Lessons from the Leap

Patrick Faga is the Founder of FirstWork, a digital lesson delivery platform. As a former behavioral therapist and research assistant, he created FirstWork to digitize discrete trial training (DTT) for ABA professionals. Under Patrick's leadership, FirstWork has become the most popular DTT app, with over 25,000 BCBAs, RBTs, educators, and parents using the platform to support thousands of learners.

Technology has reshaped how professionals teach, learn, and deliver care. Yet in many therapy and education settings, paper-based processes remain the norm, slowing progress and limiting engagement. How can digital tools make learning faster, more interactive, and fun for children who need it most?

Behavioral science expert Patrick Faga advocates for using technology to bridge the gap between human connection and efficient learning. He maintains that structured lessons, instant feedback, and positive reinforcement can boost focus and progress for young learners. Patrick also emphasizes solving problems through empathy, user feedback, and thoughtful design. Effective innovation starts with listening and evolves through iterations.

In this episode of Lessons From The Leap, Ghazenfer Mansoor talks with Patrick Faga, Founder of FirstWork, about transforming therapy through technology. Patrick discusses how digital lesson delivery reduces burnout and boosts engagement, why user feedback drives meaningful growth, and how to build scalable, behaviorally informed tools for real-world impact.

Philippe (Phil) Neil is the CEO of Founders Compass™, a leadership and human-performance firm helping startup founders grow. Having scaled a healthcare startup to over $70 million in revenue annually and $30 million EBITDA, he created the Founder Readiness™ framework that integrates neuroscience, emotional mastery, decision clarity, and intuition. Phil is also the Founder and General Partner of Phil Neil Ventures, a venture capital arm where he builds bold companies.

Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with growth, setbacks, and moments of deep self-discovery. Many founders focus on scaling revenue and building teams but overlook the emotional and mental toll that comes with leading through uncertainty. How can business owners master entrepreneurship?

As a serial entrepreneur and growth strategist, Phil Neil has learned difficult lessons on balancing intuition, resilience, and self-awareness. He maintains that founders must confront their shadows — the hidden fears and doubts that derail decision-making — and cultivate emotional intelligence to sustain clarity under pressure. By learning to trust intuition, manage uncertainty, and stay aligned with purpose, entrepreneurs can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.

In this episode of Lessons From The Leap, Ghazenfer Mansoor interviews Philippe (Phil) Neil, CEO of Founders Compass™, about how founders can build inner readiness. Phil shares how he scaled his first venture to $70 million in annual revenue, what he learned from a $5 million business scam, and why every founder must reconnect with their purpose.

Bethany Ranes, PhD, is the Founder and Chief Research Scientist at Interocept Labs, where she translates neuroscience insights into practical, real-world solutions. With prior leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, and the US Army, she has decades of experience in cognitive neuroscience, behavior change, and health systems integration. Bethany also writes the Firing and Wiring blog, which shares accessible neuroscience insights for individuals and organizations.

From understanding how the brain predicts pain to designing technology that keeps users engaged, the line between science and experience has become increasingly blurred. How can innovators harness this knowledge to build tools that change behavior and improve well-being?

According to cognitive neuroscientist Bethany Ranes, translating brain science into real-world solutions begins with understanding human adaptation. She encourages entrepreneurs to design products that work with the mind's natural patterns, not against them. By applying neuroscience principles — such as gamification, behavior prediction, and user rapport — creators can boost engagement, empathy, and impact in their digital tools.

In this episode of Lessons From The Leap, Ghazenfer Mansoor talks with Bethany Ranes, PhD, Founder and Chief Research Scientist at Interocept Labs, about applying neuroscience to innovation. She discusses using brain science to improve digital health engagement, how AI can simulate rapport in therapy, and what entrepreneurs can learn from the brain's adaptive design.

Dustin Ward is the Founder and President of Tee Time LLC, an app-based platform that uses golf to foster community connection and promote inclusion. He is also the Founder and President of It Is Time…LLC, a consulting firm that works with organizations across Maine and New England to address systemic bias. With experience promoting racial equity, community organizing, and social entrepreneurship, Dustin holds several leadership positions, including serving as an honorary member of the nonprofit Mindbridge and being the first person of color to become a Select Board Member of New Gloucester.

When life events push you to reconsider your path, finding the courage to pivot can lead to surprising opportunities for impact and growth. How can you transform past experiences into a meaningful entrepreneurial journey?

Entrepreneur and public servant Dustin Ward transformed his calling for ministry and social change into entrepreneurial action. He advises focusing on solving tangible problems for customers and being willing to delegate and outsource to trusted partners when expertise is required. By leaning into community and establishing personal boundaries, you can foster resilience and clarity to sustain personal and professional growth.

In this episode of Lessons From The Leap, Ghazenfer Mansoor sits down with Dustin Ward, Founder and President of Tee Time LLC and It Is Time…LLC, to discuss his journey from ministry to entrepreneurship. Dustin shares the lessons he learned from building an app without a coding background, strategies for balancing two businesses with family life, and why reassessing your path when it's no longer rewarding is essential for long-term success.

Joe Hubert is a technical manager, systems analyst, and solution architect. He provides strategic guidance to professionals and organizations on leveraging LLMs and generative AI technologies to enhance business operations and customer experiences. Joe wrote and self-published an e-book titled Concept-Based Machine Intelligence.

Software projects often fail not because of technical shortcomings, but rather due to unclear guidance, misaligned expectations, and communication gaps between business leaders and development teams. Agile practices promise flexibility but can sometimes lead to endless iteration without a clear direction. How can organizations bridge these gaps to foster innovation and discipline in software development?

Seasoned software developer Joe Hubert urges leaders to frame problems clearly and align business and development teams to prevent costly overhauls. Creating psychological safety in the workplace, building trust, and encouraging honest feedback enhance developer performance. Joe also recommends balancing agility with disciplined scope management, adopting innovation practices from startups and enterprises, and approaching AI tools as productivity enhancers while maintaining engineering discipline.

In this episode of Lessons From The Leap, Ghazenfer Mansoor interviews technical manager, systems analyst, and solution architect Joe Hubert, about bridging gaps between technology and business. Joe explains how to use practical frameworks like use case narratives, manage product scopes, and build adaptable careers in a changing tech landscape.

Ghazenfer Mansoor is the Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, a software company developing HIPAA-compliant web, mobile, and cloud-based healthcare software applications. As a seasoned advisor and investor in technology and healthcare, he has fulfilled roles as an architect, programmer, software engineer, user experience specialist, product developer, growth hacker, and chief technology officer.

Businesses often encounter inefficiencies and missed opportunities when off-the-shelf software tools can't support their unique processes. Many entrepreneurs and startups also waste resources building features their customers don't need. How can companies avoid these costly mistakes and create tech solutions that fit their needs?

Software development expert Ghazenfer Mansoor emphasizes the importance of developing a structured blueprint process before starting software development. Defining every critical detail early in the process, like user interfaces, permissions, and integrations, helps companies avoid unnecessary features and costs. Additionally, leveraging AI can streamline code development and quality assurance.

In the first episode of Lessons From The Leap, Chad Franzen of Rise25 interviews Ghazenfer Mansoor, Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, about creating custom software solutions that drive innovation. Ghazenfer talks about scaling offshore teams, adapting to rapid technology advancements, and the company values that ensure long-term growth.