Agentic AI Is Here…Are You Ready for It to Work Smarter Than You?

In this episode of Executive Connect, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Mayuri Jain, marketing strategist and digital innovation leader, to explore how agentic AI is changing how work gets done.

Unlike traditional AI that waits for instructions, agentic AI sets goals, plans, and takes action, all on its own. Mayuri breaks down how companies can harness these smart systems to handle complex workflows, boost productivity, and still keep humans in the loop where it matters most.
You’ll hear real-life examples, ethical concerns, and how leaders can prepare their teams to build trust with AI, not fear it.

If you’re wondering how to use AI without losing control, this episode will give you the roadmap.

What You’ll Learn:

• How agentic AI works differently from traditional AI
• Why AI isn’t replacing you, but will replace how you work
• How to build systems with smart checks and balances
• Where agentic AI is already having big impact
• Choosing the right AI model for the right task
• How leaders can prepare teams for an AI-ready future
• Mayuri’s personal journey with AI and her latest project, Voices

Highlights:
01:30 A driverless car vs Google Maps analogy
03:01 Features that make AI act on its own
04:36 Multi-agent workflows explained
05:21 Ethics and putting guardrails in place
06:30 Setting up policies and traceability
07:37 Where AI is being used today
08:20 Building vs. buying AI tools
12:46 Who’s accountable when AI messes up?
15:01 How Mayuri uses different models to write a book
17:58 How teams can start building with AI
20:56 Final thoughts: Stay curious, not afraid
22:39 Mayuri’s journey from India to New York
29:00 Her new project, Voices
30:45 Where to connect with Mayuri

Connect with Mayuri Jain:
Finextra - https://www.finextra.com/bloggers/160867
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayurimehtajain/

Watch more in our Smart Leadership, Strategy & Reinvention playlist:
 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxrYeIuZ_iIdG85fZi23XegEIpzAypDF1

Subscribe to Executive Connect:
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 Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com

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 Instagram → @executiveconnectpodcast
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*What happens to your business when you step away, or worse, can’t come back?


In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Lowell Mora, fractional CFO and founder of Impact CFO, to talk about the silent risks that cause nearly half of family-owned businesses to fail within two years of the founder’s exit.

Lowell shares what most owners get wrong about succession planning, the trap of customer concentration, and why keeping total control can actually destroy the value you’ve worked so hard to build. You’ll also hear real-world strategies for preparing your business for sale, transitioning to the next generation, and using capital wisely to protect your legacy.

This is a must-listen for any business owner who’s built something great, but hasn’t built a plan for what’s next.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why nearly 50% of family-owned businesses fail after the founder exits
• What buyers really want to see before buying your business
• How customer concentration quietly lowers your company’s value
• When to sell, pass down, or bring in a CEO, and how to know the difference
• How to use debt smartly to grow, not sink, your business
• Why most owners overestimate their company’s value
• How to make a succession plan that actually works
• The surprising risks of staying “in control” too long

Episode highlights:
(0:27) The harsh truth: 50% of family businesses fail post-founder
(2:08) Lowell’s journey from CPA to exit expert
(6:16) Why so few businesses prepare for the founder’s exit
(8:09) Top two value-killers: weak management & customer concentration
(12:09) What buyers expect, and why you’re probably not ready
(17:04) “Debt-free” sounds good, but may hurt you more
(23:07) Are you running a business, or just holding a job?
(27:51) Letting go: how to pass the torch the right way
(34:32) What happens if you get hit by a bus?
(36:01) The power of planning: personal and professional alignment
(38:54) Final thoughts: Don’t wait for a crisis to make a plan

Connect with Lowell Mora:
Website → https://impactcfo.net
Email → [email protected]
Phone → 847-212-4081
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lowellmora/

Connect with Melissa Aarskaug:
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
Podcast LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/
Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com/

What if your best employee isn’t ready to be a manager — and you promoted them anyway?

In this episode of Executive Connect, Tara Landes, founder of Bell Rock and leadership expert, joins host Melissa Aarskaug to talk about why most management training doesn’t work, and what actually does. Tara shares how her company transformed over 1,000 managers by focusing on real-world application, influence science, and personalized support.

She explains how many new leaders are set up to fail, why repetition matters more than inspiration, and how to spot if someone shouldn’t be a manager. Tara also shares a powerful persuasion technique using reciprocity that will shift how you negotiate and lead. If you're a leader, business owner, or HR pro trying to grow real leadership inside your team, this episode is for you.

What You Will Learn:

• Why many managers are promoted before they’re prepared
• How influence can be taught (and isn’t just charisma)
• Why most training doesn’t stick — and how to fix it
• A simple technique that nearly doubles “yes” responses
• How to tell if someone’s better off not managing
• Tips to reduce training waste and maximize ROI
• What makes Bell Rock’s training model so effective

Chapters:
 00:18 Meet Tara Landes & Bell Rock’s Mission
 01:24 How Bell Rock Was Born from a Gap in the Market
 02:20 Why Influence Is a Science (Not a Talent)
 04:07 A Surprising Study on Reciprocity in Action
 06:41 Bell Rock’s 97% Completion Rate: How They Do It
 10:58 From Doer to Leader: The Skills Gap in Management
 14:42 Overcoming Fear Around Investing in Training
 19:15 The Overload of Training Options Today
 20:29 Why Repetition Is the Real Key to Learning
 23:02 How to Spot High-Quality Training vs. Noise
 24:09 Where to Learn More About Bell Rock
 25:14 Final Takeaways on Leadership and Lifelong Learning


Guest Bio:
Tara Landes is the founder of Bell Rock, a leadership and management consulting firm helping small businesses turn chaos into consistency. With over 25 years of experience, she’s led 1,000+ leaders through Bell Rock’s management training program. Tara is also a licensed influence trainer with expertise in behavioral science and organizational change.

Connect with Tara Landes:
 🔗 Website → www.bellrock.ca
 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/taralandes/

Watch more in our Leadership Development playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxrYeIuZ_iIdG85fZi23XegEIpzAypDF1

Connect With Us:
Website → www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube → Executive Connect YouTube Channel
LinkedIn → Melissa Aarskaug
Instagram → @executiveconnectpodcast
TikTok → @executiveconnectpodcast
Facebook → Executive Connect

What does it really take to get your business recommended by AI instead of ignored by it?

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Mike Montague, AI marketing leader, author, and founder of Avenue9,to break down the rise of Answer Engine Optimization and what it means for every business today. Mike explains why SEO is fading, why AI now decides who gets seen, and why real human conversations are the new competitive edge.

You’ll hear how AI actually thinks, how to “teach” the models about your brand, and how small businesses can finally compete with big companies by creating the right content in the right places. This is a simple, clear roadmap for staying visible, trusted, and recommended in an AI-driven world.

What You’ll Learn

• Why SEO is losing power and AEO is taking over
• How AI chooses which brands to recommend
• The type of content AI trusts most (and what it ignores)
• Why human conversations now beat traditional blog posts
• How to train the models to understand your brand
• The three quickest wins to boost visibility in AI
• Why small businesses have more opportunity than ever
• How brand reputation fuels both AI and real-world referrals

Chapters
(0:27) Why AI gives “one best answer” instead of 10 links
(3:49) Conversations replacing SEO content
(6:10) How AI decides what your brand is known for
(12:01) Why your story teaches AI faster than your website
(15:20) What content wins in AI right now
(17:02) Duplicate content becomes a strength
(20:04) Understanding your “share of model”
(24:25) Mike’s quick wins for improving AEO
(27:13) Where real ROI comes from AI recommendations
(31:57) Navigating work, burnout, and multi-hyphen careers
(35:28) Lessons from play, creativity, and human connection
(40:22) Final thoughts on the future of AI marketing
(41:26) Where to connect with Mike

Connect with Mike Montague
Website → https://avenue9.com
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedmontague/
Playful Humans Quiz → https://playfulhumans.com/quiz

Connect with Melissa Aarskaug
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
Podcast LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/
Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com

What does it really take for women to build wealth, gain financial confidence, and close the pay gap, for good?

In this episode of Executive Connect, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Michelle Taylor, leukemia survivor, financial educator, and founder of the Women and Wealth Initiative. With over a decade of experience helping women, from CEOs to stay-at-home moms, Michelle shares real strategies to take control of your finances, rewrite limiting money beliefs, and create lasting financial freedom.

Whether you’re running a household or scaling a company, this episode will help you shift your mindset, use your money as a tool, and start having the money conversations that matter.


What You Will Learn:

• Why most women undervalue their financial worth
• How to redefine wealth in a way that actually fits your life
• The biggest money myths keeping women stuck
• Simple tools to start building wealth today—at any stage
• Why women need to talk about money more often
• How to raise financially smart kids
• What you can do to close the gender pay gap now

Chapters:

00:00 Rewriting the Rules of Wealth
00:25 Meet Michelle Taylor: Survivor, CEO, Educator
01:29 From Diagnosis to Financial Awakening
05:34 What Wealth Really Means for Women
10:35 Smart Financial Strategies That Work
15:15 Tackling the Gender Pay Gap
20:29 Finding Time for Money Goals Without Burnout
24:49 Getting Kids Involved in Money Talks
29:56 Start Where You Are—The Power of Taking Action
33:06 Where to Connect with Michelle

Connect with Michelle Taylor:

Website → https://www.womeninwealth.co
 Instagram → @women_in_wealth
 Podcast → https://www.talkwealthy.com/

Connect with Melissa Aarskaug:

LinkedIn → Melissa Aarskaug
 Podcast → Executive Connect
 Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com

What does it really take to lead thriving teams in a world of remote work, constant change, and burnout?

In this episode of Executive Connect, Kevin Eikenberry, leadership expert, best-selling author, and Co-Founder of the Remote Leadership Institute, joins Melissa Aarskaug to unpack what flexible leadership looks like in 2025 and why it’s the key to success in today’s work environment. With experience coaching leaders in 53 countries, Kevin shares the mindset shifts, communication strategies, and human-centered habits every leader needs to thrive, whether managing from a distance or in person.

If you’re building or leading a remote or hybrid team, this episode will help you lead with clarity, confidence, and care.

What You Will Learn:

• Why leading the same way you did five years ago won’t work today
• The biggest mindset shift new managers must make
• How to set clear expectations that reduce stress and boost results
• Why flexibility is the new leadership advantage
• How to lead with empathy and accountability
• The role of self-care in high-impact leadership
• How to communicate effectively across remote and hybrid environments

Chapters:
00:00 What Tractors Have to Do with Leadership
01:10 Kevin’s Farm-Grown Leadership Roots
02:46 Why Flexibility Is a Leadership Superpower
05:12 Building Remarkable Remote and Hybrid Teams
08:05 Skills Every Modern Leader Needs
12:33 Burnout, Boundaries, and the Human Side of Leadership
23:29 Supporting Teams Without Micromanaging
29:03 You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader
30:00 How to Succeed After Being Promoted Into Leadership
32:49 Final Thoughts: Rooted Values, Flexible Approach

Connect with Kevin Eikenberry
Website → https://kevineikenberry.com
Newsletter & Free Resources → https://kevineikenberry.com/gift
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevineikenberry/

Connect with Melissa Aarskaug
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
Podcast LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/
Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com/

Most business systems claim to help you scale, but what if they are quietly holding you back?

In this episode of Executive Connect, Michael Erath, Founder and CEO of Next Level Growth, joins host Melissa Aarskaug to share how losing everything taught him the real difference between building a company that grows fast and building one that grows right.

After scaling his family business from 8 million dollars to 45 million dollars, surviving embezzlement and the Great Recession, and rebuilding a new company that landed on the Inc 5000, Michael discovered that elite organizations do not rely on rigid systems. They design operating frameworks that fit their people, their purpose, and their market.

Today, Michael and his team of former CEOs, presidents, and owners at Next Level Growth help leadership teams implement the principles behind the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations so they can scale with clarity instead of chaos.

If you are tired of generic playbooks and want a business that actually runs like one, this conversation will show you how to scale smarter, not harder.

What You Will Learn:

• Why most business systems stop working once you reach meaningful scale

• How to design a principles based framework that grows with your company

• The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations

• How elite leadership teams think about execution and accountability

• The truth about profit, cash flow, and sustainable growth

• How to turn chaos, firefighting, and random tools into a coherent operating system

• Simple ways to make your business easier to run and more valuable over time

Chapters:
 00:00 Why most operating systems fail to scale
 01:00 Michael’s journey from 8 million dollars to 45 million dollars
 06:00 Betrayal, fraud, and rebuilding without bankruptcy
 08:40 Discovering and adapting EOS, Scaling Up, and other systems
 10:30 From rigid systems to principles based leadership
 13:25 The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations
 17:20 How elite teams execute growth differently
 23:40 Why fast growth without a plan creates chaos
 26:20 The snow globe analogy for leadership perspective
 28:00 How clients doubled profit faster than revenue
 31:30 Profit per human capital dollar explained
 33:00 Custom frameworks versus one size fits all systems
 36:10 Scaling through acquisition without losing culture
 37:40 Systemizing your business by design instead of default
 39:00 The Elite Organizations assessment and AI support
 40:40 Where to connect with Michael Erath

About Michael Erath:
 In the early 2000s, Michael Erath took his family’s 8 million dollar hardwood manufacturing business and scaled it to 45 million dollars in global revenue, with sales offices on six continents and more than 200 employees. Then disaster struck. During the Great Recession, he discovered that his trusted partner had committed fraud and embezzlement, which led to a complete collapse of the business.

Refusing to file for bankruptcy, Michael protected his bank, his vendors, and his family, then started over with a new company built on stronger systems and clearer accountability. That business grew onto the Inc 5000 list and gave him the freedom to dedicate his career to helping other founders avoid the same pain.

Michael went on to become a record holding Certified EOS Implementer and a Scaling Up coach before creating Next Level Growth, a firm dedicated to helping organizations design customizable operating frameworks rooted in the Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations. His journey from empire to collapse to reinvention is detailed in his first book, RISE: The Reincarnation of an Entrepreneur, and in his 2025 book, Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations, which is supported by an AI clone that helps readers apply the content in real time.

Connect with Michael Erath:
 Website → https://nextlevelgrowth.com
 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelerath
 YouTube → Next Level Growth
 Book → Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations

Watch more in our Smart Leadership, Strategy and Reinvention playlist:
 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxrYeIuZ_iIdG85fZi23XegEIpzAypDF1

Connect with Executive Connect:
 Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect
 YouTube → Executive Connect Channel
 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/the-executive-connect-podcast/id1816477167
 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1zggDnblvD9Pa0Nn37o1TD

What if growing fast was actually putting your company at risk? In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Eric Fiegoli and Kevin White, co-founders of Exbo Group, to talk about what it really takes to scale a startup the smart way. With backgrounds in consulting, venture capital, Amazon, and investment banking, Eric and Kevin bring years of hands-on experience helping companies raise capital, stay lean, and grow without burning out.

From fundraising pitfalls to building the right finance team, they share how companies get stuck between Series B and profitability, and what founders can do to break through. You’ll learn why tracking burn rate matters more than ever, how to avoid hiring mistakes that kill momentum, and the risks of chasing growth before you’re ready. Whether you're a founder, operator, or investor, this episode is packed with clear, practical advice you can use right now.

Timestamps:
00:00 Avoiding financial traps in the order-to-cash process
01:22 How Kevin and Eric started Exbo Group
03:08 What “growth stage” really means
05:10 Capital risks every scaling CEO should know
08:45 Fundraising in today’s market: What’s hot and what’s not
12:17 Why VCs are pulling back on Series B rounds
14:11 The #1 rule: know your numbers, stay lean
16:58 Common financial and ops mistakes in scaling
18:10 How to grow smart through M&A, and what to avoid
22:20 The people problem: hire slow, fire fast
25:00 The “rainmaker” myth and sales hiring mistakes
28:16 Why speed beats perfection in startup life
30:28 How to connect with the Exbo Group team

Key Themes:

• The new rules of fundraising for growth-stage startups
• How to scale without burning cash
• Smart hiring strategies that won’t break your runway
• Avoiding costly M&A integration mistakes
• Why back-office planning is key to growth
• Lessons learned from helping 80+ companies scale
• Staying lean while preparing for investment

Guest Bio:
Eric Fiegoli and Kevin White are the co-founders of Exbo Group, a boutique consulting firm helping high-growth companies scale with smart financial operations. With deep experience in consulting, VC, investment banking, and Big Four accounting, they’ve helped clients raise capital, optimize growth, and expand through both organic and M&A strategies. Their firm works with startups ranging from early-stage to $200M in revenue.

Connect with Expo Group:
🌐 Website: www.exbogroup.com
📱 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exbo-group/

Connect With Us:
🌐 Website: www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
📺 YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
💼 LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
📸 Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
🎵 TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
📘 Facebook: Executive Connect

AI is rewriting the rules of business, but the leaders who thrive in this new era are not just the smartest in the room, they are the most self-aware.

In this episode of Executive Connect, Amanda H. Young, energy healer, intuitive coach, and “miracle instigator,” joins Melissa Aarskaug to explore why the future of leadership depends on empathy, intuition, and authenticity, not just intellect and execution. Amanda shares her journey from corporate leadership to conscious transformation, revealing how self-awareness and healing emotional patterns unlock higher performance and more meaningful leadership.

If you want to lead with greater presence, purpose, and peace in a rapidly changing world, this conversation will show you how to access your authentic power and inspire others to do the same.

What You Will Learn:

• Why authenticity and intuition are now essential leadership traits
  
  
• How to lead with empathy in an AI-driven world
  
  
• The link between trauma healing and leadership effectiveness
  
  
• Why competition and scarcity thinking block innovation
  
  
• How to rebuild trust, connection, and meaning in modern workplaces
  
  
• Simple ways to create more humanity in how you lead and live
  
  

Watch more in our Smart Leadership, Strategy and Reinvention playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxrYeIuZ_iIdG85fZi23XegEIpzAypDF1

Connect with Amanda H. Young:
Website → https://www.amandahyoung.com
Email → [email protected]
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandahyoung

Connect with Executive Connect:
Website → https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect
YouTube → Executive Connect Channel
Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/the-executive-connect-podcast/id1816477167
Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1zggDnblvD9Pa0Nn37o1TD

What does it really take to scale your company without burning out your people or losing control?

In this episode of Executive Connect, Mark Elliott, CEO and Co-Founder of Summit Ventures and General Partner at Gauntlet Ventures, joins Melissa Aarskaug to reveal what separates sustainable growth from chaotic expansion. With over 25 years of experience scaling and investing in high-growth ventures including SpaceX, Epic Games, and Flexport, Mark shares the systems, leadership habits, and mindset shifts that allow companies to grow with balance, culture, and clarity.

If you are leading a growing team or planning your next phase of expansion, this episode will show you how to scale smart—without losing what makes your company great.

What You Will Learn:

• Why most founders scale too fast and pay for it later

• The “Pie Philosophy” for balanced, sustainable growth

• How to protect your culture as you scale

• The three metrics that matter most to long-term success

• How to identify and remove toxic influences early

• The connection between purpose, process, and profit

Chapters:
 00:00 The Myth of Fast Growth
 01:10 Mark Elliott’s Entrepreneurial Journey
 05:00 The “Pie Philosophy” of Balanced Growth
 08:40 Building Culture That Scales
 11:20 Spotting and Stopping Toxic Behaviors
 14:54 Sustainable Growth: Metrics That Matter
 20:07 Lessons from Billion Dollar Companies
 27:20 What Great Founders Have in Common
 32:30 Managing Risk While Scaling
 37:40 People, Process, and Performance
 43:40 How to Build a Company That Lasts
 44:15 Final Lessons and Where to Connect

Connect with Mark Elliott:
 Website → https://summitven.com
 Email → [email protected]

Connect with Melissa Aarskaug:
 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug
 Podcast → https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect
 Website → https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com