Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald welcomes Marcie Shelton, founder of Give2Lead to explore her journey of disrupting the traditional event marketing model. Marcie shares the inspiration behind her innovative business, which encourages companies to replace wasteful swag with meaningful donations to local nonprofits in exchange for lead generation.

Marcie discusses the challenges of behavior change among small business owners, her grassroots marketing strategies, and her vision to scale Give2Lead across the United States. She also reflects on the balancing act of running two businesses, being a parent, and staying grounded in gratitude and purpose.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Marcie offers invaluable advice on leveraging free resources, crafting a solid business plan, and building a supportive network. Tune in to hear how Marcie is redefining event marketing and paving the way for a more purposeful approach to community engagement

n this episode of Founders, Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald sits down with Sunita Sinha, a mindset coach and founder of Jijivisha. Sunita shares her inspiring entrepreneurial journey, starting from her early ventures in import/export and boutique yoga instruction to building her current coaching practice.

Sunita discusses the pivotal moments that shaped her career, including a transformative decision during the pandemic to invest in her passion for coaching. She opens up about the challenges she faced in the early stages of her business, such as finding clients, creating systems, and building self-discipline. Sunita emphasizes the importance of commitment, reflection, and listening to one’s inner voice in overcoming obstacles.

The episode also highlights her vision for the future, which includes expanding into group coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements. Sunita shares practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, stressing the value of self-care, journaling, and setting intentional morning routines.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the mindset required for entrepreneurial success and learn actionable steps to build resilience and clarity in their own ventures.

In this insightful episode of the Founders Future podcast, host Joseph Fitzgerald sits down with Grady Teske, founder of  Rising Tides, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, his company's mission, and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Grady shares the story behind Rising Tides, an agency specializing in helping early-stage businesses establish scalable marketing and sales systems. With over eight years of experience in B2B tech, Grady discusses the importance of foundational systems, no-code tools, and AI-driven automations in streamlining operations and enhancing growth potential for businesses.

Key topics covered include:

1. The Challenges of Year One: Grady reflects on his first year of business, including team-building struggles, clarifying his agency’s value proposition, and finding the balance between scaling operations and delivering value to clients.
2. Building Strong Systems: He emphasizes the significance of having a robust organizational structure before investing in marketing efforts and the pitfalls of skipping foundational steps.
3. The Role of AI in Business Growth: Grady highlights how Rising Tides integrates AI to optimize workflows and discusses the transformative potential of AI agents in both large enterprises and SMBs.
4. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Grady encourages new founders to start quickly, embrace failures as learning opportunities, and delegate essential tasks like sales and marketing to focus on product development and refinement.

Grady’s forward-looking perspective on marketing, sales, and technology offers valuable insights for founders looking to scale their ventures in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

In this episode, Hernan, co-founder of Kadre, takes us through the journey of building and scaling the company, which specializes in talent acquisition for technical roles. He shares the personal experiences that led to the company's founding, emphasizing the challenges faced in hiring and the solutions Kadre provides. Hernan discusses how the company initially grew through personal connections and referrals, later expanding their strategy through networking at events and conferences. He also highlights the importance of automating marketing, sales, and hiring processes to save time and enhance efficiency. Throughout the conversation, Hernan underscores the significance of personal branding and tailoring marketing strategies to fit the target market.

In this episode, Laura Skinner interviews Jeff Huckaby, CEO and founder of Versalytix, as he discusses the founding and growth of his company. Jeff shares insights into Versalytix’s unique three-pronged approach to analytics, offering practical strategies for companies looking to leverage data for better decision-making. The conversation covers Versalytix's marketing and sales strategies, focusing on how they ensure they’re delivering tangible value to their customers. Jeff also emphasizes the importance of authenticity in client interactions, the value of trusting expertise, and the necessity of consistent leadership in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. This episode provides a valuable look at how one company has carved a niche in the analytics field, while maintaining a commitment to quality and customer success.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald dives into the entrepreneurial journey of Susan Power, founder and CEO of Power Up Leadership. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Susan shares how her company helps entrepreneurial organizations elevate leadership effectiveness through coaching, training, and talent roadmaps.

Susan reflects on her transition from corporate roles back to entrepreneurship, the lessons learned from her first business, and how she navigates challenges like balancing personal life and business growth. She discusses the importance of patience in building long-term client relationships, the value of trust when growing a team, and how a vivid vision shapes the future of Power Up Leadership.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, Susan's advice on starting small, staying consistent, and embracing leadership development is both inspiring and actionable.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald sits down with Heather Hodges, founder and CEO of Hodges Group International. Heather shares her journey from a corporate career in healthcare organizational development to launching her own business dedicated to leadership development and empowering employee creativity.

She opens up about the challenges of defining her company’s mission, finding her niche, and the importance of loving the work you do as an entrepreneur. Heather also discusses her unique approach to keynote speaking, which incorporates speed painting, and reveals her plans for the future, including growing her leadership training services and expanding into event production through a family-run venture.

Listeners will gain valuable insights on transitioning from a corporate role to entrepreneurship, how to lean into your strengths to build a successful business, and practical advice for turning a concept into reality while maintaining balance.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner sits down with Lyndsay Dowd, the CRO of Intry, to discuss her transition from corporate America to entrepreneurship and her insights into startup leadership. Lyndsay shares her experiences with Intry, a cutting-edge startup utilizing patented software to revolutionize resume technology. Together, they explore the company’s four key offerings, the challenges of crafting an effective go-to-market strategy, and the nuanced importance of handling layoffs with empathy and care.

Lyndsay also provides valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the critical role of feedback, the importance of building a trusted advisory network, and the distinct skill set required for leading in a startup environment. This conversation offers actionable insights for navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship and leading with purpose in today’s fast-changing business landscape.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with SK Vaughn, the CEO of Juniper Marketing, to explore her journey from aspiring entrepreneur to successful business owner. SK shares the story of how her marketing agency quietly evolved over five years, culminating in her bold leap in September 2024 to launch Juniper Marketing full-time.

SK discusses the challenges of balancing a day job while building her business, emphasizing the importance of intentional time management and strategic planning. She opens up about her philosophy on work-life balance, explaining why you can have it all—but not all at once.

Looking ahead, SK highlights her goals for Juniper Marketing in 2025, including a focus on recurring revenue and cultivating long-term client relationships. She explains her unique “quiet marketing” approach, which prioritizes quality over quantity and relies heavily on referrals and relationship-building to create a boutique experience for her niche clients.

SK also shares her perspective on the impact of AI on marketing, emphasizing the need for authenticity and human connection to stand out in an increasingly automated world.

Finally, SK offers valuable advice for fellow founders, urging them to build strong infrastructure, map out exceptional customer journeys, and celebrate small wins to maintain energy and purpose.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Elliott Boll sits down with Galen Bingham, CEO of Kiln Global Coaching and Consulting, to uncover his inspiring journey from corporate executive to leadership strategist. Galen shares how an 18-month developmental assignment at Coca-Cola evolved into an eight-year transformational experience, guiding leaders across the U.S., London, Canada, and Mexico.

Listeners will gain insights into Galen’s unique approach to leadership coaching, including his philosophy that people act for their reasons—not ours—and the importance of aligning goals to unlock discretionary effort. Galen also introduces his groundbreaking program, Vanta Elite, tailored to empower Black corporate senior executives, and reveals his strategies for accelerating growth through curiosity and creative problem-solving.

From navigating initial resistance to driving measurable success, Galen offers actionable advice for entrepreneurs and leaders looking to amplify their impact. Don’t miss this candid conversation packed with lessons on leadership, growth, and the art of building lasting influence.