Ventures & Visionaries

Most beauty brands are selling the exact same formula in a different bottle, and customers are starting to figure that out. Kate, founder of Dip, joins the show to unpack the trust recession happening across the beauty industry and why she built her company to run on the opposite of paid reviews and influencer hype. She walks through her path from studying economics to chasing a move to LA, fallin...

In this episode of Ventures & Visionaries, host Mordy Hackel sits down with entrepreneur and technology strategist Drew Donaldson to discuss one of the biggest shifts in modern business: the collision of AI, automation, and human adaptability. After nearly a decade running a successful marketing agency, Drew saw firsthand how rapidly advancing AI tools were reshaping his industry. Rather than...

In this episode of Ventures & Visionaries, host Mordy Hackel sits down with retired Air Force veteran, fractional COO, and Legacy Wealth Group CEO Tyrus Shivers for a powerful conversation about scaling businesses, building systems, and rewriting the narratives that hold entrepreneurs back. Tyrus shares how military structure and mission-driven thinking shaped his approach to entrepreneurship...

In this episode of Ventures & Visionaries, host Mordy Hackel sits down with Dr. Stephanie Hills—former Fortune 500 technology executive turned leadership strategist and executive coach—for a powerful conversation about career growth, visibility, and thriving in the AI era. Stephanie shares why so many high performers get overlooked despite strong results, and why performance alone is no longer...

In this episode of Ventures & Visionaries, host Mordy Hackel sits down with entrepreneur and technologist Shimon Magal to explore the realities of building startups, pivoting through failure, and learning how to truly listen to customers. Shimon’s journey into entrepreneurship started early—after discovering coding at just 11 years old and quickly becoming fascinated with building technology s...

Episode Description: In this episode of Ventures & Visionaries, host Mordy Hackel sits down with leadership strategist and researcher Corina Taban to explore what truly drives leadership beneath the surface. Corina shares insights from her research on the psychological contract — the invisible agreement between employees and employers — and explains why reciprocity, trust, and emotional intell...

In this episode of Ventures & Visionaries, host Mordy Hackel sits down with global business leader and board chair David Dangoor for a masterclass on leadership, governance, and long-term thinking. David shares his journey from growing up in Sweden to leading international businesses and serving on public, private, and nonprofit boards. Together, they unpack why great founders matter more than...

In this episode of Ventures & Visionaries, host Mordy Hackel sits down with Andy Ellwood to explore how founders and operators can scale faster — and more sustainably — by building the right partnerships and ecosystems. Andy shares his journey through entrepreneurship, business development, and platform growth, explaining why most leaders try to scale alone far longer than they should. Togethe...

In this episode of Ventures & Visionaries, host Mordy Hackel sits down with Nikki Barua—author, entrepreneur, and agentic human work reinvention specialist—to explore what it really takes to build a meaningful career in an age of constant disruption. Together, they unpack how humans and machines can collaborate to become exponentially more capable, why lived experience still matters in an AI-d...

In this episode of Ventures and Visionaries, I sit down with Kerry Kulp, co-founder and partner at Velospan, to unpack a story that blends timing, resilience, and a little bit of accidental entrepreneurship. Kerry shares how he went from aspiring police officer to falling into tech in the late 90s — eventually co-founding Velospan the night his previous employer shut down. Guest Introduction: Kerr...

In this episode of Ventures and Visionaries, Morty sits down with Borja Cuan, co-founder of 415 Digital, to explore what it really takes to build a business that thrives in an overcrowded marketplace. Borja shares his 26-year journey in digital marketing—from early-internet startups to managing $120M annual budgets—and the moment he realized he could build an agency that truly delivered on its pro...

In this episode of Ventures and Visionaries, I sit down with Zachary Karabell—author, researcher, and founder of The Progress Network—to explore how optimism can shape the way we navigate business, technology, and life. We dig into why balancing optimism with realism is critical, what AI disruption really means for the workforce, and how history gives us perspective on today’s anxieties. Zachary s...

Hey everyone, it's Mordy Hackel here on Ventures and Visionaries, diving into the wild world of AI transforming business and innovation. In this episode, I chat with John Furth, an executive coach and deep thinker, about how AI is shaking up leadership, mentorship, and even therapy. We explore whether machines can mimic empathy, the human edge in creativity and intuition, and how to strategica...

In this episode of Ventures and Visionaries, I sit down with Dr. Alex Cahana, a physician turned investor and global thought leader, to explore how healthcare, finance, and data are colliding in today’s world. From opening pain centers worldwide to tackling the opioid crisis, Alex has seen firsthand how health, wealth, and trust are inseparably linked. We dive into the failures of current healthca...

In this episode of Ventures and Visionaries, I sit down with Michael Moro, Chief Strategy Officer at INX, to explore how blockchain and tokenization are reshaping the financial world. Michael shares his journey from Wall Street to leading crypto ventures, the wild early days of Bitcoin, and why tokenized stocks, bonds, and real estate could redefine global markets. We discuss the convergence of AI...

In this episode of Ventures and Visionaries, I sit down with Bob Gault to talk about what it really takes to reinvent a company, align a leadership team, and drive revenue growth in both large enterprises and small, fast-growing businesses. Bob shares his journey from 17 years at Cisco to leading as a CRO, navigating cultural dysfunction, reshaping company identity, and scaling through acquisition...

Is the tech world finally moving beyond Silicon Valley's shadow? In this episode, Mordy Hackel speaks with Dr. Oksana Malysheva, a physicist-turned-venture-capitalist who shares her journey from the Soviet Union to leading Austin’s Sputnik ATX VC. Oksana reveals how her unconventional path has equipped her to nurture startups outside the Valley, emphasizing why grit, adaptability, and gratitud...

What if identifying ONE key constraint could unlock massive efficiency in your business? In this episode, Dave McFarland takes us through his unexpected journey from biologist to expert in the Theory of Constraints (TOC). With years of experience consulting across 150 factory floors, Dave shares how TOC transforms business by eliminating bottlenecks and boosting productivity. His insights offer pr...

How can families effectively navigate the complex dynamics of running a business together while fostering innovation and maintaining harmony? It's not easy, but it is worth it. Today's guest is Jeff Savlov, the founder of Blum & Savlov, a consulting firm specializing in family business dynamics and wealth management. Jeff’s extensive experience—spanning over 30 years—provides him with a unique...

How can mastering operations drive significant growth in your organization? In this episode Mordy Hackel sits down with Naima Jinnah, a dynamic leader in the technology and investment sectors, to uncover the secrets behind her operational success. From her early experiences in the legal industry to leading roles in tech startups, Naima shares invaluable insights on creating effective processes, fo...

How can we leverage innovation to transform the energy sector? Today Mordy Hackel is joined by Catherine Flax, a founding member and President of Private Markets at X Machina Capital Strategies (XMC). Catherine also serves on several prestigious boards, including Zefiro Methane Corporation, Gradient Geothermal, Abaxx Technologies, ISO New England, Base CarbonBase, and Amperon. Today Catherine shar...

How do you decode the secrets of future-proof leadership in today's rapidly evolving tech landscape? In this episode Mordy Hackel sits down with Kevin Goldstein, a former Wall Street executive turned fintech and blockchain entrepreneur, to uncover the answer. Kevin shares his eclectic career journey, emphasizing the importance of embracing the journey, combining IQ with EQ, and the relentless natu...

Are you ready to unlock the secret to scaling your business sustainably? Join Mordy Hackel as he explores transformative strategies with Roy Peter, a seasoned EOS implementer, and Larry Garcia, the innovative co-founder of Strety. In this episode we explore how EOS and Strety's advanced business tools can align your team, streamline processes, and create a resilient, thriving work culture. Tune in...

Today we explore the transformative power of financial leadership with Nelson Tepfer, the co-founder of Pro CFO Partners. Nelson’s unique journey from a full-time CFO to a pioneer in the fractional CFO space offers invaluable insights into optimizing financial performance and achieving sustainable business success. Discover how the fractional CFO model can provide strategic financial guidance with...

Imagine a world where innovation isn’t just a buzzword but a driving force that shapes industries, transforms lives, and redefines the future. In this episode Mordy Hackel explores the dynamic world of business innovation with two extraordinary guests: JD Morris, a seasoned private equity professional and strategic consultant, and Steven Etienne, a versatile entrepreneur with a rich background in...