Grownlearn

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, host Zorina Dimitrova sits down with Maximiliano Stochyk, an executive at CoinTerminal — a Dubai-based decentralized fundraising platform helping DeFi and Web3 founders raise millions transparently while giving retail investors a fair chance to participate. With nearly a decade in the blockchain industry, Maximiliano has helped founders raise over $25 mil...

In this episode, I sit down with Saul Cohen (Partner at The Expert Eye, ex-PwC) to unpack how small and mid-sized businesses can grow faster with mergers & acquisitions. We get real about today’s market—why interest from buyers and sellers is up, why fewer deals are closing, and how founders can still build momentum by de-risking, acquiring strategically, and planning tax-smart exits. We cover: •...

Legendary operator and author Gui Costin (Founder & CEO, Dakota) breaks down how a failed content bet became a growth flywheel: Dakota Live—a weekly sales meeting turned show that shares real investor intel and creates trust at scale. We get into raising from RIAs, sales coaching (his 4 principles of fundraising), and the “no-policy policy” that built a high-trust culture. Gui also shares why kind...

In this Grownlearn episode, Sal Rehmetullah (co-founder of Stax Payments and now Worth) breaks down how he and his sister Suneera scaled Stax to 500 employees and $200M ARR, sold it for $1B, and then turned their attention to the broken world of small-business credit. We dig into Worth’s AI-powered underwriting plus onboarding stack, why they don’t touch fund flows, and how they’re partnering acro...

On this episode of Grownlearn, Zorina sits down with Loic Potjes—Executive Coach, former Corporate & Scale-Up CEO, tech investor, and Managing Partner—who’s coached 40+ CEOs across 17 countries. We dig into what actually scales a business: a crisp 80/20 strategy, the right “engine” (your core team), and smart use of AI that goes way beyond meeting notes and automation. Loic breaks down YPO’s value...

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, I sit down with Joris Delanoue, co-founder and CEO of Fairmint. We dig into how Fairmint evolved from a VC capital-raising platform into a pioneer in blockchain-based equity tokenization. Joris breaks down the Open Cap Table Protocol (OCP), how startups can issue shares directly on-chain, and why this could reshape the $6 trillion private securities marke...

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, I sit down with John Cousins, entrepreneur, educator, and founder of MBA A$AP. John has a bold mission: to make high-level business education fast, practical, and accessible—without the crushing costs of elite MBA programs. We dig into why higher education has become a luxury good, what’s broken in traditional MBA programs, and how John designed MBA A$AP...

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, Zorina Dimitrova sits down with Steve Walsh, investor, entrepreneur, and author of "Make the 10X Leap." Broadcasting from the insurance hub of Des Moines, Iowa, Steve shares his battle-tested strategies for scaling businesses, raising capital, and building a strong company culture—without losing your soul in the process. This conversation dives deep into...

What if your credit card debt... isn’t really debt? 🤯 In this mind-opening episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, Tommy Kilpatrick reveals the illusion behind credit cards and how he legally eliminated $85,000 in bank-issued credit card debt — not by filing bankruptcy, but by exposing how banks actually operate. Tommy shares how banks issue “credit” without a real loan or signed promissory note — and...

In this Grownlearn conversation, I sat down with John Knowlton, a former jail chaplain who went on to co-found and scale a wealth management firm to over $1 billion in assets—and then chose to walk away to pursue a deeper calling. John shares some of the pivotal moments that shaped his path—from working with inmates in DuPage County Jail to leading a billion-dollar financial advisory firm, and now...

From Wall Street to high fashion runways — Stephen Cuomo's journey is anything but typical. In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, host Zorina meets with Stephen, Executive Producer of Santa Fe Fashion Week and host of the Fashion Behind the Curtain podcast, to unpack the real business of fashion. Stephen shares how he scaled Santa Fe Fashion Week from nightclub shows to a nationally recognize...

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, we sit down with Kasim Aslam — serial entrepreneur, "world’s greatest failure" (his words), and founder of multiple multimillion-dollar businesses. Raised by a blind single mother in Albuquerque, Kasim brings raw authenticity, humor, and hard-earned wisdom to the conversation. We talk about the future of hiring in a post-AI world, how to attract top 1% ta...

In this episode of Grownlearn, I’m joined by Nick Jain, founder of Content Hurricane, an AI-powered content engine that’s changing how startups and small businesses scale their organic traffic. Nick shares how early users of his platform saw 80%+ increases in inbound leads in just 10 weeks, and how one of his own brand-new domains shot to the top 0.1% of all new websites on Google — in just 4 week...

You’re growing your business—but are you growing profitably? In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, I talk with Ken LaCroix, Fractional CFO and founder of Insightful Partners, about what it really takes to scale your business the smart way. Ken brings 20+ years of financial strategy experience to the table, helping founders go beyond gut instinct and make data-driven decisions that actually mo...

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, host Zorina Dimitrova talks with Brian Brault—a serial entrepreneur, Inc. 500 founder, and former Global Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)—about what really drives lasting business success: relationships and authentic leadership. From starting a hot dog stand at age 5 to scaling his company to double digit million and 300+ employees without a...

What if Bitcoin could generate yield — without giving up custody? In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, Zorina sits down with Matthew Halfacre, founder of Half Acre Research, to explore his vision for a new kind of crypto asset: Codex, a tokenized system that uses algorithmic trading to create sustainable Bitcoin yield. Matthew opens up about his journey from traditional markets to crypto, th...

What if the secret to high performance wasn’t doing more—but being present? In this transformative episode of Grownlearn, I speak with Dr. Ravi Iyer—a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, medical doctor, and performance strategist—who shares how Eastern philosophy and modern neuroscience intersect to create focused, connected, and fulfilled leaders. We dive deep into: 🔹 The Pentagon of Performance f...

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, Zorina Dimitrova sits down with legendary innovation expert Doug Hall—founder of Eureka! Ranch and Brain Brew Distillery—to talk about what’s really broken inside businesses today. Spoiler alert: it’s not the people. Doug shares the thinking behind his new book Proactive Problem Solving, and dives into why so much time is wasted on “stupid stuff” that cou...

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, host Zorina Dimitrova talks with Dr. Karen Wendt, President of Swiss FinTech Ladies and CEO of Eccos Impact GmbH, about Impact Investing, tokenization of real-world assets, and how sustainable business growth is reshaping the future of finance. With decades of experience in investment banking, Karen shares how family offices and institutional investors ca...

In this powerful interview, Simon Severino, CEO of Strategy Sprints, shares his proven framework for building 13 diversified income streams. From services and subscriptions to licensing, book royalties, affiliate marketing, options income, and digital products, Simon breaks down how entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators can multiply their earnings with smart systems. 💸 Discover how Simon uses a si...

Why is emotional intelligence the secret to business growth? In this powerful episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, Zorina dives deep with international speaker and human behavior expert Carly Pepin to explore the real drivers behind sustainable success in business—emotional intelligence, trauma clearing, and behavioral awareness. Carly shares how entrepreneurs and CEOs can overcome burnout, align wi...

Creative Team Building That Drives Business Results (Netflix, Meta Tested) by Business Model Transformation

In this episode of the Grownlearn podcast, host Zorina Dimitrova sits down with Jamie Schwartzman, Chief Creative Strategist and founder of Flux Branding. With 25+ years of branding expertise and a client list that spans public and private companies, Jamie dives deep into how businesses can scale strategically by aligning their brand with purpose and performance. You'll hear how branding transform...

Get ready for one of the most eye-opening conversations on money, investing, and generational change. In this episode, Zorina is joined by Nic DeAngelo, President of Saint Investment Group and the mind behind The New Era of Investing. With over $206M in assets under management, Nic breaks down the reality of the $80 trillion wealth transfer already underway — and why this is the ultimate opportuni...

In this episode of the Grownlearn Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Danny Brassell, the hilarious and wise “Jim Carrey with a Ph. D.”, to unpack how entrepreneurs can grow their businesses by mastering the art of storytelling and public speaking. 🎤 Danny’s helped thousands of leaders—from athletes and politicians to startup founders—craft magnetic presentations that actually convert. In this high-ener...