Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with media entrepreneur, author, and political commentator Armstrong Williams. From growing up on a tobacco farm in South Carolina as one of 10 siblings, to becoming one of the most influential minority-owned media executives in the country, Armstrong shares how discipline, faith, and preparation shaped every stage of his journey. He is the founder of Howard Stirk Holdings, co-owner of The Baltimore Sun, and host of multiple nationally syndicated TV and radio shows.Armstrong breaks down how early lessons in personal finance, responsibility, and character led him to build long-term wealth and credibility. He reflects on the people and decisions that shaped his career, including his relationship with Senator Strom Thurmond, investing in real estate before 30, and why he refuses to compromise on principle, even when it costs him. His approach to relationships, leadership, and legacy is a blueprint for staying grounded while building big.Chapters02:42 – Growing Up on a Farm & Learning Discipline from His Parents05:56 – Meeting Senator Strom Thurmond: A Life-Altering Moment06:32 – Interning in DC & Discovering His Calling08:43 – Naivety, Risk & Being Ready When Opportunity Arrives11:42 – The Story of His Father Buying Their Family Farm14:56 – Early Lessons on Judging Character as Individuals, Not Groups17:29 – How His Upbringing Influenced the Naming of His Company19:12 – Getting Cut Off Financially & Learning He Was an Entrepreneur21:46 – His Father's Rule: Always Squirrel Away 20%23:09 – The $200 Check That Turned Into $42K: His First Business Win26:31 – Convincing Richard Pryor to Speak for Black History Month28:16 – Meeting His First Business Mentor Through This Event29:36 – Investing $25K That Turned Into $7M by Age 2730:35 – The Power of Long-Term Wealth & Strategic Investing34:53 – The Importance of Giving Back & Empowering Others36:25 – Why Most Young Entrepreneurs Don’t Understand Morality39:05 – Managing Hundreds of Relationships with Intention44:13 – Creating & Scaling Howard Stirk Holdings49:56 – Buying His First Network TV Stations51:12 – The Power of Local Media and Deciding Elections54:03 – Why He’ll Never Be Compromised by Advertisers57:20 – Why Revenge Is a Dangerous Game in Business & Politics59:33 – On Mistakes, Regret, and Taking Full Responsibility1:03:39 – Why He Personally Signs Every Check in His Business1:05:45 – The Power of Hard Conversations and Emotional Maturity1:10:35 – Intuition, Spiritual Currency & Reading Energy1:15:56 – Why Soul > Strategy for Long-Term Success1:23:28 – The One Thing Young Founders Need to Start Doing1:35:26 – Advice to His 17-Year-Old SelfGuest Links:Website: armstrongwilliams.comInstagram: @realarmstrongwilliamsX: @arightside The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Brandon Pourmorady, founder of Adhesive Media, a powerhouse influencer marketing agency that’s brokered over $20M in YouTube sponsorships to date. Based in Miami and representing over 200 creators monthly, Brandon is at the forefront of the creator economy, matching performance-driven YouTube channels with leading consumer brands. But his journey didn’t start in luxury, it began with bar mitzvah money, garage storage startups, and cold emails sent from a college dorm.Brandon opens up about the formative failures that built his grit, how selling loans at 19 gave him confidence to sell anything, and why taking an underpaid internship taught him more than college ever could. This is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and showing up every day even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.Chapters: 01:17 – Brandon’s Early Drive and Childhood Goals 02:16 – Discovering “Think and Grow Rich” at 15 04:42 – Visualizing Success Before School Every Day 05:47 – Brandon’s First Business Attempt: Amazon FBA 07:31 – Launching Airbnb for Storage and Failing Fast 08:42 – Building a Party App in College That Didn’t Scale 09:20 – Why College Slowed Him Down 12:49 – Advice for Teens: Don’t Trade Learning for “Cool” 14:00 – Taking a Sales Internship at 19 17:22 – Cold Email That Got Him the Job 18:20 – Running 40% of a Pipeline at 19 19:36 – Losing Momentum After Failing at Mask Sales 21:45 – Cold Emailing a Founder and Working for Free 22:50 – Selling Sponsorships for Magic Mind’s Podcast 23:37 – First Six-Figure Deal With Miller Lite 25:00 – Quitting His Job to Go All-In on Adhesive 26:51 – How to Learn While Getting Paid 28:16 – The Real Timeline to $1M in Deals 30:31 – The Power of Apprenticeship Over Courses 31:30 – Why His Age Was an Advantage 32:24 – Using Honest Cold Emails to Land Clients 36:51 – Training Like an Athlete to Compete in Music 38:52 – Being Driven by Integrity Over Approval 40:10 – The Version of Himself He’s Avoiding 43:55 – Rejecting Who He Was at 18 45:50 – Why Reaching Your Potential Matters 47:26 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For 50:02 – Finding Deep Community at Founders Club 52:30 – The ROI of Showing Up 54:35 – Accountability and Environment Fueling Growth 56:02 – Advice to His 16-Year-Old Self 1:00:15 – What Founders Miss Most After the ExitGuest Links:https://www.adhesivemedia.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonpourmoradyhttps://www.instagram.com/brandonpomoThe Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Oleg Lee, a serial entrepreneur, Guinness World Record holder, father of three, and founder of All About Vibe, a custom pillow company that scaled from a garage operation to generating over $60 million in revenue. Known for turning people’s favorite moments into pillows, Oleg has created products for celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Gary Vee, and Paris Hilton, and partnered with brands like Netflix and Paramount.Oleg breaks down the raw, behind-the-scenes reality of building a physical product business from scratch, how a Groupon deal triggered massive demand, working with family, and why he eventually stepped back from daily operations. He shares his goal of a $100 million exit, how he handles adversity and why focusing on health, values, and energy has been his ultimate growth strategy. This conversation is a must-listen for any founder scaling a team or navigating the chaos of entrepreneurship.Chapters: 01:17 – The Dog Pillow That Sparked the Business 02:22 – From Israel to the U.S.: Oleg’s Early Work Ethic 04:05 – The First Custom Pillow: A Tribute to His Dog 05:13 – Building the Business in His Dad’s Garage 07:41 – The Groupon Deal That Created Instant Chaos 08:51 – Fulfilling 20,000 Orders With Family Support 09:59 – From Pre-Made to Fully Custom Designs 11:59 – Transitioning From Wholesale to DTC 12:49 – Working With His Dad: The Challenges and Lessons 14:07 – How Bringing His Wife Into the Business Saved Their Marriage 16:26 – Navigating Family Boundaries in Business 17:13 – Oleg’s Vision for a $100M Exit 19:02 – What He Would Do Differently: No Manufacturing 20:01 – The Problem With Business Advice From Non-Operators 21:30 – Pillows at VCon and Understanding Brand Psychology 23:36 – Creating a Safe and Empowering Culture for Employees 25:15 – Hiring a CEO and Fully Stepping Back 26:28 – Why He Hates Numbers but Still Leads 27:20 – Growing Up in Survival Mode in Beersheba 29:04 – Fixing Machines Himself and Leading by Example 30:22 – What It Took to Build a Self-Sustaining Business 31:37 – The Cost of Listening to the Wrong People 33:13 – Setting a Clear Target for the Exit 36:07 – Aaron’s Story of Selling Hush and Knowing When to Sell 40:34 – Why Oleg Doesn’t Share Product Ideas, He Just Builds 41:31 – Managing Remote Leadership and Scaling From Boca 43:37 – Projected Revenue and the Roadmap to $50M 44:15 – When Summer Outsold Christmas and Production Broke 46:31 – Advice to His 30-Year-Old Self: Prioritize Physical and Mental Health 49:56 – Why Health, Wealth, and Family Are Tattooed Into His Values 51:00 – Surrounding Yourself With the Right EnergyGuest Links:Website: www.allaboutvibe.comInstagram: @thatpillowguyThe Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Kyle Matthews, the Founder and CEO of Matthews™, one of the fastest-growing and now largest privately held commercial real estate brokerages in the U.S. Since launching the firm in 2015, Kyle has scaled the company to nearly 30 offices and over 1,000 employees, closing more than $66 billion in transaction volume. Before his rise in business, Kyle played college football at USC under Pete Carroll, learning firsthand what it meant to be part of a high-performance team, lessons that deeply shaped his leadership style and company culture.Kyle opens up about the long, uncertain road of early entrepreneurship, including the 17 months he went without earning a single dollar in commission. He shares how the pain of regret from his football days shaped a new personal standard of work ethic and intensity in business. Kyle gets honest about what it really takes to succeed as a founder, the role of a supportive partner, why he front-loaded his life for freedom later, and how he's intentionally designed both business and family life to thrive. This conversation is packed with insights on scaling, sacrifice, and staying grounded.Chapters:03:51 – From Football Benchwarmer to Business Beast05:24 – Lessons From Team Sports That Shaped Leadership06:45 – The Regret That Still Fuels Kyle Today08:32 – Building a Career With No Plan B10:02 – How Waking Up at 4:45 Became a Competitive Advantage12:41 – 14-Hour Workdays for 10 Years Straight14:21 – 17 Months Without a Paycheck and Why He Didn't Quit18:33 – When Hard Work Didn’t Translate to Results, Yet20:15 – How Early Struggles Made His Boss's Job Harder21:10 – The Real Impact of Marrying Young24:48 – The Secret to Aligned Relationships While Scaling27:01 – Would He Be as Successful Without His Wife?31:41 – Designing His Life to Be Fully Present for His Kids33:17 – How NFL Players Actually Spend Their Time34:45 – His Dad's Role Model Blueprint for Fatherhood36:59 – Coaching His Son’s Football Team While Running a Company38:30 – Why Your 20s Shouldn’t Be Spent “Enjoying Life”40:00 – The Myth of Work-Life Balance42:02 – How Matthews™ Scaled From 15 People to 1,000+45:23 – Why Kyle Left a Public Company to Start His Own46:45 – The Business Model That Made Matthews™ Explode52:47 – Scaling as a CEO: From Founder to Strategic Leader54:36 – The Intuition Trap: When Founders Need to Let Go59:08 – What Kyle Would Tell His 33-Year-Old Self1:03:29 – Buying Matthews.com From a Basement-Dwelling Domain Squatter1:06:13 – Why You Must Choose Your Hard in LifeLinks:https://www.matthews.comIG: @kylematthewsceoLinkedIn: Kyle MatthewsYouTube: Kyle MatthewsPodcast: The Matthews Mentality PodcThe Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Natia Ramishvili, entrepreneur, empowerment coach, and founder of NR Active. Born in the country of Georgia, Natia immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager and built a thriving 17-year career in finance, ultimately overseeing more than 1,000 employees. But after experiencing deep personal loss, a divorce, and a powerful shift in purpose, she left her executive role, moved to Miami, and launched a brand rooted in authenticity and empowerment.Natia shares how the pain of losing her parents shaped her drive, what it really took to walk away from stability, and how she’s now helping women reconnect with their strength through fashion, mindset, and community. She opens up about creating NR Active, building a fearless brand from scratch, and why confidence is something you create, not something you wait to find. From single motherhood to brand building, Natia’s story is a testament to resilience, intentional living, and owning your worth.Chapters​​02:17 – Losing Both Parents and Finding New Purpose04:22 – Dreaming Bigger at Macy’s and Building a Career in Finance05:48 – The Role of Authenticity in Rebuilding a Life06:36 – Defining Fearlessness Through Action07:40 – The Catalyst: Losing Her Mother to Cancer09:55 – Leaving Marriage and Career to Start Fresh10:55 – Embracing the Unknown and Trusting Intuition12:09 – From People Pleasing to Self-Prioritization13:33 – Funding NR Active with Her Life Savings14:32 – “Burn the Boats” and Commit All In16:25 – Building a Brand With Vision and Discipline18:57 – Why Chemical-Free Activewear Matters20:42 – The Message Behind the Apparel: Wear Your Strength22:45 – The Birth of Born For More Coaching25:49 – The Reality of Doing It All as a Single Mom27:44 – Staying Grounded With Routine and Self-Work28:21 – Book Recommendations That Changed Her Thinking29:45 – A Lesson From Her Parents: You Can Do Anything31:18 – Overcoming Doubt With Relentless Action33:13 – Being Called “Crazy” for Choosing Reinvention36:32 – The Truth About Rejection and Redirection38:53 – The Power of a Supportive Partner|39:58 – The Long-Term Vision for NR Active42:19 – Money Buys Freedom, Not Fulfillment47:05 – Advice for Single Mothers Building a Business49:18 – What She’d Tell Her 5-Year-Old SelfGuest Links:Website: www.nractivewear.comInstagram: @nractivefounder https://wikigenius.org/wiki/Natia_RamishviliThe Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Hector Maradiaga, founder and CEO of Infinity Delta. Hector has spent over a decade optimizing human performance for NFL athletes, Fortune 500 executives, and high-performing founders through data, science, and AI. Now, he's on a mission to make vitality the world’s most valuable asset.Hector shares how his journey started by helping his immigrant father build a business from scratch, why he walked away from taking it over, and how that decision led to years of internal conflict. He opens up about the real cost of trying to prove people wrong, losing millions, and ultimately finding clarity through faith and a renewed sense of purpose. For founders pushing to scale while trying to stay grounded, this conversation gets into what actually sustains long-term performance.Chapters00:02 – Intro to Hector and Infinity Delta02:08 – Born in Honduras, Raised in Hustle04:03 – Running Excel Estimates at Age 805:39 – Launching a Candy Business in Grade School06:50 – Building a Team and Learning Profit Split08:17 – Keeping Business Quiet at Home10:16 – The Candy Empire Collapses12:34 – Working With His Dad Every Weekend14:03 – Struggling With Financial Discipline Early On15:50 – Spending Tomorrow’s Money17:24 – Business Was Sport, Until It Wasn’t18:52 – Stepping Away From the Family Business19:52 – The Unspoken Guilt of Changing Paths22:31 – The Day He Dropped Out24:49 – Going From Comfortable to Survival26:38 – Feeding His Younger Brother During the Crash28:26 – Hearing “I’m Proud of You” For the First Time30:02 – Rebuilding Connection With His Father33:26 – Planning the Costa Rica Surprise35:23 – Shifting From Proving People Wrong to Living With Purpose38:37 – Focused Scaling and Clear Vision40:08 – Killing Ego to Build Longevity42:33 – The Final Boss: Inner Conflict44:58 – You Can’t Fix Home With Money46:56 – Choosing the Vehicle to Your Vision48:34 – Entrepreneurs Are Modern Day Athletes51:28 – Why Founders Don’t Prioritize Their Health53:18 – Know Thyself: Performance Starts With Data56:11 – It's About Better Years, Not Longer Life58:34 – What Founders Miss by Waiting to Focus on Health1:01:47 – Health as an Asset, Not an Expense1:02:59 – The Last Decade to Invest in Your Future1:03:31 – Your Life Is Worth More Than a Billion1:04:00 – What He’d Tell His Younger SelfGuest Links:Website: Infinitydelta.io sportssciencelabs.comInstagram: @coach_hmThe Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with entrepreneur and now congressional candidate Michael Carbonara, committed to serving the people of Florida’s 25th District. Known for building fintech and blockchain companies that processed over $20 billion a year, Michael made headlines when he left it all behind, loaned his campaign a million dollars, and put it entirely into Bitcoin.Michael shares how growing up in a single-parent household shaped his hunger for success, what it took to become a pioneer in crypto banking, and why he believes the American dream is fading unless people like him step up. From building global infrastructure in blockchain to running for office against a 20-year incumbent, this episode covers business, politics, family, and legacy in a way few founders ever do.Chapters: 01:46 – Where His Entrepreneurial Spirit Started 03:19 – Dropping Out Before It Was Cool 04:47 – The Turning Point From School to Self-Education 06:14 – How Rich Dad, Poor Dad Changed His Worldview 08:16 – Starting a Payment Gateway While Holding a Day Job 09:43 – Why Working With Older Partners Changed Everything 11:13 – Becoming a Blockchain Pioneer Before the Hype 13:05 – Why He Still Believes 50% of the World Will Use Blockchain 14:38 – Web3 Is Coming Whether You Understand It or Not 16:31 – The Reality of Building in an Unproven Industry 17:42 – Pivoting Without Quitting: His Approach to "Failure" 18:41 – The Mentors Who Shaped His Entrepreneurial Mindset 20:14 – Why We All Thrive in Different Systems 22:28 – Childhood Lessons That Still Shape His Drive 24:19 – Why He Decided to Run for Office 26:09 – How a Documentary Sparked His Political Awakening 28:28 – Going Up Against a 20-Year Incumbent 30:35 – Restoring Safety, Slashing Waste, and Defunding 32:17 – What He’d Ask Under Oath 34:05 – Family, Risk, and Running With No Fear 35:16 – Why He Invested Campaign Funds Into Bitcoin 37:06 – Making Bitcoin Accessible for Real Wealth Creation 38:35 – Solving the Security and Simplicity Gap in Crypto 40:56 – Taking a Pay Cut to Serve the Country 42:44 – What Happens Without Police and Structure 44:25 – School Choice, Indoctrination, and Fixing Education 47:03 – His Vision for the Next 24 Months 48:30 – Why He Had to Become a Reluctant Social Media Influencer 50:04 – How 7 Million Views Landed Him in the White House 52:57 – How the Dream Is Still Possible, but Not Guaranteed 54:33 – Advice to His 12-Year-Old Self 56:56 – How His Wife Became His Most Trusted Advisor59:25 – Why He Believes the Time to Act Is NowGuest Links:Website: https://michaelcarbonara.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/mcarbonaraflX (Twitter): https://x.com/MCarbonaraFL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarbonara/The Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down once again with Chris Meade to talk about the evolution of Founders Club and where it's headed next. With nearly 700 members and over 120 events planned for the coming year, they share how they’re scaling intentionally while keeping the community tight and valuable.They break down lessons from the Puerto Rico offsite, the LA chapter relaunch, and why success today means supporting founders beyond business, into relationships, parenting and personal growth. It’s a real look at what it takes to build something that lasts.Chapters:01:24 – Kicking off our LA Chapter02:22 – Puerto Rico offsite and club planning03:19 – Improving Member Quality and Filters04:38 – Redefining Success Beyond Business05:56 – How Money Doesn’t Solve the Hard Stuff06:48 – The Missing Support For Personal Relationships07:56 – A New Lens On What Makes A Founder Successful08:58 – Member Anthony’s Shift From Brand Growth To Marriage10:03 – Learning From Founders Ahead Of You11:19 – What Really Got Discussed At Female Founder Day12:15 – What Motivates Founders After Kids12:57 – Why Peer Networks Matter More Than Ever13:27 – 2026 Events And Picking The Right Venues14:53 – Founders Club Is Not An Events Company15:56 – Forums As The Foundation Of Deeper Value16:48 – Members As Speakers, Not Hired Talent17:28 – Booking Dream Speakers For The Community18:28 – Keeping It Fun Or Shutting It Down19:33 – Why This Is A 30-Year Vision21:00 – A Goal To Be Part Of Global GDP21:34 – The Club As The First Call When You Need Help23:11 – Removing The Wrong Energy24:40 – Events That Spark Action25:25 – When The Club Drives Real Business26:46 – Unlocking Perks And Member-Only Access27:57 – Why Founders Need Better Tools And Support28:50 – What FD Chat And The App Will Offer30:18 – Creating Better Matches Through Data30:52 – How Many Real Connections You Can Have31:24 – Focus On 5 People A Year32:46 – One Billionaire’s Honesty Changed The RoomGuest Links: Instagram:@chrismeadeKintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideThe Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

Kinga Strogoff is the President & CEO of Second Street Iron & Metal, Chairman & Creative Director of Balmoral Defender, and a Board Member at Basalt International. She runs a third-generation scrap metal business, reshapes luxury automotive design, and drives innovation in sustainable materials, all while raising her son as a single mother.In this episode, Kinga shares how she moved to the U.S. from Poland as an au pair, eventually took over her husband’s steel business, and led it through collapse and revival. She talks openly about loss, building resilience, and why she believes obsession, not balance, is key to building anything meaningful. Her story spans legacy, grief, and the discipline it takes to keep moving forward.Chapters: 02:23 – From Polish Village to the American Dream 04:32 – The Power of Dreaming Beyond Logic 06:00 – When Manifestation Goes Wrong 07:44 – Leaving Home Against All Odds 08:40 – Becoming an Au Pair to Escape Limitations 09:47 – The Family That Waited a Year for Her 10:26 – Feeling Called to America at Age 6 12:28 – Entering the Workforce and Loving Money 13:24 – Childhood Hustle: Scrap Metal and Sneakers 15:31 – Her Grandfather’s Influence and Deep Bond 17:04 – The Story Behind the Name “Kinga” 19:51 – Building Kinga Steel from the Ground Up 21:42 – Visualizing Life as a Painting 22:37 – No Plan B: Betting on Herself 23:13 – Meeting Her Husband and Building a Life 25:53 – Taking Over the Business During Crisis 27:25 – 24 Months of Full Obsession 28:38 – Earning Respect in a Male-Dominated Industry 32:39 – Advice to Women in Male-Dominated Fields 34:34 – When She Knew the Business Would Thrive 35:59 – Leading Through Legacy and Empowering Her Team 36:56 – The Loss of Her Husband and the Aftermath 39:12 – Rebuilding While Raising Her Son Alone 41:44 – Jump Rope Therapy: Turning Pain Into Purpose 42:51 – Fitness, Discipline, and Mental Strength 46:06 – Obsession Over Balance: Her Success Philosophy 47:51 – What’s Next? Learning to Sit in the Unknown 49:12 – What She’d Tell Her 6-Year-Old Self 52:32 – Creating Heaven on Earth, Every Day 54:40 – The Role of Social Media and Building Brand Authentically 56:03 – Protecting Her Son and Living in Silence 56:45 – Sharing Her Story to Help Others HealGuest LinksInstagram: @kingasteel @ssimrecycleKintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideThe Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Keida Dervishi, the 23-year-old founder of Soulmate Customs, a custom embroidery brand that hit $1 million in revenue in under 11 months without spending a dollar on ads. What started as a hoodie gift for her mom’s birthday quickly turned into a viral business powered by emotional storytelling and relentless content creation.Keida shares how growing up in an immigrant household shaped her drive, how she transitioned from child star in Albania to business builder, and what it’s like leading a fast-scaling brand at such a young age. From hiring mistakes, to burnout, staying grounded, to posting 40+ times a day, this conversation is a real look at what it takes to scale with zero shortcuts.Chapters:02:08 – Growing Up in an Entrepreneurial Household03:47 – From Child Star to Burnout on Stage05:43 – Accidentally Entering Entrepreneurship07:00 – The Hoodie Gift That Started Soulmate Custom09:58 – Viral Launch and Selling Out Within Days11:32 – No Strategy, Just Action: Early Days of Posting12:37 – Moving Out of Her Bedroom to Scale Fulfillment13:02 – First TikTok Lives and Learning to Sell14:22 – Hiring Challenges and Missteps15:45 – The Family Business Breakdown: Who Does What16:37 – Discovering Her Why: The Fear That Fuels Her18:01 – A Breakthrough Moment at Founders Club19:04 – The Realities of Building While Your Parents Age21:10 – Navigating Burnout, Routines, and Sleep Struggles23:10 – Posting 40+ Times a Day: Pressure and Purpose25:12 – Why Consistency Is Her Superpower27:21 – Leading a Team as the Youngest in the Room30:44 – Building Confidence and Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs34:11 – Embracing Embarrassment to Achieve Greatness35:27 – What Keeps Her Going: Live Calls with Customers38:47 – Giving Credit Where It’s Due and Admiring the Work41:38 – What’s Next for Soulmate Customs44:45 – Learning to Let Go as the Business Grows49:28 – Curating Her Circle and Protecting Her Environment54:25 – Working With Her Brother and Navigating Family Tension57:22 – What She’d Tell Her 9-Year-Old SelfGuest Links: Website: https://soulmatecustoms.com/Instagram: @SoulmateCustoms@Keida02Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwideThe Founders Club: The premier community for founders pursuing excellence in the mind, body, and business.Stay Connected!Aaron Spivak:IG: @‌SpivakLinkedinThe Founders ClubIG: @‌TheFoundersClubWebsite www.foundersclubofficial.com Founder2Founder:TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcastYoutube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast