In this episode, Simon sits down once again with Shane Barker, tech entrepreneur, SaaS founder, digital marketing strategist, and CEO of TraceFuse, to explore what it really takes to transform a consulting business into a scalable software company.

Building on their previous conversation, Shane shares the behind-the-scenes story of launching TraceFuse—the first platform dedicated to removing Amazon reviews that violate Amazon's own policies. He discusses the challenges of pioneering a completely new market, validating an unproven business idea, assembling the right team, leveraging AI to scale operations, and creating systems that support sustainable growth.

The conversation dives deep into entrepreneurship, leadership, hiring, SaaS product development, automation, customer acquisition, and why founders must stay closely connected to their businesses while empowering great people to grow alongside them.

Whether you're a founder, consultant, SaaS entrepreneur, business owner, marketer, or startup leader, this episode offers practical insights on building products, leading teams, validating ideas, and scaling businesses successfully.

Key Moments

• Shane's entrepreneurial journey and the story behind founding TraceFuse

• Why solving real customer pain points is the foundation of every successful business

• Creating the first Amazon review removal service that complies with Amazon's policies

• The realities of being first to market—and surviving the learning curve

• Why business validation should happen before product development

• Building a company from a single idea into a growing SaaS business

• How Shane hired his first team members and scaled operations strategically

• The role of AI in automating manual review analysis and increasing efficiency

• Creating systems and processes that allow businesses to scale sustainably

• Lessons learned from managing sales, delegation, and automation

• The importance of ethical leadership and maintaining trust as a founder

• Common mistakes entrepreneurs make when building teams

• Productizing consulting expertise into recurring SaaS revenue

• Why founders should understand every part of their business before outsourcing

• Practical advice for validating ideas, managing cash flow, and launching new products

To learn more about Shane Barker, please visit her LinkedIn profile

To learn more about TraceFuse, please visit her website.

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022, he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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IHeartRadio

In this episode, Simon sits down with Tom Pucciarella, Chief Business Officer at Devo and Chief Revenue Officer at Strike48, an AI-powered cybersecurity platform designed to help organizations unlock value from their existing technology investments through intelligent automation and vendor-agnostic integration.

Drawing on his unique career spanning U.S. intelligence, management consulting, enterprise software, and cybersecurity leadership, Tom shares how Strike48 was built from within an established cybersecurity company rather than as a traditional startup. The conversation explores the challenges of launching an AI-native business inside an enterprise, balancing startup agility with corporate structure, and why listening to customers is the ultimate competitive advantage.

Tom also discusses the realities of today's AI cybersecurity market, building trust with enterprise buyers, product-market fit, and how organizations can innovate without forcing customers to replace the technology they've already invested in.

Whether you're a cybersecurity executive, startup founder, product leader, sales executive, or technology innovator, this episode offers practical lessons on innovation, customer-centric growth, AI strategy, and building successful products inside large organizations.

Key Moments

1. Introduction to Tom Pucciarella and his unconventional career journey

2. From U.S. intelligence to cybersecurity leadership

3. Why Devo created Strike48 instead of adding another product feature

4. Building a vendor-agnostic AI cybersecurity platform

5. Creating a startup inside an established enterprise

6. Advantages and challenges of enterprise-backed innovation

7. How customer feedback shaped Strike48 before launch

8. Why timing matters when launching new AI products

9. Educating the cybersecurity market versus selling software

10. Building trust with enterprise customers in the AI era

11. Maintaining startup speed inside a large organization

12. Tom's advice for founders building new ventures within existing companies

13. The importance of listening to customers before scaling

14. What's next for Strike48 and the future of AI-driven cybersecurity

To learn more about Tom Pucciarella, please visit her LinkedIn profile

To learn more about Devo, please visit her website.

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio

In this episode, Simon sits down with Molly Rose Speed, Founder of the Virtual Assistant Academy and an online operations expert who has spent more than 13 years helping entrepreneurs build efficient businesses through systems, delegation, and high-performing remote teams.

Molly shares how leaving corporate life led her to become one of the early pioneers in the virtual assistant industry. She explains how she transformed a simple freelance business into a successful academy and placement agency that trains and connects certified virtual assistants with entrepreneurs across the United States.

The conversation explores when business owners should hire their first virtual assistant, how to delegate effectively, the importance of documenting systems, and the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make during hiring and onboarding. Molly also discusses productivity, time freedom, creating scalable businesses, and why AI is becoming an essential tool for both business owners and virtual assistants.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, freelancer, coach, consultant, or someone looking to build a more efficient business, this episode provides practical strategies for outsourcing, building systems, and creating a business that gives you more freedom instead of more stress.

Key Moments

1. Molly Rose Speed's entrepreneurial journey from corporate life to founding the Virtual Assistant Academy

2. How the pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual assistants

3. When entrepreneurs should hire their first virtual assistant

4. Identifying which business tasks should be delegated

5. How to interview and evaluate a great virtual assistant

6. Building trust and overcoming the fear of delegation

7. Why documenting your processes before hiring saves time

8. The biggest onboarding mistakes business owners make

9. Creating communication systems for remote teams

10. How virtual assistants create time freedom for entrepreneurs

11. AI's impact on remote work and virtual assistants

12. Molly's top advice for aspiring virtual assistants and business owners

13. What's next for Molly Rose Speed and the Virtual Assistant Academy

To learn more about Molly Rose Speed, please visit her LinkedIn profileTo learn more about Virtual Assistant Academy, please visit her website.

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio

In this episode, Simon sits down with Kelly Resendez , President of Minerva, Strategic Advisor at GoodLeap, Founder of GoBundance Women, bestselling author, speaker, and host of the Power Up Your Life Podcast.

Kelly shares her remarkable journey from becoming one of the top performers in the mortgage industry to leading high-growth technology companies before answering a deeper calling to transform women's healthcare. She discusses how personal experiences, leadership, and entrepreneurship led her to co-found Minerva—a company focused on helping women optimize their health through personalized hormone care, telemedicine, and technology.

The conversation explores the challenges of building a healthcare business in a highly regulated industry, validating product-market fit, creating scalable business models, leveraging AI responsibly, and why solving the right problem is the foundation of every successful company.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, healthcare leader, startup founder, executive, or anyone passionate about innovation and leadership, this episode delivers practical lessons on building purpose-driven businesses that create lasting impact.

Key Moments

1. Kelly's entrepreneurial journey and early success in the mortgage industry

2. How personal growth reshaped her leadership philosophy

3. Why she founded GoBundance Women to empower female entrepreneurs

4. The inspiration behind launching Minerva and improving women's healthcare

5. Understanding perimenopause, menopause, and hormone health

6. Why hormone optimization is about long-term health—not just symptom relief

7. How Minerva combines telemedicine, wearable technology, and personalized care

8. Validating product-market fit in the healthcare industry

9. The importance of solving real customer problems before building products

10. Lessons learned scaling businesses in highly regulated industries

11. Navigating compliance, regulations, and telemedicine across all 50 U.S. states

12. Customer acquisition strategies using affiliate partnerships

13. Why entrepreneurs must understand CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) and LTV (Lifetime Value)

14. How AI is transforming marketing—and why authenticity still wins

15. Kelly's three essential lessons for founders building successful businesses

16. What's next for Minerva, GoBundance Women, and Kelly's upcoming book Just Right

To learn more about Kelly Resendez, please visit her LinkedIn profileTo learn more about  Minerva, please visit her website.

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio

In this episode, Simon sits down with Karla Reffold, Chief Insights Officer at Surefire Cyber, where she transforms real-world cyber incident data into actionable business intelligence that helps organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

Drawing on her unique journey from founding one of the UK's first cybersecurity recruitment firms to leading cyber insights at Surefire Cyber, Karla shares practical lessons on entrepreneurship, cybersecurity leadership, ransomware trends, AI, deepfakes, hiring top talent, and why business leaders must view cybersecurity as a business risk—not simply an IT problem.

The conversation explores how organizations can improve cyber resilience through fundamental security practices, why networking remains one of the most valuable career assets, and how diverse perspectives create stronger cybersecurity teams.

Whether you're a CEO, cybersecurity leader, entrepreneur, recruiter, or technology professional, this episode delivers practical advice on leadership, cyber resilience, business growth, and the future of cybersecurity.

Key Moments

1. Karla's journey into cybersecurity and launching her recruitment business

2. Building and successfully exiting one of the UK's first cybersecurity recruitment firms

3. Expanding into the US market and lessons from entrepreneurship

4. What a Chief Insights Officer actually does

5. Turning cybersecurity data into business insights

6. Why organizations struggle to connect cyber risk with business decisions

7. The importance of backups and multi-factor authentication (MFA)

8. How AI is changing cybersecurity—and what isn't changing

9. The growing threat of deepfakes and AI-powered fraud

10. Common mistakes companies make when hiring cybersecurity professionals

11. Why networking creates better career opportunities than résumés alone

12. The role of diversity in building stronger cybersecurity teams

13. Karla's advice for building a personal brand and industry reputation

14. Quick-fire leadership lessons every executive should know

To learn more about Karla Reffold, please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  Surefire Cyber, please visit her website.

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio

In this episode, Simon sits down with Jeff Majka, Founder & CEO of Security Bulldog, an AI-driven cybersecurity intelligence platform designed to help organizations make faster, smarter security decisions.

With more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity marketing, enterprise technology, and go-to-market strategy, Jeff shares why traditional cybersecurity approaches are no longer enough in today's rapidly evolving threat landscape. The conversation explores the growing challenges CISOs face, the increasing complexity of cybersecurity buying decisions, and how AI can reduce manual workloads while improving risk management.

Jeff also offers valuable insights for startup founders on achieving product-market fit, building effective go-to-market strategies, and creating products customers genuinely need.

Whether you're a cybersecurity leader, startup founder, marketer, or technology executive, this episode delivers practical insights on innovation, trust, and the future of AI-powered security.

Key Moments

1. Introduction to Jeff Majka and his cybersecurity background

2. Why Jeff founded Security Bulldog

3. The growing challenge of cybersecurity vendor saturation

4. The evolving role of today's CISO

5. How security leaders evaluate cybersecurity vendors

6. Why trust and peer recommendations outperform traditional analyst reports

7. What separates successful cybersecurity startups from the rest

8. Building products around narrow, well-defined customer problems

9. How AI is reshaping cybersecurity operations

10. How Security Bulldog helps organizations reduce remediation time

11. Jeff's top go-to-market advice for startup founders

12. What's next for Security Bulldog

To learn more about Jeff Majka , please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  Security Bulldog, please visit her website.

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio

In this episode, Simon sits down with Etinosa Agbonlahor, behavioral economist, CEO of Decision Alpha, and author of How to Talk to Your Parents About Money. Together, they explore why so many business owners struggle with pricing confidence, how behavioral economics influences customer decisions, and why the right pricing strategy can dramatically increase profitability without simply charging more.

Eti-Osa shares her journey from global financial institutions to building a consultancy focused on evidence-based pricing. She explains how businesses unknowingly leave money on the table, the psychology behind customer buying decisions, and practical strategies entrepreneurs can use to package, position, and communicate their value more effectively.

Whether you're a consultant, coach, agency owner, or service-based entrepreneur, this conversation will change the way you think about pricing.

Key Moments:

• Why pricing confidence is one of the biggest challenges facing service businesses.

• How behavioral economics shapes purchasing decisions.

• The hidden cost of reactive pricing.

• Why customers often value your services more than you think.

• The importance of packaging and positioning—not just pricing.

• How premium pricing influences customer perception.

• Why businesses should review pricing regularly instead of reacting to market changes.

• Practical strategies to increase profitability without losing clients.

To learn more about Etinosa Agbonlahor, please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  Decision Alpha, please visit her website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio

In this episode of The Conference Room, Simon welcomes Joshua Jones, Founder and CEO of Crush Security, for an eye-opening conversation about the hidden flaws within today's cybersecurity partner ecosystem.

Drawing on more than 20 years of industry experience, Joshua explains why many CISOs struggle to receive unbiased guidance when purchasing security technologies and how traditional reseller models have drifted away from their original purpose of delivering value. He shares the inspiration behind launching Crush Security and how the company is using AI-powered, data-driven insights to help organizations make smarter security decisions.

The discussion explores trust, transparency, tool sprawl, and the growing pressure on security leaders, while offering practical lessons for anyone building businesses focused on solving real customer problems.

1. Joshua shares how an unexpected career opportunity led him into cybersecurity over two decades ago.

2. The story behind founding Crush Security and identifying a major gap in the cybersecurity ecosystem.

3. Why the traditional partner and reseller model is "broken" and often fails to serve buyers effectively.

4. The importance of unbiased advice and how incentives can influence purchasing recommendations.

5. The biggest frustrations CISOs have with vendors, partners, and advisory firms today.

6.  Understanding tool sprawl and why organizations frequently purchase overlapping technologies.

7. Building stronger relationships between security, procurement, legal, and finance teams.

8. Do resellers still provide value? Joshua shares his perspective on the industry's future.

9. How Crush Security aligns its internal culture to prioritize customers over quotas.

10. Why CISOs played a direct role in shaping the Crush Security platform.

11. A look ahead at what's next for Crush Security, including upcoming innovations and industry announcements.

To learn more about Joshua Jones, please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  Crush Security, please visit her website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio

In this episode of The Conference Room, Simon welcomes Calvin Corelli, founder and CEO of Simpler, entrepreneur, software engineer, and creator of the Mind Bug framework. Calvin shares how his journey from programming and entrepreneurship evolved into a deeper exploration of mindset, identity, and personal transformation. The conversation explores the challenges business owners face with fragmented systems, the hidden beliefs that limit growth, and how simplifying both business operations and internal thinking can unlock greater success, freedom, and fulfillment.

1. Calvin explains how combining programming, entrepreneurship, and personal development created the foundation for his success and differentiated approach to business.

2. A deep identity and meaning crisis in his early thirties became the catalyst for developing his coaching philosophy and the concept of Mind Bugs.

3. Business owners often spend more time fixing integrations and troubleshooting systems than serving customers and growing their companies.

4. Mind Bugs are deeply rooted limiting beliefs that shape how people experience life, business, and relationships without realizing it.

5. Many entrepreneurs unknowingly make decisions, overwork, seek validation, or chase success because of an underlying belief that they are not enough.

6. The first step to overcoming limiting beliefs is learning to see them clearly. Once exposed, they begin losing their power.

7. Calvin explains that repeating positive statements rarely creates lasting change if the underlying belief system remains untouched.

8. Rather than viewing mistakes as failures, Calvin encourages seeing them as experiences that provide valuable lessons and direction.

9. The conversation explores how judgment, resistance, and attachment often create more suffering than the circumstances themselves.

10. Calvin shares how AI is helping coaches and educators make their content more accessible, personalized, and actionable for students and clients.

To learn more about Calvin Corelli, please visit her LinkedIn profileTo learn more about  Simplero, please visit its website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio

Key Moments

In this episode, Simon Lader sits down with Lori Asbury, a seasoned executive with over 25 years in brand strategy, operations, and consumer marketing. From shaping billion-dollar brands like HGTV, Fox, and CBS to leading her own agency through challenges like COVID, Lori shares actionable advice on strategic planning, authentic storytelling, balancing vision with execution, and scaling small businesses. Drawing from her equestrian background, she emphasizes resiliency and thinking outside the box. Whether you're a startup founder or corporate leader, this episode is packed with insights on driving revenue growth while staying true to your brand.

Key Moments

Drivers of Sustainable Growth

Balancing Big Picture and DetailsReal-World Examples of Balance

Building the Right Team

Understanding the Competitive LandscapeThe Power of Storytelling and AuthenticityCommon Mistakes in Brand ExtensionLessons from Big Brands to Small BusinessesEquestrian Lessons for BusinessThree Tips to Follow in Laurie's Footsteps

To learn more about Lori Asbury please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about Lori please visit her website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio