Shows
Sell Smarter® from SalesFuelCredTalk: Advantages to a Low Key Sales ApproachIn this 90-second Q&A, Global Sales Credibility Authority C. Lee Smith talks to Sue Heilbronner, CEO and Author about how salespeople taking a low key selling approach can work to their advantage.
This episode is sponsored by SalesCred. Learn more about how building sales credibility impacts your revenue and executive presence at Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2025-12-3102 min
The Vibe With Ky PodcastS6-E45: How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome At Work — ft. Sue HeilbronnerDo you struggle with imposter syndrome or burnout because you care too much about the outcome? Caring deeply while remaining unattached creates freedom in your career. In this episode of The Vibe With Ky Podcast Sue Heilbronner explains the concept of passionate ambivalence. You will learn how to spot the unconscious contracts you make with yourself that drive anxiety and people pleasing. Sue shares why the most powerful thing a leader can say is I do not know and how this builds trust instantly. This conversation validates anyone who feels stuck on the hamster wheel of perfectionism. Sue offers...
2025-12-0935 min
Manage SmarterNever Ask for the Sale with Sue HeilbronnerSue Heilbronner, author of "Never Ask for the Sale: Supercharge Your Business with the Power of Passionate Ambivalence," reveals top sales strategies to build referrals, trust, and credibility. Learn how her approach increases premium pricing, drives mutual relationships, and enhances your business’s success by focusing on authentic, value-driven sales methods and letting your expertise attract ideal clients.
"The reason that the book is titled Never Ask for the Sale is I want to make the point that selling is a mutual process and if you as a seller are putting yourself in a subservient position to a...
2025-11-0922 min
Career Conversations with ChrisSue Heilbronner: Executive Coach and AuthorIn this episode of Career Conversations with Chris, we step into the high-velocity world of venture capital and leadership with Sue Heilbronner, co-founder of the renowned accelerator MergeLane.Key themes in this high-energy conversation include:Prosecutor to Pitch Coach: How the skills Sue honed as a federal prosecutor, specifically, pattern recognition and relentless preparation, translate directly into being a top-tier startup advisor.The Power of Narrative: Why a founder's ability to clearly tell their story is the most critical factor for securing investment
2025-11-0350 min
Hey SueBuilding Legacy: EJ Meade on Creating a Company that Fosters GeniusIn this inspiring episode, Sue sits down with renowned architect EJ Meade of Arch11 to explore the journey of building a meaningful career, the power of authentic client relationships, and the courage it takes to be selective about your work. EJ shares stories from his 30+ years in architecture, the lessons learned from both awards and challenges, and his vision for the next chapter. Whether you’re a creative, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the intersection of art and business, this conversation is packed with wisdom and heart.We talk about:The ac...
2025-10-0848 min
Hey SuePassion for People: Amit Shah’s Mission to Reverse Diabetes Through Personalized NutritionIn this episode, Sue talks with Amit Shah, Chief Operating Officer of Virta Health, to explore how passionate leadership and evidence-based nutrition can transform metabolic health. Amit shares about Virta’s goal of reversing diabetes and obesity by centering its core values—putting people first and trusting evidence-based science—across every team at the company. The ways that this passion and commitment show up in how Shah and the company treat individuals exemplifies what Sue calls “walking around town marketing,” a key piece of Passionate Ambivalence. This one-on-one shares how Virta is revolutionizing diabetes and obesity treatment by putting people first...
2025-09-2432 min
The Conscious Entrepreneur | Leadership, Self-Awareness & MindsetEP 106: From Pushy to Magnetic: How ‘Never Ask for the Sale’ Flips Sales CultureSue Heilbronner, serial entrepreneur and conscious leadership executive coach, believes the strongest businesses are built when sales feel less like chasing and more like alignment. Joining Sarah Lockwood in this episode, she introduces the idea of “passionate ambivalence,” a values-based sales mindset that pairs genuine enthusiasm for your work with the ability to detach from any single outcome.
How do you recognize when a client is the right fit? Sue points to conscious client qualification as the key. By asking clear, sometimes disqualifying questions, you invite the kind of honesty that builds trust from the very...
2025-09-1534 min
The Rainmaking PodcastTRP 267: The Aversion to Selling with Sue HeilbronnerIn this episode of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews Sue Heilbronner, executive coach, speaker, and author of Never Ask for the Sale: Supercharge Your Business with the Power of Passionate Ambivalence. Sue explains why many professional services providers resist selling themselves and how to shift that mindset by embracing authenticity and confidence. She introduces the concept of passionate ambivalence—the ability to be genuinely excited about opportunities while remaining unattached to the outcome. This approach helps professionals appear more credible, command higher fees, and attract long-term clients.
Sue also addresses common challenges such as imposter syndrome, ov...
2025-09-1125 min
The Exceptional Sales Leader PodcastSue Heilbronner – Never Ask For The SaleIn this episode of The Exceptional Sales Leader Podcast, I am joined by Sue Heilbronner, a multi-faceted professional with an impressive career history. Now an executive coach and author, Sue discusses illuminating insights from her upcoming book, “Never Ask for the Sale,” which challenges conventional sales methodologies and introduces the concept of passionate ambivalence in sales. Listeners are treated to an in-depth conversation that explores the intersections of law, technology, and sales. Sue shares her journey from a federal prosecutor to a tech executive, revealing how every role she’s undertaken involved selling in one form or another. Throughout the ep...
2025-09-1146 min
Sales POP! Podcasts: Insights from Top Experts in Sales, Marketing, Leadership & More.Redefining Sales: The Power of Passionate Ambivalence with Sue HeilbronnerAre you tired of the old-school sales mantras that feel pushy and inauthentic? In a recent interview, sales and leadership coach Sue Heilbronner introduced a groundbreaking concept that's changing the game: Passionate Ambivalence. This isn't about being indifferent; it's about being genuinely enthusiastic about your product (passion) while maintaining a healthy detachment from any single outcome (ambivalence).
2025-09-1122 min
CEO Sales StrategiesHow to Sell Without Selling: Consultative Sales Strategies That Win Trust [Episode 202]How can you sell high-ticket offers without chasing—or losing control of the conversation?In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, host Doug C. Brown speaks with leadership coach and former tech CEO Sue Heilbronner about how to close more premium deals by letting go of the outcome.Sue introduces the concept of passionate ambivalence—the ability to care deeply about helping the buyer, while staying unattached to whether or not they say yes.If you're tired of overexplaining, defending your value, or discounting to win the deal, this conversation will help you lead sales conv...
2025-09-1037 min
CEO Sales StrategiesHow to Sell Without Selling: Consultative Sales Strategies That Win Trust [Episode 202]How can you sell high-ticket offers without chasing—or losing control of the conversation?In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, host Doug C. Brown speaks with leadership coach and former tech CEO Sue Heilbronner about how to close more premium deals by letting go of the outcome.Sue introduces the concept of passionate ambivalence—the ability to care deeply about helping the buyer, while staying unattached to whether or not they say yes.If you're tired of overexplaining, defending your value, or discounting to win the deal, this conversation will help you lead sales conv...
2025-09-1033 min
Escape To The Binge-Worthy Full Audiobook Now, Curious Minds!Never Ask for the Sale by Sue HeilbronnerPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/259301to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Never Ask for the Sale
Author: Sue Heilbronner
Narrator: Sue Heilbronner
Format: mp3
Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
Release date: 09-09-25
Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 stars, 3 ratings
Genres: Sales & Selling
Publisher's Summary:
Never Ask for the Sale goes beyond simple tips, and influences the listener's overall understanding of selling. Sue Heilbronner shares decades of experience, stories, tools, and exercises to coach people to be more successful at achieving their goals by aligning their work with their greatest strengths, and marketing that cohesive story with a winning sales strategy: passionate ambivalence...
2025-09-098h 31
CEO Sales StrategiesHow to Sell Without Selling: Consultative Sales Strategies That Win Trust [Episode 202]How can you sell high-ticket offers without chasing—or losing control of the conversation?In this episode of the CEO Sales Strategies Podcast, host Doug C. Brown speaks with leadership coach and former tech CEO Sue Heilbronner about how to close more premium deals by letting go of the outcome.Sue introduces the concept of passionate ambivalence—the ability to care deeply about helping the buyer, while staying unattached to whether or not they say yes.If you're tired of overexplaining, defending your value, or d...
2025-09-0939 min
Book Friends ForeverNever Ask for the Sale By Sue HeilbronnerA tech leader and executive coach's actionable guide for anyone looking to supercharge their selling prowess and close the deal with authenticity and integrity.
Sue Heilbronner launched an executive coaching, facilitation, and speaking solo entrepreneurial venture which grew from zero to $1 million in annual revenue in six years. Now, she offers her insight into salespersonship in an irreverent, direct, and actionable guide to success in sales.
Never Ask For The Sale goes beyond simple tips, and influences the reader’s overall understanding of selling. Sue Heilbronner shares decades of experience, stories, tools, and exercises to coach people to be more su...
2025-09-0904 min
Hey SueA Book Dedicatee and an Author Walk into a Podcast and Talk About WHYSue Heilbronner calls Leah Pearlman her “best friend.” Leah calls Sue “one of her best friends.” For some time, that bummed Sue out, but she got over it. For the last 15 years, all of Sue’s best decisions have been influenced by Leah’s wisdom, and the book dedication in Sue’s new book reflects that gratitude.In this episode of the HeySue podcast, Sue and Leah peel back the layers of Sue's mindset around the launch of her upcoming book, exploring the raw journey of writing Never Ask for the Sale: Supercharge Your Business with the Power of Passi...
2025-09-0442 min
Hey SueFueling Growth by Staying True to Your ICP: Ian MacGregor on Building a Brand for AthletesIn this episode, Sue dives deep with Ian MacGregor, co-founder and CEO of Skratch Labs, to explore a radical approach to building a business that refuses to compromise its values for market share. From pro cycling to creating a revolutionary sports nutrition brand, Ian shares how staying committed to the company’s core customer can be the most powerful growth strategy.We explore:The radical decision to prioritize customer experience over rapid expansionHow a warehouse in Boulder became a testament to company cultureThe art of selling without selling - creating co...
2025-08-1934 min
Hey SueThe Heart-Connected Craft of Selling: Todd Reed's Artful Approach to BusinessJoin Sue Heilbronner as she sits down with master metalworker and jewelry designer Todd Reed to explore a revolutionary approach to selling that transcends transactions. Todd shares how he built a brand rooted in creativity, emotional connection, and authentic design. We talk about:Why emotional needs matter more than price points in creating meaningful customer relationshipsHow downsizing his company helped him reconnect with his core creative values and his personal joyThe power of designing artful objects that tell profound and often deeply personal stories His journey of building a heritage brand that can outlive himIf...
2025-07-1741 min
Hey SuePassionate Ambivalence in Action: Ellen Kindelsperger on Building a Business Rooted in Care and ConfidenceIn this episode, Sue sits down with Ellen Kindelsperger – sports chiropractor, strength coach, and founder of ChiroLab in Boulder – to talk about selling with a focus on customer satisfaction, loyalty, and scale. Ellen shares how she’s built a thriving practice without pushing packages or locking people into long-term commitments. Instead, she leads with generosity, grounded confidence, and what I call passionate ambivalence (from my new book Never Ask for the Sale).We talk about:Why creating genuine community feeds her business and her soulHow letting go of bespoke training programs unlocked scale a...
2025-07-0328 min
Hey SueHands-on Selling with Kevin Brown of Friction LabsWelcome to the first episode of a special new focus for the HeySue Podcast: the Never Ask for the Sale Series. These new episodes are inspired by the September 2025 launch of Sue Heilbronner’s newest book, Never Ask for the Sale: Supercharge Your Business with the Power of Passionate Ambivalence. Never Ask is based on the philosophy or sales technique Sue calls “passionate ambivalence,” the freedom to be as passionate as you are about a possible sale and equally unattached to whether you close any specific business. Sue argues in Never Ask that executing on this mindset will propel the su...
2025-06-1733 min
Hey SueNo One Cares What I Think. Live Coaching with Sarah ClimenhagaSarah Climenhaga is a writer and facilitator of Byron Katy’s The Work. She is also a self-professed attention hog who loves to talk! But in this live coaching session with Sue and Leah, she brings her secret worry: “Does anyone actually care about what I have to say?”In this episode of the HeySue podcast, Leah and Sue inquire about the two competing voices in Sarah’s mind, the one who loves to talk and the one who thinks Sarah takes up too much space. This internal contradiction is likely familiar to anyone who is a creator...
2025-01-2031 min
Hey SueJudging My Judgmental Self: Live Coaching with Fernanda BertrandFernanda Bertrand is a business coach and the host of her own podcast. She came to the session with Sue and Leah wanting to better understand the “darker side” of her – a judgmental voice – that keeps intruding on her thoughts. She admits that she has been judging herself and others her whole life... and she judges herself for that! In this live coaching episode of the HeySue podcast, Sue and Leah lead Fernanda to consider what those judgmental thoughts mean, for her sense of self-worth, as a type of gift, and as an internal radio station of judginess...
2024-09-2432 min
Hey SueYou’ve Got Life on Backwards. Live Coaching with Nick SmithNick Smith is the CEO and Co-Founder of Hauska, which uses AI to make home remodeling easier. But the real challenge in his life right now is how to raise a house full of teenage girls. Sue and Leah dive into what that responsibility means to Nick, as well as his core belief that “you either pay now and play later, or you play now and pay later.”The session investigates how to use anxiety as an invitation to get curious about your priorities. For Nick, that means leaning into what he knows is most important to him...
2024-07-2635 min
Hey SueDoing All the Things to Find More Ease: Live Coaching with Dominique Aubry-MorganDominique Aubry-Morgan is a high-achiever who is on a quest for more ease. In this episode, Sue and Leah engage with Dominique about how her desire to find a new cadence is in tension with her ambitious nature. They dive into her familiar cycles around all the competing desires she has for her life. What would happen if she did a trust fall into life?At the heart of this episode is the issue of how to navigate — and eventually release — the complex emotions, diligence, and “doing” that often accompanies (and can forestall) learning and change.To dig...
2024-06-1345 min
Accelerator InsiderSue Heilbronner, Co-founder of Merge LaneExplore the Minds Behind Accelerators, Incubators, and Venture Studios. We interview innovation leaders to learn how they build businesses for today.
2024-06-1250 min
Hey SueUnlocking Growth Through Love: Live Coaching with Rachel PickettRachel Pickett comes to this coaching conversation with Sue and Leah with a pretty common problem: figuring out how to get her organization to grow. Rachel is the Founder and Executive Director of The Thinking Project, which also makes her the first non-profit leader on the HeySue podcast. Her organization (and her passion) is focused on bringing Byron Katy’s The Work to children in educational settings. This conversation becomes an exploration of how love for something – an idea, a product, a cause – can be the key to unlocking growth. If you are not yet familiar with Byron Katy and Th...
2024-05-1530 min
Hey SueWhat’s to Love About Being in a Funk? Live Coaching with “Ryan" (Anonymous)Sue and Leah welcomed the first anonymous guest “Ryan” to the HeySue podcast! He kicked off the conversation by explaining that he is in the market for a coach who can help him get out of a funk.Sue and Leah invited Ryan to reflect on different parts of himself – from the achievement-oriented “higher self” to the cheese-loving slacker “Gary.” Ryan’s curiosity and self-reflection shine through in this conversation that spans creativity, self-worth, quantified-self journaling, and Miyazaki’s Fujimoto from Ponyo.This is a great listen for anyone (i.e. everyone) familiar with patterns of “productivity” and “laziness.” To go...
2024-04-1337 min
Hey SueIs This Successful Serial CEO “Too Much?” Find out. Live Coaching with David SecundaDavid Secunda is a successful serial entrepreneur who has big ideas ranging from tech solutions for talent management at companies to what may be the best adventure summer camp for kids in the US. In this live coaching episode of the HeySue podcast, David opens his heart and mind, sharing the deep questions he wonders about in his leadership. He talks about a recurring worry that he is “too much.” The inquiry around that worry unlocks a conversation about wanting to be liked as a leader, the upper limits he encounters as a visionary, reacting to internal and external crit...
2024-02-0844 min
Hey SueImposter Syndrome is not Punk Rock -- Live Coaching with Robin Izsak-TsengRobin Izsak-Tseng is the VP of Revenue Marketing at G2. She is a leader with a lot of expertise to offer, but having so many young tech dudes around makes her feel like an imposter. She wonders if she is holding herself back from the next level of leadership.In this bold and revealing session, Robin, Sue, and Leah Pearlman talk about the perks of being self-effacing, the desire to be more punk rock, and a tension between leading and belonging. You will hear about personas and why they show up, as well as how to stay with feelings...
2024-01-1739 min
Hey SueSelling Yourself by Showing Up as Yourself, Live Coaching with Shawna BarnhartShawna Barnhart is a seasoned product leader in tech who loves team building, cross-functional project orchestration, and deep, revealing client conversations. Like many leaders in tech, she was recently a part of a reduction in force.Shawna is trying to balance “holding on” and “letting go” in the midst of that transition. During this honest and joy-filled conversation, Shawna, Sue, and Leah dig into the issue of “selling yourself” on the job market by simply showing up with your passion and genius. This episode in particular showcases guest coach Leah Pearlman’s coaching technique of “welcoming.” You can learn more abo...
2024-01-0335 min
Hey SueGaining Clarity on the Next Phase of Growth, One Way or Another with Rachel BeiselRachel Beisel is a seasoned executive who has achieved a lot of her goals and feels like she’s at her next phase of growth. She climbed all of Colorado’s 14-ers, ended her marriage, rang many professional bells, and wrote a book. She’s looking at rewriting her bio in a literal and metaphorical sense. In this live coaching session, Rachel shares the questions she’s facing as she is looking at the next chapter of her life and career with a hope of shifting some of her core patterns of planning, goals, and checklists for achieveme...
2023-12-0440 min
Hey SueHow Close Should a Leader Be to Colleagues, Live Executive Coaching with Ajay ManglaniAjay Manglani, an exec in the generative AI space, joins Sue Heilbronner and Leah Pearlman for another episode of live executive coaching.Ajay, who brings a warmth, relatability, and sensitivity to this podcast and, seemingly, his leadership, raises two issues we hear often from company leaders.First, he discusses his effort to strike what he sees as the right balance around how much information (about board meetings, future company decisions, etc.) to share with his direct reports and larger team. He asks Leah and Sue for insights on how to think of that balance in...
2023-11-1637 min
Hey SueThe Vulnerability of a Miss: Executive Coaching with Yong Kim, CEO of WonoloPull back the curtain on conscious leadership executive coaching with a new leader every episode. In this episode, Yong Kim, CEO of Wonolo, joins Leah Pearlman and Sue Heilbronner for a deep and vulnerable live executive coaching session. Yong, who describes himself as the "Chief Empathy Officer" of Wonolo shares his concerns about a miss on quarterly numbers and opens the door to a wonderful conversation about 100% responsibility, the inner critic, and the many sides of empathy in leadership.This episode offers great insights on leadership pressures at any time, and surely during difficult macroeconomic conditions. It...
2023-10-2439 min
Hey SueFlexibility and Alignment in the Age of Covid: Yoga pod's Founders on Their Quick PivotReal Leaders takes a break from speaking with founders and leaders at technology startups to talk to the founders of Yogapod, a dynamic brick and mortar business in the heart of the yoga haven of Boulder, Colorado. But wait for it. Yoga Pod founders Nicole and Gerry Wienholt have an even wider range than their 120-class weekly yoga schedule might have reflected, and they rose to the challenge of Covid-19 closures days before the fast-moving municipalities mandated shutdowns. Today's Yoga Pod is, for now, a tech company first.This is a winning story of two entrepreneurs who...
2020-05-1145 min
Hey SueScaling a Conscious Leadership Company through Conscious Leadership–Jim Dethmer & Diana ChapmanJim Dethmer and Diana Chapman – co-founders of the coaching and consulting business Conscious Leadership Group – are working to shift the mindset and level of self-awareness in global companies and organizations. Jim and Diana have been at the forefront of this movement, launching their bestselling book 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership in 2015 with Kaley Klemp.In this episode of the Real Leaders podcast, Sue Heilbronner leads an intimate interview with her long-time friends and fellow Conscious Leadership advocates Jim and Diana about why, how, and when they co-founded CLG. Combining their individual experience, skills, and resources, Jim and Diana deci...
2019-10-201h 06
Give FirstSherri Hammons on staying humble and staying strongToday, Sherri Hammons is CTO of The Nature Conservancy, but as she admits, “I took the nontraditional path to CTO land.” This path included eight years as a professional singer before she went back to college and got a degree in software engineering—and went on to work for companies big and small, as well as being CTO for the state of Colorado. She’s done for-profit, non-profit, and government—and brought technology, strategy, and humane leadership to each role. Sue Heilbronner, CEO of MergeLane, described Sherri as a “humble badass”—a phrase that host Brad F...
2019-07-2322 min
Hey SueConscious Leadership AMA (Ask me Anything) with Sue Heilbronner, Chapter 2Chapter 2 in our series Conscious Leadership AMA ("Ask Me Anything") with Sue Heilbronner, CEO of MergeLane Fund and Leadership Camp.Conscious Leadership AMAs are open to alumni of MergeLane programs and camps at Leadership.camp. Leaders ask about their challenges and opportunities in implementing conscious leadership into their daily work and life.This episode features a heavy focus on unconscious commitments, including how to spot clearly the patterns that we are using in our leadership and how those patterns can make us more and less effective.Raw, real and revealed inquiries and live...
2019-07-1545 min
Hey SueConscious Leadership AMA (Ask me Anything) with Sue Heilbronner, Chapter 1First episode in our series Conscious Leadership AMA ("Ask Me Anything") with Sue Heilbronner, CEO of MergeLane Fund and Leadership Camp. Hear from MergeLane portfolio fund CEOs and previous attendees of Leadership.camp about their challenges and opportunities in implementing conscious leadership into their daily work and life.Part of a new, occasional series from the Real Leaders Podcast.
2019-04-2943 min
Hey SueMat Vogels, CEO of Employee Perks Upstart Zestful, on YC, VC, Troughs, Pivots, and PeaksMat Vogels is an extremely zestful CEO. And it's no surprise that he's founded a high-momentum startup called Zestful -- which is setting the standard for the next generation of employee perks -- with the tagline "live full." Because Mat Vogels lives fully. And behind his extraordinary attitude, full-time smile, and easy way of being stands a tenacious startup founder committed to making his company a winner.In this episode of the Real Leaders podcast with Sue Heilbronner, Mat shares his two-year journey in great detail -- the big wins like a berth in Y-combinator and funding...
2019-03-0848 min
Hey SueHow to Be a Living Kidney Donor and Save a Life - or 10 - with Neshiyqah NashThis is the third and final episode (so far) of our series on living kidney donation. Here seasoned donor coordinator Neshiyqah Nash tells you everything you need to know to consider being a non-directed donor or a donor to any of the 100,000 Americans (and plenty in your country if you're not American) awaiting a donor kidney right now.Learn about the process, the donor requirements, the timelines and your next steps to become a living kidney donor in this episode of the Real Leaders Podcast with Sue Heilbronner.If you like this episode, go back...
2019-01-0230 min
Hey SueLiving Kidney Donation Part 2: Non-directed Kidney Donation with Patty GrahamThere are only slightly more than a hundred of people each year that make a "non-directed donor" kidney donation. Patty Graham is one of them. This means that Patty voluntarily donated a kidney not knowing who would receive it, and with her decision, she sparked a chain of kidney recipients getting their life-saving organ.Hear what motivated Patty and how her sister laid the groundwork when years ago she donated a kidney to their stepfather. Patty is an inspiring force of altruism in the world. Hear her story and all the wonderful things that have flowed from...
2018-10-3120 min
Hey SueLiving Kidney Donation Part 1: Focus on the Recipient with Mike HeilbronnerThis is the first in a 3-part Real Leaders series on living organ donation. Our focus is on living kidney donation and the 100,000 people in the United States alone who are waiting for a life-saving kidney donation.In this episode, 50-year-old Mike Heilbronner talks about his need for a new kidney in his late forties and how he navigated the questions around asking for a living donor to step forward. He also discusses the process by which he ultimately decided to do a "marketing campaign" for a new organ and how an altruistic donor whom he didn't know stepped...
2018-10-2224 min
Hey SueRobyn Knowlan, CEO of Wonder Press, Building a Brand and Bustling Juice Biz From LoveRobyn Knowlan joined her two best friends from elementary school to start a business. Instead of trying their hands at a scalable tech business and targeting a high-multiple exit, they chose a cold-pressed juice retail operation that counts thousands of techies as its biggest fans in Boulder, Colorado.Wonder Press Juice is a business built with and from love, and as well as anyone I've met, Robyn explains how heart (and a massive amount of work) can create a fast-growing, values-aligned company bent on enhancing its customers' health.Hear about the journey of Robyn as...
2018-07-2544 min
Hey SueDennis Adsit -- How to Optimize the First 100 Days of a New Role, for You or Your Next Key HirePerhaps you've heard of the mission-critical first 100 days in a new role. If you're looking at a new position and wanting to ensure your success -- or if you are making a key hire and want to ensure the same for that person -- Dennis Adsit of Adsum Insights has some great insights.Dennis has been coaching through his First 100 Days program, optimizing that key stage for new hires starting from before Day 1 in a new role. Hear his thoughts on this episode of the Real Leaders Podcast with Sue Heilbronner.
2018-06-1142 min
Hey SueAlex Canter, CEO of Ordermark, A Deli Birthright Leads to Online Ordering InnovationAlex Canter was born with a stainless steel spoon in his mouth, and on that spoon was a really excellent matzoh ball.Alex is among the fourth generation of Canter family members who learned about business early by working at the 87-old deli institution in Los Angeles. Canter's Deli is a Jewish-style restaurant that has been open 24 hours a day for the last 87 years. There is no lock on the door.When Alex began working at the restaurant, he saw that online ordering and food delivery were becoming a major part of the future opportunity...
2018-04-2341 min
Hey SueLisa Weinstein, CEO of Curiosity on the move from Corp Ad Exec to Startup CEOLisa Weinstein had reached a point in her career where she'd covered most of the ground in advertising, from executive positions in global advertising firms to leading a major roll-up in the ad-tech space. After grabbing a number of brass rings in her industry, Lisa made a huge jump to lead a company she had been advising, Curiosity.com.Hear about her move, her ramp in this new role as a startup CEO, and her thoughts on where digital advertising and ad tech are headed on the Real Leaders Podcast with Sue Heilbronner.
2018-03-2636 min
Hey SueVlada Bortnik, Founder of Marco Polo, An Immigrant Story, An App To Help People Feel CloseWhen Vlada Bortnik arrived in the United States from the Ukraine at age 10 knowing very little English, her family settled in Kansas. Vlada was immersed in the language and in American culture, but she has never forgotten many of the things many Americans take for granted -- food in the grocery stores and enough money to buy it. From the time she was a kid, the founder of Joya (known best for the widely popular video communication app Marco Polo) has charted an intentional life. She landed at Northwestern University with a meaningful scholarship (which she needed), s...
2018-02-0840 min
Hey SueLuke Saunders, CEO of Farmer's Fridge, the Next Wave of Healthy Food DistributionLuke Saunders broke into entrepreneurship selling plants in elementary and middle school. After college, facing a poor economy and with a less-than-stellar academic record, he took the helm at his family's business, manufacturing and selling grease and lubricant to industrial producers.Luke was a dedicated sales road warrior, and he struggled with getting anything close to healthy food during weeks that he was driving 1000 miles to meet with accounts. How does someone with early exposure in logistics, manufacturing, and bad fast food end up leading a fast-growing, venture-backed, Chicago-based company that sells fresh and healthy meals through vending kiosks...
2018-01-1450 min
Hey SueSeth Levine of Foundry Group: One "Middle-aged Guy's" Reaction to Sexual Harassment in VentureSeth Levine, partner at Boulder-based venture capital firm Foundry Group, was dismayed to hear the news coming out of Silicon Valley about the sexual harassment and sexual assault claims connected to veritable luminaries in the venture world. Seth and Foundry did what they often do on issues that matter. They moved quickly beyond thought and words to action. Yet this is a complex issue for a firm run by (his words) four middle-aged white guys. They stayed curious, moved carefully, sought extensive input, and continued to ask themselves tough questions about the "right thing" to do. Hear Seth's thoughts...
2017-09-1036 min
Hey SueInside Listen: Mentor Deep Dive with Co-founders of Techstars Company MondayMentoring has become a ubiquitous "should." You should be a mentor. You should have mentors. You should listen to the insights of your terrific mentors. This is certainly the byword in the startup world, and fantastic accelerators like Techstars are "mentor-driven" specifically nodding to the value that a diverse and engaged team of mentors can provide to an early-stage company.So if you're outside of this world and want to hear more about what a real-life mentor deep dive with a startup sounds like, this podcast is for you. If you're inside this world and want to...
2017-03-151h 01
Hey SueVikas Reddy, Co-founder of Spatial Computing Company OccipitalYou know that time when you ended up at a bar with one of the smartest, most future-focused engineers you've ever met and you asked him (or her) a bunch of pretty basic questions about AR, VR, and AI? This episode of the Real Leaders podcast is a bit like that, except I get to feel like the neophyte asking the questions, both speakers stayed sober, and you get to be in awe of the way the complex mind of Vikas Reddy -- co-founder of spatial computing company Occipital -- can operate at the highest and most relatable levels...
2017-03-0542 min
Hey SueEric Friedenwald-Fishman, Founder Metropolitan Group, Good Work as Great BusinessEric Friedenwald-Fishman was raised in a family of hippies (his words). His upbringing rendered him a change agent and a force for justice, as early as elementary school. In this transparent conversation with Real Leaders host Sue Heilbronner, Eric explains how his core values built and still permeate the mission at his social change communications firm, the Metropolitan Group.
2017-02-2431 min
Hey SueJason Eckenroth, Founder of ShipCompliant on Prevailing through PerseveranceJason Eckenroth is coming off a terrific exit for the company he founded 17 years ago and ran for the entirety. Jason and ShipCompliant is a story about passion, perseverance, patience, and paving the way to building a great life through the creation and nurturing of a company that articulates your values.Jason's latest project is building a community for self-funded entrepreneurs. If you haven't raised venture capital, and are building a durable, profitable and meaningful business, visit www.sovereignty.com to learn more.
2017-01-3032 min
Hey SueDevin Hibbard, CEO of BeadforLife, Where no challenge is too bigDevin Hibbard is changing the world, by radically enhancing the financial lives and self worth of women in its second largest continent. Devin could have chosen an easier path -- with talents perfectly suited to do just about anything -- but she has devoted her entire professional life to enriching the lives and prospects of women in Africa through the vehicle of BeadforLife. Hear how and hear why in this Real Leaders podcast with Devin Hibbard, the nonprofit's CEO.
2017-01-1242 min
Hey SueMargaret Miner, Double Founder-CEO, A Pure-Play Organic EntrepreneurYou should know that Margaret Miner's companies generate way more revenue than you think, and way more than many of the tech companies you read about daily in TechCrunch. A completely different angle for this week's episode.Do you spend time and energy thinking about how to retain your top talent? How to give them growth opportunities in the business to keep them engaged? So does Margaret Miner, founder and CEO of Colorado-based Rags Consignments and ten20, a nail and waxing spa. Given how things have worked out in her decades of growing not one but two...
2016-12-1339 min
Hey SueNicole Glaros, Chief Innovation Officer of Techstars -- On Independence and PurposeNicole Glaros recently became Chief Innovation Officer of Techstars. In taking this role after serving as Managing Director of Techstars Boulder (the original Techstars accelerator) for years and the company's Chief Product Officer, she shed most of her direct reports because managing people wasn't her deepest passion. Nicole may be the most gifted mentor and coach for startup founders in the world. She's smart, funny, fast and fiercely committed to growing great founder leaders. In this Real Leaders podcast, Nicole also offers a real-time example of self-awareness, something she deems a critical feature of a founder worthy o...
2016-12-0540 min
Hey SueWendy Lea, CEO of Cintrifuse, A Manifester, Bridge Builder, and Wildly Introspective LeaderWendy Lea has had a lifetime of high-profile successes in building successful businesses. Leaving Get Satisfaction after years as CEO, Wendy was lured to Cincinnati to develop and grow an enduring business ecosystem that brings together startups, bigcos, government nonprofits, neighborhoods and even the clergy. The results already have been amazing.But Wendy is not your garden-variety winner. What you'll hear in this Real Leaders podcast is deep and candid reflection on what has motivated Wendy in her career and what gaps she's looking to fill across her life.
2016-11-1648 min
Hey SueNicole DeBoom, CEO of Skirt SportsI think company founders who are also world-class athletes bring a unique form of tenacity to their businesses. Nicole DeBoom founded Skirt Sports after wearing her own homemade running skirt in an Ironman World Championship that she won. Nicole has excelled at so many things. A Yale graduate who chose triathlon after realizing she wouldn't likely go to the Olympics in swimming. Nicole brings all of herself to the growth and evolution of Skirt Sports. Her commitment to showing up vulnerably gives Skirt Sports incredible loyalty and connection with its growing customer base and the co...
2016-10-2442 min
Hey SueTurning the Tables: Elizabeth Kraus Interviews Sue Heilbronner, Co-Founders of MergeLaneThis episode of the Real Leaders podcast features Elizabeth Kraus and Sue Heilbronner, co-founders of MergeLane, the investment fund and accelerator targeting companies with at least one female in leadership.Here Elizabeth turns the tables on Real Leaders Host Sue by asking her about her goals and motivations for building MergeLane as well as her approach to working closely with high-potential leaders.This episode gives real insight on the ways in which MergeLane is different, starting with the relationship between its founders. An intimate, revealing conversation.
2016-09-2931 min
Hey SueBill Flagg, an Intentional Startup Owner Focused on Company SovereigntyBill Flagg has a contrarian suggestion for startups: build and hold your companies. Fund your firms with revenue. Build great, enduring companies. Bill is serious, and he came by his strong views on this topic honestly. He sold his first company in a very lucrative transaction that he came to regret. Now Bill buys a material interest in select companies that are customer-funded, and he takes active roles in those firms -- from SaaS businesses to summer camps.It’s almost incredible to think that Bill’s strong views on this are against the grain, as he essen...
2016-09-2334 min
Hey SueErin Carson, A Gym GM and Owner Who is Building Careers and CommunityErin Carson has worked as a fitness professional at RallySport Health & Fitness in Boulder, Colorado, since the very start of her career. After decades of commitment to this community-centric fitness club -- located in the heart of one of the fittest cities in the world -- Erin had the opportunity to buy the club. Erin did this in partnership with an ownership group who had been acquainted with her through her work at Rally, her successful triathlon career, and her terrific years on the University of Colorado women's basketball team.There are so many notable differences at...
2016-09-1136 min
Hey SueLee Mayer, CEO of Havenly, Determined to Deliver Design that DelightsLee Mayer, CEO of Havenly, joins Sue Heilbronner on the Real Leaders podcast to talk about the rapid growth of this cutting-edge design service.Lee shares reflections on the last two years and the role luck and gratitude has played in getting Havenly to where it is today. What comes through is that Lee has almost no sense of entitlement, and she values diligence and hard work in her staff above all else. Lee says “the hard problems are the profitable problems.” Leaving a cushy, well-paid job in New York to begin a new life and c...
2016-08-2540 min
Hey SueJohnny Hanna, Building Homie as a Company to Last and to OwnFounder and CEO of Homie, Johnny Hanna defies the entrepreneurial stereotypes. He is father of six kids under nine, and when his wife calls to remind him to come home from work, he does. Even more contrarian, Johnny Hanna has never been focused on the big exit. Instead, he has created companies "built to run," building cohesive teams and turning away from big-ticket purchase offers.When Johnny's first company, Entrata, reached $100M in recurring revenue, his gut told him it was time to move on in an amicable parting with his co-partners. He saw an opportunity to...
2016-08-1035 min
Hey SueFran Dunaway, CEO of TomboyX, A fast-growing startup catering to difference and LGBTQFran Dunaway, co-founder and CEO of TomboyX, is an atypical leader. A humble and curious activist at heart, she's grown her women's apparel and accessories company at an amazing pace by being inclusive and focusing on previously underrepresented groups. As sales grow, new markets are discovering TomboyX and Fran finds ways to incorporate the needs of these demographics into her products. "This brand is for the people...the brand that helps people express who they are," she says in this Real Leaders podcast. Nowhere was this more obvious than in their initial Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign which raised $76K...
2016-08-0223 min
Hey SueKevin Brown, From Corp Exec to Chalk, Getting a Grip on PurposeFrictionLabs’ co-founder and CEO Kevin Brown has the unique ability to get people energized about chalk, including national sports outfitters like REI and EMS, world-champion athletes, and a fanatical base of online customers. By studying the evolution of the rock-climber demographic (of which he is a passionate member), Friction Labs has found the secret to making a seemingly mundane product at a premium quality level. At the same time, Kevin has made chalk fun to manufacture and market. Working in a niche market, Kevin has bridged the wholesale and direct sale arenas by, he says, "meeting buyers whe...
2016-07-2630 min
Hey SueDevon Tivona, Collegiate Co-founder to Venture-backed CEO, Making Travel Fun Again at PanaTwenty-four year old Devon Tivona is the Co-founder and CEO of Pana, an on-demand travel agent software service that blends technology and real humans for ultimate ease in traveling. Devon is a rare mix of tech and EQ, getting energy from making human connections as well solving complex technical problems. These qualities have not only helped him launch a successful, well-designed and highly engaging app, but he has also garnered real loyalty his investors and advisors. He recognizes the value of this circle: "In order for a concept to be successful, you have to have this inner c...
2016-07-1538 min
Hey SueMark Berey, From the C Suite to the Police Academy, Charting the Life you WantMark Berey, CEO turned white-collar crime detective, talks candidly about making a contrarian decision to turn in his country club membership for a slot in the police academy after his attempt at retirement. Growing up with both parents running separate, successful businesses, he was infused at an early age with an entrepreneurial mentality and an inquisitiveness that landed him roles as CEO and CFO at Giant Foods, Discovery Communications, and Sutton Place Gourmet. When advising young people looking to grow and succeed, Mark's advice is to work hard and keep your objectives in mind. "I had a g...
2016-07-0631 min
Hey SueLisa Stone, Co-founder and Former CEO of Blogher. She Knew Women Would Influence the WebIn 2005, Lisa Stone consummated her transition from journalism to digital entrepreneurship with the co-founding of BlogHer. This business began as a conference for female bloggers, the first of which attracted 305 women bloggers and netted $60,000 in profit.BlogHer extended its awareness that social-media-activated women were an invaluable audience into an influencer network that reached 100 million women through a scalable technology company to monetize blogs and social communications.Lisa and her team sold BlogHer in 2014 to She Knows Media, and in this intimate conversation, Lisa talks about the import of women in media and her transition into...
2016-06-2832 min
Hey SueD. Scott Phoenix, Co-founder of Vicarious on human-level AI, "humanity's last invention"Scott Phoenix founded his first startup at age 16. By age 19 or 20, he got interested in Artificial Intelligence ("AI") because, according to Scott, "of all the things a person could work on, if you actually figure out how to build the first human-level AI, then you’ve solved all the other problems. You could have the AI then help you to solve any problem that a human could solve.”Scott started a few companies in between his 16th year and the founding of Vicarious -- his company that's "on a mission to build the next generation of artificial inte...
2016-06-1724 min
Hey SuePhil Weiser, Dean of Univ of Colorado Law School. Teaching entrepreneurial mindset to everyone.Phil Weiser is the outgoing Dean of the University of Colorado Law School, and there are countless reasons why he deserves a place on a podcast about early and mid-stage growth companies. Phil has created a climate at CU Law that essentially renders "town" and "gown" completely indistinguishable. He has brought together the entrepreneurial leaders, venture capitalists, large companies, government officials, and key service providers in the burgeoning business ecosystem of Boulder and made them an intimate part of the educational experience at CU Law.Why are these busy people so attracted to Phil's mission? Because Phil...
2016-06-0936 min
Hey SuePromise Phelon, CEO of TapInfluence. A maverick who is building a new archetype for leadership.Promise Phelon, CEO of TapInfluence, has built successful companies on both coasts and made her way to Boulder in 2015 to lead the leading SaaS company for influencer marketing.In this authentic and engaging conversation, Promise shares and influential stories from her early career that have shaped her approach to leadership. She also talks about her experience of landing in a city in the middle of her career on the SFO to NYC flight path: “In the Valley, there’s become an archetype of who gets what — opportunities, venture money. And I wonder if that archetype is either dated o...
2016-06-0138 min
Hey SueScott Meyer, CEO of Ghostery. From ghost avatar and free plugin to global Saas.Meet Scott Meyer, CEO of Ghostery, one of the most popular browser plugins in the world. According to Scott, Ghostery "makes the web not suck." Scott tells the story of taking this business and company culture from a grassroots free plugin to global Saas platform serving some of the largest brands in the world.How hard was this shift? According to Scott, it was far easier for outside users than inside employees. Scott talks candidly about building a culture aligned with the goals of this VC and PE-backed company. He shares the backstory around how Ghostery transparently...
2016-05-2534 min
Hey SueSusan Lyne, Managing Partner at AOL's BBG Ventures, a career of cutting-edge mediaSusan Lyne has been on the front end of consumer trends in media since the early days of her career. From starting a magazine about movies when VCRs first hit the market, to giving Shonda Rhimes her first nod at ABC, to taking the helm at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia at the time Martha Stewart went to prison, to leading the rapid rise at Gilt, and now making investments in women-led startups with AOL's BBG (Built By Girls) Ventures. How does Susan stay relevant and ahead? We would be surprised at the amount of TV she watches, s...
2016-05-1031 min
Hey SueJohn Katzman, CEO Noodle Companies on Education, Entrepreneurship, Confidence and LeadershipJohn Katzman has been innovating in the educational sector since college. He founded and ran Princeton Review, 2U, and he now leads the Noodle Companies. More interesting than his resume, however, is John's determined, irreverent, and direct style. That comes through in this quick hit on John's views of startup challenges, leadership, and the role of confidence in his success path.
2016-04-2723 min
Hey SueDave Balter of Mylestoned, Bzz Agent, Boston Seed -- Walking the walk of authentic leadershipSerial successful Boston-based entrepreneur Dave Balter shares the real stories behind his series of winning startups, WOMMA, BzzAgent, Smarterer, and now Mylestoned. Dave also is a partner with Boston Seed, and shares the things entrepreneurs do in pitch meetings that cause a damaging gap in trust.
2016-04-1731 min
Hey SueChris White, CEO of Shinesty on Building an Outrageous Brand and a Team that is a FamilyListen to the story behind the story of the founding and first-year growth of the hot, irreverent clothing brand, www.Shinesty.com. CEO Chris White shares the origin story, the culture, and the opportunities to maintain an aligned brand as the company grows. Shinesty's mission is to bring you the most outlandish collection of clothing the world has ever seen. This terrific conversation is entertaining and insightful, for marketers, startup CEOs, and e-commerce veterans alike.
2016-04-1130 min
The Growth ShowSue Heilbronner, CEO, MergeLaneSue Heilbronner is the CEO and Co-Founder of MergeLane, a startup accelerator in Boulder, CO that discovers, accelerates and invests in exceptional women and the companies they run. We talk about MergeLane and why she started an accelerator focused on women, how she re-invented herself in the middle of her career (she’s gone from Federal Prosecutor to CMO to CEO to investor), and what makes a great leader (based on her work with the Conscious Leadership Group).
2015-08-0340 min