Strategy Shift Podcast

In this episode of Strategy Shift Podcast , Adam Levin and Tom Freedman sit down with Jim Camic, founder of BallaVive Leadership Partners, to discuss one of the most overlooked drivers of business success: people systems. Jim challenges the common belief that employee issues are simply "people problems." Instead, he explains how poor structure, unclear expectations, weak leadership systems, and mi...

In this episode of Strategy Shift Podcast , Adam Levin and Tom Freedman sit down with Savannah Stone, founder of Versatile Solutions, to unpack one of the biggest traps in small business ownership: building a company that cannot survive without you. Savannah explains why so many entrepreneurs unknowingly create jobs for themselves instead of scalable businesses, and why understanding your financia...

In this episode of Strategy Shift Podcast , Adam Levin and Tom Freedman sit down with Weston Lyon, author of 23 books and founder of Plug and Play Publishing. Weston breaks down a powerful shift for business owners: stop relying on traditional prospecting and start using a book as a positioning tool to attract clients, build trust, and grow your business. They cover: Why books outperform cold outr...

In this episode of Strategy Shift Podcast, Adam Levin and Tom Freedman sit down with Michelle Arnotto, CEO of Pink Zebra Moving, to unpack what it takes to stand out in one of the most stressful and commoditized industries. Michelle shares how her background in healthcare shaped a customer-first approach to moving, turning a transactional service into a relationship-driven experience. From buildin...

In this episode, Adam Levin interviews Tom Freedman of Defiant Enterprises about a sales approach that challenges traditional prospecting. Instead of chasing cold targets, running endless drip campaigns, or attending every networking event, Tom lays out a structured referral system designed for solo, micro, and small business owners. The focus is simple: build and manage an ecosystem that consiste...

To kick off Season 2 of Strategy Shift Podcast , Adam Levin and Tom Freedman revisit the top five guest takeaways from Season 1 (2025) and break down the lessons that mattered most. From communication strategy and technology decisions to sales clarity, AI adoption, and hiring, each takeaway reinforces a simple but critical idea: clarity must come before execution. This episode synthesizes the stro...

In this episode of The Strategy Shift Podcast , Adam and Tom sit down with Brett Knopf , co-founder and CEO of Elite Performance Partners and founder of Knopf No Solutions. Brett's career blends leadership coaching, elite performance training, and a strong foundation in fitness and discipline. Brett pulls back the curtain on what really drives high-performing teams: Personal development as the eng...

In this episode of The Strategy Shift Podcast , we sit down with Calvin Wilder — entrepreneur, author of The Financial Operating System , and founder & CEO of SmartBooks. Calvin shares why bookkeeping alone isn't enough for small business owners who want to grow and build long-term value. We explore how to: Understand the difference between bookkeepers, controllers, and CFOs Move beyond compliance...

In this episode of The Strategy Shift Podcast, we sit down with Michael Tanenhaus — President, CEO, and "Head Maven" at MavenSpire. Michael shares his journey from building computers at age 13 to leading organizations through the fast-changing world of technology and AI. Together, we unpack how small businesses can approach artificial intelligence with clarity, asking the right questions, and focu...

In this episode of The Strategy Shift Podcast , we sit down with LaMichelle Hecht, CPA , Founder & CEO of Overhead Solutions Group, to talk about the difference between driving revenue and actually making money. LaMichelle shares her journey from taking any client who would pay to redesigning her entire business model, rebuilding her team, and boosting margins from a painful 1–5% to 39–50%. She ex...

On this episode of The Strategy Shift , veteran media strategist and federal market expert Steven Vito joins us to unpack the five most common (and costly) communication omissions he sees in businesses of all sizes. From the myth that "we don't need marketing" to the massive potential of overlooked audiences, Steven explains why failing to communicate is failing—period . Drawing from 30 years of e...

In this episode of the Shift Happens podcast, we sit down with Christina Holt—seasoned digital strategist and executive growth advisor—to unpack what it really takes for small business owners and SaaS founders to make smart, sustainable tech investments. From defining a clear future state to overcoming industry resistance, Christina shares decades of insights to help leaders avoid costly tech miss...

In this episode, we sit down with Forrest Dombrow, founder of Profitable by Design and the architect behind the PBD Growth Machine. With over 20 years of experience, Forrest has helped hundreds of businesses—from scrappy startups to giants like Amazon and Google—scale through smarter, not louder, marketing. We dig into why outdated tactics like spray-and-pray cold emails are tanking your credibili...

In this episode, we sit down with seasoned insurance pro Butch Kriger to uncover the real risks small business owners face when it comes to insurance—and why most don't realize they're exposed until it's too late. From a contractor who lost $260K due to check fraud, to the rising threat of cyber and social engineering scams, Butch breaks down the high-stakes mistakes companies make and how to proa...

In this episode of Strategy Shift , hosts Adam Levin and Tom Freedman sit down with Lance Keene — founder of Keene Systems and a master of custom software development — to talk about the tech challenges facing small businesses and how tailored web applications can streamline operations and unlock growth. From humble spreadsheet beginnings to $200 million transformations, Lance shares stories from...

In Episode 3 of the Strategy Shift Podcast, Adam Levin and Tom Freedman talk with Matt Ruck, Founder & CEO of xop.ai, an automation and AI consultancy transforming IT services. Matt, formerly the CEO of designDATA, shares his expertise in building secure IT infrastructures and developing AI-powered solutions like self-help IT and HR chatbots that empower end-users to resolve issues independently....

In this episode, we dive deep into the unique challenges and strategies involved in hiring for small businesses. Our guests, Robyn Grable, Founder and CEO of Talents ASCEND, and Tobey Wyatt, Founder of Motherlode, share their insights on how small businesses can overcome the reactive hiring process and build a team that truly supports their long-term goals. From creating effective job descriptions...

Hosted by Adam Levin, co-founder of Information Experts, and Tom Freedman, founder of Defiant Enterprises, the Strategy Shift Podcast brings you in-depth conversations about the strategies that fuel successful business growth. Each episode dives into the world of entrepreneurship, offering practical advice and proven tactics to help businesses scale, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing landsc...