CEO & Founder Magic

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Jugl, Arun Prasad. Arun shares his journey in establishing Jugl, discussing the challenges of finding product-market fit and the importance of understanding customer needs. He highlights how Jugl automates manual processes, improving efficiency for businesses. Arun also offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing early customer engagement and market validation. Arun provides valuable insights into startup challenges and the transformative potential of technology for small businesses. To learn more about Arun's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the CEO of IdeaScale, Nick Jain. Nick discusses his journey from Wall Street to becoming a professional CEO, emphasizing his educational background from Dartmouth and Harvard Business School. He shares insights on why companies hire him, focusing on his financial and operational expertise. Key strategies for scaling a business, such as institutionalization, maintaining a culture of vigilance, and customer focus, are highlighted. Nick also addresses the impact of AI on global competition and Ideascale's approach to democratizing innovation through crowdsourcing. To learn more about Nick's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Founder and CEO of ShipTop, Ash Jamshidpour. Ash shares his transition from a career at Deloitte to launching ShipTop, a startup focused on e-commerce fulfillment for smaller brands. He discusses the logistics challenges these brands face against giants like Amazon and how ShipTop bridges this gap with multiple fulfillment centers. Ash advises aspiring entrepreneurs on transitioning from full-time jobs to startups, emphasizing resilience and belief in one's vision. Ash highlights ShipTop's commitment to personalized client support and technology-driven solutions. To learn more about Ash's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the President and Co-Founder of PETE Learning, Luis Garcia. PETE is an AI-powered learning platform. Luis shares his transition from a 19-year career in higher education to entrepreneurship, highlighting his work at Full Sail University and the challenges of digital education. The discussion focuses on Pete's use of generative AI to create customized training materials for fast-growing companies. Luis emphasizes the importance of curiosity, humility, and drive in entrepreneurship and invites listeners to explore how Pete can enhance their workforce training and development. To learn more about Luis' work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Executive Chairman of Opyl, Saurabh Jain. Saurabh's story is one of remarkable growth and personal transformation. As the CEO of Urbanize, a publicly listed company in Australia, he spearheaded the company's expansion from a $20 million to a $100 million business within his three-year tenure. But life had other plans for Saurabh. With the arrival of twins, he faced the challenge of balancing his demanding travel schedule with his new role as a father. This pivotal moment led him to step down from his position, despite a successful run and a difference in vision with the company's chairman. To learn more about Saurabh's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the President and CEO of Fast Slow Motion, John Burdett. John's career has been steeped in software and business development. He's had the privilege of growing a professional services firm straight out of college, which catered to Fortune 1000 companies by building custom software applications. This was before the advent of platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce. It was a learning period and, admittedly, making plenty of mistakes. The turning point came when John joined a friend's startup in the ticketing software space. There, he was introduced to Salesforce, a flexible database platform that revolutionized how they managed their business. This experience was pivotal, as it highlighted the power of starting small and focusing on front-end processes like sales and marketing. Consistency in these areas is crucial, as it allows for the identification and correction of issues, leading to predictable and desirable outcomes. To learn more about John's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Founder and CEO of Outforce, Sean Languedoc. Sean is no stranger to the tech scene, with his current venture being his fifth tech company. His story is fascinating, beginning with a mission to solve immigration challenges for technical workers in the United States. By leveraging Canada's favorable immigration policies for tech professionals, Sean initially aimed to bridge the gap for these workers. However, the unexpected arrival of COVID-19 brought a significant shift in the market, leading him to pivot towards creating a recruiting agency for international tech talent. One of the critical issues Sean discussed was the difficulty in finding the right engineering capacity. Companies often require outsourcing due to various reasons, such as specific client projects, trade shows, or the influx of venture capital funding. The challenge, however, lies in selecting the right outsourcing agency from a sea of options. The risks of making the wrong choice are high, and Sean's personal experiences with these challenges were the catalyst for his current company, which serves as a broker between companies and outsourcing agencies. His firm aims to streamline the process and mitigate the risks associated with outsourcing. To learn more about Sean's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Founder and CEO of MSys Technologies, Sanjay Sehgal. Sanjay's nickname, "The Monk Who Still Drives His Ferrari and Likes to Own More," humorously captures his philosophy of balancing personal growth with the enjoyment of life's luxuries. This duality reflects the modern entrepreneur's challenge: to strive for success while staying grounded. Founded in 2008, MSys Technologies was born from a desire to fill a gap in the product engineering space. Sanjay and his team embarked on a mission to assist companies, both large and small, in bringing their product visions to life. They took on the "heavy lifting" of product development, akin to a housing contractor but for cutting-edge technology. From data storage to fintech, blockchain, and now artificial intelligence, MSys Technologies has been pivotal in the success of numerous clients, with eight becoming unicorns and at least three going public under their guidance. Launching a company during the 2008 financial crisis was no small feat. Sanjay's experience taught him that downturns could be ripe for innovation. He shared that each of his entrepreneurial ventures coincided with economic downturns, yet he remained unfazed. His practice of meditation allowed him to stay focused and detached from external pressures, a lesson invaluable for any business leader facing challenging times. To learn more about Sanjay's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the CEO and Managing Director of Konverge Digital Solutions, Sonia Couto. Seventeen years ago, Sonia Couto joined Konverge to manage their accounting and operations. Little did she know that her path would lead her to become the CEO and founder of two innovative products within the Konverge group, including the notable Field Eagle. Her story is not just about career progression but about seizing opportunities and having the foresight to bridge gaps within the company. Sonia's natural inclination towards leadership was evident from the start. She always had a side business, showcasing her entrepreneurial mindset. When the original founders of Konverge exited after a buyout, Sonia was approached by the new investors to steer the company forward. This pivotal moment allowed her to transition from finance to leadership, a move that would redefine her career and the future of Konverge. To learn more about Sonia's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Founding Partner and Chief Technology Officer of LVT, Steve Lindsey. LVT specializes in providing life safety and security solutions for outdoor areas. While many people associate security technology with cameras and sensors inside buildings, LVT fills a unique niche by deploying technology in outdoor spaces where there is less infrastructure. This approach allows them to compensate for the lack of security guard resources and provide security in areas where it is most needed. Steve believes in the importance of technology in life safety situations, where putting a human in harm's way is not ideal. By deploying technology instead of security guards, LVT offers a cheaper and more consistent coverage solution. In today's world, Steve highlighted the growing need for life safety and security solutions. Steve explained that LVT took a different approach compared to traditional technology companies. Instead of relying on investment money and running at a loss, they aimed to grow organically. Steve discussed the mindset shift he had to make as the company scaled. Initially, he had a vision of how the company would grow and believed he could develop talent over time. However, as the business started growing at a rapid rate of 100% or more for multiple years, he realized that his previous mindset was no longer sufficient. To learn more about Steve's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the CEO of WorkBright, Chapelle Ryon. Chappelle shares her journey from a private equity background to joining WorkBright and becoming the CEO. She also emphasized the importance of having a visionary founder like Dave Secunda, who prioritizes people and culture in addition to revenue targets. Transitioning to the CEO role was challenging for Chappelle. She emphasized the need for self-reflection and thinking time to excel in the position. Her insights and self-awareness as a CEO inspire and offer valuable lessons for aspiring leaders. To learn more about Chapelle's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Founder of Fuse Finance, Andres Klaric. As a venture-backed founder, Andres shared his insights based on his experience. He emphasized the importance of communication and keeping everyone in the loop, whether things are going well or not. He also highlighted the value of having a co-founder, as it brings a second mind and increases the chances of success. Andres believes that founders should invest time in finding investors who understand their industry and have backed similar companies. This ensures they can speak the same language and provide valuable guidance and support. To learn more about Andres' work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with, the Founder and President of Sutro, Ravi Kurani. Ravi shared the two threads that led to the founding of Sutro. His family owned pool and spa supply stores, providing him industry experience from a young age. His work with a fund in India focused on investing in companies addressing water-related issues, inspired him to develop a product that could sense water quality. Ravi also talked about the importance of referrals in building a network. He probes the transactional nature of networking, where connections are made with the expectation of immediate returns. Instead, he advocates for a more organic approach, where individuals give without expecting immediate returns, trusting that something beneficial will come out of it. To learn more about Ravi's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Co-Founder of Virtual Worker Now. Virtual Worker Now is a massive team of world-class experts from all around the globe. Specializing in 9 skill sets, VWN Specialists know how to make businesses work better, scale faster, and make more money. They scaled rapidly and now have over 400 employees and 100 clients. John shares that VWM scaled as fast as it did due to their extreme dedication and obsession with helping their clients provide a stellar product. To learn more about John's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the CEO of Bigleaf Networks, Greg Davis. Bigleaf makes it easy for IT pros and organizations to conduct business on the internet, with reliable, resilient connectivity that optimizes application performance and eliminates disruptions. Unlike other solutions, Bigleaf has architected a new kind of networking platform to deliver end-to-end connectivity to and from anywhere your traffic needs to go. They leverage a dedicated backbone network with multiple paths to virtually every cloud and internet-based technology, build redundancy into every connection, issue public IP blocks that enable same-IP failover, and pre-configure edge routers to install quickly and transparently onto your network. They are designed to all work together to provide you with the best possible connectivity. To learn more about Greg's work, click HERE and HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila's work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Founder and CEO of Vonza, Uyi Abraham. Vonza is the fastest and easiest way to create and sell online courses, products, coaching, memberships, funnels & more. Uyi Abraham came to America from Nigeria and discovered his true calling was to serve entrepreneurs and creators. Vonza was born out of his frustrations with wasting time and money. Uyi's company was also founded to remove the barriers of technology and make it easy for entrepreneurs and creators to start or grow their businesses. To learn more about Uyi's work, click HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE. Want to learn more about Sheila and her work at KEO Marketing? Check out her website at https://keomarketing.com/

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Founder and President of Tykr, Sean Tepper. Tykr is a stock screener and education platform to help you make better investment decisions and beat inflation. Tykr includes a rigorous algorithm to make your investment journey easier. Tykr has a rating system that informs you on the stock you are looking at, and it keeps you feeling confident on your stocks. Tykr's algorithm positions you as an expert to your peers. To learn more about Sean's work, click HERE. If you'd like to be a guest on CEO & Founder Magic, click HERE.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, talks with the Founder and President of Willory, John Bernatovicz. Willory takes the time to match clients and candidates that are a perfect fit. They listen to your needs and goals to help make the perfect career match. Their purpose is to empower professionals to their next career level. They assist HR and payroll professionals with their job search. Their purpose is to empower people, including professional candidates displaced because of COVID-19 layoffs. To learn more about John's work, click HERE. To reserve a copy of "HR Like a Boss", click HERE. If you'd like to be a guest on CEO & Founder Magic, click HERE.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn talks with the Founder, CEO, and Fractional CFO at Optimized Financial Solutions, Shelby Ashley. Optimized Financial Solutions is a Fractional CFO firm that has all of the tools and guidance entrepreneurs need when it comes to their financials. Shelby helps process monthly reports to make strategic decisions whether you're an established business needing to increase profitability and efficiency, or a startup trying to grow your company. To learn more about Shelby's work, click HERE. If you'd like to be a guest on CEO & Founder Magic, click HERE.

Your host, Sheila Kloefkorn, speaks to the Co-Founder and CEO of SKillCycle, Kristy McCann Flynn. SkillCycle is a learning-first talent development platform that is specifically built and designed to support the entire employee lifecycle, from beginning to end. Kristy discusses how the skills shortage affects businesses today and offers solutions for improving talent development and business growth through changes in the employee lifecycle. To learn more about Kristy's work, click HERE. If you'd like to be a guest on CEO & Founder Magic, click HERE.