In this episode of Founders, Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Susan Richards, founder and CEO of CredTech Consulting LLC. Susan shares her journey from being a COO at a large company to launching her own firm in 2022, specializing in debt recovery and collections consulting.

Susan explains how CredTech Consulting helps collection agencies, debt buyers, community banks, credit unions, and auto fintech companies optimize their recovery processes and build efficient collections strategies. She highlights the common financial hardships that lead to delinquency, the importance of compliance in today’s economic climate, and how she works as a fractional COO to refine operations.

The conversation also explores the challenges of scaling a consulting business, Susan’s desire to focus more on fulfillment while building a lead generation and sales team, and potential growth strategies such as paid advertising and expanding her team.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Dr. Ashley Lerman, a board-certified pediatric dentist and the founder of Firstgrin, a company revolutionizing early childhood oral health care. Dr. Lerman shares her journey from recognizing a major gap in parental education around kids' dental care to building a solution that provides oral care kits and an educational companion app for new and expecting parents.

She discusses the early challenges of messaging and consumer awareness, the surprising virality of her social media content, and how leveraging organic engagement helped her scale without relying on paid ads. The conversation also dives into Firstgrin's B2B expansion, particularly working with insurance providers to make preventive oral care more accessible through family benefits programs.

Laura and Dr. Lerman explore the intersection of health, consumer trust, and brand partnerships, touching on how major toothpaste brands are eager to get into early childhood oral care markets. Dr. Lerman also reflects on her future vision for Firstgrin the challenges of navigating public health messaging, and the potential for scaling through both direct-to-consumer and B2B strategies.

In this episode of Founders, Future, we sit down with Aaron, co-founder of Ultraliminal, to explore the journey behind his company’s evolution. Initially focused on helping small businesses improve team communication and delegation, Aaron and his team quickly realized a deeper challenge—many business owners lacked fundamental leadership skills. This led to a strategic pivot toward refining organizational systems, particularly within nonprofits.

Aaron shares how Ultraliminal has successfully tackled the unique obstacles nonprofits face, from limited funding to resistance in adopting new technology. He discusses his company’s approach to scaling through paid ads, cold outreach, and discovery calls, emphasizing the importance of top-of-the-funnel visibility. Throughout the conversation, Aaron offers candid insights on defining a clear business offer, understanding market dynamics, and maintaining patience during growth phases.

Laura and Aaron also dive into the realities of marketing and small business operations, touching on the necessity of strong relationships, self-care, and working with the right people. Aaron’s advice on avoiding unprofessional partnerships and taking the time to nurture meaningful business connections provides valuable wisdom for any entrepreneur.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Morgan Hoogvelt, the founder of Gohfr, an on-demand delivery platform revolutionizing courier services. Morgan shares the fascinating origin story of Gohfr, sparked by an unexpected conversation about the inefficiencies in medical device delivery.

He discusses the challenges of launching and scaling a logistics business, particularly navigating expansion into new markets like Dallas-Fort Worth. Morgan also offers invaluable insights on hiring the right people, leveraging his background in executive search to build a strong team.

Looking ahead, Morgan reveals exciting plans for Gohfr's future, including national expansion and a franchise model aimed at transforming the industry. He closes with key advice for founders—embrace the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach to test and refine ideas without unnecessary risk.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Mer Joyce, the founder and principal of Do Big Good, a pioneering social enterprise that transforms community engagement through human-centered design. Mer shares her journey—from working on President Obama’s 2008 campaign and earning a Fulbright in Morocco to co-designing policies and initiatives that empower communities.

She discusses the evolution of Do Big Good, the challenges of scaling a socially-driven business, and the often-overlooked tools of participatory design. The conversation dives into the realities of securing government and nonprofit contracts, navigating an evolving political landscape, and staying committed to a vision of shared power and equity.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Rick Park, founder of Talent Alignment, to explore how HR consulting can be a strategic driver of business success. Rick shares his journey in the industry, from his extensive background in talent management, recruiting, and organizational effectiveness to the founding of Talent Alignment.

He discusses the biggest misconceptions about HR, the challenges of building a consulting firm, and the importance of aligning human resources with a company’s competitive strategy. Rick also highlights his current business model, revenue generation strategies, and the key obstacles he faces in scaling Talent Alignment.

As the conversation unfolds, Rick offers insights on industry trends, including the evolving role of DEI, the rise of fractional HR consulting, and the impact of AI-driven talent assessments. He also provides valuable advice for founders, emphasizing patience, relationship-building, and the power of in-person networking.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion welcomes Margaret Graziano, CEO of KeenAlignment, to discuss the evolution of workplace culture and leadership transformation. Margaret shares her journey from a 20-year career in recruiting to founding KeenAlignment, driven by her mission to optimize employee engagement and retention.

She dives into her company’s unique approach to cultural transformation, starting with deep alignment—a process that helps organizations clarify roles, eliminate friction, and establish a strong foundation. Margaret also explains the evolution of KeenAlignment’s offerings, from leadership programs and coaching to the Culture Catalyst Program and her book, Ignite Culture.

Throughout the conversation, she reveals key insights into how businesses—particularly privately owned, multi-generational, and private equity-backed companies—can build high-performing, intentional cultures. She also breaks down her revenue model, marketing strategies, and sales process, offering valuable lessons for founders looking to scale their companies through cultural transformation.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with serial entrepreneur Charles Cormier, the mastermind behind TopLeads, Cold Email, and Podpire.com. Charles shares his journey from growing up in Montreal, listening to his father make cold calls, to becoming a digital nomad and AI-powered business leader in Oaxaca, Mexico.

With a passion for lead generation, automation, and AI-driven business scaling, Charles discusses how he juggles multiple ventures through AI integrations, biohacking, and lean operations. He reveals why Podpire—a platform revolutionizing podcast-based lead generation—has become his primary focus and how he’s leveraging podcasting to convert high-value guests into clients.

Charles also dives into his bold goal of speaking with 10,000 founders in 2025, the future of AI in business, and why he believes the next wave of companies will be built with AI agents instead of employees.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Tom Oakes, founder of Referral Program Pros, to explore the power of LinkedIn outreach and referral marketing for B2B service providers. Tom shares his journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, highlighting the key challenges and insights that led to the creation of his company.

He breaks down the evolution of his business, the misconceptions around LinkedIn outreach, and how his team crafts highly personalized, high-value engagement strategies that drive real results. Tom also discusses his revenue model, client acquisition strategies, and the bottlenecks he's working to overcome as he scales his business.

Looking ahead, Tom reveals plans for automation, AI-powered outreach tools, and expanding his sales team to remove himself from daily operations. Whether you're a business owner looking to leverage LinkedIn for lead generation or an entrepreneur navigating growth challenges, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Cheryl Brinkley, the founder and CEO of ITM Coaching Next Level, to discuss her journey from a corporate leader to a full-time entrepreneur and executive coach. Cheryl shares how she discovered her passion for coaching while working in leadership roles and the pivotal moment that led her to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

She dives into the mindset shifts necessary for making this transition, including the challenges of moving from employee to business owner, embracing personal branding, and expanding professional networks. Cheryl also offers valuable insights on leadership, highlighting the importance of emotional intelligence, adaptability, and leveraging diverse perspectives for business success.

Looking ahead to 2025, Cheryl discusses her upcoming initiatives, including her Ignite & Ascend leadership program for mid-career women, her first book, and her continued mission to help leaders develop their full potential. She leaves listeners with essential advice for new founders—prioritizing self-care, avoiding financial pitfalls, and embracing the entrepreneurial journey with patience and resilience.