Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Alex Lefever, founder of Adaptable Strength. Alex shares his unconventional journey into coaching, beginning with years of experience working with Special Olympics athletes and later as a 911 dispatcher. Witnessing firsthand the long-term health toll faced by first responders inspired him to shift from reacting to emergencies to preventing them—using strength training, mobility, and individualized programming as tools for long-term health and resilience.

The conversation dives deep into Alex’s highly customized coaching approach for two often-overlooked populations: first responders and Special Olympics powerlifters. He explains why traditional fitness models fail for people with unpredictable schedules, disrupted sleep cycles, and high physical demands, and how true personalization requires flexibility, technical precision, and empathy. Alex also discusses his work in adaptive powerlifting, breaking down complex techniques into accessible systems, and the importance of giving underserved athletes the credit, structure, and coaching depth they deserve to reach their full potential.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we’re joined by Heather McDonald, founder of Hala Connected and Unshakeable Coaching. Heather shares her unconventional journey from therapist and educator into entrepreneurship, explaining how her background in psychology, teaching, and human behavior naturally evolved into a connection-led marketing agency. She reflects on building Hala Connected as a single mother, the importance of storytelling over transactional marketing, and why authentic relationships have always been at the core of her work.

Heather also opens up about burnout, chronic illness, and being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, which led to the creation of Unshakeable Coaching. The conversation explores redefining success, learning to rely on others, and building capacity through teams and partnerships rather than hustle culture. Heather shares her philosophy on sustainable growth, relational marketing, and helping high-achieving entrepreneurs reconnect with their sense of self, value, and purpose—proving that meaningful impact comes from alignment, trust, and human connection.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we’re joined by Alex Sheridan, founder of Impacts. Alex shares his journey from a decade-long career in B2B sales—cold calling, prospecting, and enterprise account management—to building a purpose-led consultancy focused on brand, positioning, and impact. He reflects on developing his personal brand on LinkedIn before COVID, how inbound demand reshaped his business direction, and why content and thought leadership became the foundation for sustainable growth.

Alex explains how Impacts now works with mid-market B2B service companies to clarify their story, sharpen positioning, and build in-house content systems that drive long-term visibility. The conversation explores branding as a growth lever, LinkedIn and podcasting as relationship-first channels, scaling with small teams, hiring intentionally, and pricing around transformation rather than time. Alex also shares his philosophy on betting on yourself, building in-demand skills, and designing a business that aligns with both impact and lifestyle.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Jodi Borrometi, founder of Wave of Wisdom Parent Coaching. Jodi shares her 30+ year journey in education, from elementary classroom teacher to middle school counselor, and the pivotal moment that inspired her to build a parent coaching practice alongside her full-time counseling role. Drawing from decades of experience working with teenagers and families, she explains how witnessing the growing communication gap between parents and teens led her to create a space where parents can build trust, calm, and stronger connections at home.

Jodi dives into her coaching philosophy, which centers on communication, emotional regulation, and meeting families exactly where they are. She outlines how her one-on-one coaching is personalized for parents of teens and young adults, the flexible structure of her packages, and her plans to expand into group workshops and educational resources. The conversation explores the realities of building a purpose-driven business while balancing a demanding career and family life, the importance of trust-based content and community-building, and why sustainable growth, consistency, and self-reflection are at the heart of meaningful parent-child relationships.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Jeanette C. Jordan, executive coach and founder of Jeanette C. Jordan Coaching. Jeanette shares her journey from senior product marketing roles at high-growth tech companies to building a coaching practice that supports founders, executives, and leaders navigating scale, transition, and complexity. Drawing on her experience across startups and large organizations, she reflects on the pivotal moments that led her to entrepreneurship, the leadership gaps she witnessed firsthand, and why coaching became the tool that helped her—and others—step into new versions of themselves.

Jeanette breaks down how she works with startup founders, corporate leaders, and professionals in transition, explaining her coaching frameworks, engagement timelines, and why conflict coaching has become one of the most impactful parts of her practice. The conversation explores leadership evolution, career pivots, conflict resolution, and the systems behind running a scalable coaching business—from inbound thought leadership and CRM automation to fractional teams and operational efficiency. Jeanette also shares her perspective on sustainable growth, the return of in-person work, and how leaders can build clarity, resilience, and influence through every stage of their careers.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Courtney Killeen, founder of Compass Rose Consultants. Courtney shares her journey from serving as an executive leader in the nonprofit sector—where she helped scale a youth-focused STEAM organization more than sevenfold—to launching a heart-centered consulting practice designed for founders who think differently. She reflects on how homeschooling her daughter and supporting a successful self-publishing project deepened her passion for neurodivergent-friendly business design and values-led entrepreneurship.

Courtney explains how Compass Rose Consultants supports early-stage founders and small businesses through customized, one-to-one consulting, tiered mentorship, and a collaborative “fractional leadership” model. The conversation explores neurodivergent-inclusive strategy, decision fatigue, sustainable scaling, and why impact matters more than rapid growth. Courtney also opens up about navigating personal setbacks, redefining success, building community-driven ecosystems, and creating a business that supports both meaningful work and a balanced family life.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Zach Monaco, a fitness coach and entrepreneur helping men who already work out consistently eliminate stubborn belly fat and achieve a lean, confident physique through his Transcend coaching approach at Transcend Transformations. Zach shares how his passion for fitness began at a young age—drawing inspiration from professional wrestling and early gym experiences—and evolved into a purpose-driven coaching business built on discipline, consistency, and personal growth.

The conversation dives into Zach’s one-on-one, high-touch coaching style that goes far beyond workouts and meal plans, focusing heavily on mindset, accountability, and sustainable habits. He explains why many men struggle to lose the same weight for years despite training regularly, how tracking, structure, and self-leadership play a critical role in long-term results, and why authentic content creation and human connection matter more than follower count. Zach also reflects on his journey as a young entrepreneur, lessons learned from mentors, and his vision to scale his impact while staying aligned with health, faith, and personal values.

🌐 Connect with Zach Monaco

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachjmonaco/

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Emma Alston, founder of Emma Alston Voice. Emma shares her deeply personal journey with voice, from growing up with a pronounced childhood stammer to relearning how to speak after a traumatic brain injury in her twenties. Her story traces an unconventional entrepreneurial path—from engineering and running a welding business to earning a Master’s degree at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and building an internationally respected voice and communication practice.

Emma explains how she now works with women leaders, founders, and professionals who are already highly capable but struggle to have their voices land with confidence and authority in high-stakes environments. The conversation explores voice as a reflection of the nervous system, identity, and lived experience, as well as the long-term, embodied nature of vocal mastery. Emma also shares how she has grown her business primarily through referrals, one-to-one bespoke work, group programs, and corporate training, while staying grounded in values, integrity, and meaningful impact over scale for scale’s sake.

🔗 Connect with Emma

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaalstonvoice/
  
  

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Cecilia “Ceci” Carmona, founder of The Flow Path, a business mentor supporting ambitious mothers in building freedom-driven online businesses. Ceci shares her 20-year career in the advertising industry, her move from Argentina to the Netherlands, and how two burnouts—combined with becoming a mother in 2024—led her to reassess the traditional corporate path and redefine success on her own terms.

Ceci discusses how she now helps mothers transition out of the 9-to-5 by combining business mentorship with nervous system regulation, breathwork, and mindset support. The conversation explores her one-on-one mentoring approach, the importance of community, authentic marketing through social media, and using paid ads to expand reach. Ceci also reflects on scaling with intention, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and her vision for creating more aligned, sustainable lifestyles for women seeking a slower, more present way of working and living.

🔗 Connect with Ceci

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcecicarmona/

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we’re joined by Nikki Hardy, founder of A Sea of Hope Coaching. Nikki shares her journey from working as an employment specialist in NHS mental health services to building a coaching practice shaped by her own late ADHD diagnosis at age 43. She reflects on how that diagnosis reframed her career, sense of self, and purpose, ultimately guiding her toward supporting other late-diagnosed adults navigating work, identity, and meaningful change.

Nikki walks through her structured ADHD career change approach, helping clients understand their neurodivergence, identify strengths and needs, and design careers aligned with purpose, values, and supportive environments. The conversation explores self-compassion, executive function challenges, emotional regulation, and the importance of fit over force in career decisions. Nikki also shares insights on running a values-led coaching business, authentic branding, sustainable growth, and balancing impact, capacity, and personal wellbeing as a solo founder.

🔗 Connect with Nikki

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aseaofhopecoaching