Unlocking Moves

Join us for a special episode of Unlocking Moves - the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader's journey that unlocked their potential! Many leaders only like to talk about their "glory" stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes, our "gory" stories. On this episode, Kurt highlights wisdom and lessons learned from some of our past episodes featuring Consumer Packaged Goods leaders. You'll hear advice about building a great team with a great culture and stories about naming your new company, and behind-the-scenes stories from some Shark Tank participants! This is a can't miss episode for anyone in the CPG industry or who works in CPG!

Our guests for this special episode include Tori Brodsky from besa mi vino, Matthias Ihlenfeld from woom bike, Paul Hedrick from Tecovas, Jason Bronstad from Malk Organics, and Allison and Steven Ellsworth from Poppi.

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.

How did Mike Begg go from a sinking ship at Sears to becoming an eCommerce guru - advising some of the biggest brands how to sell on Amazon?

Join us for Episode 41 of Unlocking Moves to find out - the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader'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 Mike Begg about his path -- beginning his career at Deloitte and then Sears -- to ultimately launching his own eCommerce sales company. After finding success re-selling products on Amazon, he and his partners realized that no one really knew how to sell online, so they started AMZ Advisors. Mike and Kurt dive deep into some of the secrets to successfully selling online, how to build culture in a virtual world that includes offshore and nearshore teams, and the leadership and decision-making skills required to succeed as an entrepreneur. This episode is jam-packed with real world advice for companies looking to increase their online sales!

About Mike Begg - Mike is an entrepreneur and eCommerce and digital marketing expert. Mike co-founded AMZ Advisers with his two partners in 2015. Together they have generated over half a billion in sales for their clients. Mike and his team also operate AMZ Courses, which educates Amazon sellers on how to maximize sales on the platform, and GoAvance, which helps brands expand into Latin America. Mike loves sharing advice and tips on anything related to Amazon and building businesses, in general.

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.

I believe that your gory story is much more powerful than your glory story. We all learn more from the lessons learned the hard way. As I like to say, the bigger the shit show, the bigger the lesson. Welcome to the Gory Story Episode.

Join us for a special episode of Unlocking Moves - the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader's journey that unlocked their true potential! Many leaders only like to talk about their "glory" stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes, or "gory" stories. Talking about these screwups, scary moments, and missteps from our entrepreneurial journey is often the best way to learn - and to help others! On this episode, Kurt reflects on some of the best gory stories from past episodes of Unlocking Moves. Our guests for this special episode include Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, Brian Moran, Kit Rich, Ramon Ray, LaQuita Cleare, and Mike Smerklo. Thank you all for sharing your GORY stories!

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.

Join us for Episode 39 of Unlocking Moves to find out - the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader'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 sits down with Joel Trammell, uber-successful founder (and nine-figure exiter) of several tech companies to discuss the unique role of a CEO in an ever-changing world. Joel discusses the importance of balancing customer, shareholder, and employee expectations in creating a successful business. He explains how the skills required for Tennis and Poker helped make him a better leader, and he shares his passion for helping other CEOs learn how to be their most successful selves. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

About Joel Trammell - Joel is a serial entrepreneur and lifelong learner. He is all about building great organizations. His leadership has led to multiple successful exits and exceptional investor returns over his 30-year career. He's the owner of Texas CEO Magazine, which reaches more than 10,000 CEOs across the state, and is a pioneer in the field of CEO education and training.

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. Special thanks to Texas Hill Country Provisions, the live host of this episode.

Join us for Episode 38 of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader'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 has a deep conversation with former NCAA basketball coach Mark Gottfried. Coach Gottfried was the Head Basketball Coach at Murray State, Alabama, Cal State Northridge, and NC State, and compiled over 400 wins in his career. He became known as the "turnaround coach" due to his ability to take over a program in decline and make pivotal changes to get the organization back on the right track. His story has a ton of lessons that will help entrepreneurs - from networking skills to bootstrapping, from goal setting to developing the grit and desire to GET IT DONE, Mark Gottfried has done it all! You won't want to miss this conversation!

About Mark Gottfried - Mark spent a lifetime in the game of basketball, having played and coached at the highest levels. He was part of a national championship team while an assistant coach at UCLA and was a head basketball coach at Murray State, Cal State Northridge, Alabama, and NC State. Mark has been named the Conference Coach of the Year three times and has numerous wins against number-one ranked teams.

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.

Join us for Episode 37 of Unlocking Moves, the show that 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 entrepreneur and leader Charles Choice, who has a phenomenal story of resilience, trusting your gut, and unlocking success through aligning with your true purpose and values. Charles is no stranger to taking leaps of faith - from leaving his JPMorganChase job to launch two startups, to reconnecting with his now-wife after a psychic intervention! His journey led him to WeWork at it's height, then a realization that he wanted to make more of an impact through his work. Charles' soul-searching led him to contemplate his "ikigai" (the intersection of what he's good at, what he loves, what the world needs, and what he can be paid for). He ultimately landed as the Director of Rob Dyrdek's Do-Or-Dier Visionary Foundation, which provides underrepresented entrepreneurs with the capital and education they need to be successful. Talk about a true purpose!

About Charles Choice - Charles is the Director of Rob Dyrdek's Do-Or-Dier Visionary Foundation, whose focuse is to provide capital and resources to underrepresented entrepreneurs, ultimately giving more people the opportunity to pursue their dreams. He started his career at JPMorganChase in 2010, before taking a leap of faith to start his own business. He gained some traction and seed money with his startup, but ultimately hit a number of roadblocks that caused him to let it go - including the challenges that atypical or underrepresented entrepreneurs face when attempting to raise capital. He also worked as the Global Expansion Lead for WeWork.

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.

Join us for Episode 36 to find out! 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 Ramon Ray - a force of nature and self-professed "tinkerer" who has started and successfully exited several online media companies. Ramon started out as a real-life "Side Hustle Sam" - while working for the UN General Assembly he tinkered around with tech and started several side businesses aimed at helping local small businesses. Eventually, his side hustles got him fired, but led to him finding his true purpose in "edutainment". Our conversation ranged from what makes entrepreneurs tick to how YOU can find your "Zone of Genius", and from childhood mishaps to building your personal brand. You won't want to miss this!

About Ramon Ray - Ramon is a leading expert on small business success. He inspires and educates thousands of business owners through his content, events and media interviews. He's a five-time entrepreneur, who has sold three companies. He's a best selling author and his latest and fourth book - "Celebrity CEO" - is about personal branding.

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.

Join us for Episode 35 to find out! 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.

Join us for Episode 34 to find out! 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. This episode features a conversation between Kurt and Kit Rich, a fitness entrepreneur who's spent 16 years training stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Kesha, building a brand and a following along the way. Kit has built her brand by treating people with respect, making no false promises, and finding her true purpose in life: to help others with her voice. Once she unlocked that guiding principle, she learned to apply the same passion she had in her fitness entrepreneurship to her writing... and even ended up writing and directing a feature film! This episode is packed with great advice for entrepreneurs, or anyone who lacks the confidence to chase their passion! Plus, you're not going to want to miss the health tips at the end!

About Kit Rich - Kit is a celebrity trainer and fitness entrepreneur who took a huge leap of faith and became a feature film director/writer. Her feature film debut, Isabel's Garden, is currently on the international festival circuit and is garnering awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Kit's story has been featured in the International Business Times, OK Magazine, and many other publications, highlighting her unique and brave transition from successful fitness entrepreneur to filmmaker.

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.

How do thousands of entrepreneurial companies unlock their true potential?

Join us for Episode 33 for a deep dive into all things EOS® with Kelly Knight, the Integrator and President of EOS® Worldwide! 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. This episode features a conversation between Kurt and Kelly about her journey to EOS Worldwide, the Integrator-Visionary partnership...and high-quality Mac & Cheese. As a young girl, Kelly learned that she had an execution mindset over dinners with her visionary father. But it wasn't until she took a leap, leaving behind an 18 year career in finance, that she found her true calling as an Integrator. Integrators partner with Visionary leaders - the IDEA people - to bring their visions to life and make them reality. When done right, the Visionary / Integrator partnership creates the "Rocket Fuel" needed to make entrepreneurial companies thrive!

(00:00:00) Vision Without Traction is Hallucination

(00:00:31) Welcome to Unlocking Moves – Featuring Kelly Knight

(00:01:16) A Podcast Reunion After Four Years

(00:02:12) The Famous Mac & Cheese Offer – Did Anyone Claim It?

(00:02:50) Introducing Kelly Knight – The Integrator for EOS Worldwide

(00:03:31) Revisiting the Most Viewed Podcast Episode

(00:04:08) What is EOS? Breaking Down Entrepreneurial Operating System

(00:07:31) Visionary vs. Integrator – Finding the Perfect Fit

(00:14:05) Sponsor – HireBetter: Your Strategic Talent Partner

(00:17:01) The Role of an Integrator in Business Success

(00:25:26) Struggles Visionaries Face in Managing People

(00:27:26) Why Visionaries Often Struggle with Hiring

(00:33:20) The Power of People in Business Growth

(00:36:31) Kelly’s Book – ‘People: Dare to Build an Intentional Culture’

(00:42:41) Recognizing and Addressing the "Mike" in Your Organization

(00:43:01) Unlocking Move: Leaving a 20-Year Financial Career for EOS

(00:45:02) The Visionary-Integrator Relationship – Struggles & Strengths

(00:47:27) Why Every Partnership Needs Constant Work

(00:50:00) Kurt’s Biggest Lesson Since the Last Interview

(00:51:34) The Impact of Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset

(00:49:45) Kelly’s Love for the Water – Finding Clarity in Nature

(00:52:52) Do You Wanna Know Who's Your Mike? Take the Quiz Here

About Kelly Knight - Kelly has served as EOS Worldwide’s Integrator since 2016. She credits her father for being the first person to show her how to take an idea and make it real. Prior to joining EOS®, Kelly honed her skills as an expert team-builder for more than twenty years in the financial services industry. Hard-wired to find talented people and guide them to reaching their full potential, Kelly harmonizes the major functions of EOS while driving accountability and organizational clarity. Today, Kelly’s focus is sharing EOS with the world and growing the EOS Community with people who are passionate about helping entrepreneurs get everything they want from their businesses and live their ideal lives.

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.