Founders Future

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, 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.

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 talks with James Jacobi, founder of Ascend Advisors and Client Executive at OneDigital. James shares how he helps B2B companies build scalable sales systems and address workforce retention challenges. He discusses launching Ascend Advisors during the pandemic to support $2–30M businesses in healthcare, insurance, and legal industries, and his work at OneDigital optimizing employee benefits to attract and retain talent. James also offers insights on leveraging AI, simplifying processes, and using relationship-based marketing to scale effectively in today’s competitive landscape.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner speaks with Patience Ogunbona, founder of ATI (Aspire-Transform-Inspire) Coaching. Patience shares her journey from corporate auditor to executive coach, sparked by personal loss and a desire to empower introverted women to lead with confidence.

Through her Aligned Introvert Method, Patience helps clients align identity with action for authentic success. She discusses her coaching programs, corporate training, and lead generation via LinkedIn and speaking. Patience also reflects on scaling challenges and how introverts can thrive by building the right support system and embracing their unique strengths.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion interviews Marvin Ferguson, founder of Marvleads, a DEI and mental health advocacy company based in Canton, Ohio. With 16 years of experience as a licensed clinical pharmacist, Marvin shares his journey from corporate pharmacy to entrepreneurship, founding Marvleads to address systemic issues in DEI and mental health. He discusses the evolution of his business, offering services like intercultural development workshops, equity audits, and leadership training. Marvin’s client base includes universities, faculty groups, and other organizations, with a focus on addressing burnout and cultural competency. He highlights his growth challenges, including lead generation and marketing, and his plans to integrate AI for scalability. This episode provides valuable insights for purpose-driven entrepreneurs aiming to create meaningful impact in their industries.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion speaks with Tia Christopher, founder and CEO of The OP Collab, an AI integration and governance firm based in Pittsburgh. A U.S. Navy veteran and Woman Veteran Champion of Change, Tia leverages her expertise in nonprofit operations and ethical AI adoption to help businesses and nonprofits integrate AI responsibly. She discusses The OP Collab’s core services, including AI training, client assessments, and onboarding, and shares her journey from publishing a military transition manual to founding her company. Tia highlights her organic growth strategy, challenges with building brand recognition, and plans for scaling, including expanding into Mexico by 2026. With valuable insights on curiosity, pivoting, and breaking down tasks, Tia’s story is a must-listen for entrepreneurs in the tech and AI space.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion speaks with Angelo Roberts, Jr., founder and CEO of Off/Source. Inc., a subscription-based virtual assistant service helping small businesses streamline operations. Angelo shares his journey from office manager to entrepreneur, launching Off/Source.Inc. in 2020. The company provides fractional employee time in areas like bookkeeping, admin, social media, and graphic design, serving mom-and-pop shops with a flexible, affordable model. Angelo discusses the evolution of his customer acquisition strategy, including partnerships with co-working spaces and entrepreneurial communities, and his focus on scaling through a fundraising round in 2025. With insights into networking, revenue models, and growth strategies, this episode offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of scaling a business.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm speaks with Anna Li, founder and CEO of Outsource Your Tasks, a staffing and recruitment firm helping business owners scale by connecting them with top-tier virtual assistants and global talent. Anna shares how her need for reliable VAs while managing a real estate side hustle led to launching a thriving agency built through organic demand and referrals.

She discusses serving clients across industries—from real estate to healthcare—offering tailored VA sourcing, recruitment, and hiring process training. Anna emphasizes lean growth, LinkedIn-driven lead generation, and referral incentives. Looking ahead, she's integrating AI tools to streamline operations and exploring AI-generated music as a tool for mindset empowerment. Her approach blends strategy with intuition, championing both practical systems and personal growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm speaks with Maddy Alexander-Grout, founder of Mad About Money, a UK-based platform empowering neurodivergent and marginalized communities with financial education and business support. Maddy shares her journey from overcoming £40,000 in debt to building a thriving app and coaching business tailored to neurodivergent minds.

She discusses her offerings—from business strategy coaching and content creation to her app's upcoming relaunch on Heartbeat—designed to create safe, inclusive spaces for learning and growth. With over 70,000 TikTok followers and a growing community of 10,000 users, Maddy reveals her plans to scale revenue to £250K while staying true to her mission.