Big Tech for Small Businesses: Unleashing the Power of Geofencing with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari

How can small businesses best use cutting-edge technologies? Geo-fencing is a great example, providing location-based advertising to drive traffic, revenue, and ROI for local businesses. What does the future hold for small businesses as they integrate advanced tech to personalize customer experiences?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings explores these questions with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari of Cullari and Wardell, a pioneering service provider in geofencing and location-based marketing solutions. Barbara and Ernesto share their expertise in helping small and medium-sized businesses harness advanced technologies to attract customers, increase conversions, and create sustainable growth.

They emphasize a customer-centric approach, leveraging tools like GPS tracking and demographic data to tailor highly targeted ads that resonate with local audiences. By combining technology with a deep understanding of small business challenges, they demonstrate how geofencing can deliver measurable results, from attracting new customers to optimizing location choices based on foot traffic studies.

Barbara and Ernesto also discuss the importance of hyper-specialization, ROI measurement, and the evolving future of advertising, where AI and privacy-sensitive data play a pivotal role. For small business owners, this episode offers actionable insights into leveraging big tech to compete effectively while maintaining the personal touch that defines their success.

This conversation is a masterclass on how to think and act as value creators, showcasing how innovation, technology, and customer focus can unlock new opportunities for small businesses.

Resources:

➡  Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Barbara Wardell & Ernesto Cullari’s Agency

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn:

The Value Creators on Substack

➡ 📈 Get Your Free CFO Consultation with Kristian: https://finstratmgmt.com/cfo/

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, host Hunter Hastings engages with Kristian Marquez, founder and CEO of FinStrat Management, to explore the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship. Kristian shares his journey, from the founding team of a successful medical data company that went public to navigating startup challenges with a venture-funded business to pioneering the delivery of CFO-as-a-service. The episode concludes with insights on leveraging external expertise as a service and a free CFO consultation offer. 

Resources:

➡ 📈 Get Your Free CFO Consultation with Kristian: https://finstratmgmt.com/cfo/

➡  Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn:

Connect with Kristian Marquez on LinkedIn:

The Value Creators on Substack

This episode is a repost from The B2B Growth Blueprint podcast with Mark Osborne.

There is a shift away from traditional management toward self-managed, digitally-enabled companies. We are entering the Post Managerial Era of Capitalism. In this new way of thinking about business and organization, top-down structures are giving way to self-management, where employees make decisions informed by real-time data and customer insights.

Mark Osborne from the B2B Growth Blueprint podcast provided a platform to discuss the implications of this shift.

Mark highlights the role of empathy, emotional engagement, and agile customer feedback in building responsive, customer-centric businesses, and emphasizes the importance of leveraging digital tools to create interactive environments where customers can actively participate and provide invaluable insights. This approach allows businesses to strengthen product development and build loyalty by making customers feel directly involved.

Mark Osborne emphasizes the relevance of these strategies for early-stage companies, emphasizing iterative design and customer engagement, even with limited resources. By integrating these principles, businesses can not only strengthen their product development but also create a loyal customer base that feels directly involved in the process.

Resources:

Learn What They Didn't Teach You In Business School (The Value Creators Course)

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

Connect with Mark Osborne on LinkedIn

The B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast on Apple Podcast

The B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast on YouTube

thevaluecreators.com

TVC Substack: hunterhastings.substack.com

We are about to enter the era of AI agents, and learning about them and deploying them is relevant to every business. What are they? How can a business develop one? How can a business successfully deploy one? How can a business develop a team of AI agents to work together to automate processes? How will these AI agents create value for customers?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings gets answers to these questions from  Michael Walker of SmythOS. Michael is the right expert to learn from because he prioritizes customer-centricity in AI solutions. Michael believes that businesses should put customer needs and benefits first, before technology features. That’s the Value Creators mindset, and it helps businesses to avoid the common pitfall in tech-first startups where excessive focus on features can obscure the value for end-users. According to Michael, this focus on customer problems is foundational, and AI deployment should primarily aid in addressing customer needs rather than showcasing technological capabilities.

SmythOS advocates for a future where AI and humans work in synergy to optimize value creation effectiveness.

Resources: 

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

Connect with Michael Walker on LinkedIn

Follow Michael Walker on Substack

The Value Creators Online Course

Show Notes:

0:00 | Intro
0:30 | Focus on Customer’s 
2:17 | Can AI be Emphatatic?
3:59 | Mainstream Market for AI: Is it Here Yet?
6:47 | SmithOS: Vision and Mission
9:04 | OS: Coordinated AI
11:57 | Solving the Problem of Generating Innovation Idea
15:37 | Can AI Improve the Quality of Technological Investments?
18:01 | AI Boosts Productivity by Optimizing Resource Allocation
19:27 | Michael’s Views on AI: Enabling Smaller, Tech-Driven, Specialized Firms
21:47 | AI May Replace OR Transform SaaS Companies
23:39 | Smith OS: Relationship Between the Owner of the Problem and the Designer of the Solution
25:36 | AI Integration May Eliminate Traditional Company Departmental Silos
28:01 | AI Agents as Team Members
29:30 | AI CEO
31:30 | Hunter’s Contradictory Approach: AI Can Help Us with Vision and Mission
33:41 | Can AI Generate Bold, Unconventional Ideas?
34:34 | Entrepreneurial Intent
36:00 |  Changing Interaction Modes will Transform Technology Perception
39:15 | Potential AI Risks and Concerns
40:54 | Wrap - Up

Has the pace and volume of change increased in the modern age? Is dealing with change more of a problem for businesses today than in the past? What is the recommended way to manage change?

Erik Schön is a student of ancient philosophy, and he reminds us that the challenges raised by change are ancient, not modern. And the ancients had good ways to deal with them. In this episode of the Value Creators podcast, Erik Schön discusses the genesis of his book, The Art Of Change, the latest of a trilogy of works that include The Art of Strategy and The Art of Leadership. Erik distills highly relevant ancient wisdom, particularly from texts like The I Ching and Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. He builds a modern business application from these classic ideas based on his extensive experience in leadership and strategy.

Resources:

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

The Value Creators on Substack

Connect with Erik Schön on LinkedIn

Get Schön's book on Amazon: THE ART OF CHANGE: Patterns for Success.

Yokoso Press

Brian Hollins is the founder and managing partner at Collide Capital, the Founder and CEO of Takeoff Institute, and a Founding Board Member at BLCKVC. He’s devoted his career to addressing and solving the challenges entrepreneurs face in accessing capital when they’re not plugged in to elite VC networks and funding sources. Brian shares insights from his venture, Collide Capital, which provides investment, coaching, and support to entrepreneurs lacking access to traditional networks.

The conversation highlights the importance of community, mentoring and education in empowering these entrepreneurs. Brian also discusses his involvement with the Takeoff Institute, which aims to develop future leaders. The episode underscores the critical role for entrepreneurship in value creation. Entrepreneurs develop better products and services and contribute to meaningful experiences for customers. Institutional support, such as venture capital, is essential. 

Yet, only some have access to these resources, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not be plugged into the institutional environment of university incubators and venture capital pools.

Key Challenges Discussed:

• Lack of access to networks: Many aspiring entrepreneurs from underprivileged backgrounds may feel disconnected from the networks facilitating access to funding and mentorship.
• Intimidation by networking: Networking can be intimidating, but it is not an insurmountable barrier. With the right coaching and support, disadvantaged entrepreneurs can find their way into these networks.

Brian's journey serves as an inspiring example of how one can create value not only through business success but also by uplifting others and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship.

Resources: 

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

Connect with Brian Hollins on LinkedIn

collidecap.com

Show Notes:

0:00 | Intro
1:05 | Differential Access
4:53 |  Disadvantaged Entrepreneurs: How do they Get Started?
7:14 | Is Networking a Baseless Fear? 
10:01 | Unique Business Models from Lived Experience 
12:10 | Less Algorithmic, More Empathetic Approach
13:49 | Fund Zero: Collide Capital's Stoy
15:28 | What is a Scout Check?
18:01| Collide Capital Investment’s Success Stories
21:45 | Better Entrepreneurial Culture: Raising the Community 
24:40 | Education's Role in Entrepreneurship
28:21 | Fellowship Language
28:58 | Future Access to Investment
32:00 | Technology's Role in Entrepreneurship: Can Finance Become Less Institutionalized through Apps?
34:55 | AI as an Entrepreneur's Operating System 
38:00 | One-Person Billion-Dollar Company: Building Bigger Businesses with Fewer Resources
39:30 | Wrap-Up: Building Leaders through the Takeoff Institute

John Willenborg's business, Owl Vans, specializes in adventure vans designed for outdoor enthusiasts who seek to connect with nature. These vans provide essential comforts and accessories while encouraging maximum high-value outdoor time. The market for adventure vans has expanded rapidly, with Owl Vans leading in aftermarket accessories. John highlights the importance of scalability and being a generalist to succeed in entrepreneurship.

John’s approach emphasizes the importance of strategic marketing, careful expansion, strong partner relationships, and diligent financial management in building and scaling a successful business.

Resources: 

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn 

Connect with John Willenborg on LinkedIn

Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
00:09 |  Adventure Category for Customers
03:40 | Process of Kitting Out Vans
05:20 | Popularity and Usability of Sprinter Vans
15:24 | Design Process
19:00 | Mark Packard: Be the Customer
20:21 | Knowledge and Empathy
22:21 | Knowing when to stay focused
25:43 | Brand Name is Critical
28:00 | Service Provided at Owl Vans: Maintenance and Adventure Ideas?
31:09 | Scaling Business through Strategic Partnerships
33:20 | Managing Partnership Relations
35:37 | Cash flow of a Business: Finance and Accounting
42:46 | Owl Vans: Maintaining team spirit and unity?
46:41 | Wrap - Up

Digital enablement and AI are revolutionizing how companies operate and reshaping the economy. 

At the core of this transformation remains a fundamental principle: the customer is the boss. In this new era, empathy becomes crucial as businesses strive to meet subjective values and deliver hyper-personalized experiences. Consumers demand instant access, precise responses, seamless order fulfillment, and transparency, while resisting intrusive tracking and data monetization.

David Kramer, Founder & Chief Product Officer at Cooperative Computing, joins Hunter Hastings to highlight how AI can enhance creativity while balancing automation and human touch. In this discussion, Kramer shares insights on the digital enablement movement, emphasizing that AI should complement human creativity rather than replace it.

He underscores the need for maintaining a brand's unique voice amidst the risk of generic content. As AI advances, businesses must adapt, using it to innovate while preserving the essential human element that resonates deeply with audiences. This approach aligns with the shift towards hyper-personalization, where understanding and delivering what each individual wants becomes the new standard, as exemplified by companies like Nike, which serves diverse customer needs with tailored, transparent experiences.

Resources:

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

Cooperative Computing

Connect with David Kramer on LinkedIn

Digital Enablement by Cooperative Computing PDF

Show Notes:

0:00 | Intro: Vision of the Digitally Enabled Firm
01:57 | 5 Key Business Functions: Branding and Marketing
03:15 | Second Key: Sales and Commerce
03:56 | Digitally Enabled Organization: Third and Fourth Key
04:48 | Fifth Key for a Digitally Enabled Organization: Service Delivery Management
07:13 | Human Role: Coding OR Evolving Decisions?
13:13 | Are We Still Customer-Centric?
20:33 | Transition Away From Control
25:01 | Customer in this New Digital Environment
29:39 | Demand for Transparency and Responsiveness
35:34 | Managing Accelerating Digital Change Speed: The Art of Possible
40:47 | Stephen Hawking: Cosmology Depends on the Questions You Ask
45:38 | Is Competition Still Relevant, and Can Large Firms Adapt?
53:52 | Wrap-Up

This episode is a repost from The Working On Purpose Podcast

Capitalism comes in for criticism, despite the fact that this economic system has resulted in substantially increasing global per capita income over the centuries, spurring economic growth and progress. 

Critics often criticize a kind of Aberrant Capitalism, one that is dominated in their minds by corporations, whose behavior is not always meritorious. 

But from the earliest times, it was Customer Capitalism, not corporate capitalism, that was the driver of individual prosperity and thriving. Companies such as Wedgwood & Bentley of Wedgwood China fame (founded 1759) set the original precedents by prioritizing customer needs and innovation, laying the foundation for contemporary business practices. The advent of these corporations facilitated large-scale entrepreneurship, promoting innovation and efficient responses to customer demands.

Entropy has set into the capitalist system since the founding days, and there is some corporate behavior that needs reform. Dr. Alise Cortez is attentive to these concerns. We discussed the prospects for a revival of customer capitalism

Resources: 

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Alise Cortez on LinkedIn

The Value Creators Website

Hunter Hasting’s Blog

 Dr. Alise Cortez's websites:  Gusto-Now.com and AliseCortez.com

Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
3:25 | Capitalism: Bad Rap and the Purpose 
08:07 | Standard Oil's Impact on Civilization
09:52 | World War: Capitalism in the Next Era
14:20 | The Post-War Capitalism: Command and Control
19:50 | Period of Financialization 
21:05 | Maximising Shareholder Value 
22:14 | Government as the Customer 
25:35 | The Promise of Customer Capitalism 
28:30 | Current Landscape of Customer Capitalism 
33:03 | Management Practices of Forward-Thinking Companies: Extremely Flat Organization
35:33 | Cross-Functional Teams 
37:45 | Short-Term Problem Solving vs. Long-Term Planning 
39:50 | Long-Term Stock Exchanges: Role and Contribution
40:30 | AI and Middle Management
42:24 | Principles Over Rules 
43:40 | Customer-Centric Business Models 
45:13 | Idea of Subjective Value and Empathy
48:37 | Wrap - Up

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings, an economist and corporate marketing professional, is interviewed by Natalie Born, host of the Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast. 

Imagine a future where your organization works backward from a detailed vision of how customers will interact with your products and services. This is a concept Hunter Hastings passionately discussed on the podcast. He advocates for a mental shift in organizations to focus on the flow of information from the customer, leading to effective marketplace tests and implementations. 

Hastings reflects on the historical shift from customer-centric entrepreneurship to bureaucracy and financialization, emphasizing the need for organizational innovation to remove barriers. The conversation explores the importance of empathy, understanding customer needs, and the potential for flatter organizational structures to accelerate innovation. 

Resources: 

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

Connect with Natalie Born on LinkedIn

Valuecreators.com

Hunter Hasting’s blog

Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast

Show Notes:

0:00 | Intro
02:03 | Hunter Hastings Professional Background
04:50 | Procter and Gamble's Customer-Centric Approach
08:58 | Removing Barriers to Innovation: Mental Model
11:47 | Fundaments of Innovation: Self-Management
15:20 | Morning Star's Self-Management Model
18:01 | Imagining the Future for Implementation
20:39 | Vision and Customer-Centric Innovation
22:45 | Example: The Blackberry and Customer Frustration
24:57 | Tension Between Customer Knowledge and Innovation
26:44 | Empathy and Interaction in Entrepreneurship
28:52 | Wrap-Up