Ramon Ray started fixing computers and blogging on the side while working at the United Nations. The side hustle got him fired—and that's the plot twist that turned him into a keynote speaker, author, and founder of SmallBizTechnology.com ('99) and Smart Hustle Media.

Today, he helps brands and small businesses level up with personal branding and practical growth playbooks.

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FULL EPISODE HERE:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VIv8eDal57wbb9aLNYC48?si=2d2bff26e3ee49ba

⁠⁠#UnlockingMoves⁠

“Don’t F With Me”: The Moment Mark C. Winters Walked Away and Bet on Himself

Join us on this special episode of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader’s journey that unlock real potential. This conversation came together quickly, and because of that, it’s raw, unfiltered, and honest in the best way. Many leaders love to tell their “glory” stories, but host Kurt Wilkin believes the real lessons live in the “gory” ones. This episode delivers exactly that as Kurt sits down with Mark C. Winters, co-author of Rocket Fuel and author of the newly released book Visionary.

Mark takes us back to a defining moment early in his career at Procter & Gamble, when a single conversation with his boss shattered the perfectly mapped path to becoming CEO. That moment sparked what he calls his “entrepreneurial seizure”, the realization that he could not live in a world where someone else controlled his future. With a pregnant wife at home and no severance package, Mark quit anyway. What followed was a crash course in entrepreneurship, sleepless nights, financial pressure, and lessons that would shape his later thinking on visionaries, integrators, and leadership at scale.

The conversation goes deep into what it really takes to be an entrepreneur. Mark breaks down the emotional toll, the isolation, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. He shares why entrepreneurs are uniquely positioned to solve the world’s biggest problems, why capitalism only works when it is sustainable, and why entrepreneurship is not for everyone.

Kurt and Mark also unpack the ideas behind Visionary, including the ten pillars of great visionary leadership, the need for self-awareness, and how defining your version of freedom changes the way you build companies.

If you're an entrepreneur, a visionary, or someone questioning whether to take the leap, this episode is a raw, honest look at the cost, the upside, and the responsibility that comes with building something that matters.

About Mark Winters

Mark C. Winters is the co-author of Rocket Fuel and the author of Visionary. He is a longtime EOS expert, entrepreneur, and advisor who has started, acquired, and exited more than a dozen companies. Mark is known for his work helping visionary and integrator leaders operate at their best and build businesses that align with their personal definition of freedom.

About Kurt Wilkin

Kurt is a connector of dots, ideas, and people. For over 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young and today serving as Founder of BusinessEarth and Managing Partner of Bee Cave Capital. He’s a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlocking-moves

#UnlockingMoves #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Visionary #RocketFuel #EOS #FounderJourney #BusinessGrowth #GoryStories

She left a 20-year career in finance to run EOS Worldwide.

Most people hear "EOS" and think Visionaries. Kelly Knight built her career in the other seat. After two decades in financial services, she stepped into the Integrator role at EOS Worldwide, then became President, the person who actually makes Gino Wickman's system run.

About Kurt Wilkin

Kurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

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FULL EPISODE HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ovPdYNexNaT9IruDIxLzn?si=33498d7a7b314227

⁠#UnlockingMoves⁠

"I almost refused to be CEO."

In 2013, Autumn Manning was building a tech company in Arkansas, where there weren't many women leading startups. Instead of waiting for a model, she became one. She co-founded YouEarnedIt (later Kazoo/WorkTango), moved it to Austin to scale, and led it as CEO, even though, by her own words, her path there was "twisty, turvy" and she had to burn the old playbook to get there.

That's the kind of transition we're spotlighting: not job-hopping, redefining what leadership can look like.

About Kurt Wilkin Kurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

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FULL INTERVIEW HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4py8eiU2v9x9UcHn9tCrxH?si=c0a6d3b028104d91

⁠#UnlockingMoves⁠ ⁠

FROM DELL TO HOT SAUCE ON “HOT ONES.” 🌶️

Listen to the Full Episode here: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/jtPjLYrHfYb

In this episode, Kurt sits down with @josuerivas, a Peruvian immigrant who walked out of a stable systems engineering job at Dell to chase food. He literally left the office and went straight to culinary school then built restaurants, lost it all, and had to start over taking prep-cook gigs in Portland just to get back in the kitchen.

Josue didn’t quit. He later launched @savirfoods the chef-crafted hot sauce brand out of Austin that’s been featured on @hotones.This is why we’re posting these: career change isn’t always “I pivoted from marketing to product.” Sometimes it’s engineer → chef → broke → founder… and it still works!

Unlock the full story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOsi7d6yetA&t=2416s

career transition, immigrant founder story, Dell to culinary school, Savir Foods, Hot Ones feature, food entrepreneur, real second chances, restaurant to CPG, unlocking moves podcast

About Kurt Wilkin Kurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

-----------Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves/id1683361653

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kurt-wilkin

#UnlockingMoves #HireBetter

The Power of Pause: Why Every Leader Needs a Sabbatical

Join us for this week’s episode of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader’s journey that unlock real potential. Many leaders only want to share their “glory” stories, but host Kurt Wilkin believes we learn more from the “gory” ones. This week’s guest, Mike Aviles, proves that sometimes the boldest move a leader can make is simply stepping away.

Mike Aviles is a hired-gun CEO known for steering major turnarounds and successful exits with companies like Foster Grant and Vignette. But perhaps his most profound decisions weren’t about strategy or profit, they were his 3 one-year-long sabbaticals. In this powerful conversation, Mike and Kurt break down how taking intentional time off helped him rediscover purpose, strengthen his marriage, and become a better leader. Mike shares lessons from growing up in Brooklyn with an alcoholic father, moving on to a small local college and his journey to KPMG, earning a Stanford MBA, and later learning how to slow down after years of chaos in private equity and tech.

Mike opens up about what he calls “psychological detox”. Unlearning the identity of being a CEO, and how faith, travel, and reflection gave him a new sense of self. He explains how each sabbatical made him more grounded, self-aware, and connected, ultimately shaping the kind of leader he wanted to be. For anyone wrestling with burnout, identity, or the fear of slowing down, this episode will challenge how you define success and remind you that stepping back might be your next unlocking move.

About Mike Aviles

Mike Aviles is a veteran CEO with multiple private equity-backed turnarounds and exits, including Foster Grant, Activant Solutions, and Vignette. A Stanford MBA and former KPMG professional, Mike is known for balancing high-performance leadership with introspection and personal growth.

About Kurt Wilkin

Kurt is a connector of dots, ideas, and people. For over 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young and today serving as Founder of BusinessEarth and Managing Partner of Bee Cave Capital. He’s a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlocking-moves

#UnlockingMoves #HireBetter #Leadership #Sabbatical #Entrepreneurship #GrowthMindset #SelfDiscovery #Burnout #WorkLifeBalance #Purpose

How did Poppi go from the Dallas Farmer's Market to selling at a value of $1.95 BILLION in five years?Unlocking Moves dives into the pivotal moments in an entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many leaders only like to talk about their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes. On this episode, Kurt chats with Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, founders of Poppi - the world's fastest growing soda brand that is better for you and tastes GREAT. From humble beginnings operating at a weekend farmer's market booth as a side gig, to open tryouts for Shark Tank, to becoming one of the fastest growing beverage companies in human history - Allison and Stephen have experienced countless ups and downs along the way. In this deep dive behind the scenes, they discuss the grit and entrepreneurial spirit required to grow a business, the process behind Shark Tank, and being "digital first" by building a community of raving fans...Oh, and they did all of this while raising a family! About Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, Co-Founders of Poppi - Allison is the Chief Brand Officer, and Stephen is the Chief Product Officer. Poppi is a delicious, prebiotic, better-for-you soda made with clean ingredients. Struggling with a variety of health issues, Allison created Poppi after discovering the health benefits of apple cider vinegar and experimenting in her kitchen to make it taste great. She leads the Austin-based beverage company's overall brand strategy and innovation. She pioneered the brand's cultural cache and digital-first approach, attracting a loyal community and billions of views on TikTok and Instagram. Stephen leads the company's product development and innovation.About Kurt Wilkin – Kurt is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as chairman of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He's a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

From Rock Bottom to Redemption: John Flynn’s Billion-Dollar Comeback

Join us this week on Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader’s journey that unlocks their potential. Most people only talk about their “glory” stories, but host Kurt Wilkin believes we learn more from the “gory” stories. This episode delivers both as Kurt sits down with John Flynn — co-founder and former CEO of Open Lending — whose journey from addiction and loss to building a $4 billion company is nothing short of extraordinary.

John opens up about growing up in a blue-collar family, working in steel mills to pay for college, and finding early success in the credit union world. But his ambition masked a destructive secret: alcoholism. After multiple DUIs, a failed marriage, and a near-fatal crash, John hit rock bottom and checked himself into treatment — a decision that changed his life forever. Thirty-four years sober, he credits faith and service as the foundation of his comeback. From that turning point, John went on to co-found Open Lending, helping thousands of borrowers secure fair and affordable auto loans while growing one of the most successful fintech companies in the world.

This conversation explores redemption, resilience, and purpose. John shares how faith gave him strength after the loss of his daughter, how mentorship and second chances shaped his leadership, and why he now dedicates his life to helping others recover through his women’s treatment center, Hammocks on the Edisto. His story proves that the greatest comebacks often start at the lowest points — and that true success is measured not by wealth, but by lives changed.

About John Flynn - John Flynn is the co-founder and former CEO of Open Lending, a financial technology company that reached a $4 billion market cap. A lifelong advocate for addiction recovery, he co-founded Hammocks on the Edisto, a women’s treatment center in South Carolina. John has been sober for 34 years and continues to mentor others on their journey to recovery and leadership.

About Kurt Wilkin - Kurt is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For over 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young and today serving as Founder of BusinessEarth and Managing Partner of Bee Cave Capital. He’s a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

Listen now:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlockingmoves

Join us this week on Unlocking Moves, as host Kurt Wilkin dives into the pivotal moments in a leader’s journey that unlock their success. Most people only talk about their successes, their "glory" stories, but Kurt knows we learn more from the "gory" stories.

This episode delivers both as he sits down with Kyle McGee, the founder and CEO of Sunchase Companies, for a gritty, hopeful look at turning setbacks into success.

Kyle’s journey begins with hard labor and even harder lessons. He grew up watching the hard work of his father, a contractor, and his grandfather, a mason, learning the trades from the ground up. Inspired, he started his own landscaping business at 16 to have enough money to party... but a DUI at 21 nearly derailed his future. He returned home and set his sights on real estate and a partnership with his father.

Then his world shattered when his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away, a loss that shook Kyle to his core, but ultimately steeled his resolve. In the midst of personal hardship, a couple took a chance and hired Kyle to build their waterfront home. Kyle seized the opportunity, cutting his teeth on, until a 14-unit apartment acquisition forever changed his mindset about scaling his business.

A lifelong learner, Kyle firmly believes in the mantra "Knowledge is NOT power - applied knowledge is power." After observing his father's backbreaking work "IN" the contractor business, Kyle read everything he could about leadership and working ON the business. Ultimately, he built Sunchase Companies, leveraging the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), bringing discipline to his growing business. Today, with over 300 "doors" in his portfolio, Kyle shares how he built a real estate investment empire from the ashes of adversity.

This conversation digs into the values and strategies behind the numbers. Kyle opens up about his faith that keeps him grounded and the mentors who guided him along the way. He explains how embracing EOS helped him scale with intention rather than ego, and why staying fiercely loyal to his subcontractors and trade partners became one of his smartest moves. Whether you’re a young leader recovering from early mistakes or an entrepreneur looking to grow your company on solid foundations, Kyle’s story is a masterclass in grit, grace, and strategic growth. You’ll be inspired to turn your own setbacks into opportunities for growth.

About Kyle McGee - Kyle McGee is the founder and CEO of Sunchase Companies, a real estate development and investment firm based in Florida. He founded Sunchase in 2017 and has since developed a portfolio of over 300 multifamily units, along with multiple commercial projects. Named one of Pro Builder’s Forty Under 40 in 2024, Kyle is also a licensed general contractor who’s passionate about building communities and guiding others on their entrepreneurial journeys.

About Kurt Wilkin - Kurt is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For over 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young and today serving as Founder of BusinessEarth and Managing Partner of Bee Cave Capital. He’s a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.

Listen now:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves
• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlockingmoves

#UnlockingMoves #HireBetter #RealEstateInvesting #Legacy #Construction #Entrepreneurship #Mentorship #Faith #SecondChances

As an entrepreneur, how can you focus on your health while leading a high-growth company? Dr. Tracy Gapin has answers!

Join us this week on Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader’s journey that unlock real potential. Most people only talk about their successes, their "glory" stories, but host Kurt Wilkin believes we learn more from the "gory" stories. This episode delivers both.

Kurt sits down with Dr. Tracy Gapin, a board-certified urologist with 25 years of experience as a men’s health & performance expert who left a seven-figure practice to build a new model for men’s health, longevity, and peak performance. He explains why our “diagnosis equals drug” system fails high achievers, and how to fix your health with testing, data, and daily habits. You’ll hear the exact labs he recommends (ApoB, Lp(a), free testosterone, free T3, vitamin D), how to track sleep quality and HRV, and why glucose monitors aren’t just for diabetics.

"Doc Tracy" also breaks down epigenetics in plain English, the truth about endocrine disruptors in water and plastics, and a simple filter-first approach for your home. Most important, he shares the mindset shift that saved his career and health, starting with better sleep and clear boundaries at home.

If you’re a founder or leader who wants more energy, sharper focus, and a better quality of life to share with your loved ones, this conversation is a playbook you can use today.

About Dr. Tracy Gapin: Dr. Gapin is the founder of the Gapin Institute for Precision Medicine. After 25 years in urology, he now helps leaders optimize health and performance through precision testing, personalized protocols, and measurable results. He's the author of Male 2.0 and a frequent speaker on longevity, hormones, and behavior change.

About Kurt Wilkin: Kurt is a connector of dots, ideas, and people. Over 30 years advising high-growth companies, from Ernst & Young to chairman of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital, he has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build and scale their businesses.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlockingmoves#UnlockingMoves #MensHealth #Longevity #PeakPerformance #ApoB #Testosterone #HRV #CGM #SleepOptimization