Business Speaks Podcast

In this episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, Cooper Stacey and Kam Sanghai sit down with Travis Lay — former Bullis School alum, American University basketball captain, professional athlete, CPA, and mentor — to explore the transition from sports to business and the mindset required to succeed in both worlds. Travis reflects on helping lead American University to its first NCAA Tournament appea...

In this episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, Cooper Stacey and Joey Echiendia sit down with Jonas Hosmer — former WME brand partnerships executive and Netflix business strategist — to unpack how the entertainment industry actually works behind closed doors. Jonas shares his journey from brokering major brand and celebrity partnerships at one of Hollywood’s most powerful talent agencies to spend...

In this episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, Kam Sanghai and Cooper Stacey sit down with Robert Stocker — attorney, entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and Bullis Class of ’61 — to unpack a life built on constant reinvention. Robert shares his journey from clerking for a federal chief judge and building his own solo law practice to running marathons, and completing triathlons well into his later d...

In this episode of Business Speaks, we sit down with Fred Costa, Founder and CEO of MetaPhase Consulting, to break down his journey from consultant to building a thriving company. Fred shares how he made the leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges of scaling a business, and the lessons he’s learned leading a team and navigating growth. If you’re interested in consulting, startups, or what it re...

In this episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, Kamran Sanghani and Cooper Stacey sit down with Libby Mendiratta, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of Frisco Woodline, to explore leadership inside a legacy construction materials business. Libby shares her path from IT into a family-run company, lessons from building new divisions, and her work advancing women in construction through NAWIC. The...

In this episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, Kamran Sanghani and Cooper Stacey sit down with Kevin Rowe and Steven Bender, co-founders of Still Creek Insurance, to unpack the business behind one of the most overlooked yet essential industries. From home and auto insurance to residual revenue and long-term stability, Kevin and Steven share how they built, sold, and rebuilt insurance businesses w...

In this episode, Cooper and Joey talk with young entrepreneurs Jack Cleveland and Brody Paul, co-founders of a fast-growing window-cleaning and power-washing business they launched in high school. Jack and Brody break down how they got started, early mistakes, skeptical customers, and what it’s like balancing school with running a legit business. They also share their future plans and advice for o...

In this episode, Hosts Kamran Sanghani, Joey Echeandia, and Cooper Stacey talk with entrepreneur Rahul Pandhi about how he got started, built his company, and eventually sold it. Rahul keeps it real, from the messy early days and first clients to the tough decisions that shaped his team and culture. He opens up about leadership, failure, resilience, and what it’s like to sell something you poured...

In the Season 2 premiere of The Business Speaks Podcast , hosts Kam Sanghani and Cooper Stacey sit down with Dan Simons , co-founder of Founding Farmers and Farmers Restaurant Group — a mission-driven business with over eight restaurants, 1,600 employees, and $100M+ in annual sales. Dan shares his entrepreneurial journey , from his first failed restaurant and living in his mother-in-law’s basement...

Roger Echeandia is the CEO and Founder of The Integration Company, leading a team of experts in designing, installing, maintaining, and operating complex integrated electronic security systems for both government and commercial sectors. In this episode, we dive into his humble beginnings as he moved from Peru to the US as a child, his service in the Army and how that has impacted him, quantum comp...

On this episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, we are joined by Bola Olusanya, the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Nature Conservancy. Mr. Olusanya, who has held many high level positions in endowment funds for various organizations and universities, shares his stories, experiences, and insights on building a diverse team, proper asset allocation, and the investment indus...

In this episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, we speak with entrepreneur and philanthropist Scott Cohen. As co-founder of Byte, he turned it into the top direct-to-consumer brand for oral care and invisible aligners. In 2021, Byte was acquired for over $1 billion, making it a rare “Unicorn” startup that reached a billion-dollar valuation in under three years without outside funding. Tune in as h...

To start the second season of the Business Speaks Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Bahram Nasehi, a visionary entrepreneur, business strategist, and doctor. As the CEO of Dulles Glass, a rapidly growing company with over 150 employees, and the owner of a thriving dental practice, Dr. Nasehi has mastered the art of building successful ventures across many industries. In this episode, Dr. Nasehi detail...

In this exciting episode, we take a break from our usual business-focused discussions and dive into the dynamic world of TikTok, YouTube, and content creation. Our guest, Jovi Greene, boasts an impressive following of nearly 800,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 1.1 billion total views. Jovi shares his journey into content creation, offering valuable insights into the culture of content creators...

On the seventh episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, we are joined by Mrs. Shelly Kapoor Collins, a trailblazer in women’s entrepreneurship and innovation. Mrs. Kapoor Collins is a distinguished venture capitalist, having launched the Shatter Fund in 2017 and joined Sway Ventures in 2021. She was also appointed to the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) by the second Obama Administration an...

On the sixth episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, we are joined by Jim Schleckser, the CEO and Founder of the CEO Project. In this episode, Mr. Schleckser discusses the importance of perspective and explains why “Great CEOs Are Lazy.” He shares his insights on why different perspectives from multiple industries are crucial for effective leadership and organizational success. Mr. Schleckser emph...

This is our intro to our podcast!

On the fifth episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, we are joined by Brett Bernstein, the CEO and Co-founder of XML Financial Group, a financial advisory firm based in Bethesda, Maryland. In this episode, Mr. Bernstein shares his earliest stories about entrepreneurship, his unique client-focused approach to ensuring each client’s satisfaction and growth, and insights into the financial advisory s...

On our fourth episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, we are joined by Bob Tyrer, Co-CEO and co-founder of the esteemed Cohen Group. The Cohen Group is a renowned consulting firm in the Washington DC area, known for its high-profile clients and incredible reputation. In this episode, Mr. Tyrer shares his journey of co-creating and leading this successful consulting firm, discusses what consulting...

On our third episode of the Business Speaks Podcast, we are joined by Medium Rare co-founder, 5-time world burger  Champion, and philanthropist Mark Bucher. Mr. Bucher’s business story is one of the most thought-provoking guest stories we have heard. having started in radio, then to commercial real estate, while simultaneously having a passion for food, Mark has worked to create the best of the be...

In our second episode, Eric Zhou, Evan Kim, and Noah Margolis are joined by Joe Ucuzoglu, the Global CEO of Deloitte, and his son, Adam. As one of the largest professional services networks in the world and a member of the "Big Four," Deloitte plays a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of global business. Mr. Ucuzoglu, who leads with a focus on excellence and innovation, brings a wealt...

Our very first episode of the Business Speaks Podcast features a prominent figure in the business world. Evan Kim, Eric Zhou, Noah Margolis, and guest Jocelyn Kelly are joined by special guest Talia Fox, founder and CEO of Kusi Global Inc., a company focused on providing consultancy services such as professional development and leadership training to some of the biggest firms, including Lockheed M...