Shows
A Founder's LifeWhat Every Founder Needs to Know About Balance - Marc Kerrest - S2 - E17What if the data you’re tracking could change your life—personally and professionally?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Marc Kerrest—founder and CEO of GPS DataViz—to explore how data is transforming elite sports, behavior change, and the entrepreneurial journey. From launching a startup that now works with the NFL and European football clubs, to navigating a neck injury that redefined his priorities, Marc shares a powerful story of growth, humility, and purpose.Whether you’re a founder, athlete, or simply curious about how data can shape habits...2025-07-2818 min
A Founder's LifeWhat They Don’t Teach You About Wealth and Freedom - Ken Rusk - S2 - E16What if success isn’t about a degree… but about designing the life you want first?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Ken Rusk, best-selling author of Blue Collar Cash and founder of multiple construction companies, to talk about what it means to live with intention—before chasing titles or degrees. From ditch-digging at 15 to running a 200+ person company, Ken shares his unique approach to wealth, health, and time freedom.🔥 Spoiler: He schedules fun before work—and thinks you should too.What you...2025-07-2517 min
A Founder's LifeBurnout, Identity & the Founder’s Trap - Benjamin Read - S2 - E15What happens when your success starts to cost you your sense of self?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Ben Read, a founder, husband, and high-performer who had to unlearn everything he thought he knew about success, ambition, and balance.Ben shares the unfiltered reality of life behind the scenes—how the pressure to perform nearly broke him, and how redefining success around presence and integrity helped him build a life and business that finally feels like his.🎧 In this conversation, we explore:•The emotional toll of c...2025-07-2327 min
A Founder's LifeFinding Peace in High-Stakes Work - Brian Davidoff - S2 - E14In this episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Brian Davidoff—attorney, athlete, mentor, and father—to explore how one of LA’s top restructuring lawyers finds peace in chaos through fitness, mindfulness, and purpose.Brian shares the story behind his 40+ year legal career helping financially distressed companies while staying grounded through daily workouts, meditation, and deep family values. From mountain biking accidents to Malibu triathlons, and from courtroom pressure to inner stillness, this conversation reminds us that balance isn’t a myth—it’s a daily decision.✅ What you’ll learn:•...2025-07-2120 min
A Founder's LifeLeadership, Loss & Reinvention - Mary K Dunn - S2 - E13How do you turn a corporate career—and a life-shaking loss—into purpose and impact? In this episode, Mary K Dunn shares her remarkable path from sales executive to life coach and speaker.With over 20 years in the corporate world, Mary thought she had it all figured out—until life called her in a new direction. Through coaching, public speaking, and a deeply personal story of grief and healing, she discovered the power of listening, presence, and purpose-driven work.Whether you’re a founder, leader, or someone navigating change, Mary’s insights into communicat...2025-07-1622 min
A Founder's LifeWhat Makes a “Good Human” in Business - Rachel Platt - S2 - E12What happens when you reach the top of your career… and realize it’s not what you want?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner talks with Rachel Platt, founder and CEO of Platinum HR Consulting, about walking away from a successful corporate career to build something more meaningful.Rachel shares her journey from Chief People Officer to entrepreneur, the lessons she learned about leadership, and why defining company values early isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. She opens up about building a life rooted in purpose, family, and well-being, and the powerful...2025-07-1425 min
A Founder's LifeWhat Happens When You Walk Away from the Dream Job? - Sarah Walton - S2 - E11What happens when you walk away from the “dream job”? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner talks with Sarah Walton—former Nike executive turned founder of Better Meant—about how burnout, parenting, and the pursuit of freedom reshaped her definition of success.Sarah left corporate life without a plan and ended up building a thriving company that helps others find agency, happiness, and true work-life balance. Her story is a powerful reminder that fulfillment often starts with listening to what you really want.🔍 What you’ll get from this episode:•What led Sarah to...2025-07-1023 min
A Founder's LifeRewriting the Rules of Success After 50 - Cindy Grabowski - S2 - E10Cindy Grabowski spent 30 years climbing the ladder in MedTech, becoming a VP of Clinical Affairs. Then—at age 56—she walked away.In this inspiring episode of A Founder’s Life, Cindy shares why she left her high-level role to create something with deeper purpose: an e-learning platform called MindGrove, designed to help people enter the MedTech industry—no college degree required. Her story is about reinvention, authentic leadership, and defining success on your own terms.🎯 What You’ll Learn:•How Cindy went from temp secretary to VP in MedTech•Why she believes formal education isn’t a...2025-07-0824 min
A Founder's Life“Work-Life Balance Is a Lie (Unless You Do This)" - Ron Green - S2 - E9Ron Green has built 9 startups. But what he shares in this episode isn’t just about business — it’s about building a life that works.As the CTO of Kung Fu AI, Ron is deep in the AI space. But behind his professional success lies a story of personal evolution: from burnout to balance, from overwork to intentional living.In this conversation, Ron shares: • The real cost of “grind culture” and how it backfires • How he balances intense work with family, health, and fun • His philosophy on fitness, sleep, and why moderation wins • Hard-wo...2025-06-2431 min
A Founder's LifeWhat Founders Need Most (But Rarely Ask For) - Andy Zimmerman - S2 - E8In this episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Andy Zimmerman—CEO of Journey and former head of Frog Design—to explore the rarely told truth behind success. From high-powered corporate roles to a life-altering spiritual awakening, Andy shares the personal and professional pivot that helped him rediscover balance, purpose, and empathy.🔥 Discover how six million air miles and relentless ambition nearly cost Andy everything—and how one soul reading in Glastonbury reset his life and leadership forever.🎧 Whether you’re a founder chasing growth or a leader craving alignment, this conversatio...2025-06-1031 min
A Founder's LifeThe Hidden Cost of Hustle Culture - Andy Root - S2 - E7Feeling stuck in a business that controls your life instead of supporting it?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Andy Root—co-founder of Better Every Day—to explore how founders, especially in high-pressure industries like accounting, can break free from burnout and build a business that aligns with the life they want to live.Andy shares how working 60+ hour weeks nearly cost him his health and family time—and what changed everything. From losing 40 pounds to redefining work-life integration, this episode is packed with actionable insights for entrepreneurs seeking...2025-06-0334 min
A Founder's Life“You Get What You Measure” — Lessons from a Fintech Pioneer - Roy Vella - S2 - E6In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Roy Vella, fintech veteran and founder of NextCoLabs, to explore what it really means to live with intention. From building PayPal in its earliest days to creating AI-powered meeting tools, Roy shares why presence—not productivity—is the true key to success.🔥 Topics include parenting with purpose, optimizing health and sleep, founding companies in fintech and AI, and what exponential technology means for the future of work and life.📌 You’ll learn: • How to prioritize family and still lead at the highest level2025-05-2752 min
A Founder's LifeStartup Lessons They Don’t Teach in Grad School - Reeto Mookherjee - S2 - E5In this episode of A Founder’s Life, host Leo Gestetner sits down with Reeto Mookherjee, co-founder and CEO of Angler AI, to discuss his journey from academic researcher to startup founder. Reeto shares the pivotal moments that changed his life—from turning down a tenure-track role to founding an AI-driven adtech company solving real-world marketing challenges in the post-privacy era.Whether you’re a data-driven leader, aspiring entrepreneur, or founder juggling family and business, this conversation is packed with relatable lessons.🔍 What you’ll learn: • The mindset shift that took Reeto from academia to entrepreneu...2025-05-2028 min
A Founder's LifeFreedom Over Hustle: How This Founder Did It - Courtney Kehl - S2 - E4In this episode of A Founder’s Life, we sit down with Courtney Kehl, founder of Expert Marketing Advisors, to uncover what it really takes to build a business rooted in freedom, flexibility, and purpose. If you’re an entrepreneur navigating the rollercoaster of growth, self-doubt, and personal evolution, this is the episode for you.Courtney shares her journey from Silicon Valley acquisitions to running a 40-person B2B marketing agency built on trust, partnership, and adaptability. We discuss the realities of leading during life’s toughest seasons—like the loss of a parent—and how she created a...2025-05-1319 min
A Founder's LifeScaling Companies Without Burning Out - Dametric Burnett - S2 - E3In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Dametric Burnett, COO of SNK Building Services, to explore his incredible journey—from cleaning windows to leading a fast-growing company with 16+ locations. 🚀We dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, leadership evolution, building companies with heart, mental health, and redefining success after becoming a parent. Dametric shares powerful lessons on resilience, work-life balance, and making a real impact—both professionally and personally.Here’s what you’ll discover:•How Dametric grew from entry-level to COO.•Lessons on scaling businesses sustainably.•Why mental health m...2025-04-2924 min
A Founder's LifeWork-Life Balance Is Real—This Founder Proves It - Lee Roquet - S2 - E2What if the real key to entrepreneurial success was a morning hike, a cup of coffee with your partner, and 400 hours of movement a year?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Lee Roquet—a 25-year tech and startup veteran who traded hustle culture for purpose, nature, and a balanced life. From scaling SaaS companies and building a physical product business from scratch, to tracking outdoor hours like P&L spreadsheets, Lee shares what it really means to live well while leading.If you’re a founder, exec, or high-p...2025-04-2215 min
A Founder's LifeBurned Out? This Founder’s Advice Will Change How You Lead - Keith Alper - S2 - E1Are you a founder or entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck in survival mode?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, we sit down with Keith Alper, a seasoned entrepreneur and leadership expert, who shares what 40+ years of building businesses—and navigating personal loss—have taught him about sustainable leadership, emotional resilience, and building companies that don’t burn you out.🔥 Keith opens up about how grief, therapy, and vulnerability made him a better leader—and why success today is about leading with love, building aligned teams, and putting purpose first...2025-04-1546 min
A Founder's LifeWhat Disney Taught Me About Success, Failure, and Balance - Mark Jaffe - S1 - E18🔥 The Secret to Business Growth? Learn to Fail Well – Mark Jaffe’s Story 🔥Most people think success comes from avoiding failure. But what if the secret is learning to fail well?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Mark Jaffe, former Disney executive and business strategist, to reveal the mindset shifts, leadership lessons, and personal strategies that helped him grow Disney’s music division, pivot into consulting, and create a thriving career without sacrificing family and personal passions.💡 What You’ll Learn:✅ The surprising lesson that shaped Mark’s ca...2025-04-0834 min
A Founder's LifeThe One Thing Most Entrepreneurs Overlook - Bruce Lipian - S1 - E17Most people think success in private equity and business is about strategy, numbers, and hard work. But what if the real key was something completely different?In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Bruce Lipian, co-founder of StoneCreek Capital, to uncover how authenticity, deep relationships, and resilience have shaped his success. From surviving personal tragedy to pioneering new models in private equity, Bruce shares powerful lessons on business, leadership, and building a meaningful life.💡 What You’ll Learn:2025-04-0137 min
A Founder's LifeBurnout is Killing Your Business – Do This Instead - Dave Gieselman - S1 - E16 The High-Performance Hack Every Entrepreneur Needs Are you operating at your full potential, or is burnout holding you back? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Dave Gieselman, founder of Become Limitless and creator of the Limitless Flow Breathwork System, to explore how breathwork, neuroscience, and flow states can help high achievers boost focus, eliminate stress, and unlock sustainable peak performance.💡 What You’ll Learn:✅ How to rewire your brain for resilience and clarity✅ The...2025-03-2535 min
A Founder's LifeEntrepreneurship, Balance, and Long-Term Success - Ray Jansma - S1 - E15In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Ray Jansma, a corporate leader turned entrepreneur, to discuss the mindset shifts that helped him transition from the corporate world to business ownership. Ray shares powerful insights on building a strong network, achieving work-life balance, and preparing for a fulfilling semi-retirement without sacrificing success.Key Takeaways:✅ How to shift from building wealth for others to creating success for yourself✅ The power of networking in business growth and career transitions✅ Why traditio...2025-03-1830 min
A Founder's LifeBreaking Generational Cycles: Grit and Growth - Zack Lemear - S1 - E14About this episode:In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Zack Lemear, entrepreneur and co-founder of Pivot Creative, to discuss his journey from an unstable childhood and foster care to building successful businesses and coaching others. Zack shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, breaking generational cycles, and how mindset, discipline, and vision transformed his life against all odds.Highlights:Zack’s Background: Growing up in extreme poverty with a single mother struggling with addiction, Zack’s early years were filled with instability, constant moves, and survival-mode entrepreneurship.2025-03-1156 min
A Founder's LifeFrom Farm Life to CEO - Tricia Benn - S1 - E13About this Episode:In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Tricia Benn, CEO and Partner at C-Suite Network, to discuss her journey from growing up on a farm to leading a global business network. Tricia shares insights on leadership, trust, personal growth, and the importance of community in building successful businesses, all while balancing work, family, and personal well-being.Highlights:Tricia’s Background: Growing up on a farm taught Tricia resilience, adaptability, and the importance of community—lessons that have shaped her leadership style and approach to business.The C-Suite Network Mission: Tricia e...2025-03-0445 min
A Founder's LifeThriving with ADHD: Path to Clarity and Success - Ian Tenenbaum - S1 - E12About this episode:In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Ian Tenenbaum, an entrepreneur and ADHD coach, to explore his journey from struggling with focus and consistency to building a thriving coaching business. Ian shares how personal hardships, including a career pivot and major life challenges, led him to develop strategies for helping founders with ADHD harness their strengths, overcome obstacles, and create a more balanced, fulfilling life.Highlights:Ian’s Background: A lifelong entrepreneur who unknowingly battled ADHD, Ian’s early career was filled with ambition, creativity, and...2025-02-2529 min
A Founder's LifeBuilding Brands, Building Connections - Anderson Salgado - S1 - E11In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Anderson Salgado, a Marine Corps veteran turned entrepreneur, to discuss his journey from leading Amazon’s beauty category to building his own successful agency. Anderson shares insights on business growth, faith, family, and the importance of staying adaptable in entrepreneurship while keeping a strong sense of purpose and balance.Highlights:Anderson’s Background: A Marine Corps veteran who transitioned into business leadership, Anderson was recruited by Amazon after his MBA and went on to lead the beauty category before launching his own successful agency.Entrepreneurial Evol...2025-02-1845 min
A Founder's LifeSmart Money, Smart Life: The Path to Financial Freedom - Justin Krane - S1 - E10In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Justin Krane, a financial advisor and founder of Krane Financial Solutions, to discuss his journey from managing personal wealth to helping business owners make smarter financial decisions. Justin shares his insights on achieving financial independence, balancing work and life, and the importance of a “return on life” mindset when it comes to money, health, and personal fulfillment.Justin’s Background: Starting as a financial advisor for personal wealth management, Justin later transitioned to working with business owners, helping them align their business finances with their long-term personal goals...2025-02-1136 min
A Founder's LifeEmpowering the Next Generation - Jane Walsh - S1 - E9In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Jane Walsh, Executive Vice President at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), to discuss her 23-year journey in nonprofit leadership, the power of entrepreneurship education, and the impact of instilling confidence and opportunity in young people. Jane also shares insights on work-life balance, personal growth, and the evolving nature of success.HighlightsJane’s Background: With a 23-year career at NFTE, Jane has dedicated her life to nonprofit leadership, helping young people develop an entrepreneurial mindset and skills that set them up for su...2025-02-0427 min
A Founder's LifeLeading with Vision: Business, Family, and Legacy - Eric Rozenberg - S1 - E8In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Eric Rozenberg, founder of Event Business Formula, to explore his journey from building corporate event agencies to creating a platform for small business owners, while reflecting on legacy, resilience, and finding purpose in both work and family life.Eric’s Background: From finance and marketing in Belgium to becoming a corporate events entrepreneur, Eric’s career evolved into leading impactful ventures across 50 countries and earning U.S. citizenship.Event Business Formula: Eric’s platform empowers small event business owners with tools, coaching, and a comm...2025-01-2827 min
A Founder's LifeTurning Setbacks into Success - Laurel Mintz - S1 - E7In this episode, Leo Gestetner speaks with Laurel Mintz, founder of Elevate My Brand and Fabric VC, about her journey from corporate law to entrepreneurship and venture capital. Laurel shares how taking over her father’s struggling business sparked her passion for building and investing in brands, her approach to health and wellness as a non-negotiable for balance, and the life lessons she’s learned from embracing challenges, pivoting in business, and creating meaningful connections.Highlights:Laurel’s Background: Transitioning from corporate law to entrepreneurship, Laurel Mintz found her passion after steppi...2025-01-2133 min
Faith, Frontlines and FortuneFaith, Frontlines, and Fortune - Episode 17: Exploring Global Staffing, Innovation, and Work-Life Balance with Leo Gestetner, Founder and CEOIn this episode of Faith, Frontlines, and Fortune, host Anderson Salgado engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Leo Gestetner, founder and CEO of a global staffing company. Leo offers valuable insights into the advantages of global staffing, including cost efficiency, employee longevity, and access to a highly skilled international workforce. The discussion explores innovative staffing strategies that enhance client retention, the increasing demand for roles in accounting and IT, and the unique challenges of managing teams across time zones. Leo also sheds light on cultural differences in work ethic between U.S. and global employees, emphasizing how these dynamics...2025-01-1442 min
A Founder's LifeThe Long Run: Finding Purpose, Passion, and Balance - Jimmy Dean Freeman - S1 -E6In this episode, Leo Gestetner speaks with Jimmy Dean Freeman, a professional endurance running coach with over 23 years of experience, to explore his journey from starting his first 10k at nine years old to coaching marathon and ultramarathon runners. Jimmy shares insights on balancing competitive running with family life, his passion for cross-training, and the profound life lessons he’s gained from the sport, including resilience, transformation, and the pursuit of seemingly impossible goals.LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe No...2025-01-1454 min
A Founder's LifeThe Intersection of Serendipity and Strategy - Jason Ciment - S1 - E5In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Jason Ciment, founder of Get Visible, to explore his unconventional journey from CPA and aspiring lawyer to a thriving digital marketing entrepreneur. Jason shares the serendipitous story of meeting his wife, the pivotal decisions that shaped his career, and his insights on balancing faith, family, and business. From reflections on purposeful living to the importance of creating meaningful connections, Jason offers a candid and inspiring perspective on what it takes to build a fulfilling life.LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website2025-01-0728 min
A Founder's LifeBalancing Dreams and Realities - Hema Dey - S1 - E4In this episode, Leo Gestetner chats with Hema Dey, founder of Iffel International, about her journey from Malaysia to leading a global marketing agency, balancing single motherhood, entrepreneurial challenges, and her passion for creating opportunities, fostering growth, and living a vibrant, purpose-driven life.LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=12024-12-1727 min
A Founder's LifeA Legacy of Creativity and Connection - Chris Wizner - S1 - E3In this episode, Leo Gestetner chats with Chris Wizner, founder of Vivid Candy, to uncover his journey from a teenage entrepreneur to running a thriving marketing agency in Malibu. Chris opens up about balancing his passion for business with family life, his innovative parenting approach, and the creative joy of launching his daughter’s bubble-themed venture. From his reflections on work-life integration to his vision of building meaningful connections, Chris offers an inspiring perspective on living a dynamic and purpose-driven life.LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website le...2024-12-1046 min
A Founder's LifeSkateboards, Startups, and Success - Mark Wald - S1 - E2In this episode, Leo Gestetner sits down with Mark Wald, founder of Supercharger, to explore his journey from Silicon Valley roots to building a successful business. Mark shares insights into his personal life, entrepreneurial philosophy, and his commitment to creating balance between work, family, and personal passions. From his unique approach to fitness and woodworking to his vision of leaving a legacy, Mark offers a candid look at what it means to live a purpose-driven life.LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo 2024-12-0324 min
A Founder's LifeFrom Adversity to Purpose-Driven Success - Curtis Estes - S1 - E1In today’s episode, Curtis Estes takes us on an inspiring journey from his humble beginnings in rural Kansas to creating a thriving career and a life filled with purpose. Curtis opens up about how pivotal moments, like losing his home at age 11, shaped his resilience and vision for the future. He shares powerful insights into living a vibrant, connected, and intentional life, including lessons from a groundbreaking longevity conference and the genesis of his "Anti-Retirement Club," a community focused on growth, health, and purpose. Filled with actionable takeaways, heartfelt stories, and Curtis’s infectious passion, this episode is sure...2024-11-2031 min
A Founder's LifeA Founder's Life TrailerJoin me as I explore the powerful intersection of entrepreneurship, health & wellness, and parenthood. In each episode, I’ll be interviewing inspiring individuals who excel in one or more of these areas, sharing their stories, insights, and lessons. My goal is to provide valuable takeaways that can help you thrive both personally and professionally.LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=12024-11-2001 min
Today's Market Explained with Brian Kasal#168 How to Successfully Build and Manage Multiple Businesses w/ Leo Gestetner, Co-Founder & CEO, ThankzDownload the “65 Investment Terms You MUST Know to Reach Your Financial Goals” for FREE by going to https://TodaysMarketExplained.com/
Leo Gestetner ( https://www.thankz.com/) is the Co-Founder and CEO of Thankz, an expert firm that specializes in recruiting and managing remote workers and teams. He is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Zenvoy, a company that uses artificial intelligence to improve workplace culture.
In this episode, Brian and Leo delve into the world of entrepreneurship, offering invaluable insights and advice on how to thrive as a multifaceted business owner.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogestetner/
Website: https...2023-07-2733 min