The Authority Company

In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with Rick Tollakson, CEO of Hubbell Realty Company and author of Think Bigger, Lead Better: Eight to Great Principles for Organizational Success. For more than 20 years, Rick has shaped Hubbell into one of Iowa’s most respected real estate organizations, known for its “Extreme Builds” and deep community involvement. Rick shares how a chance meeting with Sister Stella Neill changed the trajectory of his leadership philosophy, inspiring him to “think bigger” and challenge others to do the same. He discusses how empathy and passion drive company culture, what it takes to balance entrepreneurial freedom with accountability, and how to build a lasting legacy through people and purpose.

In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with Rosemary Everton, author of Maid in America: A Journey of Resilience, Determination, and the American Dream. Her story begins on a small Delaware farm and leads to building a thriving cleaning company that now employs hundreds. Along the way, she overcame teenage motherhood, personal loss, and countless setbacks through faith, hard work, and grit. Rose-mary shares how a letter she wrote about returning to school caught the attention of President George H.W. Bush, why she believes success comes down to focus and effort, and what she’s learned from over 50 years of marriage and entrepreneurship. Rosemary’s journey is proof that the American dream still lives—if you’re willing to work for it.

In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with orthodontist and author Dr. Emily Taing Watson to explore her family’s remarkable story of resilience, faith, and perseverance. Drawing from her book Roots of Resilience: Lessons in Courage, Family, and the Power of Showing Up Every Day, Emily reflects on her parents’ escape from Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era and how their courage and tireless work ethic shaped her life and values. Emily shares vivid memories of growing up in her family’s donut shop in Indiana, the lessons she absorbed about gratitude and grit, and the challenges of building her own thriving orthodontic practice. She discusses the importance of empathy in leadership, the long road to building the right team, and how her parents’ sacrifices still guide her approach to business and motherhood. This is a moving conversation about family legacy, cultural identity, and the mindset needed to build a meaningful life from humble beginnings. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or first-generation success story, Emily’s journey will remind you why showing up every day—with courage and consistency—matters most.

On this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with Dr. Lisa Piercey, physician, investor, and former Tennessee Commissioner of Health. Lisa shares how she went from corporate healthcare to entrepreneurship through acquisition, building and growing small businesses while balancing life as a mother of four.

She talks about: * The turning point that led her from practicing medicine to earning an MBA instead of having a fifth child * Lessons learned running Tennessee’s health department during the pandemic * Why she buys profitable, scalable businesses and how she improves them with data and processes * The risks and rewards of leaving a steady job to become a business owner * Actionable advice for writing your own “search thesis”

if you want to acquire a business This conversation is packed with practical insights for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing, or making a major career pivot.

What happens when empathy meets innovation? Joe Pardavila sits down with Chris Kaufman, co-founder and former Chief Creative Officer of StockX, to explore how people-first leadership drives creativity and business success.

Chris shares:
• How his obsession with design evolved into a passion for problem-solving
• The story behind StockX and its revolutionary “stock market for sneakers” model
• Why authenticity and empathy are the most underrated leadership tools
• Lessons from failed rebrands like Cracker Barrel and Tropicana
• How to build trust, psychological safety, and a culture of listening at work

He also reflects on how his parents’ example of kindness shaped his leadership philosophy and inspired his new book, Empathy at Work: Building Better Businesses Through People-First Leadership.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation to learn how empathy fuels creativity, culture, and long-term success.

In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, host Joe Pardavila talks with Davin Kazama, an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and leadership mentor whose philosophy blends family, humility, and the Hawaiian spirit of aloha. Drawing from three generations of entrepreneurs, Davin shares how his grandfather’s grit, his father’s wisdom, and his own dedication to family shaped his leadership style and life purpose. They discuss Davin’s book, Making Waves: Inspiring Transformational Leadership Through Positivity, Persistence, and Aloha, and unpack the meaning of “leading with aloha”—leading with compassion, service, and authenticity. Davin reflects on the lessons of resilience passed down from his immigrant grandparents, the balance between ambition and gratitude, and how the Hawaiian concept of ohana (family) guides how he builds teams and relationships. From ringing the NASDAQ bell to teaching his daughters about legacy, Davin’s story is a masterclass in leading with heart while staying true to your roots.

From being mistaken for a secretary and told to “get the coffee” to becoming CEO of a New York Stock Exchange company, Suzanne Hopgood’s career is anything but ordinary. In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with Suzanne, author of Get Your Own Coffee: Underestimated, Overlooked, and Now the Boss, to explore how she turned underestimation into strength and built a legacy of resilience and principled leadership.

Suzanne shares: * The three-minute conversation that made her Chairman and CEO of a public company * The “get your own coffee” moment that inspired her book’s title * Why women were once forced to compete for a single seat at the table * How friendship and support networks made her leadership journey possible * Her candid perspective on being “good at getting fired” and how setbacks opened new doors

Along the way, she reflects on her marriage to Frank, her biggest supporter, and the life they built together filled with adventure, laughter, and big dreams. If you’re interested in leadership, resilience, or breaking barriers, this conversation delivers timeless lessons from someone who has lived them.

Before “college isn’t worth it” became a popular idea, Dr. Kenan Sahin had already lived every side of the American education system—as a student, professor, innovator, and entrepreneur.

 In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, he joins host Joe Pardavila to share insights from his new book, American Educational Excellence: The Foundation of Our Values, Democracy, and Market Capitalism.

Dr. Sahin explains why U.S. education remains the most dynamic system in the world, why it’s tied directly to democracy and innovation, and why calls to abandon college miss the bigger picture.

He also breaks down: * How comfort and prosperity can distort our view of progress * Why American education produces more adaptable and entrepreneurial * thinkers than any other system * The historical roots of collaboration between universities, business, and government * Why tenure and academic independence still matter * The future of learning in the age of automation and AI

If you’ve ever questioned the role of higher education—or the future of learning in America—this conversation will change how you think about both.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and learn more at theauthoritycompany.com.

Former LA Clippers and UTA CTO Charles Sims, known as The Hurricane CTO, joins Joe Pardavila to share how chaos, pressure, and persistence led to the creation of his Hurricane Methodology—a framework designed to help startups move from idea to execution.Drawing from decades of experience in both corporate tech and venture investing, Charles explains how founders can close the gap between capability and performance, avoid tech sprawl, and build modular systems that scale. He also reveals how AI and empathy are reshaping what it means to lead in the modern startup world.If you’re a founder, investor, or operator tired of analysis paralysis, this episode will help you reframe how you think about progress, execution, and value creation.

💡 What You’ll Learn
• How high-pressure environments shaped the Hurricane Methodology
• The difference between technical excellence and practical execution
• How to identify and close the “human execution gap”
• Why modular systems thinking keeps startups nimble and scalable
• How AI helps bridge communication gaps between founders, teams, and investors⏱️

Episode Highlights
[00:02:00] Charles recounts his time at the LA Clippers, where quick thinking during tech crises earned him the nickname “The Hurricane.”
[00:05:00] From CTO to Investor Lessons from technical firefighting that now guide his approach to evaluating and scaling startups.
[00:08:00] What Traditional Due Diligence Misses - Why numbers only tell half the story—and how people, processes, and purpose drive true startup value.
[00:10:00] The danger of overpromising and underdelivering, and how agile execution keeps teams focused.
[00:12:00] Binary Troubleshooting & Systems - Thinking How founders can use structured questioning and modular design to find clarity in complex problems.
[00:15:00] Tech Stack Sprawl - Charles breaks down the mess of overlapping tools and offers a plan for simplifying how teams communicate.
[00:18:00] Build, Buy, or Configure - Why configuration beats customization and how to make smarter decisions about your tools and systems.
[00:20:00] Inside SkaFld Studio - How SkaFld Studio helps startups get operational fast with frameworks that drive execution and alignment.
[00:25:00] Real-World Case Study - A client story showing how productizing services and standardizing systems can unlock exponential growth.
[00:31:00] Pragmatism Over Perfection - Why simplicity and adaptability often outperform “technical excellence.”
[00:33:00] AI’s Role in the Hurricane Methodology - How artificial intelligence bridges communication gaps and amplifies human problem-solving.

• Website: skafldstudio.com
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: Charles Sims

In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila talks with Dr. Midhat Zwayen, president of Dijlah Consulting Engineers and author of Leadership Beyond Borders: A Western Executive’s Guide to the Iraqi Business Mindset. Dr. Zwayen shares how his upbringing during Iraq’s transformation—from a modern, globally connected nation to decades of dictatorship and back toward recovery—shaped his views on leadership, resilience, and collaboration. He explains how Western executives can engage meaningfully in Iraq’s rebuilding economy, the misconceptions that keep investors away, and why early partnerships matter for multinational growth.

They discuss: * Iraq’s evolving relationship with the West and lessons from its modern history * How Iraq’s new generation and technology are reshaping business culture * What Western leaders should know before entering the Iraqi market * Why understanding local culture is key to long-term success

A rare, candid look into leadership across borders—and how cultural understanding can drive opportunity and progress. Watch now to learn how Dr. Zwayen is helping bridge worlds and redefine leadership in one of the oldest civilizations on Earth.