In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Marc Zirka, CEO of Strategy Up, to explore his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he faced, and the strategies that have fueled his company’s growth.

Marc shares how his background in the telecom industry and consulting shaped his approach to business, emphasizing the importance of thinking like an entrepreneur—even as an employee. He recounts the early days of founding Strategy Up, the unforeseen impact of COVID-19, and the strategic pivots that helped his company survive a six-month revenue drought.

From managing cash flow during crises to leveraging partnerships for growth, Marc provides invaluable insights into sustaining and scaling a business. He also discusses his expansion into international markets, including Saudi Arabia and the U.S., and offers his top piece of advice for founders: stay focused and persistent.

 In this episode of Founders, Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Christine Herring, CEO and co-founder of Herring Seminars & Consulting and Flexcom. Christine shares her journey of creating a communication assessment tool designed to help individuals and organizations enhance their communication effectiveness.

She dives into the inspiration behind Flexcom, explaining how traditional assessment tools didn’t quite fit her needs—leading her to develop a unique, research-backed framework using four communication styles: Ladybug, Grasshopper, Caterpillar, and Ant. Christine discusses how her business supports both individuals and companies by helping them understand their communication strengths and flex into other styles for better collaboration and leadership.

She also opens up about her entrepreneurial journey, including the challenges of visibility, the importance of intentional outreach, and the power of referrals in business growth. Christine shares her sales strategy—reaching out to five people a day—and how shifting her focus to income-producing activities significantly increased her business opportunities.

Additionally, she talks about her new book, My Jukebox: A Mental Playlist for Inclusive Leaders, which blends leadership insights with the power of music to help individuals shape their mindset and communication approach.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Adam Sharrow, founder and principal of Process Pro Consulting, to dive into the world of HubSpot consulting and scalable growth strategies. Adam shares his journey from working in finance and accounting to launching a specialized HubSpot consulting firm in 2018.

The conversation explores how Process Pro Consulting helps businesses optimize their CRM, implement data-driven reporting, and achieve long-term efficiency. Adam discusses the challenges of scaling a service-based business, the importance of strategic marketing, and why word-of-mouth referrals, while valuable, aren't always predictable for sustained growth. He also outlines his company’s current focus on refining its go-to-market strategy, leveraging LinkedIn, content marketing, and eventually paid ads.

Additionally, Adam and Laura explore industry trends, the increasing demand for specialized expertise, and how businesses can position themselves for long-term success by building a reporting culture and tracking key metrics. Whether you're a founder, marketer, or revenue operations leader, this episode offers valuable insights on building sustainable growth in the modern business landscape.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Beau Groover, founder of aThe Effective Syndicate specializing in the manufacturing sector. Beau shares his journey from corporate burnout to entrepreneurship, reflecting on the past 10 years of building a successful business that helps manufacturing leaders improve efficiency, communication, and team dynamics.

They dive deep into the challenges of selling to a hard-to-reach audience—manufacturing executives who aren’t easily found online—leading to discussions on referral-based growth, social media outreach, and the power of trust in business relationships. Beau also opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the relentless nature of sales, and the mindset needed to thrive in both.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with John Chen, CEO of Engaging Virtual Meetings, to explore his entrepreneurial journey from aspiring pro skateboarder to tech innovator and virtual meeting expert. John shares how a career-ending injury led him to a decade at Microsoft, his leap into entrepreneurship, and the creation of a global team-building business.

He discusses the impact of the pandemic on his company and how he pivoted to virtual engagement, ultimately writing a bestselling book in just nine weeks. John reveals the secrets behind making virtual and hybrid meetings truly engaging, leveraging cutting-edge technology to revolutionize the industry.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll welcomes Stephanie Smith, founder of The Grind Marketing Collective. Stephanie shares her bold journey from being a VP of Marketing in the heavy equipment industry to launching her own agency. She dives into the early challenges of entrepreneurship, from navigating rapid growth to hiring the right team, all while staying true to her mission of elevating marketing for blue-collar industries.

Stephanie offers invaluable insights on leadership, financial acumen, and the power of “Who, Not How”—emphasizing the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people rather than trying to do everything alone. She also unpacks how AI and emerging tech are shaping marketing strategies in traditionally underserved sectors like construction and heavy equipment.

With a focus on going deep rather than wide, Stephanie discusses her 2025 goals: refining her team’s ability to execute at a high level, building scalable client strategies, and expanding her impact beyond retainers—potentially through peer groups, educational tracks, and even a podcast of her own.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Julie Flowers, CEO and founder of Elevate YOU Coaching. Julie shares her inspiring journey from a three-decade career in corporate America to launching her own coaching business. She discusses the challenges of transitioning to entrepreneurship, from adjusting to an unstructured work environment to managing all aspects of a business solo.

Julie dives into her passion for coaching seasoned career women, highlighting common struggles like owning their worth, articulating their value, and finding authenticity in leadership. She also offers insights on work-life balance, the power of intentional decision-making, and how AI plays a role in her thought process.

As she looks ahead, Julie reveals her ambitious goals, including expanding her business, launching new coaching programs, and working toward a TED Talk and book. Her advice for founders? Stay true to yourself, trust your journey, and believe in your ability to succeed.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Haley Carpenter, the founder of Chirpy, a conversion rate optimization agency. Haley shares her journey from working in a male-dominated industry to carving out her own path as an entrepreneur. She discusses the pivotal moment that led her to start Chirpy, the challenges of balancing sales and marketing as a solo founder, and the lessons learned along the way.

Haley also dives into her ambitious 2025 goal of turning Chirpy into a $1M brand, detailing the major rebranding efforts and strategic shifts she’s implementing. She highlights the importance of persistence, finding the right mentor or coach, and filtering advice to stay focused on your vision.

This conversation is packed with insights for early-stage founders navigating growth, branding, and positioning in a competitive space. Whether you're building an agency, launching a startup, or looking to refine your business strategy, Haley’s experience offers valuable takeaways.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Cara Gray, founder of Good Morning Freedom and a Third Act Consultant, to explore how entrepreneurs and professionals can navigate life after their main careers. Cara shares her personal journey, inspired by her father's struggles post-business exit, and how she built a consulting practice to help others craft purposeful, fulfilling lives beyond retirement.

From networking challenges to building strategic partnerships, Cara offers insights on growing a business without the traditional pressure to scale. She also discusses the power of AI for solopreneurs, the role of community in exit planning, and her strategies for creating an "Ideal End State"—a concept that helps founders design their businesses around the life they truly want.

Tune in to hear an inspiring conversation on reinventing success, embracing new ventures, and making the most of your Third Act.

In this episode, host Laura Skinner sits down with Shauna Smith, founder of Marketing Muse, to discuss her journey in scaling a business strategically while maintaining balance. After taking a hiatus to rethink her approach, Shauna shares how she is now focused on building sustainable growth through webinars, paid ads, and automation.

She opens up about the challenges of running a business solo, the importance of predictable lead generation, and why startups often misallocate funding. Shauna also breaks down her ambitious plan to scale her company to seven figures, including hiring key team members, launching courses, and leveraging financing options.

With a candid and insightful conversation, this episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs looking to grow their business without burning out.