Builders & Doers

How do you go from an orphanage in Norway to sending your art to space?Aisha Makara didn’t just dream. She rocketed her dreams into reality. In this episode, she describes her gripping journey from the pain of abandonment to the triumph of creation, sharing how she turned travel, art, and audacity into a life that defies gravity — literally.You’ll hear how she hitchhiked across continents, rose above heartbreak and rejection, and dared to send her paintings to Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson and saw them launch into orbit.Aisha's journey isn't just a passport full of stamps; it's a vibrant testament to what happens when you bravely pick joy, even when fear is knocking loud and clear.Discover:🟢 How Aisha turned a childhood of struggle into a life of unstoppable exploration🟢 The mindset shift that allowed her to pitch billionaires to launch her art🟢 Why saying “yes” to your dreams is more powerful than any “no” you’ll hear🟢 The raw truth about leadership, community, and what really matters🟢 A roadmap for turning vision boards into living, breathing realitiesConnect with Aisha:aisha.today🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:12 - Introduction to Aisha Makara01:53 - Aisha's Journey from Orphan to Artist04:03 - The Power of Travel and Self-Discovery08:36 - Creating Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges14:21 - The Importance of Gratitude and Mindset19:33 - Choosing Joy and Authenticity in Life22:21 - Navigating Fear and Embracing Change23:26 - Choosing Growth Over Comfort26:43 - The Trade-offs of Success27:08 - Future Aspirations and Leadership30:22 - The Nature of Leadership34:06 - The Role of Women in Leadership37:18 - Manifesting Dreams and Intentions41:41 - Embracing Playfulness and Joy#AishaMakara #SpaceArtist #JoyfulLiving #ManifestYourDreams #OrphanToEntrepreneur #MindsetMastery #CreativeLife #PersonalGrowthJourney #SpaceXArt #UnleashYourPotential #VisionBoardSuccess #TravelAddict #LeadershipDevelopment #BeyondFear #LiveYourDreams #TheBDPodcast

Everything you thought you knew about leadership might be just performative.Jim Fielding’s journey from Disney’s boardrooms to coaching in the real world is a tale of radical authenticity, crushing doubt, and finally, finding your voice. In this episode, he reveals how he learned to stop dimming his light, and how you can too.👉 From feeling othered in secret to reclaiming your story👉 From silent self-doubt to sharing the truth even when it terrifies youDiscover:🟣 Why embracing “I don’t know” might be your greatest strength🟣 How to lead without faking it—and still keep your team’s respect🟣 Why your quirks and otherness might be your superpower🟣 And the leadership lesson that saved Jim’s careerConnect with Jim:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfielding/https://www.hijimfielding.com/https://www.instagram.com/hijimfielding/🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:14 – From Disney to DreamWorks: The Pivotal Move02:55 – Why Jim Left the C-Suite for Coaching05:32 – ‘All Pride, No Ego’: Living Your Truth09:03 – Generational Shifts: Out & Proud13:47 – Coaching Beyond Labels: Everyone Has a Story22:21 – Bridging Gaps Without Creating More29:02 – The Superpower of Not Knowing33:38 – Where Great Ideas REALLY Come From38:37 – Leading Authentically Without Losing Yourself41:02 – Managing Your Inner Voices45:50 – AI, Change & The Future of Leadership51:48 – When It’s Time to Leave: Don’t Dim Your Light57:04 – What’s the Question No One Asks?58:32 – Reflecting on the Journey: Finding Peace & Power#AuthenticLeadership #AllPrideNoEgo #JimFielding #LeadershipDevelopment #LGBTQinBusiness #DiversityandInclusion #ExecutiveCoaching #CorporateCulture #PersonalGrowth #SelfAcceptance #EmpatheticLeadership #Storytelling #HumanBeingNotHumanDoing #CareerTransformation #TheBDPodcast

Amazon’s boldest ideas begin as fiction. Every billion-dollar innovation starts with a fake press release and a brutal six-page narrative. No pitch decks. No roadmaps. Just a high-stakes pressure test before a single line of code gets written.In this episode, Marcelo Calbucci—former Amazon exec and startup veteran—unpacks the company’s most powerful internal tool: the PR FAQ framework. It’s the same process behind products like Alexa and Kindle, and it's now being used by scrappy founders to de-risk their biggest bets.Discover:🟢 The strategies behind one of the world's most successful companies🟢 The exact process Amazon uses to validate ideas and ensure product-market fit🟢 The "Working Backwards" methodology that minimizes risk and maximizes impact🟢 How to truly understand your audience and their hidden needs🟢 How to apply Amazon's principles to your own venture, regardless of your size or budgetConnect with Marcelo:https://www.theprfaq.com/authorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelocalbucciwww.calbucci.com🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:09 - Insights from Amazon's Executive Experience04:16 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs06:58 - The PR FAQ Framework Explained11:35 - Recommended Reading for Entrepreneurs15:24 - The Power of Writing for Clarity16:23 - Understanding Customer Needs17:17 - Qualitative vs Quantitative Data19:50 - The PR FAQ Framework in Product Development22:24 - Working Backwards: The Amazon Approach23:36 - Amazon's Experimentation Culture24:48 - Leadership Attributes for Success26:10 - The Risks of Skipping the PR FAQ28:26 - The Importance of Alignment in Teams30:00 - Accelerating Startup Discovery32:42 - Common Mistakes Founders Make34:24 - Differences Between Accelerators and Venture Studios35:29 - The Learn, Write, Listen Loop38:46 - The Process of Writing a Book39:53 - Overcoming Writing Reluctance#AmazonSecrets #StartupGrowth #InnovationStrategy #Entrepreneurship #BusinessMindset #ProductDevelopment #CustomerCentric #LeadershipLessons #TechStars #VentureCapital #SmallBusinessSuccess #PRFAQ #WorkingBackwards #BusinessStrategy #TheBDPodcast

You’re about to hear why elite MBAs from Stanford and Harvard are quietly ditching tech startups and heading straight for plumbing companies, dental clinics, and pool cleaning businesses.Sounds insane? It’s not. These “unsexy” small businesses are part of a little-known investment model—Search Funds—that's delivered higher returns than venture capital, private equity, and public markets for decades.In this episode, veteran investor Jon Staenberg tells us the hidden engine behind the next trillion-dollar wealth transfer. Discover:🟣 Why the best-performing asset class is flying under Wall Street’s radar🟣 How the “Silver Tsunami” is unlocking generational wealth🟣 The mental toughness required to succeed in ETA and why most people fail🟣 How Search Funds beat VC at its own game (with fewer risks and more alignment)Connect with Jon:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonstaenberg/https://staenberg.com/https://www.agatehound.fund/🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:04 - The Origins of Search Funds11:41 - Transitioning from Venture Capital to Search Funds15:22 - Understanding the Agate Hound Fund16:42 - Global Opportunities in ETA18:42 - Search Funds vs. Micro Private Equity20:15 - Communicating Risk and Returns22:50 - Lessons from Venture Capital26:02 - The Importance of Team Dynamics26:20 - Eastern Philosophies in Business28:00 - The Future of Search Funds31:49 - Democratization of Search Funds33:08 - Support Systems for Searchers34:17 - Developing Leadership Skills36:25 - Creating Community in Entrepreneurship#SearchFunds #ETA #EntrepreneurshipThroughAcquisition #SmallBusinessAcquisition #PrivateEquity #MicroPrivateEquity #StanfordBusiness #HarvardBusiness #WealthTransfer #BabyBoomerBusiness #InvestmentStrategy #UnsexyBusinesses #HighReturns #FundofFunds #TheBDPodcast

They’re calling it “quiet quitting,” but it’s a symptom of a deeper, more insidious problem HR still isn’t addressing. You feel it, your team feels it, and it's killing productivity. This isn't about laziness but about a fundamental disconnect between what companies think employees want and what truly drives them to stay or to silently disengage. Lisa Maree-Blumenfeld, an HR consultant who's seen the inner workings of giants like Lyft and Blue Shield, shares the unfiltered truth. Discover:🟢 The critical missteps HR makes that lead to mass exodus🟢 Why current policies are backfiring🟢 What actually builds loyalty and trust in today’s volatile workforceIf you're a leader struggling with turnover, or an employee wondering why you feel invisible, this episode exposes the broken system and offers a path forward.Connect with Lisa-Maree:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamareeblumenfeld/https://www.linkedin.com/company/retainhr/🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:45 - Debunking HR Myths04:47 - The Financial Impact of HR07:55 - HR in Different Company Sizes10:37 - Essential HR Functions for Startups12:33 - The Fractional HR Model16:16 - The Need for Communication in HR18:52 - The Importance of One-on-Ones22:11 - Balancing HR Requirements and Company Culture22:42 - Culture vs. Compliance: Walking the Legal Tightrope24:55 - Remote Work Dynamics28:30 - Understanding Executive Motivations for On-Site Work32:32 - Navigating HR Functions for New Businesses34:07 - The Complexities of Work Visas and Employee Rights40:55 - The Unpredictability of Human Behavior in the Workplace47:52 - The Role of AI in HR and Employee Connection#QuietQuitting #EmployeeRetention #HRProblems #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipFails #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork #ToxicWorkplace #CareerGrowth #HumanResources #BusinessInsights #ManagementTips #UnspokenRules #WorkLifeBalance #CorporateTransparency

Kyle York built something incredible. He took Dyn from $3 million to $100 million in revenue, then sold it to Oracle for $600 million. But the real story isn't just about the numbers.He shares what it's actually like to scale a company that fast. The sleepless nights, the impossible decisions, the moment you realize your entire net worth exists only on paper.And then what happens after the acquisition – when you go from running the show to being employee #150,000 at a massive corporation.Discover:🟣 The unspoken truths of startup growth🟣 The lies founders believe about scaling🟣 Why the typical VC playbook fails most companies🟣 What it really takes to build generational wealth🟣 Why fulfillment is the only metric that matters in the endConnect with Kyle:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyork20/https://york.ie/https://www.instagram.com/yorkgrowth/?hl=enhttps://x.com/yorkgrowth?lang=en🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps:00:00 - Intro02:05 – From $3M to $100M: What Scaling Actually Looks Like05:40 – The Startup Plan No One Tells You to Make09:12 – Founder-Market Fit Over Product-Market Fit12:50 – Why Equity Is Just Monopoly Money (Until It Isn’t)15:40 – Leaving Oracle: What Happens After the Big Check19:30 – Startup Success Without Alignment = Burnout22:40 – A Smarter Playbook for Generational Wealth26:25 – Philanthropy, Legacy, and Playing the Long Game30:40 – Branding Is the Most Underrated Growth Hack33:10 – The Startup Red Flag That Makes Kyle Say “No”36:22 – Go-To-Market: What Founders Always Miss39:18 – Why the Internet Is One Bad Cable Away from Chaos44:00 – Cybersecurity, AI, and the Next Big SaaS Shakeup48:15 – The Question Every Founder Should Be Asking#StartupScaling #VentureCapital #TechAcquisition #GenerationalWealth #FounderLife #Entrepreneurship #SaaSGrowth #BusinessStrategy #OracleAcquisition #DynStory #TechSuccess #StartupJourney #Innovation #WealthBuilding #TheBDPodcast

What does true wealth look like beyond just a bank account? Jon Sabes, who's seen the finance world from the inside out, unpacks the idea of healthy, wealthy longevity. He shares personal stories from his own "Ironman" journey through life and business, revealing the simple habits and mindset shifts that help you keep going when things get hard.This episode is a full-system reboot on what it means to build a life that lasts.Discover:🟢 Why "money doesn't buy happiness" is the most dangerous lie ever sold🟢 How Ironman training became his weapon for entrepreneurial success🟢 The dark psychology behind why 90% of people fail at building wealth🟢 His "3AM to 6AM" productivity hack that changed everything🟢 Why your environment is sabotaging your financial futureConnect with Jon:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-sabes-14368257/https://jonsabes.com/https://longevityfp.com/🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:03 - Journey from Investment Banking to Longevity02:19 - Identities and Self-Limiting Beliefs06:12 - Longevity and Financial Strategy07:24 - Retirement Myths (Money, Happiness, and Stress)11:23 - Ironman Training and Resilience14:03 - Work-Life Integration vs. Balance15:59 - Biohacking and Healthy Aging19:02 - Creating a Supportive Environment25:36 - Future Vision for Financial Wellness#FinancialLiteracy #WealthBuilding #Entrepreneurship #Longevity #LifeLessons #PersonalFinance #SuccessMindset #HealthyWealthyLongevity #Motivation #MindsetShift #BusinessGrowth #FinancialFreedom #Productivity #SelfImprovement #TheBDPodcast

What if everything you thought you knew about music was wrong?Imagine a world where piracy actually saved the music industry. Where algorithms aren't the enemy, but your secret weapon. And where Times Square is the hottest new music festival.In this conversation, Nick Holmstén, the genius behind Spotify's massive playlist success and the visionary reshaping live music with TSX Entertainment, spills the untold story. We're talking about the real rise of streaming, the death of genres, and the wild psychology of how fans connect in the AI age.Discover:🟣 Why your first 1,000 fans are more powerful than any record deal.🟣 How Spotify used piracy to completely rewrite music history.🟣 Why the old superstar model is falling apart and who's absolutely crushing it instead.🟣 How live concerts became these insane marketing machines.🟣 What the future of music looks like when apps disappear and pure experience takes over.This isn't some nostalgic look back. This is an honest breakdown of the forces shaping music's next big revolution.Connect with Nick:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmanic/https://www.instagram.com/nickmanic/?hl=enhttps://www.nickholmsten.com/🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps: 00:00 – Intro01:58 – Spotify’s Untold Origin Story06:06 – The Playlist Engine You Never Heard Of07:48 – Before Algorithms Took Over08:25 – When Genre Died12:47 – Who’s Really Getting Paid?15:06 – Turning Times Square into a Stage15:21 – Retail Died—Entertainment Took Over16:49 – Post Malone’s Rainstorm Gamble18:00 – The BTS & Shakira Marketing Hack22:22 – Fandom = Marketing Weapon24:35 – Nick’s Rule for Starting Anything26:02 – Fans Over Customers28:18 – Why Gen Z Cancels Superstars32:05 – Be Inclusive or Be Forgotten33:48 – Why Adele Wins Without Trying36:18 – Why Winners Are Just Losers Who Stayed42:32 – How to Beat the Algorithm Without Tricks46:47 – Stop Asking for Advice52:47 – Music Apps Might Go Extinct#MusicIndustry #Spotify #ArtistLife #MusicMarketing #Web3Music #CreatorEconomy #FanEngagement #MusicBusiness #PlaylistCurator #SyncVault #TikTokMusic #IndieArtist #DigitalMusic #MusicTech #TheBDPodcast

The trillion-dollar insurance industry knows something about your future that you don't. Susan Holliday, who's navigated global financial meltdowns and advised the World Bank, shares how insurance companies are the ultimate early warning system for civilization's biggest disruptions.From California's uninsurable homes to how blockchain is quietly revolutionizing global payments, this episode reveals how risk experts see disasters and opportunities years before they hit mainstream consciousness.Discover:🟢 The global forces shaping the future of risk🟢 Why crypto and climate might crush unprepared industries🟢 How your insurance policy predicts your next big business move🟢 What boards get dangerously wrong in crises🟢 The unexpected career steps that actually pay offConnect with Susan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-c-holliday/🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps: 00:00 - Intro01:26 - From History to Finance 03:41 - Global Biz, Broken Rules 07:28 - Lost in Translation: Finance Jargon 09:14 - Insuring the Unthinkable 11:03 - Insurance: The Ultimate Motivator 13:37 - Blindspots: Climate & Crypto 17:05 - Scenario Planning: Your Only Edge 18:45 - Trust & Culture in Global Teams 21:32 - The Risk Personality Compass 24:37 - Crisis Survival Guide 27:09 - Career vs. Happiness: The Swiss Dilemma 31:42 - Women in Finance: Unlocking Potential 37:03 - Boards: Orchestrating Disruption 41:55 Take the Risk. Always. 43:41 The True Measure of Success#AIdisruption #CryptoEconomy #ClimateRisk #FinTech #InsuranceInnovation #GeopoliticalVolatiliy #MarketTrends #FutureofFinance #LeadershipLessons #RiskManagement #Blockchain #EconomicOutlook #SusanHolliday #BoardDynamics #TheBDPodcast

Is your brand struggling to cut through the noise online? Are you pouring money into video but not seeing results? Tim Bradley, co-founder of Pennant Video and a master storyteller, is here to share with us the critical mistakes businesses make and reveal the strategic framework that actually drives conversions.Discover:🟣 The surprising signs it's time to invest seriously in video🟣 The breakdown of the "Video Marketing Trifecta" (Anthem, Explainer, Endorsement) 🟣 Where to start for maximum impactLearn how to inject creativity into even the most "unsexy" industries, why AI isn't the magic bullet (yet!), and the simple trick that makes your videos feel instantly more genuine.Connect with Tim:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-bradley-pennant/https://www.pennant.video/FREE Workbook: https://www.pennant.video/_files/ugd/0787c6_21899d4e59a14414914067cd2df71dc6.pdf🔗 Save hours with top business hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribeTimestamps: 00:00 - Intro01:01 - Introduction to Video Marketing02:46 - Recognizing the Need for Video Marketing05:50 - The Video Marketing Trifecta Explained08:52 - Common Mistakes in Video Marketing12:00 - Creativity in Technical Storytelling14:47 - Understanding Your Audience17:49 - The Role of AI in Video Production20:40 - Authenticity in Video Marketing23:46 - Practical Steps for Genuine Storytelling25:15 - Final Thoughts on Storytelling#VideoMarketing #BusinessStrategy #MarketingTips #BrandStorytelling #ContentMarketing #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #DigitalMarketing #AIinMarketing #CustomerEngagement #SalesFunnel #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy #Storytelling #TheBDPodcast