From Stuck to Scaled: Growth Strategies for SMBs

In this episode of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with retail operations expert Monika Espinoza to explore the pivotal role operations play in scaling businesses. With 25 years of experience in Risk Management, Performance, and Operations, Monika is passionate about unlocking the untapped profit potential within operations organizations. Join us as Monika shares he...

In this episode of the Opticution podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Mariangelica Alvarado, Founder and CEO of Luminary Catalyst — a fractional business development firm helping businesses accelerate growth through custom sales strategies, data-driven marketing, and high-value partnerships. Tune in as Mariangelica shares how small and midsize businesses can stop leaving growth on the tabl...

In this episode of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Andres Palma, the Founder and CEO of Inimble. Andres shares his inspiring journey from Venezuela to the United States, highlighting how his experiences led to the creation of Inimble—a platform designed to connect U.S. businesses with talented professionals from Latin America.  Tune in as we discuss how effecti...

Join host Julio Gonzalez as he dives into the world of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) with expert Christopher Pumo, founder of Skyline Analytics. With over 20 years of experience in data analysis and strategic finance, Christopher has partnered with businesses from startups to multi-billion-dollar corporations across various industries. In this episode, we explore how custom reportin...

In this episode, Edward "Ed" Narvaez, Breathwork and Human Optimization Coach and founder of NervaShift, shares his transformative journey of recovery and personal reset through the power of breath. Discover how breathwork became a pivotal tool in managing stress and regulating his nervous system, ultimately leading to his mission of helping others enhance their resilience. Ed provides i...

In this episode of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with marketing executive and growth strategist Rich Smith. With over 25 years of experience, Rich has helped numerous companies drive profitable growth through data-driven marketing and strategic brand development in sectors like financial services, healthcare, and technology.  Join us as we delve into how marketing...

In this episode of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, to explore the journey of growing three separate companies from $0 to $4 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). With a decade of experience in nearshoring and a unique perspective gained from living as an expat in Argentina, Brian shares invaluable insights and l...

What do blockbuster films and high-performing businesses have in common? More than you think. In this powerful episode of From Stuck to Scaled, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Steven Puri, founder, former studio executive, and producer of films ranging from Die Hard to The Wolverine. Steven brings a rare blend of Hollywood leadership experience and cutting-edge productivity science to the conve...

In this inspiring episode of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, join host Julio Gonzalez as he sits down with Regina Batista, Co-Founder of Transformation Experts and Founder of International Women In Leadership. Regina is not only a keynote speaker and enterprise agile coach but also a passionate advocate for empowering leaders and creating high-performing teams. Together, they delve into Regina’s...

In this episode of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Kevin Jordan, an International Coach Federation-certified career and leadership coach with over 2000 hours of coaching experience. Kevin works as a strategic advisor, mentor, and facilitator to help his clients achieve peak performance and agility, fostering sustained engagement and value. His deep expertise in...

In this episode of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with entrepreneur and capital partnership expert, Jim Tolbert. With a rich background that includes founding and scaling multiple education-focused businesses backed by private equity, Tolbert shares invaluable insights on how small to midsize business owners can leverage capital partners for growth. We'll explo...

In this episode of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, host Julio Gonzalez chats with Jenna Nelson, the founder of HerAIgency, a consultancy dedicated to helping business owners simplify their systems and scale their operations through human-centered AI. With her deep expertise in AI implementation and next-generation visibility strategies, Jenna empowers brands to navigate search and answer engines...

Join host Julio Gonzalez in this insightful episode of the *From Stuck to Scaled* podcast as he welcomes Matthew Stafford, a seasoned entrepreneur and Managing Partner of Build Grow Scale. With over three decades of experience across various industries, Matthew has successfully guided countless e-commerce brands to scale beyond the million-dollar mark, including many that have surpassed $10 millio...

In this episode of the "From Stuck to Scaled" podcast, host Julio Gonzalez welcomes Brooke Lively, a seasoned expert in helping law firm leaders achieve clarity, traction, and profitable growth. With over 20 years in the legal industry and founders of two law-firm-focused companies, Brooke combines financial acumen and strategic insight to demystify scaling law practices. Join us as we d...

In our first episode of 2026 of the From Stuck to Scaled, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Javier Lozano Jr., a fractional CMO and the mastermind behind Bolder Media Co. Javier shares his remarkable journey from world champion athlete to successful SMB founder, emphasizing the importance of operational discipline over sheer luck or hustle.  Discover how Javier scaled revenue from ~$1M to ~$20M d...

In this final episode of 2025 of the From Stuck to Scaled podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with leadership expert Dan Winter to explore the intricacies of transforming your group of leaders into a high-performing executive team. Dan works globally with leaders facing complex challenges, guiding them to innovate and enhance their organizational culture. As the co-author of the Amazon best-sel...

In this enlightening episode of the "From Stuck to Scaled" podcast, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Senen Garcia, an accomplished entrepreneur and seasoned attorney, to unravel the legal myths and misconceptions about starting a business. With over 17 years of experience managing corporate, tax, estate planning, and probate needs, Mr. Garcia shares his invaluable insights on the legal...

When growth depends on partners, structure beats hope.  Lauren Zaslansky Conner—Founder of ZAZ Business Solutions and former leader at Disney, MGA/Little Tikes, and multiple startups—explains how to integrate agencies, vendors, and reps so they operate like in-house teams. We unpack the essentials: appointing a single internal owner, setting shared goals and 3–5 meaningful metrics, building a biwe...

Scaling stalls when leaders cling to the habits that once made them indispensable.  In this episode, CJ Stasik—founder of SheHandlesIt and former CEO—explains why over-functioning is the real constraint on growth and how to transition from execution to direction. We dig into early warning signs of burnout in small and midsized teams, practical ways to shift decision rights, and the operating rhyth...

For wealthy families and growing businesses with assets on both sides of the U.S. and Canadian border, managing wealth is a complex challenge filled with potential tax and liquidity pitfalls.  In this episode of From Stuck to Scaled, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Wayne Baxter, Senior Executive Manager at One Capital Management, LLC. Wayne, who hosts the 3 Questions podcast, shares his strateg...

Are you confusing responsibility with accountability? Most leaders are, and it’s costing them high-performing teams and consistent results.  In this episode of From Stuck to Scaled, we’re joined by Dave Rosenberg, a combat-proven Naval Officer turned business strategist and the architect of the Radical Accountability™ Leadership Doctrine.  Dave breaks down the critical difference between responsib...

The biggest challenge in a growing business? HR can’t be a one-person show.  In this episode of From Stuck to Scaled, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Monica Martinez of PuzzleHR, a leader with over 25 years of experience in operations and HR for Fortune 1000 companies.  Monica reveals why the modern scope of HR—from recruiting to benefits to culture—is too large for a single generalist to handl...

Everyone's talking about AI, but our guest, Aaron Shechet, is here to explain why it demands a total business model transformation for professionals.  Aaron, a former lawyer and expert witness who now builds custom AI agents, argues that the billable hour is obsolete and intellectual property is losing relevance.  In this eye-opening episode, we dive into the strategic shifts professionals—fro...

In this episode of From Stuck to Scaled, host Julio Gonzalez sits down with Jessica Portalatin, founder of Portalatin Business Law Firm and a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Jessica shares her journey of transforming from a successful attorney into a strategic business owner who sells legal services. We dive deep into the crucial mindset shift required to make this leap, the importance of knowing your...

Most business owners don’t realize how much hidden people risks can stall growth. Gaps in roles, fuzzy decision rights, and unspoken communication breakdowns often go unnoticed until they’re already costing time, money, and momentum. In this episode, Rachel Platt of PLATTinum Consulting explains how to identify these risks before they escalate, what red flags to watch for, and how small and midsiz...