Founders Future

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.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Alysa (Aleesa) Southall, the founder and CEO of People Partner, to discuss how she is reshaping HR through a project-based, fractional model. Alysa shares her inspiration for launching her business after witnessing HR professionals struggle with burnout and limited resources. She explains how her unique approach helps companies bridge HR gaps without long-term commitments, offering interim support, project-based recruiting, and process development.

Alysa also dives into her biggest go-to-market challenges, from scaling as a solo entrepreneur to balancing client work and business development. She reveals her vision for expansion—creating a full-service HR ecosystem that supports job seekers, HR professionals, and organizations alike. Laura and Alysa discuss the evolving role of HR, the importance of people-first workplace cultures, and how AI and automation could play a role in scaling operations.

If you're an entrepreneur, HR leader, or business owner looking for innovative ways to optimize your HR function, this conversation is packed with insights on growth, efficiency, and the future of work.

In this episode of Founders' Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Michael Phelan, the founder of Go-to-Market Pros, to discuss the challenges and strategies behind effective market entry and demand generation. With a background spanning major consumer brands and B2B SaaS companies, Michael shares insights into why go-to-market strategies often fail and how companies can optimize their approach.

Michael delves into his unique consulting methodology, which includes best-practice studies, demand generation programs, and moderated prospect meetings to drive engagement and sales. He also highlights the importance of identifying performance gaps, simplifying the buyer’s journey, and integrating professional services into SaaS offerings for better adoption.

Throughout the conversation, Michael and Laura explore the evolving landscape of B2B sales, the impact of disengaged buyers, and practical ways to redefine leads based on meaningful interactions rather than outdated metrics. Whether you're a startup founder or a seasoned executive, this episode is packed with actionable insights to refine your go-to-market strategy and accelerate growth.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Bryon Morrison, CEO and co-founder of Proxxy, to discuss the journey behind building Proxxy and how it’s revolutionizing executive leadership for scaling businesses.

Bryon shares his inspiration for creating Proxxy—identifying the gap in small to mid-sized companies where great strategic ideas often get lost in execution. Drawing from his corporate experience, he deconstructed the role of a Chief of Staff and built Proxxy to serve as an "executive multiplier," helping founders turn vision into action seamlessly.

Elliott and Bryon explore the challenges of introducing a new business concept, how Proxxy rebranded its messaging for clarity, and what sets the best leaders apart—simplifying their vision, staying consistent, and following through on commitments.

Bryon also provides insight into Proxxy’s evolving focus: preparing businesses for liquidity events such as mergers, acquisitions, or sales. He emphasizes the importance of long-term preparation to maximize company valuation and highlights the distinction between knowledge and wisdom in making high-impact decisions.

Closing the episode, Bryon shares his biggest advice for founders: Execution is the strategy—success isn't about chasing the next big idea but about ensuring processes, metrics, and teams align with long-term goals.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Alex Ward, the CEO and founder of Automate My Co. Alex shares his unconventional path into entrepreneurship—starting as a bike-powered food delivery worker, becoming the owner of Food Peddler, and ultimately building an automation consulting business.

Alex discusses how his firsthand struggles with inefficiencies led him to master automation tools like Zapier, ManyChat, and Mailparser. He explains how automation not only transformed his own business but became the foundation of Automate My Co., helping other companies streamline operations, save time, and scale effectively.

The conversation explores key challenges in selling automation services, the growing impact of AI on business efficiency, and why founders should audit their workflows before hiring. Whether you’re a startup founder, an operations enthusiast, or simply curious about how automation is revolutionizing small businesses, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Tune in for an inspiring discussion on problem-solving, scaling, and the future of automation!

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with HR Huntsman, founder and president of Leader’s Edge, to explore the journey of building and scaling businesses with a focus on leadership development.

HR shares his entrepreneurial story, from launching his first company at age 28 with passion but little experience to scaling it into a global organization with 200 staff across five countries. Through this journey, he discovered that sustainable growth hinges on developing leaders—an insight that became the foundation of Leader’s Edge.

Throughout the conversation, HR emphasizes the importance of multiplying leadership, shifting mindset from being a business operator to a people developer, and embracing "work-life integration" rather than chasing balance. He also discusses key challenges, including scaling with integrity and adapting leadership strategies to different generations.

Looking ahead, HR reveals exciting plans for 2025, including expanding into government contracts and launching a book on leadership systems. He leaves founders with a powerful takeaway: prioritize 30 minutes of daily thinking time to drive innovation and long-term success.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Jens Thorsen, co-founder of Valhalla Business Advisors, to explore the challenges and strategies behind growing a professional services firm in an industry with notoriously long sales cycles.

Jens shares his journey from leading a regional employee benefits and financial advisory firm to co-founding Valhalla, highlighting the key gaps he saw in the market and how his firm is addressing them. He dives into the complexities of acquiring and retaining clients, the importance of defining a clear target market, and why trust and relationships play a crucial role in their go-to-market strategy.

Laura and Jens also discuss innovative approaches to lead generation, including account mapping, leveraging community-driven events, and experimenting with targeted marketing tactics like webinars and paid ads. Jens reveals the firm's data-driven approach to sales, their focus on thought leadership, and the long-term vision that drives Valhalla's sustainable growth.

In this episode, we sit down with Ty Frankel, founder and coach at LinkedIn Client Lab, to explore his journey from the music industry to building successful marketing and coaching businesses. Ty shares how he transitioned from producing music and running Shutdown Music to launching Madman Agency and LinkedIn League, ultimately creating LinkedIn Client Lab.

Throughout the conversation, Ty reveals his approach to client acquisition, emphasizing the importance of genuine care and curiosity in sales, prioritizing principles over profit, and crafting quantifiable offers that resonate with clients. He also delves into his personal journey of spiritual growth and the challenges of making money in the music industry, offering insights into risk mitigation and the power of building an email list for long-term scalability.

If you're an entrepreneur looking to refine your client acquisition strategy, scale your business, or navigate the challenges of the digital landscape, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Tune in to learn how Ty leverages authenticity, trust, and strategic marketing to drive business success!

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Kit Pang, the founder of Boston Speaks, to discuss his journey from a street performer to building a successful public speaking coaching business. Kit shares insights into helping executives overcome speaking anxiety, the challenges of scaling his company, and the lessons learned from trying too many growth strategies at once.

The conversation dives into key business strategies, including the effectiveness of LinkedIn and Google Ads, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and the ongoing debate between organic and paid marketing. Laura and Kit also explore ways to optimize Boston Speaks’ sales funnel, improve lead generation, and enhance conversion rates. If you're an entrepreneur looking to scale your business while staying focused on what truly works, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

In this episode, we sit down with Tim Bradley, co-founder of Pennant Video, to explore the power of video marketing in sales and branding. Tim shares his journey in the industry, the importance of video in the middle of the funnel, and his Video Marketing Trifecta framework. He dives into how Pennant Video helps B2B brands and agencies craft compelling content that builds relationships and drives conversions.

We also discuss the keys to maintaining momentum in video marketing, leveraging LinkedIn for visibility, and developing a content strategy that resonates with your audience. Whether you’re a business leader, marketer, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights on how to effectively integrate video into your growth strategy.