Podcast

Melissa Del Carlo Managing Director,ZRG Partners Melissa shares her 25+ years in recruiting and business development. She describes how ZRG Partners (a global talent advisory with a deep interim/fractional bench) steps in when stakes are high, say IPO prep, leadership turnover, audits/compliance, transaction readiness, and rapid scale. She touched upon uncertainty in the market, the […]

 Guy Barretta President and CEO, Barretta Consulting Fractional COO Guy Barretta, explains how small businesses can stop firefighting and scale with structure.The COO guy shares a practical playbook; start with your P&L, clarify the owner’s vision, run dual SWOTs (owner and business), and set a weekly 90-minute execution rhythm. We cover picking the right

Breanna Stephens Owner, B. Stephens HR Consulting Breanna shares her inspiring journey from receptionist to founder of a multi-state HR consulting firm. She discusses the most common HR challenges small businesses face; compliance gaps, employee-relations issues, and why clear expectations and professional guidance are essential. Breanna explains how her personalized, people-first approach combines technology with

Eric Bolin Founder, Solid House Marketing Eric is a former videographer who turned his creative eye toward marketing and went on to found Solid House Marketing. Today, he works as a fractional CMO for small businesses, helping them scale by building the foundations that make marketing truly work – optimized websites, CRM and lead capture

Aashi Arora Founder, iRise Executive Coaching Aashi Arora specializes in helping practices and health organizations turn difficult dynamics into aligned, high-performing teams. Most business problems are people problems. If you don’t define your culture and values, they get defined for you, creating conflict, misaligned expectations, and stalled decisions. Some of the key takeaways are: Culture

 Nathan Jines Owner, Jines Real Estate Group Nathan Jines is a 5th-generation real estate professional with family roots back to the 1870s (great-great-grandfather sold Texas land for $2/acre). He attributes his success to relentlessly focusing on clients’ real needs, demonstrating genuine care, and bringing deep expertise, rather than chasing shortcuts. He emphasizes that empathy

Harm Stratman Founder and Principal Coach, Core 4 Business Coaching Small businesses often fail because owners dive into their ventures with a product or service they love, but without a solid business plan. While they may try marketing through channels like social media or online ads, their messaging often falls flat, failing to clearly communicate

Dennis Sakurai CFP, Harvest Wealth Planners Many people invest to secure their future and ensure a comfortable retirement. Denis emphasizes the importance of working with a certified financial planner—someone you trust, connect with, and feel confident will prioritize your best interests. With just over 100,000 certified financial planners in the U.S., finding the right professional

Matt Cohen Commercial Business Broker, Synesis Advisors Selling a business is not the same as running one, especially for first-time small business sellers. The challenges? Plenty. Small businesses often come with risks that can make buyers cautious. Common concerns include: Heavy reliance on the owner without an empowered second layer of management Revenue concentrated in

Andrea Corry Founder & CEO, Top Mind PR & Marketing Andrea believes that storytelling enables businesses to forge deeper connections with their markets. Rather than just explaining what products or services do, she emphasizes the need to elevate the brand’s message. She advises engaging with communication professionals who have industry experience, understand market sentiment, and