In this episode, Ross Drakes speaks to Byron McFarland, founder of The McFarland Group and 21-year EO member. Byron traces a path from selling nightcrawlers to lessons in pricing, psychology, and asking for the sale. He opens up about burnout, the coach who exposed his blind spot, and choosing work that fits his wiring.
Together, they explore the human condition: what motivates us, what breaks us, and how honesty builds trust and resilience. This is a grounded playbook on wiring, readiness, and courage.
Key Takeaways:
- Entrepreneurial spirit is built by doing, not theory
- Sell with empathy and a real understanding of your audience
- Know your wiring and choose work that fits it
- Honesty with your leadership team earns real buy-in
- Know your number after fees, bonuses, escrow, and tax
In this episode, Ross Drakes speaks to Ami Kassar, founder and CEO of Multifunding and creator of EO’s Grit Group.
Ami shares how childhood memories of immigrant families around his kitchen table shaped his philosophy of generosity and peer learning. They explore the realities of starting again after corporate collapse, the discipline of saying no, and why business owners should focus on fundamentals before chasing shiny frameworks.
This conversation shows how clarity, truth, and community can unlock resilience and growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Peer learning provides practical solutions faster than top-down advice.
- Get the basics right before adding new systems or frameworks.
- Access to flexible capital helps businesses handle uncertainty.
- Turning down the wrong client creates better long-term outcomes.
- Community and generosity are essential for sustainable growth.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or Overcast.
This episode is a reminder that entrepreneurship is sustained by generosity, honesty, and learning together around the ‘big kitchen table.’
More About Ami Kassar
Ami Kassar is the founder and CEO of Multifunding, a national advisory firm that has helped thousands of entrepreneurs navigate the complex world of growth financing. He is also the creator of EO’s Grit Group, a member-led community that started as a WhatsApp group and now connects about 1,500 entrepreneurs for real-time support. He has advised countless entrepreneurs on financing strategies that align with their vision and values.
He is the author of “The Growth Dilemma,” which shares insights on using debt and equity to unlock growth without losing control. Ami has dedicated his career to assisting business owners in making courageous, informed financial decisions that foster sustainable success and long-term freedom.
In this episode, Ross Drakes sits down with Carrie Schochet, founder of Purple Squirrel Advisors, who got "forced" into entrepreneurship when circumstances changed after maternity leave.
From starting as a single recruiter competing against global firms to building a thriving business by hunting "purple squirrels" (the impossible-to-find perfect candidates), Carrie shares her strategic approach to finding opportunities in the spaces others avoid.
The conversation covers her journey from pre-med to accidentally discovering recruiting, the power of community building, surviving a devastating ski accident that changed her relationship with her business, and why your identity as an entrepreneur shouldn't be tied to a single company.
This is a story about resilience, strategic thinking, and the unexpected gifts that come from being forced out of your comfort zone.
Key Takeaways:
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast
More About Carrie Schochet
Carrie is the Founder and CEO of Purple Squirrel Advisors, a boutique executive search firm based in Troy. Passionate about helping companies grow by creating exceptional leadership teams, she has spent the past 16 years connecting C-level and senior executives with leadership positions in finance, accounting, human resources, operations, sales, and marketing. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2001, she spent over a decade advancing her career at one of the nation's leading recruitment and staffing firms in Chicago. In 2012, she moved back to the Detroit area to be closer to her family. On January 1, 2015, she founded Purple Squirrel Advisors with the mission of designing a consultative, white-glove recruitment process customised to each client.
Carrie is also the founder of CFO Next, a group she launched in early 2013 after discovering a lack of resources and networking opportunities for transitioning or unemployed senior financial executives. She also uses her network and resources as Co-Chair of the Career Services Committee for Financial Executives International (FEI), a non-profit organisation with the mission to support senior finance executives through professional development and networking. She is the Learning Chair for the Entrepreneurs Organisation Detroit Chapter and sits on the ACG Detroit Board as Women's Forum Chair.
Carrie is a passionate philanthropist who has raised money for 100 Women Who Care - Greater Rochester Area, and in 2016, co-founded 100 Businesses Who Care to connect executives who want to make a philanthropic impact on the Metro-Detroit community.
In this episode, Ross Drakes sits down with Igor Vainshtein, a serial entrepreneur who has started over 20 businesses, failed at most, had an exit, written books, and created a board game.
From losing 12 properties in three months at the age of 23 to building a golf simulator empire that was sold to the company that had called him a decade earlier, asking, "Why do you have our name? Who the hell are you?" Igor shares the raw reality of entrepreneurship.
This story is about getting punched in the face daily and coming back for more, bootstrapping versus capital raising, and why focusing on the problem you're solving matters more than chasing unicorn valuations.
Key Takeaways:
When your business crashes, your reputation tanks, and your wife’s about to give birth… what do you do?
In this jaw-dropping episode of RadEO, Ross Drakes sits down with Shawn Johal; entrepreneur, coach, author of The Happy Leader, to unpack the wild, humbling, and inspiring story of how he lost everything, rebuilt from the ashes, and ended up leading a business culture so powerful that private equity bought in because of it.
Key takeaways:
Culture isn’t a perk, it’s a power move
Toxic positivity will ruin you
Your competitor was probably at your last braai
Fire the brilliant jerks
Happiness is a system, not a slogan
This episode isn’t about getting rich. It’s about building right. Right team. Right mindset. Right culture. If you’re serious about scaling, this one’s for you.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast. Enjoy.
More about Shawn Johal
Shawn Johal is a growth-obsessed entrepreneur, Scaling Up coach, and author of The Happy Leader. After co-founding DALS Lighting, he helped scale it from near-bankruptcy to an 8-figure exit. Today, he runs Elevation Leaders, coaching ambitious founders to scale smarter, lead happier, and build cultures that actually work. He’s also a former EO Montreal President and a fierce advocate for entrepreneurial wellbeing.
What if the way you lead is the very thing holding your business back?
In this episode of RadEO, Ross sits down with Joss Du Trevou, a leadership coach who has spent years helping high-performing entrepreneurs, CEOs, and teams get out of their own way.
Joss believes that most business problems aren’t external; they’re internal. Your fears, mindset, and habits shape how you show up as a leader. If you’re not paying attention, they might be the biggest bottleneck in your business.
Key Takeaways:
Your leadership sets the ceiling for your business growth.
Most leaders are blind to their own weaknesses.
You don’t need all the answers.
We get into self-sabotage, imposter syndrome, the power of coaching, and why ego is the silent killer of business growth.
If you’re a founder, CEO, or just someone trying to figure out how to lead better, this episode will change your thoughts about leadership.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast. Enjoy.
More about Joss Du Trevou
Joss Du Trevou has been on both sides of leadership; running billion-rand corporate teams and scaling his own family business. Now, he helps entrepreneurs do what he had to learn the hard way: get out of their own way.
He grew Ecomotel from 3 to 6 branches, scaling revenue past R30 million while building a team that could run without him. Before that? 18 years in investment banking, leading teams at ABSA, Nedbank, and global banks, managing billions in corporate finance.
Now, as an ICF-accredited executive coach, EO mentor, and UCT Business School coach, he helps founders stop micromanaging, overworking, and getting stuck in the weeds so they can actually lead.
Because if your business falls apart the second you step back, you don’t own a business, you own a prison.
Building a business is supposed to give you freedom. So why does it so often feel like a prison?
In this episode of RadEO, I sit down with Ronen Aires - entrepreneur, author, speaker, and the guy who swears by breathwork, cold plunges, and unconventional ways to unlock peak performance.
Ronen co-founded Student Village, scaling it into South Africa’s leading student marketing agency. But along the way, he fell into the trap so many entrepreneurs do: chronic stress, exhaustion, and feeling like he was suffocating under his own success.
We talk about:
💡 Entrepreneurial psychosis: Why founders get trapped in their own heads
💡 How to break the cycle of stress, anxiety, and burnout
💡 Why work-life “balance” is a myth and what to do instead
💡 The unexpected ways breathwork, movement, and extreme environments can reset your brain
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, or like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this one’s for you.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast
More About Ronen Aires
Ronen Aires built a business that connected global brands to South Africa’s youth, but somewhere along the way, he lost connection with himself.
As the co-founder of Student Village, he helped scale it into South Africa’s leading student marketing agency. He’s spent decades mentoring young talent, advising brands, and shaping the future of Gen Z marketing.
But behind the success, Ronen was running on empty, trapped in the endless cycle of high performance, high stress, and burnout.
That’s when everything changed.
Ronen went deep into human performance, breathwork, movement, and mental wellness - learning from some of the world’s top experts, from Andrew Huberman to Steven Kotler. Now, as a speaker, author, and coach, he helps leaders rewire their minds, unlock their best selves, and stop running businesses that drain the life out of them.
His philosophy? You don’t need more hustle, you need better habits.
What happens when your business is $600K in debt, your bank is ready to take your house, and your kid stops talking to you?
For most people, that’s the end. For Todd Palmer, it was the beginning of something bigger.
Todd realised the biggest problem in his company wasn’t the market, the customers, or the economy. It was him.
In this episode, Todd shares how hitting rock bottom forced him to rebuild; not just his business, but himself. He opens up about confronting ego, fear, and the toxic narratives that keep entrepreneurs stuck.
This conversation is about more than business; it’s about leadership, identity, and the uncomfortable truths that make or break us. Discover how Todd’s radical shift in thinking not only transformed his company but also helped him rebuild his relationship with his son.
Key Takeaways:
The biggest barrier to business success is often your own mindset.
Imposter syndrome and self-doubt don’t go away. The goal is to just get better at managing them.
Leadership is about aligning your business success with personal fulfillment, not sacrificing one for the other.
If you’re a founder navigating chaos (or just feeling stuck in your own head), this one’s for you.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast. Enjoy.
More About Todd Palmer
Todd Palmer is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and six-time Inc. 5000 CEO who knows exactly what it feels like to fail.
At one point, his business was 30 days away from shutting down. Instead of giving up, he rebuilt it from the inside out, turning it into one of America’s fastest-growing companies.
Todd will be the first to tell you business success doesn’t mean sh*t if your life is falling apart. He now helps CEOs and founders break free from imposter syndrome, self-sabotage, and toxic leadership habits so they can scale without wrecking their health, families, or sanity.
His book, From Suck to Success, is an Amazon bestseller that shows entrepreneurs how to stop being their own worst enemy and start leading with clarity and confidence.
Todd’s mission? Helping leaders stop playing small, get unstuck, and build businesses that don’t just make money but actually make life worth living.
In this episode, Ross Drakes sits down with Nir Zavaro—author, entrepreneur, and master storyteller. From teaching celebrities to rollerblade to scaling a 7-figure marketing agency and becoming a global speaker, Nir’s journey is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the transformative power of storytelling. This conversation unpacks the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned along the way.
Takeaways:
"Storytelling isn’t just marketing, it’s how you build real connections that last."
"Failure is just a step in the process. Learn from it, grow, and keep moving."
"Big change starts with small, intentional steps, don’t underestimate them."
"Playing it safe is risky. Growth requires boldness."
This episode goes beyond Nir’s story, we talk about embracing authenticity, turning setbacks into stepping stones, and using storytelling as a superpower for growth. If you’re ready to transform your approach to life and business, this episode is a must-listen.
Subscribe oniTunes,Spotify orOvercast. Enjoy.
More About Nir Zavaro
Nir Zavaro is a storyteller, adventurer, and entrepreneur who lives for the thrill of doing things differently. He’s built a 7-figure marketing agency, sold a SaaS platform, and has been teaching the art of storytelling at universities and colleges since 2014.
As the author ofF*ck the Slides—a best-selling book that’s helped founders pitch better, sell more, and leave boring presentations behind, Nir knows how to turn stories into impact. He’s also penned two novels and is currently working on his next book,The Business Catcher: Why We’re All Building Brands the Wrong Way and How to Fix It (a work in progress, with a title that’s just a little too long, he admits).
Since 2022, Nir has been traveling the world, sharing his wisdom on storytelling in over 40 cities, from Brazil to Australia. This year, his adventure continues through Southeast Asia, Amsterdam, Portugal, South Africa, possibly even Uganda or Mexico. Wherever he goes, Nir’s mission is simple: to help people connect through stories and inspire them to think bigger about their brands and businesses.
When he’s not teaching or writing, Nir is chasing adventures, meeting new people, and soaking in the stories the world has to offer. If you’re lucky enough to catch him in your city, don’t miss the chance to hear him speak—you’ll leave inspired, energized, and ready to tell your story like never before.
In this episode, Ross Drakes sits down with Franziska Iseli, founder of Basic Bananas, Ocean Lovers, and Moments of Humanity. From breaking free of Swiss traditions to building brands that merge profit with purpose, Franziska shares the wild rides and lessons she learned that shaped her journey. Find out what happens when you combine rebellion, adventure, and the drive to create impact.
Key Takeaways:
"If you want to make an impact, don’t sit in the office debating. Get on the ground and do the work."
"Teach them to fish, don’t just give them the fish."
"When life throws a curveball, reinvent it."
Adventure fuels creativity."
Original Key Takeaways:
If you want to make an impact, don’t sit in the office debating. Get on the ground and do the work.
Want a stronger business? Teach people the skills to succeed, not just quick fixes.
When the world shifts, adapt faster.
Creativity thrives on adventure; sometimes, the best ideas come on two wheels or in the waves.
Sustainability isn’t just ethical; it’s a powerful way to create products people love.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast. Enjoy.
This episode goes beyond Franziska’s story—it’s a masterclass in tackling challenges, aligning your work with what truly matters, and shaking up the status quo. If you’re ready to make your brand stand out and find the sweet spot between purpose and profit, this conversation is a must-listen.
More About Franziska Iseli
Franziska Iseli is an entrepreneur, adventurer, and author who thrives on doing things differently. As the founder of Basic Bananas, a global marketing school, Ocean Lovers, a purpose-driven brand supporting ocean conservation, and Moments of Humanity, a project celebrating acts of kindness, Franziska blends innovation with impact. Recognized as a Young Entrepreneur of the Year, she’s also a sought-after speaker, sharing insights on building meaningful businesses and living boldly. When she’s not shaping brands, she’s riding motorcycles across continents, surfing, or inspiring change-makers.
Links:
https://franziskaiseli.com/
https://eonetwork.org/
In this episode, Ross Drakes sits down with Joaquin ‘Quini’ Cordero, a powerhouse entrepreneur, storyteller, and CEO of Lumen. Cordero shares his story from starting as a young, ambitious salesman to becoming a leader within advertising across Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Key Takeaways:
How empathy and humor can build lasting relationships and bridge cultural gaps.
Combining operational efficiency and strategic foresight to create a lasting impact.
Cordero’s insights on EO’s global network, how it inspires him, and the vision he’s helping shape for the organization.
Quini’s journey offers insights for entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and anyone aiming to build a business that lasts. Join us for an episode that challenges the balance between ambition, well-being, and community.
Enjoy.
Tune in every week for the insights
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast.
More about Joaquin:
Joaquin ‘Quini’ Cordero is the CEO of Lumen, and has established over eleven startups, some evolving to become internationally reaching companies. With over 22 years of experience, Joaquin leads operations across Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, working with global brands like VW, Danone, and Mitsubishi.
Beyond advertising, Joaquin co-founded Kinimovil, a leading content monetization platform, and the 6 Amigos Investment Fund, supporting ventures in virtual reality and real estate. A global board director for EO and a sought-after speaker, Joaquin is dedicated to sharing his insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and living with intention.
In this episode, we had an inspiring conversation about the value of thinking big, setting BHAGS (can’t wait for you to hear this one), and the importance of scaling. Our guest - Bill Gallagher is a highly-rated business coach who has led four companies from startup to more than $550 million in annual revenue
Be ready to be inspired by Bill’s unbelievable journey and how his goal of helping 5 million leaders worldwide drives his work.
My Key Takeaways:
Big Hairy Audacious Goals: Bill explains the importance of "BHAGs", which help leaders think exponentially rather than incrementally. We talk about how BHAGs encourage a mindset shift.
Scaling as a Path to Impact: We talk about how scaling is about creating meaningful impact that extends beyond financial metrics. By focusing on creating value, companies will inspire not only their employees but investors and customers to share a vision - making scaling a powerful tool for change..
Exiting Businesses in the Growth Trajectory: The importance of timing your exit in the business world is understated. We elaborate about planning the exit during growth phases can maximise valuation
The Game of Business Should Be Fun: For Bill, leaders who treat business as a game are often more innovative, bringing fresh ideas to their companies.
Bill’s journey is truly incredible. From radio stations to tech startups, to coaching CEOs led him to realise that success comes from the impacts you leave. His 30 year BHAG of helping 5 million business leaders is the definition thinking big which drives his way of life. This episode is incredibly fascinating and great for anyone looking to take their business or personal growth to the next level.
Tune in every week for the insights
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast
More about Bill
Bill Gallagher is a highly rated business coach whose passion is helping CEOs and entrepreneurs manage growth better; restore time, order and sanity to their lives—and get growing again or growing faster. With more than 38 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience and 19 years coaching and training leaders who want to improve their leadership and performance, he now works with leaders and teams in over 28 cities and 13 countries. He has led four companies as CEO/owner and was a partner/executive in two others as they grew from startup to more than $550 million in annual revenue.
A former DJ and radio executive, Bill hosts the Scaling Up Podcast. In his free time, he is an avid surfer, sailor, skateboarder, pilot, scuba enthusiast and recovering triathlete. Happily married for 30 years, he and his wife Lori live in the Oakland Hills and are parents to two young adult entrepreneurs.
In this episode, we chat to Trent Clark, the CEO of Leadershipity - a growth coaching company that is dedicated to doubling organizations in half the time. He is also a three-time Major League Baseball World Series coach, who has fantastic leadership abilities - both on and off the field - with a unique blend of athletic discipline and entrepreneurial insight to his work.
My key takeaways:
The Importance of Team Culture
Trent explains how crucial a purpose-driven culture is to the success of an organization. He references Peter Drucker’s famous quote, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” when highlighting how the best strategies can fail without the right team culture.
The Value of a Coach
Trent draws parallels between coaching professional athletes and entrepreneurs and highlights the significance of having a coach in both instances; as top athletes have coaches that keep them aligned with their goals and entrepreneurs should have coaches to help them stay on track.
The Weight of the Ring
Trent emphasizes the responsibility and challenges that come with achieving significant success in leadership roles. The Weight of the Ring is a metaphor for the burden of maintaining momentum, managing increased expectations and guiding others to look up to you. Achieving great success isn't just about reaching the goal; it's about enduring the added pressures and growing to meet the demands that follow, turning challenges into opportunities for further growth.
Hyper-Learning in Tough Times
During economic downturns, Trent notes that successful entrepreneurs are often “hyper learners” who have the ability to adapt to changes quickly and emerge from challenges much stronger. The ability to adapt and strive to continuously learn new skills are the key to thriving in difficult times.
Trent Clark discusses the importance of strong team culture, the value of coaching, and the responsibilities that come with leadership and success in both sports and business. What really captured me was his “weight of the ring” metaphor and the message that true success involves embracing the challenges and the growth that comes from them.
Enjoy.
Tune in every week for the insights
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or Overcast
More about Trent:
Trent Clark is a three-time Major League Baseball World Series coach who has made significant contributions both on and off the field. With over 12 years in MLB, he played pivotal roles in leading teams to success, including the Cleveland Indians in the World Series in 1995 and 1997. Trent's expertise in strength and conditioning helped shape many athletes' careers during his tenure.
Beyond his baseball achievements, Trent is a successful entrepreneur and leadership coach. He is the CEO of Leadershipity, a consulting firm dedicated to developing exceptional leaders and sustainable organizational systems. His passion for empowering others has earned him the nickname "Dream Maker," reflecting his commitment to helping people achieve their goals and reach peak performance in both sports and business.
In this episode, we chat to Will Scott, a technology enthusiast, proud culture czar and hobbyist clubhouse builder, about overcoming setbacks and transforming challenges into opportunities, the power of belief and its impact on achieving personal goals and his strategy for maintaining motivation and turning adversity into triumphs.
My key takeaways:
Using Values to Drive Culture: Will explains the importance of having meaningful and clearly defined core values that employees can align with. He highlights the gap between having core values and actually embedding them into the company culture.
Embracing Flexibility gives you an edge: Will emphasizes the significance of embracing flexibility in modern workplaces and how the shift from traditional office setups to a more integrated approach allows individuals to blend their work and personal life seamlessly. Cultivating a culture that supports such flexibility could provide a substantial competitive edge for entrepreneurs and leaders alike.
Gratitude for Technology: Technology enables remote work possibilities. There are several key benefits that technology brings to the table: enhanced connectivity that allows teams to collaborate seamlessly across geographical boundaries, improved work-life balance where flexibility has benefitted individual employees which has contributed to higher job satisfaction and retention rates and embracing these technological advancements as catalysts for positive change.
Will’s ability to harness challenges as catalysts for growth left an indelible impression. What really captured me was his ability to distill complex experiences into actionable insights, making this episode a practical guide for navigating your teams challenges with courage and determination.
Enjoy.
Tune in every week for the insights
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Overcast
More about Will:
Author of The Culture Fix and founder of The Culture Fix Academy, Will has helped hundreds of businesses fulfill their corporate culture dreams. He leads workshops and speaks regularly using his Alive, Thrive & Drive methodology and is host of The Culture Fix podcast. His 25-year span as an entrepreneur includes five start-ups, 2 exits and several Inc. 5000 appearances before focusing on Culture Fulfillment™ using his proprietary 9 deeds in 90 days. In 15 years as a member of EO Will has held several board positions and is ex-President of EO Wisconsin. He is a yoga devotee, avid traveller and loves everything outdoors.
In this episode, we explore the origins story of Dominque Laverdeu. Dominque is a multi-talented businesswoman President Rouge marketing and communication, aspirant politician and serial entrepreneur. Get ready for candid conversations, impactful stories, and valuable insights from her journey as an entrepreneur.
My key Takeaways:
Navigating Crisis with Courage: Hear Dominques' story of steering her marketing agency, Rouge Marketing, through the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how she transformed challenges into opportunities, from rebuilding the business to spearheading impactful community projects during the crisis.
Having The Audacity to Lead: Discover the importance of having the audacity to address tough discussions within your business. Uncover the pivotal moments where Dominque realised the need to confront obstacles head-on, make difficult decisions, and how this audacity became a catalyst for positive change.
Empowering Your Team for Success: She shares her innovative approaches to employee well-being and corporate culture. How she redefined the work environment at Rouge, fostering a happy employee program and empowering her team to achieve peak productivity, even in the face of adversity.
I was inspired by how she balances humility and ambition. And ultimately has driven to achieving sustainability in the business. Full disclosure she part of My Global Leadership Academy class so I am biased.
Enjoy.
Tune in every week for the insights
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Overcast
More about Dominique:
With over 25 years of marketing and communications experience, Dominique Laverdure is a seasoned strategist known for her work with top brands in Quebec. In 2004, she founded Rouge marketing in Mont-Tremblant, gaining recognition in Quebec and France. Dominique excels in integrated communications, public relations, and business development.
A visionary leader, Dominique inspires teams and supports entrepreneurs in their growth. She is a member of EO Montreal, serving as President and Member Experience Director on the Board of EO Canada. Dominique is also VP of Marketing at Origine Nature and a board member of various organizations, including Domaine Saint-Bernard and Chefs à la rescousse.
In November 2021, Dominique became a councillor and deputy mayor for the City of Mont-Tremblant. Known for her bold and daring style, she is a born leader who embraces innovation and success.
In this episode, we explore the inspiring story of Cindy Norcott. Cindy is a multi-talented businesswoman who wears many hats, including motivational speaker, author, recruitment agency owner, and founder of the Robin Hood Foundation.
Cindy shares her journey and how the pandemic has caused her to refocus her priorities and realize the benefits of the virtual world, allowing her to expand internationally. She emphasizes the importance of finding the right people and trusting them to delegate effectively. She also stresses the need for coaching and mentoring, cultivating a culture of trust and communication, and hiring based on past behaviour and values.
Cindy also discusses the challenges of delegating tasks and responsibilities to team members when travelling. She shares that fully disconnecting and trusting the team is critical to avoid issues and emphasizes that trust takes time to build but is crucial in order to delegate effectively.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cindy's business started a soup kitchen to help the community, which grew into a bigger movement with community involvement and donations.
Overall, Cindy Norcott's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and impact. Her experiences offer valuable insights into leadership, delegation, and community engagement. Tune in to this episode to hear more about Cindy's journey and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Tune in every week for the insights
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Overcast
More about Cindy:
Cindy Norcott is a motivational speaker, winning recruitment agencies, Pro
Appointments and Pro Talent. Cindy is also the founder and chairperson of the well-known
charity, the Robin Hood Foundation.
Cindy is the author of the best-selling business book, “How to be Unstoppable”. Cindy has won many awards for her entrepreneurial abilities and has won the BWA Regional Achiever of the Year and the Sanlam 3 Talk Business Person of the Year Award.
In 2013, Cindy was awarded the Most Influential Women in Business and Government award for services businesses by CEO Communications. Cosmopolitan magazine also hailed her as one of the 29 Awesome Women of the Year. Cindy was voted the Lead SA KZN Local Hero of the year in 2015 for her community involvement. Cindy’s presentation style combines practical advice, wisdom and humour that leaves her audiences inspired.
In this episode of RadEO, we talk to Jamie Pujara - an entrepreneur in catering and property
He shares his entrepreneurial journey, which involved a family restaurant business, a catering company, a property platform, and a development project, as well as his struggles with balancing work and personal life, managing his ego, and overcoming challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the difficulties he faced during the pandemic, Jamie and his team were able to pivot their business model and focus on new product lines, such as corporate catering, which helped them survive and continue to operate. Jamie also spoke about his struggle to balance work and personal life, particularly being a present father and husband. He acknowledged that his ego has influenced his decision-making and caused him to make many mistakes. However, he also recognised that his ego has driven him to take bold steps that he might not have taken otherwise. Jamie emphasised the importance of finding a balance and keeping his ego in check to avoid making bad decisions that could hurt those around him.
During our chat, Jamie discussed the impact of COVID-19 on his family business and the lack of government support during the crisis. He talked about the panic he felt initially and his concern for the welfare of his staff who depended on the business for their livelihood. He also reflected on the resilience and determination that he developed during the pandemic, which enabled him to fulfil his obligations to those who were owed money. Additionally, Jamie discussed the value he sees in continuing and expanding his current property business, as well as applying the skills he has learned to future projects.
Overall, Jamie's entrepreneurial journey is characterized by adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. He has faced numerous challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his businesses and personal life, but has remained focused on his goals and continued to pursue his passions. His story serves as an inspiration to other entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of flexibility, self-reflection, and a willingness to take risks.
Tune in every week for the insights
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or Overcast
More about Jamie:
Jamie is an entrepreneur, born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. He is fascinated by innovation, technology and emerging markets and is the Founder of Kenya's number one real estate portal buyrentkenya.com. He is also the property developer of Aspire Heights a 65 unit apartment building in Riruta. His other passion is food and his other businesses include restaurant and catering companies in Nairobi Kenya.
Jamie is a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and serves as a Director on their Global Board (2022-2025). Prior to that he served as the Regional Chair for the Middle East, Pakistan and Africa Region (2019 & 2020). He has been nominated as one of Kenya's Top 40 under 40 businessmen (2015) and was included on the Forbes list of "30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa" (2016 & 2017)
Through his experiences across various industries and countries, he has acquired a diverse skillset that includes, leadership, business development, brand building, customer service, and strategy planning.
In this episode of RadEO, we talk to Pieter Geldenhuys - A lifelong tourism professional - who loves to figure out problems on long hikes.
We chat about how he used the covid crisis to fast-forward the things he was going to do in 10 years' time.
PG is a successful entrepreneur in the travel and tourism industry, who runs several businesses including a custom safari experience company, a coaching and facilitating walking business, and an NGO aimed at helping disadvantaged groups in South Africa's tourism industry. He believes in the principle of "checking out", which is about being mindful and intentional about the choices we make in life, setting clear boundaries and priorities, and being selective about the opportunities we take on, to create a more fulfilling and purposeful life. He also shares his experience with how he and his business partner Caroline handled the challenges when disaster strikes and how they managed to stay financially secure in the long term by merging their businesses. He also emphasizes the importance of integrating knowledge and skills into one's products and processes to set oneself apart and create unique and valuable products.
More about PG:
Unfazed Adventurerand Curious CoachPGGeldenhuys has dedicated a lifetime to transformational journeys. Whether it is through his tourism venture Classic Escapes, Executive Coaching company PG Tops, his educational NGO Tourism Boot Camp or his writing... He is in the business of effecting change through the power of words, and nature.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a Master's of Business Administration at Stellenbosch. He is an Accelerator Trainer, Enneagram Coach and certified distance Learning instructor. As a global keynote speaker, he advocates how to leverage regret through the PDP process.
After a successful exit from the family business in 2003 and a stint in senior leadership for a large listed company, PG bootstrapped his first tourism venture in 2008 to an award-winning tour operator in Cape Town. Out of the original PG TOPS Travel and Tours was born Luxury Safaris (now merged with Classic Escapes), Tourism Boot Camp and Shoshin Walks.
In 2023 he will release BEBEMS: The A-player’s inaction handbook. He lives on the slopes of Table Mountain with Caroline, their two boys Matie and AJ, and Leia, the fur baby.
In this episode of RadEO, we talk to Mike Scott - Former CEO and co-founder of Nona Digital and EO Brisbane member
Mike talks about the importance of specialisation for small business success. He discusses how his team identified an opportunity in the market for helping small businesses with their online presence, particularly in the blockchain space and the shift the focus of their business to web development specifically in the fintech and blockchain industries.
Mike shares valuable insights on how collaboration and co-creation helped Nona Digital to build a strong reputation and portfolio of work, establish themselves as experts in their field, and ultimately led to the successful sale of their company to Yoco.
Tune in every week for the insights
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More about Mike:
With over 20 years as an ‘in the trenches’ entrepreneur, I have developed a deep understanding, capability, and passion for small business operating systems and leadership.
Together with some of my favourite humans we built and grew Nona Digital to become a globally respected software design and development agency with a focus on FinTech and Blockchain scale-ups.
As a result of a deep focus on our positioning, Nona was acquired by Yoco in 2022 and as a result, I am privileged to head up the Product Partnerships function as well as Yoco’s entry into Web3.
I was lucky enough to be introduced to Blockchain in 2012 and have had a passion for the space ever since. I have given talks and workshops on blockchain and crypto on 3 continents, the first of which was in 2018...and I would still not refer to myself as an expert
My podcast is what it says on the tin: ‘How to be Moderately Successful’ and is really just about me sharing my own experience of what’s worked and what hasn’t…and people seem to like that.
I moved to Australia in 2019 and really love it here and am grateful to be here but I do miss Cape Town.
Outside of Yoco, you’ll find me on my mountain bike, with my family outdoors or working with an exciting small business leadership team…wherever possible listening to an audiobook or podcast.
Recognized international speaker: Leadership | Culture | Strategy | Remote leadership | Blockchain | Small business operating systems | Entrepreneurship
In this episode, we talk to Aaron Lee founder and CEO of Iluma Agency. Co-Founder of Pythos and Regional Chair for US East South Florida Chapter.
We talk about his entrepreneurial journey. How he found and doubled down on a niche. What it was like running a retail-focused business during the pandemic. He shares what it is like starting a business with your son and he shares how he is thinking about the next step in his life and entrepreneurial journey.
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More about Aaron:
Aaron Lee has 30+ years of entrepreneurship, marketing, creative and internet experience producing a wide range of successful brand and marketing programs and projects for some of the world’s top brands, including Orangetheory Fitness, Massage Envy, Disney and many more.
In 2001, Aaron founded iluma Agency, now a leader in the franchise marketing industry. Through its proprietary program, iluma Agency provides corporate, local digital and franchise recruitment marketing for franchise and multi-unit businesses. iluma Agency was recognized 4 times on the Inc5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America and has also been named on the Florida Trend and South Florida Business Journal’s Best Places to Work lists.
Aaron is also currently serving his 11th consecutive year in volunteer member leadership in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). As the Regional Chair for the U.S. East Region, Aaron leads a professional and volunteer advisory board to support 22 local chapters. This follows terms as Member Experience Director, Area Director and also as President of the South Florida Chapter. He was invited to join EO in 2010, served the Board of Directors as the Communications Chair for 3 years, was awarded the EO Global Communications Chair of the Year Award in 2013, and oversaw communications and marketing for the 2013 EO Global University in Miami and most recently as the Marketing chair for EO Nerve 2019 in Charleston, SC. Aaron is also a graduate of the EO Global Leadership Academy and was recently awarded the EO “Living Beyond Yourself” award for his ongoing contributions to the organization. In these various roles and as a membership committee member of the International Franchise Association, Aaron has been frequently interviewed and has delivered talks on the topics of entrepreneurship, marketing and scaling businesses.
Most recently, Aaron co-founded and launched PYTHOS.gg, an online startup focused on establishing a scalable platform designed to offer young people a legitimate professional path to an esports gaming career. This turnkey platform combines professional esports coaching and educational courses with hands-on local esports clubs to combine the skills, experience and education required to become a professional in the industry. Aaron’s prior experience also includes serving as Chief Marketing Officer for an international application service provider and more than 10 years in the role of Creative Director for advertising and design agencies, multimedia and post-production studios. Aaron obtained his degree in communication design and is an active member of the GLG Council of Advisors for Media.