The Executive Connect Podcast

Most business systems claim to help you scale, but what if they are quietly holding you back? In this episode of Executive Connect, Michael Erath, Founder and CEO of Next Level Growth, joins host Melissa Aarskaug to share how losing everything taught him the real difference between building a company that grows fast and building one that grows right. After scaling his family business from 8 millio...

What if growing fast was actually putting your company at risk? In this episode of Executive Connect , host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Eric Fiegoli and Kevin White, co-founders of Exbo Group, to talk about what it really takes to scale a startup the smart way. With backgrounds in consulting, venture capital, Amazon, and investment banking, Eric and Kevin bring years of hands-on experience hel...

AI is rewriting the rules of business, but the leaders who thrive in this new era are not just the smartest in the room, they are the most self-aware. In this episode of Executive Connect , Amanda H. Young , energy healer, intuitive coach, and “miracle instigator,” joins Melissa Aarskaug to explore why the future of leadership depends on empathy, intuition, and authenticity, not just intellect and...

What does it really take to scale your company without burning out your people or losing control? In this episode of Executive Connect , Mark Elliott , CEO and Co-Founder of Summit Ventures and General Partner at Gauntlet Ventures , joins Melissa Aarskaug to reveal what separates sustainable growth from chaotic expansion. With over 25 years of experience scaling and investing in high-growth ventur...

What if losing millions was the best thing that ever happened to your sales career? In this episode of Executive Connect , host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Glenn Poulos, a veteran entrepreneur and sales expert with over 40 years of experience. Glenn shares how getting kicked out of a government job led him into sales, how he built and sold two multi-million dollar companies, and what happened...

What happens when an athlete, educator, and entrepreneur turns AI strategist? In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Marnie Wills, AI strategist and business transformation expert, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, education, and everyday life. Marnie shares her journey from international athlete and business owner to AI advocate, reveali...

What if your website could write, test, and improve itself without anyone lifting a finger? In this episode of Executive Connect , host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Josh Payne , Founder and CEO of Coframe (and former co-founder of Autograph with Tom Brady), to explore how AI is changing marketing from the ground up. Josh shares how smart websites are learning in real time, optimizing themselves...

Why do we put off the things that matter most, and how can we finally stop? In this episode of Executive Connect , Chris Abdey , procrastination coach, addiction and burnout specialist, joins Melissa Aarskaug to break down why procrastination is not about laziness but about protection. Chris shares his personal journey of overcoming procrastination, how it cost him deeply, and the mindset shifts t...

Scaling your company shouldn’t mean losing your sanity. In this episode of Executive Connect , Bill Flynn , author of Further, Faster and founder of Catalyst Growth Advisors , reveals why most leaders fail not from lack of effort but from doing too much. Bill breaks down the science of sustainable growth, showing how the best CEOs simplify strategy, empower their teams, and focus on the few things...

Entrepreneurs spend years building their businesses but often forget to build their retirement plan. In this episode of Executive Connect , host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Matt Ruttenberg , co-founder of Life Inc. Retirement Services , to discuss why business owners delay planning for retirement and how to fix it. Matt explains how to build a retirement plan stack tailored to your business, c...

What if your company could operate like a war machine where every person, process, and system worked in perfect sync? In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Dr. Herman S. Jr., the global change strategist known for transforming NASA contractors, Fortune 500 firms, and multinational organizations into unstoppable performance engines. Dr. Herman shares how to turn...

What if your business could protect its cash, outpace inflation, and build lasting wealth — without relying on Wall Street? In this episode of Executive Connect , host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Tillman Holloway , All-American athlete turned fintech innovator, to explore how Bitcoin Treasury strategies are transforming the way companies and investors protect and grow capital. Tillman reveals...

What if technology isn’t replacing humans but revealing what makes us more human? In this episode of Executive Connect , Yuying Chen-Wynn , founder and managing director of Wittingly Ventures , former Microsoft executive, and MIT alum, shares how empathy, adaptability, and experimentation are redefining what great leadership looks like in the age of AI. With over 20 years of experience leading dig...

Thinking of leaving the corporate world to build your own business? Before you hire your first employee, you need a solid HR foundation. In this episode of Executive Connect, Vicky Brown, CEO of Idomeneo Enterprises and author of How to Manage Your Employees and Stay Out of Court, shares how to avoid the costly HR mistakes that can sink a growing company. Vicky reveals how she transitioned from HB...

Making six figures but still feeling broke? You’re not alone. In this episode of Executive Connect, financial freedom expert Chris Miles reveals why so many high-income professionals are secretly trapped in what he calls the “High Income Hamster Wheel.” He explains how traditional financial advice like saving more, paying off debt, and maxing out your 401(k) actually keeps you stuck and broke, and...

What if your story could live forever? In this episode of Executive Connect , Kristin Thomas, founder and CEO of Marble Collective , reveals how AI is helping women leaders preserve their digital legacy, amplify their voice, and build stronger professional communities. After two decades in luxury real estate and years of navigating leadership events, Kristin saw a gap: women lacked a unified space...

What if everything you know about building trust is wrong? In this episode of Executive Connect, Dr. Darryl Stickel, one of the world’s leading experts on trust and author of Building Trust: Exceptional Leadership in an Uncertain World , reveals how trust can transform teams, accelerate change, and rescue broken cultures. From consulting at McKinsey to advising global leaders, Darryl explains why...

What does it really take to go from unremarkable to extraordinary? In this episode of Executive Connect, Jeremy Ryan Slate , author, CEO of Command Your Brand, and host of the top-rated Jeremy Ryan Slate Show, shares how to rise above the noise, turn setbacks into strength, and command attention in a chaotic media world. From studying ancient Rome to building a modern media empire, Jeremy reveals...

Guest:  Jennie Blumenthal Host:  Melissa Aarskaug Episode Overview: What if working harder isn’t actually working? In this episode of Executive Connect, Jennie Blumenthal , former PwC partner, bestselling author of Corporate Rehab, and executive coach, shares how hustle culture is quietly breaking high performers and what to do instead. Jennie reveals her story of leading a $200 million global bus...

Guest:  Beth Lachance Host:  Melissa Aarskaug Episode Overview:  The healthcare burnout crisis is real and getting worse. Staff shortages, administrative overload, and rising operational costs are pushing medical professionals to the edge. In this episode of Executive Connect , Beth Lachance , CEO of Global Medical Virtual Assistance (GMVA) , shares how remote teams are helping medical practices r...

Guest: Chris Robinson Host: Melissa Aarskaug Episode Overview: Are you drifting through your days busy but not fulfilled? In this episode of Executive Connect, Chris Robinson , international speaker, executive vice president at Maxwell Leadership, and author of From Drift to Drive, reveals how to wake up your potential and live with true intention. Chris shares how to identify where you’ve gone on...

Guest:  Ajay Malik Host:  Melissa Aarskaug Episode Overview:  Everyone says “follow your passion.” Ajay Malik says follow your curiosity instead . The prolific inventor behind more than 100 patents explains why passion fades but curiosity compounds — fueling innovation, leadership, and lifelong creativity. In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug dives deep into how Ajay turns c...

Guest: Shashank Kapadia Host: Melissa Aarskaug Episode Overview: AI is everywhere, but leadership is what makes it valuable. In this conversation, AI innovator Shashank Kapadia lays out a practical playbook for responsible AI: start with values, measure real outcomes, and ask better questions. He introduces his three Cs framework for responsible AI clarity, context, and consequence and explains ho...

Guest:  Renee Berman Host:  Melissa Aarskaug Episode Overview: Atomic settlement sounds flashy, but most market participants actually want T0. In this episode, capital markets leader Renee Berman breaks down where blockchain is delivering real value today and what still needs to happen before it scales. From DTCC to Broadridge, Renee has led digital asset initiatives across core market plumbing. S...

Guest: George Dubec Host: Melissa Aarskaug Episode Overview: Networking is not about luck, it is about building a system. In this episode of Executive Connect, master connector George Dubec shares his step-by-step approach to turning relationships into real opportunities. From his early career at General Motors to building one of Florida’s largest networking groups, George has proven that consiste...