In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm is joined by Jacqueline Keggins Shaulis, founder and principal of Awesome Enterprises LLC, a consultancy dedicated to helping introverted women of color embrace their unique strengths and lead with confidence. Jacqueline shares her deeply personal journey—from dreaming big as a quiet child in Texas to becoming a bestselling author, global speaker, and transformational coach.

They dive into how Jacqueline turned her life-long "experiment" in self-acceptance into a business that now helps others step into their own power. She discusses her coaching programs, the Awaken Your Awesome mastermind community, and her bold leap into tech with the upcoming Aya platform—created to help introverts practice real-world communication in a supportive space.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Jack Pierce, founder and managing partner of Trust2Connect. With over 30 years of experience working with global giants like NASA, Sony, and Sam’s Club, Jack shares how low emotional intelligence and a lack of trust are often the root causes of dysfunction in teams—and how he’s solving that. He introduces his innovative EQ² framework and explains how trust isn’t just a feeling—it’s measurable, engineerable, and the foundation of high-performing teams. From childhood conditioning to company culture, Jack unpacks the human mechanics that drive behavior and offers practical insights into redesigning emotional intelligence for results that stick. Tune in to hear how Trust to Connect is redefining team dynamics, one relationship at a time.

In this powerful episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion welcomes Dr. Andy Neillie, President of the Neillie Leadership Group. With over 20 years of experience as a leadership consultant, bestselling author, and keynote speaker, Dr. Neillie shares how a blend of personal faith, poor early leadership experiences, and a passion for people development led him to build a firm dedicated to transforming managers into courageous, effective leaders.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the Neillie Leadership Group delivers impactful leadership development through in-person workshops, executive coaching, and keynote speaking. At the heart of Dr. Neillie’s methodology is his signature framework: the Four Leadership Necessities—conviction, competence, character, and covenant—which provides a practical yet profound path for leadership excellence.

Listeners will hear about the evolution of the Neillie Leadership Group’s offerings, including The Manager’s Ascent workshop and DISC-based assessments, and how these tools equip leaders at all levels. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a new manager, this episode offers timeless wisdom on leading with values, purpose, and authenticity.

In this compelling episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Mike Randolph, co-founder and COO of The Agency Initiative—a consulting firm dedicated to cultivating courageous leadership. Drawing on formative leadership experiences at Tesla and Yeti, Mike shares how he and co-founder Kristen Kavanaugh founded The Agency Initiative to empower leaders to act with intention, integrity, and self-awareness.

Mike reflects on the origin of the firm’s name, “agency,” not as a business service but as the power of intentional decision-making rooted in personal values. He recounts pivotal moments at Tesla, where he and Kristen led leadership and DEI efforts and often found themselves grappling with high-pressure decisions misaligned with their principles. These moments, marked by physical tension and ethical conflict, became the foundation for a leadership framework focused on recognizing and harnessing one’s inner agency.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm chats with Jason Mundy, founder of OnPoint Business Advisors and seasoned B2B marketing leader with nearly 30 years of experience spanning startups and Fortune 100 giants like EMC and Dell. Jason helps tech, manufacturing, and professional services businesses scale through expert marketing, sales, and leadership coaching.

From biotech engineer to SaaS CMO and now entrepreneur, Jason shares how he leverages his diverse background to support growth-stage companies as a fractional CMO and coach. He dives into the “founder’s dilemma,” guiding overwhelmed owners and new marketing leaders to clarity and confidence. His go-to-market strategies and team-building insights have helped numerous startups sharpen their edge.

Jason opens up about the mental leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship, the power of resilience, and mastering authentic messaging amid digital noise. He reveals his lead gen formula—networking, referrals, LinkedIn content, and cold emails—and his challenge of balancing growth with focus.

Tune in for practical wisdom on scaling smart, overcoming fear, and building a referral-driven business fueled by genuine connections.

In this insightful episode, host Jae Encarnacion explores the intricacies of personal and professional transformation with Amy Bladen Shatto, Ph.D., of Leadership Variations, LLC. Through candid conversation and deep reflection, they unpack themes of resilience, adaptation, and self-awareness. Listeners will gain inspiring real-life stories that show how discomfort in change can spark powerful growth. Whether you’re facing career shifts, personal transitions, or simply seeking motivation, this episode offers relatable insights and practical wisdom to support your journey.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with serial entrepreneur Benjamin Butler, founder of Top Hat, a branding and development agency, and Headless Hostman, a game-changing SaaS platform for WordPress hosting. Ben shares his rollercoaster 12-year journey—from launching a business in college to weathering multiple failures and refocusing on his strengths in design, development, and SaaS.

Discover how Ben built Top Hat into a strategic partner for clients with budgets over $10K, evolved lead generation beyond SEO, and created Headless Hostman to solve a critical hosting pain point, attracting Fortune 50 clients and government institutions. He also reveals his unique hiring approach, scaling challenges, and vision for sustainable growth.

Packed with hard-earned lessons, Ben’s advice is simple but powerful: “Just start somewhere,” embrace failure, and trust your gut. Tune in for a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial grit.

In this inspiring episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm talks with Thalia Brown, founder of Authentic Discussion—a forward-thinking digital platform and modern think tank dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Drawing on her background in recruitment, banking, and consulting, Thalia shares how she’s breaking down barriers in corporate hiring and empowering women—especially those battling imposter syndrome—to build confidence and advance their careers.

Frustrated by systemic flaws she witnessed firsthand, Thalia created Authentic Discussion to amplify underrepresented voices and foster honest conversations about workplace equity. The platform offers workshops, roundtables, and mentorship cohorts designed as a “cheat sheet” for students and professionals navigating bias and career challenges. With major partnerships like Microsoft and plans to expand into universities and key industry events, Thalia is on a mission to make DEI accessible and actionable.

Facing challenges like establishing credibility due to her youthful appearance, Thalia’s secret weapon is authenticity—encouraging others to own their unique stories as a powerful advantage. Tune in for actionable insights on building inclusive cultures and overcoming obstacles in the modern workplace.

In this episode of Founders Future, Ammar Elm chats with Humberto Garcia, founder of Ethos Consultancy, who’s on a mission to unlock growth by transforming company culture and streamlining operations. Drawing from 20+ years of leadership experience, Humberto shares how his journey from family business leader to consultant fueled his passion for people-first strategies that help founders escape operational bottlenecks. Tune in to learn how Ethos Consultancy empowers leadership teams to scale smarter, cut costs, and build thriving, self-sufficient organizations.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with sisters Amoura and Avery Carter, founders of A/C Creative Collective, a minority- and women-owned agency specializing in project management, full-service marketing, and learning and development. Combining Amoura’s background in education and project management with Avery’s 15 years of marketing experience, they built a business focused on helping small to mid-sized organizations overcome gaps in strategic planning and execution.

The Carters share their journey from launching with project management services to expanding into graphic design, content creation, social media, and workshops on inclusion, burnout prevention, and team alignment. They explain how they deliver high-touch, customized solutions while scaling through a trusted contractor network to maintain flexibility and control costs.

Listeners will also learn about their client acquisition approach, which balances strong referral relationships with proactive marketing and certifications from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). The episode highlights their emphasis on discovery calls and transparent proposals to demonstrate value early and build lasting partnerships.