What if the biggest source of pressure isn't your business?

What if it's the way you respond to it?

After helping innovative startups secure more than $500 million in non-dilutive funding, Jerry Hollister has learned that the founders who thrive are not the ones who avoid rejection. They are the ones who know how to respond to it.

In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Jerry shares the leadership lessons he has learned as a Navy officer, business executive, and trusted advisor to innovative startups. From investor rejection and funding uncertainty to hiring, leadership, and resilience, this conversation explores what truly separates great founders when the pressure is at its highest.

If you're building a company, leading a team, or navigating one of the toughest seasons in your business, this episode will change the way you think about pressure.

• Why rejection can become your biggest breakthrough

• The surprising truth about where pressure really comes from

• How great founders think differently under pressure

• Why attitude matters more than experience when hiring

• The difference between positional authority and relational leadership

• How startups can secure non-dilutive funding without giving up equity

• Lessons from helping startups secure over $500 million in funding

• The mindset that helped Jerry overcome setbacks throughout his career

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share it with another founder who needs to hear this message.

#GrowthUnderPressure #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Founder #CEO #Startup #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #StartupFunding #Resilience

What does it really take to scale a company before the market is ready?

In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz sits down with Bill Johnson, CFO & COO of Airspace Link, to explore what founders and executives often overlook about scaling a business.

Bill shares why the best finance leaders don't just report numbers—they solve problems. From helping build startups through uncertainty to leading both finance and operations, he explains how great leaders create structure, earn trust, and make decisions when there isn't a clear path forward.

The conversation also dives into the future of drone infrastructure, how Airspace Link is building the "highways in the sky," and why timing, adaptability, and resilience matter more than ever for growing companies.

Whether you're a founder, CEO, CFO, or business operator, this episode is packed with practical leadership lessons you can apply immediately.

• Why many CFOs should think like COOs

• The leadership lessons Bill learned from sports

• The importance of difficult conversations

• How startups survive years of uncertainty

• Knowing when to separate the CFO and COO roles

• Building systems that scale with the business

• The future of drones, AI, and autonomous transportation

• Leading teams through ambiguity and change

What does it take to build an AI company before AI became mainstream? In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz sits down with Aleksandr Sheremeta, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of DataForest, to discuss the realities of building and scaling a technology company long before the AI boom. Aleksandr shares how DataForest grew to more than 150 employees, the leadership lessons he learned along the way, and why most companies are still unprepared to take advantage of AI. In this episode, you'll learn: -How to build and scale a technology company from the ground up -The leadership mindset required to grow yourself before growing your business -Why most companies struggle with data and decision-making -What CEOs should fix before investing in AI -How strong systems create sustainable growth Whether you're a founder, CEO, or business leader, this conversation offers practical insights on scaling a company, leading through change, and building a business that's ready for the future. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #aibusiness #startups #ceopodcast #founderpodcast #aitechnology #datascience #datamanagement #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #DataEngineering #Automation #Leadership #Founder #CEO #AleksandrSheremeta #EricJosovitz #DataForest #AdaptCFO #GrowthUnderPressure

What does it take to go from day trading during the dot-com boom to building an AI-powered cybersecurity company? In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz sits down with Chris Camacho, Co-Founder & COO of Abstract Security, to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, cybersecurity, hiring, startup life, and the lessons learned from building and selling companies. Chris shares why everyone in a startup is in sales, how great leaders develop people, the biggest hiring mistakes founders make, and why today's biggest cybersecurity threats often come from human behavior—not technology. Whether you're a founder, CEO, executive, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with practical leadership lessons.

Can AI replace marketers, leaders, and creative thinkers? Or will the companies that combine AI with human insight have the biggest advantage?

In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz sits down with Terry Seitz, former Vice President of North America Marketing at Visa and now COO of Nuance Collective, to discuss how AI is transforming marketing, branding, leadership, and business growth.

From building global brands to helping companies navigate the AI era, Terry shares practical lessons on strategy, innovation, and why the future belongs to leaders who know how to combine technology with human creativity.

They also dive into entrepreneurship, startup life, raising a family while building a business, and what success really means beyond financial wealth.

• How AI is reshaping marketing and branding

• What AI still can't replace

• Why strategy matters more than execution

• Building a business in the age of AI

• Lessons from leaving Visa to join a startup

• How great leaders think differently

• Why vulnerability can strengthen client relationships

• The Five Types of Wealth and redefining success

• The importance of balancing business growth with family and purpose

Whether you're a CEO, founder, entrepreneur, marketer, or business leader, this conversation will challenge the way you think about AI, leadership, and long-term growth.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone building a business in the age of AI.

#AI #Marketing #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #BrandStrategy #CEO #Founder #GrowthUnderPressure #AdaptCFO

00:00 The Future of AI and Consumerism 03:06 AI's Impact on Marketing and Brand Understanding 06:12 The Evolution of Advertising: From Artistry to Science 09:07 The Role of Experimentation in Marketing 11:54 Balancing Creativity and Accountability in Marketing 14:50 Personal Reflections: Career Journey and Life Lessons 18:03 The Importance of Family and Personal Values 29:28 Balancing Life and Work: The Four Burners Theory 33:13 Growth Under Pressure: Emotional Connections in Business 38:13 Daily Routines: Merging Work and Family Life 41:32 Marketing Insights for Small Businesses 48:50 Key Metrics and Recommendations for Leaders

"When the pressure hits, most people freeze, run, or panic. Great leaders stay calm, assess the situation, and lead."

In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz, CEO of AdaptCFO, sits down with Brent Willis, former executive at Coca-Cola and Kraft Foods, West Point graduate, and current CEO of ProHawk AI, to discuss what separates great leaders from everyone else when everything is on the line.

Brent shares leadership lessons from the military, corporate boardrooms, startup environments, and global business operations. From overcoming major failures to leading teams through uncertainty, this conversation is packed with practical advice for founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and executives navigating growth under pressure.

💡 In this episode, you'll learn: • Why a no-excuses mindset creates stronger leaders • The 3 ways people fail under pressure • How military leadership principles apply to business • Why successful CEOs focus on process instead of blame • The importance of accountability, discipline, and courage • How to build trust and high-performing teams • Why perseverance is the strongest predictor of success • Lessons from failure, leadership, and business transformation

Whether you're scaling a company, leading a team, raising capital, or navigating uncertainty, this episode delivers timeless leadership lessons from someone who has spent decades performing under pressure.

#Leadership #CEO #Founder #Entrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthUnderPressure #BusinessStrategy #Management #Resilience #Accountability #WestPoint #Entrepreneurship #StartupLeadership #ScalingCompanies #AdaptCFO 00:00 Introduction 01:02 Meet Brent Willis: From West Point to CEO 07:19 How Great Leaders Learn from Failure 10:43 Stop Blaming People. Fix the Process. 14:23 The Leadership Rule That Wins Under Pressure 19:36 Building ProHawk AI 25:48 Work-Life Balance as a CEO 31:56 The LIVE HEALTHY Framework 37:34 The Four Values Every Leader Needs 43:46 Using Business to Change Lives 48:05 The Medal That Means the Most 52:23 The #1 Predictor of Success 56:23 Losing $10 Million on Toblerone 58:01 The Coca-Cola Lesson That Changed Everything 1:02:18 Rapid Fire Questions 1:04:20 Closing Thoughts

🙌 Want more from AdaptCFO? Free CFO consultation → adaptcfo.com Financial fitness scorecard → adaptcfofinancialfitness.scoreapp.com Other episodes → adaptcfo.com/blog AdaptCFO case studies → adaptcfo.com/results

If you're scaling and want to avoid the financial and operational pitfalls discussed in this episode, AdaptCFO's bookkeeping → controller → fractional CFO model is built for this stage.

Connect with Eric Josovitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josovitz/ Watch more podcast episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL01dHCWwlIvyHyJVG_G0E7yBBRA_DSn4A&si=xX4EDVtxUjUpnxVd

What do you do when everything seems to be falling apart?

In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josowitz sits down with Vince Bianco, growth-focused CEO, board member, advisor, and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience building and scaling companies.

Vince shares the incredible story of navigating one of the most challenging periods of his career: burning $400,000 per month, raising capital during the uncertainty of 9/11, and learning that his co-founder had been diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer—all within weeks of each other.

The conversation explores leadership under pressure, faith in business, private equity, board governance, entrepreneurship, and the lessons Vince learned from building and selling multiple companies.

Whether you're a founder, CEO, executive, or business owner facing uncertainty, this episode offers practical insights on staying focused, leading with confidence, and finding peace in the middle of chaos.

🎙️ In this episode: • The 9/11 crisis that nearly derailed Vince's company • Building and scaling multiple venture-backed businesses • Why faith became a critical leadership tool • Lessons from private equity-backed growth • How great boards support CEOs during difficult times • The importance of discipline, consistency, and trust • Vince's advice for leaders navigating pressure and uncertainty

#Leadership #CEO #Entrepreneurship #Founder #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #BusinessStrategy #PrivateEquity #ScalingABusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessPodcast #FounderPodcast #StartupFounder #GrowthMindset #LeadershipLessons #BusinessOwner #GrowthUnderPressure

What do you do when your startup is days away from running out of cash?

In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz sits down with Brad Thomas, Emmy-winning entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Evercast, and Founder of Cash GPS, to discuss the realities of building a company when everything seems to be falling apart.

Brad shares the behind-the-scenes story of growing Evercast from a startup idea into an Emmy-winning platform used by major Hollywood productions, surviving cash flow crises, navigating investor challenges, scaling through COVID, and learning how to lead under extreme pressure.

Whether you're a founder, CEO, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation is packed with hard-earned lessons on resilience, leadership, fundraising, cash flow management, company culture, and making decisions when the stakes couldn't be higher.

In this episode:

✅ How Evercast became an Emmy-winning company ✅ The investor story that nearly ended the business ✅ Why cash flow is more important than most founders realize ✅ Lessons learned from startup failures and near-bankruptcy moments ✅ How to build a strong company culture and leadership team ✅ Why founder ego can hold a business back ✅ The mindset that helped Brad survive startup hell

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode:

"There's always a move to make."

If you're building a company, leading a team, or navigating your own growth journey, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Growth Under Pressure is the podcast where founders, CEOs, and business leaders share the real stories behind growth, leadership, and overcoming challenges.

#GrowthUnderPressure #BradThomas #Evercast #StartupFounder #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #CashFlow #BusinessGrowth #CEO #FounderJourney #StartupLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessPodcast

Chapters

00:00 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 11:45 Lessons from Early Failures 22:20 The Importance of Ego in Entrepreneurship 32:45 Building a Strong Company Culture 39:19 Creating Cash GPS: A Personal Mission 46:35 Building for Scale and Real-Time Insights 58:15 Navigating Challenges with Faith and Perspective 01:06:25 Learning from Mistakes and Continuous Growth

🙌 Want more from AdaptCFO? Free CFO consultation → adaptcfo.com Financial fitness scorecard → adaptcfofinancialfitness.scoreapp.com Other episodes → adaptcfo.com/blog AdaptCFO case studies → adaptcfo.com/results

If you're scaling and want to avoid the financial and operational pitfalls discussed in this episode, AdaptCFO's bookkeeping → controller → fractional CFO model is built for this stage.

Connect with Eric Josovitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josovitz/ Watch more podcast episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL01dHCWwlIvyHyJVG_G0E7yBBRA_DSn4A&si=xX4EDVtxUjUpnxVd

In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz, CEO of AdaptCFO sits down with Tobias Allen — the marketer behind campaigns for Acquisition.com, Alex & Leila Hormozi, and Simon Squibb's Free Humanity group. Tobias shares his journey from learning sales and persuasion as a teenager to leading high-stakes marketing for some of the biggest personal brands online. The conversation dives deep into founder pressure, burnout, scaling businesses, AI in marketing, and the hidden emotional cost of growth. They discuss: -How Tobias landed his first clients at 16 -The mindset behind scaling million-dollar brands -Why beginner's luck is often a real advantage -The reality of hustle culture and burnout -How AI is changing marketing and copywriting -The importance of mentorship, leverage, and focus -Preparing for fatherhood while leading at a high level -Why most founders waste time on the wrong things This episode is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, operators, marketers, and founders trying to scale without losing themselves in the process. #GrowthUnderPressure #AlexHormozi #SimonSquibb #Marketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #AI #FounderJourney #Leadership #Podcast

Chapters

00:00 The Foundation of Success 02:45 The Role of Mentorship 06:05 Learning from the Classics 08:59 The First Foot in the Door 11:51 Understanding Beginner's Luck 14:49 The Journey of Self-Discovery 18:12 The Power of Email Marketing 21:00 Consistency and Momentum 23:55 Deep Focus vs. Broad Engagement 27:12 Current Projects and Strategies 30:04 Budgeting and Creative Solutions 37:00 Building with Limited Resources 39:00 High-Pressure Moments in Startups 45:57 Balancing Work and Family Life 55:45 Childhood Influences on Success 01:01:08 Leveraging AI for Business Growth

What does it take to scale a business with the same discipline learned in the military?

In Episode 20 of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz sits down with Tyrus Shivers, Founder and CEO of Legacy Wealth Capital Group, to share the real, unfiltered journey of entrepreneurship.

From serving in the United States Air Force to becoming a partner in seven companies, Tyrus explains how military discipline, systems, and structure shaped the way he builds and scales businesses today.

He also opens up about what most founders do not talk about. The failure, the debt, the pressure, and the mental toll that comes with growth.

He also opens up about what most founders do not talk about. The failure, the debt, the pressure, and the mental toll that comes with growth.

In this episode, you will learn:

-How military discipline and systems translate into real business growth

-The reality behind fast growing companies and why many fail

-How to scale from $1M to $10M with the right people and infrastructure

-The mindset shift from operator to investor

-Why most entrepreneurs make emotional and costly decisions

-The truth about social media success versus real business fundamentals

-How to stay resilient under extreme pressure

-Book and resource recommendations every founder should know

If you are a founder, entrepreneur, or operator looking to grow your business, this episode will challenge how you think about scaling.

🎧 Listen now to learn what it really takes to grow under pressure.

👍 If you found this valuable, make sure to like, subscribe, and drop a comment with topics you want us to cover next.

#Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #StartupScaling #FinanceAdvise #financetips #financeleadership #mentorship #inspiration #investing #cfo #accounting #Leadership #FounderJourney #MilitaryToBusiness #businessstrategy #businesstips #scaling #GrowthUnderPressure #PrivateEquity #RealEstateInvesting #StartupLife #BusinessPodcast #CEOmindset

Chapters

00:00 Tyrus Shivers: From Military to Entrepreneur

05:52 Navigating the Real Estate Landscape

13:12 Discipline and Systems from Military to Business

25:55 Growth Under Pressure: Real Stories of Entrepreneurship

27:11 Navigating Pressure in Business

29:32 The Importance of Mentorship and Honesty

32:28 Building Resilience Under Pressure

37:12 Decision-Making Strategies for Entrepreneurs

42:54 Childhood Influences on Entrepreneurial Spirit

49:18 Perspective on Hard Work and Challenges

52:53 Key Resources for Founders Under Pressure

55:06 0321.mp4

🙌 Want more from AdaptCFO?

Free CFO consultation → adaptcfo.com

Financial fitness scorecard → adaptcfofinancialfitness.scoreapp.com

Other episodes → adaptcfo.com/blog

AdaptCFO case studies → adaptcfo.com/results

If you're scaling and want to avoid the financial and operational pitfalls discussed in this episode, AdaptCFO's bookkeeping → controller → fractional CFO model is built for this stage.

Connect with Eric Josovitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josovitz/

Watch more podcast episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL01dHCWwlIvyHyJVG_G0E7yBBRA_DSn4A&si=xX4EDVtxUjUpnxVd