UNHIRED

Grant Chapman is no stranger to failure, and that's exactly what makes his story compelling. As the CEO and co-founder of Glassboard, Grant opens up about his long, messy path to building a successful business, including multiple startups that didn't pan out and lessons learned the hard way. From founder-led sales to finally building a team that can sell without him, this episode dives into what i...

Jake and Julia are the husband-and-wife team behind Tomorrow Bookstore , a thoughtfully curated shop on Mass Ave near Bottleworks District in Indianapolis. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to run an independent bookstore whose mission goes beyond selling bound pages. Julia's love of curation is front and center in the shop's shelves, and together she and Jake have created a true commun...

What happens when your first salon fills up and you open a second… only to realize you're juggling two entirely different ecosystems? Belinda Benham, founder of Indie Mane Salons at Ironworks and Virginia Avenue, joins us to talk about the reality of growing a brick-and-mortar business while continuing to serve clients and teach across the country. In this episode, Belinda shares what she's learne...

In this episode, we're joined by Heather Jackson, founder and CEO of iXplore—a company that creates immersive VR experiences that help employers recruit their next generation of talent. Heather shares how she went from teaching high school English to leading a tech startup, and why she believes the future of recruiting lies in storytelling, empathy, and immersive technologies. We talk about what i...

In this episode, we're joined by Jenn Schimmelpfennig, President and Founder of Pivot Brands, for a conversation about growth, space, and what it means to keep evolving after nearly two decades in business. Jenn recently moved her team out of their longtime office in Fletcher Place—where they'd been based for many years—and into CoHatch Polk Stables, a coworking space that's brought renewed energy...

Kendra Stoll, a designer and leadership wellness guide, joins us for a powerful conversation about connection, healing, and the unseen toll of how we work. In this episode, we dig into her transition from running a design business to focusing on leadership wellness—helping leaders reconnect with themselves so they can lead others more effectively.  Kendra shares what she's learned from launching w...

Michael Kelly , co-founder and CEO of Developertown, joins us for a deep dive into his 15+ year journey building businesses in Indianapolis. From consulting solo at age 13 to managing a portfolio of over 60 companies, Mike shares how he's navigated the highs, lows, and chaotic middle of entrepreneurship. We talk about everything from why equity-for-services is a trap (don't do it), to how venture...

In this episode of Unhired, I sit down with Daniel Herndon to talk about the realities of entrepreneurship, the unexpected twists of building a business, and the lessons learned along the way. From navigating challenges to finding clarity in the chaos, Daniel shares insights that every founder can relate to. We also dive into how he approaches problem-solving, what fuels his drive, and why sometim...

In this episode of Unhired, we chat with John Harden about the intersection of business, non-profits, and acquisitions. John shares insights from his experience building Saaslio and how the acquisition has affected his career trajectory in joining the acquiring company, Auvik. We also discuss leveraging community organizations like CompTIA to grow a network of like-minded peers, and what it takes...

In this episode of Unhired, we sit down with Matt Tait, CEO and founder of Decimal, a company that provides bookkeeping and tax services for small businesses. Matt shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, discussing the ups and downs of running multiple businesses (including his background as a recovering lawyer). He opens up about lessons learned, the realities of business finances, and why b...

In this episode, I sit down with Lindsay Tjepkema , a three-time founder and career marketer who now runs Human Brands Win , a company dedicated to helping businesses grow through brand storytelling and authentic communication. Lindsay shares her journey from Indianapolis to Boston, her insights on why brand authenticity is non-negotiable, and the lessons she's learned from building companies. We...

In this episode, I sit down with Andrea Michele Taylor , founder and CEO of Livsee , a PropTech startup revolutionizing the way apartment owners market to renters. Andrea shares her journey from corporate innovation to entrepreneurship, her challenges navigating a male-dominated industry, and the lessons she learned along the way. She discusses Livsee's unique approach to blending market validatio...

In this episode, Allison chats with Jessi Roesch , founder and CEO of Downland , a company focused on connecting land stewards with private land to foster climate-smart farming. Jessi shares her entrepreneurial journey, how Downland came about, and the challenges of building a two-sided marketplace for farmers and landowners. She talks about the importance of regenerative agriculture, her insights...

This episode, Andy Mork joins the podcast. Founder of Mork Productions and BrandSlap , Andy discusses the challenges of managing high-demand projects and juggling multiple video shoots across different states. Andy dives into the logistics of running a business that deals with rapid project turnover, the stress of frequent travel, and the importance of having a strong, reliable team. He shares ins...

In this episode, Allison talks with Nida Ansari , founder of Karmic Partners. Nida shares her journey from corporate to entrepreneurship, discussing the evolution of her career, including her work in corporate ventures and her passion for innovation. She highlights the challenges of launching Karmic Partners, which focuses on helping startups and nonprofits unlock growth through strategic partners...

In this episode of *Unhired*, Allison chats with Michael Hawryluk, a seasoned tech professional and entrepreneur who shares his journey from working in tech startups to founding a telehealth company with his brother during the pandemic. Michael discusses his work across technology roles, including development, project management, and as a CTO, as well as his side passion for game design through hi...

In this episode, Aaron and Rebecca Zettler, co-owners of Draft Creative Space and Open Frame, discuss their transition from corporate life at Lilly to becoming entrepreneurs. They dive into the challenges of leaving their stable engineering careers, how they met and quickly started collaborating on renovation projects, and the birth of their businesses. The Zettlers share insights on balancing per...

In this episode, Allison interviews Ellie Symes, former founder of The Bee Corp, an ag-tech company focused on solving the honeybee health crisis. After leading the company for a decade, Ellie opens up about the emotional process of selling her business, sharing the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. They dive into the mental toll of running a company, the importance of therapy, and how Ellie has...

In this episode, I had the opportunity to chat with Sean Gigremosa , founder of Claritiv , a conversation intelligence tool designed to transform business conversations into actionable insights. Sean's journey began in the tech world as a developer for major players like AOL and Warner Brothers, eventually moving into product management at Rolls-Royce and Premiere Digital Services. His experience...

Ian Illig recounts his career path and how he transitioned from being the first salesperson at Bluebridge to starting his own company, Stompbox . He shares his experiences in the tech industry and the challenges of finding product-market fit. Ian also talks about his passion for music and being a songwriter in his band, GREGØRIAN . Allison and Ian's conversation flows from navigating work-life bal...

Steve Iskander , founder and CEO of Intrepid Finance , discusses the challenges faced by early-stage and scaling companies to access capital. He highlights the importance of non-dilutive growth capital as an alternative to traditional funding sources like venture capital. Steve shares his background in operations and finance, as well as his own experience as a founder. He emphasizes the need for e...

In this conversation, Allison interviews Austin Crites , Chief Investment Officer at Aurora Asset Management and professor at Marion University about his career journey. They discuss the importance of long-term investing, managing emotions in investment decisions, and the need for self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Austin shares his approach to building investment portfolios and emphasizes...

Rick McGlinchey, CEO and co-founder of Pure Insights , shares his journey from in-house work to independent consulting to starting Pure Insights. He emphasizes the importance of going all-in on solving a specific problem for a specific audience and the benefits of bootstrapping. Rick discusses the challenges of being a founder, including the need for effective communication and the importance of h...

Tom Lawrence shares his journey in the MSP space, his passion for finding unique solutions, and the importance of documentation and validation in the tech industry. We also talk about his YouTube channel , where he provides behind-the-scenes insights and unbiased reviews of enterprise IT products. Tom also shares his experience with growing his YouTube channel and provides advice for those conside...

Tera Stover , a florist based in Phoenix, AZ, shares her journey of starting her own floral design business and the challenges she faces as a solopreneur. She discusses the misconceptions about being a florist and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating beautiful floral arrangements. Tera also talks about the importance of building relationships with clients and the joy she finds in cre...