Smashing the Plateau

Paige Arnof-Fenn is the founder and CEO of global branding and digital marketing firm Mavens and Moguls, based in Cambridge, MA. Her clients include Microsoft, Virgin, The New York Times Company, Colgate, venture-backed startups, as well as nonprofit organizations. She graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Business School. Paige serves on several boards, is a popular speaker and columnist...

Kenneth Gorfinkle is a clinical psychologist and owner of Common Sense Therapy, a private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan. His career transitioned from decades of work with medical patients in hospitals to a full-time private practice in 2016. As his own practice slowly winds down, he finds himself caring for many individuals at the late stages of their careers. Retirement has become an outmod...

Ann Vanino is a career and new directions coach and author whose passion is collaborating with her clients to create the life they want to live. Prior to coaching, Ann enjoyed a 21-year career in the environmental, health, and safety field, including running New York City's 24-hour chemical emergency response team, responding to over 600 emergencies a year. Ann authors a weekly blog, Opening, and...

Susan M. Barber is a leading visibility coach who transforms quiet high achievers into visible and influential leaders so they can confidently position themselves for new opportunities. With over 25 years of experience in leadership roles at Kraft Heinz, she has a deep understanding of the challenges corporate leaders face. Susan is the author and podcast host of The Visibility Factor and author o...

Nina is a LinkedIn™ featured brand builder and a content and engagement strategist for creators, coaches, and consultants. She collaborates with service-based entrepreneurs to develop strategies and create digital content that enable them to grow organically on LinkedIn. Nina is a recovering producer and documentary filmmaker. She’s seen it all — from the early days of independent features to nati...

Dr. Gregory T. Obert is a clinical psychologist and the founder and CEO of the Royal Oasis Psychotherapy Institute, a premier telehealth practice delivering elite, discreet, evidence-based psychotherapy. He brings over 15 years of experience helping thousands navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. He specializes in veterans’ issues, PTSD treatment, and fostering resilience thr...

Melanie focuses on practical data science and AI. Her career highlights include driving client outcomes at Petsch Analytics, LLC—her data science consultancy; designing and building custom applications with generative AI and large language models, incorporating humans in the loop, at Palantir Technologies; modeling and analyzing truly big data at the New York Stock Exchange; writing quantitative r...

Michael Himmelfarb is the founder of HG Partners, a consulting firm that advises growing tech companies on monetization and go-to-market strategy. He developed a unique consulting model that combines the advantages of AI with the human superpowers of creativity, empathy, and experience to deliver high-impact results in as little as 48 hours. A former GM of a $200M Nielsen business and a five-time...

Jonny Cooper spent 12 years as a professional musician, touring the world as a pianist before realizing he didn’t want to be broke forever and transitioning into sales. He gained experience selling home improvements, houseboats, hot tubs, and holidays, among other ventures, before building a financial services firm from scratch and scaling it to £10.2 million in turnover prior to selling it to a P...

David Jenyns is a serial entrepreneur, systems devotee, and founder of SYSTEMology, a company dedicated to helping business owners worldwide scale and streamline their operations. With over 20 years of experience in franchising, digital marketing, and business strategy, Jenyns has established himself as a trusted leader in the industry. After successfully systemizing his own digital agency in 2016...

Todd Cherches is the CEO and co-founder of BigBlueGumball, a NYC-based leadership and executive coaching firm. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s “MG 100 Coaches,” a three-time award-winning adjunct professor of leadership at NYU, a lecturer on leadership at Columbia University, a TEDx speaker, and the author of the groundbreaking book, "VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking...

Thomas M. Jones is a psychotherapist, author, musician, and founder of an innovative technique, The Paradox Process, designed to rapidly transform negative feelings into powerful knowledge and insight—essentially, how to change your life by learning to direct your mind. In the world of medicine, his approach would be described as renegade; however, the proof is inarguable. Jones has been highly su...

Kevin Perlmutter is the Chief Strategist and Founder of Limbic Brand Evolution, a brand strategy and neuromarketing consultancy that puts emotional insight at the center of how brands attract and retain customers. He’s also the author of BRAND DESIRE: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights .  Kevin works with business and brand leaders to create stronger connections between their br...

After more than 20 years in the corporate world, Suzanne Mau-Asam has seen it all—the good, the bad, and the “we’re not sure what’s happening here.” But here’s the thing: she doesn’t stop at quick fixes or standard solutions. As a sociologist, certified somatic coach, learning and development specialist, and embodied leadership expert, Suzanne brings a level of depth that most programs don’t even...

Liisa Reimann, the founder of Two i Copy, helps business owners stand out with personality-packed words that sell. She’s been featured in Women’s Journal and uses the DiSC and StoryBrand frameworks to craft copy that truly connects. Whether it’s done-for-you, DIY, or something in between, Liisa helps brands finally sound like themselves! In today’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, you will learn h...

Tim Ash is a recognized authority on evolutionary psychology, persuasion, and digital marketing. He is a sought-after international keynote speaker, executive advisor, and the bestselling author of several books, including Primal Dating, Unleash Your Primal Brain, and Landing Page Optimization. As the CEO and co-founder of a digital optimization agency, Tim helped create over $1.2 billion in value...

Shandra is the CEO of The Transit Lounge, working with women who want to grow their service-based side businesses into profitable, thriving ventures in part-time hours. She’s an award-winning marketing director, professional results coach, Money Breakthrough coach, podcast host, and co-author of the international bestselling book, Elevate Your Success . Following a diagnosis of severe adrenal fati...

David is the founder of Strategy Shift. He’s worked with more than 50 CEOs and hundreds of other C-suite executives to design bold strategies, supercharge their leadership, and transform their cultures in 20 countries. He’s a contributor to Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and Strategy+Business, and a guest lecturer at London Business School. He is a former senior partner at S...

Jeffrey Hayzlett is a global business celebrity, primetime TV and podcast host, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. As Chairman and Founder of the C-Suite Network, he connects executives and entrepreneurs to foster business growth. A former Fortune 100 CMO, he is known for his bold, no-nonsense approach to leadership, marketing, and innovation. Hayzlett has appeared on major media outlets, s...

Katie Wilson is the founder of Serious Moonlight Consulting, a sales and marketing leader helping tech and retail companies achieve sustainable growth. After leaving Big Tech—following 15 years at Google as Head of Sales—she has helped a variety of startups, companies, and individuals untangle and demystify their sales and marketing processes. She has been a featured speaker for @Google Talks, Won...

Chuck Cooper is the President of WhiteWater Consulting, an HR advisory firm that helps small and midsize businesses maximize their people potential. A Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and author of the best-selling book The Family Business Blueprint, Chuck guides owners through succession planning, leadership transitions, and legacy building. With a passion for aligning people strategies wit...

David Shriner-Cahn’s weekly advice program has been named by Forbes as a Podcast To Power Up Your Ultra-Lean Business. David has also been recognized as an Entrepreneur That Will Change The Way You Communicate by Inc. Magazine.  He is the podcast host and community builder behind Smashing the Plateau, an online platform offering resources, accountability, and camaraderie to high-performing pr...

Jerry is a rusted business advisor and mentor to small businesses, with over 60 years of experience as a corporate executive and entrepreneur. Co-founded six businesses with a primary emphasis on industrial products and services, and with both domestic and international experience. Has served on multiple outside boards in both for-profit and non-profit entities. In today’s episode of Smashing the...

“The problem I see is that "sales" has become a word that both businesses and individuals shy away from. Why? Because it has become disconnected from a deep understanding of the value relationship between businesses and their customers. My mission is to help people bridge that gap—to demystify what sales really is, so that everyone can improve their sales performance and success. If you’ve ever th...

Karl is a certified Executive Coach, Leadership, Team, and Organization Development Consultant, and international speaker with over 25 years of corporate experience. He holds a PhD in Organizational Psychology and has authored three books: The How and Why: Taking Care of Business with the Enneagram (now in its third edition), Nina and the Really, Really Tough Decision (available in English, Spanis...