The A.I. Growth Blueprint

In this episode of The AI Growth Blueprint, I sit down with Mike Dixon , President and COO at Hoops , an HR tech and consulting firm on a singular mission: build winning teams for their clients. We go deep on what's actually broken in the recruiting process, how Hoops uses agentic AI to eliminate guesswork from the hiring funnel, and why the first 90 days post-hire are more important than the...

In this episode of AI Growth Blueprint , Yacine Hacene sits down with Owen Healey , co-founder of First Stop Closers , to unpack a new model for scaling high-ticket offers without the heavy upfront retainers that often come with traditional sales agencies. Owen shares how First Stop Closers partners with founders on a commission-only basis, helping them refine their offer, build sales systems, cre...

Matt Dentino is Director of Velocity Coaching at BrainTrust , a firm that has spent 15 years training sales teams and leaders in the art and science of world-class communication. Matt brings 35 years in industrial automation and a deeply personal origin story rooted in family, service, and intentionality. In this episode, we get into why the real problem in sales and leadership is not a skills gap...

Bill Lennan spent 25 years leading software teams in Silicon Valley, and he built a repeatable system that most executives completely overlook: optimizing your people stack. In this episode, Bill breaks down the three pillars behind his 40% Better framework , intrinsic motivation, psychological safety, and high-leverage communication, and how they compound into measurable business outcomes. We tal...

Henry Abenaim is the founder of Fundingo , a lending operations platform built specifically for non-bank lenders who have solid deal flow but are drowning in workflow friction. In this episode, Henry breaks down why most lenders don't have a credit problem, they have a process problem. We get into the origin story behind Fundingo (yes, it involves a fat-fingered wire transfer to a bait shop in...

What if you could know how a prospect thinks before you ever sent a single email? Matthieu Dejardins is the founder and CEO of Scalience — formerly NextUser — and he's spent two decades sitting at the intersection of psychology, data, and marketing. In this episode, Mathieu breaks down why he walked away from the traditional SaaS model and why that decision was the best thing he ever did for h...

Most companies know they need AI. Few know where to actually start. In this episode, I sit down with Alejandro Mainetto, fractional CAIO, CIO, and CTO at CXO Partners, where he works with PE-backed and mid-market companies ranging from $20M to $500M in revenue. Alejandro is brought in when technology has become a growth bottleneck or when leadership needs to close the gap between AI ambition and e...

In this episode, Neil Katz, Founder & CEO at Exceptional HR Solutions, breaks down what fractional HR actually looks like in practice, why onboarding is still one of the most underestimated levers in business, and how poor people processes quietly destroy retention, productivity, and revenue. He also shares his philosophy on AI adoption, why most companies are either ignoring it or jumping too...

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Gramling, President of Enspark Consulting, a 25-year organizational development veteran with a refreshingly grounded take on why AI transformations stall, and what to actually do about it. We cover Laura's two-part consulting philosophy: Tapping into the wisdom of every voice in the organization, and leading with a strength-based approach to change How sh...

In this episode, I sit down with Gemma Toner, Founder at TONE Networks, to break down how they apply social media engagement principles to corporate learning, why micro-learning beats 45-minute courses, and what it really takes to drive behavioral change at scale inside a company. If you're in L&D, HR, or just care about building better teams, this one's worth your time. 🔗 Connect wit...

Michael Burrows , a seasoned executive recruiter, coach, and bestselling author of Before Onboarding: How to Integrate New Leaders for Quick and Sustained Results , reveals a proven blueprint that shrinks onboarding chaos into a streamlined process. Discover how strategic early engagement can dramatically boost leader retention, team trust, and organizational impact. His approach compresses a typi...

In this episode, Yacine sits down with Sean Maisonneuve , President & CEO of Mecka , to unpack how modern supply chains can finally become fully connected, automated, and intelligently optimized. Sean breaks down the brutal data complexity of industries like automotive, where a single brand can manage thousands of SKUs and millions of vehicle fitments, and explains how Mecka eliminates the man...

In this episode, Yacine sits down with AI growth expert Lakshmi Jayaraman , co-founder of MOSaiC Learning , to demystify what AI can genuinely do for your business and your life. Lakshmi shares concrete insights into automating mundane tasks like transcriptions and call summaries, turning raw data into valuable assets that truly impact your bottom line. This episode delves into how AI can amplify...

In this episode of the AI Growth Blueprint, I sit down with Maryna Burushkina , founder and CEO of Growth Channel . We unpack how AI-powered programmatic advertising is changing the way companies approach go-to-market, especially beyond traditional channels like Meta and Google. Maryna breaks down what programmatic media really is, how it enables more precise targeting, and how AI is being used fo...

In this episode, I sit down with Sam Chlebowski , co-founder of LaunchBay , to explore the transformative power of automation in client onboarding. Discover how LaunchBay is revolutionizing the onboarding process for B2B software and service companies by replacing manual tasks with seamless, automated workflows. Sam shares insights into the challenges of scaling client onboarding, the role of AI i...

In this episode of the AI Growth Blueprint, we sit down with Jon Ozdoruk , the co-founder and CEO of DSALTA , to explore the evolving landscape of AI compliance. As AI adoption accelerates, businesses face new challenges in maintaining data security and regulatory compliance. Jon shares insights into how DSALTA is transforming these challenges into strategic advantages, offering fast, affordable c...

In this episode of The AI Growth Blueprint, we interview Sarah Fletcher , founder & CEO of Stylaquin , about what it takes to create personalized shopping experiences. We discuss the innovative features of Stylaquin and how they enhance online shopping by making it more interactive and tailored to online shoppers. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on e-commerce and the importan...

In this episode of the AI Growth Blueprint, we sit down with Luis Garcia , the president and co-founder of PETE Learning . With a rich background in software engineering and ed tech, Luis shares his journey from Venezuela to becoming a leader in digital education. Discover how PETE Learning is leveraging AI to revolutionize personalized education and tackle the challenges of scaling digital learni...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Rico Dinolfi , CEO and co-founder of Beyond Agents AI , to explore the transformative power of AI in business. Rico shares his journey from leading multiple industries to pioneering AI solutions that streamline operations and enhance productivity. We delve into the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption, offering valuable insights for founders and...

In this episode of the AI Growth Blueprint, host Yacine Hacene sits down with Hans Guntren , co-founder and CEO of Deliberately.ai , to explore the transformative power of AI in the legal industry. Hans shares his journey from Silicon Valley to pioneering legal tech solutions, discussing the challenges and opportunities in modernizing legal practices. Discover how Deliberately.ai is bridging the g...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with John Kennedy , CEO of Actual AI , to explore the transformative power of AI in software development. John shares his journey from software engineer to leading a cutting-edge AI startup, discussing the challenges and opportunities that come with integrating AI into engineering management. Discover how AI is reshaping the landscape for both startups and l...

Join us as we sit down with Justin Abrams, co-founder and CEO of Cause of a Kind, to explore the dynamic world of entrepreneurship. In this episode, Justin shares his journey from a career in sales and marketing to founding a successful software and web solutions company. Discover the importance of pursuing opportunities over passions, the value of building a personal brand, and the wisdom gained...

In this episode of the AI Growth Blueprint, host Yacine Hacene sits down with Elisabeth Bykoff, founder and CEO of Boxsy, an AI-powered fundraising and operations platform. Elisabeth shares her journey from aerospace engineering to becoming a business leader, discussing the challenges and triumphs of building a startup. Tune in to explore insights on navigating the venture ecosystem, the impact of...

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Shane Barker, founder of TraceFuse, to explore the art of balancing efficiency and growth in business. Shane shares his journey from working long hours to mastering delegation and leveraging AI to streamline operations. Discover how Shane's approach to productivity and his emphasis on sustainable business practices can transform your entrepreneurial...

In this episode of the AI Growth Blueprint, Yacine Hacene and Rich Sutton discuss the transformative impact of AI on B2B SaaS lead generation and client acquisition. They emphasize the importance of market focus, the need for founders to be involved in sales processes, and the significance of building a predictable revenue engine. The conversation also touches on the challenges of navigating AI ad...