What does it take to compete at the highest levels of sport, build companies from the ground up, and redefine success as life evolves?

In this episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, Tinja Anderson sits down with Mike Anderson — world champion sailor, two-time Olympian, Managing Director at George Smith Partners, and Co-Founder of AHM Group — to explore how excellence transforms across seasons of life.

From Olympic campaigns to structuring complex real estate capital stacks, Mike shares how his definition of success shifted from chasing accolades to building teams, leading with integrity, and showing up fully as a father and partner.

Together, they unpack the mindset shifts required to navigate pressure, partnership, risk, and reinvention — both on the water and in the boardroom.

You’ll learn:

✔️ Why attitude is the only thing you truly control

✔️ The difference between chasing outcomes and mastering process

✔️ How elite sport translates directly into leadership and capital markets

✔️ Why no real success is achieved alone

✔️ The underrated performance skill that sustains long-term growth

✔️ How patience and integrity create durable excellence

Whether you're an athlete, founder, executive, or parent navigating your own next chapter, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what excellence really means — and how to pursue it sustainably.

Connect with Mike:

LinkedIn: Mike Anderson-Mitterling

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

TikTok: @tinjaanderson_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

What really separates smart financial strategy from noise, hype, and flat‑out misinformation? On this episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, host Tinja Anderson sits down again with Evan Gruchot, Founder and CIO of EG Capital Holdings, to dismantle the biggest financial myths holding people back. With experience managing hundreds of millions in assets and consulting across private equity, venture capital, and RIA firms, Evan brings clarity to a world full of conflicting advice.

This episode breaks down the truth about advisors, debt, diversification, and how real investing actually works. From understanding fiduciary standards to evaluating fees, strategy alignment, and risk, Evan explains what most people overlook—and how making informed decisions can dramatically change long‑term outcomes.

You’ll learn:

• Why not all financial advisors are the same—and how to vet the right one

• The real difference between investing and gambling

• How to think strategically about debt, leverage, and opportunity cost

• When insurance is a smart tool (and when it’s oversold)

• How fee structures impact your long‑term returns

• Why education and transparency should drive every financial decision

If you’re ready to cut through misinformation, choose the right advisors, and build a more strategic financial plan, this episode gives you the framework to do it with confidence.

Connect with Evan:

Instagram: @egcapitalholdings

LinkedIn: Evan Gruchot

Website: eg-capital.co

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

What does it take for founders, family businesses, and leaders to navigate critical transitions, ignite innovation, and uncover fulfillment along the way? In this episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, Tinja Anderson sits down with Kasey D’Amato, a strategic advisor and executive coach who brings two decades of experience and unparalleled expertise in reshaping leadership and decision-making dynamics.

Kasey, who has launched three companies and continues to consult multi-generational businesses, shares her insights on scaling with clarity, addressing emotional roadblocks, and empowering leaders to align business goals with personal joy. Consider her your real-world Wendy Rhoades, helping leaders bridge the gap between operational data and emotional intelligence to make decisions that withstand transition and define legacy.

You’ll learn:

✔️How to blend data with emotional intelligence for smarter decision-making

✔️Key strategies for navigating growth, succession, and inter-generational leadership

✔️Why clarity on vision and roles is the bedrock of successful transitions

✔️Frameworks for processing fear, uncertainty, and doubt to drive innovation

✔️The three "who’s" every founder needs in their corner to excel

✔️Why perfection is an outdated mindset and resilience is the real key to leadership

If you’re leading a business and ready to embrace the next phase of growth—whether an operational pivot, succession plan, or personal reinvention—this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped to move forward with confidence.

Connect with Kasey:

Instagram: @kaseydamato

LinkedIn: Kasey D'Amato

Website: www.kaseydamato.com

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

TikTok: @tinjaanderson_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

Have you ever wondered what it truly takes to push past burnout, master discipline, and elevate every part of your life? In this solo episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, Tinja shares a year-in-review of her 2025 peak performance journey, packed with lessons, challenges, and triumphs. From tackling 75 Hard to competing in triathlons, HYROX races, CrossFit, and endurance events, Tinja walks you through her mindset, training strategies, and the power of stacking disciplines for exponential growth.

Discover how she transitioned from years of burnout to an athletic comeback, and how consistent, strategic effort built toward an unstoppable momentum across fitness, personal development, and professional achievements.

What you'll learn:

• The importance of returning to the fundamentals, from managing stress to strategic planning
• Lessons from training and competing in triathlons, endurance events, and hybrid sports like HYROX
• Why motivation doesn’t matter—it’s discipline and structure that drive results
• How to understand and train through different performance "seasons" without burnout
• How to shift body composition, rebuild endurance, and optimize nutrition for peak performance
• Why consistent small wins always outweigh the pursuit of perfection

If you're ready to raise the bar in every area of your life, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration to help you design your path to excellence.

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

TikTok: @tinjaanderson_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

What does it take to transform a business from good to exceptional, and create authentic, innovative brands that make an indelible mark? On this episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, host Tinja Anderson is joined by Jacques Spitzer, visionary storyteller and founder of Raindrop, a top creative agency responsible for over a billion views and sales, working with iconic brands like Dr. Squatch, Manscaped, Lume, and Dude Wipes.

Jacques delves into the philosophy behind success at scale: fostering a culture of “partnering generously,” staying grounded in purpose, and building creativity into every layer of operations. From crafting viral, transformative campaigns to driving strategic innovation with tools like AI, Jacques breaks down how creating exceptional content and values-based collaboration lead to phenomenal results.

You’ll learn:

• Jacques’ definition of excellence and how Raindrop’s success stems from strong company culture and constant vision recasting 
• The process behind crafting campaign strategies that hit viral success 
• How to balance operational excellence and groundbreaking creativity to remain industry-leading
• Actionable advice for investing in your team, innovation, and partnerships for sustainable growth
• Why storytelling and authenticity are the keys to building brands that resonate

If you’re ready to refine your creative process, elevate your brand strategy, and gain insights into how to scale impactfully, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways.

Connect with Jaques:

Instagram: @jacquesspitzer

X: @jacquesdrop

YouTube: Marketing People Love

LinkedIn: Jacques Spitzer

TikTok: @jacquesspitzer

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

TikTok: @tinjaanderson_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

Objections are an inevitable part of leadership, entrepreneurship, sales, and even personal relationships. But what if objections weren’t obstacles but opportunities in disguise? In this solo episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, host Tinja dives into proven strategies to identify, understand, and overcome objections in every arena. Whether you’re leading a team, negotiating a deal, or striving to create buy-in, Tinja’s frameworks and insights will equip you with the tools to handle objections with confidence and turn them into opportunities for success.

From applying cognitive psychology to mastering communication intelligence, this episode explores how to align perspectives, foster collaboration, and achieve win-win outcomes with precision and empathy.

You’ll learn:

• How to decode the deeper concerns behind objections
• Strategies to build credibility, trust, and long-term relationships
• The critical role of cognitive dissonance in objection handling and decision-making
• How to communicate with clarity and alignment to ensure your intended message resonates
• Proven techniques for handling objections in sales, leadership, and high-stakes conversations

If you’ve ever struggled with hesitation, conflict, or pushback, this episode offers clear, actionable steps to overcome barriers with poise and purpose.

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

TikTok: @tinjaanderson_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

Is your business scaling without sustainability? Does your team feel misaligned or your vision unclear? In this special solo episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, your host Tinja strips down what it takes to build a high-performing, scalable business that thrives on alignment and clarity. Drawing from years of experience building strategies that connect vision with execution, Tinja introduces the Strategic Dashboard — a one-page, actionable playbook for business excellence.

Learn how to craft a roadmap that begins with defining your vision, mission, and core values, and expands into critical strategies, KPIs, and team engagement. This is your guide to creating cultures of loyalty, minimizing chaos, and building without burnout. Tinja also shares insights into messaging fundamentals, communication intelligence, and adapting leadership styles to foster collaboration and mitigate conflict.

You’ll learn:

• How to create and implement a Strategic Dashboard to unite vision and execution
• Steps to align your team with purpose and build loyalty through trust
• The importance of core values and defining them intentionally within your culture
• Metrics to track performance and strategies for scaling with efficiency
• Why communication intelligence is a hidden key to organizational success

If you’re ready to turn your business into a well-oiled, high-performing machine and realize sustainable growth, this episode will give you the tools to make it happen.

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

TikTok: @tinjaanderson_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

How do you grow from nothing to building businesses worth billions, while leading with purpose and creating impact? On this episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, host Tinja Anderson welcomes Brandon Dewan, Co-Founder and CEO of Eagle Group, a Houston-based venture capital firm with a diversified portfolio generating over $4 billion in total revenue. Recognized as EY National Entrepreneur of the Year and a passionate philanthropist, Brandon shares his journey of relentless pursuit — from dominating markets to mentoring the next generation of leaders.

Delve into Brandon's mindset on success, the strategies he uses to build unstoppable teams, and how he balances entrepreneurial ambition with family values and community leadership. This inspiring conversation will leave you looking at what’s possible in your own life and leadership.

You’ll learn:

• How to turn vision into actionable steps and scale businesses across industries
• The importance of recruiting and nurturing talent with resilience and grit
• Why clarity, focus, and adaptability are key for navigating market cycles
• The role of family, philanthropy, and legacy in creating balanced success
• Insights into innovative ventures like Colel Health and Cape Horn Tequila

Whether you’re a business leader, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about what it takes to achieve scalable success, this episode will challenge and inspire you to think bigger and lead with intention.

Connect with Brandon Dewan:

Instagram: @BrandonDewan

Eagle Group: EagleGroupCo.com

Learn more about Colel Health: ColelHealth.com

Learn about Cape Horn Tequila: CapeHornTequila.com

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

What does it truly mean to be coachable, and how do leaders create momentum to achieve excellence? On this episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, host Tinja Anderson is joined by Dean Miles, founder of Bridgepoint Coaching and Strategy Group and trusted advisor to high-performing leaders worldwide. From his unconventional early career as an undercover operative to decades of executive coaching, Dean shares hard-earned wisdom on the importance of trust, self-awareness, and the relentless pursuit of growth.

This deep-dive conversation explores how honesty, discipline, and moment-to-moment adjustments can transform both individual and organizational success. Dean discusses his philosophy on momentum as true excellence, why "enough" is a vital metric for leadership, and how coachability shapes careers, cultures, and legacies.

You’ll learn:

• Why brutal honesty is the foundation of being coachable
• How to create environments that inspire discretionary effort and trust
• The role of balance and simplicity in avoiding burnout while maintaining growth
• Tangible strategies for aligning vision with action and developing self-integrity
• What momentum means in leadership and how to sustain it
• How the principles of trust-building from Dean’s undercover career translate into the boardroom

If you’re looking to unlock deeper levels of personal and professional potential, this episode will inspire and motivate you to embrace change and pursue excellence with purpose.

Connect with Dean:

LinkedIn: Dean Miles - Executive Coach

Learn more about Bridgepoint Coaching: www.bridgepointgroup.com

Book Contribution: Becoming Coachable by Jacquelyne Lane and Scott Ozman

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast

How do you unlock potential, overcome self-doubt, and create scalable impact in your personal and professional life? On this episode of The Pursuit of Excellence, host Tinja Anderson is joined by Allison Walsh — best-selling author, speaker, success coach, former Miss Florida, and founder of She Believed She Could. With a focus on empowering women, Allison shares her expertise in positive psychology, strength-based coaching, and building confidence to help ambitious women break past barriers and reach their highest potential.

From fostering a growth-oriented mindset to creating sustainable routines that prevent burnout, Allison also details her journey of transforming her platform through the Miss America Organization into a springboard for leadership, advocacy, and entrepreneurial success.

You’ll learn:

• Why mindset and consistency are key to personal and professional excellence
• How positive psychology can empower women to embrace their strengths and achieve big goals
• Strategies to overcome imposter syndrome and cultivate confidence
• The power of “being in the right rooms” and building community for growth
• Insights on creating scalable impact while staying true to your values
• How Allison’s coaching initiatives, including Pageant Success and She Believed She Could, are equipping women to shine

If you’re ready to redefine success, elevate your mindset, and take the next steps toward your goals, this conversation will inspire and equip you with actionable strategies for living and working with purpose.

Connect with Allison:

Instagram - @allisonwalsh

Website - allisonwalshconsulting.com

Book and Podcast - “She Believed She Could”

Connect with Tinja:

Instagram: @tinjaanderson, @pursuit_of_excellence_pod

Podcast Website: The Pursuit of Excellence Podcast