BusinessEntrepreneurship

The Code To Winning

Kagiso Dikane

The Code To Winning is an engaging podcast that centers around insightful interviews with a diverse range of guests, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and CEOs. With a compelling motto, “Insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow,” the podcast delves into the strategic and practical aspects of success in the dynamic world of business. Through in-depth conversations, listeners gain valuable perspectives and strategies from accomplished individuals who have navigated the complexities of the business landscape. Those who know what it takes to win. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an established professional, The Code To Winning offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to empower you on your journey to success. Tune in to unlock the secrets and strategies that can propel you towards achieving your goals in the ever-evolving business world.

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28 episodes
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Avg 55 min
English

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#95
Yesterday · 57 min
$500M PORTFOLIO: REAL ESTATE MOGUL ON BUYING PROPERTIES & BUSINESSES || ABRAHAM GRAY || EPISODE 092
In this episode, we sit down with Abraham Gray, a self made entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $500 million, who started his first business at just 15 years old. Over the years, he has built an empire that includes ownership of more than 50 companies and a real estate portfolio of 225 properties. He also sold his company We Buy Gold for $100 million, a milestone that cemented his place among the most successful young business owners in the country. He is known as a true powerhouse in the entrepreneurial world, having launched over 100 businesses and made his first million by the age of 19. Abraham takes us through the full journey, from a teenager with a bold idea to a business owner operating across multiple industries. His background spans trendy businesses like axe throwing and escape rooms as well as serious investments in real estate, and he explains how he decides what to buy, what to build from scratch, and when to walk away. He also shares his experience in the lending business, his thoughts on investment opportunities like gold and hard money lending, and the hard lessons he has learned from failure along the way. We talk about what it really takes to grow a gold business into a $100 million exit, and how that win opened the door to everything that followed. This conversation is packed with practical insight for anyone who wants to build real wealth through business and real estate. Abraham breaks down how he manages a portfolio of 225 properties, how he builds and leads dozens of companies at once, and why branding can set your business apart. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking for your first idea or a seasoned owner ready to scale, this episode will show you what is possible when you start early, think big, and never stop building. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:20 First Business at Age 15 06:30 How to Evaluate a Business to Buy 10:02 Sales vs Negotiation & Building Rapport 11:44 Scaling Goldmax to 300 Locations 17:53 Buying Real Estate in the 2011 Crash 21:40 Current Real Estate Market Strategy 24:34 Risk of Buying Businesses vs Real Estate 26:50 First Step to Start in Real Estate 30:49 Managing 225 Rentals & 40 Businesses 36:32 The Most Important Trait in a Partner 41:23 The Most Important Lesson in Business 44:07 How to Negotiate Price vs Terms 48:50 Learning From Bad Deals & Bad Partners 51:10 What Matters Most to Abraham Gray
#92
Thursday · 1 hr 15 min
TRADEMARK ATTORNEY ON HOW ENTREPRENEURS CAN PROTECT THEIR BRAND || ROSEZENA. J PIERCE || EPISODE 091
In this episode, we sit down with Rosezena “TheBizLawyer” Pierce, a leading trademark attorney and the CEO of RJ Pierce Law Group, PC in Chicago. Known as “the biz lawyer” on Instagram, Rosezena takes us through her extraordinary journey, from excelling in law school to facing the harsh reality of job hunting, and ultimately building a highly successful law firm dedicated to intellectual property law. Rosezena opens up about her background and the challenges that shaped her path. She graduated from John Marshall Law School with a 3.5 GPA and excelled in her intellectual property classes, yet she did not receive a single job offer. She also shares her unique experience of studying for and passing the bar exam while managing the responsibilities of motherhood. Instead of waiting for an opportunity, she created her own, launching a practice that served underserved small business owners in trademark law and using social media to educate and attract her first clients. Today, RJ Pierce Law Group is ranked Number 40 out of more than 28,000 trademark law firms in the country, and Rosezena herself is ranked Number 15 out of more than 33,000 trademark attorneys. She credits that success to hard work, smart strategy, and a dedicated team, including a key lesson from her first business coach about building a team instead of personally handling every client. We then dive into why protecting your brand matters so much. Rosezena compares trademarking your brand to owning the land before you build a house on it, because without that foundation, everything you create can be taken from you. She walks us through the real life stories that prove the point, including the original Burger King case in Illinois, which shows how critical it is to secure federal trademark rights before someone else does. Rosezena also breaks down exactly what it takes to protect your brand, step by step. It starts with a thorough search, including the USPTO website, followed by opinion letters and client counseling, then filing and handling any office actions from the government. She explains why hiring an attorney can make a major difference, and why review times have grown longer since the surge in filings during COVID. For brands ready to go global, she explains how international trademarking works through the Madrid Protocol, weighing its benefits and challenges, and why hiring local counsel is essential for navigating different laws in each country. She also covers what happens after you file, including the importance of monitoring your brand so you can stop infringement before you lose your rights. This episode is a must watch for aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone who wants to understand the ins and outs of trademark law. Rosezena Pierce’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and the power of using social media to build an impactful career, and her advice will leave you ready to protect the brand you have worked so hard to build. Chapters 00:00 What is a Trademark? 07:13 Overcoming Career Obstacles 12:37 The Decision to Niche Down 16:28 Four Types of Intellectual Property 24:11 International Trademark Protection 31:11 State vs. Federal Registration 38:07 When to Secure Your Brand 40:58 The Trademark Registration Process 55:40 Cost of Trademarking and Classes 01:00:53 The Danger of Choosing Wrong Classes
#91
October 11 · 51 min
A 15 YEAR OLD CEO TEACHING KIDS FINANCIAL LITERACY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP || CADEN HARRIS || EPISODE 090
In this episode, we sit down with Caden, the 15 year old CEO of Caden Teaches, who graduated high school at just 13 years old and is proving that age is not a limitation when it comes to building something meaningful. On a mission to empower and educate young minds, Caden is inspiring a new generation to take control of their financial future and pursue their dreams regardless of where they start. His message is simple and powerful: "If Caden Can, You Can Too." We dive into Caden's journey as a young entrepreneur, from finishing high school years ahead of his peers to becoming a CEO before most teens get their driver's license. He shares how his father took him along to business meetings at a young age, which sparked his passion for money, and how he went on to write books, create financial flashcards, and become a sought after speaker. Caden also opens up about handling the word no and the challenge of raising the money to bring his biggest dream to life. That dream is his Financial Learning Bus. At just 11 years old, Caden bought a school bus and, with the help of his father, transformed it into a mobile classroom on wheels that brings financial education directly to schools and communities. Inside, kids experience a mock bank, a mock grocery store, and tablet stations where they learn about earning, budgeting, saving, and investing through hands on experience. Caden has already taught around 50,000 kids, and his mission is to reach 500,000. We also break down "The Cash Code," Caden's comprehensive program designed to give middle school students real financial literacy skills, from budgeting and saving to investing, while connecting real world scenarios to math and economics. His financial learning center features a mock banking station, a mock grocery store, and a mock stock exchange, giving kids a firsthand look at deposits, withdrawals, budgeting, and stocks. Whether you are a parent looking to raise money smart kids or a young person ready to start your own journey, this episode will leave you inspired to start now. Chapters 00:00 Who is Caden Harris? 01:58 How Caden Started His Business at 11 06:30 Building the Financial Literacy Bus 10:42 Why Caden Left Traditional School 14:01 Speaking on National TV & the White House 15:58 The Role of Supportive Parents 18:44 Overcoming Rejection & Early Mistakes 26:32 Learning to Command the Stage 27:51 Caden's Financial Literacy Tools 32:55 What the School System Gets Wrong 34:44 How to Network on LinkedIn 38:57 Caden's Daily Routine & Filmmaking 41:15 Why You Can't Do It Alone 45:20 Caden's Vision for the Future 48:10 What Winning Means to Caden
#90
October 6 · 59 min
HOW MY KIDS BUILT MOKIPOPS: STORY OF RAISING ENTREPRENEURS || AMBER KHAN-ROBINSON || EPISODE 089
In this episode, we sit down with Amber, co-founder of MOKIPOPS, to talk about how a simple homeschool project with her three children, ages 3, 5, and 7 at the time, turned into a thriving frozen fruit bar company. What started as a fun way to teach her kids about food, creativity, and hard work quickly became something much bigger when her then 7 year old son asked a question that changed everything: "How can we make more money and not be at every single event?" That one question sparked a serious commitment to building a real, sustainable business for the sake of their children and their family. We dive deep into what it really looks like to raise entrepreneurs from an early age, how Amber and her family taught their kids about business, money, and responsibility while still keeping things rooted in creativity and fun. From humble beginnings in a home kitchen in 2016 to hand molding every single popsicle themselves, MOKIPOPS grew through grit, community connection, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Amber shares how understanding her children's strengths, curiosity, and ideas played a central role in shaping the direction of the business, proving that kids are capable of far more than we often give them credit for. Today, MOKIPOPS has sold hundreds of thousands of natural frozen fruit bars and has grown from a shared facility into their own dedicated factory, now using automated machines that produce thousands of pops per hour. Along the way, the brand has caught the attention of major names like GoDaddy, the Atlanta Hawks, Entrepreneur Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, Southern Living, VOXAtl, and the Atlanta Small Business Network. This conversation is a powerful look into what it takes to build a family business from the ground up, the importance of listening to your children, and how raising young entrepreneurs can change the entire trajectory of a family's future. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:37 Amber's Background & Moving to Atlanta 06:03 Travel Aspirations & South Africa 09:37 The Origin of Moki Pops 12:58 Branding & Legitimatizing the Business 19:13 How Hurricane Irma Changed Everything 24:11 Scaling & Working with Major Brands 27:27 The Reality of Parenting Kid Founders 31:42 Why Kids Should Build the Business 37:18 How to Raise Confident, Creative Kids 41:54 Advice for B2B Distribution & Paperwork 44:26 Learning from Failure & Sharpening the Sword 46:20 The Future of Moki Pops & Getting Kids Off Devices 50:44 How Gen Z Uses Technology & AI 54:04 What Winning Means to Amber
#88
October 2 · 1 hr 4 min
TENNIS, REINVENTED: HOW INTENNSE IS CHANGING THE GAME || MARCEL0 FERREIRA & OLIVER BELL || EPISODE 088
INTENNSE Tennis: Inside the League with Marcelo Ferreira and Oliver Bell In this interview, I sit down with two leaders behind INTENNSE, the fast-growing professional tennis league redefining how the sport is played and watched. Marcelo Ferreira is the Head Coach of Team Atlanta and the Director of the High-Performance Tennis Academy at Windy Hill Athletic Club. Oliver Bell is the Chief Financial Officer of INTENNSE, overseeing the league's finance, legal, HR and operations. What is INTENNSE? INTENNSE is a co-ed, team-based pro tennis league built for speed. Matches are played in 10-minute "BOLTs" with a running clock, simple point-based scoring, and live substitutions. A full team matchup (an "ARC") combines men's, women's and mixed singles and doubles. In this interview, we cover: • How INTENNSE started and the vision behind it • Where the league stands today • The direction it's heading and what's next • Why Atlanta's tennis community made it the ideal home for the league • How the player draft works • How the game is played, including the format and rules Chapters 00:00 The Problem with Professional Tennis 02:19 How Intense Tennis Started 08:36 The Fast-Paced Match Format 10:53 Expanding Beyond Atlanta 13:26 The Business of a 90-Minute Match 16:11 Vetting Players for Personality 19:07 Player Salaries and Contracts 26:13 Building a Grassroots Movement 29:57 The Revenue Model and Sponsors 33:40 Equal Pay Across Genders 39:19 Choosing New Cities for Expansion 44:40 Recruiting and NCAA Rules 48:54 The Role of Pulse Partners 51:25 What Could Kill the League? 57:17 What Winning Means to Us
#93
September 25 · 1 hr 8 min
HOW TO START AND RUN A SUCCESSFUL VENDING MACHINE BUSINESS || DONALD LUXAMA || EPISODE 087
In this episode, we sit down with Donald Luxama, one of the biggest names in the vending machine industry, with over 700,000 followers and more than 1 billion views across social media teaching people how to start and scale a real vending business. What began as a simple side hustle, buying used vending machines for around $500 that generate over $1,000 in profit a month, has grown into a full-fledged movement inspiring thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs to take control of their financial future. Donald breaks down the exact blueprint he used to get started, from finding locations to sourcing machines. He explains that the first step is going around your local town and asking family, friends, and local businesses if you can place a vending machine in their establishment, often pitching it as a free vending machine for their location. From there, he shows how to search Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist to find machines typically ranging from $300 to $700, and the importance of testing every machine before buying it to make sure it is fully functional. We also dig into the numbers behind the business, because vending is as much about margins as it is about hustle. Donald shares real examples of how he prices his products for maximum profit, revealing gains that range from over 100 percent to as high as 700 percent on certain snacks. Beyond the numbers, Donald opens up about his world tour, where he traveled to meet some of the top vending machine operators across the globe, learning firsthand how different markets, cultures, and business models are pushing the industry forward in ways most people never see. The conversation also dives into where vending is headed next, including Donald's move into Pokemon and trading card vending machines, a fast growing niche built for collectors that operates on cashless, remotely managed technology, as well as the rise of AI powered vending machines that are changing how operators track inventory, manage restocks, and maximize profit with far less manual work. Whether you are just getting started with your first machine or looking to scale into new verticals, this episode is packed with real, actionable insight into building and future proofing a vending machine empire Chapters 00:00 Vending Machine Idea 03:09 First Vending Machine 09:48 Pitching to Owners 16:11 Bad Location Strategy 23:06 Pokemon Machine 30:15 AI in Vending 33:31 Permits & Licenses 40:48 Lowest Performer 47:24 School for Vending Pros 53:31 Product Sourcing
#86
September 18 · 56 min
THE LINKEDIN STRATEGY THAT MAKES $10K A MONTH || SIMI ARORA || EPISODE 086
Simi Arora is a personal brand strategist, mindset and growth mentor, and the host of True Power with Simi. As the founder of Brand Scale, she has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and professionals build premium personal brands that command attention, trust, and revenue. An immigrant who built her platform from the ground up in New York City, Simi has grown a LinkedIn following of over 115,000 people and become a go to voice for those looking to turn their expertise into influence and income. Her work sits at the intersection of branding, mindset, and business strategy, teaching people not just how to grow an audience, but how to build something that lasts. In this episode, Simi breaks down exactly how to make $10,000 a month using LinkedIn, sharing the strategies, mindset shifts, and content systems that took her from just starting out to building a thriving personal brand and business. Chapters 00:00 LinkedIn Importance 03:07 Immigrant Story Begin 06:41 Corporate Ladder Climb 09:47 Immigrant Experience 12:39 Cultural Nuances ️ 15:46 LinkedIn Authenticity 18:52 LinkedIn Game Changer 22:56 LinkedIn Algorithm 26:21 Identity Activation 29:21 Identity Activation 5-Step 32:46 Destroying Trust 35:42 Authenticity Trends 38:51 Client Success Story 42:51 Consistency Challenge 45:56 Podcast Intention 49:37 Podcast Agency 52:54 Connect with Simi
#85
September 15 · 1 hr 1 min
THE GROWTH ENGINE BEHIND EARN YOUR LEISURE: FROM 4000 TO 30000 || MICHAEL J MACDONALD || EPISODE 085
Sitting down with us today is Michael J. MacDonald, visionary entrepreneur, architect of impact, and co founder of Earn Your Leisure (EYL), the movement redefining financial education and culture for an entire generation. Michael doesn't just talk about branding. He builds legacies. As a coach, strategist, and entrepreneur, he has spent his career pushing people to think bigger, act bolder, and build brands that command attention and stand the test of time. In this episode, we go deep into Michael's journey as co founder of both Earn Your Leisure and Invest Fest, the powerhouse financial literacy conference that has become a movement in its own right. We uncover the untold story behind their very first conference, where they took a bold $1.3 million investment with absolutely no sponsors locked in, a high stakes gamble that could have gone either way. We break down exactly how that risk paid off and set the foundation for everything that followed. We also explore the game changing partnership with Steve Harvey, a strategic move that opened doors, elevated credibility, and helped propel Invest Fest into the global phenomenon it is today. From humble beginnings to tens of thousands of attendees, this is the real story of how vision, risk, and relentless execution built one of the most influential platforms in financial education. Chapters 00:00 EYL Origin Story 03:45 Entrepreneur Journey ️ 07:17 Freedom Mindset 10:21 Community Info Gap 14:10 Real Estate Boom 17:16 Investfest Profitability 20:23 Diddy's Impact 24:20 AI Investing Ease 27:27 Generational Wealth Gap 31:28 Podcast Impact Goal ️ 34:45 System for Fulfillment ️ 38:59 Business Relationships 41:58 Time is Now ⏰ 45:49 Dream Big 49:56 Community Building ️ 53:06 Obsession Drives Success 56:06 Winning Definition
#84
April 30 · 52 min
BUCKED UP THE #1 PRE-WORKOUT BRAND: 9 FIGURE EMPIRE IN 10 YEARS || RYAN GARDNER || EPISODE 084
Ryan Gardner founded Bucked Up in 2016 and has been the managing partner and CEO ever since. Under his supervision, Bucked Up has gone from a local supplement brand to the #1 best-selling pre-workout, available in over 100,000 stores worldwide. Back in 2001, Ryan and his twin brother Jeff built a successful internet marketing company, promoting everything from supplements to biz opp to lead generation. By 2010, their affiliate network (with only 3 other employees) was earning over $25M+ annual
#83
March 31 · 57 min
WHY UTAH’S BUSINESS CULTURE STANDS OUT FROM THE REST || CATHERINE BENNETT || EPISODE 083
Catherine Bennett, Executive Editor of Utah Business, joins us for a deep dive into what truly makes Utah one of the best places for entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive. With a background in print journalism, she began her career in marketing as a global communications leader, managing a team of 10 translators before stepping into entrepreneurship and launching Backpack Marketing, an agency focused on helping small businesses grow. She later moved into an executive marketing role workin
#82
March 25 · 1 hr 16 min
WALK THE DISTANCE TO GREATNESS: STRENGTH, PURPOSE & TRANSFORMATION || DR JAMES E DIXON ||EPISODE 082
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. James E. Dixon, widely known as SupermanIs4Real, for a deeply moving and powerful conversation on resilience, faith, and purpose. After experiencing a life-altering tragedy that resulted in the loss of his leg, Dr. Dixon made a decision that would define the rest of his life—he refused to be defined by what he lost. Instead, he chose to step fully into his purpose. What many would see as a setback, he transformed into a calling. Recorded around his impactful
#81
March 20 · 44 min
AVIATION, TRUSTS & BUSINESS FUNDING: THE SECRETS NO ONE TALKS ABOUT || AZURE CALDER || EPISODE 081
In this episode, I sit down with Azure Calder, a seasoned mortgage expert with over 20 years of experience in the real estate and lending industry. From processing and management to ownership, Azure has built a career defined by consistency, leadership, and results—personally contributing to over $1 billion in real estate transactions and earning recognition as a top producer and President’s Club winner. But this conversation goes far beyond traditional real estate. Azure breaks down how he help
#80
March 18 · 31 min
FIRST TIME HOME BUYER GUIDE 2026: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW || KYLIE BRENNING || EPISODE 080
Kylie Brenning has been active in the real estate industry since 2018, starting her career in commercial real estate development before transitioning into lending in 2022. That foundation gives her a unique, well-rounded perspective on both the building and financing side of real estate. As a Mortgage Broker, Kylie works across both residential and commercial lending, leveraging strong relationships with a wide network of banks and lending institutions. Her approach is solution-focused—no matter
#79
March 6 · 44 min
THE 90-DAY HOME BUILD SYSTEM || BROCK HOLYOAK || EPISODE 079
In this episode recorded during WealthCon in Las Vegas, I sit down with Brock Holyoak, a blue collar builder turned real estate investor who has built a reputation for speed, efficiency, and delivering strong returns for investors. Today he runs a construction operation capable of building 70 to 80 homes a year, focusing on quality homes priced under $400K while completing builds in around 90 days, nearly twice as fast as many competitors in the market. We dive into the structure of Brock’s busi
#78
March 4 · 1 hr 6 min
FROM IRAQ VETERAN TO TOP DALLAS REALTOR USING ONLY YOUTUBE || LEVI LASCSAK || EPISODE 078
In this episode, I sit down with Levi Lascsak, Dallas real estate powerhouse, Iraq War veteran, and one of the most recognized voices in YouTube driven real estate marketing today. Levi has helped generate over $250 million in sales, closing more than 524 homes in just five years, while building a YouTube strategy that has transformed how realtors attract clients. Voted Top Producer by D Magazine and ranked Top 100 in Dallas by Real Producers, Levi has proven that consistent content and strate
#77
March 3 · 49 min
HOW I TURNED $8 MILLION INTO $70 MILLION || JUSTIN BROCK || EPISODE 077
I sit down with Justin Brock, an extraordinary entrepreneur and United States Marine Corps veteran who skyrocketed his business from $8M in revenue to a $70M valuation in under two years. I first met Justin backstage at the Wealth event, where we had the chance to dive into his incredible journey—from his time serving in the Marines to building and scaling a high-performing company. Justin shares how the discipline, resilience, and leadership he developed in the Marine Corps shaped the way he ap
#76
January 24 · 1 hr
BORN TO FLY: BREAKING BARRIERS IN AVIATION AND BUSINESS || ROBIN PETGRAVE || EPISODE 076
In this podcast episode, we sit down with Robin Petgrave for a powerful and deeply personal conversation that traces his journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most respected helicopter pilots and aviation entrepreneurs in the industry. Robin opens up about his upbringing, being born in Jamaica and raised in the United States, and how early dreams of movement speed and freedom shaped his desire to do something extraordinary with his life. Long before aviation entered the picture,
#75
January 23 · 51 min
THE SYSTEMS, STRATEGY, AND MINDSET OF TOP ENTREPRENEURS || VANESSA RAMIREZ || EPISODE 075
In this episode, I sit down with Vanessa Ramirez, founder of The Injury Law Consultants and Lien Care Providers, for a deep dive into what it truly takes to win in business and in life. With over 16 years of experience in personal injury law, Vanessa shares how she transitioned from being a legal expert to building scalable businesses that help law firms streamline operations, strengthen client relationships, and improve case outcomes. We break down the real challenges of entrepreneurship, lea
#74
January 20 · 45 min
FROM BYU TO THE NFL TO BODYBUILDING | CORBIN KAUFUSI’S REINVENTION || CORBIN KAUFUSI || EPISODE 074
BYU and NFL standout Corbin Kaufusi joins the show for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what it truly takes to succeed at the highest levels of sport—and what happens when the lights turn off. Corbin opens up about his path to the NFL, the physical and emotional toll of injuries, and the unspoken reality many players face: addressing injuries honestly can quietly put you on a blacklist. Fans rarely see how devastating these setbacks are, or how one injury can change the entire trajectory o
#73
January 19 · 48 min
BUILT, SCALED, SOLD: TURNED GRIT INTO A MID-EIGHT-FIGURE EXIT || LUKE PETERS || EPISODE 073
Luke Peters is an accomplished entrepreneur and the former CEO of NewAir, a company he founded in 2001 and grew from a garage startup to a thriving business with over $600 million in cumulative sales. His journey began in Fountain Valley, California, where he learned the value of hard work while working in his family’s donut shop for just 25 cents an hour. Under Luke's leadership, NewAir achieved significant milestones, including $80 million in sales in a single year and multiple placements on

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