Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we dive into the world of AI implementation with seasoned entrepreneur and investor Alex van Ginneken. Alex shares his journey from building and scaling his own tech company to his current mission of guiding established businesses through the cultural and operational shift of integrating artificial intelligence. He details his innovative "AI Lab" program, a 12-week intensive designed to embed AI into the very fabric of an organization by empowering cross-departmental teams to identify and solve real business challenges with cutting-edge tools.

Alex explains that his ideal clients are ambitious entrepreneurs with successful businesses generating between €500,000 and €10 million in annual revenue, who are ready to scale but struggling with the practicalities of AI adoption. The conversation also covers his unique, referral-driven approach to marketing, the immense value of leveraging detailed testimonials, and his philosophy on maintaining a lean, expert-driven business model that prioritizes freedom and impact over traditional scaling through a large employee base.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we meet Deju Akanji FNE, RN, the passionate founder behind Engage Wellness. Deju shares her deeply personal journey from a childhood marked by loss in Nigeria to becoming a registered nurse and certified fitness & nutrition expert in Canada. This path was fueled by a mission to understand wellness and prevent others from experiencing the health tragedies she did. She opens up about the origins of her "wellness empire," which was born from a desire to create the community and holistic support she lacked, integrating mind, body, and spirit.

Deju details the current evolution of Engage Wellness, a multi-faceted business that defies a single niche. From one-on-one and group coaching for women, to facilitating health breaks at corporate conferences, and even launching her own line of organic teas, her approach is to meet people wherever they are on their wellness journey. She discusses the challenges and rewards of building a business driven by community and referrals, her ambitious goals for retail expansion, and the powerful mindset shift of no longer limiting herself, encouraging herself to "break out" and build the empire she envisions.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we sit down with Alexandre Maher, the founder of EFIENCE. Alexandre shares his journey from running an event planning agency for over a decade, where he mastered the art of meticulous process and structure, to launching his current venture. He explains how this experience revealed his passion and talent for building operational systems that ensure businesses can successfully bring complex projects from point A to point B without missing a beat.

Alexandre delves into the core of EFIENCE, detailing how his company specializes in implementing tailored project management solutions, primarily using Asana, to help small and growing teams optimize their sales, onboarding, and client service processes. He discusses the tangible impact of his work, including a case study with ConeCRM, and outlines his vision for the future, emphasizing the importance of patience, client satisfaction, and the irreplaceable value of human connection in an increasingly AI-driven world.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we are joined by Mira Vasic, Ph.D., a visionary leader who transitioned from a career as a forensic engineer to becoming a powerful force in entrepreneurship and gender diversity. Mira shares her inspiring journey of investing in and leading InTouch, a premier European academy, and discusses the critical importance of balancing technological advancement with human development. She provides a compelling business and philosophical case for why increasing female leadership is essential for better decision-making, profitability, and the very fabric of our society.

Mira delves into the practical strategies that drive real, lasting change within organizations, drawing on her experience working with major corporations and governments. She explains the tangible impact of policies, the importance of top-down sponsorship in diversity initiatives, and the undeniable data showing that inclusive leadership leads to more successful and resilient companies. This conversation is a masterclass in strategic leadership, offering invaluable insights for founders and business leaders on building a more equitable and effective future.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we sit down with Katya Valiquette, a marketing strategist who never intended to become an entrepreneur. Katya shares her authentic journey from a secure corporate communications role to building her own successful marketing business, a transition that began organically during the COVID-19 pandemic as she helped local businesses survive. She discusses the "golden handcuffs" of her previous career and the pivotal moment she decided to take the leap, ultimately doubling her corporate income and building a business that allows for flexibility and growth.

Katya dives deep into her unique approach to organic social media marketing, challenging the notion that businesses need massive followings or daily posts to achieve significant results. She reveals how she helped a client with only 1,500 followers generate $180,000 in sales in just one week through strategic, connection-focused content. She explains her philosophy of balancing value-driven content with personal, founder-led stories to build a loyal community, the structure of her retainer services, and her future goals of systematizing her business to embrace the new season of motherhood.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Olivia Sammons, we dive into the journey of Keegan Sard, the founder of Keegan Ventures. Keegan shares his unique path from aspiring pilot and property developer to becoming a sought-after fractional Chief of Staff. He explains how he pivoted from a generalist consultant to his current role, acting as the right hand to founders of pre-series A startups and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, helping them with strategic projects, operations, and sales, primarily on a remote, international basis.

Keegan outlines his transparent business model, including his quarterly billing structure and his philosophy of "opinions are free and advice is paid." He also discusses his plans for sustainable growth, the importance of trust and referrals in his marketing, and offers invaluable advice for other freelancers and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need to trust your gut, know your worth, and avoid hourly billing to build a scalable and impactful business.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we sit down with David Moerman, a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Home Service Business Coach. David shares his incredible journey from stocking grocery shelves to building and successfully exiting a multi-year pressure washing business. He delves into the core philosophy that has defined his career: the critical importance of systematizing your business to work without you. David explains how he applied this "Get Off the Truck" mindset to build a self-sustaining company, which not only made it attractive for acquisition but also allowed him to step into his current role of coaching other home service business owners on how to achieve the same freedom and scalability.

David provides a masterclass in entrepreneurial leadership, detailing how he structures his coaching business to run on just 15 hours of his time per week. He emphasizes the necessity of hiring a team based on your "buyback rate," outsourcing non-revenue-generating tasks, and focusing your energy on high-impact activities like content creation and coaching your top clients. He also breaks down his effective, organic marketing strategies—centered on long-form content like his podcast and book—that build loyalty and attract high-quality clients without the need for aggressive, sales-heavy pitches. This conversation is a treasure trove of actionable advice for any founder looking to build a resilient, profitable, and owner-independent business.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Marc Mawhinney, the founder of Natural Born Coaches. Marc shares his powerful transition from a decade in real estate, which ended in a business collapse, to building a thriving support network and podcast for coaches. He reveals how his own experience being helped by mentors led him to dedicate his work to empowering other coaches to build successful, client-rich businesses without relying on paid ads.

Marc details the core of his methodology, which is built on helping coaches answer three critical questions: Who do you help? How do you help them? and where do you find them? He also breaks down his "three pillars" marketing strategy—podcasting, community building, and daily email marketing—that have been the foundation of his organic growth. Marc discusses his philosophy on selecting ideal clients, setting boundaries for a sustainable business, and his future goals for scaling while maintaining his hands-on role and personal peace of mind.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we meet Paula Brown, a certified divorce and custody coach and the founder of With Purpose Coaching. Paula shares her powerful and deeply personal journey from a high-income career in finance to her true calling. She opens up about her own devastating 18.5-year custody battle, a period of profound struggle that led to a spiritual awakening and a promise to help others avoid similar pain. This lived experience is the bedrock of her practice, allowing her to guide clients with unparalleled empathy and a focus on mental strength and holistic health.

Paula details the structure of her business, which includes one-on-one coaching, working with attorneys to prepare clients for court, and her goals to launch group coaching sessions to scale her impact. She discusses the challenges of relying on organic, word-of-mouth referrals and her aspirations to expand her services nationwide. The conversation explores the future of With Purpose Coaching, including overcoming the self-imposed limitations of being a solopreneur and her ambitious plans to build a team and leverage new marketing strategies like podcasting to reach a broader audience and help more families navigate difficult transitions with clarity and purpose.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Milan Kohut, we sit down with Diana Garcia-Barker, CEO and co-founder of the brand and experiential marketing agency, Casa Innovación Agency. Diana shares her unique journey from revitalizing iconic nightlife and hospitality brands to launching her own mission-driven firm. She delves into her agency's meticulous, data-backed approach to brand positioning and creating immersive experiences, highlighting their focus on working with minority and female-owned businesses. Diana also reveals the core philosophy behind her success: a relentless focus on client alignment and integrity over rapid growth, and her exciting plans to democratize her agency's expertise through a new AI-powered IP.

Diana provides a fascinating look into the operational engine of Casa Innovación Agency, detailing the specialized teams—from neuromarketing design to data research—that deliver their 360 marketing experiences. She candidly discusses the challenges of managing client expectations within large corporations and the importance of trusting your team. The conversation concludes with Diana's vision for the future, including the development of a scalable tech tool to serve smaller brands, and the best piece of advice she'd give her younger self: don't be afraid to fail and learn to delegate effectively.