Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner chats with Alex Feltwell, CEO and co-founder of Atomize, a consultancy revolutionizing the FinTech space with its agile, value-driven approach to program delivery. Alex shares how his frustration with the inefficiencies and poor delivery of tech projects inspired the creation of Atomize, a company focused on collaboration, transparency, and enabling teams to solve problems effectively.

Alex reflects on Atomize’s journey since its founding in October 2022. Despite a challenging start, including a financial setback with a partner company, Atomize pivoted quickly, establishing a delivery team in India within five months and achieving rapid growth to nearly 40 employees in just two years. The company’s approach centers on delivering early value, offering clients "no-handcuff" agreements, and letting their work speak for itself.

The conversation highlights Atomize’s evolving go-to-market strategy, including a recent rebrand that clarified its message and significantly improved outreach success. Alex discusses the importance of lead diversification, blending channels such as word of mouth, paid media, and cold outreach to drive awareness and growth. He also shares how the company plans to scale strategically by hiring a business development lead to build processes and expand into new sectors beyond FinTech.

Alex offers candid advice for founders, emphasizing the value of co-founders for support and accountability, the importance of agility in business, and the need to focus on delivering value to customers from day one.

This episode is an inspiring and practical resource for entrepreneurs navigating startup challenges and striving to build scalable, customer-focused businesses.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald talks with Koen Van Gulck, founder of The School of Strategy, about his mission to transform workplace culture and enhance leadership effectiveness. With over 37 years of business experience, Koen explains how his passion for improving workplace environments and implementing meaningful strategies led to the creation of his consulting firm.

Koen shares how The School of Strategy addresses three interconnected pillars: personal strategy, business strategy, and workplace culture. He emphasizes the importance of aligning these elements to create thriving organizations and reduce issues like employee burnout. Drawing from his own leadership journey, Koen highlights the growing need for cultural transformation in Europe and the role of leadership self-awareness in shaping a healthy work environment.

The discussion delves into Koen’s entrepreneurial challenges, including finding clients and building trust in a competitive consulting market. He shares insights on leveraging webinars, newsletters, and free educational sessions to establish a presence and create meaningful connections with potential clients.

Looking ahead, Koen discusses his plans to scale The School of Strategy by building a network of like-minded professionals and addressing the increasing demand for workplace transformation services. He also explores emerging trends like hybrid work models, the rise of freelancing, and the evolving expectations of a multi-generational workforce.

This episode offers actionable takeaways for leaders, consultants, and entrepreneurs seeking to drive impactful change in workplace culture and beyond.

In this episode of Founders Future, Laura Skinner interviews Dan Rua, CEO and co-founder of Admiral, a company revolutionizing how media publishers build relationships with their audiences. Dan shares his journey from venture capitalist to entrepreneur, driven by insights gained from his time at Grooveshark. He discusses how Admiral evolved from addressing ad-block losses to pioneering Visitor Relationship Management (VRM), a holistic approach to improving user engagement, privacy compliance, and revenue generation.

Dan explains Admiral’s multi-module approach, likening it to Hubspot, where media publishers can adopt individual modules for tasks like email capture, ad-block recovery, subscriptions, and privacy consent before scaling up. He also highlights the company’s efficient go-to-market strategies, blending outbound outreach with a data-driven approach using a free tagging tool that identifies pain points for potential clients.

With a recently secured $19 million growth round, Dan outlines Admiral’s plans to scale, improve automation, and complement outbound strategies with targeted inbound marketing. This episode is a masterclass in scaling SaaS businesses, building enduring customer relationships, and navigating startup challenges.

In this episode of *Founders Future*, host Joseph Fitzgerald interviews Greg Williamson, co-founder of *Your Growth Company*. Greg shares the journey behind his company, which helps entrepreneurs streamline operations and scale through a three-pronged approach. The first arm, *The Savvy Method*, focuses on personal development and leadership coaching to help business owners optimize routines and maintain purpose. The second, the *Laboo Platform*, offers an all-in-one CRM and marketing automation tool to simplify operations and save time. Finally, their lead-generation program leverages podcasts and networks to help businesses acquire clients more effectively. 

Greg discusses early challenges, including time constraints with one-on-one coaching, and how transitioning to group sessions allowed for scalability while fostering collaboration among clients. He also emphasizes the importance of work-life balance, advocating for regular self-assessments to monitor progress across personal and professional goals. Looking ahead, Greg outlines his vision to empower 1,000 purpose-driven entrepreneurs, leveraging technology, AI, and automation to provide accessible tools and resources. His advice for aspiring founders underscores the value of mentorship, accountability, and surrounding oneself with individuals who inspire growth. 

In this inspiring episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner welcomes Bereket Taffese, the CEO and founder of G-Media Studios. Bereket shares his extraordinary journey, from studying civil engineering in Ethiopia to building one of the country's most innovative and successful creative agencies.

G-Media Studios was born from Bereket’s early passion for creativity and problem-solving. Starting as a solo marketing project for a local company, Bereket's work quickly gained recognition, landing a groundbreaking collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines. This success propelled the launch of G-Media, which has now grown into a team of 15, delivering world-class branding, animation, and marketing solutions to clients both locally and internationally.

Bereket discusses the challenges of scaling a creative agency in a market that initially undervalued marketing's strategic importance. He reflects on the transformative impact of maintaining high-quality standards, even when it posed early obstacles. This dedication has paid off as Ethiopia's evolving market now prioritizes competitive, standout marketing—a shift that has solidified G-Media's position as a leader in the space.

The conversation also explores Bereket’s insights into overcoming entrepreneurial challenges, including the importance of delegation, training, and team-building. His advice for founders focuses on embracing the art of delegation, finding the right partners, and preparing for the inevitable transitions that come with nurturing talent.

This episode is a powerful story of resilience, vision, and creativity, offering inspiration for entrepreneurs and creatives navigating competitive markets and striving for sustainable growth.

In this dynamic episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner welcomes Wendy Harris, a seasoned sales leader, executive coach, and leadership expert, to share her incredible career journey and the principles behind her success. Wendy takes listeners through her rise from a Goldman Sachs trader to leadership roles in tech giants like Facebook, Dropbox, and CarGurus, culminating in her role as Gong’s first European employee, where she scaled the team to 80 and grew revenue to $25 million.

Wendy offers a candid look at the challenges and triumphs of leading in high-stakes environments, including creating a category for revenue intelligence and building "all-star" teams from scratch. She dives into the critical traits of great leadership, emphasizing courage, accountability, and fostering a balance between excellence and fun. Wendy’s philosophy, centered on empowering teams while maintaining high standards, has become the foundation for her current endeavors.

The conversation shifts to Wendy's post-Gong journey, where she is channeling her expertise into writing a book, launching a podcast, and consulting revenue leaders. Her upcoming book focuses on helping individuals and teams recognize and maximize their value, tackling topics like negotiation, leadership, and creating winning workplace cultures.

Wendy also shares insights into her passion for coaching leaders, her plans for a podcast dedicated to courageous leadership, and her work with top companies like Google and Dell. Her practical advice for founders includes hiring for excellence, maintaining high standards, and fostering a culture of ownership and accountability.

This episode is a masterclass in leadership, career growth, and creating a positive impact, offering inspiration for anyone seeking to lead with courage and build a thriving team.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Laura Skinner interviews Avinav Nigam, the founder of Turn, a groundbreaking startup addressing the global healthcare worker shortage. Nigam shares his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting how Turn is solving a critical problem by connecting healthcare professionals from countries with oversupply (like India and the Philippines) to markets experiencing severe workforce shortages, such as the UK and Germany.

Nigam discusses the inspiration behind Turn, rooted in personal experiences and the massive global challenge of healthcare worker recruitment. The platform leverages AI technology to screen and match healthcare professionals, currently serving half a million candidates and covering approximately 12% of India's healthcare workforce. The company has already achieved impressive milestones, generating nearly $10 million in annual revenue and operating in four countries, with plans to expand.

The interview delves deep into the challenges of entering the healthcare recruitment market, particularly the complex regulatory environment, conservative nature of healthcare systems, and intricate sales processes. Nigam explains how Turn navigates these challenges by understanding government intentions, aligning with healthcare system objectives, and developing innovative revenue models. He emphasizes the importance of creating proof cases, building relationships, and gradually transitioning clients from traditional recruitment methods to a more technology-driven platform approach.

Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Nigam shares key insights for founders, stressing the critical importance of resilience, surrounding oneself with mission-driven team members, and the ability to compellingly articulate a vision for the future. He candidly discusses the difficulties of building Turn, describing it as the hardest yet most fulfilling journey of his career, while maintaining an optimistic and purpose-driven perspective on solving significant global challenges.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Joe Fitzgerald sits down with Thomas Scaria, an entrepreneur who shares his inspiring journey from the early days of his business to the present. Thomas opens up about the pivotal moment when he decided to pursue entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs he encountered along the way. With a focus on the future, he discusses the strategies driving his company's growth and the vision he has for its expansion.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the entrepreneurial process, the importance of perseverance, and the key decisions that shape the success of startups. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes of growing a business, this episode offers an inside look into the mind of a forward-thinking innovator.

In this episode of *Founders Future*, Joseph Fitzgerald sits down with Rob Devany, co-founder of *Your Coach*, a health and fitness platform dedicated to breaking down barriers to better health. Rob shares the mission behind *Your Coach*: providing accessible tools and connections to help people achieve their fitness goals, whether they lack time, money, or knowledge. The platform serves both individuals seeking guidance and personal trainers looking for clients, creating a supportive and collaborative ecosystem.

Rob discusses the challenges of launching a bootstrapped startup in a saturated market and shares lessons learned, including the importance of personal, genuine outreach over paid advertising. He emphasizes the value of prioritizing quality engagement with clients and trainers to build a trusted network.

The conversation shifts to the importance of maintaining work-life balance as a founder. Rob reflects on the conscious steps he takes to prioritize self-care and avoid burnout, ensuring a sustainable approach to both personal and professional growth.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Joseph Fitzgerald interviews Tammy Sharp and Chris Zamora, founders of Law Enforcement Coaching, a company dedicated to the mental and emotional well-being of law enforcement officers, first responders, and their families. Tammy, drawing from her background as the daughter of a sheriff, and Chris, a retired officer with 23 years of service, created a culturally competent coaching model to address the unique challenges of the profession. They discuss the evolution of their business, from its inception in 2019 to overcoming significant challenges, including a near loss of intellectual property, and rebuilding with a loyal and experienced team. Their services, offered directly to individuals and agencies, focus on a proactive, holistic approach, blending law enforcement expertise with wellness techniques. Looking ahead, they plan to expand through new training programs and the launch of a sister company, Duty Driven Consulting, to support purpose-driven professionals across industries. This inspiring episode highlights their passion for creating lasting impact while sharing valuable lessons on trust, resilience, and sustainable growth.