Founder's Story

Aaron Marcum spent over two decades in the home care industry before founding Breakaway365 , a coaching program designed to help agency owners scale their businesses while reclaiming the time, energy, and freedom they’ve lost. In this episode, Aaron shares what inspired him to launch Breakaway365, how positive psychology transformed his approach to leadership, and what he's learned from coaching h...

Yaroslav Lazor and Sergiy Korolov take us on their fascinating journey from passionate software engineers to innovative entrepreneurs at Railsware . They share how their love for building software evolved from personal passion into a thriving business, influencing multiple industries and countless lives. Railsware’s approach of treating every internal process as a product is central to their abili...

In this episode of Founder's Story, Raza Sheikh, Founder & CEO of Identable , explains how he distilled his own frustration with fragmented SEO, content, and social tools into Identable—“one platform, zero fragmentation.” Designed for businesses of every size, Identable combines AI-powered SEO, content creation, social scheduling, and lead capture into a single dashboard. Raza describes how his te...

Shane Smith is a seasoned med spa entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience and the CEO of Upkeep Ventures—one of America’s fastest-growing aesthetic brands. With multiple Inc. 5000 awards and 1000%+ year-over-year growth, Shane has built a national business by making high-quality med spa services accessible to the customers most companies overlook. His fearless approach to scaling and commitm...

Divakar Vijayasarathy is the founder of DVS , a global platform revolutionizing the accounting and business services industry with a presence in the USA, India, Singapore, and Dubai . A self-described Thought Capitalist , Divakar is also the author of 16 books on taxation and a globally respected strategist in scaling professional services. His mission? To help CPAs and small firms overcome fragme...

Melody Wilding is a professor of human behavior at Hunter College, a licensed therapist, an executive coach, and the author of Managing Up . She was named one of Insider’s Most Innovative Career Coaches and has been praised by thought leaders like Daniel Pink. Through her research and coaching, Melody has helped thousands of high-achievers navigate the complex relationships and unspoken rules that...

In this urgent and eye-opening episode of Founder's Story , Daniel sits down with Ricardo Amper , the CEO and Founder of Incode , the revolutionary identity verification platform trusted by Amazon, Citibank, and even U.S. elections. Ricardo reveals how deepfakes, AI fraud, and impersonation scams are rapidly increasing—and why the future of the internet depends on solving trust . From building a p...

In this powerful episode of Founder's Story , we sit down with world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Osman Bashir Tahir —also known as Dr. OBT —whose aesthetic clinics span London, Dubai, and Lahore. From cleft surgeries to cutting-edge regenerative treatments, Dr. OBT reveals how he combines art and science to help people not just look better, but feel better, too. We talk about the true purpose of...

John Mattone is more than just the world’s #1 executive coach—he’s a trailblazer in leadership transformation. Globalgurus.org recognized him six times in seven years (2019–2025) . John is the creator of the revolutionary Intelligent Leadership® (IL) framework. His work has impacted nearly 1 million individuals and thousands of organizations across 55 countries, earning him the trust of world lead...

Kyle Matthews shares how getting “cut” from a dream career in professional sports ultimately led him to founding the largest privately held commercial real estate brokerage firm in the U.S. With over 1,000 employees, 25 offices, and $66B in sales volume since 2015, his journey is a masterclass in grit, sacrifice, and long-game leadership. 💡 Topics Covered: The moment football ended—and real estat...

Today’s guest is Louis Bélanger-Martin, the visionary co-founder of DTI Software , the company that pioneered the in-flight entertainment systems we now take for granted. From the first flicker of a boring flight to Washington D.C., Louis saw an opportunity where others saw nothing and turned it into a multi-billion-dollar industry. His entrepreneurial journey didn’t stop at takeoff. Louis is also...

Jared Probst, Founder & President, Rapid A xis, details his journey from working in his stepfather’s machine shop to founding Rapid Axis—a company that revolutionizes short-term manufacturing and component fabrication. Jared shares his experience overcoming early cash flow challenges, building a robust sales system, and prioritizing operational excellence. His insights on customer service, innovat...

In this episode of Founder's Story, host Daniel sits down with Dr. Mary C Hames to explore her remarkable journey into the pharma industry. Driven by personal experiences with epilepsy within her family, Dr. Hames founded BioLogic Pharma Solutions to address the volatility and challenges in pharma. By pioneering an innovative fractional medical team model and leveraging AI to enhance efficiency, s...

Back by popular demand, Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, returns to Founder's Story. Fresh from hanging out with Richard Branson on Necker Island and preparing for an adventure to Antarctica, Ivan shares incredible insights, personal anecdotes, and powerful business lessons. This interview was originally recorded live in 2021. Episode Highlights: How Ivan founded BNI in...

In this inspiring episode of Founder’s Story , we sit down with self-made billionaire and serial entrepreneur Mike Paulus. From humble beginnings on a blueberry farm to founding multi-billion dollar companies like Adapar and Assurance IQ, Mike shares powerful insights into building businesses that last, navigating liquidity events, and why he still identifies as a gritty operator rather than a yac...

Gavin Whyte is a visionary leader with over a decade of expertise in artificial intelligence. Transitioning from a background in design and mathematics to becoming a pioneer in secure, private AI, Gavin has redefined what’s possible in enterprise technology. His journey, marked by roles as Deloitte Australia’s chief scientist and adjunct professor, underscores a relentless pursuit of innovation. H...

Vedant Pradeep shares his journey into creating Reframe App , a neuroscience-based platform designed to help individuals reduce alcohol consumption and achieve peak human performance. Driven by his own struggles with OCD and unhealthy coping strategies, Vedant developed 10-minute daily lessons that empower users to rewire their mindsets and build sustainable, healthier habits. Key Discussion Point...

Dr. Paula A. Ferrada, MD , is a trailblazer trauma surgeon who has shattered barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field. Hailing from Colombia, her remarkable journey to becoming a leading surgeon in the U.S. exemplifies resilience, innovation, and unwavering determination. Her groundbreaking work redefines trauma care and paves the way for future generations of women in medicine. HER JOURNE...

Brian Treu, CEO and Founder of Intelvio . shares his remarkable journey from bypassing traditional education to building a thriving, debt-free enterprise in medical training. With his innovative “Miracle Hour” strategy, Brian reveals how early-morning focus transformed his daily grind from mere maintenance into breakthrough momentum. He discusses balancing a day job with entrepreneurial pursuits,...

Caroline and Sebastian Graeff share their inspiring journey from professional athletes to pioneering health supplement innovators. Growing up in a sports-centric family in France, they combined their athletic passion and entrepreneurial spirit to launch NAIAD . Focused on natural, clinically tested supplements for joint health, stress management, muscle recovery, and weight management, they emphas...

Angelo Coletta discusses his bold vision for transforming e-commerce through visual customization and immersive technology. Based in Italy, Angelo explains how Zakeke enables merchants to deliver personalized, 3D, and AR-enhanced shopping experiences that bridge artisan craftsmanship with mass production. He shares insights on the evolution of visual commerce, the strategic challenges of onboardin...

Today we have Kelly Roach—a former NFL cheerleader, Fortune 500 executive turned 8-figure entrepreneur, and one of the only female founders who scaled from 0 to 8 figures without debt or investors. Kelly shares how she invested significantly in her personal brand and built a powerful platform that empowers thousands worldwide through entrepreneurship, bestselling books, a Top 20 podcast, and media...

We sit down with Erika Glenn , an award-winning C-suite growth and healthcare executive, sought-after keynote speaker, and business consultant who is also the CEO and founder of Glenn Professional Services. Erika shares her journey, transitioning from a secure corporate role to building a scalable business, with her TEDx talk at over 500k views. Her insights on personal branding, strategic leaders...

In this episode of Founders Story, Allison Maslan—an entrepreneur with over forty years of experience and the founder/CEO of Pinnacle Global Network—shares her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to building ten companies across diverse industries. Allison dives deep into the challenges of scaling a business, the importance of transitioning from an operator to a visionary leader,...

Daniel sits down with serial entrepreneur Furkat Kasimov , who brings over 20 years of experience building technology businesses. Furkat shares the hard-earned lessons from his career—from early failures to scaling companies—and provides practical advice for startups and established businesses. He also dives into his approach to learning from others, the importance of effective communication, and...