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A Founder's Life

Leo Gestetner

Join 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.

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  • 26 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 19 min
  • English

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  • Yesterday · 14 min

    Build on What Works, but Never Stop Testing | Jessica Hawthorne | S7 - E11

    Entrepreneurship isn’t about finding one successful idea and never changing it. Sustainable growth requires knowing what already works, protecting that core, and continuously testing new opportunities without overreacting to every new trend. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Jessica Hawthorne, CEO and owner of Hawthorne Advertising, to discuss entrepreneurship, business leadership, marketing, career reinvention, family, personal development, and the principles that have helped her company reach its 40th anniversary. Jessica’s career didn’t begin in advertising. After growing up in Iowa and moving to the West Coast for university, she entered the entertainment industry and became a talent agent in Hollywood. She represented writers, directors, and producers working in television during the era of shows including Entourage, Law & Order, Heroes, and Lost. Then came a major career transition. Jessica was recruited to join Hawthorne Advertising, the agency originally founded by her father. Although it was a family business, Jessica and her father never actually worked together, and he wasn’t the person who recruited her into the company. Once Jessica entered marketing and advertising, however, she knew she had found the right industry. She loved the pace, the client relationships, and the constant evolution of marketing. Approximately 15 years ago, Jessica purchased the agency herself. Today, Hawthorne Advertising is celebrating 40 years in business. That longevity has required constant evolution. Jessica explains why her team pays close attention to major developments—from the rise of data analytics to today’s artificial intelligence revolution—but avoids dramatically changing strategy simply because something new becomes popular. Instead, the philosophy is to stay ahead of the curve, understand how emerging technology can improve performance, and integrate it thoughtfully. But this conversation goes beyond marketing. Jessica discusses how raising children changed the way she approaches responsibility and time. With a company, employees, clients, and family depending on her, she learned to streamline her days and focus intensely on whatever deserves her attention at that moment. For Jessica, work life balance isn’t necessarily about creating strict boundaries between every part of life. It’s about being fully present. In this episode you’ll learn: Why entrepreneurship requires patience and long-term thinking How Jessica transitioned from Hollywood talent agent to advertising CEO What she learned from completely reinventing her career How Hawthorne Advertising has remained relevant for 40 years Why businesses should stay ahead of trends without overcorrecting How AI is changing the marketing and advertising industry Why being fully present can create a more integrated life How family responsibilities can make leaders more intentional with time Why entrepreneurs need enough runway to give their ideas time to work Why having a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C creates resilience How to protect what works while continuously testing new opportunities Why successful teams need collaboration rather than individual ego Jessica also shares one of the most important principles behind her approach to business growth: if something is already producing results, don’t abandon it simply because another opportunity appears more exciting. Keep the successful core. Then allocate resources toward testing new ideas, markets, strategies, and channels that could create the next stage of growth. That same mentality applies to entrepreneurship itself. Things rarely happen overnight. Entrepreneurs need enough time, money, and resources to survive the experimentation required to discover what works. They also need multiple paths forward so they can adapt when circumstances change. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, marketing strategy, personal development, resilience, business growth, work life balance, and building companies designed to last, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Jessica Hawthorne Website: HawthorneAdvertising.com LinkedIn: Jessica Hawthorne LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E10
    September 17 · 17 min

    Don't wait to build the life you want | Karen Siciliano | S7 - E10

    Entrepreneurship doesn’t have a secret password. For Karen Siciliano, success comes down to hard work, dedication to purpose, strong relationships, and intentionally planning the life you want to live. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Karen Siciliano, founder of the Mariani Premier Group, to discuss entrepreneurship, reinvention, family business, business leadership, health, personal development, and why some of life’s most difficult experiences can completely reshape how we define success. Karen’s career began far away from entrepreneurship in the landscape industry. After graduating from college, she pursued a career on Wall Street and became a mortgage-backed securities bond broker, eventually working with major financial institutions including JP Morgan and Chase. But in 2001, Karen’s life changed dramatically. At 40 years old, she was already considering whether there might be a second career ahead of her. Then September 11 happened. Karen lost 26 friends in the attacks and found it incredibly difficult to return to her previous life and career. Over the following months, she reinvented herself and transitioned from Wall Street to Main Street. Karen took the helm of her family’s highly regarded residential landscape business, originally founded in 1935. Over the next two decades, she expanded the company beyond landscape maintenance into design, installation, and landscape architecture. Eventually, Karen faced another difficult entrepreneurial question: how could she create an exit for herself while protecting the company’s employees, clients, culture, and nearly century-long family legacy? The answer came through a partnership with Mariani Premier Group. Karen joined the organization in 2023 as its 12th founder and its only female founder at the time. Today, the organization includes more than 30 companies, generates over $1 billion in revenue, and is working toward becoming the nation’s premier outdoor living company. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Karen explains why relationships remain at the center of entrepreneurship. Customers aren’t simply purchasing products and services—they’re choosing people they like, trust, and believe they can count on. She also shares how she has approached health and longevity at 65, including strength training, nutrition, preventative healthcare, sleep tracking, golf, tennis, and spending time in nature. In this episode you’ll learn: - Why entrepreneurship and success don’t have a secret formula - How Karen reinvented herself after an 18-year Wall Street career - How September 11 completely changed the direction of her life - Why preserving culture matters when transitioning a family business - How strong relationships create long-term business value - Why planning is essential for achieving personal and professional goals - How Karen intentionally schedules travel, wellness, friends, and philanthropy - Why health becomes increasingly important as entrepreneurs get older - How difficult experiences can change your relationship with time - Why entrepreneurs shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes - How failure creates some of our most valuable lessons - Why playing it safe can prevent you from doing truly meaningful work Karen’s approach to work life balance is built around intentional planning. She uses lists and her calendar not only for business obligations but also for wellness, travel, relationships, and the experiences she wants to have. Because without a plan, she believes goals and desires rarely materialize. Her perspective has also been shaped by loss. Karen lost her mother to breast cancer when her mother was only 60. Three years later, she lost 26 friends on September 11. Those experiences created a lasting awareness that time isn’t guaranteed. Instead of postponing the life she wants, Karen plans for it and acts accordingly. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, family business, personal development, professional growth, resilience, work life balance, and building a meaningful life, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Karen Siciliano LinkedIn: Karen Siciliano If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more interviews with founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders sharing the real stories behind building meaningful businesses and meaningful lives. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E9
    September 10 · 13 min

    Entrepreneurship, AI and Finding the Courage to Go All In – Maria Walley | S7 E9

    Entrepreneurship can be incredibly difficult—but for Maria Walley, fully embracing it also created a powerful sense of purpose. After years of balancing startups, motherhood, and career decisions, the pandemic became the pivotal moment that made her realize just how important entrepreneurship and meaningful work were to her identity. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Maria Walley, Co-Founder of Creatium, to discuss entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, founder mindset, family, health, personal development, and how AI can help make people smarter instead of encouraging them to stop thinking. Maria grew up around entrepreneurship. Her father built his own law firm before joining the technology startup Bandwidth.com, where he served as President and played an influential role as the company moved toward eventually becoming publicly traded. Seeing entrepreneurship succeed gave Maria confidence that building something of her own was possible. By her mid-twenties, she was already working in startups. Her first company, Candidly, participated in Techstars in 2016. That experience also introduced her to the person who would eventually become her co-founder at Creatium. The idea for Creatium emerged during the pandemic. Watching their children struggle through online education built around Zoom calls and Google Slides, Maria and her co-founder saw an opportunity to create more interactive learning experiences. The company initially focused on K-12 education before discovering a growing opportunity in teacher training and eventually workforce development. As artificial intelligence rapidly improved, so did the possibilities. Today, Creatium is building interactive AI-powered coaching experiences designed to help people develop their skills through conversations, role-playing, assessments, simulations, and personalized learning. But Maria believes there is an important distinction between using AI and becoming dependent on it. Her philosophy is that AI should make the human brain stronger—not weaker. Instead of simply providing answers or confirming what users already believe, technology can challenge people, help them practice difficult situations, and develop skills they can apply in the real world. In this episode you’ll learn: Why entrepreneurship was part of Maria’s life from an early age How Techstars influenced her entrepreneurial journey How the pandemic led to the creation of Creatium Why AI should strengthen human thinking rather than replace it How AI coaching can make personalized development more accessible Why outsourcing too much thinking to AI can backfire How Maria manages entrepreneurship while raising three young children Why scheduling health and exercise makes them non-negotiable How simplifying everyday decisions creates more mental capacity Why founders need to give themselves grace when things don’t go perfectly How the pandemic changed Maria’s relationship with work and motherhood Why fully embracing entrepreneurship can create a sense of purpose Maria also shares the realities of returning from maternity leave to an AI startup after only four months away and feeling as though the industry had advanced by years. For her, integrating entrepreneurship, family, health, and personal fulfillment isn’t about doing everything perfectly. Some things will inevitably get dropped. What matters is building systems that reduce unnecessary decisions, surrounding yourself with people who understand your reality, maintaining a sense of humor, and protecting the priorities that keep you functioning at your best. Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs reflects her own experience: there may be nothing harder than taking the leap, but once you commit to the journey, something changes. You stop wondering whether you should do it and begin embracing the path ahead. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, artificial intelligence, business leadership, personal development, work life balance, startup growth, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Maria Walley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariacwalley/ Website: creatium.com Email: maria@creatium.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E8
    September 3 · 17 min

    The Entrepreneurial Life Nobody Talks About – Josh Bowling | S7 E8

    Entrepreneurship isn’t simply about building a successful company. It affects your family, your health, your relationships, and almost every decision you make. For Josh Bowling, nearly three decades of entrepreneurship have taught him that building the right life is just as important as building the right business. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Josh Bowling, founder of The Eve Group, to discuss entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, family, health, risk, and what it really takes to navigate the entrepreneurial life. Josh’s introduction to entrepreneurship began in childhood. Raised by a single mother who worked two jobs, he also had the opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs around him. One mentor in particular, Glenn Weaver, started laying pipe for a fire sprinkler company with an eighth-grade education, eventually bought the company, grew it into one of the largest in the country, and successfully sold it, all while remaining grounded and committed to his family. That example stayed with Josh throughout his career. After starting his professional journey at Arthur Andersen, Josh left to launch his first company shortly before the Enron scandal ultimately brought down the global accounting firm. Watching one of the world’s most respected professional services organizations disappear completely changed his definition of risk. Rather than viewing entrepreneurship as the risky option, Josh realized that relying entirely on an employer could carry risks of its own. From that point forward, he became increasingly comfortable betting on himself. His entrepreneurial journey has since taken him through construction, healthcare, advisory services, coworking, music, technology, fintech, and numerous founder-led businesses. Today, through The Eve Group, Josh works alongside CEOs and founders to develop growth strategies, identify potential challenges, create execution plans, and build capital strategies. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Josh opens up about one of the most difficult periods of his career, a business turnaround that nearly destroyed his family life. He even went into the office on the day his first son was born, something he now looks back on as a pivotal lesson. That experience taught him that saying family is important isn’t enough. Your calendar, career decisions, clients, and priorities have to reflect it. Over the years, Josh intentionally chose lifestyle over maximizing income so he could coach his children, attend important moments in their lives, and build the type of family life he wanted. The same intentionality now shapes his approach to founder health. After years of inconsistent exercise, fluctuating weight, and mounting stress, Josh developed a long-term approach built around mindfulness, meditation, movement, nutrition, sleep, and consistent routines. In this episode you’ll learn: Why entrepreneurship completely changed Josh’s definition of risk Why betting on yourself can sometimes feel safer than traditional employment How founders can prioritize family through their actual decisions Why Josh chose lifestyle over maximizing income How mindfulness and meditation support founder health Why entrepreneurs should think of themselves as executive athletes How intentional routines create greater stability and resilience Why life balance changes depending on the season you’re in How accountability helps turn intentions into action Why surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs matters Josh also explains why entrepreneurial families need community. The challenges of entrepreneurship don’t stop when the workday ends. They affect dinners, weekends, family decisions, finances, and relationships. Having people around you who understand those realities creates a support system that can be incredibly difficult to find elsewhere. For Josh, entrepreneurship isn’t the perfectly polished journey often portrayed from the outside. Things will go wrong. Priorities will shift. Some seasons will be harder than others. The key is surrounding yourself with people who understand the journey while remaining intentional about the life you’re trying to build. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, founder health, work life balance, personal development, resilience, family, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Josh Bowling Website: evegroupconsult.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsbowling/ If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more interviews with founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders sharing the real stories behind building meaningful businesses, and meaningful lives. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E7
    August 27 · 20 min

    Make Sure Entrepreneurship Is Fun – Marlo Fogelman | S7 E7

    Entrepreneurship requires constant evolution. What worked five years ago or even last year may not be enough today. For Marlo Fogelman, staying curious and being willing to figure things out has helped her navigate more than two decades of entrepreneurship and some of the biggest transformations the marketing industry has ever experienced. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Marlo Fogelman, Founder and CEO of Marlo Marketing, to discuss entrepreneurship, marketing, artificial intelligence, leadership, personal development, and why curiosity may be one of the most valuable skills a founder can develop. Marlo’s entrepreneurial journey was anything but planned. She moved to Boston for law school, earned a master’s degree in international relations, passed the bar exams in New York and Massachusetts and then realized she wasn’t sure she wanted to practice law. An unexpected opportunity brought her into public relations despite having no formal marketing education. Then came a career-defining opportunity: Starbucks. After the company struggled to establish its brand in New England and moved through multiple PR firms, Marlo was given the account. She turned the relationship around within three months, kept Starbucks as a client for five years, and eventually launched her own agency with Starbucks as her first client. More than 22 years later, marlo marketing has continuously evolved. What began as a PR-focused business expanded into brand identity, social media, digital marketing, influencer marketing, fractional CMO services, and now generative engine optimization. Marlo explains why that evolution has been essential and why companies that refuse to adapt to artificial intelligence and changing consumer behavior risk being left behind. But this conversation goes far beyond marketing. Marlo shares how COVID devastated a business heavily concentrated in hospitality, why the experience ultimately changed her relationship with work, and how she learned to prioritize health, friendships, travel, and personal fulfillment after years of allowing the business to consume much of her life. In this episode you’ll learn: - Why curiosity is becoming one of the most important entrepreneurial skills - How Marlo went from practicing law to building a 22-year marketing business - Why businesses must continuously evolve to remain relevant - How artificial intelligence is transforming marketing and search - Why GEO is becoming increasingly important for brands - How COVID forced Marlo to rethink both her company and her life - Why founders need people who can figure things out rather than simply follow instructions - How prioritizing health and relationships can create a more integrated life - Why building the right team allows founders to reclaim their time - Why entrepreneurship should ultimately be something you enjoy Marlo also discusses her long-term commitment to health and wellness, why social connections have become increasingly important in her life, and how remote work gave her greater freedom to integrate work, travel, friendships, and personal priorities. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is remarkably simple: make sure it’s fun. There will always be difficult moments, responsibilities you don’t enjoy, and challenges you never anticipated. But entrepreneurship is a long journey, and enjoying what you’re building makes those challenges worth solving. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, innovation, business leadership, artificial intelligence, personal development, work life balance, professional growth, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Marlo Fogelman Website: www.marlomarketing.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marlo-fogelman-483977/ If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more interviews with founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders sharing the real stories behind building meaningful businesses and meaningful lives. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E6
    August 20 · 20 min

    Work-Life Balance Isn’t 50/50 - Graham Topol - S7 -E6

    Work life balance isn’t about dividing every day perfectly between your business and your personal life. For founders, it’s about understanding where your energy matters most and recognizing which priorities simply cannot be dropped. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Graham Topol, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of MGT Insurance, to discuss work life balance, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, business leadership, and the difficult decisions that shape the founder journey. Graham’s career began in investment banking in New York before taking him inside Morgan Stanley, into technology investing, and eventually to Stanford. Throughout that journey, one problem continued to capture his attention: insurance remained unnecessarily complicated, slow, and inefficient, especially for small business owners. That insight eventually led Graham and his brother to launch MGT Insurance, an applied AI company working to modernize commercial property and casualty insurance and better serve America’s small business community. But this conversation goes far beyond insurance and artificial intelligence. Graham shares one of the most difficult moments of his entrepreneurial journey: walking away from an acquisition after spending years pursuing it, raising capital around it, going without salaries for years, and taking on millions of dollars in personal debt. Despite everything they had invested in the opportunity, Graham and his brother eventually realized it was the wrong path. Having the courage to walk away ultimately opened the door to something much better and permanently changed the way Graham approaches decision making, risk, and resilience. The conversation also explores Graham’s approach to work life balance as a new father and CEO. A lesson from his late mentor, Joel Peterson, helped reshape his perspective: balance doesn’t mean spending 50% of your day working and 50% everywhere else. What matters is whether, over time, you’re giving the right energy to the right things. Joel described life as juggling glass and rubber balls. Some responsibilities can temporarily be dropped and bounce back. Others, especially your responsibilities as a parent, are glass. Understanding the difference has become increasingly meaningful to Graham since welcoming his first daughter. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why work life balance doesn’t need to mean 50/50 • How to recognize which priorities in life cannot be dropped • Why founders should measure outcomes instead of hours • How exercise supports founder health and creates mental clarity • Why taking off the “founder hat” is essential for long-term performance • How sunk costs can trap entrepreneurs in the wrong decisions • Why walking away can sometimes be the strongest decision • How patience and resilience influence startup success • Why great business leadership starts with trusting talented people • Why entrepreneurs need to genuinely love the problems they’re solving Graham also discusses why becoming a father changed his perspective on success, how his wife has become one of his most important confidants, and why maintaining his physical health helps him become a better leader. For Graham, entrepreneurship is a marathon. Maintaining a strong founder mindset requires knowing when to push, when to recover, when to change direction, and when to give your attention to something beyond the company. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, work life balance, founder health, personal development, resilience, decision making, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Graham Topol Website: MGTInsurance.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E5
    August 13 · 18 min

    Why Every Entrepreneur Needs to Embrace Failure | Brad Springer | S7 E5

    Building a startup has never been easy—but today’s founders have one advantage previous generations didn’t: artificial intelligence. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Brad Springer, Co-Founder of Bob.pro, to discuss entrepreneurship, AI, startup growth, resilience, and how founders can leverage technology without losing the human side of business. Brad shares his unconventional journey from working in hospitality and marketing at Chick-fil-A to teaching himself how to code by trading beer and dinner for programming lessons. That determination led him into the startup world, where he spent years building software companies before launching Bob.pro to help businesses thoughtfully adopt AI. But this conversation goes far beyond technology. Brad opens up about how adopting his son transformed his outlook on life, why every entrepreneur needs intentional family rhythms, and how learning to slow down has become one of his greatest leadership challenges. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, artificial intelligence, resilience, family, health, startup growth, and the mindset required to thrive through every season of business. Whether you’re building your first startup or leading a growing company, Brad shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why failing fast accelerates entrepreneurial success • How AI helps businesses scale without replacing people • Why intentional family rhythms matter during busy seasons • The importance of slowing down to become a better leader • How prayer, meditation, and reading create mental clarity • Why quarterly fitness goals keep entrepreneurs motivated • How vulnerability builds stronger teams • Why commitment is essential when building a startup • How every season of entrepreneurship requires different priorities Brad also shares why adopting his son became the defining moment of his life, how teaching himself to code changed his career forever, and why his personal mantra “burn the ships” continues to guide every major decision he makes. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, artificial intelligence, startup growth, business leadership, resilience, personal development, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Brad Springer Website: https://bob.pro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradspringer/ LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E4
    August 6 · 28 min

    Why Optimism Is a Founder’s Greatest Advantage – Dick Pfister | S7 E4

    Most entrepreneurs spend years building wealth, but very few spend the same amount of time learning how to protect it. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Dick Pfister, Founder and CEO of AlphaCore Wealth Advisory, to discuss entrepreneurship, investing, wealth management, and the mindset required to build lasting financial success. Dick shares how his entrepreneurial journey began at just 13 years old, starting small businesses in rural Wisconsin before eventually working on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange alongside some of the world’s greatest investors. Those experiences ultimately led him to co-found Altegris, pioneer alternative investments for independent advisors, and later launch AlphaCore after realizing traditional wealth management wasn’t serving entrepreneurs well enough. But this conversation goes far beyond investing. Dick explains why optimism has become one of his greatest competitive advantages, how his wife gave him the confidence to start over after a successful exit, and why measuring your health is just as important as measuring your finances. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, wealth management, investing, leadership, family, health, resilience, and the habits that help founders build successful businesses while living meaningful lives. Whether you’re growing your first company or preparing for a major liquidity event, Dick shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: - Why traditional investing may no longer be enough for entrepreneurs • How alternative investments can improve portfolio diversification • Why optimism is a founder’s greatest competitive advantage • The importance of measuring your health as carefully as your finances • How daily habits compound into long-term success • Why having the right life partner changes everything • How setbacks create stronger entrepreneurs • Why continuous learning never stops • How trust becomes the foundation of every successful business Dick also shares how launching businesses as a teenager shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, why endurance sports became part of his daily routine, and how AlphaCore was born from challenging conventional wisdom about wealth management. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, investing, wealth management, business leadership, resilience, personal development, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Email founders@thankz.com with the subject A Founder’s Life for preferred pricing. Connect with Today’s Guest – Dick Pfister - AlphaCore Website: https://alphacore.com/ - AlphaCore YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlphaCoreWealthAdvisory Upside Capture Podcast: - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/67pBO2WB5qXlV7MEwQ48Kg?si=de3d6fdb84714cb6 - Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upside-capture/id1888226015 - Dick’s LinkedIn Account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dickpfister/ - AlphaCore LinkedIn Account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alphacorewealthadvisory/ LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E3
    July 30 · 19 min

    Building a Life You Don’t Need to Retire From | Marc Sanderson | A Founder’s Life S7 E3

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. Many entrepreneurs spend decades building a successful business, only to realize they never built the life they actually wanted. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Marc Sanderson, CEO and Co-Founder of INNERGY, to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, work-life integration, and why success is ultimately measured by far more than revenue. Marc shares the incredible journey from acquiring a small cabinet company in the late 1990s to building custom ERP software that eventually evolved into INNERGY, now serving more than 1,800 woodworking and manufacturing businesses across North America. Along the way, he also led the transition of his original company to 100% employee ownership—creating a lasting legacy beyond himself. But this conversation goes far beyond software. Marc opens up about surviving cancer three separate times, why community theater became one of the most important investments in his own well-being, and how intentionally balancing work, family, health, and fun has become the foundation of both his leadership and his life. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, resilience, health, family, legacy, personal growth, and the importance of designing a life you never want to retire from. Whether you’re launching your first startup or leading a growing company, Marc shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why building a meaningful life matters more than simply building a successful business • How employee ownership creates lasting legacy • Why every entrepreneur should intentionally invest in family, health, work, and fun • How surviving cancer changed Marc’s perspective on leadership and life • Why “me time” makes you a better founder instead of a worse one • How systems allow founders to reclaim their time • Why integrity creates stronger long-term partnerships • How hobbies outside of work improve leadership performance • Why balance requires continuous adjustment—not perfection Marc also shares how performing in community theater helped him recharge, why monthly date nights remain a priority after more than three decades of marriage, and how one mentor fundamentally shaped his philosophy on trust, leadership, and entrepreneurship. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, resilience, work-life balance, personal development, health, and building meaningful businesses, you’ll enjoy this episode. Connect with Today’s Guest – Marc Sanderson Website: https://innergy.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcsanderson/ If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more interviews with founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders sharing the real stories behind building meaningful businesses—and meaningful lives. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E2
    July 23 · 22 min

    The Leadership Habits That Changed My Career Forever | Jorge Velasco | S7 E2

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife Business leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about inspiring people, staying curious, and learning to remain calm when the pressure is at its highest. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Jorge Velasco, President and CEO of BR Printers, to explore a remarkable career spanning more than four decades in publishing, printing, and executive leadership. From growing up in a family of publishers in Mexico to leading one of America’s largest book printers, Jorge shares how his passion for books evolved into a lifelong commitment to helping ideas reach millions of readers. His perspective on business leadership, mentorship, culture, and personal growth offers timeless lessons for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Throughout the conversation, Jorge explains why books remain more relevant than ever, how COVID unexpectedly reignited the publishing industry, and why leaders should focus less on controlling people and more on building teams that are empowered to succeed. One of the most memorable lessons from this conversation is surprisingly simple: breathe. Jorge shares why one of the greatest pieces of leadership advice he ever received was to slow down, breathe deeply, and give your brain the oxygen it needs before making important decisions. We also discuss entrepreneurship, family, health, travel, exercise, lifelong learning, and the importance of surrounding yourself with mentors who challenge you to become a better leader. Whether you’re building your first company, leading a growing team, or looking to improve your own business leadership skills, this episode is filled with practical wisdom that can be applied immediately. In this episode you’ll learn: - Why business leadership begins with self-awareness - How mentorship can completely change your career - Why building the right team matters more than having all the answers - The surprising comeback of printed books - How exercise and routine improve executive performance - Why travel creates better leaders - The importance of paying knowledge forward - How focus and presence build trust with your team - Why entrepreneurs should learn to slow down before reacting Jorge also shares how meeting his wife completely changed his perspective on life, why travel has become central to his family’s lifestyle, and how embracing different cultures has made him both a better person and a stronger leader. 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Jorge Velasco: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgefvelasco https://www.linkedin.com/company/br-printers/ Facebook Jorge Velasco: https://www.facebook.com/share/1PXjt5ywDN/?mibextid=wwXIfr BR Printers: https://www.facebook.com/share/1PXjt5ywDN/?mibextid=wwXIfr Website: brprinters.com LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S7 · E1
    July 16 · 18 min

    Balance is about cutting out the noise | Kyle Clements | S7 E1

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Kyle Clements Website: https://quipli.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleclements/ What does it take to build a company without facing burnout? In this episode, Kyle Clements, Founder and CEO of Quipli, shares how experiences at Uber and other venture-backed startups improved his mindset and prepared him to launch his own company and why he believes entrepreneurship should be sustainable, not exhausting. Kyle discusses building Quipli during the pandemic, raising three young daughters while running a startup, and how marathon training has shaped his philosophy on balance. Instead of sprinting through entrepreneurship, he compares building a business to staying in Zone 2: a pace you can maintain for the long run and avoid burnout. We also talk about focus, delegation, family, parenthood, health, and the courage required to become a founder. What you’ll learn: Why sustainable success beats constant hustle How running shaped Kyle’s leadership philosophy and nurtured his resilience The importance of focus and eliminating distractions for personal development and businesses Why founders must learn to delegate and trust their teams How family influences better decisions and thriving in business Burnout is not a requirement LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E19
    July 9 · 3 min

    A Founder's Life Season 6 Recap

    The best entrepreneurial advice isn’t usually found in books. It’s found in the people who have actually built businesses. Over the course of Season 6 of A Founder’s Life, we sat down with founders who have built companies from scratch, overcome incredible setbacks, scaled across industries, and learned lessons that only experience can teach. In this special episode, we’ve pulled together some of the most powerful moments from the season. You’ll hear why: * Your mindset is your biggest competitive advantage. * Balance isn’t about doing less, it’s about knowing when to step back. * Confidence often comes before success. * The hardest seasons create the strongest founders. * And sometimes the best advice is simply… don’t quit. Whether you’re building your first company, leading a growing team, or looking for your next breakthrough, these conversations are packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E18
    July 2 · 20 min

    Entrepreneurship Is About Taking the Leap Before You’re Ready - Grant McCrabb - S6 - E18

    Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as overnight success, but the reality is built on resilience, long-term thinking, and the willingness to keep moving forward when things get difficult. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Grant McCrabb, Founder and CEO of GeoTrek Vans, to discuss his remarkable startup journey from flipping used camper vans to building one of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer RV manufacturers in North America. Grant shares how a simple side hustle evolved into a rapidly growing manufacturing company, why saying yes early helped create opportunities, and how endurance sports have shaped his founder mindset and approach to business leadership. As an ultra-runner, Grant compares entrepreneurship to running a 240-mile race. Success isn’t about sprinting—it’s about learning how to pace yourself, overcome setbacks, and keep showing up day after day. Throughout the conversation, we also explore family, resilience, leadership, risk-taking, product innovation, and why entrepreneurs should stop waiting for the perfect moment before starting. Whether you’re launching your first startup, growing a small business, or leading an established company, this episode is packed with practical insights from someone building a business for the long term. This episode covers: • How GeoTrek Vans grew from a side hustle into a national manufacturer • The importance of hiring people who are better than you • Why endurance sports create better entrepreneurs • Building resilience during difficult seasons • How family shapes better leadership • The biggest lessons from scaling a manufacturing company • Why focus becomes more important as businesses grow • The mindset required for sustainable business growth • Practical startup advice for aspiring founders Grant also shares the deeply personal story of how his father’s life-changing skiing accident reshaped his perspective on risk, resilience, and pursuing meaningful goals. That experience continues to influence the way he approaches entrepreneurship, leadership, and life. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, business leadership, founder stories, startup growth, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Grant McCrabb Website: https://www.geotrekvans.com LinkedIn (Grant): https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-mccrabb-51b0242b5/ LinkedIn (GeoTrek Vans): https://www.linkedin.com/company/geotrek-vans LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E17
    June 25 · 19 min

    Language opens doors in negotiation - Kate Liburdi - S6 - E17

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Kate Liburdi Website: https://conversifi.com Platform: https://app.conversifi.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateliburdi/ Language learning becomes truly powerful when it moves beyond textbooks and into real conversations. While technology has transformed education, the human connection remains the most valuable part of learning a new language. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Kate Liburdi, Co-Founder and CEO of Conversifi, to discuss how she’s transforming language learning by connecting students with native speakers around the world through authentic video conversations. Kate shares her journey from teaching French and English as a Second Language to leading technology initiatives at a Fortune 50 company before launching Conversifi, a platform now used by more than 100 universities to help students build confidence through real-world communication. But this conversation goes far beyond education technology. Kate opens up about one of the biggest failures of her career—a software project that consumed nearly $1 million before her team realized they had to start over. Instead of seeing it as defeat, she explains how embracing Agile development, customer feedback, and continuous iteration completely transformed both the product and her leadership philosophy. We also explore entrepreneurship, focus, productivity, family, health, and why great founders often succeed by removing complexity instead of adding more. Whether you’re building a startup, leading a growing team, or simply looking to become more intentional with your time, Kate shares practical lessons that every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why authentic conversations accelerate language learning • The leadership lesson behind a $1 million product failure • How Agile development changed Kate’s approach to building companies • Why multitasking hurts productivity and focus • The importance of customer feedback during product development • How family influences better leadership decisions • Why founders should simplify instead of overcomplicate • How continuous learning creates better entrepreneurs • The mindset required to build resilient companies Kate also discusses adding new languages—including American Sign Language (ASL)—to Conversifi, why cultural exchange is just as important as vocabulary, and how meaningful conversations create deeper learning experiences than memorization alone. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, language learning, founder mindset, business leadership, startup journeys, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E16
    June 18 · 15 min

    Balance is about knowing when to step back - Mike Schroeder - S6 - E16

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Mike Schroeder Website: https://roundstoneinsurance.com Company's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roundstone LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelaschroeder YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/roundstoneinsurance Work-life balance isn’t about working less—it’s about knowing when to step back before burnout takes over. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Mike Schroeder, Founder and President of Roundstone Insurance, to discuss what it really takes to build a successful company while maintaining your health, family, and sense of purpose. Mike shares his entrepreneurial journey, from studying law and discovering an opportunity to reinvent employer-sponsored healthcare, to building Roundstone Insurance into a national company helping thousands of businesses take control of their healthcare costs through innovative self-funded insurance solutions. But this conversation goes well beyond insurance. Mike explains why founders must recognize when they’re burning the candle at both ends, how travel and reflection help him regain balance, and why entrepreneurship requires accepting that your business will always occupy part of your mind. We also discuss leadership, resilience, family, health, personal growth, and the mindset required to build a company that lasts for decades. Whether you’re launching your first startup or leading an established business, Mike shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Roundstone Insurance transformed employer healthcare • Why work-life balance requires intentional decisions • How to recognize the signs of burnout before it’s too late • Why travel and reflection improve leadership • The importance of building a trusted leadership team • Why entrepreneurship demands complete commitment • How family helps create perspective as a founder • The value of resilience during difficult seasons • Why optimism and continuous improvement drive long-term success Mike also shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the lessons he learned from taking entrepreneurial risks, and why founders should embrace the responsibility that comes with building something meaningful. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, business leadership, work-life balance, founder mindset, personal development, and building successful companies, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E15
    June 11 · 9 min

    Second chances at life are powerful - Sarah Walker - S6 - E15

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Sarah Walker Website: https://nuanceinteriors.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuanceinteriors LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahplattwalker/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nuanceinteriors Your home influences far more than your comfort—it shapes your health, mindset, relationships, and overall quality of life. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Sarah Walker, Founder and Principal Designer of Nuance Interior Design, to explore how intentional design can improve wellness, support families, and create spaces that help people thrive. Sarah shares her journey from growing up in Dubai to founding an internationally recognized interior design firm that advises families and family offices around the world. Inspired by her father’s commitment to sustainability and her mother’s passion for art and holistic medicine, she built a business that combines beautiful design with science-backed wellness principles. A life-changing car accident during design school transformed the way Sarah viewed the built environment. It became the catalyst for her mission to create homes that don’t simply look beautiful—they actively improve the lives of the people who live in them. Throughout the conversation, we discuss entrepreneurship, wellness, leadership, sustainability, resilience, and why asking for help is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your personal and professional growth. Whether you’re building a business, designing your dream home, or looking to create a more intentional life, Sarah shares practical lessons that every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • How your home affects your physical and mental wellbeing • Why wellness should be part of every design decision • How a life-changing accident shaped Sarah’s entrepreneurial journey • The importance of sustainability in modern living • Why founders don’t have to build everything alone • How coaching and mentorship accelerate business growth • The value of creating environments that reduce stress • Why intentional design creates better daily habits • How asking for help can transform both your business and your life Sarah also shares why curiosity has been one of her greatest competitive advantages, how she balances entrepreneurship with family life, and why the spaces we create ultimately shape the people we become. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, wellness, business leadership, founder mindset, personal development, sustainability, and intentional living, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E14
    June 4 · 16 min

    Learn from failure, don't quit - Josh Otero - S6 - E14

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Josh Otero LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshotero/ Elanah AI: https://elanah.ai Warrior GMR Foundation: https://warriorgmrfoundation.org In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Josh Otero, CEO and Co-Founder of Elanah.AI and Founder of the Warrior GMR Foundation, to discuss how technology, community, and purpose can transform mental health support for veterans, first responders, and everyday people. Josh shares his entrepreneurial journey from financial services to launching multiple businesses in health, fitness, and technology. After witnessing the devastating rise in veteran suicides during the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded the Warrior GMR Foundation to create meaningful communities through gaming and peer support. That mission eventually led to the creation of Elanah.AI, an AI-powered platform designed to provide immediate mental health support when human resources aren’t available—because mental health crises don’t happen on a schedule. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, resilience, purpose, failure, leadership, and why some of the most impactful businesses are born from solving deeply personal problems. Whether you’re building your first startup or searching for greater purpose in your entrepreneurial journey, Josh shares lessons that every founder can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why purpose creates stronger businesses • How AI can improve access to mental health support • The entrepreneurial lessons hidden inside failure • Why community is essential for wellbeing • How gaming became a platform for meaningful human connection • The importance of resilience during difficult seasons • Why founders should solve problems they genuinely care about • How continuous learning turns failure into growth • Why the best entrepreneurs simply refuse to quit Josh also shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, why serving others became his greatest motivation, and how believing in yourself through failure ultimately creates long-term success. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, resilience, mental health, business leadership, startup journeys, artificial intelligence, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E13
    May 27 · 16 min

    Why Saying “No” Builds Better Businesses - Rusty Fulling - S6 - E13

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Rusty Fulling Website: https://www.fullingmgmt.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rustyfulling/ Company's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fulling-management-&-accounting Financial leadership is about more than numbers—it’s about helping business owners make better decisions, build stronger companies, and create lives they actually enjoy. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Rusty Fuhling, Founder of Fuhling Management & Accounting, to discuss how financial clarity helps entrepreneurs grow healthier businesses and become better leaders. Rusty shares his journey from corporate accounting to building a fractional CFO firm that helps companies across the United States improve profitability, strengthen financial systems, and make more confident strategic decisions. But this conversation goes well beyond accounting. Rusty explains why founders often spend too much time working in their business instead of leading it, how financial visibility creates better decision-making, and why success should never come at the expense of your family or your health. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial strategy, work-life balance, resilience, and the importance of building systems that allow businesses—and founders—to thrive. Whether you’re launching your first company or leading a growing organization, Rusty shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why every growing business needs financial visibility • How a fractional CFO can accelerate business growth • Why founders should make decisions based on data, not emotion • The importance of building systems instead of constant firefighting • How family and health contribute to long-term business success • Why delegation creates stronger companies • The value of financial discipline during uncertain times • How better leadership starts with better financial understanding • Why sustainable growth always beats rapid, uncontrolled growth Rusty also shares the pivotal moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey, the lessons he’s learned while helping business owners across multiple industries, and why great financial leadership is ultimately about giving founders more freedom—not just bigger numbers. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial planning, founder mindset, business strategy, accounting, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E12
    May 20 · 23 min

    Success Starts in Your Mind - Bruno Drummond - S6 - E12

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Bruno Drummond Website: https://drummondadvisors.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdrummond/ Success in entrepreneurship starts with mastering one thing: your mindset. Before you can convince customers, investors, or employees to believe in your vision, you have to believe in it yourself. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Bruno Drummond, Founder and CEO of Drummond Advisors, to discuss how growing up in Brazil, building multiple international companies, and leading teams across several industries shaped his approach to entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Bruno shares his journey from selling products as a teenager to building a global advisory firm that helps businesses expand internationally. Along the way, he launched multiple companies in compliance software, real estate, and business operations, learning firsthand what it takes to scale organizations while wearing many different leadership hats. But this conversation goes far beyond business strategy. Bruno explains why your mind can become your greatest competitive advantage—or your biggest obstacle. He shares how developing a growth mindset, embracing discomfort, and staying calm under pressure have allowed him to navigate setbacks and continue building successful businesses. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, business leadership, resilience, family, health, mindset, and the habits that help founders perform at their highest level. Whether you’re starting your first business or leading an established company, Bruno shares practical lessons every entrepreneur can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why mindset is every entrepreneur’s greatest asset • How a growth mindset creates long-term business success • Why learning never stops for great founders • The importance of staying calm under pressure • How family shapes leadership and personal priorities • Why health and consistency improve business performance • The value of embracing difficult moments instead of avoiding them • How building multiple companies requires different leadership styles • Why entrepreneurs succeed by pushing through self-doubt Bruno also shares how losing his father at a young age changed his perspective on responsibility, why becoming a father transformed his leadership, and how his commitment to continuous learning has fueled decades of entrepreneurial success. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, resilience, startup journeys, personal development, and business growth, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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  • S6 · E11
    May 13 · 16 min

    Why You Must Love the Problem You Solve - Caleb Avery - S6 - E11

    This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Caleb Avery Website: https://tilled.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-avery/ Building a successful startup isn’t about finding the perfect idea—it’s about choosing a problem you’re passionate enough to solve for the next decade. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Caleb Avery, Founder and CEO of Tilled, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey from selling payment solutions door-to-door at 19 years old to building one of the leading embedded payments platforms in the fintech industry. Caleb shares how years of consulting software companies revealed a common problem: businesses were leaving millions of dollars in payment revenue on the table. That insight led him to found Tilled, a company pioneering the concept of “PayFac as a Service” and helping software platforms monetize embedded payments more effectively. But this conversation goes beyond fintech. Caleb opens up about launching a startup during the uncertainty of COVID-19 while raising two young children, the importance of having a supportive family, and why entrepreneurship is less about balance and more about being intentional with your time. Throughout the conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, founder mindset, business leadership, resilience, family, and what it really takes to build a company that lasts. Whether you’re considering launching your first business or scaling an existing startup, Caleb shares practical lessons every founder can apply. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why solving the right problem matters more than chasing trends • How embedded payments create new revenue opportunities • Why startups require long-term commitment and patience • The importance of being intentional with your time as a founder • How to balance entrepreneurship with raising a family • Why passion is essential for long-term business success • The value of staying focused during uncertain times • How COVID shaped both Caleb’s business and personal life • Why founders should build businesses they’re excited to run for the next ten years Caleb also shares how his wife encouraged him to continue building Tilled during one of the most uncertain periods of his life, why being present with his children matters more than chasing the idea of perfect balance, and how consistency compounds into entrepreneurial success. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, founder mindset, fintech, business leadership, startup journeys, business growth, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1

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Showing 1–20 of 26 episodes