In this episode of Influencing Entrepreneurs, I talk with Giuseppe Grammatico, “The Franchise Guide,” about what it takes to move from employee to business owner through franchising.

Giuseppe walks through his journey from Wall Street into building and selling a franchise, and how that experience shaped the way he now helps others evaluate opportunities. We spend time on what makes a franchise a good fit, how to think through the decision beyond brand recognition, and where new owners often get tripped up.

We also look at the other side of the equation, what franchisors need in place before offering their model to others, and how both sides can approach the process with clearer expectations.

If you’re exploring business ownership or trying to understand how franchising actually works in practice, this conversation gives a grounded look at how to approach it.

Learn more about Giuseppe Grammatico at https://www.ggthefranchiseguide.com/

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Scott shares his entrepreneurial journey from the dot-com era to working with founders today, helping them prepare their companies for investment and growth. We discuss lessons from early internet ventures, how today’s AI wave compares to past tech cycles, and why execution, team strength, and solving a real problem matter more than the idea alone.

We also break down how founders approach raising capital, what “deal flow” really means, and how entrepreneurs can better prepare before stepping in front of investors.

Learn more about Scott at https://www.blackdogventurepartners.com/

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What if “doing business the right way” wasn’t just a nice idea, but something you could actually measure?

In this episode of Influencing Entrepreneurs, I sit down with Dr. Tom DuFore of Big Sky Franchise Team, a Doctor of Business Administration whose doctoral work focused on virtue in business and how to measure an organization’s virtuousness. We talk through the virtuous business model, the three forms of capital it emphasizes (social, spiritual, and economic), and how Tom built a scorecard to help leaders translate values into measurable indicators like net promoter score, turnover rate, and stakeholder feedback.

We also get into franchising, what it takes to turn a working business into a franchise blueprint, why home services became the top franchising category since around August 2020, and what Tom sees when companies talk about culture versus when they actually run decisions through their values.

Learn more about Dr. Tom DuFore at: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/about/

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In this episode of Influencing Entrepreneurs, Steven Seidel shares how grief, a McDonald’s “fries at the bottom of the bag” memory, and a childhood hearing challenge shaped his work around connection, mission, and purpose driven business. He and Cass dig into what a real personal mission looks like, using a simple Venn of skills, passion, and values, plus the line “I help X do Y so that C” to clarify your message. Steven also explains his path from industrial engineer to actor to agency founder, why he chooses socially conscious brands, and how mission, message, media, and movement connect to systems, strategies, and solutions. Expect practical ideas like naming your own “diss track,” questioning old stories about work, and using questions like “what do we need to do, delegate, or delete” to shape your next step.

Learn more about Steve Seidel at: https://theseidelagency.com

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Harish Chandramali shares how his journey started with nothing more than a love for computers and a desire for a better life. He talks about the schools that shaped him, the jobs that pushed him, and the moment he finally felt ready to build something of his own.

We dig into what it really takes to launch a company as a first-time founder. From visa challenges to venture studios to landing the first customer without a team. Harish also opens up about confidence, loneliness, and why AI has completely reshaped the future of his product.

It’s an honest look at the work behind entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Harish at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scharish/

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Here’s how one entrepreneur turned failure into a foundation for growth. In this episode, Jennifer Christensen (CMO and CIO of Beacon Media + Marketing) shares how losing a multimillion-dollar business early in her career reshaped her approach to leadership, faith, and entrepreneurship.

We talk about what it really means to rebuild, from learning the operations and financial side of business to understanding how character shapes long-term success. Jennifer also explains how she grew Beacon Media nationally by focusing on one niche, using inbound marketing to attract clients instead of chasing them, and keeping integrity at the center of it all.

Learn more about Beacon Media + Marketing: https://www.beaconmm.com/

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Here’s how to turn marketing from guesswork into a system. In this conversation, Allan Dib (author of The One-Page Marketing Plan) walks through the nine-box framework, why tight target markets beat “everyone,” and how to test before you bet so sales get easier, not harder. We dig into owned assets like email that compound over time, plain-text newsletters that actually get read, and a simple way to measure whether your spend is working. You’ll also hear how small shifts, pricing models, delivery, focus can move revenue without “reinventing” your offer, plus practical ways AI can augment your team instead of replacing it.

Learn more about Allan Dib: https://allandib.com and https://leanmarketing.com/about

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Most e-commerce founders want to scale fast. Few understand the foundation it really takes to reach $10M.

In this episode Sabir Semerkant, growth advisor, who has guided more than 200 brands past seven figures talks with me. Sabir shares what sustainable growth looks like, why a 1% improvement mindset outperforms quick hacks, and how avoiding single-channel dependence can protect your business.

You’ll hear how AI and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) are reshaping e-commerce, and why consistency beats shortcuts every time.

Learn more about Sabir Semerkant at https://growthbysabir.com/

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Nate Edgerly thought music would be his career. It wasn’t.

What followed was a complete pivot. From punk rock shows to a master’s in accounting. From chasing gigs to managing a beverage company, losing millions.

In this episode, Nate shares what those chapters taught him about running a business, leading people, and why most of us get customer feedback and planning completely backward.

It’s honest, it’s relatable, and it might make you rethink how you lead.

Learn more about Blystone and Donaldson: https://www.blystoneanddonaldson.com/

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