Better Together

Most people's path to building a consulting business doesn't start in remote Alaska. Emily Berliner's did. In this episode of Better Together, Emily founder of EBO Consulting shares a journey that spans Bethel, Alaska to London, and everything she learned along the way about resilience, leadership, and what it actually takes to build organizations that work. Growing up in one of the most remote co...

There's a voice most entrepreneurs know well but rarely talk about. The one that shows up right before the big decision. The one that whispers you're not qualified, not ready, not enough. The one that keeps you playing small under the cover of being realistic. That's imposter syndrome. And in this episode of Better Together, James Black gets into exactly what it is, where it comes from, and how to...

Leaving a stable corporate career to build something from scratch takes more than ambition. It takes clarity, systems, and an unwavering belief that the market will show you the way if you're willing to listen. In this episode of Better Together, Beau Groover, founder of the Effective Syndicate, shares his journey from corporate consulting to building a business ecosystem rooted in lean principles...

Most business owners start with a vision. Freedom, impact, something built on their own terms. But somewhere between the early hustle and the day-to-day grind, that vision gets buried under decisions that only they can make, problems that only they can solve, and a business that quietly stops growing the moment they step away. In this episode of Better Together, Scott Raven, founder of Corvus Solu...

Most leaders are never taught how to truly communicate. They're taught what to say but rarely how to say it in a way that actually moves people. In this episode of Better Together, communication specialist and UCLA professor Dimitrios Loukakis breaks down what separates leaders who simply speak from leaders who genuinely connect. With a background that spans acting, academia, and executive communi...

Building a successful business isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about knowing when to let go, building systems that work, and creating the kind of structure that allows both your business and your life to grow. In this episode of Better Together, Jamie Jay shares his journey through business struggles, hard-earned lessons, and the mindset shifts that helped him turn challenges into oppo...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Rich Bornstein, a seasoned media professional with experience at major studios like Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to explore what truly makes storytelling powerful in business. Rich brings a unique perspective shaped by years in media and entertainment, breaking down why most brands...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Grant Wasch and PJ Sawchuk of Epic Solution Partners to explore what it really takes to scale a business successfully. Drawing from their experience helping organizations navigate growth, Grant and PJ break down the critical connection between people, process, and technology and why true business transformation...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Caleb Zimmerman and Katie Sandquist to explore what it really takes to build businesses designed for long-term success. Drawing from their experience building and managing multiple ventures, Caleb and Katie share their philosophy of creating “overnight decades” the idea that meaningful, lasting success is rarel...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold are joined by David Lusk, Managing Partner of Evergreen Sales Group, to unpack what really happens when you step out of corporate structure and into entrepreneurship. After a post-COVID corporate shakeup, David made the decision to build something of his own launching Evergreen in 2021 with a clear mission: to give small and mid-sized b...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Jay Breeden, systems architect and business growth strategist, to explore how founders can move from operational chaos to sustainable, scalable growth. Drawing from his experience as both a CEO and COO, Jay shares why many growing businesses fall into the trap of “management by heroics” where everything depends...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Jim Schleckser, founder of the CEO Project, to unpack what separates busy leaders from truly effective CEOs. Drawing from years of coaching high-performing executives, Jim shares practical insights into the mindset shifts required to scale a business successfully. The conversation explores why effective leaders...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Max Lowy, co founder of Attention Trading, to explore what it really takes to grow a business from the ground up. Max shares his journey from organizing college events to building a full service marketing agency, offering a practical look at how early experimentation and taking action helped shape his path. Rat...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Andrea Hawkins, a leadership expert focused on helping organizations build stronger, healthier cultures. The conversation explores what it really takes to create an environment where people feel valued, engaged, and motivated to contribute. Andrea shares practical insights on building trust within teams, foster...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Kiley Romero, co-founder of Smooth Mortgage Company, to explore what it really takes to transition from a corporate career into entrepreneurship. Kiley shares her journey of stepping away from the structure of corporate life and building a business rooted in transparency, strong leadership, and a client-first a...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Tiffany Castagno, an HR and people culture consultant, to explore what it truly means to build a healthy, people-first workplace. Drawing from her experience in corporate HR and consulting, Tiffany shares practical insights on how organizations especially small to mid-sized businesses can strengthen their cultu...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Tiffany Deans, founder of Grounding Work LLC, to explore what it really looks like to step into entrepreneurship especially when the path isn’t planned. After a 20-year career in federal HR, Tiffany shares how she transitioned into building her own people-centered business during one of the most uncertain times the COVID-1...

In this episode of the Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Jeff Leach, co-founder of Adaptivity Group, to explore the realities of transitioning from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship. Drawing from his experience at Accenture and building his own business, Jeff shares insights on navigating self-doubt, making faster decisions, and surrounding yourself with the r...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Tina Larsson, co-founder of The Folson Group and author of Living the High Life , to explore what it really takes to challenge systems and build something meaningful. Tina’s journey from Wall Street analyst to co-op reformer in New York City is anything but conventional. What started as a personal challenge within her own...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Matt Nettleton, a sales trainer and entrepreneur, to talk about what actually drives consistent business growth. This conversation cuts through the noise around sales and focuses on what matters prospecting, accountability, and building a culture where sales is understood and executed consistently. Matt shares lessons from...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Olivier Egli, founder of Be Like an Apple Tree and creator of the Do Happy Work Movement , for a conversation that goes far beyond business into identity, purpose, and what it really means to live and work in alignment. Olivier’s journey didn’t start with clarity. It started with a breaking point. After building a successf...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Eric Keosky-Smith, a conscious entrepreneur and fractional executive, to explore how businesses can grow more intentionally in today’s environment. Drawing from his experience across multiple industries, Eric shares insights on the role of a fractional executive, the importance of strategic thinking, and how partnerships c...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Kelly and Shawn Sundsvold sit down with Keith Meyerson, a learning and talent strategist, to explore what it really takes to build strong leaders inside organizations. From his early experience in the Marine Corps to launching over 50 learning and talent systems, Keith shares a grounded perspective on why leadership development often falls short — and what needs...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Adi Klevit, founder of Business Success Consulting Group, to explore one of the most overlooked drivers of business growth: systems. Adi built her company around a simple but powerful idea businesses don’t scale on effort alone, they scale on clarity, structure, and repeatable processes. In this conversation, she breaks do...

In today’s Better Together Podcast, Shawn and Kelly Sundsvold sit down with Kristi Cline a three-time certified resume writer and job search strategist to unpack what it really takes to navigate career transitions with clarity, confidence, and direction. Kristi’s work is rooted in real experience. After facing challenges in her own job search later in her career, she built We Write It Now to help...