Behind The Numbers

Can performance-based pay outperform the traditional hourly wage model? And what does that mean for productivity, culture, and ultimately, business value? On this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Michael Fortenberry, co-founder of Protiv, explains how shifting from time-based pay to performance-based compensation is changing the game—particularly for contractors and hourly workf...

Leadership and innovation are closely tied - especially when building companies that create jobs, scale new ideas, and strengthen local economies. In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave speaks with Angelo Valletta, President and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania and author of The Seven R’s of Leadership and Life. Angelo shares lessons fr...

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave is joined by advisor and author Kris Kluver for a conversation on why leadership - not structures, not strategies, not spreadsheets - is the real driver of long-term value creation and generational wealth preservation. They dig into the coming great wealth transfer and the uncomfortable reality that roughly 70% of family fortunes fai...

On this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave speaks with entrepreneur and author Betsy Pepine about her book Breaking Boxes: Dismantling the Metaphorical Boxes That Bind Us — and what those “boxes” really mean for business owners. They move beyond the metaphor and into the boardroom. Dave and Betsy examine how invisible constraints — family expectations, industry norms, identit...

How do you build a mission-driven brand that survives beyond a single personality - and still create real enterprise value? On this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, I speak with Bob Bush, founder and CEO of Mutombo Coffee, about building a purpose-driven specialty coffee company rooted in relationships, disciplined execution, and long-term thinking. Bob traces the origin of Muto...

How does storytelling build authority - and where’s the line between authenticity and vulnerability? On this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave Bookbinder is joined by Autumn Karen - filmmaker, journalist, ghostwriter, educator, and author of The Surrogate Author - for a deep dive into the power of narrative and the responsibility that comes with it. Autumn explains why “word...

Referrals are often talked about as a “nice to have.” In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, they’re treated for what they really are - a measurable, scalable driver of profitable growth. Dave Bookbinder speaks with Brandon Barnum, widely known as the “King of Referrals,” about how referral-driven businesses outperform those that rely on traditional selling. Brandon shares his...

How do companies turn data into real enterprise value - not just dashboards, pilots, and AI theater? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave speaks with Ritavan, author of the award-winning book Data Impact and creator of the SLASOG framework, about why so many data and AI initiatives fail - and what leaders should do differently if they actually want results. Rather than...

What happens when personal challenge meets disciplined innovation? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave speaks with Doug Katz, founder and inventor of Nulu, an adaptive kitchen knife designed for people with joint pain, limited mobility, or strength challenges. Doug shares a journey that spans West Point, military service, hobby knife-making, and the pivotal moment when...

Equity crowdfunding and angel investing have changed how capital is raised - but many founders and investors still misunderstand valuation, risk, and what it really takes to build long-term wealth. In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave Bookbinder is joined by Karen Rands, President of Cougar Capital Holdings, host of The Compassionate Capitalist Show, and author of two b...

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, I’m joined by Kristof Gleich, President and Chief Investment Officer at Harbor Capital Advisors, for a deep dive into the human capital factor and its impact on business value and investment performance. Kristof explains how Harbor’s partnership with Irrational Capital led to the development of the HAPI ETFs and walks through the seven su...

What truly drives enterprise value - and what quietly destroys it? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave speaks with Anthony Franco, managing partner at First Strategy, serial entrepreneur, AI strategist, and co-author of AI First Principles and the WISER Method. Anthony breaks down the core factors that influence valuation long before an owner thinks about selling. They...

If you’ve ever wondered whether an ESOP could be the right succession or liquidity strategy for your business, this episode breaks it down in practical, owner-friendly terms. ESOPs continue to gain traction among business owners, advisors, and management teams looking for a tax-advantaged way to transition ownership while preserving company culture and leadership continuity. In this conversation,...

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave speaks with Jim Stevenson, CEO of Bletchley Group, about how companies can achieve real transformation by aligning strategy, people, processes, and products. Drawing from his leadership experience at The Guardian and in global retail and digital businesses, Jim shares practical insights on breaking down silos, redesigning teams, and...

Why estate planning and business succession fail most often has nothing to do with legal documents. It comes down to communication, valuation, and timing. In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, we explore the intersection of estate planning, business succession, and valuation with private client attorney Brian Balduzzi. Brian explains why estate planning is not just for the ul...

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave is joined by change facilitator and organizational alignment expert Erica Wexler to explore how companies can eliminate unseen barriers that slow performance, reduce trust, and stall transformation. Erica breaks down why disconnects between leadership and employees often stem from assumptions rather than clarity – and how redefining...

First impressions happen fast—and they stick. In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave talks with Sylvie DiGiusto, international keynote speaker and author of The Image of Leadership, about how leaders can shape powerful first impressions and build lasting influence. Sylvie breaks down her A-B-C-D-E framework—Appearance, Behavior, Communication, Digital footprint, and Envir...

How do you cut through distraction and reclaim your focus in today’s always-on world? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, bestselling author and TEDx speaker Greg Bennick shares seven powerful strategies from his new book Reclaim the Moment. Greg and I explore practical ways to sharpen focus, manage pressure, and create deeper connections—including: Why “keeping your eyes o...

How can HR drive profit instead of just managing processes? In this milestone episode (#300!) of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, we explore how HR can become a strategic profit center rather than a cost center. Guest: Scott Rosen, CEO of the Rosen Group and author of Transforming Your HR Department into a Profit Center What you’ll learn in this episode: Why CEOs must lead people and set t...

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave interviews Patrick Thean – serial entrepreneur, co-founder of Rhythm Systems, and author of The Journey to CEO Success: Seven Practices for High Growth Leadership. Patrick shares the seven practices of high-growth leadership: Curiosity Leveling up Early warning systems Full alignment Culture as a competitive advantage Building a peop...

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave is joined by Jim Schleckser—founder and CEO of The CEO Project and author of Great CEOs Are Lazy. Jim shares leadership strategies that help executives cut through busywork and focus on what really drives results. The conversation explores how to apply the theory of constraints to leadership, why great CEOs zero in on the “kink in th...

What can business leaders learn from a hospital clown? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave talks with Eddy Smits — TEDx speaker, coach, author, and former professional hospital clown — about the surprising leadership lessons he discovered while performing for sick and palliative children. Eddy explains how clowning taught him timeless principles that translate directly...

How can leaders create workplaces where people actually want to stay? In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, I talk with Dr. Alise Cortez—Chief Ignition Officer at Gusto Now, author, and host of the Working on Purpose podcast—about building purpose-driven cultures that attract and retain top talent. We discuss why leadership feels harder today, the damage caused by outdated pr...

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, entrepreneur Colin Hirdman (co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, Rainmaker, and Wrappt) shares practical strategies for using LinkedIn to drive revenue growth. Colin breaks down his three-level LinkedIn philosophy—be authentic, educate your audience, and understand prospect pain points—and explains how he builds and activates audiences t...

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, we’re exploring why strong managers are the backbone of every successful organization. Dave is joined by Brian Walch, owner of Shift Focus Coaching and Consulting, who draws on his diverse career—from software development to executive coaching—to reveal what it really takes to turn managers into influential leaders. Dave and Brian unpack...