The Growth Focus Podcast

In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty interviews David Young, founder and CEO of Federated Computer. They discuss why offering free users can destroy startup growth, how to build a focused tech product, and what truly drives scalable success in SaaS today. If you're a founder or CEO of a tech consultancy or enterprise, this episode offers essential strategies for scaling with...

Are you tired of competing on price? Wondering how to stand out in a sea of tech freelancers and service providers? In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty interviews Tarek , the founder of Tecziq Solutions, who scaled a tech company by ditching low-cost competition tactics and doubling down on authority positioning and relationship-based growth . If you're a tech consultancy f...

If you're a founder or CEO of a tech consultancy, MSP, or SaaS business, this episode is for you. Spencer Bradley, VP of Business Development at Solutions Review, joins Gary Lafferty on The Growth Focus Podcast to talk about how to move from being another expert to becoming the authority in your space Key takeaways: The #1 mistake founders make when scaling Why short, value-packed content outperfo...

 In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty interviews Heather Neff, CEO and Co-Founder of Equivalent, a groundbreaking SaaS company transforming how we experience digital imagery through AI-powered, accessible graphics. Heather shares her journey from visual designer to disabled founder, how she turned personal adversity into innovation, and how Equivalent’s patent-pending "Smart...

In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty interviews Ari Leeds, founder of LeedsSource—a Salesforce consultancy that's thriving in one of the most competitive spaces in tech. Ari shares raw insights on growing a service business, avoiding burnout, building recurring revenue, and making strategic pivots in uncertain times. Whether you're just starting or scaling your consultancy,...

Gary Lafferty sits down with badpixel’s Christopher Clarke to explore how to grow a modern tech agency in a crowded market without relying on cold outreach. Learn how Chris transitioned from LA’s film industry to founding one of Austin’s most forward-thinking dev agencies. This episode is packed with insight for founders and CEOs of tech consultancies, including: What operational awareness really...

On this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty sits down with Donata Stroink-Skillrud , attorney and co-founder of Termageddon , to unpack how she turned legal frustration into a scalable SaaS company serving thousands of businesses globally. If you’re a founder, consultant, or tech leader growing in a regulated industry—this episode is for you. In this episode you’ll learn: How GDPR...

On this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty sits down with Rae Lambert, co- founder & CEO of River—an event platform built for global community scaling. Rae shares her journey from Wall Street burnout to launching a viral movement and raising $100K to build a business that empowers influencers to create offline impact. We dive into: Why most tech founders fail at go-to-market H...

What if your hiring process was no longer a bottleneck but a competitive edge? Maryam shares how AI can make that a reality — while building a tech company the smart way. Description:   In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast, host Gary Lafferty sits down with Maryam, founder of Attesto, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the hiring process for mid-to-enterprise tech companies....

In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty talks with Mollie Breen—former NSA mathematician turned tech founder—about building Perygee, a leading integration and automation platform. Mollie dives into the real challenges of product-market fit, the mindset shifts from public service to startup life, and what it takes to close Fortune 50 clients with zero brand equity. She also shar...

How does a Navy SEAL become a tech CEO? In this episode, Gary Lafferty talks to Ty Smith about building enterprise-grade AI, leading with vision, and creating real growth in tech. Description: Ty Smith, founder of CommSafe AI and Hero Consulting, joins Gary Lafferty to share how he transitioned from Navy SEAL to building an AI company that solves high-stakes problems for enterprise clients. You’ll...

In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty speaks with Michael "Canz" Canzoneri, co-founder of DataSquirrel, a neural symbolic data platform. From couch-surfing in college to tech exits and hypergrowth at Silicon Valley unicorns, Canz shares the raw reality of what drives growth. You’ll learn how fear can be a fuel, why mentors who tell the truth matter, and how to stop being the...

In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , host Gary Lafferty talks with Patrick Rooney, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Mahalo Hub , about what separates successful tech founders from those who stall. Patrick breaks down the difference between building a services business and scaling a SaaS product, why client expectations have radically changed post-pandemic, and how founders can sell without...

From launching health tech in the 90s to building blockchain-powered sports platforms, Dr. Gordon Jones shares raw lessons and real wins from the founder’s frontlines. Summary: In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , host Gary Lafferty talks with Dr. Gordon Jones—founder of CloneYourself.cc and VP at PickleZone. They dive into the challenges of scaling in emerging industries, building author...

On this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast, Gary Lafferty is joined by Andrew Hewitt , CEO of YohDev, a fast-growing agile development firm. Andrew shares his full journey from heavy metal bands to high-growth development, and how his team helps tech-focused enterprises scale smarter. This episode is packed with practical strategies for tech founders, SaaS consultants, and DevOps leaders who want...

In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , host Gary Lafferty interviews Jean Templin, co-founder of Nayak.ai, about the challenges tech founders face when shifting from founder-led sales to scalable sales systems. Jean shares how to prepare sales teams with AI-powered tools, how to build trust at scale, and what founders need to know to create a repeatable sales motion. Whether you're a founde...

Sick of spending on ads that don’t convert? Bayo Okusanya built NPC Labs into a fast-scaling startup by doubling down on relationships, events, and content that actually work. Episode Overview: In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , host Gary Lafferty talks with Bayo Okusanya, CEO of NPC Labs, about how startup founders can grow faster by focusing on authentic networking, newsletters, and c...

 In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty interviews Nick Tietz—Founder of ILT Academy and serial entrepreneur—to uncover why many tech startups struggle to scale and what separates the successful ones. Nick shares the lessons behind launching 7+ ventures, how underestimated founders can thrive without VC pressure, and why focusing on solving one powerful problem beats chasing m...

Scaling a tech consultancy or startup past $10M? Here’s how. In this episode, Greg Moran , co-founder of Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners , reveals the 4 pillars of successful founders , strategies to break through growth ceilings , and how to navigate investor relationships effectively . Topics Covered: ✔ The biggest lessons from multi-million dollar exits ✔ How to adapt when the business outgr...

Struggling to scale beyond word-of-mouth referrals ? In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , host Gary Lafferty chats with Darek Hahn, CEO of AffinIT , about how he scaled his IT business with relationship-driven sales and a flexible operations mindset . Key Takeaways: The #1 mistake IT founders make when trying to grow Why focusing on tech over relationships kills deals How to break out of...

In this episode of The Growth Focus Podcast , Gary Lafferty sits down with Dante Crescenzi , a digital marketing veteran and AI entrepreneur, to discuss how AI is revolutionizing small business marketing . Dante shares his personal journey of resilience , from surviving a health crisis to leading the charge in AI-driven marketing automation. Learn why founders need to embrace AI , how to stand out...

Tech founders often fall into the "If I build it, they will come" trap. But what does it really take to scale a business and gain traction in today's crowded market? In this episode, Angelo Rodriguez, VP of Go-To-Market at ZeroTier , shares his journey from a Fortune 50 company to a Series A startup—and the key lessons he’s learned along the way. Key Topics Covered: Why transitioning from corporat...

Scaling to $1M? Here’s What No One Tells You… Everyone talks about hitting that first million like it’s a finish line. But what they don’t tell you? Each stage of growth brings a whole new set of challenges. Struggling to bring in consistent clients? Hiring the right people (and keeping them)? Communication breakdowns that slow everything down? Max Kryzhanovskiy knows this journey well. As the CEO...

If your team isn’t performing the way you expect… look in the mirror. As a founder or CEO, you set the foundation. You define the environment. You shape the culture—whether you do it intentionally or not. Struggling with disengaged employees? Frustrated with performance gaps? Wondering why retention is a challenge? Before blaming your team, ask yourself: Have I been intentional about the culture I...

In this episode, **Gary Lafferty** sits down with **Ram Ganesan**, founder of **Kaboom AI**, to explore why most tech businesses are missing out on massive revenue opportunities within their existing accounts. Ram shares his journey from engineering to entrepreneurship, revealing how AI-driven insights are transforming account management.   They dive into the biggest mistakes founders make when sc...