation will resonate deeply.