Podcast
Entrepreneurial Excellence Podcast
Hosted by Adam Spector · EN
Welcome to Entrepreneurial Excellence, the podcast that unlocks the secrets of running a successful startup. Get ready for captivating interviews with industry experts, thriving entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders. Deep dive into topics like crafting killer business ideas, optimizing operations, and mastering the art of scalability. Join us for empowering insights and practical advice that will propel you towards your entrepreneurial dreams.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Attention Is the New Currency: Why Your Hiring Strategy Is Failing
1w ago01:03:54Tap to summarizeJay Berard explains why great hiring is no longer about resumes, credentials, or polished applications. In a world flooded with AI generated noise, the people who stand out are the ones who know how to build real relationships, communicate clearly, and create trust. He shares why emotional intelligence is becoming more valuable than technical intelligence, and why the best candidates know how to adapt, learn fast, and move through uncertainty. As the founder and CEO of Jagger, Jay has helped high growth companies hire top talent in one of the most competitive recruiting markets in years. He breaks down why so many companies fail at hiring, why founders often misunderstand the roles they actually need, and how great recruiters identify signals most people completely miss. In this episode, Jay shares why surviving is different from thriving, how AI is rewriting the recruiting playbook, and why attention has become the most valuable currency in business. He also explains why the best hires are often unconventional, why human connection matters more than ever, and how founders can build stronger teams by first understanding themselves better. Key Topics: -AI is completely rewriting the hiring and recruiting playbook -Emotional intelligence is becoming more valuable than IQ -Most companies fail at hiring because they do not know what they actually need -The best hires are identified through conversations, not resumes -Human connection is becoming more important in an AI driven world Timestamps: 01:24 How Jay Berard Turned Recruiting Into a High Trust Business 02:10 The Best Entrepreneurs Obsess Over Daily Improvement 03:37 Your Company Will Only Grow as Fast as You Do 05:58 The Shift From Surviving to Truly Thriving 07:12 Why Smart Founders Are Betting Big on AI Right Now 07:56 In Person Relationships Are Becoming More Valuable Again 08:45 The Biggest Hiring Mistake Most Startups Make 10:23 Emotional Intelligence Is Becoming More Valuable Than IQ 12:18 The Best Candidates Tell Stories Differently 13:35 Why First VP of Sales Hires Often Fail 15:15 Companies Fail at Hiring When They Do Not Know Themselves 17:32 Hiring a Great Employee Will Not Fix a Broken Company 21:25 AI Is Flooding the Hiring Process With Noise 23:32 The Best Way to Get Hired Today Is Still Human Connection 25:35 Young People Are Entering the Hardest Job Market in Years 27:05 Attention Is the Most Valuable Currency in Hiring Today 29:32 The Best Recruiters Know How to Cut Through the Noise 31:25 Recruiters Should Be Judged by Pipeline Quality, Not Hires 34:00 The Difference Between Bad, Good, and Elite Recruiters 36:02 Elite Recruiters Start Narrow and Win Faster 37:45 Sometimes There Is Only One Right Candidate in the Market Connect with - Jay Berard: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jayberard Website: http://hellojagger.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →Why Great Ideas Don’t Build Great Companies with Jordan Ritter
2w ago01:26:40Tap to summarizeJordan Ritter explains why great companies are never built by one person, no matter how visionary the founder may seem. He shares why the best entrepreneurs are not the smartest people in the room, but the ones who know how to build teams, adapt under pressure, and keep moving after constant rejection. For Jordan, startups are not about titles, fundraising, or ego. They are about resilience, culture, and finding people willing to suffer and grow together. As a six-time founder and former co-founder of Napster, Jordan breaks down the real mechanics behind startup success. He explains why culture matters more than skills in the early stages, how great teams can turn weak ideas into billion-dollar companies, and why hiring should feel like a strong emotional alignment, not just a checklist of qualifications. He also shares his “3 Cs” framework for building elite teams: culture, capacity, and craft. In this episode, Jordan talks about why fundraising is often misunderstood, why too much money can destroy a company, and why the real achievement is building a product people genuinely love. At its core, this conversation is about building companies through people, surviving uncertainty, and understanding that the hardest part of entrepreneurship is not the product, it is becoming the person capable of leading it. Key Topics: -Great companies are built by teams, not solo founders -The best entrepreneurs adapt when the plan falls apart -Culture matters more than skills in the early stages -Fundraising is not the win, building something people love is -Great teams can turn weak ideas into strong companies -Leadership starts with self-awareness, resilience, and trust Timestamps: 02:19 A Plan Is Just a List of Things That Will Not Happen 03:07 No Founder Can Build a Great Company Alone 07:33 Success Belongs to the Team, Failure Belongs to the CEO 10:37 You Need to Keep Getting Back Up After Every Punch 13:23 Great Teams Can Turn Bad Ideas Into Winning Companies 14:00 Culture Is What Makes Startup Teams Survive 16:19 Your Team Is More Valuable Than Your Product 18:08 The Best Interviews Reveal the Person Behind the Resume 21:45 Hiring Should Be a Strong Yes or an Easy No 28:52 It Is Better to Suffer Alone Than With the Wrong People 35:03 Prove the Tech Works Before You Sell the Dream 40:54 Startup Success Always Comes Back to the Team 44:48 Fundraising Is Not the Achievement 45:24 Be Careful What You Raise Because You Have to Pay It Back 46:08 The Real Win Is Building Something People Love 49:47 Great Leadership Starts With Learning Yourself 51:43 A CEO’s Job Is to Carry the Problems No One Else Can Handle Connect with - Jordan Ritter: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jordanritter Website: darkridge.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →Why Founders Struggle to Delegate and How to Fix It with Connor Drake
3w ago01:20:57Tap to summarizeConnor Drake explains why most founders are not actually overwhelmed because of the company, they are overwhelmed because they refuse to let go. He breaks down why saying yes to everything slowly destroys focus, why many entrepreneurs stay stuck in “scrappy founder mode,” and why delegation is not about laziness, it is about survival and scale. As the co-author of Radical Delegation and a senior executive coach at MindMaven, Connor works closely with founders who are trying to grow companies without losing themselves in the process. He shares why the best leaders stop trying to be the hero, why some fires should be left alone, and why the most successful CEOs build systems that free them to think instead of constantly reacting. In this episode, Connor and Adam dive into founder psychology, the pressure to prove yourself, the fear behind saying no, and why relationships are one of the biggest drivers of long term success. They also explore how great founders prioritize their time, build stronger teams, and create companies that can grow without depending on them for every decision. Key Topics: -Why founders struggle to delegate even when it slows the company down -How saying yes to everything quietly kills focus and growth -Why great CEOs stop being the hero and let some fires burn -How to train your team to stop needing your approval -Why relationships, priorities, and systems drive real founder success Timestamps: 07:24 Every Yes Is Quietly Killing Your Focus 08:14 Why Founders Are Terrible at Saying No 12:46 Some Fires Are Not Worth Saving 13:03 Your Team Should Not Need Your Approval Forever 17:00 This Is Why Most Delegation Fails 19:14 Success Means Nothing If It Breaks You 24:24 No Founder Wins Alone 27:25 The Best Founders Stop Reacting to Everything 29:39 Freeing Up Time Means Nothing Without This 31:58 Stop Escaping One Busy Trap Just to Enter Another 34:09 The Best Founders Have Something to Prove 37:45 You Can Train Yourself to Become More Competitive 40:25 World Changing Founders Think Differently 43:08 The Self Made Founder Is a Lie 46:12 Important Work Gets Ignored Because It Is Not Urgent 48:33 Every New Idea Will Test Your Focus 50:08 Great Leaders Know What Their Team Really Wants Connect with - Connor Drake: Email - connor.d@mindmaven.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →The Founder Freedom Playbook Behind 6 Exits with Mac Lackey
4w ago01:25:24Tap to summarizeMac Lackey explains why most founders do not fail because they lack ambition. They fail because they build businesses that depend entirely on them. After six exits across tech, sports, and media, he learned that real entrepreneurial success is not just about making money, it is about building a business that gives you freedom, optionality, and control over your life. As the founder of ExitDNA, Mac helps entrepreneurs build companies that can scale, operate, and even sell without the founder being involved in every decision. He shares how becoming a father completely changed the way he worked, why stepping away forced his team to grow, and how great businesses are built by trusting people instead of controlling everything yourself. In this episode, Mac breaks down why founders stay trapped in execution, how forcing functions create stronger teams, and why mentors, advisors, and self awareness are critical for long term success. At the core, this conversation is about building a company that does not own your life, surrounding yourself with the right people, and learning how to lead without becoming the bottleneck. Key Topics -Building a business that does not depend on the founder -Why founders become the bottleneck without realizing it -How becoming a father changed the way he built companies -The forcing function that made his team perform at a higher level -Why the best entrepreneurs move fast and bet on themselves -The importance of mentors, advisors, and self awareness in leadership -Why real entrepreneurial success is about freedom, not just money Timestamps: 06:24 He Built Wealth, Then Chose Time Instead 07:44 The Business Ran Better When He Stepped Away 09:20 Why Letting Go Is So Hard for Founders 11:43 The 4:45 Rule That Changed His Life 12:26 His Team Leveled Up When He Left the Room 13:26 Founders Are Often the Bottleneck 14:16 The Fastest Way to Force Real Delegation 15:27 Pressure Reveals Who Can Actually Lead 16:31 How Founders Can Escape the Daily Grind 17:57 The Founder Hat and Owner Hat Are Not the Same 19:10 Employees Rarely See the Risk Founders Took 20:39 One Alignment Problem Can Break the Team 21:57 Great Leaders Plan for People to Leave 22:48 Hard Conversations Save Strong Teams 24:16 One Question Exposes Performance Issues Fast 25:40 Why Waiting Too Long Can Hurt Everyone 26:42 Soccer Built His Founder Mindset 27:55 Why He Got Hooked on Startups Fast 29:15 The Timing Bet That Changed Everything 31:18 Why He Thought a Safe Job Was Riskier 31:54 Bet on Yourself, Even If You Miss 33:29 Winners Move Before the Market Agrees 34:52 The Real Reason His Companies Worked 36:00 Most Founders Build Alone When They Should Not 37:57 Smart Advisors Can Save You From Expensive Mistakes 39:36 How Broke Startups Get World Class Advisors 41:20 Ego Keeps Founders Stuck 42:13 Know Your Lane or Lose the Business 43:42 Mentors Do Not Work If You Only Reach Out When You Need Something 45:20 Your Mentor May Not Fit Every Season 46:36 The Right Mentor Knows Your Whole Life 47:36 The Best Mentors Do Not Give Easy Answers 48:17 Fast Founders Need Slow Thinkers Around Them 49:19 Founders Need Someone They Can Be Honest With 50:00 Your Calendar Shows What You Actually Value 50:44 Founders Do Not Fail From Lack of Effort Connect with - Mac Lackey LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/maclackey Website: exitdna.com (Company) thefenx.com (Company) maclackey.com (Other) Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →Why Great CTOs Must Stop Being the Smartest Person in the Room with Adam Horner
Apr 3000:51:33Tap to summarizeAdam Horner shows why becoming a CTO is not just a promotion, it is an identity shift. You stop being the best problem solver in the room and become the person responsible for problems you cannot solve alone. He explains why real leadership is about trust, listening, asking better questions, and staying steady through uncertainty. As the creator of CTO Playbook, Adam helps technical leaders move beyond execution and into strategic leadership. He shares why CTOs need to understand the business, not just the technology, and why dashboards, metrics, and speed mean little without direction. In this episode, Adam breaks down why many CTOs get stuck in execution, how AI is changing team structures, and why the most valuable engineers are the ones who understand the customer and the business. At the core, this conversation is about leading through change, building stronger teams, and getting comfortable making decisions without perfect data. Key Topics: -Becoming a CTO is an identity shift, not just a promotion -Great technical leaders stop trying to be the smartest person in the room -AI is forcing CTOs to rethink teams, strategy, and execution -The best CTOs lead through listening, trust, and better questions -Speed means nothing when the team is moving without clear direction Timestamps: 06:24 Great Builders Often Struggle When They Become Leaders 07:44 The Best CTOs Stop Standing Above the Team 10:05 The First 30 Days Should Be About Listening, Not Fixing 14:51 Moving Fast Means Nothing If You Are Going the Wrong Way 15:35 Plans Die Fast, But Planning Keeps You Alive 17:44 Dashboards Do Not Inspire People, Stories Do 21:16 Most CTOs Are Too Busy Executing to Actually Think 23:09 A CEO Needs a CTO Who Can Challenge Them 24:46 A Strong CTO Should Be Trying to Make Himself Replaceable 27:15 You Do Not Need All the Answers, You Need Better Questions 31:05 AI Is Making Teams Smaller, Faster, and Harder to Lead 34:16 The Best Tech Teams Are Now Measured by Revenue 38:29 The Most Valuable Engineers Understand the Business 40:46 Founders Forget How Heavy Their Words Become 45:45 The Most Important CTO Skill Is Deep Listening 46:51 The Next Great CTOs Will Be Team Builders 48:51 Every Decision You Keep Is a Lesson Your Team Loses 49:47 Great Leaders Get Comfortable With Uncertainty Connect with - Adam Horner: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/adamhorner Website: theCTOplaybook.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →He Lost Everything and Built $450M with Jerry Brazie
Apr 2301:25:58Tap to summarizeJerry Brazie shows that entrepreneurial excellence is not about having the perfect plan, it is about surviving what most people cannot, taking full responsibility for your life, and continuing to build even after failure, loss, and setbacks. His story proves that success is not clean or linear, it is built through pressure, pain, and the refusal to quit. Jerry has spent nearly three decades building, buying, and scaling companies across transportation, logistics, real estate, and construction, generating over 450 million in revenue and employing more than 10,000 people without investors or a safety net. From growing up in extreme poverty to rebuilding after being fired from his own company, his journey is driven by one core belief, everything is your responsibility. In this episode, Jerry breaks down why a victim mindset destroys potential, how “shut up and listen” became one of the most important lessons in his life, and why trust and reputation can fund a business when money cannot. They also talk about costly mistakes that come from success, the truth about scaling and letting go, why hunger matters more than credentials, and how real entrepreneurs create their own luck through relentless effort. This conversation is a raw look at what it actually takes to stay in the game and build something that lasts. Key Topics: -Why full ownership changes the way entrepreneurs handle failure, pressure, and growth -Why a victim mindset quietly keeps people stuck -How trust and reputation can build a business before capital does -Why hunger and work ethic matter more than credentials -Why fast growth without cash flow can break a company -How real entrepreneurs create their own luck through relentless effort Timestamps: 03:04 The game of business comes with failure, pain, and pressure 10:35 Why blaming others keeps people stuck 13:11 The belief that changed Jerry’s entire life 15:01 Emotional control is a founder’s real power 17:52 Shut up and listen or stay the same 19:48 How trust financed a business from scratch 21:24 Fast growth can kill a company without cash flow 23:47 The advice that saved him millions 28:28 Success led to his most expensive mistake 33:18 Why scaling forces founders to let go 41:30 Hunger matters more than credentials 46:45 Luck comes after the effort 57:30 Why most business advice online fails in real life 01:20:06 Excellence is built through consistency, not shortcuts Connect with - Jerry Brazie: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jerrybrazie Website: https://thekronosgroup.org/ Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →Who Are You Without Your Company? with Andrew Windham
Apr 1601:11:27Tap to summarizeAndrew Windham shows why entrepreneurial excellence is not just about building wealth, it is about knowing who you are without your company, creating meaning beyond money, and designing a life where business, family, and purpose actually work together. He explains why chasing “enough” often leads to regret, and why money without meaning quietly becomes empty over time. Andrew is the founder of Educated Freedom, a concierge multifamily office serving founders doing 10 to 100 million in revenue. Instead of replacing advisors, he orchestrates them, aligning CPAs, attorneys, and investment teams around one thing most founders ignore, their values. His approach, called integrated stewardship, focuses on coordinating financial, relational, and personal capital so nothing important falls through the cracks. In this episode, Andrew breaks down why most founders lose themselves after an exit, how poor delegation is really a clarity problem, and why many leaders confuse being in charge with being in control. They also talk about building family architecture alongside financial success, the hidden risks of self-reliance, and why the real goal is not just making money, but creating freedom, impact, and a life that actually feels complete. Key Topics: -Why founders lose themselves when their whole identity is tied to the company -Why money without meaning can still leave you with deep regret -How great leaders delegate better by choosing clarity over control -Why building wealth without building family values usually breaks in the next generation -Why the best founders stop chasing more and start designing a life with purpose Timestamps: 01:26 Entrepreneurial excellence starts with one brutal question, who are you without your company 06:13 The business he built came from a painful truth about his relationship with his father 09:43 Chasing enough can still leave you with your biggest regret 10:19 Money without meaning is still meaningless 13:43 Most founders build financial architecture, but completely ignore family architecture 15:40 Real leadership starts when you do the emotional work on yourself 20:45 Delegation is not weakness, it is an investment in a better life 21:50 Founders confuse being in charge with being in control 23:38 Most delegation problems are actually clarity problems 28:28 People are unhappy for one simple reason, mismatched expectations 32:14 After the exit, many founders do not lose money first, they lose identity 36:41 The real test of freedom is whether you can disappear for a week 44:27 Wealth falls apart when advisors work in silos instead of in sync 47:14 Great outcomes require three things, specificity, participation, and delegation 54:24 Giving wealth without values is like handing a teenager a Maserati with jet fuel 57:44 Trust is the real reason founders wait too long to get help 1:00:15 The real value is not the money, it is the freedom that money creates 1:02:57 Self-reliance creates blind spots, strong teams create better outcomes 1:04:11 You are only as good as the people you put around you 1:06:17 The most important work for a founder is working on themselves Connect with - Andrew Windham: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/andrewwindham Website: EducatedFreedom.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →Why Buyers Don’t Trust You Yet with Jared Gibson
Apr 900:46:47Tap to summarizeJared Gibson breaks down a hard truth most B2B companies are missing, the real problem is not pipeline, it is familiarity. Buyers are no longer waiting for sales calls. They are watching, researching, and forming opinions long before they ever reach out. That means trust is being built in the background, and if you are not showing up consistently, you are already losing. He explains why content is no longer just marketing, it is part of how companies earn attention, build credibility, and stay top of mind in a crowded market. Jared is the founder of Outworks, a company helping B2B leaders turn their thinking into consistent, buyer-facing content that builds trust over time. With a background in sales, marketing, and leadership, he has seen firsthand how buyer behavior has shifted and why executive visibility now plays a direct role in growth, recruiting, and closing deals. His work focuses on building content systems that feel human, not automated, even in a world powered by AI. In this episode, Jared shares why most LinkedIn content fails, how AI should be used without turning your message into noise, and why consistency beats intensity every time. They also talk about the metrics that actually matter, why vanity metrics are misleading, and how a single post with the right audience can drive real business. He also explains how trust compounds over time, why every executive should be creating content, and how companies can build a system that works without turning leaders into full-time creators. Key Topics: -Why most B2B companies have a familiarity problem, not a pipeline problem -Trust is built long before a buyer ever books a call -Executive content can drive sales, recruiting, and long term brand trust -AI can support content creation, but human voice still matters most -The best content strategy is a system that keeps you visible and top of mind Timestamps: 05:12 Why Mental Toughness Matters More Than Your Business Plan 06:41 The Real Reason He Finally Bet on Himself 07:45 The Dumpster Fire Acquisition That Changed Everything 13:32 The Career Hit That Forced Him to Grow 14:13 The Advice That Changed How He Handled Setbacks 16:15 The LinkedIn Problem That Turned Into a Real Business 17:11 Why Buyers Trust Executives Before They Trust Companies 18:13 Trust Is Being Built Long Before the First Sales Call 19:14 Why Most LinkedIn Content Fails to Stand Out 20:08 AI Can Write Posts, But It Still Cannot Build Real Trust 21:42 Why Every Executive Should Be Creating Content Right Now 24:43 Why CEO Content Alone Is Not Enough Anymore 27:11 How They Use AI Without Turning Content Into Spam 31:07 The Truth About ROI on Content That Most Founders Miss 31:49 A Post With 300 Views Can Still Make You Money 35:00 The System That Makes Executive Content Actually Work 38:24 Ads Capture Ready Buyers, Content Wins the Rest 41:20 The Most Underrated Skill Every Executive Still Needs 44:16 Treat Everyone Like a Mentor and Watch What Happens Connect with - Jared Gibson: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jaredoutworks Website: https://www.outworks.io/?utm_source=linkedin-company-page Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →The Most Underused Growth Channel Is Already in Your Network with Olivier Roth
Apr 200:33:12Tap to summarizeOlivier Roth shares why one of the most overlooked assets in business is the network you already have. Not just the people you know, but the relationships you have built over time and the trust behind them. For him, entrepreneurial excellence is not just about execution. It is about building trust that compounds and learning how to turn relationships into real opportunities. Olivier is the co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of The Swarm, a platform that helps companies map and activate their networks for growth. Before that, he bootstrapped TimeLapse into a seven-figure agency working with startups and brands like Rakuten, Lyft, and Stanford Research Park. His experience gives him a practical view of growth, networking, and what it really takes to build something that lasts. In this episode, Olivier talks about why giving before you ask matters so much, why warm introductions are still one of the most underused growth channels, and how founders can get more value from the network they already have. They also talk about lessons from building and closing an agency, the difference between audience and real relationships, and why AI will make human connection even more important. Key Topics: -Why Your Network Might Be Your Biggest Untapped Growth Channel -What Most Founders Still Get Wrong About Networking -Why Warm Intros Still Beat Cold Outreach -How Great Founders Turn Relationships Into Revenue -What Burnout Taught Him About Building the Wrong Way -Why AI Will Make Human Connection Even More Valuable Timestamps: 04:14 What a Real Network Actually Looks Like 05:12 The Untapped Potential Around Every Entrepreneur 06:08 Give Before You Ask Is the Real Networking Advantage 07:28 Your Audience Is Not the Same as Your Network 08:55 How to Map Your Network Using Real Relationship Data 10:30 How Great Founders Create Value for Their Network First 12:09 How Network-Driven Founders Win in Fundraising, Sales, and Hiring 14:02 How Much Time Founders Should Spend Nurturing Their Network 15:01 How Olivier Bootstrapped TimeLapse from Scratch 18:17 Burnout, Key Hires Leaving, and the Beginning of the End 19:47 Why He Walked Away to Build Something More Scalable 20:33 Why a Co-Founder Could Have Changed Everything 22:55 If He Did It Again, He Would Niche Down Much Earlier 23:28 What The Swarm Actually Does for Companies 25:07 Warm Intros Are Still the Most Underused Growth Channel 26:02 Why Building an Owned Audience Still Compounds 26:43 AI Can Speed Up Content, But Messaging Must Stay Human 28:23 Why AI Noise Will Make Human Relationships More Valuable 29:45 Warm Intros Are Just the Beginning of Network Influence 30:51 Olivier’s Best Advice for Early-Stage Founders 31:51 Why Co-Founder Fit Can Make or Break the Company Connect with - Olivier Roth: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/olivier-roth Website: theswarm.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
Transcribe →The AI That Knows Who You Need Next with Andrew D'Souza
Mar 2601:23:54Tap to summarizeAndrew D’Souza breaks down what actually defines entrepreneurial excellence today, and it is not hustle, scale, or chasing legacy. It comes down to doing the work only you can do, finding what feels natural to you but valuable to others, and having the self-awareness to step aside when you are no longer the right person for the job. He explains why most founders focus too much on being remembered, and not enough on creating real impact, even if it starts with just one person. Andrew is the co-founder of Clearco, one of the fastest growing fintech companies that pioneered revenue-based financing for founders. Now, as the founder of Boardy, he is building an AI-powered super connector designed to match people with the exact opportunities, relationships, and resources they need at the right moment. His work sits at the intersection of technology, human judgment, and how the future economy will operate. In this episode, Andrew talks about why skill stacking can make you impossible to compete with, how being underestimated can become your biggest advantage, and why conviction matters more than consensus. They also discuss how AI will reshape work, why smaller and more fragmented companies will dominate, and how founders should think about building in a world where intelligence is everywhere. Key Topics: -The best founders focus on work only they can do -Being underestimated can become your biggest advantage -Conviction matters most when the path is still unclear -AI will replace routine work, but not human judgment -Boardy, an AI that connects the right people at the right time Timestamps: 03:22 Chasing Legacy Is the Wrong Founder Goal 04:10 Great Companies Start by Changing One Life 06:14 Why He Left Clearco to Build Bordy 06:42 The Mission to Back People Everyone Else Misses 07:33 How Bordy Finds What Makes You Different 09:00 Trust Still Runs the Entire Economy 10:41 The Founder Bet He Could Not Explain 13:18 The Moment He Knew It Was Time to Let Go 15:13 The Question Every Founder Has to Face 17:06 Would You Still Hire Yourself as CEO 19:28 Skill Stacking Beats Being Best at One Thing 24:30 Why Being Underestimated Became His Edge 26:28 How Long Can You Survive Looking Crazy 27:47 Founders Need a Clear View of the Future 31:27 Why the Next Era Will Create 100x More Founders 32:45 The Future Belongs to Smaller, Faster Companies 34:44 AI Will Replace More Work Than Most People Think 35:24 The Human Advantage AI Still Cannot Copy 39:12 Most VCs Are Using AI Completely Wrong 41:40 The Best Investors Think Like Future Builders 45:40 Chatbots Are Not the End Game 47:40 When AI Stops Assisting and Starts Deciding 53:12 How Clearco Mistook Momentum for Product Market Fit 55:42 The Moment You Know the Market Is Pulling You 59:23 Great Culture Must Match the Customer 01:00:27 If It Matters, Why Are You Waiting 01:05:14 Why Curiosity Now Matters More Than Experience 01:10:45 The Goal Is a Company That Gets Better Without You 01:11:50 Build the Role Only You Can Fill 01:17:45 The Biggest Breakthroughs Happen Across Worlds 01:20:52 Stop Trying to Build Like Someone Else 01:21:51 Find What Feels Easy to You but Valuable to Others Connect with - Andrew D'Souza: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/andrewdsouza X - @andrewdsouza Website: https://www.boardy.ai/ Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast
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