In this episode, host Steven Bunker speaks with Ellis, President of Black Tie Moving, about building a customer-centric moving company and scaling through culture, leadership, and innovation. The conversation centers on creating a premium service experience, aligning teams with purpose, and leveraging AI to enhance operations and customer satisfaction.

What You’ll Learn

• How a negative customer experience inspired the creation of a premium, “white glove” moving service
• Why strong culture and clearly defined standard operating procedures are foundational to scaling a service business
• The importance of hiring, training, and aligning employees around both personal and organizational goals
• How community involvement and partnerships drive sustainable growth and brand trust
• What to look for in franchise leaders, combining executive mindset with hands-on execution
• How AI can improve customer experience through faster response times, communication, and operational efficiency
• Why expanding services beyond core offerings can unlock new revenue streams and deepen customer relationships
• How staying connected to frontline employees and customers leads to better decision-making and retention

Ellis emphasizes that business success ultimately comes down to people—hiring the right individuals, developing them intentionally, and staying closely connected to both employees and customers. By combining strong culture, operational discipline, and emerging technologies like AI, leaders can create seamless customer experiences while building resilient, scalable organizations. The episode highlights the power of being present, listening actively, and continuously evolving to meet customer needs.

To learn more about Ellis and their work, visit blacktimemoving.com

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Beejal Shah, President of North America at Launch Ventures, about her journey from software engineering to leading a global product development firm and helping startups and businesses scale through technology. The conversation centers on bridging the gap between engineering and business strategy to drive meaningful growth.

What You’ll Learn

• How transitioning from engineering to product leadership can unlock broader business impact
• Why understanding both technical and business perspectives is critical in building successful products
• The importance of aligning engineering efforts with business goals and funding milestones
• How startups can effectively scale by building the right technical team early on
• What differentiates product-focused engineering teams from traditional development teams
• The role of empathy in supporting founders and understanding their entrepreneurial journey
• How established companies can modernize legacy systems to stay competitive
• Why global, distributed teams can be a strategic advantage in scaling technology

Beejal Shah highlights the value of combining deep technical expertise with a strong business mindset to help companies grow efficiently and sustainably. By focusing on product outcomes rather than just code output, Launch Ventures enables both startups and established organizations to navigate technological transformation and achieve their next stage of growth.

To learn more about Beejal Shah and their work, visit launchventures.co

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner speaks with Miguel Adao, President and CEO of Voler Systems, about leading a long-standing engineering firm and driving innovation in medical, industrial, and IoT device development. The conversation centers on leadership, adaptability, and building high-impact technology solutions in a rapidly evolving landscape.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Voler Systems supports companies in developing complex hardware, firmware, and software for medical and industrial devices

• The importance of integrating multidisciplinary engineering teams to accelerate innovation

• Lessons in stepping into leadership roles during periods of transition and uncertainty

• How to balance legacy company culture with modern growth strategies

• Why clear communication and alignment are critical when managing technical teams and client expectations

• The role of curiosity and continuous learning in staying competitive in the tech industry

• How strong client relationships contribute to long-term business success and trust

• The challenges and opportunities involved in bringing new technologies from concept to market

This conversation highlights the intersection of leadership and technical expertise, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and vision in sustaining and growing a technology-driven business. Miguel Adao shares practical insights on guiding teams, evolving a legacy organization, and delivering meaningful innovation that impacts industries and improves lives.

To learn more about Miguel Adao and his work, visit volersystems.com.

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play, about the science of play and its critical role in human development, leadership, and innovation. The conversation explores how play influences everything from mental health to business strategy in an increasingly digital world.

What You’ll Learn

• Why play is a fundamental human need that impacts brain development, emotional health, and social connection
• The surprising research linking lack of childhood play to behavioral and psychological challenges
• How play extends beyond childhood and remains essential for adults, leaders, and organizations
• The role of play in fostering creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving in modern workplaces
• How brands and organizations are leveraging play and nostalgia to create deeper human connections
• Why educating leaders and institutions about the science of play is key to cultural and organizational change
• How small, mission-driven organizations can scale impact through partnerships and licensing models
• The importance of balancing technology with human-centered experiences rooted in play

This conversation highlights that play is not a luxury or distraction, but a foundational element of human thriving and innovation. Mia Sundstrom reframes play as a strategic and scientific tool that can reshape how individuals, organizations, and societies approach growth, connection, and well-being in a rapidly evolving world.

To learn more about Mia Sundstrom and their work, visit nifplay.org

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Allison Ataide, founder of Lightning Animation and a seasoned animation professional, about her journey from aspiring artist to studio owner and the power of storytelling through animation. The conversation explores her career path, lessons from the animation industry, and how creative skills translate into business growth.

What You’ll Learn

• How early exposure and mentorship can shape a long-term creative career path
• The importance of persistence and resilience when navigating competitive creative industries
• Key lessons learned from working on large-scale projects like Hogwarts Legacy
• Why storytelling is at the core of impactful animation and audience engagement
• How setbacks, including failed startups, can provide valuable business insight
• The transition from freelancer to business owner and what drives that shift
• How animation can be applied across industries, from entertainment to education and marketing
• Why business owners should think strategically about using animation rather than trying to apply it everywhere

Allison’s journey highlights how passion, adaptability, and continuous learning can turn a creative skill into a scalable business. By combining technical expertise with strong storytelling and a willingness to embrace new opportunities, she demonstrates how animation can be both an artistic pursuit and a powerful tool for communication and growth across industries.

To learn more about Allison Ataide and their work, visit LightningAnimation.com.

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Kyle Wiggins, CEO of UX Wealth Partners and founder of RiskDNA, about transforming the financial advisory space through technology, transparency, and advisor-first innovation. The conversation centers on how legacy systems and industry resistance create friction—and how modern, integrated solutions can unlock better outcomes for advisors and their clients.

What You’ll Learn

• Why many financial institutions resist innovation and how that impacts advisors and clients
• How Kyle’s early career shaped his commitment to transparency and integrity in business
• The importance of listening to customer feedback and building solutions that truly serve user needs
• How fragmented technology stacks create inefficiencies, and what integration can solve
• Why simplifying operations (trading, billing, reporting) can help advisors focus on higher-value work
• How small, tech-enabled teams can outperform larger organizations through scalability and automation
• The role of AI and advanced technology in modernizing wealth management
• Why breaking into traditional industries requires persistence against entrenched systems

Kyle Wiggins shares a candid look at the challenges of innovating within a legacy-driven industry and the conviction required to challenge the status quo. His journey highlights the power of building with purpose, staying aligned with customer needs, and leveraging technology to remove friction. Ultimately, the conversation underscores that meaningful progress often comes from questioning long-standing norms and designing solutions that prioritize people over process.

To learn more about Kyle Wiggins and their work, visit uxwp.com

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mick McKeown, founder of Penovia, about navigating and winning government contracts. Mick shares his unconventional path into procurement and how businesses can tap into public sector opportunities to drive long-term growth.

What You’ll Learn

• How government procurement works and why it’s often misunderstood by businesses
• The advantages of pursuing government contracts as a growth strategy
• Why small businesses are uniquely positioned to win a share of public spending
• The importance of understanding compliance, processes, and timelines in government work
• How to position your business effectively to stand out in competitive bids
• The role of persistence and consistency in securing long-term government clients
• Why government contracts can create stable, high-value “anchor” clients for scaling businesses
• How storytelling and relationship-building can differentiate you in a highly structured environment

Mick McKeown highlights that government contracting is one of the most overlooked yet powerful avenues for business growth, offering stability and long-term revenue potential. By demystifying the procurement process and encouraging businesses to see opportunity where others see complexity, he makes a compelling case for why more companies should pursue public sector work—and why there’s no reason your business shouldn’t be one of them.

To learn more about Mick McKeown and their work, visit penovia.com.

In this episode, host Taylor sits down with Pulak and Priyanka Sharma, co-founders of Kazmira and experts in pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid manufacturing, to discuss the evolution of CBD from a fragmented retail product to a standardized, prescription-based medical solution.

What You’ll Learn

• Why standardization and quality control are critical in emerging industries like cannabinoids
• How Pulak and Priyanka leveraged chemical engineering and oil & gas experience to build a regulated healthcare platform
• The shift from commoditized retail CBD to clinically guided, prescription-based treatments
• How vertical integration enables better control, trust, and outcomes in healthcare products
• The role of telemedicine in expanding access to personalized treatments
• Why personalization is becoming essential in modern medicine due to diverse patient populations
• Key macro trends shaping healthcare, including EHR adoption, telehealth growth, and physician shortages
• How compounded pharmacy models are driving the future of customized medicine

Pulak and Priyanka highlight how aligning with long-term healthcare trend, standardization, personalization, and digital access, can transform a volatile market into a trusted medical ecosystem. Their journey reflects the importance of building infrastructure and credibility early in emerging industries to create lasting impact and scalable growth.

To learn more about Pulak and Priyanka Sharma and their work, visit kazmiratx.com

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Arto Bendiken, founder of Asimov Systems and a seasoned technologist with decades of experience in software and data systems, to explore the future of personal intelligence, data ownership, and building startups at the edge of innovation.

What You’ll Learn

• Why building multiple startups teaches resilience more through failure than success
• How geographic location, particularly the Bay Area, still plays a major role in fundraising outcomes
• The importance of bootstrapping in developing discipline, efficiency, and long-term sustainability
• What “personal intelligence” means and why it represents a new category in AI
• How fragmented personal data limits the true potential of AI in everyday life
• The parallels between enterprise data systems and the future of personal data ownership
• Why privacy-first, on-device AI solutions are critical for user trust and adoption
• How being early to a market can create both strategic advantage and messaging challenges

This conversation highlights the intersection of deep technical expertise and entrepreneurial persistence, emphasizing that the next wave of AI innovation will center on empowering individuals with control over their own data. Arto’s vision challenges the status quo of cloud-based systems by advocating for secure, decentralized personal intelligence, while also underscoring the realities founders face when building ahead of the market.

To learn more about Arto Bendiken and their work, visit asimov.systems

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mark Stouse, CEO of Proof Analytics, about the evolution of marketing accountability and the role of causal AI in driving measurable business impact. The conversation centers on how organizations can move beyond guesswork to truly understand the return on their marketing investments.

What You’ll Learn

• Why traditional marketing metrics often fail to answer the CEO’s most important question: “What am I getting for my spend?”
• The difference between correlation and causation, and why it matters for decision-making
• How Mark Stouse’s experience at HP shaped his approach to marketing accountability
• The limitations of attribution models and why they can mislead businesses
• How causal AI helps organizations identify what actually drives outcomes
• The importance of aligning marketing with financial and operational goals
• Why many organizations struggle with data despite having more of it than ever
• How adopting a scientific mindset can transform marketing from a cost center into a growth driver

This conversation highlights a critical shift in modern marketing—from relying on assumptions and surface-level metrics to embracing rigorous, data-driven methodologies that prove real business impact. Mark Stouse emphasizes that organizations willing to adopt causal thinking and align marketing with executive priorities will be better positioned to drive sustainable growth and earn a stronger seat at the leadership table.

To learn more about Mark Stouse and their work, visit proofanalytics.ai