The Achieve Podcast

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Taylor Baker speaks with Trent May, Chief Investment Officer at Lab Quantitative Strategies, about the evolution of modern portfolio construction and the lessons learned from more than three decades in institutional investing. Trent shares insights from his journey through mutual funds, hedge funds, public pension leadership, and family offices, and exp...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner speaks with Ehsan Vaghefi, an ophthalmology researcher and entrepreneur who founded and later exited Toku Eyes, a medical technology company focused on AI-powered retinal imaging. The conversation explores his journey from academia to startup founder, the realities of building and scaling a med-tech company, and how artificial intelligence...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Guillaume Linossier, founder of SAOLA, an environmentally focused footwear brand. Guillaume shares how his experience in the outdoor industry led him to build a company dedicated to sustainability, transparency, and responsible product design. What You’ll Learn Why working inside the outdoor industry revealed a gap between sustainability marketing and...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Craig Patterson, Global Channel Chief at Exabeam, about scaling global go-to-market organizations and building strong partner ecosystems in the cybersecurity industry. Their conversation explores leadership lessons from two decades in technology, the importance of channel partnerships, and how companies can better protect themselves from evolving cybe...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner speaks with James “Jim” Ashton, chairman of Precision Holdings and Accelerate and a seasoned executive who has spent decades leading companies, turnarounds, and private equity-backed businesses. The conversation centers on leadership, ownership thinking, and what it takes to effectively grow and improve companies across different industrie...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Shane Feller, President of BGZ Brands, about the evolution of the company’s device protection business and how it has grown by staying customer-focused and adapting to rapid changes in technology. Shane shares the journey from a small family startup creating custom screen protectors to building a recognized brand serving the modern mobile device marke...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mike Mawn, founder and CEO of Standby Jobs, an on-demand workforce platform built for the food service and hospitality industry. The conversation explores how Mike transitioned from a college-based gig app to building a compliant staffing solution that helps restaurants access reliable, flexible labor. What You’ll Learn: How staffing shortages in the...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mark Sutter, founder of Impact Sales Advisor, about improving sales performance and helping growing companies overcome revenue plateaus. Mark shares insights from more than 25 years in enterprise B2B sales leadership and explains how the fractional sales leadership model helps businesses scale more effectively. What You’ll Learn Why many companies get...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Grant Burchfield, CEO and co-founder of Concairge, to discuss how his team is using AI-driven personalization to help busy households simplify scheduling, planning, and day-to-day logistics so families can spend less time coordinating and more time living. What You’ll Learn Why “generic recommendations” fall short for families, and how personalizat...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner speaks with Jaye Connolly, Chairman and CEO of RippleNami, about how her company works with national governments across Africa to deploy data infrastructure that helps countries strengthen governance, economic growth, and digital transformation. The conversation explores how technology, partnerships, and purpose-driven leadership can help...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Bill Dolan, storyteller, media producer, and founder of Spirit Media, about the power of storytelling in business and how leaders can align purpose, values, and messaging to create meaningful impact. Drawing from decades of experience in television, entertainment, and brand consulting, Bill shares how personal transformation and life experiences shape...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Adam Aronovitz, leadership coach and founder of Ascentric, about helping entrepreneurs and teams transform their values into lived organizational culture. Adam shares insights from more than two decades of leadership development and coaching, explaining how founders and executives can align their teams, navigate growth, and build cultures that support...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Zac Larsen, President of Elkridge Investments, to discuss how high-earning professionals can use short-term rental real estate as a strategic tool for tax efficiency and long-term wealth building. Zac shares how his own experience as a W-2 employee led him to discover investment strategies that help professionals retain more of their income while b...

In this episode, host Steven Bunker speaks with coach and speaker Dan Gordon, founder of Dan Gordon Enterprises, about transformation, resilience, and the inner work required to pursue a meaningful life and business. Dan shares the personal story of losing his marketing company and rebuilding his career as a coach and speaker dedicated to helping others overcome discouragement and step into their...

In this episode, host Steven Bunker speaks with Sanjeev Birari, co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Zoniqx, about how real-world asset tokenization is reshaping access, liquidity, and efficiency in financial markets. Their conversation centers on the growing role of blockchain and AI in building compliant infrastructure for the future of finance. What You’ll Learn Why real-world asset tokeniz...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner sits down with Alok Datta, founder and CEO of Alchemist Solutions, a technology company focused on AI-driven operational platforms for the banking and mortgage industries. The conversation explores Alok’s three-decade journey in financial services, the evolution of process automation, and how AI is transforming the way financial institutio...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner speaks with Vishwa Karthik, entrepreneur and CEO of Catenate and creator of the MayaMaya platform. The conversation explores the future of work in the age of AI, the growing importance of soft skills, and how technology can help individuals better understand themselves and prepare for emerging career opportunities. What You’ll Learn: Why t...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Dr. Danny Brassell, educator, speaker, and co-founder of Well Crafted Story Workshop, to discuss how entrepreneurs and leaders can use storytelling to communicate their value, inspire audiences, and convert listeners into clients. Danny shares lessons from his unconventional career journey and explains why positive, well-crafted stories can be one...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Heather K. Margolis, President and CEO of Channel Maven, about building and rebuilding a niche consulting business that helps technology companies grow through channel partners. Heather shares lessons from scaling her company, navigating acquisitions, leveraging AI, and redefining what sustainable growth looks like. What You’ll Learn How channel marke...

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Jessie Warner speaks with Vic Pepe, Managing Partner of D&M Enterprise Group. Vic shares his journey from a career in corporate technology leadership to helping lead a fast-growing technology advisory firm, while discussing how the technology services landscape has evolved and how businesses can better navigate complex technology decisions. What You...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Dr. Tom Tonkin, a fractional CEO and founder of Tonkin Group, about his journey from corporate leadership at companies like Oracle to advising growing businesses through fractional executive leadership. The conversation explores counterintuitive approaches to leadership, sales strategy, and how experienced operators help companies scale more effective...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Joshua (JZ) Zickefoose, founder of Multipli Opus Ventures, to discuss how integrated fractional leadership can help small and mid-sized businesses scale more effectively. Their conversation focuses on aligning strategy, leadership, and execution to build sustainable growth for entrepreneurs and growing companies. What You’ll Learn Why many growing...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mason Dykstra, CEO and founder of Miners AI, about how artificial intelligence is transforming mineral exploration and the mining industry. Drawing on his background as a geologist, academic, and technology leader, Mason shares how AI-powered tools can help mining companies analyze complex geological data and make faster, more informed exploration dec...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Tauna Young, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Neurovana Calm, about innovative approaches to treating anxiety and insomnia. Their conversation explores the science behind cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) devices and how this technology can provide safe, non-pharmaceutical mental health support while people sleep. What You’ll Lea...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Lucky Gobindram and Ash Gobindram, founders and leaders behind Kinemeric, about how spatial computing and AI-powered extended reality are transforming enterprise training and workforce development. The conversation explores their entrepreneurial journey, the evolution of immersive technology, and how organizations can use AI-driven simulations to impr...