Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, Katie Dirrig joins the show to share her journey from a 15-year career in social work to co-founding Rooted Business Foundations, a comprehensive business support company serving women, LGBTQ+, and underserved entrepreneurs. Drawing from her background in nonprofit leadership and real estate, Katie explains how a series of intentional pivots led her to build a one-stop-shop model that helps founders move from burnout to sustainable growth.**

Katie breaks down how Rooted Business Foundations supports entrepreneurs at every stage—from idea validation to team expansion—through customized audits, administrative systems, marketing support, and coaching. The conversation explores relationship-driven client acquisition, navigating inconsistent revenue cycles, thoughtful use of paid ads, and the challenge of stepping out of client work into true leadership. Katie also shares her long-term vision of building a values-aligned, community-centered ecosystem that prioritizes impact, collaboration, and financial empowerment over competition.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we dive into the founder journey of Tianna Mamalick, the visionary behind SMB Marketing School, a digital marketing agency and training platform focused on helping small and medium-sized businesses grow through SEO and paid advertising strategies. Tianna shares how her decade-plus experience in SEO shaped her decision to launch an agency built around clarity, simplification, and measurable growth — prioritizing high-intent, low-competition keywords and strategic paid campaigns that drive real business results.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we sit down with Jordan Behan, founder of Narrate Creative, a Vancouver-based agency helping C-suite leaders build influence and credibility on LinkedIn through clear, consistent thought leadership. Jordan shares his career journey from traditional media and software startups to leading social and content teams at major platforms, and how those experiences shaped his shift toward a highly focused, productized agency model.

Throughout the conversation, Jordan breaks down his done-for-you approach to executive content creation, explaining how recording short, structured conversations allows founders to show up authentically on LinkedIn without spending hours creating content. He discusses the importance of systems, SOPs, and repeatable processes for scaling while maintaining quality, as well as his views on personal branding, organic growth, and long-term sustainability for service-based businesses.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we sit down with Erik Schmaedeke, owner and head coach of CrossFit Salvo, to explore his 15+ year journey in the fitness industry. Erik shares how he transitioned from a finance career during the 2008 financial crisis into personal training, eventually opening a CrossFit gym rooted in community, human connection, and long-term lifestyle transformation.

Throughout the conversation, Erik breaks down his in-person training model, youth athletic development programs, and online nutrition coaching, while reflecting on the realities of running a gym through industry shifts, personal challenges, and team changes. He opens up about leadership, delegation, and the importance of returning to fundamentals—both in fitness and business—highlighting his focus on delivering deeper value to members rather than chasing scale at all costs.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Olivia Sammons sits down with Saar Markovic, a self-inquiry guide and former Krav Maga and boxing coach whose work helps people slow down, ask better questions, and reconnect with who they truly are beneath roles, expectations, and external pressure.

Saar shares his unconventional journey—from running a self-defense and boxing gym to experiencing burnout, misalignment, and a loss of clarity that forced him to confront deeper internal patterns. While working with fighters and civilians alike, he realized that the most impactful part of his work wasn’t physical training, but mindset, identity, and consciousness.

This realization led Saar into deep personal exploration through therapy, shadow work, meditation, spirituality, and embodied practices. Through that process, he discovered his true calling: teaching people about themselves. Today, Saar works one-on-one with individuals to uncover unconscious patterns, dissolve limiting fears, and interrupt the cycles that keep recreating the same outcomes in relationships, work, and life.

IIn this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we dive deep with Charlie Sells, founder of Clarity Over Everything, as he breaks down his unconventional journey from pastor and corporate marketing strategist into a founder dedicated to helping business owners get clarity in their brand and marketing. Charlie candidly shares how over 15 years of experience simplifying brand messaging and strategy led him to launch Clarity Over Everything—where he partners with solopreneurs, small business owners, and marketing teams to cut through confusion and build messaging that actually connects and converts. 

The conversation unpacks how Charlie helps clients through audits, one-day clarity sprints, and longer strategic engagements, and why clarity—more than flashy tactics—is the foundation for sustainable growth. He also talks openly about the challenges of lead generation, the role of referrals and partnerships in his business, and his evolving strategy this year toward repeatable systems and potentially paid acquisition as he balances personalized service with intentional growth. 

In this episode of Founders Future, host Olivia Sammons sits down with Ryan Parshall, founder of Axit Merges & Acquisitions, for a candid conversation about building businesses with the end in mind. Ryan walks through his three-chapter entrepreneurial journey—from corporate roles to founding and scaling a digital marketing agency, selling it successfully in 2018, and transitioning into mergers, acquisitions, and founder coaching—bringing insights shaped by working with thousands of agencies and service-based businesses.

Rather than focusing only on the sale itself, Ryan explains why the strongest exits are built years in advance. He breaks down the metrics buyers actually care about, why branding and positioning now play a major role in valuation, and how founders can increase enterprise value by focusing on a few high-impact levers. The conversation also explores modern growth challenges, including balancing digital marketing with real human conversations, building trust in an AI-driven world, and why many founders say they’ll “never sell” until life forces the decision—making this episode essential listening for entrepreneurs who want to build businesses that grow intentionally and exit well.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Olivia Sammons is joined by Whitney Neloms, founder of Built by Mama, for an honest conversation about fitness, motherhood, and building sustainable strength—inside and outside the gym.

Whitney shares her journey from amateur bodybuilding and in-gym coaching to launching a purpose-driven fitness brand designed specifically for professional mothers. Drawing from her own experience balancing entrepreneurship, family life, and health, Whitney created Built by Mama to help women rebuild confidence, trust their bodies again, and develop habits that actually last.

Rather than promoting quick fixes or unrealistic fitness trends, Whitney explains why sustainability is at the core of her coaching philosophy. Her programs focus on attainable goals, accountability, and long-term strength—supporting mothers through realistic routines that fit into demanding schedules.

In this episode of Founders Future, host Olivia Sammons sits down with Josh Howell, founder of New Start Health, for a grounded and thought-provoking conversation about health, healing, and personal responsibility.

Josh shares his journey from feeling disconnected from purpose in his early twenties to discovering a passion for health through plant-based nutrition, movement, and lifestyle change. What began as personal exploration evolved into a coaching practice focused on helping people with chronic illness, pain, and unwanted weight regain control of their health—often without relying solely on external treatments.

Throughout the episode, Josh explains why the body is inherently capable of healing when given the right environment. He breaks down his one-to-one coaching approach, emphasizing sustainability, 

In this episode of Founders Future, host Zach Young is joined by Sarah Cooke, a multi-award-winning marketing and business strategist and founder of Sarah Cooke Coaching. Sarah shares her journey from senior corporate leadership roles in the UK and Asia—including seven years working with global brands in Singapore—to building a values-led coaching business that puts life first and business second, following her transition into entrepreneurship after becoming a mother.

The conversation explores why traditional ideas of work-life balance no longer apply to founders, how to build a business around your life rather than forcing life around your business, and why alignment, strengths, and values are the real drivers of sustainable growth. Drawing from her background in elite sport, marketing, and positive psychology, Sarah also explains why human connection and personalization matter more than ever in an AI-driven world—making this a powerful listen for entrepreneurs who want to scale with intention, without burnout.