Entrepreneurs' Organization

Gershon Ben Keren is a fifth degree black belt in Krav Maga, an academic criminologist, and former close protection professional. In this episode, Gershon shares how growing up in violent 1980's Glasgow and working club doors in the U.K. helped shape his understanding of real-world chaos. He focuses on the importance of predicting and avoiding violence, especially in a real world setting. He also explains de-escalation techniques, practical scenarios, distance management, and when to fight or run away.  Links: Gershon's Website: https://www.gershonbenkeren.com/ Krav Maga Yashir Boston: https://www.bostonkravmaga.com/  

Todd Hauptli is the President and CEO of the American Association of Airport Executives, the field's largest professional organization. Beyond his impressive career in aviation leadership, Todd has become a remarkable example of what radical commitment to personal fitness can do for your body and your business. In the first episode of Dave's two-part series on fitness, Todd opens up about his extraordinary health journey, including racking up over 12,400 Peloton rides and slashing his metabolic age by more than a decade. Todd emphasizes that a healthier body sharpens your thinking, steadies your nerves, and makes you a better leader.  Links: Todd's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-hauptli-00133a52 American Association of Airport Executives: https://aaae.org

Keith Roberts is a transformational speaker and leadership expert. Notably, he is the founder of digital agency Zenman, where he spent 24 years creating innovative solutions for global brands like Frontier Airlines, RE/MAX, and the Lumineers. Keith shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey and how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership and personal growth. As the creator of the OAK Journal and author of "The Eternal Flame," Keith brings his expertise in business strategy and personal development to help entrepreneurs at every stage.  Links: Keith's Website: https://keithrobertsiii.com The OAK Journal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoakjournalmethod/ Keith's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenman42/

In this episode, Jonathan Sherrill shares his journey from working in his father's Florida metal roofing company to helping lead its sale in 2010 — and then running the business for six more years before being let go under a non-compete. He and his father later launched a new steel company in Georgia, whose eventual sale far exceeded his expectations. After exiting, Jonathan struggled to redefine his identity amid the transition, which led him to launch Waypoint Founders. The firm helps entrepreneurs prepare for life after a business exit by grounding their emotions, mindset, and sense of purpose. He is also the co-author of The Extraordinary Exit, a book that explores how to navigate the exit process. Links: Jonathan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcsherrill/ Waypoint Founders: https://waypointfounders.com/ The Extraordinary Exit: https://a.co/d/07nhK63H  

Andrew James is the co-founder of Cerebro Analytics. Andrew opens up about his family's grueling six-month battle following the birth of their fourth child, a journey marked by his wife's sudden lung collapse and a daunting stage IV cancer diagnosis. In this episode, he shares how this ordeal shifted his perspective on happiness and problem-solving. He also breaks down his "ACDC" framework and how his company, Cerebro Analytics, uses AI to transform business data sources into actionable, chat-driven dashboards. Join us as Andrew talks about resilience, community support, and the power of AI in business. Links: Andrew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-james-5582625/ Cerebro Analytics: https://cerebroanalytics.com/  

Harrison Scott Key is "the best storyteller I've ever seen," says host Dave Will (EO Boston). Author, TEDx speaker, and professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Harrison shares how storytelling can impact the way you run your business. In this episode, Harrison also articulates how to apply storytelling to entrepreneurship and how it can improve your customer experience. Links: Harrison's Website: http://www.harrisonscottkey.com/

Todd Herman is a coach, speaker, author, and creator of "The Alter Ego Effect." He has helped thousands of people achieve their most ambitious goals by teaching them resilience, creativity, confidence, and courage. His book, "The Alter Ego Effect," was a Wall Street Journal bestseller. In addition to a long list of accolades, he has worked with the world's elite performers in sports and business, including Kobe Bryant and Rafael Nadal, for over two decades. In this episode, Todd shares how his concept of alter egos or "secret identities" can transform your life. Links: "The Alter Ego Effect": https://alteregoeffect.com/ Todd's Website: https://toddherman.me/  

While waiting in a McDonald's drive-thru line in 1989, Brian Scudamore noticed a pickup truck advertising a junk removal service. Needing to pay for college, Brian had the idea of starting his own junk hauling business. With just US$700 of his savings and a dream, Brian purchased a truck and started "The Rubbish Boys." After the business grew much faster than he expected, Brian decided to drop out of college to pursue his business full time. Fast forward to today, you might know "The Rubbish Boys" by another name: 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Hear Brian share his incredible story of building an international powerhouse.   Links: Brian's Website: https://brianscudamore.com/ 1-800-GOT-JUNK?: https://www.1800gotjunk.com/

Jay Bacrania is a Growth Consultant at Crews & co. He is a co-creator of the Growth Method, a business operating system built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. In this episode, Jay shares insights on how to properly tackle strategic planning. With a focus on straightforward, effective action items, Jay shows how planning doesn't have to be a headache. Shownotes Links: Jay's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaybacrania/ Jay's Email: jay@crewsandco.com  

We revisit a holiday classic this week: Mitch Allen, the founder and "Chief Elf" of HireSanta, joins Dave for a talk about the business. Mitch is a serial entrepreneur and has had other successful businesses prior to founding HireSanta, a company that helps organizations hire professional Santa Clauses. He shares his story of appearing on Shark Tank and how everything you see on TV is not quite what it seems.  Links: HireSanta: https://www.hiresanta.com/ Mitch's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-allen-45b54a5/

Casey Brown is a top pricing expert and professional speaker. She is the founder of Boost Pricing, where she helps companies discover their true pricing power and increase profits. Over the course of her career, Casey has personally helped over 1,000 companies generate more than US$1 billion in incremental profits. This episode focuses on how entrepreneurs can confidently own their value and negotiate fearlessly. Casey talks about common customer tactics and gives you practical steps to set prices that reflect your worth. She is also a best-selling author and her book, Fearless Pricing, guides business owners to own their value and command the prices they deserve. Listen in. Links: Casey's Website: https://www.caseybrown.com/ Casey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseybrownboost/ Boost Pricing: https://boostpricing.com/ Fearless Pricing: https://a.co/d/e9oWiq4  

Param Dedhia, MD, is an internal medicine doctor, integrative medicine practitioner, and sleep expert. In this episode, Dr. Dedhia discusses sleep and well-being. He also talks about the rise of GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic, and their benefits for managing obesity and diabetes. Dr. Dedhia also touches on the importance of mindfulness, joy, and being present.  Links: Param's Website: https://www.param.com/  

Description: We revisit a classic this week with Joe Foster, the founder of Reebok. From building shoes at his grandfather's business to founding one of the most well-known shoe brands in the world, Joe Foster has had quite the journey. He and his brother Jeff worked at their grandfather's shoe business, the JW Foster company, which was known for the first spiked running shoe. After returning from World War II, Joe and his brother noted that their family business wouldn't be able to grow in the state that it was in—still cobbling shoes using designs from the 1930s. They wanted to create something that would eventually rival shoes from Nike and Adidas, behemoths in the industry. As a result, Reebok was founded. Listen in as Joe shares his incredible story. For a deeper dive, check out Joe's book, "Shoemaker"!   Links: "Shoemaker" by Joe Foster: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shoemaker/Joe-Foster/9781471194016  

We dug another episode from the crypt this week featuring Tyler Hamilton! Tyler Hamilton is a former professional cyclist. He's competed in a number of events throughout his extensive career, from the Olympics to the Tour de France. Tyler joins the podcast today to discuss his book The Secret Race and his involvement in the doping culture that surrounded professional cycling. Listen in as he shares his incredible story!   Related Links: The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: https://amz.run/5dYQ Contact Tyler: tHamilton@blackswiftgroup.com Adventure Base Camps: https://www.adventurebasecamps.com/  

Dandapani returns to the podcast this week. Dandapani is a Hindu priest, entrepreneur, and author. After earning an electrical engineering degree in Australia, he dropped everything to become a Hindu monk in Hawaii. After becoming a Hindu priest, Dandapani ventured into the world of entrepreneurship. Using his experience as a Hindu monk and priest, he has developed a mentorship program for entrepreneurs, helping them find deeper meaning and focus in their lives. In this episode, listen in as Dandapani talks about the importance of self-awareness, practicing focus, and living with intention.    Related Links: Dandapani’s Website: https://dandapani.org/ The Power of Unwavering Focus: https://dandapani.org/unwavering-focus-book/  

John Osher is a serial entrepreneur behind hundreds of consumer products, including the iconic SpinBrush, the “five dollar electric toothbrush,” which became the top-selling toothbrush in the U.S. in just fifteen months. After the massive success of SpinBrush, he then sold the company to Procter and Gamble in 2001 for the highest multiple in consumer product history. In addition to his business ventures, he is also a renowned producer, having successfully produced several Broadway shows such as Hairspray and The Jersey Boys. Known for his success in building and selling businesses to Fortune 500 companies, John shares insights into his incredible entrepreneurial journey. Link: John’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-osher-90782611

Marcus Lemonis is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and TV personality most known for The Profit and The Fixer. He is also the CEO of Camping World, Good Sam Enterprises, and Beyond Inc. In this episode, Marcus shares his entrepreneurial journey. From lessons learned to his thoughts on leadership, Marcus has had a successful career building businesses. Listen in for his practical advice and his inspirational story.   Links: Marcus’s Website: https://marcuslemonis.com/

Alex Goryachev is a Forbes-recognized innovation expert and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. In this episode, he shares his expertise on harnessing the power of AI to drive transformative change. With hands-on experience at top brands like Cisco, Dell, IBM, and Pfizer, Alex cuts through the hype and delivers authentic, actionable insights on overcoming AI resistance and sparking innovation.   Links: Alex’s Website: https://www.alexgoryachev.com/

Jeff De Cagna is an association contrarian, foresight practitioner, futurist, and keynote speaker. He’s the executive advisor for Foresight First LLC, a governing orientation that “prioritizes the future and challenges association and non-profit boards to question their orthodox beliefs.” As of August 26, 2025, ChatGPT, a popular generative AI-chatbot, has been out for 1000 days. In those 1000 days, the AI landscape has changed tremendously. While there have been positive developments as a result of the generative AI boom, Jeff and Dave take a closer look at how AI has impacted the world.   Links: MIT AI Risk Repository: https://airisk.mit.edu/ Foresight First: https://foresightfirst.io/ Empire of AI by Karen Hao: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743569

Conrad Anker is a world-famous author, rock climber, and mountaineer. Conrad was the team leader for The North Face climbing team for 26 years until 2018. Conrad has traveled all over the world and has faced some of the harshest conditions the planet has to offer. He climbed Mount Everest in 1999 as part of a search team, tasked with finding the body of George Mallory, who famously participated in the first three British Mount Everest Expeditions in the early 1920’s. In 2016, Conrad suffered a heart attack during an attempt at climbing Lunag Ri in the Himalayas. Though he retired from high altitude mountaineering after that incident, he still continues his work–writing about his experiences and philanthropy to make the outdoors a place that everyone can enjoy.   Links: Conrad’s Website: https://www.conradanker.com/ His Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conrad_anker