A Founder's Life

Season 2 of A Founder’s Life was packed with raw stories, bold pivots, and hard-won lessons from founders who are redefining success. From building billion-dollar visions to walking away from “dream jobs,” this recap captures the most powerful insights from our guests—reminding us that entrepreneurship isn’t just about business… it’s about becoming. 🎯 Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or jus...

In this episode of A Founder’s Life , host Leo Gestetner sits down with Jeremy Lurey—PhD, entrepreneur, family business advisor, and founder of Plus Delta—to explore the emotional truth behind building a meaningful life and business. Jeremy shares how he walked away from big consulting and launched his own firm, what it really takes to survive entrepreneurship’s darkest moments, and how his defini...

What if the data you’re tracking could change your life—personally and professionally? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Marc Kerrest—founder and CEO of GPS DataViz—to explore how data is transforming elite sports, behavior change, and the entrepreneurial journey. From launching a startup that now works with the NFL and European football clubs, to navigating a neck...

What if success isn’t about a degree… but about designing the life you want first? In this episode of A Founder’s Life , Leo Gestetner sits down with Ken Rusk , best-selling author of Blue Collar Cash and founder of multiple construction companies, to talk about what it means to live with intention—before chasing titles or degrees . From ditch-digging at 15 to running a 200+ person company, Ken sh...

What happens when your success starts to cost you your sense of self? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Ben Read, a founder, husband, and high-performer who had to unlearn everything he thought he knew about success, ambition, and balance. Ben shares the unfiltered reality of life behind the scenes—how the pressure to perform nearly broke him, and how redefining suc...

In this episode of A Founder’s Life , host Leo Gestetner sits down with Brian Davidoff—attorney, athlete, mentor, and father—to explore how one of LA’s top restructuring lawyers finds peace in chaos through fitness, mindfulness, and purpose. Brian shares the story behind his 40+ year legal career helping financially distressed companies while staying grounded through daily workouts, meditation, an...

How do you turn a corporate career—and a life-shaking loss—into purpose and impact? In this episode, Mary K Dunn shares her remarkable path from sales executive to life coach and speaker. With over 20 years in the corporate world, Mary thought she had it all figured out—until life called her in a new direction. Through coaching, public speaking, and a deeply personal story of grief and healing, sh...

What happens when you reach the top of your career… and realize it’s not what you want? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner talks with Rachel Platt, founder and CEO of Platinum HR Consulting, about walking away from a successful corporate career to build something more meaningful. Rachel shares her journey from Chief People Officer to entrepreneur, the lessons she learned about lead...

What happens when you walk away from the “dream job”? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner talks with Sarah Walton—former Nike executive turned founder of Better Meant—about how burnout, parenting, and the pursuit of freedom reshaped her definition of success. Sarah left corporate life without a plan and ended up building a thriving company that helps others find agency, happiness, a...

Cindy Grabowski spent 30 years climbing the ladder in MedTech, becoming a VP of Clinical Affairs. Then—at age 56—she walked away. In this inspiring episode of A Founder’s Life, Cindy shares why she left her high-level role to create something with deeper purpose: an e-learning platform called MindGrove, designed to help people enter the MedTech industry—no college degree required. Her story is abo...

Ron Green has built 9 startups. But what he shares in this episode isn’t just about business — it’s about building a life that works. As the CTO of Kung Fu AI, Ron is deep in the AI space. But behind his professional success lies a story of personal evolution: from burnout to balance, from overwork to intentional living. In this conversation, Ron shares:  • The real cost of “grind culture” and how...

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Andy Zimmerman—CEO of Journey and former head of Frog Design—to explore the rarely told truth behind success. From high-powered corporate roles to a life-altering spiritual awakening, Andy shares the personal and professional pivot that helped him rediscover balance, purpose, and empathy. 🔥 Discover how six million air miles a...

Feeling stuck in a business that controls your life instead of supporting it? In this episode of A Founder’s Life , Leo Gestetner sits down with Andy Root—co-founder of Better Every Day—to explore how founders, especially in high-pressure industries like accounting, can break free from burnout and build a business that aligns with the life they want to live. Andy shares how working 60+ hour weeks...

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Roy Vella, fintech veteran and founder of NextCoLabs, to explore what it really means to live with intention. From building PayPal in its earliest days to creating AI-powered meeting tools, Roy shares why presence—not productivity—is the true key to success. 🔥 Topics include parenting with purpose, optimizing health and sleep, foun...

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Reeto Mookherjee, co-founder and CEO of Angler AI, to discuss his journey from academic researcher to startup founder. Reeto shares the pivotal moments that changed his life—from turning down a tenure-track role to founding an AI-driven adtech company solving real-world marketing challenges in the post-privacy era. Whether you’...

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, we sit down with Courtney Kehl, founder of Expert Marketing Advisors, to uncover what it really takes to build a business rooted in freedom, flexibility, and purpose. If you’re an entrepreneur navigating the rollercoaster of growth, self-doubt, and personal evolution, this is the episode for you. Courtney shares her journey from Silicon Valley acquisitions to r...

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Dametric Burnett, COO of SNK Building Services, to explore his incredible journey—from cleaning windows to leading a fast-growing company with 16+ locations. 🚀 We dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, leadership evolution, building companies with heart, mental health, and redefining success after becoming a parent. Dametric...

What if the real key to entrepreneurial success was a morning hike, a cup of coffee with your partner, and 400 hours of movement a year? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Lee Roquet—a 25-year tech and startup veteran who traded hustle culture for purpose, nature, and a balanced life. From scaling SaaS companies and building a physical product business from scratch,...

Are you a founder or entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in survival mode? In this episode of A Founder’s Life , we sit down with Keith Alper , a seasoned entrepreneur and leadership expert, who shares what 40+ years of building businesses—and navigating personal loss—have taught him about sustainable leadership, emotional resilience, and building companies that don’t burn y...

🔥 The Secret to Business Growth? Learn to Fail Well – Mark Jaffe’s Story 🔥 Most people think success comes from avoiding failure. But what if the secret is learning to fail well? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Mark Jaffe, former Disney executive and business strategist, to reveal the mindset shifts, leadership lessons, and personal strategies that helped him gr...

Most people think success in private equity and business is about strategy, numbers, and hard work. But what if the real key was something completely different? In this episode of A Founder’s Life , Leo Gestetner sits down with Bruce Lipian , co-founder of StoneCreek Capital, to uncover how authenticity, deep relationships, and resilience have shaped his success. From surviving personal tragedy to...

 The High-Performance Hack Every Entrepreneur Needs  Are you operating at your full potential, or is burnout holding you back? In this episode of A Founder’s Life , Leo Gestetner sits down with Dave Gieselman , founder of Become Limitless and creator of the Limitless Flow Breathwork System, to explore how breathwork, neuroscience, and flow states can help high achievers boost focus, eliminate stre...

In this episode of A Founder’s Life , Leo Gestetner sits down with Ray Jansma , a corporate leader turned entrepreneur, to discuss the mindset shifts that helped him transition from the corporate world to business ownership . Ray shares powerful insights on building a strong network, achieving work-life balance, and preparing for a fulfilling semi-retirement without sacrificing success . Key Takea...

About this episode: In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Zack Lemear, entrepreneur and co-founder of Pivot Creative, to discuss his journey from an unstable childhood and foster care to building successful businesses and coaching others. Zack shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, breaking generational cycles, and how mindset, discipline, and vision transformed his life against all odd...

About this Episode​: In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Tricia Benn, CEO and Partner at C-Suite Network, to discuss her journey from growing up on a farm to leading a global business network. Tricia shares insights on leadership, trust, personal growth, and the importance of community in building successful businesses, all while balancing work, family, and personal well-being. Highlight...