INspired INsider Podcast

Joe Shelerud is the Co-founder and CEO of Ad Advance, a digital ad agency specializing in Amazon advertising. He has a business and engineering background and started selling on Amazon in 2014. Before Ad Advance, Joe was a Business Development Associate at Flint Hills Resources. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and worked as an engineer at Enbridge. Joe also has an MBA from the University of Minnesota. In this episode… Amazon is a huge marketplace with millions of sellers from around the world. So what do you need to do to make your Amazon business more profitable? To thrive as an Amazon seller, you not only need to have a good product, but you also need to be ahead on how you advertise on Amazon. Since it's a very competitive space, Joe Shelerud recommends hiring Amazon advertising experts to help increase your brand’s exposure. He now shares his journey of starting and running a digital ad agency specializing in Amazon advertising. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Joe Shelerud, Co-founder and CEO of Ad Advance, to discuss tips for Amazon advertising. Joe talks about the mistakes people make with advertising on Amazon, how Ad Advance got its first clients and how it helped them, the value of attending Amazon conferences as an Amazon seller, and Ad Advance customer success stories.

Yoav Sebba is the Managing Director of XT Hi-Tech, the venture arm of XT Group that provides capital, advice, and support to future category leaders in Israel. Before XT Hi-Tech, he was a Partner in Yozma Venture Capital, in which XT Holdings was a founding partner. In addition, Yoav is active on the board of directors of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, Sofwave, Beyeonics, Cymbio, Epitomee, NeuReality, BlueThrone, Healthy.io, and Phytech. He holds a BS in engineering and industrial management from the Technion Institute of Technology and an MBA from Haifa University.   In this episode… No matter where you’re located, running a startup is a challenge. So, as an entrepreneur in Israel, where can you get the support you need to run and scale your business?  Many entrepreneurs have great ideas and big dreams that don't get implemented or start and fail because they don't have the necessary resources. Yoav Sebba recommends partnering with venture funds available in your area. They are experts who can offer capital, advice, and support on your growth journey. He shares XT Hi-Tech’s journey of backing unique technology companies emerging from Israel. Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz as he welcomes Yoav Sebba, Managing Director of XT Hi-Tech. Yoav talks about XT Hi-Tech, its criteria for investing in a company, examples of successful investments, and how they know if a company will succeed or fail.

Scott Empringham is the Owner and CEO of Empringham Media Group. For more than 21 years, his passion has been helping Fortune 50 companies to break through the clutter using digital marketing and social media to drive results in areas that matter most — customer retention and acquisition. Scott’s mission is to share his digital marketing and social media expertise to drive new business, retain current customers, and conquer the competition. He is also a member of the Orange County Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).  In this episode… If your business has to shut down and you leave empty-handed, how do you pick yourself up and start over? What is the first step you have to take? Today’s guest was at his lowest point and found a way to pick himself up and rebuild. What are his secrets? When faced with calamity, it’s hard to know where to turn. Scott Empringham decided to reach out for help which was the turning point he needed to start over. With a broad history of working in various industries worldwide, Scott leverages the power of his experiences to help companies and business leaders break through the clutter and focus on the direction they should take. Scott formulated an eight-step plan using digital marketing and social media to drive results in the business areas that matter most: sales and service.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Scott Empringham, Owner and CEO of Empringham Media Group, who shares how he regained his position after closing his office and leaving with just a phone. He shares how he started over, the steps he took to move forward, and the value of asking for help. Scott talks about honing his speaking skills, learning valuable lessons from others, and highlights the common mistakes people make in the marketing process and how to avoid them.

Justin Krane is the Founder and President of Krane Financial Solutions, a financial planning and investment management firm. Thanks to his background as Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Justin offers actionable advice to his clients for financial planning that leads to a better life. Justin also manages investment portfolios on behalf of his clients. Before founding Krane Financial Solutions, he was a Vice President, Investments at UBS Wealth Management. He has a BA in finance from the University of Colorado, Boulder.  In this episode… Are you an entrepreneur struggling to plan for your financial future? Where can you get the support you need to make financial decisions that align with your goals and are congruent with your values? Financial planning is challenging, especially for many entrepreneurs. That's why Justin Krane recommends hiring a certified financial planner, an expert who gives you clarity into your finances and advises you on how to move forward, both personally and professionally. Tune in to learn how to “unite” your money with your life and business.  Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz as he welcomes Justin Krane, Founder and President of Krane Financial Solutions. Justin talks about the financial mistakes people and entrepreneurs make, tips for hiring and structuring a growth plan for your employees, and ways to navigate finances as a couple.

Vikas Khorana is the Co-founder, CTO, and President of Ntooitive Digital, a marketing technology company and three-time Inc. 5000 honoree. Ntooitive uses innovative technology solutions to achieve clients’ business objectives, deliver meaningful value, and create lasting impact.  Before Ntooitive, Vikas held senior engineering positions with Stephens Media, Cyberworld Inc., and Satyam Infoway. He is also the Co-founder and CEO of TruAbilities, a member of The President’s Club of the Vegas Chamber, and a member of the Forbes Technology Council. Vikas earned a bachelor of engineering degree in computer science from Savitribai Phule Pune University in India. In this episode… The business world is evolving, and virtualization and related technology are being embraced quickly. So where can you get a data-driven digital marketing company that helps you leverage technology to grow? The digital landscape is challenging for many businesses. Digital marketing specialist Vikas Khorana recommends hiring experts to help you in this space. Professionals can integrate marketing and technology to help you achieve optimal results such as revenue growth, increased sales, and customer acquisition. He now shares his journey running a marketing technology company to equip companies with a digital infrastructure that supports their ambitious marketing goals.  In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Vikas Khorana, Co-founder, CTO, and President of Ntooitive Digital, who shares how they help companies flourish through the integration of marketing and technology. Vikas talks about Ntooitive Digital, the four C’s approach it uses to help clients succeed, how they build and retain talent, and their customer success stories.

Jordan Slover is the Founder of Neon Ambition, an inbound marketing agency that helps companies grow using the latest online marketing strategies. Before Neon Ambition, he was the Online Marketing Sales Manager at The Web Showroom, responsible for hiring, training, and managing the online marketing consultants team. Jordan also worked for Google and has considerable experience in CRO, SEO, web design, Google AdWords, and Google Analytics.   In this episode… Do you want to understand your buyers' journey better to reach your ideal consumers or get more clients? The business world is constantly evolving — and to differentiate yourself from competitors and flourish, your marketing strategies also need to be top-notch. Jordan Slover recommends hiring a marketing agency, experts who understand the market to help you maneuver successfully. Having been in the marketing agencies for years, he discovered that many full-service digital agencies out there are not delivering on their promises. Jordan shares his journey of starting and running his agency to help ambitious business owners and marketers grow their companies and achieve their business growth goals. Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz as he welcomes Jordan Slover, Founder of Neon Ambition. Jordan talks about Neon Ambition, the questions to ask when hiring a marketing agency, what to look for when hiring an account manager, and his thoughts on niching down as an agency.

Brandon Metcalf is the Founder and CEO of Place Technology, a Salesforce-powered software that streamlines managing customer subscriptions, billing, financial data, and business analytics for B2B SaaS companies. With a deep understanding of the Salesforce ecosystem, Brandon has developed innovative products that solve critical business challenges for SaaS companies. In addition to Place Technology, Brandon is the CEO and Co-founder of Asymbl, a staffing and recruiting solution that helps companies optimize their recruitment process using Salesforce. He’s also the CEO and Co-founder of Blueprint Advisory, a software consulting firm that assists other businesses in building, implementing, and customizing Salesforce-based software. As the Cash & Burn weekly podcast host, Brandon talks with SaaS leaders about the challenges of creating and scaling their companies. In this episode… Delving into the world of SaaS innovation can be an intimidating experience, but for those who can navigate its complexities, the rewards are boundless. Take a deep dive with Brandon Metcalf, an experienced entrepreneur and expert in the SaaS industry who built successful businesses by developing customer-centric products and making smart strategic decisions. So, what can you do when you face the challenges of creating and scaling a SaaS business in a rapidly changing market? According to Brandon, the key lies in understanding the “build versus buy” decision and ensuring that your team is composed of diverse backgrounds and skill sets. This approach not only fosters creativity but also helps your company stay agile and responsive to market demands. Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz as he welcomes Brandon Metcalf, the Founder and CEO of Place Technology, the CEO and Co-founder of Asymbl, and the CEO and Co-founder of Blueprint Advisory. Brandon shares his insights into the world of SaaS innovation, discussing the importance of customer engagement, the value of forging strong business partnerships, and the role that company culture plays in achieving success.

Stacia Nelson is the Founder and CEO of Pivot Strategies, a communications agency revolutionizing employee engagement through internal communications and change management. She began her career at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and was the director of PR at Cambria before joining Target’s PR and Reputation Management team. Stacia has extensive experience in corporate communications, crisis response planning, reputation management, brand marketing, change and IT strategic communications, and corporate social responsibility.  In this episode… Communication is fundamental to the success of a business. So how can you design it to ensure it's effective and engaging?  According to Stacia Nelson, communication is more than words, and your team may need help understanding the dynamics and importance of effective communication. That's why she recommends hiring an outside internal communication company. This approach drives business growth by bringing creativity to marketing and a new way of engaging teams. Stacia also shares her journey running an internal communication company and helping businesses thrive through effective communication.  Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz as he welcomes Stacia Nelson, Founder and CEO of Pivot Strategies. Stacia talks about how she manages to run a business as a mom, Pivot Strategies' culture and core values, the services it offers, its ideal client profile, tips for employee retention, and how to build great teams. 

Craig Swanson is a longtime entrepreneur, Consultant at Emerald, and Partner at KaisaFit, an online fitness platform. He is the Chair of the Seattle EO Accelerator program and EO Seattle and loves helping creators, educators, and entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses around their dreams. Craig is a former Partner at The Wedding School, an online education program for wedding photographers. He was the Founder of CreativeTechs (previously known as Swanson Tech Support), which was a leading IT support firm for Seattle area creative teams. He also co-founded CreativeLive, one of the earliest live-streaming educational platforms, with Chase Jarvis in 2008 before exiting in 2015. In this episode… Are you an entrepreneur trying to grow your business and establish meaningful partnerships? Understanding the importance of collaboration and shared values can be a game-changer for your venture. As an expert in growing and scaling businesses, Craig Swanson has leveraged the power of partnerships to build impactful companies, focusing on values and a shared mission to guide their growth. With experience in many industries, Craig's insight into creating fruitful collaborations helps entrepreneurs navigate the complex business world and find lasting success. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Craig Swanson, Co-founder of CreativeLive, who shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he learned along the way. He discusses the importance of aligning values, vetting potential partners, and handling scrutiny as your business grows. Craig also shares the stories behind his partnerships with Sue Bryce and KaisaFit, emphasizing the power of shared mission and values to achieve success.

Tellef Lundevall is the Founder and CEO of Accelerated Digital Media (ADM), a growth marketing firm for direct-to-consumer digital health and e-commerce companies. ADM specializes in performance marketing, attribution modeling, and web analytics.  Before ADM, Tellef worked for Google’s Marketing Solutions division as the Digital Strategy Lead of the Accelerated Growth Team, which provided support for North America’s fastest-growing ad accounts. He’s also the chairman of the Kaplan Family Foundation’s Environment Committee, an advisor for the Bridge Venture Fund, and a board member at Embarc. In this episode… What are the best marketing strategies for digital health companies, and how can they help you scale? According to Tellef Lundevall, not every marketing team has the expertise to thrive in the digital space. That’s why he recommends hiring professionals with tenacity and grit to help maximize your return on digital media investments and solve complex challenges surrounding paid ad campaigns. In this episode, Tellef shares his journey in running Accelerated Digital Media to improve digital marketing results for digital health companies. Listen to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast with Dr. Jeremy Weisz as he welcomes Tellef Lundevall, Founder and CEO of Accelerated Digital Media (ADM). Tellef talks about ADM and its mission, how ADM helps manage clients' online ad platforms within the digital health space, and the company’s customer success stories.