Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald interviews Chester Elton, co-founder of Culture Works, about his entrepreneurial journey in leadership development and coaching. Elton shares how he and his business partner Adrian Gostic began their careers working at OC Tanner, where they initially wrote books on employee recognition and developed a strong brand around workplace culture. After being constrained by corporate limitations and unable to own their content, they courageously decided to start their own company in 2010, rebranding from "Carrot Works" to "Culture Works" to expand their scope beyond recognition.

A pivotal moment in their journey came when Marshall Goldsmith, a renowned executive coach, mentored Elton and invited him to join the "100 Coaches" group. This opportunity provided Elton with a formal coaching methodology and opened doors to executive coaching. Their business evolved from writing books to speaking, training, and now high-end executive coaching, particularly focusing on C-suite and high-potential leaders. They've been recognized on prestigious lists like Thinkers50 and have developed comprehensive leadership development programs.

Throughout the conversation, Elton emphasizes key lessons from his entrepreneurial path: the importance of enthusiasm, seeking work-life harmony rather than work-life balance, surrounding oneself with good people, and maintaining a grateful, service-oriented mindset. He recommends Clayton Christensen's book "How Will You Measure Your Life" and encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to enjoy their journey, be passionate about their work, and continuously develop meaningful relationships. The episode concludes with Elton's personal mantra: "Be kind, be grateful, and be of service."

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald interviews Josh Noseworthy, founder of Global Conservation Solutions (GCS), a consulting firm specializing in strategy and organizational development for biodiversity-focused organizations. Josh explains how GCS helps NGOs, government agencies, and businesses define success, build roadmaps to achieve it, and monitor their progress, all with the goal of advancing nature conservation.

Josh shares his journey from nonprofit leadership to entrepreneurship, sparked by his time in a leadership program at the University of Cambridge, where he realized the potential for market-driven solutions to address biodiversity challenges. Since its founding in 2019, GCS has worked to bridge the gap between business and conservation, two traditionally opposing forces, to create scalable, impactful solutions.

Josh highlights the unique challenges of pioneering this space, from overcoming the misconception that conservation and business are incompatible to navigating uncharted territory without an existing playbook. Through transparency, trust, and a values-driven approach, he has built a remote, global team dedicated to advancing GCS’s mission.

Looking ahead, Josh sees enormous opportunities in helping businesses better understand their environmental impact and adopt biodiversity-conscious practices. He emphasizes that entrepreneurship requires embracing uncertainty, learning from mistakes, and continuously adapting. For those considering starting their own venture, Josh’s advice is simple: start where you are, learn as you go, and don’t wait for perfect conditions to take the leap.

In this insightful episode of *Founders Future*, host Laura Skinner speaks with Elizabeth Cowper, founder and CEO of We Are Ludo, a company revolutionizing HR by creating modern, inclusive, and well-being-focused workplace cultures. With nearly 30 years of HR experience, including leadership roles in corporate HR across 14 European countries, Elizabeth shares how her passion for fostering thriving, inclusive environments led her to launch her own venture in 2020. 

We Are Ludo offers two primary services: a tech-based Employee Assistance Program (EAP) tailored to modern needs and fractional HR services to help companies build winning cultures. Elizabeth discusses how her company fills gaps left by traditional EAP systems and supports small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that may lack comprehensive HR functions. 

The coversation delves into We Are Ludo’s growth strategies, including content-driven brand building, LinkedIn engagement, and innovative initiatives like “Ludo Lives,” their mini podcast series. Elizabeth also shares her challenges, from pivoting marketing approaches post-COVID to navigating budget constraints in HR investments. 

Elizabeth highlights the importance of data-driven HR strategies, demonstrating how diverse teams and reduced employee churn directly impact profitability. She also reflects on the lessons she’s learned as a founder, emphasizing the need for patience, adaptability, and a willingness to pivot repeatedly. 

This episode offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, HR professionals, and business leaders seeking to create meaningful, measurable change in workplace culture.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald interviews Emil Story, co-founder of the Success Mentor, a recently launched mentorship organization. Emil shares the serendipitous origin of his business, which began when he helped a friend's business contact improve his sales performance. Impressed by the success, Emil and his two long-time accountability partners, Austin and Dave, decided to transform their natural mentoring abilities into a formal business focused on holistic human development.

The podcast delves into the challenges of launching a startup, with Emil candidly discussing the difficulties of balancing their existing careers while building the Success Mentor. Time management, pricing their services, and finding effective marketing channels emerged as significant hurdles. Despite these challenges, the team has grown to six people and established a proof of concept within their first year, launching in January 2024.

Emil explains their organic growth strategy, leveraging social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram, and using tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator to connect with potential clients. Looking ahead, the Success Mentor is developing a mentorship access portal (MAP) that will provide a comprehensive platform for peer and mentor interactions, course content, and quarterly events. Emil's key advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple yet powerful: always be prospecting and consistently return phone calls, emphasizing the importance of responsiveness and relationship-building in business success.

In this episode of "Founders Future," host Laura Skinner welcomes Todd Abbott, the CEO and co-founder of Deliverai, to discuss the innovative solutions his company offers to bridge the gap between marketing and sales. Todd shares his journey from being a COO in various mid and large-cap companies to founding Deliverai, driven by the persistent struggle he observed between marketing and sales teams regarding lead quality. He explains how Deliverai leverages advanced technology to identify individuals actively researching solutions, allowing businesses to focus their marketing efforts on the 10% of the market that is in a buying mindset. Todd emphasizes the importance of hyper-targeted marketing strategies and the need for companies to adapt their approaches to effectively engage these potential customers. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the challenges faced in the go-to-market strategy, the importance of understanding customer needs, and the role of marketing agencies in executing successful campaigns. As Todd outlines the future growth plans for Deliverai, he underscores the significance of building a solid foundation and getting the flywheel of success turning in both agency and enterprise markets.

In this episode of Founders' Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald interviews Liza Voticky, the founder of MXA Talent Solutions, about her entrepreneurial journey and her mission to transform talent acquisition. Drawing from her extensive experience with Coca-Cola and Royal Caribbean, Liza shares how MXA evolved from a passion project into a multifaceted business offering executive search, fractional recruiting support, leadership guidance, and strategic consulting. She discusses the challenges of building her company, from working solo in the early days to managing team dynamics and adapting to market fluctuations. Liza also introduces the upcoming Recruitment Maturity Index, a groundbreaking tool designed to help companies assess and improve their recruitment strategies. With a vision to change the global perception of talent acquisition, she emphasizes the importance of foundational beliefs, strong leadership, and aligning actions with values. Liza’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to pursue what they love, embrace challenges, and remain resilient while staying true to their mission. Packed with practical insights and inspiration, this episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and talent professionals alike.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald interviews Sue Ellen Sweeney, founder of Sue Ellen and Hope, a transformational life coaching practice dedicated to helping young families and parents create healthy, thriving family lives. Drawing from her experience raising six children and her background in nursing and mental health, Sue Ellen discusses how she transitioned into coaching to address the need for proactive, holistic support for parents. She shares the challenges she faced in launching her own program, from mastering marketing and technology to overcoming personal obstacles like battling cancer while running her business. Sue Ellen emphasizes her mission to help parents break generational cycles, embrace new paradigms of parenting, and design family lives aligned with their values. Looking ahead, she envisions growing her impact by building strong client relationships, fostering supportive communities, and leveraging digital platforms to reach more families. This episode highlights Sue Ellen's inspiring journey and offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and those passionate about making a difference.

In this episode of *Founders, Future*, host Joe Fitzgerald welcomes Kim Reynolds, the founder of AI Advantage Agency, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and the innovative use of AI in marketing. Kim shares the inspiration behind her agency, which aims to leverage AI technology to not only streamline operations but also reduce costs for clients. With a background that includes seven years at Social Media Examiner and a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship, Kim reveals the spark that led her to start AI Advantage Agency. She emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in the marketing landscape and reflects on her experiences as a long-time entrepreneur. Listeners will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into business strategies, as well as Kim's vision for the future of marketing. Join us for a fascinating conversation that explores the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald sits down with Peter Attfield, founder of The Inflection Point, a consulting firm focused on strategic HR, leadership development, and organizational transformation. With over 46 years of corporate experience across 10 countries and 85 markets, Peter shares how he transitioned from a distinguished global career to building his entrepreneurial venture.

Peter discusses his motivations for starting The Inflection Point after decades in finance, consulting, and HR. The conversation highlights his strategic focus on four key areas: consulting, executive education, advisory boards, and interim management. He shares the challenges of establishing his personal brand, expanding his network, and crafting a unique value proposition in a highly competitive market.

Listeners gain insights into Peter's approach to consulting, where he aims to be the "anti-consultant," focusing on empowering clients with sustainable solutions rather than cookie-cutter methodologies. He also emphasizes the importance of resilience, self-care, and adaptability in navigating the entrepreneurial journey.

Looking forward, Peter outlines ambitious plans for The Inflection Point, including scaling through partnerships, expanding his executive education engagements, and exploring advisory board opportunities. His vision for 2025 includes building a network of like-minded associates to tackle complex projects collaboratively.

This episode offers an inspiring and candid look at the entrepreneurial journey of a seasoned professional, packed with actionable lessons for anyone considering a leap into consulting or portfolio entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner interviews Sarah Ahmad, founder and CEO of DeSoul, a growing tech company from Lahore, Pakistan. Sarah shares her journey from being a computer science student and Microsoft ambassador to building a 30-person company specializing in web applications, SaaS products, and digital form solutions for industries like healthcare, e-commerce, and insurance.

Sarah recounts how her early experiences in freelancing, offering services on platforms like Fiverr, evolved into a fully-fledged business. Her dedication to quality and long-term client relationships has been the cornerstone of DeSoul's success, serving over 4,000 clients worldwide. She discusses her strategic approach to growth, focusing on calculated risks, maintaining a high employee retention rate, and creating a culture of collaboration with her co-founder and husband.

The conversation delves into DeSoul’s go-to-market challenges, including transitioning from freelancing platforms to a more structured inbound and outbound marketing strategy. Sarah highlights the importance of founder involvement in mastering processes like lead generation before scaling with external hires. She shares her plans for steady growth, aiming to expand the team while maintaining her company’s values and focus on employee well-being.

Sarah offers actionable advice for entrepreneurs: embrace consistency, network actively, learn to delegate effectively, and stay motivated despite challenges. Her inspiring story is a testament to the power of perseverance, calculated risk-taking, and women’s leadership in tech.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration from a self-made founder breaking barriers and scaling sustainably in the global tech space.