Business Mic

You've written a great book. You've poured your heart into it. But no one knows it exists. This is the silent tragedy Kae Wagner sees over and over again. In this episode, she breaks down the most common patterns that hold authors back: relying on fleeting inspiration instead of building reliable systems, fearing rejection so much that they never talk about their own work, and mistakenly believing...

Kpunsa Mbinkar is a customer experience leader and Forum Director of the Africa Customer Experience Leaders Forum, where he is helping shape a more structured, people-centered CX ecosystem across the continent. With roots in frontline banking and over a decade of experience in CX advocacy and practice, Kpunsa has emerged as a strong voice for elevating customer and citizen experience in Africa. In...

Shay Thieberg is a LinkedIn-certified expert, psychologist, and co-founder of MAIA Digital, where he helps professionals and organizations harness LinkedIn as a strategic engine for visibility, authority, and business growth. With a foundation in behavioral science and years of hands-on experience guiding leaders and brands, Shay brings a rare blend of analytical depth and practical execution to t...

Mark Murphy is a leadership researcher, author, and founder of Leadership IQ, a company dedicated to studying why some leaders and teams consistently outperform others. His work focuses on using data-driven insights to help leaders build effective, motivated, and high-performing teams. In this episode, he breaks down the difference between leadership success driven by skill and success driven by c...

Peter Swimm, owner and consultant at Toilville, joined The Business Mic to explore how organizations can adopt AI and automation in ways that enhance — not erase — human expertise. With years of experience building conversational systems and workplace automation for major global companies, Peter now focuses on helping small and midsize organizations implement AI responsibly while preserving the va...

Kyle McDowell, leadership expert, bestselling author of Begin With We, and former Fortune 10 executive, joins The Business Mic to discuss what it truly means to build a values-driven, people-centered culture in high-performance organizations. After leading tens of thousands of employees across major corporations, Kyle shares how he reached a turning point where traditional metrics of success — tit...

Jonathan Shroyer is the CEO and Co-Founder of Quimbi, a customer experience technology company transforming how gaming brands engage players through AI-driven personalization. With more than 20 years in tech and customer service leadership — from Microsoft and Autodesk to Postmates and Kabam — Jonathan brings a unique perspective on how empathy, data, and automation can coexist to create next-leve...

Lateshia Pearson is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and television personality on the Oprah Winfrey Network's hit show Belle Collective. She joins The Business Mic to share her journey from humble beginnings in Mississippi to becoming a powerhouse of purpose-driven entrepreneurship — one who believes deeply in impact, authenticity, and empowering others to rise. As the founder of Women Brun...

Andrew Oxley is the founder of The Oxley Group, and he joins The Business Mic to explore what it truly takes to lead with purpose, clarity, and accountability. Drawing on years of experience coaching executives and teams across industries, Andrew shares powerful insights on how leaders can create alignment, drive performance, and inspire genuine commitment through self-awareness and communication....

Jessica Volker, Director of Business Development at Responsive Answering Service, joins The Business Mic to explore how human connection, technology, and empathy intersect in modern customer service. Jessica shares how Responsive Answering Service — originally built to support the medical industry — has evolved into a 24/7 multi-industry call center serving clients across diverse sectors. Whether...

Steven Siedel, TEDx speaker, storyteller, and founder of The Siedel Agency, joins The Business Mic to explore the power of authentic connection — both in leadership and in life. Known for his talk "The Hidden Power of Grief," Steven is helping individuals, brands, and executives tap into what he calls "connection as currency" — the idea that true fulfillment and growth come when we align with our...

Chris Hallberg, founder of GoExpand and longtime EOS Implementer, shares how entrepreneurial teams can achieve breakthrough results by combining discipline, accountability, and the right operating system. Drawing on his background as a military leader turned business coach, he explained how commitment, team alignment, and hiring A-players form the foundation of high-performing organizations. At th...

Kevin Wilkins, Founder & CEO of Trepwise, shares how purpose-driven organizations can achieve sustainable impact through strategic planning, systems thinking, and organizational effectiveness. With a background at Procter & Gamble and in financial services, Kevin recounted how his experiences in post-Katrina New Orleans inspired his shift toward supporting nonprofits, foundations, and mission-driv...

Jimi Gibson is the Vice President of Brand Communication for Thrive Agency, a full-service digital marketing firm that has spent over 15 years helping businesses—from small local shops to large multi-location enterprises—navigate the fast-changing online landscape. In this episode of the Business Mic Podcast, he shares insights on adapting to the rise of AI in marketing, the importance of authenti...

Christian LeFer is the CEO and founder of Instant Nonprofit, a company that streamlines the often complex and frustrating process of starting and sustaining a nonprofit organization. Drawing inspiration from his personal connection to the Special Olympics through his developmentally disabled sister, Christian became determined to remove the bureaucratic hurdles that prevent well-intentioned people...

Kira Shishkin is the CEO and founder of Informed, a startup delivering concise, ad-free, and credible news summaries via SMS. In this episode of the Business Mic Podcast, he shares how a frustrating experience during an earthquake in San Francisco, where he struggled to find reliable information without hitting paywalls or popups, inspired him to create a smarter, simpler way to stay informed. Wit...

Cary Prejean, founder of Strategic Business Advisors and a seasoned business strategist, joined The Business Mic to discuss how entrepreneurs can shift from simply running a business to intentionally designing one that supports their long-term goals, financial health, and personal satisfaction. Drawing from decades of experience in accounting, financial systems, and business coaching, Cary walks u...

Ken Rapp, CEO and co-founder of Blustream Corporation, discusses the untapped potential in the post-sale product experience and how businesses can dramatically improve customer retention, satisfaction, and lifetime value through personalized, data-driven engagement. Blustream's core innovation is its Product Experience AI Engine — a platform designed to bridge the gap between product unboxing and...

Filip Sardi, founder of the Client Flow Movement, joined The Business Mic to explore a critical yet often overlooked part of the customer journey, what happens after the sale. Having built a career as a successful launch strategist, Filip shifted his focus from front-end sales to client retention, driven by a deep belief that "when your clients win, your business wins." Filip's approach is centere...

James Warren, Founder and CEO of Share More Stories discusses how his company is redefining how organizations understand customer and employee experiences through storytelling and AI. At the heart of this innovation is SEEQ — a research platform that stands for Stories to Engage, Explore, and Question. SEEQ helps businesses move beyond surface-level data to uncover the deeper emotional drivers beh...

Jennifer Q. Williams, founder and owner of Saint Louis Closet Co., joined The Business Mic podcast to share her entrepreneurial journey and the philosophy behind her thriving custom closet business. Starting the company in her twenties after leaving graduate school, Jennifer transformed a natural passion for organization into a business that helps people simplify and elevate their everyday lives....

In this episode, Eli Portnoy, founder and CEO of Back Engine, joins us to share his entrepreneurial journey and deep passion for customer experience. Eli discusses how Back Engine is revolutionizing the way B2B companies listen to their customers through high-velocity, AI-powered feedback loops. He explains the painful gap he experienced in staying connected with customers as his previous ventures...

In this episode, Dan Abel Jr., Chief Chocolate Officer at Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier, shares insights into running a family-owned chocolate company with a rich 350-year heritage. He discusses the seasonal peak during Easter, how the team collaboratively creates new products, and how Bissinger's blends tradition with innovation. The company has embraced both e-commerce and a renewed focus...

In this episode, Palesa Nhlapo, Head of Customer Growth for the Personal Segment at FNB South Africa, explores how real impact in customer experience begins with human understanding. She shares how her team focuses on identifying and responding to pivotal life moments, such as job losses or the passing of a loved one, not merely with products but with compassion and timing that matter. Rather than...

In this episode, tech and product leader Marcelo Calbucci introduces the PR FAQ framework, a strategic innovation tool developed by Amazon to refine ideas and align teams before execution. The framework—short for "Press Release and Frequently Asked Questions"—encourages organizations to work backward from a vision of success by drafting a press release that outlines the future impact of a product...