C-Suite Secrets

Show Notes: In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with entrepreneur JP Revel to discuss the realities of building and scaling a business. JP shares how an unexpected layoff early in his career pushed him toward entrepreneurship and how that moment reshaped his perspective on job security and risk. JP walks through his journey from IT professional to freelancer to found...

Show Notes: In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with entrepreneur and agency leader Kevin Maude to unpack what it really takes to build, pivot, and sustain a business over the long term. Kevin shares his 30 plus year entrepreneurial journey, from launching early digital initiatives to running a 22 year video production company and evolving into a results driven marke...

Show Notes: In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with Barbara O Stephenson, Agency Principal of 300FeetOut, for a candid conversation about branding, leadership, AI, and building a resilient business. Barbara shares her journey from COO to entrepreneur after acquiring the agency during a recession. She opens up about the mindset shift required to move from executing s...

In this episode of C Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with Matt Schalsey, founder of Perfect Hire, to break down what is actually broken in recruiting and how founders can rethink hiring, headcount strategy, and ROI. Matt shares his journey from entrepreneurial kid selling pencils to HR tech founder building a next generation applicant tracking system. The conversation dives into why...

Show Notes:   In this special episode of C Suite Secrets, Heather Parsons announces the launch of OneRoom, a joint venture created in partnership with commercial lending expert Jen West, founder of Wild Fig Commercial Lending. For the first time, listeners are given an inside look at the boardroom, where financial clarity, capital strategy, and executive level decision making come together. Heathe...

Most business owners think profit will tell them if things are working. CFOs know better. In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, Heather Parsons breaks down what it actually means to think like a CFO — even if you don’t have a finance background. Because here’s the truth: You don’t need to “fix everything.” You need to see clearly. Heather explains why profit is a result, not a strategy — and why mos...

Show Notes:   In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, Heather Parsons sits down with J. Daks, founder of Hexagon IT Solutions, for a candid conversation on how software development has evolved and what leaders must prioritize to drive real business outcomes. Jay shares why successful technology initiatives start with a deep understanding of client needs and why the industry is moving away from feature...

Show Notes:   In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with Amber Field, COO of Strudel AI, to unpack what truly drives execution, focus, and scalability inside early-stage and growing technology companies. With a career spanning IBM, National Geographic, Capital One’s Innovation Lab, and multiple venture-backed startups, Amber brings a rare blend of technical depth, oper...

Show Notes:   In this episode of C Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with serial entrepreneur, sales strategist, and SaaS founder Charles Bernard for a focused conversation on leadership, revenue growth, and the evolving role of AI in modern businesses. Charles shares his journey from growing up in the UK to building and leading two interconnected companies in the U.S., a sales consult...

Show Notes:   In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, Heather Parsons sits down with Paul Price, owner of Argyle Executive Forum and a seasoned CEO with deep experience in private equity, marketing services, and executive leadership. Paul shares his journey from working as an operating CEO for private equity-backed companies to acquiring and scaling his own executive events business. The conversation...

Show Notes: In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with Cara Kuhn, former corporate talent acquisition leader turned healer and coach, to explore the intersection of ambition, identity, and sustainable success. Cara shares her journey from a 20+ year corporate career to founding a purpose driven healing and coaching practice for high performing women. Together, Heather...

Show Notes: In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, Heather Parsons is joined by Sean Vassilaros, a seasoned entrepreneur and SaaS founder, for a deep conversation on trust, character, and what truly drives long-term business success. Sean shares his entrepreneurial journey, from building and selling a highly regulated SaaS platform for remote clinical trials to advising university students and launch...

Show Notes: In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, Heather Parsons sits down with Austin Reed, founder of Horizon Developments, to unpack how automation, AI, and smart systems can help small and mid sized businesses scale without burning out their founders. Austin shares his entrepreneurial journey, including the early growing pains of hiring too slowly, learning how to manage people, and building sy...

Show Notes: In this episode, Heather talks with Dan Salganik, Co-Founder of VisualFizz, about the realities of growing an agency, stepping into the full CEO role, and reshaping a business through strategic focus. Dan shares his journey of letting go of day-to-day client work, trusting his team, and protecting his time so he can focus on sales, long-term initiatives, and aggressive revenue goals. H...

Show Notes: In this episode of C Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with Elena Czarnowski, founder of Kid Laboratories, former tech executive, educator, and author of Future Proof Kids in Ten Minutes a Week. Elena opens up about her journey from a 15 year career in technology to launching a fast growing education company focused on digital literacy, financial literacy, STEM, and respons...

Show Notes: In this powerful second half of the conversation, Heather and John dive deeper into the realities of raising capital, managing investor expectations, and navigating the long, often unpredictable journey of entrepreneurship. John shares candid stories of funding rounds falling apart, investors over-committing, and how macroeconomic events, even ones unrelated to your business, can compl...

Show Notes:   In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with serial entrepreneur and fractional CTO John Bentley, II, a technologist turned multi-business founder who’s spent decades helping startups build smarter, scale faster, and avoid the costly pitfalls that sink most early-stage products. John shares his journey from programming on a TRS-80 at age 10, to corporate le...

In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, Heather Parsons dives into one of the biggest myths in business — the idea that revenue equals freedom. She explores the common struggles entrepreneurs face when they’re growing but not gaining control, and shares how financial clarity, strategic decision-making, and understanding cash flow can help business owners escape the “revenue trap.” Heather discusses ho...

Show Notes:   In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with Jonathan W. Buckley, a Silicon Valley veteran and fractional CMO who has helped dozens of enterprise tech startups build repeatable, predictable revenue engines. Jonathan shares hard-earned insights from decades of working with early-stage companies, including what separates the startups that go public from those...

Show Notes In this insightful episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons sits down with Sanjai Marimadaiah, founder of Rasa Growth and veteran of tech giants like IBM, HP, Oracle, and Sun Microsystems. Together, they unpack what it really takes to scale a business in today’s fast-moving world — from understanding your customer’s true needs to leading with purpose and heart. Sanjai shares les...

Show Notes:   In this episode of C-Suite Secrets, host Heather Parsons interviews John Humenik, founder of SpiritWorks AI, about entrepreneurship, AI in business, and leadership strategies. John shares his journey from solopreneur to successful CEO, revealing key lessons on scaling a business, understanding customer needs, and leveraging AI for growth. He also discusses the role of social media in...

Show Notes: In this episode, Heather Parsons sits down with Mike Muhlfelder to unpack the art and science of sales leadership. Together, they explore how asking the right questions can transform conversations into conversions, the evolving role of AI in the sales cycle, and why human connection remains irreplaceable. Mike draws insightful parallels between sales and manufacturing, emphasizing the...

Show Notes:   In this episode, host Heather Parsons sits down with entrepreneur Mark Lewis to explore the real drivers behind sustainable business growth. Mark opens up about his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned along the way — from building a strong company culture and hiring the right people to leading with empathy and intention. He dives into how businesses can balance innovation...

Show Notes:   In this episode, Heather Parsons and Kayode Aladesuyi dive into the intersection of AI and entrepreneurship, exploring how a human-first approach is critical to leveraging technology effectively. They unpack both the challenges and opportunities AI presents in areas like sales, customer engagement, and business growth, while weaving in their own entrepreneurial journeys. The conversa...

Show Notes:   In this episode, Heather Parsons sits down with Olga Topchaya to unpack the entrepreneurial journey within the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Together, they explore how businesses are shifting from traditional marketing approaches to AI-powered solutions, and what that transition really means for leaders and teams. The conversation dives into the practical side of leveraging AI tools...