From Founder To CEO

Startup and Scaleup co-founders can learn a lot from these two leaders. Kerry and Ashlee are mother and daughter, but they are also powerhouse entrepreneurs who co-founded an amazing SaaS platform that brings people together at events. As women of color they found it challenging to raise money. But, they are now on a roll and offer all of us amazing wisdom about how to have a great relationship as co-founders. Leaders solve problems. They are experts at problem-solving. And, we can all learn a lot from them as they navigate a mother/daughter relationship as well as co-founder relationship. If they can do it...so can you and your co-founder.

Feedback is a gift, they say. :) Well, if you don't know how to handle it, it may not be a gift. John learned how to handle feedback after appearing on the hit BBC show, Dragons' Den. He didn't end up earning an investment, but the experience did help shape his approach to harnessing feedback...an approach that informs his daily decision-making with his customers in over 60 countries. You'll want to take notes on his 3 steps.

She calls herself the "Butter Boss." But, Ramaha is so much more. She has conquered the challenges of startups and is on her way to scaling up her international company. She talks about a key lesson of hiring...not confusing performance and skill with passion for the mission. I think you'll benefit from her insights.

Tom has done it all. Record store owner, successful music artist, successful salesman and now successful Founder. We can all learn a lot from his story of coming to the United States at an early age and finding his entrepreneurial path. But, it's his interesting story of how his early days in Poland and Chicago help to create mindset barriers toward money and their impact on scaling his company, that I found most fascinating.

Charlynda's grandfather, Charlie "Mutt" Ferrell, Jr. created an all-purpose specialty sauce in 1956. In 2013, she learned that she inherited the coveted recipe. He didn't leave her any instructions, but she used her Air Force leadership experience and business background to create Mutt's Sauce, LLC, and they now distribute four flavors of Mutt's Sauce across the U.S.

What you'll hear from Charlynda is this interview is the wisdom of many years. Her mentor, Daymond John (yes, that Daymond John), shares some key advice that helped her get through some difficult times. Hear what he told her and how you can apply the same knowledge.

Frank is a former spacecraft systems engineer who co-founded a fuel delivery service? Yes! He is a VERY thoughtful person. Franks gets pretty detailed about the 3 leadership and hiring secrets that surprised him as he transitioned from spacecraft systems engineer and then co-founder and CEO. Plus, he shares a key hiring technique that I personally advocate.

Do you need an injection of joy and understanding, as you fight another battle as a Founder & CEO? Then listen to my interview with Francois Mignon. Her wisdom will help you tackle the toughest of time periods.

How many Founders do you know started their business in the 1970s and are still in business today? How Founders do you know started out as a farmer and now lead a multi-million dollar corporation? How many Founders do you know are willing to admit that all this work took a toll on their health and led to changing their leadership style? Joe is one of the most humble Founders you will meet, and in this very personal interview he described what his doctor told him and how it led to him learning to "let go" and led to more growth for his company.

Patience. That's what Joah needed to develop more as he and his team built Localeur. It's the type of trait that was challenging for him to develop based on his past. But, it's what he developed as he raised significant amounts of capital to launch, build, and now pilot his company to cash flow positive. Joah's heart shines through in this candid interview.

Determination, integrity, and kind...these are the characteristics that I think of when I think about Paul Becker. Paul has tackled a challenging problem - make art more accessible by helping thousands of art buyers pay for their art. Paul talks about how learning to be himself has helped him grow Art Money in the U.S. market.