Built to Grow: The Small Business Playbook

In this episode, Ryan sits down with sales expert and Close It Now founder Sam Wakefield to discuss one of the biggest missed opportunities in business growth: prospecting and referrals. Sam shares what he would do if he only had $5,000 left to grow a business, why most companies spend too much time focused on marketing and not enough time on proactive outreach, and the simple sales habits that ca...

In this episode, Ryan Naylor sits down with entrepreneur and mortgage industry leader Abdel Khawatmi, founder of Got Mortgages, to talk about what it really takes to scale a business in today’s market. From almost going to law school to building a nationally recognized mortgage brand, Abdel shares the systems, routines, mindset, and leadership strategies that helped him grow a high-performing sale...

What separates a $1M business from a $10M business? In this episode, Ryan Naylor sits down with Kayden Muzila, founder of Musilla Creative, to break down what actually changes as companies scale—especially when it comes to branding, creative strategy, and understanding your audience. Kayden shares his journey from creative director in the Hollywood film and advertising world to building a fast-gro...

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Katie Shive to break down what AI actually means for small business owners—not in theory, but in execution. From building AI agents that act like personal assistants to creating scalable content systems, Katie shares how businesses can start leveraging AI today to save time, increase efficiency, and stay competitive. They dive into:  What’s really coming in the...

In this episode of the Built to Grow Podcast, Ryan sits down with Tiffany Rosenbaum—entrepreneur, business owner, and advisor—to break down what it actually takes to scale a business the right way. From starting with nothing during the 2008 crash to building a fast-growing company, Tiffany shares the real, behind-the-scenes lessons most entrepreneurs learn the hard way. They dive into:  The bigges...

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Charles Drown, owner of Square One Home Inspections, to break down the real, unfiltered journey of building a small business from the ground up. Charles shares what most people don’t talk about...like the constant pressure of ownership, the early days of struggling to find customers, and why not all work is good work. From cold starts and stacks of unused busin...

In this episode of Built to Grow, host Ryan Naylor sits down with former Markus Wheaton, a standout wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who’s now tackling an entirely new arena: small business ownership. Ryan asks the question everyone wants to know: “What’s harder… the NFL or running a small business?” Markus’ answer sets the tone for a raw, honest, and inspiring conversation about transit...

Jason Payne went from making $12.50 an hour to running a multi-million-dollar roofing company and he did it by asking better questions, building better people, and never settling. In this episode, Jason and Ryan Naylor discuss how to hire hungry talent, fire based on values, delegate like a CEO, and reverse-engineer your growth. If you’re a business owner serious about scaling, leadership, and leg...

In this episode of The People Ops Playbook , host Ryan Naylor sits down with Chloe Street , an expert in the human side of business and former HR leader at Meta, Credit Suisse, and Morgan Stanley. Together, they unpack what it really means to put the “human” back in human resources. From fighting workplace isolation to creating cultures rooted in trust and genuine connection, Chloe shares practica...

Ryan sits down with HR tech veteran William Tincup to unpack what’s really changing in HR and what never will. They dive into payroll, compliance, the rise of agentic AI, and how HR leaders can adapt without losing the human touch. William shares insights from his decades in recruiting, his work with WorkDefined, and why hyper-personalization and real human connection still matter in talent acquis...

In this episode of The People Ops Playbook , Ryan Naylor sits down with Sana Walker, founder of HR Girlfriends, to explore how HR leaders can move from reactive problem-solvers to strategic partners. They discuss the importance of setting boundaries, aligning with CEOs, and building trust with leadership. Sanaa shares actionable advice on being solution-oriented, leveraging data to drive decisions...

In this episode, Ryan Naylor sits down with Kim Rohrer, an HR veteran with a background that spans VP of People, talent strategy, and - surprisingly -community theater. Kim reveals how her theater experience fuels her HR “superpower”: storytelling. They explore how every stage of the employee journey, from job postings to onboarding to performance reviews, is an opportunity to craft meaningful nar...

In this episode of The People Ops Playbook, Ryan Naylor sits down with HR leader and author Tim Sackett to debunk the biggest myths holding small businesses back from successful hiring.  From the misconceptions around “buying” vs. “building” talent, to the realities of retention, culture, and the actual work of recruiting, Ryan and Tim break down what business owners need to know to compete for to...

Join Ryan Naylor and Enrique Rubio as they dive into the evolving world of HR, exploring how traditionally “lonely” HR roles can become powerful drivers of business strategy. This episode unpacks the latest in HR tech, AI, and people operations, while highlighting the power of building community, connecting with peers, and staying relevant in a fast-changing workplace. Whether you’re an HR profess...

In this fireside chat, Ryan Naylor sits down with HR leader and entrepreneur Robynn Storey to tackle some of the hottest topics shaping hiring today - from AI-generated resumes to building a personal brand that actually works. They dive into the resume chaos that HR teams are facing, exploring whether AI tools are helping or hurting the search for top talent, and how hiring teams can spot the real...