The Executive Room

In this episode of The Executive Room , host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Venture Capitalist and Author, Charlie O’Donnell , to discuss what founders aren’t told about raising capital and building a startup. Drawing on his decades of experience in venture capital and his new book Founder Unfriendly , Charlie shares a candid perspective on how investors actually make decisions, why most startups...

In the latest episode of the Executive Room podcast, host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Trevor Colhoun , the CEO and founder of TPN Health, to explore how technology, data, and a marketplace approach can transform one of the most complex and underserved sectors in healthcare, behavioral health. Trevor shares how applying marketplace infrastructure and digital systems can bring clarity to behavior...

In this episode of The Executive Room , Kimberly Afonso sits down with Jordan Levy , EdTech entrepreneur, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and Founder & CEO of CapSource , to explore how experiential learning is reshaping higher education and early career hiring. Jordan shares how CapSource has connected more than 25,000 students with 3,000+ industry partners across 150 universities through project...

In this episode of The Executive Room , our CEO and podcast host, Kimberly Afonso , sits down with Ed Macha , Founder & CEO of Reliable Controls , to explore one of the most important—and often overlooked—realities of the clean energy transition: without mining and metals, there is no future for technology, electrification, or sustainability. Ed shares his 26-year journey building a global ind...

In this episode of The Executive Room , host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Adam McGraw , executive coach, keynote speaker, and Co-Founder & CEO of CREW , a private community for senior executives focused on purpose, connection, and fulfillment. Adam shares why traditional definitions of success no longer hold up. Drawing on his experience coaching over 500 senior executives, his entrepreneuri...

In this episode of The Executive Room , host Kimberly Afonso (CEO & Founder, KA Consulting Group) sits down with Ashish Saxena , Chief Growth Officer at CoreStack , to explore how leaders can drive sustainable growth amid constant disruption. Ashish shares his highlights from 2025, including stepping outside his comfort zone, advising private equity firms on technology investments, publishing...

In this episode of  The Executive Room , host  Kimberly Afonso , CEO & Founder of The KA Consulting Group, sits down with  Mark Walker , serial entrepreneur and CEO of  Nue , to explore leadership, strategy, and building companies during AI-driven disruption. With over 30 years of experience scaling SaaS, CRM, and ERP businesses, Mark shares how curiosity, not career planning, has shaped his j...

In this episode of The Executive Room, host Kimberly Afonso, CEO & Founder of The KA Consulting Group, sits down with Charles “Chuck” Bender , CEO of Skynet Broadband and Attentus Technologies. Chuck’s journey is anything but linear. From growing up in poverty to serving in the U.S. Navy to building two thriving companies by solving real problems in rural communities, his story is a masterclas...

In this episode of The Executive Room , host Kimberly Afonso, CEO & Founder of The KA Consulting Group, sits down with Erik Braund , Founder & CEO of Katmai , the virtual office platform redefining remote and hybrid work. Erik shares the untold story behind building Katmai, from discovering an early prototype on Twitter, to bootstrapping through the pandemic, to raising his first $15M roun...

In this episode of The Executive Room , host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Ryan Lewis , CEO of Rancher Government Solutions , a leader in modernizing government IT infrastructure. Ryan shares insights into how RGS is helping government agencies securely scale AI and modernize their operations through containerized software solutions. He explains how the company integrates cutting-edge technology...

In this episode of The Executive Room Podcast , host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Timothy Menard , Founder and CEO of LYT , an AI-powered smart city platform transforming how municipalities manage traffic, transit, and emergency response. A former Tesla engineer who helped develop the Model S, X, and 3, Tim has built a company that blends cutting-edge technology with a vital, human-centered miss...

In this episode of The Executive Room Podcast , host Kimberly Afonso sits down with James Wood , co-founder and CEO of Bowdark Consulting , a firm helping organizations harness technology to streamline operations, fill knowledge gaps, and free teams to focus on high-impact work. With over 25 years in enterprise software, including leadership roles at SAP America and IBM, James has built a reputati...

In this episode of The Executive Room Podcast , host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Noah Landow , founder and CEO of Macktez , a technology consulting firm that unites creativity and technical rigor to solve complex business challenges. With a background spanning architecture, design, and IT infrastructure, Noah leads interdisciplinary teams with clarity and purpose. He also serves as Board Presid...

In this episode of The Executive Room Podcast , host Kimberly Afonso sits down with James Breiding , founder of S8 Nations , a global nonprofit aiming to facilitate progress and collaboration among nations. A Swiss-American entrepreneur, author, Harvard Fellow, and TED Speaker, James has held leadership roles at Templeton Investments, Rothschild, and PwC, and founded Naissance Capital, an investme...

In this episode of The Executive Room Podcast , host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Jonathan Brun , CEO and Founder of Nimonik , a global compliance and standards management platform serving more than 900 companies worldwide. Since launching in 2008, Jonathan has grown Nimonik into a multinational SaaS company with offices across North America, Asia, and beyond, all without external funding. Liste...

In this episode of The Executive Room , host Kimberly Afonso welcomes Matt Peters , co-founder and CEO of Fixify , an AI-powered outsourced IT help desk dedicated to making users feel cared for. With decades of experience as a software developer, network engineer, and leader at tech companies, Matt brings a unique perspective on humanizing IT through intelligent automation and thoughtful service....

In this episode of The Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso welcomes John Tota , CEO and co-founder of Render and a pioneer in digital likeness solutions. A former screenwriter turned tech entrepreneur, Jon has launched multiple ventures, including one of the first video training platforms, Knowledge Link, and Syntax + Motion, his production company supporting thought leaders. Listen in as...

In this episode of The Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Sean Lee , CEO of OpenDrives, where he is steering the company’s transformation from Hollywood’s go-to storage workflows into a broader data services platform. Sean’s 25-year career spans NBC Universal, Illumination Entertainment, and AV Squad, and his leadership philosophy centers on trust, culture, and authenticit...

In this episode of The Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso welcomes Brett Howroyd , President of ActOne Group , a multi-billion-dollar, award-winning global enterprise specializing in workforce management and technology solutions. Since joining the family-founded business in 2007, Brett has shaped strategies that balance innovation with integrity while advancing programs in career readine...

In the latest episode of the Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso sits down with  Scott Paddock , CEO of Wondr Health, a leading digital health company revolutionizing metabolic, emotional, and physical well-being through behavioral change programs. With a track record of driving rapid growth at companies like Healthcare Blue Book and a background spanning SaaS, healthcare strategy, and bu...

In this episode of the Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Mackenzie Andrews , co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of NanoDropper, a company transforming eye care with its innovative micro-volume drug delivery technology. Named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Healthcare, Mackenzie shares the inspiring story of how her student research project led to an award-winning medte...

In the newest episode of the Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso welcomes serial entrepreneur and WSJ Bestselling Author, Andrew McConnell, whose career path is nothing short of inspiring. Andrew dives deep into how he went from being an international bronze medalist swimmer and a Harvard Law School graduate to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Listen to Andrew as he explains how his ex...

In this episode of Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso sits down with Genia Xasis, a visionary leader in technology and investment. With a PhD in Biochemistry and recognition as one of Eastern Europe's top AI influencers, she transitioned from biochemistry research to venture capital and AI innovation. Genia shares how she founded Multiplyers VC. She also discusses her passion for sup...

In the latest episode of the Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso is joined by Thomas Carganico , the Vice President of Strategic Development and Marketing & Communications at PQE Group, a global life science consulting firm specializing in compliance and data integrity for the pharmaceutical industry. As a leader, Thomas emphasizes the importance of flexibility, cultural sensitivity,...

In the newest episode of the Executive Room Podcast, host Kimberly Afonso is joined by Iga Wyrzykowski , the Founder of Ignight Consulting, a leading firm specializing in commercial, retail, hospitality, and airport construction.  Listen as Iga shares her journey from working at top firms like Gensler and HHA to launching Ignight Consulting and landing major clients. She dives into the leadership...