The Achieve Podcast

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Alicia Powers, President of Price Builders and a former Air Force veteran, about building a construction business, modernizing legacy operations, and leading with curiosity in a traditionally male-dominated industry. What You’ll Learn How Alicia transitioned from a military career into residential construction and entrepreneurship Why macroeconomic fa...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner speaks with Dexter Hadley, physician-scientist and founder of the Canonic Foundation, about building compliant AI systems and rethinking how healthcare data, governance, and trust operate in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. What You’ll Learn: Why compliance—not speed—is the most critical foundation for building AI in regulated i...

In this episode, host Jessie Warner speaks with Nathan Sweat, President of Royal Engineering, about building and sustaining a relationship-driven engineering firm and the operational discipline required to grow it. Their conversation centers on leadership, sales strategy, and creating structure within a growing business. What You’ll Learn: Why relationship-based sales remain the primary driver of...

In this episode, host Jessie Warner speaks with Will Dukes, founder of FecundFig, a client acquisition agency focused on helping law firms align their sales, marketing, and branding. The conversation centers on the evolution of his business, the concept of “client cultivation,” and how intentional alignment drives sustainable growth. What You’ll Learn: The difference between traditional client acq...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Todd Searle, co-founder of Searle Management, about building scalable businesses through data-driven marketing and content systems. Todd shares his journey from private equity to e-commerce success and ultimately to helping brands grow through strategic content. What You’ll Learn How entrepreneurial influence and early exposure to risk-taking can shap...

In this episode, host Steven Bunker speaks with Nick, CEO and Artistic Director of the Nashville Ballet, about leading a cultural institution, evolving the art of ballet, and balancing artistic vision with business sustainability. The conversation explores how the organization is growing its impact while redefining the value of live performance in a digital world. What You’ll Learn How building an...

In this episode, host Steven Bunker speaks with Ellis, President of Black Tie Moving, about building a customer-centric moving company and scaling through culture, leadership, and innovation. The conversation centers on creating a premium service experience, aligning teams with purpose, and leveraging AI to enhance operations and customer satisfaction. What You’ll Learn How a negative customer exp...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Beejal Shah, President of North America at Launch Ventures, about her journey from software engineering to leading a global product development firm and helping startups and businesses scale through technology. The conversation centers on bridging the gap between engineering and business strategy to drive meaningful growth. What You’ll Learn How trans...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner speaks with Miguel Adao, President and CEO of Voler Systems, about leading a long-standing engineering firm and driving innovation in medical, industrial, and IoT device development. The conversation centers on leadership, adaptability, and building high-impact technology solutions in a rapidly evolving landscape. What You’ll Learn: How Vo...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mia Sundstrom, CEO of the National Institute for Play, about the science of play and its critical role in human development, leadership, and innovation. The conversation explores how play influences everything from mental health to business strategy in an increasingly digital world. What You’ll Learn Why play is a fundamental human need that impacts b...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Allison Ataide, founder of Lightning Animation and a seasoned animation professional, about her journey from aspiring artist to studio owner and the power of storytelling through animation. The conversation explores her career path, lessons from the animation industry, and how creative skills translate into business growth. What You’ll Learn How early...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Kyle Wiggins, CEO of UX Wealth Partners and founder of RiskDNA, about transforming the financial advisory space through technology, transparency, and advisor-first innovation. The conversation centers on how legacy systems and industry resistance create friction—and how modern, integrated solutions can unlock better outcomes for advisors and their cli...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mick McKeown, founder of Penovia, about navigating and winning government contracts. Mick shares his unconventional path into procurement and how businesses can tap into public sector opportunities to drive long-term growth. What You’ll Learn How government procurement works and why it’s often misunderstood by businesses The advantages of pursuing gov...

In this episode, host Taylor sits down with Pulak and Priyanka Sharma, co-founders of Kazmira and experts in pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid manufacturing, to discuss the evolution of CBD from a fragmented retail product to a standardized, prescription-based medical solution. What You’ll Learn Why standardization and quality control are critical in emerging industries like cannabinoids How Pulak...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Arto Bendiken, founder of Asimov Systems and a seasoned technologist with decades of experience in software and data systems, to explore the future of personal intelligence, data ownership, and building startups at the edge of innovation. What You’ll Learn Why building multiple startups teaches resilience more through failure than success How geogr...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mark Stouse, CEO of Proof Analytics, about the evolution of marketing accountability and the role of causal AI in driving measurable business impact. The conversation centers on how organizations can move beyond guesswork to truly understand the return on their marketing investments. What You’ll Learn Why traditional marketing metrics often fail to an...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Jason Zeimet, founder and president of UnoriginalVinyl, about building a niche business in the music industry focused on high-quality vinyl packaging and reissues. The conversation explores the resurgence of physical media and how storytelling, craftsmanship, and attention to detail are driving growth in a digital-first world. What You’ll Learn: Why p...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Andrew Griffard, co-owner of Blu Shark Straps, about entrepreneurship through acquisition and the process of revitalizing and scaling an existing e-commerce business. Andrew shares insights on identifying the right acquisition opportunity, turning around declining businesses, and building sustainable growth. What You’ll Learn: How entrepreneurship thr...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Tyler Clark, CEO and co-founder of Zawadie, about building a mission-driven company that connects skilled refugees with meaningful remote work. The conversation centers on unlocking overlooked global talent while creating dignified employment opportunities. What You’ll Learn: How firsthand exposure to refugee communities revealed a massive pool of hig...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner sits down with Trevor Maddux, CEO of Cranston and entrepreneur in the home services and software space, to discuss building a scalable handyman and remodeling business and the challenges of innovating in a fragmented industry. What You’ll Learn: Why the residential remodeling and handyman industry presents a major opportunity for innovatio...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Tyler Hernandez, CEO and co-founder of Tynt Technologies, about innovating smart glass solutions and transforming how we interact with everyday surfaces through electronically tintable materials. What You’ll Learn How application-driven innovation can lead to practical, real-world impact in emerging technologies The vision behind turning every transpa...

In this episode, host Stephen Bunker speaks with Scott, co-founder and CEO of Bliss Divorce, about how AI is transforming the divorce process by reducing conflict, cost, and complexity. The conversation explores the challenges of bringing an innovative, high-trust product to market and the lessons learned in bridging technology with deeply human experiences. What You’ll Learn Why the biggest probl...

In this episode, host Steven Bunker speaks with Bryan, CEO of Advantage Technologies, about building a resilient IT services company and navigating the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, AI, and small business technology. Brian shares insights from over 25 years of growth, focusing on leadership, financial discipline, and the importance of human-centered service. What You’ll Learn Why defining w...

In this episode, host Steven Bunker speaks with Ted, founder and CEO of Valere, a fintech advisory firm, about the evolution of financial technology, the rise of agentic commerce, and how businesses can navigate an increasingly complex payments ecosystem. The conversation centers on how fintech innovation, regulatory dynamics, and AI-driven transactions are reshaping money movement and decision-ma...

In this episode, host Taylor speaks with Scott Sampson, CEO of Powder Communications, about his journey in the broadband industry and his perspective on leadership, innovation, and the evolving role of internet infrastructure. The conversation explores how technology, partnerships, and mindset shape both business growth and long-term impact. What You’ll Learn How starting in hands-on sales and tec...