In this episode of Founders, Future by Closersio, host Laura Skinner sits down with Neil Katz, the CEO and founder of Exceptional HR. Neil shares his accidental journey into the world of fractional HR services and how he discovered a gap in the market that led to the creation of his business. Over the past four years, Exceptional HR has grown from a solo operation to a thriving team of 22, offering fractional HR solutions to companies of all sizes.

Neil explains the concept of fractional HR, where his company provides tailored HR support for businesses, covering everything from recruitment and employee relations to compliance and payroll. The goal is to give CEOs and business leaders more time to focus on their core functions by outsourcing these time-consuming tasks.

In addition, Neil dives into the strategies driving Exceptional HR’s growth, including leveraging podcast appearances, networking, and strategic partnerships. He emphasizes the importance of building trust with clients and how referral business plays a critical role in expanding the company. He also reveals key lessons learned in scaling, such as the importance of hiring a sales team earlier, working through the learning curve with sales reps, and perfecting their proposal process to increase close rates.

Looking ahead, Neil shares his plans to introduce new services, including HR project management support and a bundled package for transitioning HR leaders. His vision is to continue scaling and offering even more value to businesses in need of expert HR support.

n this episode of Founders Future, host Joe Fitzgerald sits down with Scott Shute, the founder of Changing Work, a nonprofit organization focused on bringing mindfulness, compassion, and conscious business practices to the workplace. Scott shares his journey from being an executive at LinkedIn, where he was the head of mindfulness and compassion, to founding Changing Work with the mission of changing work from the inside out.

Scott discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity and values while growing a business, particularly when it comes to marketing, scaling, and creating a community-driven organization. He reveals the internal shift he experienced when transitioning from a for-profit to a nonprofit model, and how this change has allowed him to align his work with his values.

The conversation dives deep into the importance of conscious leadership, the balance between ambition and inner peace, and how entrepreneurs must remain true to their beliefs in a world often driven by financial constraints. Scott also explores the value of community and best practices in creating a more conscious workforce, as well as the challenges and growth strategies that come with scaling an organization authentically.

In this inspiring episode of Founders Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Vincent Edwards, the CEO of Empire Builders, to explore his remarkable entrepreneurial journey. From his early days in financials and mortgages to his pivot into consulting and capital raising, Vincent shares the pivotal moments that led to the creation of Empire Builders. Over the past decade, he has raised over $100 million for startups and founders, helping countless entrepreneurs achieve their growth goals.

Vincent dives deep into the challenges he faced along the way, including the tough lessons he learned in the early days of his mortgage business and the balance of leadership. He shares one of the most valuable lessons he’s learned about leadership — that it’s not about titles but about motivating, educating, and guiding a team towards success. As he discusses the misconceptions surrounding entrepreneurship, Vincent emphasizes the importance of commitment, long hours, and the sacrifices necessary to succeed.

Looking ahead, Vincent reveals his plans for growth, including the creation of the Empire Builders Foundation and the launch of EB Ventures, an investment platform designed to connect founders with investors. His mission now extends beyond financial success, as he seeks to build a legacy and give back to underserved communities by fostering entrepreneurship among marginalized groups.

In this episode, Vincent offers invaluable advice for aspiring founders, encouraging them to jump in, take risks, and enjoy the ride. Tune in for powerful insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and building a lasting empire.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald sits down with Jan Trautwein, co-founder of Coliberate Ventures, to discuss his journey from physics student to entrepreneur. Jan shares how his career evolved from tech startups to personal coaching and, ultimately, to founding Coliberate Ventures with his partner Diara. Together, they help independent consultants refine their offerings and implement smart lead-generation strategies to scale their businesses.

The conversation dives into the challenges of transitioning from employee to entrepreneur, overcoming identity shifts, and battling self-sabotage. Jan also shares insights into navigating a business and life partnership, managing work-life balance, and staying aligned with personal values.

Listeners will gain practical advice on leveraging existing skills to start a business, why productized consulting is a game-changer, and how to make meaningful contributions to industries that resonate with their values.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Elliott Boll welcomes Yogesh Chavda, founder of Y2S Consulting, to discuss his journey from a corporate career to launching his own consulting business. Yogesh shares the inspiration behind founding his practice in 2014 after spending over 20 years in the corporate world with companies like Procter & Gamble, Amway, and Kimberly-Clark. He recounts the early challenges of starting from scratch, including learning how to set up infrastructure, handle legalities, and master business development.

Yogesh dives into the importance of finding a "swim lane" to stand out in a competitive market and how he struggled initially to differentiate himself. He shares valuable insights into the marketing and consulting industry, explaining the challenges of pricing services and competing with large firms like McKinsey. He also touches on the need for building reputation and trust through strategic branding and content creation.

Yogesh highlights his approach to business development, including his active presence on LinkedIn, a consistent newsletter, and starting his podcast series, all aimed at positioning himself as a thought leader in AI and market research. Additionally, he discusses how his work with the University of South Carolina has helped him connect with students and elevate his personal and professional brand.

In the latter part of the episode, Yogesh talks about the next big priority for his business, focusing on AI tools and how they can be leveraged by companies to differentiate themselves. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication of benefits over features and his goal of expanding his team by hiring fresh talent from universities.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joe Fitzgerald sits down with Dr. Darren Vetter, founder of Vetter Business Processes, to explore his journey as a multifaceted entrepreneur. Dr. Vetter shares insights into his consulting ventures, his involvement with Career Coach, and his family-run development company. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Vetter emphasizes the importance of research, organization, and networking when launching and scaling a business.

Key discussion points include:

1. Balancing multiple ventures: Dr. Vetter discusses how he juggles Better Business Processes, Career Coach, and his development company, and how his upbringing in a family business shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.
2. Starting smart: From registering businesses to securing insurance, Dr. Vetter highlights the critical steps often overlooked by new entrepreneurs.
3. Growth strategies: Leveraging platforms like LinkedIn Marketplace and Twitter to attract clients, and the future plans for his business, including hiring interns and diversifying services.
4. Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: Practical tips on researching, organizing, and funding a business idea, and why patience is key to success.

The episode concludes with Dr. Vetter’s vision for Better Business Processes and his emphasis on building a team with diverse skills to create a dynamic and successful business.

Listeners can connect with Dr. Vetter on LinkedIn for more insights into his journey and services. Tune in for actionable advice and inspiration for your entrepreneurial path.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald sits down with Candyce Edelen, co-founder of Propel Growth, to discuss her inspiring entrepreneurial journey. Candyce shares how her company evolved from a consultancy for financial services to a LinkedIn-focused prospecting and training powerhouse.

She opens up about pivotal moments, including her transition to serving the commercial real estate industry, navigating the challenges of COVID-19, and adapting to a fast-changing marketplace. Candyce offers a candid look at her partnership with her husband, highlighting how they balance their professional and personal lives while managing the financial risks of entrepreneurship.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into overcoming feast-or-famine cycles, leveraging thought leadership to rise above market noise, and building genuine, human-to-human connections in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Stay tuned for actionable tips, free resources, and a glimpse into the future of sales and marketing.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joe Fitzgerald sits down with Rich Horwath, founder of the Strategic Thinking Institute and a renowned expert in helping leaders think, plan, and act strategically. Over the past 23 years, Rich has worked with companies like Google, FedEx, and Intel, as well as emerging startups, sharing actionable frameworks for business success.

Rich recounts the early days of launching his company, the pivotal moment of inspiration that led him to create tools for individual leaders to develop strategic skills, and how he transitioned from a full-time role to entrepreneurship. He also delves into the challenges he faced in defining his customer base and building credibility in a highly abstract field.

Listeners will gain insights into the evolution of the Strategic Thinking Institute, Rich's creative approach to communicating strategy—including a graphic novel featuring "Strategy Man"—and his vision of empowering millions to think strategically, no matter their profession or stage in life.

Rich also shares timeless advice for entrepreneurs, including the importance of capturing insights, staying adaptive, and leading with empathy. Tune in to discover practical ways to set direction, create value, and maximize performance in both business and life.

n this episode of Founders Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Cameron Herold, founder of the COO Alliance and a global expert on scaling businesses. Cameron shares the compelling story of how he recognized a gap in the market for second-in-command leaders and built the COO Alliance to support these often-overlooked executives.

The conversation delves into the unique dynamics of the COO role, debunking common misconceptions and exploring how it differs based on the CEO's strengths and needs. Cameron offers invaluable insights into why title inflation can lead to frustration and misalignment within organizations and provides advice for properly structuring leadership roles.

Cameron also discusses the global expansion of the COO Alliance, his strategy for attracting members from around the world, and the importance of fostering diverse perspectives to navigate the evolving business landscape.

In a powerful mic-drop moment, Cameron offers advice to founders: "None of this matters. We're just walking each other home." He emphasizes the importance of bringing energy, humanity, and care to leadership and shares how this mindset has transformed organizations like Sprint under his guidance.

This episode is a masterclass in leadership, collaboration, and growth. Don’t miss Cameron’s actionable wisdom and thought-provoking perspective on business and life.

In this episode of Founders, Future by Closersio, host Joseph Fitzgerald welcomes Margo Spilde, the visionary founder of Empower Her Wealth. This inspiring conversation delves into Margo’s entrepreneurial journey, from the inception of her business to its current success, and her ambitions for the future.

Margo shares the challenges she faced while building Empower Her Wealth, her strategies for empowering women in the financial world, and the driving forces behind her mission. The discussion highlights key lessons in resilience, leadership, and innovation that will resonate with aspiring entrepreneurs and established business leaders alike.

Listeners will also get an exclusive glimpse into Margo’s future plans for her company and her insights on how to create meaningful impact through business.

Tune in for an episode filled with inspiration, practical advice, and a celebration of entrepreneurial spirit.