Business Roundtable

Most business owners have goals. Very few have a plan. And according to Marc Daniels, that difference is costing them everything. Marc L. Daniels has spent over 45 years building, turning around, and scaling companies across 16 countries. He helped grow Diligent from a two-customer startup to a $941 million acquisition. He turned a bankrupt company into $80 million in revenue. He has seen every ve...

Is your business working for you, or have you become its most underpaid employee? Alan Franks has spent 15 years working with business owners who are successful by every external measure and quietly trapped. Trapped by time, by decisions only they can make, by a financial life that's been entirely reinvested back into the machine they built. As a Certified Financial Planner and founder of the Busi...

Your team isn't the problem. The system around them is — and most business owners never see it until it's already costing them clients, cash, and good people. Thanos Diacakis has spent 25 years inside software teams at companies like Uber, scaling from zero to 2M+ monthly trips. What he found everywhere, from scrappy startups to global organizations, is the same pattern repeating: smart teams trap...

Why does so much marketing activity fail to generate real revenue? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David Carr sits down with Stephanie Curtis, founder of Pace Creative and an experienced fractional Chief Marketing Officer, to unpack why many businesses struggle to see ROI from marketing — and how performance-driven strategy changes everything. Stephanie brings nearly two d...

What if fear isn’t holding you back—but quietly shaping every decision you make as a leader? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, David Carr sits down with Jacqueline Wales, creator of the Fear Intelligence™ framework, to explore how fear operates beneath the surface of leadership, communication, and business growth. Most leaders assume their challenges are rooted in strategy, execu...

Choosing the wrong ERP system can cost your business millions. In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, David Carr sits down with Danny Kaplan, founder of SMC Data Systems, to unpack what most companies get wrong when selecting enterprise resource planning software — and how to avoid expensive implementation failures. Danny founded SMC Data Systems in 1980 and has helped thousands of mi...

Why do so many companies invest in marketing tools and still get ignored? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David Carr, founder of Steward Your Business, sits down with Ben Baker, strategic communications expert and founder of Your Brand Marketing, to unpack why most outreach fails today — and it is rarely about the tools being used. It is about the alignment, or lack of it,...

In a world full of noise, how do you actually stand out? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David Carr, founder of Steward Your Business, sits down with JoJo LaRicci, video strategist, super connector, and media veteran with over six decades of experience, to explore what it really takes to get seen, heard, and remembered in business and in life.  JoJo shares her remarkable j...

You spend months hiring someone great, then lose them in 90 days. It is tempting to blame the people. Workforce strategist Joel Schwan says the real problem lies in the system beneath them. Joel is the founder of Schwan Stratifyr and holds a master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, with over 25 years of experience in retail team leadership and enterprise workforce operations. A...

Why do so many business owners see HR as an administrative cost instead of a growth engine? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, David Carr is joined by Bruce Nichols, a global HR executive and people-first strategist, to challenge the traditional view of human resources and reframe HR as a profit multiplier and strategic advantage. Drawing from decades of experience across private...

Why do organizations keep fixing symptoms instead of solving the real problem? In this episode, David Carr sits down with Hanna Bauer, leadership strategist and founder of HEARTnomics, to explore why misalignment between people, systems, and purpose quietly erodes performance, culture, and trust. Drawing from Hanna’s experience as a CEO, board chair, and executive advisor, this conversation examin...

Why do so many capable leaders feel exhausted, unfocused, or misaligned, despite doing everything right? In this episode, David Carr sits down with Sara Gayle, founder of EverKind Strategies, to explore how neurodivergence, burnout, and broken systems quietly undermine leadership effectiveness and what it actually takes to design environments where people can thrive. Drawing from Sara’s journey as...

Why do so many networking conversations never turn into real opportunities? In this episode, David Carr examines the leadership dynamics behind stalled conversions and why relationship-driven professionals often struggle to move conversations toward commitment. Inspired by the operating principles of Success Champions Network, this conversation explores how leadership, structure, and accountabilit...

What if exiting your business did not mean selling out your people, your culture, or your legacy? In this episode, David Carr sits down with Kelly Finnell, President of EFS ESOP Consultants and one of the nation’s leading experts on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), to unpack how employee ownership can be a powerful succession and liquidity strategy for business owners. With more than 40 yea...

In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, David W. Carr, founder of Steward Your Business, sits down with Stephanie Simpson, founder of Brand-ification , to explore the powerful intersection of leadership, message clarity, and brand confidence . Stephanie shares her journey from Warner Bros. to launching a brand strategy firm that helps business owners define who they are, what they stan...

What happens when a lifelong Star Wars fan turns his creative energy toward helping business owners tell better stories? In this episode, David W. Carr of Steward Your Business sits down with Roger Jorns, founder of Reanimation Design, fellow Success Champion Network member, and the creative mind behind the new LightsideCollectibles.com redesign. Roger shares how faith, humor, and storytelling sha...

What if your business plan actually worked? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr, founder of Steward Your Business, sits down with Michael Stewart, founder of Business Planning PLUS and a member of Success Champion Networking (SCN). Together, they unpack how to turn your business plan from a static document into a living system that drives growth, alignment, and a...

In this episode, David W. Carr of Steward Your Business and Davis Nguyen , founder of Purple Circle , share the systems and mindset that help coaches and consultants scale to $1 million in profit—without burning out.   They unpack what it really takes to simplify operations, build scalable systems, and create a business that serves your life instead of consuming it.   Key takeaways: How clarity be...

Are you unknowingly paying more in taxes than you should? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David Carr, founder of Steward Your Business, sits down with Catrina M. Craft, CPA — a tax and wealth strategist known for helping entrepreneurs, agencies, and practice owners turn thriving businesses into wealth-building engines. Catrina reveals how her Craft Money Map System helps c...

What does it mean to co-think with AI instead of fearing it? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr speaks with Philip Topham, Board and Executive AI Advisor, founder of CRAFT Thinking, and co-founder of SavionAI. Philip has published more than 130 essays on AI, is completing a new book on CRAFT Thinking, and helps boards and CEOs turn AI disruption into clarity, fo...

How do you tell stories that move people to action? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr speaks with Jennifer Crosswhite, founder of Tandem Services and an award-winning writer, editor, and ghostwriter. Jennifer helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals harness the power of storytelling to communicate with clarity and impact.  Jennifer shares how her career...

How can small business owners cut through the noise online and create content that actually connects? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr speaks with Moniek James, digital marketing strategist, speaker, and founder of Renegade Creative Media Group. Moniek helps entrepreneurs and small business leaders build visibility and authority with practical, sustainable con...

What does ERP really mean for your business—and why should even small companies care? In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr speaks with Chris Carter, four-time best-selling author, global SAP leader, and founder of Approyo. With more than three decades of experience, Chris has guided companies from $3 million startups to billion-dollar enterprises in implementing E...

Most business owners eventually hit a ceiling: too many demands, too little time, and a constant pull in every direction. In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast, host David W. Carr speaks with Justin Lund, entrepreneur, coach, and founder of Propel, about how leaders can break free from bottlenecks and reclaim both their time and their growth. Justin shares his powerful journey—from ea...

Many business owners and nonprofit leaders are overwhelmed by the day-to-day tasks of running their organizations. From bookkeeping to HR, social media to project management, these critical functions can consume valuable time and energy. In this episode of the Business Roundtable Podcast , host David W. Carr speaks with Marney Lumpkin, President of Strategic Management & Logistics, about how o...