Business, Brains & the Bottom Line

Managing modern IT infrastructure isn’t just about servers and networks anymore; it’s about identity. In Part 2 of this five-part series, Paul sits down with Joe Ross, Joe Galvan, Terry Murray, John Parker, and Stephen Sepulveda. Joe Ross takes listeners inside the complexity of supporting more than 400 business units across 180 domains, three cloud platforms, and five Microsoft tenants. As organi...

Disaster recovery has undergone a complete transformation. What was once focused on tape backups, secondary data centers, and keeping systems online has become a race against sophisticated cyber threats where minutes matter and identity is the new security perimeter. In this episode of Business, Brains & The Bottom Line , Paul Di Liegro sits down with Joe Ross, Joe Galvan, Terry Murray, John P...

What separates top-performing enterprise sales organizations from everyone else? According to Carl Erickson, CEO of Beacon Worldwide Sales Consultants, it starts with understanding how buyers think. In this episode of Business, Brains & The Bottom Line , Carl shares the strategies, insights, and real world lessons that have helped Beacon Worldwide work with 60% of the world’s top 10 enterprise...

How does a small six-person family business in Victoria, British Columbia earn more than 775 Google reviews and attract customers from across North America? In this episode, we sit down with John de Jong , founder of ** Alley Kat Signs and Marketing**, to discuss what it really takes to stand out in today’s digital-first marketplace. With more than 45 years of sales and marketing experience, John...

What separates basic tax filing from true financial strategy? In this episode, we sit down with Michael Uadiale, Managing Partner at Smeed CPA, to break down the world of proactive tax strategy, wealth preservation, and financial planning for high-net-worth entrepreneurs and real estate investors. Michael shares how his unique combination of CPA, CGMA, and FCA credentials helps business owners thi...

What does it take to build three companies from zero to $4M ARR, and do it while living abroad and navigating global talent markets? In this episode, Brian Samson, Founder & Chairman of Plugg Technologies, shares his journey from startup builder to nearshoring expert, connecting U.S. companies with top talent across Latin America. Drawing from his time as an expat in Argentina, Brian offers a...

By day, Eddie Collins designs complex enterprise systems. By night (and weekends), he manages something even more intricate, the living, breathing superorganism of a honey bee hive. In this episode, Eddie shares how he stumbled into beekeeping and why it’s far more than just a hobby. From the surprising inspiration behind the famous “four years without bees” quote to pop culture references like Be...

Everyone’s talking about AI transforming business, but where’s the real impact? In this episode, we sit down with Rusty Jensen, CRO of ConnexAI , to unpack the growing gap between AI ambition and execution. While executives envision sweeping transformation, most organizations are stuck in pilot mode, failing to convert ideas into measurable business value. Rusty shares a candid, front-line perspec...

Once AI is embedded across an organization, the question is no longer if it’s being used, it’s who is responsible for how it’s used . In this final episode of the AI Executive Series, we move beyond theory and into the hard reality of governance, policy, and enforcement . What does effective AI governance actually look like in practice? And why do so many well-designed policies fail the moment the...

Artificial intelligence is often framed as a productivity breakthrough—but its biggest impact may be happening inside our own minds. In this episode of our AI Executive Series, the conversation shifts from technology and security to something far more personal: how AI is changing the way humans think, learn, and are perceived at work . Drawing on emerging research from MIT and Harvard Business Rev...

AI doesn’t just make businesses faster — it makes attackers faster too. In Part 3 of The Executive AI Series , the discussion moves from shadow adoption to active exploitation. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a productivity tool. It has become a force multiplier for cybercrime. We break down how AI is transforming the threat landscape: AI-driven phishing that is personalized, scalable, a...

As AI becomes easier to use, it becomes harder to control. In Part 2 of The Executive AI Series , the conversation pivots from awareness to exposure. What started as productivity gains now reveals a deeper leadership challenge: Shadow AI. Employees are adopting AI tools faster than policies can be written. Sales teams are uploading client data. HR is experimenting with generative tools. Executives...

AI isn’t coming. It’s already embedded in your organization. In Episode 1 of The Executive AI Series , we start with a leadership wake-up call.  W e explore how AI is reshaping productivity, accountability, and even how we think at work, often faster than organizations are ready for. Executives across industries are waking up to a simple but uncomfortable reality: AI is already influencing product...

In a world full of transactional networking and surface-level connections, Sarah Hubbard is redefining what it means to build relationships that matter. Sarah is the Founder and CEO of The Intentional Network and the author of the book by the same name—a results-driven approach to networking built on authenticity, trust, and shared growth. Her community brings together high-performing professional...

Most startup pain doesn’t come from product; it comes from people. In this episode, Lisa Novak, Founder of LMNHR, pulls back the curtain on the most common HR and culture mistakes she’s seen across high-growth tech companies, and how to fix them before they derail momentum. Lisa explains how fractional HR leadership gives startups access to senior-level expertise without the full-time overhead, an...

Todd Schuchart, Founder of Sales Chowder, joins the podcast to share how AI sales agents are helping teams close more deals by doing less manual work. We talk about the real cost of slow follow-up, why most CRMs fail without automation, and how AI voice, SMS, and chat agents can instantly respond, qualify, and book meetings—without disrupting your existing tech stack. Todd also introduces the Foun...

Most business owners think a book is about selling copies. Henry DeVries knows better. In this episode, Henry DeVries, publisher of Indie Books International , host of Agency Rainmaker TV , and ghostwriter/editor of more than 200 business books , including a McGraw-Hill international bestseller, breaks down how a book can become one of the most powerful tools for attracting ideal clients. Henry sh...

In this episode, I sit down with Rick Yvanovich, CEO and Founder of TRG International, to explore leadership through the lens of mentoring, coaching, and human-centric growth. With more than four decades of global experience across finance, technology, and human capital, Rick shares how coaching leaders, not just implementing systems, is the real driver of sustainable transformation. As a Certifie...

In this episode, Paul talks with Kevin Hubschmann about using comedy as a workplace superpower. They discuss improv, failure, brain science, creativity games, and the small communication shifts that create big impact. A fun, practical look at how humor and authenticity make teams stronger and more adaptable.

In this episode, Paul sits down with Chris DiBella , Founder and CEO of DiBella Law Offices, a nationally recognized personal injury firm known as much for its results as its humanity. Chris shares how he built a multi-office, high-growth firm by putting people at the center of every decision, from clients and staff to the communities he serves. Chris breaks down why empathy is the most underrated...

Sean Olsen, founder of the Olsen Law Firm, shares the lessons every entrepreneur needs to hear about standing out in a crowded market. From using storytelling to build a memorable brand to turning client experience into your most powerful marketing tool, Sean offers a roadmap for competing against bigger players with bigger budgets. He also dives into leadership essentials—building a culture that...

What does modern Enterprise Architecture really look like in an era of digital transformation? In this episode, Aaron Busch, Enterprise Architect at Prescriptive Data Solutions and veteran of nearly 30 years in, shares his blueprint for transforming data centers and cloud environments while keeping business strategy front and center. We cover how to define your target state, balance what you need...

In this episode, I sit down with John Czapko, CEO of CyberSecure, a leader with 26 years of experience in IT before founding a successful commercial insurance firm. That rare blend of technical expertise and risk management insight gives John a unique perspective on one of today’s biggest business challenges: cyber insurance. John explains why the current cyber insurance landscape is broken—where...

In this episode, I sit down with Katie Nelson, CEO of Sales UpRising, a company dedicated to helping solopreneurs break through the five-figure ceiling and scale to six-figure success. Katie shares her passion for empowering entrepreneurs who aren’t just in business for money, but for the freedom to live as their best selves. We discuss the key strategies Sales UpRising uses to accelerate growth—i...

Corey Morris, CEO of Voltage and author of The Digital Marketing Success Plan , joins the show to share his proven framework for creating powerful digital marketing strategies. With over two decades of experience helping brands thrive online, Corey developed the START process,  a simple yet comprehensive approach built around Strategy, Tactics, Application, Review, and Transformation. In this conv...