Value Factory Podcast

In this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Andrew Ballard sits down with Traci Robinson-Williams, Managing Principal at OneAccord, to unpack why growth stalls when leaders confuse activity with execution. Traci brings decades of experience helping organizations align strategy, structure, and people—and explains why most transformation efforts fail at the middle, not the top. They explore the re...

In this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, host Andrew Ballard sits down with Huba Rostonics, Principal at OneAccord, to unpack why strong strategies fail without disciplined execution—especially in service-driven businesses like managed service providers (MSPs). Drawing on more than two decades in the technology channel, Huba explains the shift from founder-led to management-led organizations,...

In this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with Mike Sharrow, CEO of C12, to unpack what leadership looks like when uncertainty is permanent. Drawing on his work with thousands of CEOs around the world, Mike explains why waiting for “normal” to return is a losing strategy—and why disciplined planning and conviction matter more than ever. They dive into values-driven lead...

Most professional services firms don’t have a marketing problem—they have a positioning problem. In this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with Kerrie Luginbill, Partner and Chief Growth Officer at OTM, to unpack why broad messaging kills growth and why trust—not tactics—is the real driver of demand. Kerry breaks down how founders dilute their message by trying to speak...

Hiring problems are rarely hiring problems—they’re leadership and culture problems in disguise. In this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with Brett Erik to unpack why companies struggle to attract and retain good people even when they think they’re doing “everything right.” Brett breaks down how employer brand is formed whether leaders like it or not, why culture shows...

AI is everywhere—but most small and mid-sized business leaders are still stuck between hype, fear, and scattered experiments. In this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, host Andrew Ballard sits down with John Manzanares, fractional CIO at OneAccord and seasoned technology executive, to cut through the noise and explain how AI actually creates leverage for leaders. John makes it clear why AI is...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Andrew Ballard sits down with Mike Kadel, Managing Principal at OneAccord, to tackle the leadership crisis most organizations are ignoring: succession planning. With a wave of retirements accelerating across financial institutions and beyond, Mike explains why replacement planning is reactive, risky, and too late—and why true succession planning must s...

In this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, mental performance coach Karina Baldwin breaks down how our brains sabotage success—and how to retrain them for high performance. She explains why entrepreneurs let emotions drive decision-making, how identity gets tangled in business ownership, and what it takes to detach without losing passion. From neural pathways and self-discipline to fun as a per...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, host Andrew Ballard talks with J.R. Covey—sales psychologist, OneAccord principal, and creator of Narrative Powered Success—about the stories that drive or destroy performance. J.R. explains how cognitive behavioral and narrative therapy principles reveal the fears, habits, and self-limiting beliefs that quietly sabotage leaders and sales teams. He sha...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Andrew Ballard talks with Kim Frost, founder of Frost Connections and Managing Principal at OneAccord, about the truth behind why hiring feels harder than ever. Kim breaks down what most leaders get wrong—not a hiring problem, but a clarity problem—and how alignment, transparency, and preparation turn guesswork into great hires. From AI screening tools...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Andrew Ballard talks with Nick Knutsen, founder of Tahoma Tech and principal at OneAccord, about how conversation intelligence is changing the way B2B sales teams operate. With a background spanning Amazon Web Services, Zoom, and AI innovation, Nick explains how recording, analyzing, and automating meeting insights can turn everyday conversations into...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson and Lawrence Lerner dig into one of the most critical—and most misunderstood—elements of leadership: trust. They unpack what real trust looks like between boards and executives, why “the job of the board is not to run the company,” and how communication, clarity, and clean agreements shape effective governance. From thresholds of authorit...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson talks with Kurtis Hanni, Founder of Bison CFO, about where profit really goes—and why it disappears as you scale. Together they unpack the hidden mechanics behind pricing, margin erosion, overhead creep, and the operational blind spots that quietly drain cash. Kurtis brings clarity to financial statements, teaching business owners how to...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with John Steckler, a veteran sales strategist and OneAccord Partner, to unpack the real mechanics of growth. From self-storage to high tech to healthcare, John has spent decades helping companies stuck in decline rediscover how to sell, price, and scale smarter. He shares why fresh eyes, hard data, and tough conversations are t...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson talks with Rob Torres, District Manager at Insperity, about strategy, growth, and the real-world value of people. Rob breaks down what a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) actually does—and how Insperity helps companies turn HR from a cost center into a competitive advantage. Drawing on decades of experience in finance, economics, a...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson and John Martinka of Nokomis Advisors dive deep into growth by acquisition—when it works, when it doesn’t, and what it really takes to make it pay off. They unpack why some owners chase “boring business” deals with no cash down and lose, while others scale smart through strategic buys, integration discipline, and leadership readiness. Fro...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with Harrison Schenck—entrepreneur, consultant, and founder of Clients Through Social (CTS) Incubator—to talk about the hard truth behind leaving your W-2 for independent consulting. Harrison shares how a layoff and a missed moment with his son pushed him to build a million-follower platform and a business teaching others how to...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Andrew Ballard talks with author and former U.S. Diplomatic Security Service special agent Chris Stitt, founder of CrisisLead LLC and author of Scaling Pyramids: Leadership Lessons from a Mid-Level Bureaucrat. Chris unpacks how structure, process, and leadership intersect—why managing programs isn’t the same as leading people, and how mid-level manager...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with Wade Sugiyama—StoryBrand Certified Guide, marketing strategist, and founder of Guide the Hero Consulting—to unpack how storytelling transforms business. Wade shares how the “hero versus guide” mindset shift reshapes marketing, leadership, and brand messaging in an age where attention spans last three seconds. From lessons l...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, host Andrew Ballard talks with Steve Nasca, Principal at OneAccord and seasoned CEO, about what happens when a company outgrows its founder. Steve breaks down the “Founder’s Dilemma”—the moment when a craftsperson’s talent builds a business that exceeds their capacity to lead it. Drawing from 25+ years in executive roles, he shares how to balance pride...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson welcomes JR Covey—OneAccord consultant and creator of Narrative Powered Success—to unpack how the stories we tell ourselves shape our lives, our sales, and our leadership. With roots in neuroscience and behavioral psychology, JR breaks down how fear, motivation, and mindset intersect to drive performance or derail it. From understanding t...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with Dr. Pamela Mattson—executive coach, culture strategist, and thought leader on leadership in the age of AI. Pamela helps organizations close the gap between who they say they are and who they truly are, unpacking what it means to lead when intelligence itself is now shared between humans and machines. Together they explore h...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with OneAccord consultant Chris Keody to talk about the grind, the heart, and the discipline behind building a small business that lasts. From film school dreams and sushi-bar chaos to helping founders scale sustainably, Chris shares what he’s learned about patience, process, and the cost of skipping steps. He breaks down why en...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson sits down with John Martinka of Nokomis Advisors to examine how uncertainty in tariffs, government contracts, and economic swings are reshaping the M&A market. John explains why dependencies—on outdated systems, single machines, or key people—can crush enterprise value, and how transparency in financials and sound HR practices protect...

On this episode of The Value Factory Podcast, Nick Anderson welcomes Chris Cazares, founder of Polaris Injury Law, veteran JAG officer, and president of Seattle Executives. Chris shares his journey from growing up on the Texas–Mexico border, to defending Guantanamo detainees, to leading in the courtroom as a personal injury attorney. He explains why jury trials matter for democracy, how great busi...