Power Forward

What makes someone who is climbing the corporate ladder decide to start over from the ground floor? For Amanda Adamcheck, it came down to the chance to live her dream. In this episode, you’ll find out how Amanda turned a side hustle into a thriving apparel business.

Amanda’s business relies heavily on a community she’s grown through social media. You’ll learn how to build a brand that will keep customers coming back.

As a leader, Amanda aims to empower her team while inspiring other women who want to become entrepreneurs. She’ll explain why staying in your own lane can bring true fulfillment.  

Leading the mortgage industry in innovative technology isn’t enough for Jason Bressler. He’s looking to build the best IT team in any business, anywhere. In this episode, you’ll find out how UWM’s Chief Technology Officer plans to do that by finding the right people and finding out what drives them.

UWM’s IT team is more than 5 times larger than it was when Jason first joined the company 5 years ago. You’ll learn how Jason created an environment where people feel comfortable voicing their opinions because they know their leaders are listening.

You’ll also find out why Jason embraces vulnerability as a leader and why his favorite movie serves as an valuable analogy during times of adversity.

Figuring out what direction you want your business to take can be daunting – that is until you realize there is no right or wrong choice. There’s only the choice that’s best for you. In this episode, you’ll learn how Heather Zara built her own video production company by listening to the voice inside.

Zara Creative has gone from producing wedding videos to working with big national clients. Heather will explain how she’s grown the business by creating content that inspires action.

As a leader, Heather had to establish the right values so she could build the right team. You’ll find out how to create a culture based on an ecosystem instead of an “ego system.”

Who do we serve and what does delight look like for them? By asking those two questions, Rich Sheridan created a company that has attracted people from around the world who want to replicate the culture of Menlo Innovations. In this episode, you’ll find out how the CEO of Menlo built a company on the business value of joy.

One of the ways Menlo does this is by fostering an environment where people aren’t afraid to experiment. Rich will explain what can happen when leaders pump fear out of the room.

We’ll also discus Menlo’s innovative hiring and business practices, which lean heavily on values such as comradery, collaboration, and compassion.

Rod Wallace has one of the most important jobs a leader can have: shaping the future of the next generation. Rod creates opportunities for young people through music, something he’s passionate about as a 30-year veteran of the music business himself. In this episode, you’ll learn how Rod’s innovative thinking is opening doors for those in his community.

Rod believes that the best leaders are the ones that do more listening than talking. He’ll explain why seeking to understand people is more important than being understood.

You’ll also find out how a new fellowship that Rod started is helping to amplify the voices of the African-American community, while also setting them up to succeed outside the studio.

As a long-time talent agent, Steve Herz has helped elevate the careers of countless broadcasters. In the process, Steve has figured out what separates good from great in any business. In this episode, Steve reveals how mastering the soft skills can help you separate yourself from the pack.

Steve is also an entrepreneur and has clients and colleagues who have been with him for decades. He’ll explain how to build, develop, and maintain long-lasting relationships.

We also find out Steve’s advice for winning in sales, which starts with losing a sales-driven agenda.

Find a way instead of an excuse. That’s the mantra mortgage broker Skylar Welch used to reach her 2020 goals despite the obstacles thrown her way by the pandemic. In this episode, you’ll find out how Skylar has grown her business with a mentality that she has to achieve what she sets out to do.

Skylar isn’t new to mortgages, but she is new to leading a team. She’ll explain why it’s so important to surround yourself with like-minded people who are focused on getting the job done together.

You’ll also learn how Skylar’s business has boomed without paying for leads. She’ll explain how adding a personal touch can help make a client yours for life. 

Desmond Ferguson knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur since he was cutting hair in his Mom’s basement. It’s what allowed him to buy his first car at 16 years old and eventually start Moneyball Sportswear. In this episode, you’ll find out how Moneyball went from a hobby to a business that’s been around for almost 2 decades.

Desmond actually started Moneyball while he was still playing professional basketball overseas. He’ll explain how the connections he made have fueled his company’s sales and how others should look at every connection as a business opportunity.

You’ll also hear how Moneyball has carved out its own niche in the retail space through 3 areas that any business can take advantage of. 

Anyone who’s ever run a business knows it can be a delicate dance to manage everything – sometimes literally! In this episode, you’ll find out how Stacy Tuschl started her own dance studio at the age of 18 and turned it into a multi-million dollar business before becoming a small business growth coach. 

Stacy is big on setting goals and finds that the fewer goals she hits, the more success she actually has. She’ll explain how it pays to think big.

You’ll also learn why striving for perfection can actually hurt your business and how you can start out with just a few clients and still scale if you do things right. 

There’s no substitute for hard work. It’s a lesson Matt Gouge learned from his father, who never missed a day of work as a truck driver. It’s the same lesson that has made Matt a successful mortgage broker. In this episode, you’ll find out how Matt has grinded every step of the way to build his business.

A natural at sales and marketing, Matt had to learn how to lead. He’ll explain how building trust with your team enables you to grow and scale your business.

Matt also talks about his love for advising and helping people, including why adding value without expecting anything in return will help your business over the long haul.