After the First Million

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a product. It’s about building a culture and a vision that lasts.For Abhik Pramanik, Co-Founder & VP of Engineering of Ashby, the journey to creating a company wasn’t a straight path. From working in visual effects at Industrial Light & Magic to the world of entrepreneurship, Abhik learned firsthand that success often comes from listening to customers, navigating failures, and staying adaptable. Alongside his co-founder, Benji, Abhik transformed Ashby into an all-in-one recruiting platform by focusing on execution, customer collaboration, and innovative solutions that scale.In this episode, Abhik shares his insights on building a company that listens deeply to its customers, cultivates a strong team culture, and stays nimble in the face of evolving challenges. Whether you’re a founder, team leader, or just someone curious about entrepreneurship, this conversation is packed with lessons on scaling with purpose and precision.In this episode, you’ll learn:Validate your ideas with real-world input: Don’t rely on assumptions. Broad validation helps ensure your product or service is solving genuine customer problems.Stay nimble while balancing vision and customer needs: Ashby’s success came from staying adaptable. When market conditions shifted, they reprioritized product development to address customer pain points.Empower your team with purpose and autonomy: A culture that supports creativity and problem-solving starts with leadership. Building a team culture gives employees the freedom to innovate while staying aligned with company goals.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Abhik Pramanik(01:35) From visual effects to entrepreneurship: Abhik’s early journey(03:08) Realizing you’re one of the “crazy ones”(05:14) Lessons from being a passionate but “terrible employee”(07:10) The birth of Ashby: How problem-solving led to opportunity(09:39) Navigating failure: The role of past start-ups in shaping success(12:28) Validating ideas with 100+ conversations(16:12) Scaling Ashby while maintaining customer focus(19:21) Balancing vision and customer listening in product development(22:03) Building a culture of collaboration through customer success(25:36) Leveraging partnerships and feedback loops to drive innovation(30:45) The art of sequencing priorities for growth(36:40) What’s next for Ashby in 2025(41:12) Building a culture where rebels thrive

Turning challenges into opportunities is the foundation of every great business. Wiley Jones’s journey to entrepreneurship wasn’t driven by a dream to start a company—it was a relentless need to solve a problem. As CEO and co-founder of Doss, Wiley turned his background as an electrical engineer into a mission to address inefficiencies he encountered firsthand. Along the way, he discovered that building a company also involves building a team, culture, and vision that scales.In this episode, Wiley shares how he tackles startup growth challenges, from building a culture of accountability and scaling demand generation to balancing personal priorities with professional goals. His insights offer founders practical advice on growing their businesses while staying true to their values.In this episode, you’ll learn:Share your vision clearly and often: Regularly communicate your goals and direction to ensure your team understands their role in achieving them. It turns big-picture ideas into actionable steps everyone can contribute to.Empower your team to solve problems: Shift from doing it all yourself to enabling others to take ownership. Build trust, set clear expectations, and guide your team toward shared success to drive sustainable growth.Set clear standards and enforce accountability: Define expectations, follow through, and address gaps quickly. Consistent accountability keeps teams motivated, maintains culture, and keeps progress moving in the right direction.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Wiley Jones(01:20) How solving a problem led to starting a company(03:00) Problem-driven entrepreneurs versus passion-driven(08:00) Embedding founder values into company culture(10:12) Translating values into actionable behaviors(12:19) The role of incentives in reinforcing company culture(13:36) Why repetition is key to effective leadership(15:22) Challenges of enforcing accountability in larger organizations(20:06) The importance of addressing and resolving conflicts directly(24:05) Balancing speed, accuracy, and collaboration in decision-making(31:35) Evolving leadership styles and building complementary teams(38:47) The challenge of balancing business growth with family life

In this engaging talk, Robert Irvine, a world-renowned chef and entrepreneur behind a billion-dollar enterprise, discusses the essence of empathetic leadership. He emphasizes that true success relies on understanding and supporting the people behind the business. Robert shares strategies for building resilience amidst setbacks, maintaining core values during expansion, and balancing his ambitious ventures with personal life. His insights into humility, innovation through debate, and nurturing team trust unveil the secrets to thriving in a dynamic entrepreneurial landscape.

The journey to building and scaling a successful business is messy, challenging, and full of lessons. In this special episode of After the First Million, we reflect on the most impactful conversations from the past year, highlighting the key themes that define the entrepreneurial journey.A special thanks to our guests who joined us this year:Tiffany Sauder, CEO of Element ThreeDagan Xavier, founder of Label InsightDevin Bramhall, former CEO of AnimalzRich Hagberg, founder of Hagberg Consulting GroupAdam Weber, co-founder of Bluebridge and EmplifySims Foster, co-founder of Foster Supply HospitalityKevin Bailey, co-founder of DreamfuelLindsay Roselle, COO of BossBabeJeremy Reymer, founder of DriverReach Lindsay Tjepkema, co-founder of CastedNick Smarrelli, former CEO of GadellNetLee Rubin, founder of ConfettiMichael King, founder of KFE Solutions and The CFO AcceleratorBrian Powers, founder of PactSafe (now Ironclad)Mark Caswell, former CEO of ResultantSharon Rechter, co-founder of First MediaSteven Plappert, co-founder of ForecastrChad Peterman, president and CEO of Peterman BrothersJoin us as we reflect on these lessons and carry them into the year ahead.In this episode, you’ll learn:Risk and resilience in entrepreneurship: Success comes from embracing failure as part of the journey. Building resilience allows entrepreneurs to push through challenges and keep their vision alive.Leadership and personal growth: Great leadership starts with personal growth. By understanding their strengths and areas for improvement, leaders can evolve alongside their businesses.Balancing work with personal life and mental health: Sustainable success requires balance. Prioritizing wellness enables leaders to show up more effectively for their teams and families.Building and maintaining company culture: Culture is what makes a business thrive. Align your team with core values to create stronger connections and long-term success.Navigating growth and scaling challenges: Scaling is about adaptability. Leaders who stay agile and focus on repeatable processes are better prepared to overcome the complexities of growth.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Reflecting on a year of business lessons (04:38) Risk and resilience in entrepreneurship(07:29) Leadership and personal growth(11:03) Balancing work, personal life, and mental health(16:28) Building and maintaining company culture(21:34) Navigating growth and scaling challenges(25:45) Here’s to the next million

Writing down your vision sets the course, but communicating it is what gets everyone on board.Chad Peterman knows this well. As President and CEO of Peterman Brothers, he focused on building a strong company culture. This helped scale the family business from 21 employees to over 500 across four states—Peterman Brothers is now one of the fastest-growing family-owned businesses in the country. Along the way, they also launched initiatives like the Peterman Top Tech Academy to address the talent gaps in the industry.Chad opens up about the strategic moves that helped their home services business thrive, including hiring specialists to support growth, ensuring a strong culture fit for both employees and clients, and carefully managing change within a rapidly expanding organization.In this episode, you’ll learn:Communicating goals is key: Clearly defining and communicating your company’s long-term goals with your entire team creates alignment. When everyone knows where the business is heading, they’re ready to contribute.Culture fit drives success: Finding people that align with your company’s culture is essential for success. Employees and clients who share the same values as the company’s end up feeling more satisfied.Managing change is critical: Carefully managing transitions and effectively communicating the reasons behind change helps prevent disruption—it’s what keeps everyone on the same page as the business evolves.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Chad Peterman(03:54) Scaling to 520 employees(06:14) The power of a vivid vision(11:11) Communicating goals and changes in a large organization(16:21) Launch of Peterman Top Tech Academy(19:09) Prioritizing culture fit for employees and clients(26:02) “Go slow to go fast”(29:57) Personal growth as a leader(33:38) Hire specialists early(35:34) Matt’s takeaways

Scaling is simple: it’s about doing what works, over and over again. In this episode, Brian Powers shares how he applied this strategy to scale his company, PactSafe (now Ironclad), a tech startup that became a $15 billion market leader. He talks about the challenge of transitioning from a structured legal career to the unpredictable world of tech entrepreneurship. Thankfully, he wasn’t alone and found other team members with complementary experiences and skill sets that would help PactSafe grow. Brian also talks about the Ironclad acquisition, and what it was like navigating his new role as general manager of the brand. In this episode, you’ll learn:Find Your Repeatable Wins: Scaling your business is about doing the right things over and over. Focusing on what works and cutting out what doesn’t is the key to sustainable growth.Embrace the Uncertainty of Entrepreneurship: Unlike the structured world of law, building a business requires adapting to constant change and making decisions with limited information.Build a Smarter Team: Success isn’t a solo act. Hire people who are smarter and more experienced than you in key areas, ensuring your business can grow beyond your own expertise.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Brian(06:24) Starting a solo law practice(08:59) How PactSafe was conceived(12:43) Creating a new software category(17:20) Repeatability is how companies scale(21:23) Hire people smarter than you(27:56) Different people for different phases of growth(30:12) Ironclad’s acquisition of PactSafe(38:34) Brian’s exit from Ironclad

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” To succeed, founders need to keep on learning and evolving.Drawing from over four decades of coaching experience, Rich Hagberg breaks down the key traits that differentiate successful founders from unsuccessful ones. Rich also shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, and how he founded the Hagberg Consulting Group.Tune in for valuable insights on adaptability, emotional intelligence, and the value of building effective teams. In this episode, you’ll learn:Unleash Your Unique Strengths: Understanding what you excel at and continuously honing an additional skill set can set you apart. Even legends like Steve Jobs weren't just tech geeks; they were visionaries with a rich blend of diverse skills.Embrace Feedback and Adapt: The path to success isn't a straight line—it involves falls, stumbles, and course corrections. Founders who thrive are those who are painfully honest about their weaknesses and willing to change.Leadership is a Balancing Act: Ideally, founders blend visionary insight, robust relationships, and flawless execution. But let's face it—no one is perfect. Self-awareness and humility can help you identify your gaps and complement your leadership style.Jump  into the conversation:(00:00) Meet Rich(05:19) Three styles of leadership(10:58) Recognizing your weaknesses(17:06) Keep learning and adapting(21:12) Scale your team and processes(24:17) Personal grounding and integrity(30:28) Founders need emotional intelligence(33:34) Founders Keepers

Adam Weber, a multiple-time founder, executive coach, and author known for co-founding Bluebridge and Emplify, dives into the essence of authentic leadership. He emphasizes the transformative power of leading as your true self and the importance of building a transparent culture, especially in remote settings. Adam shares his journey of navigating business growth while staying true to core values, reflecting on the impact of coaching on both personal and professional levels. Tune in for strategies on resilience and scalable success!

Entrepreneurs never back down from challenges. We embrace it. In this episode, Sharon Rechter shares her challenging journey of starting her own cable network, First Media, while being dyslexic. Throughout our conversation, you’ll notice the prevalent theme of evolving as a company and adapting to change. Sharon shares lessons learned, like embracing failure to foster creativity and the critical concept of "calculated crazy."Stay tuned as we uncover the resilience, humility, and tactical planning that have driven Sharon's remarkable success.In this episode, you’ll learn:Adapt and Thrive with AI: Sharon highlights how AI is revolutionizing creative industries. By evolving your skills and learning to collaborate with AI, you can stay ahead of the curve and drive innovation in your field.Calculated Crazy Equals Winning Strategy: Want to succeed without going off the deep end? Embrace Sharon’s notion of "calculated crazy" — chasing ambitious, scalable, and profitable ideas without getting lost in the fun and excitement.Resilience Fuels Creativity: Struggling with setbacks? Mourn your losses for 24 hours, then bounce back stronger. Sharon’s story shows that overcoming failure sparks unparalleled creativity and innovation.Jump into the conversation:00:00 Meet Sharon02:14 Creative problem-solving with dyslexia 05:43 Launching a new cable network12:26 Embracing change and humility18:59 The role of failure in success22:03 Follow the money34:10 Evolving with the market43:10 Harnessing your unique power in business

Success in entrepreneurship often stems from having a strong 'why’. For Sims Foster, his deep connection with his hometown drove him forward. In this episode, Sims opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, from selling door-to-door as a kid to managing Foster Supply Hospitality with his wife. He shares insights on balancing a day job while growing a business and how they survived the global pandemic as a hospitality organization.Learn how Sims's unwavering commitment to his community has guided his business ventures and how he is giving back through his nonprofit, A Single Bite.In this episode, you’ll learn:Passion Fuels Success: Staying connected to your ‘why’ makes it easier to navigate challenges with purpose and enthusiasm. When you care about your business’s mission and impact, that strong sense of purpose helps you overcome obstacles and keep you motivated during tough times.Security in Dual Paths: Contrary to popular belief, you don't always have to quit your day job to start a successful business. Maintaining financial stability can alleviate the pressure and make the entrepreneurial journey more enjoyable and less daunting.Community Comes First: Building a successful business isn't just about profits; it's about giving back. Engaging with and revitalizing your community, as well as addressing local issues can drive your business forward and create a lasting positive impact.Jump into the conversation:00:00 Meet Sims 04:16 Building a career in hospitality08:18 Balancing day jobs and side hustles16:43 Creating business and community value22:47 Educating kids through A Single Bite24:06 Navigating the pandemic as a hospitality business30:59 Future projects and continued growth