Shows
Scaling With PeopleThe Entrepreneur's Guide to Financial KPIs and Business Growth with Kyle SmithSend us a textWhat's the real difference between profit and cash flow? For many founders without finance backgrounds, this distinction remains frustratingly opaque—yet understanding it could mean the difference between securing crucial funding or watching growth opportunities slip away.Kyle Smith, a former professional poker player who pivoted to become a CPA and co-founder of Strata Cloud Accountants, breaks down this financial conundrum with remarkable clarity on our latest episode. His journey from poker tables to spreadsheets taught him a profound lesson: unlike the zero-sum nature of gambling, business finance offers the opportunity to...
2025-08-2023 minScaling With PeopleHuman Connection Wins When AI Content Floods the Market with Tye DeGrangeSend us a textTrust has become the scarcest resource in the digital marketplace. As consumer skepticism grows and advertising costs skyrocket, brands are discovering that third-party validation isn't just nice to have—it's essential for survival and growth.Digital growth strategist Tye DeGrange pulls back the curtain on how affiliate marketing has evolved from a misunderstood, often maligned tactic into a sophisticated trust-building ecosystem. "Affiliate is probably the most misunderstood and the most underrated part of performance marketing," he explains, detailing how his agency Roundbarn Labs has helped technology companies like Nextdoor, MetaQuest, and Gr...
2025-08-1320 minScaling With PeopleFrom Founder to CEO: The Messy Journey of Scaling Leadership with Aviva LeebowSend us a textEver wonder what happens when your startup outgrows its scrappy beginnings? The transition from founder to CEO isn't just about a new title – it's a fundamental shift in how you lead, who you hire, and sometimes, the painful decisions about who stays on the journey.Gwendolyn R. Curry sits down with Aviva Leebow, a Vistage Chair who coaches ambitious CEOs, to explore the leadership evolution necessary for sustainable growth. Their conversation dives into the uncomfortable truth that the people who helped build your company from nothing might not be the right on...
2025-08-0624 minScaling With PeopleCulture as Your Competitive Edge with Lilith ChristiansenSend us a textEver wonder why some startups scale smoothly while others struggle despite having great products and funding? The secret weapon might be hiding in plain sight: organizational culture.When you're racing to build your product and secure your next funding round, culture can feel like a luxury you'll address "someday." But as our conversation with Lilith Christiansen, founder of Human Genuity, reveals, this mindset could be costing you far more than you realize.Culture isn't just about fancy values painted on your office walls. It's the invisible operating system determining...
2025-07-3029 minScaling With PeopleThe Business Blueprint: From Struggling to Scaling Successfully with James BrownSend us a textWhat truly separates struggling businesses from thriving ones? Is it just about having a great product or brilliant marketing? According to James Brown, retired attorney and business growth expert who scaled his law firm to $8 million annually with offices in four states, success comes down to mastering seven essential components found in every successful business.This eye-opening conversation reveals how these building blocks create a framework for sustainable growth regardless of industry or company size. Brown walks us through his profound realization that "every business has the same seven working parts—th...
2025-07-2323 minScaling With PeopleYour Board Can Make or Break Your Company's Growth with Keith DorseySend us a textBoards have the power to transform your company's trajectory, but founders often struggle to leverage them effectively. Dr. Keith Dorsey, author of "The Boardroom Journey" and boardroom expert with experience spanning military service, corporate leadership, and academic research, joins Gwyneth Beaver-Crary to decode what truly makes a high-functioning board.Drawing from his experience serving on five different boards and his doctorate research on corporate governance, Dr. Dorsey dismantles the common founder mindset that views boards as obstacles rather than assets. He outlines the three critical functions boards should serve: management support...
2025-07-1623 minScaling With PeopleThe Membership Model: Growth Strategies and Pitfalls with Dominique WaplesSend a textWhat happens when businesses truly prioritize people over profits? Is it sustainable? Or just idealistic thinking? Dominique Waples, CEO of Restore Medical Spa, dispels the myth that successful scaling requires putting revenue before relationships."Customers are people, employees are people, vendors are people. If you don't understand people, you don't understand business." This guiding philosophy has helped Dominique build a thriving multi-location medical spa over 13 years, but not without significant challenges along the way.The conversation delves into the reality that scaling with a people-first approach is "the long game" – re...
2025-07-0824 minScaling With PeopleYour business is either a star or it's struggling - learn why with Perry MarshallSend us a textWant to build a business moat so powerful competitors can't touch you—without the headache of chasing VC funding? Perry Marshall reveals a game-changing approach to market dominance that's hiding in plain sight.Marshall, author of "80-20 Sales and Marketing," introduces us to what he calls "Network Effect for Mere Mortals"—the overlooked feedback loops that transform ordinary businesses into unstoppable forces. Through the story of a roofing company that systematically cultivated review velocity, Marshall demonstrates how simple flywheels create compounding advantages that make your competition irrelevant. The conversation takes...
2025-06-2523 minScaling With PeopleThe Human Cost of Building a Business with Elliot KallenSend us a textIf you've ever wondered what toll building a business takes on you as a human being, this eye-opening conversation with serial entrepreneur Elliot Kallen will hit home. After founding and selling multiple successful companies, including financial firms that managed over a billion dollars in assets, Elliot doesn't sugarcoat the profound personal impact of the entrepreneurial journey."You cannot be a great CEO right now and be a great parent and a husband at this very minute," Elliot reveals, challenging the harmful "you can have it all" narrative that sets founders up...
2025-06-1125 minScaling With PeopleUncovering Your Company's Unique Identity for Exponential Growth with Melissa Richards-PersonSend us a textWhat makes your company truly different from every competitor in your market? Not just surface-level distinctions, but the fundamental DNA that shapes how you operate, what you value, and why customers are magnetically drawn to your brand.Melissa Richards-Person, founder of Third Arm Consulting and former marketing executive for Starbucks, KFC, and Papa John's, reveals the transformative power of uncovering and activating your brand's unique DNA. After decades helping major brands and startups achieve exponential growth, Melissa shares her proven methodology for mining the authentic characteristics that can fuel your company's...
2025-05-2824 minScaling With PeopleThe Dance of Growth and Scalability: Building a Business You Love with Leslie HasslerSend us a textHave you ever felt like your business has become a prison of your own making? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation with Leslie Hassler, founder of Your Biz Rules, we dive deep into the stark difference between building a business that drains your soul versus one that fills it with purpose and joy.Leslie shares her journey as an "accidental entrepreneur" who transformed from dreading Monday mornings to being energized by them. Her powerful insight that "there's no profit fairy" challenges the common misconception that profits magically appear once you've...
2025-05-1427 minScaling With PeopleThe Relationship Master Key: Building Spheres of Influence with Brad EnglertSend us a textClick the customized link to get a free sample of Brad's book, purchase options, and schedule time on his calendar:https://bradenglert.com/scalingpeople/Ever wondered why some professionals seem to effortlessly build powerful networks while others struggle to make meaningful connections? In this thought-provoking conversation, Brad Englert, former Accenture partner and CIO at the University of Texas at Austin, reveals his three-principle framework for expanding your sphere of influence.Drawing from over three decades of leadership experience, Brad explains why understanding goals and aspirations forms the foundation...
2025-04-3022 minScaling With PeopleThe Unsexy Side of Success: Corporate Governance Simplified with Anoushka FernandesSend us a textCorporate governance. Those two words alone can make even the most confident entrepreneur break out in a cold sweat. But what if I told you it doesn't have to be complicated, boring, or something only Fortune 500 companies need to worry about?My conversation with corporate governance consultant Anoushka from Marcelino Marie Solutions completely transformed my understanding of this critical business function. Far from being a bureaucratic burden, governance is simply about having documented systems for decision-making. "Think about corporate governance. Just reduce it down to what is the system that you...
2025-04-1622 minScaling With PeopleNavigating the Founder's Journey with Hans KullbergSend us a textEntrepreneur Hans Kullberg takes us on a deeply personal journey that intertwines professional pivots with profound personal tragedy. As a father of five and serial entrepreneur, Hans reveals how his path through finance, FinTech, and education ultimately led him to tackle critical gaps in pediatric healthcare.The conversation explores Hans' experience developing products for developmental pediatrics, where he discovered a troubling statistic: while 20% of children have developmental delays, only 3% receive diagnoses before age three. This three-year gap represents not just $1.5 million in additional lifetime care costs, but dramatically different outcomes for...
2025-04-0230 minScaling With PeopleFind Your Voice, Build Your Brand: Leveraging Speaking for Growth with Blaire NicholsSend us a textTired of pouring money into digital ads with questionable returns? Imagine commanding a room of your ideal clients for 30-45 minutes, positioning yourself as the trusted expert they need. That's the power of strategic speaking for brand building, and it's a game-changer for founders and business leaders.In this illuminating conversation with Blair Bryant Nichols, owner of BBN Creative Management, we unlock the secrets to leveraging speaking opportunities as your most potent marketing tool. Blair reveals why the traditional conference booth approach pales in comparison to securing a speaking slot, where...
2025-03-1921 minScaling With PeopleMarketing Doesn't Happen Overnight: Cultivating Growth Over Time with Katie SmithSend us a textDive into an insightful discussion on how to navigate the complexities of marketing from the perspective of Katie Smith of Wild Path Consulting. In this episode, we unpack the essential elements of building a long-term marketing strategy that emphasizes relationship-building over quick sales. Discover the importance of setting clear business goals, understanding customer needs, and transitioning through the various phases of customer engagement to build lasting trust.Katie draws on her extensive experience as a fractional chief marketing officer to share actionable insights that every founder and CEO can implement. We...
2025-03-0626 minScaling With PeopleUnlocking AI Potential: Vanessa Sierra on Strategic Marketing Integration, Leadership Balance, and Business Growth StrategiesSend us a textUnlock the secrets to scaling your business with an insightful conversation featuring B2B SaaS expert Vanessa Sierra. Vanessa guides us through the complexities of integrating AI into marketing strategies, underscoring both its challenges and unparalleled opportunities. Learn how the concept of "going slow to go fast" can transform your approach, allowing you to refine your messaging and strategy with precision. Vanessa's expert insights reveal how AI can be a powerful ally in amplifying your strategic vision without diminishing the irreplaceable value of human insight. Explore the fine art of leadership b...
2025-02-1925 minScaling With PeopleUnlocking Podcasting Potential: Liz Brooks on Brand Growth, Audience Engagement, and PR Strategies in a Post-COVID EraSend us a textUnlock the secret to brand growth through podcasting as we welcome Liz Brooks, an insightful PR specialist from Interview Valet. Discover how podcasting can revolutionize your public relations strategy by providing an accessible, informal platform that builds genuine connections with audiences. Liz and I explore the power of storytelling and the necessity of clear goals when appearing as a podcast guest, making it possible to reach new and diverse audiences in a meaningful way. We dive into the benefits of targeting smaller, more engaged audiences over large, indifferent ones, using a fascinating analogy...
2025-02-0523 minScaling With PeopleUnlocking Customer Experience Excellence: Blake Grewal on Data-Driven Growth, AI Integration, and Simplifying Tech for Small BusinessesSend us a textUnlock the secrets to extraordinary customer experiences with our special guest, Blake Grewal, founder of Bold Growth. We explore the often-overlooked potential of data and technology in transforming how businesses interact with their clients. Through the lens of scorecards and critical metrics like net promoter scores, Blake shares how businesses can streamline their focus and unearth opportunities for growth. Discover how mapping every interaction across the customer journey not only identifies areas for improvement but also integrates technology seamlessly to enhance services, whether you’re in the service or product sector.In...
2025-01-2226 min
GrowCFO Show#216 Navigating People and HR Challenges as a CFO with Gwenevere Crary, Founder and CEO, Guide to HR#216 Navigating People and HR Challenges as a CFO with Gwenevere Crary
https://open.spotify.com/episode/31IPiTQcj3yVhQ2IvJnXVX
As businesses grow, the people and HR challenges they face become increasingly complex. Founders and finance leaders often find themselves responsible for managing HR-related tasks, even without formal training or expertise in this area. In this episode, Gwenevere Crary, Founder and CEO of Guide to HR, shares her insights on how finance leaders can effectively navigate these challenges and build a strong HR foundation for their organizations.
Crary emphasizes the importance of establishing robust onboarding processes...
2025-01-1435 minScaling With PeopleUnlocking Storytelling Power: Jason Anthoine on Transformative Communication, Authentic Leadership, and Inspiring Employee EngagementSend us a textDiscover the transformative power of storytelling with communication expert Jason Anthoine in our latest episode of Scaling with People. With over 35 years of experience, Jason joins me, Gwyneth McCreary, to uncover strategies that bring founders and leaders closer to their teams. Ever wondered why storytelling is pivotal in aligning your employees with the company's mission and vision? Dive into the world of organizational storytelling and learn why even repetitive stories can be fresh and inspiring for new hires. Gain insights into the art of communicating across diverse backgrounds and experience levels, ensuring your...
2025-01-0818 minScaling With PeopleUnlocking Leadership Potential: Carla Fowler on Transformative Performance Reviews, Personalized Learning Strategies, and Achieving High PerformanceSend us a textUnlock the secrets of transforming dreaded performance reviews into powerful motivators with our special guest, Carla Fowler. Explore how leaders can set crystal-clear objectives and embrace the concept of "brutal focus" to prevent burnout and enhance impact. By clearly defining priorities and translating visions into actionable language, leaders not only steer their teams more effectively but also show employees how their efforts are vital to the organization's success. We delve into the strategies for preparing performance evaluations in advance, ensuring that reflection and thoughtful planning drive the process, turning this routine task into...
2024-12-1823 minScaling With PeopleUnlocking Financial Strategy: Kevin Appleby on Startup Growth, Fundraising Expertise, and Future CFO DevelopmentSend us a textUnlock the keys to propelling your business forward with strategic financial insight in our latest episode of Scaling with People. Featuring Kevin Appleby, a visionary in finance team development, we explore the critical juncture when founders should bring finance experts on board. Discover why delegating transactional finance tasks early can free you to concentrate on transformative activities like investor relations and product innovation. Kevin sheds light on the indispensable role of strategic finance expertise during pivotal fundraising phases, from crafting dependable financial forecasts to leveraging industry contacts for securing funding. This episode is...
2024-12-1124 minScaling With PeopleUnlocking Emotional Intelligence: Jennifer Gardner on Leadership Influence, Storytelling Strategies, and Overcoming Public Speaking FearsSend us a textUnlock the power of emotional intelligence in business success with insights from our special guest, Jennifer Gardner, an esteemed attorney and influence expert. Ever wondered how understanding emotional dynamics can transform your leadership skills and decision-making? Jennifer shares her journey and expertise, highlighting the pivotal role of storytelling and emotional intelligence in effectively leading and influencing others. Discover how empathy and self-awareness can help craft messages that resonate with people's fears and aspirations, and hear about a groundbreaking legal case where these skills made all the difference in advocating for a client.
2024-12-0424 minScaling With PeopleEmpowering Business Growth: Chris Seifert on Decision-Making Mastery, Overcoming Micromanagement, and Team Empowerment StrategiesSend us a textUnlock the secrets of effective decision-making with insights from Chris Seifert, founder of Enabling Empowerment, as he joins me, Gwinniver Curry, to share his expertise on transforming business growth strategies. Discover how to break the cycle of micromanagement that often stems from necessity, not choice. Drawing on the wisdom from Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking Fast and Slow," we explore the subconscious nature of decisions and the critical need for organizations to invest in decision-making skills beyond mere execution. This is your chance to learn how to elevate your team's performance and drive your organization...
2024-11-2724 minScaling With PeopleMastering PR Storytelling: Mickie Kennedy on Strategic Narratives, DIY Press Releases, and Building Trust in Tech EntrepreneurshipSend us a text Unlock the secrets of masterful storytelling in business with our guest, Mickie Kennedy, the visionary founder of eReleases. Discover how Mickie transformed his approach to press releases by embracing compelling narratives that not only captured media attention but also fueled business growth. This episode is a treasure trove for entrepreneurs, especially those in tech, as Mickie shares invaluable lessons on crafting strong, humanizing elevator pitches that captivate both media and potential employees. Get ready for insights into overcoming storytelling challenges and leveraging personal stories for impactful communication. But that's not all—explore the str...
2024-11-2027 min