Moments That Matter

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Mike Kichline, co-founder of Projectline and LER, to explore the lessons behind scaling a business from startup to successful exit, the power of defining leadership roles, and why the hardest chapter of entrepreneurship can begin after you've achieved everything you set out to accomplish. About Mike Kichline: Mike Kichline is the co-founder and form...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Shannon Swift, founder of Swift HR Solutions, to talk about building a business rooted in service, the fear of success many entrepreneurs quietly carry, and how EO gave her the courage to think bigger. From an unconventional childhood in Olympic National Park to scaling a nationally recognized HR company through trust, joy, and intentional culture, Shan...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Jim Neil, President of JL Northwest, to explore the accidental path into entrepreneurship, the grit required to rebuild through crisis, and how EO transformed his approach to leadership, vulnerability, and service. About Jim Neil: Pacific Northwest business leader and longtime EO Seattle member with more than 30 years of experience in food brokerage and...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Russell Benaroya, COO of Timberland Partners, to explore the pressure of living up to a legacy, the vulnerability behind entrepreneurship, and the mindset shifts that helped him design a life rooted in freedom. About Russell Benaroya: Seattle-based entrepreneur, investor, and operator with a background in investment banking, private equity, and multiple...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Andy Liu to explore the lessons behind his entrepreneurial journey—from launching a tech startup during the dot-com boom to navigating failure, finding product-market fit, and exiting through a multibillion-dollar acquisition. Andy shares how early missteps, cash burn, and building a product no one wanted led to a powerful realization: sales and custome...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Andrea to explore the defining moments of her entrepreneurial journey—from single motherhood and launching pediatric clinics, to leading Bridgeways, a social enterprise that blends aerospace manufacturing with meaningful employment for individuals facing mental health challenges. In this candid conversation, she shares lessons in resilience, values alig...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he speaks with Tony Richardson, Managing Director at Alexander Hutton and a long time EO member, about the key moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. After leaving Microsoft in 2005, Tony co-founded Extreme Consulting and grew it to US$84 million in revenue before navigating a complex and hard-earned exit. He shares lessons on valuation, deal structure, cultura...

Join Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Kara, founder of Pepper’s Personal Assistant, to explore what it truly means to design a business that supports your life — not the other way around. What began as a creative solution during her son’s half-day kindergarten has grown into a 25-person team serving busy executives across Seattle. Along the way, Kara evolved from accidental entrepreneur to confi...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Jennifer O’Neal, co-owner of Live Oak Audiovisual, to explore the powerful shift from perfectionism to growth mindset and how that shift transformed her leadership, business, and life. In this episode of Moments That Matter, Jennifer shares how early lessons in customer service, humility, and generosity shaped her entrepreneurial journey, and how EO Acc...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Nick He, founder of GPS Renting, to talk about choosing authenticity over expectation, building a life rooted in courage, and the leadership lessons that come from saying yes to your truth and no to what the world wants for you. About Nick He: Born and raised in China, Nick immigrated to the U.S. seeking freedom, belonging, and the space to finally be h...

Leadership isn’t defined by where you start—it’s built through action, resilience, and the courage to keep moving forward. From serving as a U.S. Army officer in Iraq and Afghanistan to building multiple F45 Training studios across the Seattle area, John Bankson turned discipline into drive and risk into opportunity. His story is one of grit, reinvention, and learning to lead by example—whether in...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Dr. Lina Kim, founder and CEO of Floss Boss Mobile Dentistry, to talk about transforming dental care through accessibility, innovation, and compassion. From building two thriving dental practices to launching Washington’s first for-profit mobile dental clinic, Lina shares how she turned crisis into opportunity—redefining what it means to serve her commu...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Edan Shahar , serial founder and CEO of Wild Zebra , to talk about lifelong learning, building a one-to-one AI tutor at scale, designing for mastery (not memorization), empowering teachers—not replacing them—and how EO’s experience-share model sharpened his leadership through big life shifts and company pivots. About Edan Shahar: Serial entrepreneur and...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Carmine White, CEO of Adrian’s Housekeeping , to talk about bouncing back from bankruptcy, scaling from $50,000 to $5M in revenue, and why learning to let go was the key to building a thriving, people-first business. About Carmine White: Co-founder of Adrian’s Housekeeping, now one of the Eastside’s most trusted residential cleaning companies, serving n...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Lisbet Halvorsen, founder of Ravishing Radish Catering Company, to talk about learning to lead, the courage to face personal challenges, and how joining a community of entrepreneurs didn't just change her business—it saved it. About Lisbet Halvorsen: Founded Ravishing Radish Catering Company 33 years ago, growing it from a one-person operation to a...

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Shahar Plinner, founder of Formations, to talk about the rush of following your instincts, the loneliness he once experienced as an entrepreneur, and the courageous decisions that unlocked his success. About Shahar Plinner: Israeli-born entrepreneur who immigrated to Seattle in 2005. Built and sold GPL Tax & Accounting (2009-2022) before founding Fo...