Branch Out - A Podcast from Connection Builders

It can be daunting to put yourself out there to network and meet new people, but it helps to bear in mind the opportunities for growth and support that come with being part of a community. This week on Branch Out we welcome back Carrie Schochet , Founder, and CEO of Purple Squirrel Advisors , a boutique executive search firm based in Troy, Michigan. In our conversation with Carrie, we discuss the...

One of the most vital characteristics of a successful entrepreneur is the ability and desire to continue learning. This growth mindset can be the determining factor in the longevity of your business, and to help us unpack this important subject, we welcome back popular guest Elliott Holland , Founder and Managing Director of Guardian Due Diligence . In this conversation, we talk about how staying...

Being an entrepreneur might seem risky in some ways, but what if, instead of thinking about the risks, you thought about all the opportunities that come with taking the leap? Ken Marblestone is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Ten:34 Partners ; a private investment firm focused on family-owned and entrepreneurial businesses. In this episode, Ken shares his passion for family businesses and h...

In the world of business, one of the biggest favors that you can do for yourself and your firm is to stand out and differentiate what you do from others. Today we are joined by Emily Ackerman , who takes that idea very seriously and who has leveraged it to attain success over the years. Emily is a business development executive at Lane Gorman Trubitt , and she shares her expertise and wisdom in th...

Business Development is a broad concept that can sometimes be difficult to pin down. It encompasses not only hard data, systems, and figures but also networking, relationship building, and deal acquisition. Joining us this week to help us explore the art and science of business development is Stephen Madsen , Director of Business Development, Deal Origination, and Capital Markets at Monomoy Capita...

Most of us have heard the importance of networking at some point in our career, but why is it so critical, and why should we invest time into building our network? Today's episode is a deep dive into why networking matters and the hidden benefits from private equity investor and master connector Corrie Menary . Corrie is a Partner at Kirtland Capital Partners , and she shares examples of how...

As building relationships is integral to achieving success in your career, today, we talk about how we can do this by using our platforms to add value to others. In this episode, we are joined by Paul Gray , the co-founder and managing partner of Ironhold Capital , the chairman of Leaders in Business and Investing, and the president of the Capital Allocators Roundtable. We discuss how meaningful b...

There is so much more to success than making money. In today’s episode, we are joined by Leon Brujis , partner at Palladium Equity Partners and an expert in the field of private equity and a striving stoic, who explains why a curiosity mindset, acceptance of failure, having a positive impact on others, and a commitment to continuous learning, are far more critical than the number of deals you do o...

Because of the ever-changing, consistently increasing level of complexity that exists in our modern business environment today, as an entrepreneur or a business owner, it’s often hard to foresee the ‘unknown unknowns’ that could ultimately cause the demise of your business altogether. Today’s guest is Sheon Karol , a partner at Paladin , a middle-market advisory firm. Sheon authored an article for...

In an ever-changing world, one thing that remains constant is the power and importance of relationships. On today's episode, we speak with Adam Klein , Chief Growth Officer with Bennett Thrasher, a full-service, CPA advisory business advisory firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, about his perspective on the ins and outs of building value-added connections. We kick off our conversation with an over...

Working with the right service providers is at the heart of every successful business. Today’s guest, Lori Gleeman , Founder and CEO of Soul Equity Solutions , combines her two superpowers in business development and recruitment to connect private equity firms to service providers at the top of their game. In today’s episode, she tells us how she developed this niche for herself and her role as a...

Successful business development and networking require a multitude of skills and daily practices, but the foundation for all of these is mindset. Today we are joined on the show by Jim Ries , who is the Director of Business Development at Offit Kurman , a full-service law firm with 14 offices in seven different states. Jim is also the host of the Java with Jim and is truly a wealth of knowledge an...

Thinking Bigger Than Yourself can be so impactful, yet so challenging at times. It requires a conscious effort to step out of our default myopic view and consider another viewpoint. In today's episode, we speak about diversity inclusion with Charmone Adams , an advisory service senior manager with Grant Thornton . We discuss what diversity and inclusion mean to us and how thinking bigger than...

Leading your team through a project is like building a house. You need a good understanding of the house you want to build, sturdy foundations, and a variety of contractors, each with their own set of expertise. Today we sit down with Howie Siegal , an audit partner at RSM , to find out how he leads his teams through projects. To open our conversation, Howie tells us about the first steps he takes...

So much of our success relates to the habits and systems that we are able to implement in our lives. It is a huge theme for us here on the Branch Out podcast, and to continue our exploration of this critical part of personal and professional development, we are joined by Mike Alberts from Cohere Capital   to share his experience and learnings. Mike's central message is around finding what wor...

Today's guest on the Branch Out Podcast is Mark Walztoni , Managing Director with Crowe , based in their Grand Rapids, Michigan office. He provides human capital and culture due diligence and integration support services that include change management, employee communication, culture alignment, and HR infrastructure transition. He also serves turnaround, restructuring, performance improvement...

As much as humans hate the unknown, the fact is that circumstances always change, so the better we get at adapting, the more chance we have of surviving and thriving. Tom Boniface is Vice President of Business Development with Hilco Global , and he joins us on the show to share the challenges the pandemic posed to his routines and the lessons he learned about adaptation. At the height of the pande...

Automated systems free your team up to focus on the best uses of their time, but these systems could not be developed if one did not take the time to reflect on how to improve. Today we invite Max Friar onto the show to speak about the reflections he made about his industry, how they allowed him to automate the mundane sides of his business, and the huge benefits this has offered. Max is the Manag...

Progress is what we all drive for, but achieving it can be tricky. Without proper processes in place, you could be headed down a bumpy road filled and unseen dangers. But if you could boil this journey down to a few simple tenets, then you can soar beyond what you originally thought was possible. Today we sit with Doug LaLone , who is a partner and patent attorney at Fishman Stewart , a premier sp...

While it is easy to associate leadership with perfection, there is a lot to be said for leaders who show up as authentic human beings that still have a lot to learn. Today's guest is Ben Vance , and he joins us to talk about how this approach to leadership informs his role as Director of Business Valuation and Transaction Advisory with Postlethwaite & Netterville . Our conversation starts...

Change takes on many shapes and forms and can be daunting for many people. Creating big change in an organization oftentimes requires a well-considered approach based on disruptive leadership. Today’s guest is Tom Bohn , President and CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) . In this episode, he talks to us about disruptive leadership and driving change in uncertain environments to take...

Creating an inclusive environment is key to a more equal society as well as success in our business and personal lives too. Here on the show today to discuss the important subject of diversity are Christine Nowaczyk ,  Arizona Corporate Banking Executive for BOK Financial , and Rich Grant , Director of Business Development at Northlane Capital Partners . Rich and Christine bring their experiences...

Today we welcome back returning guest Jamil Sanders , Vice President and Relationship Manager of Key Private Bank in Cleveland, Ohio. In this episode, we shine a light on how accepting ourselves is the first step to accepting others. Jamil offers a wealth of wisdom and helps kick off our conversation by defining the importance of accepting yourself. He touches on the interconnectedness of acceptan...

Today we open a multi-episode conversation into what diversity means in our personal and professional lives. For this episode, we welcome back Key Bank VP and Relationship Manager Jamil Sanders to hear his insights on authenticity and diversity. Early in the show, we chat about authentically presenting yourself within public and private spaces. We then dive into the challenges faced by minorities...

For years, Dan Lee (Partner with Comvest Partners ) was striving for results and results only. On every call, he was looking to make a quick win to add to his tally of success. Yet, Dan realized he was chasing success in the wrong ways. In this vulnerable and honest episode, Dan shares his biggest lessons in business so far and tells us the major mindset shifts he’s made in an effort to gain knowl...