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The Value Creators Podcast Episode #55. Activating Change is Harder Than Prescribing It: A Conversation with Nellie Wartoft

January 17, 2025 /0 Comments/in /by

How can businesses successfully navigate the relentless pace of change without alienating employees? Why do so many change initiatives fail, and what role does communication play in driving successful transformations?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Nellie Wartoft, founder and CEO of TigerHall, about a revolutionary approach to organizational change—change activation. Nellie explains how businesses can move beyond outdated, top-down “change management” processes to foster bottom-up, action-driven change that engages employees and aligns with company culture.

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #54. How to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Brand: A Conversation with Neil Twa

January 4, 2025 /0 Comments/in /by

What if you could leverage billions of dollars in pre-built infrastructure to grow a thriving e-commerce business without the burden of warehouses, logistics, or massive overhead? How can small innovations—rather than big inventions—solve customer problems and create scalable brands?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings sits down with Neil Twa, CEO and Co-Founder of Voltage Holdings, to explore the concept of “almost automated income.” With over 17 years of experience building businesses both online and offline, Neil shares his expertise in scaling multi-million dollar brands through Amazon FBA and other e-commerce channels. Since 2012, he’s launched 5+ personal brands, generated tens of millions in revenue as an 8-figure seller, and helped over 1000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses through consulting, coaching, and mentoring.

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #53. Big Tech for Small Businesses: Unleashing the Power of Geofencing with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari

December 5, 2024 /0 Comments/in /by

How can small businesses best use cutting-edge technologies? Geo-fencing is a great example, providing location-based advertising to drive traffic, revenue, and ROI for local businesses. What does the future hold for small businesses as they integrate advanced tech to personalize customer experiences?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings explores these questions with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari of Cullari and Wardell, a pioneering service provider in geofencing and location-based marketing solutions. Barbara and Ernesto share their expertise in helping small and medium-sized businesses harness advanced technologies to attract customers, increase conversions, and create sustainable growth.

They emphasize a customer-centric approach, leveraging tools like GPS tracking and demographic data to tailor highly targeted ads that resonate with local audiences. By combining technology with a deep understanding of small business challenges, they demonstrate how geofencing can deliver measurable results, from attracting new customers to optimizing location choices based on foot traffic studies.

Barbara and Ernesto also discuss the importance of hyper-specialization, ROI measurement, and the evolving future of advertising, where AI and privacy-sensitive data play a pivotal role. For small business owners, this episode offers actionable insights into leveraging big tech to compete effectively while maintaining the personal touch that defines their success.

This conversation is a masterclass on how to think and act as value creators, showcasing how innovation, technology, and customer focus can unlock new opportunities for small businesses.

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #52. CFO-as-a-Service is a Window on the Future of Business Organization with Kristian Marquez

November 20, 2024 /0 Comments/in /by

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, host Hunter Hastings engages with Kristian Marquez, founder and CEO of FinStrat Management, to explore the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship. Kristian shares his journey, from the founding team of a successful medical data company that went public to navigating startup challenges with a venture-funded business to pioneering the delivery of CFO-as-a-service. The episode concludes with insights on leveraging external expertise as a service and a free CFO consultation offer. 

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #51. Applying Agile Principles to Transform Management (The B2B Growth Blueprint Repost)

November 12, 2024 /0 Comments/in /by

There is a shift away from traditional management toward self-managed, digitally-enabled companies. We are entering the Post Managerial Era of Capitalism. In this new way of thinking about business and organization, top-down structures are giving way to self-management, where employees make decisions informed by real-time data and customer insights.

Mark Osborne from the B2B Growth Blueprint podcast provided a platform to discuss the implications of this shift.

Mark highlights the role of empathy, emotional engagement, and agile customer feedback in building responsive, customer-centric businesses, and emphasizes the importance of leveraging digital tools to create interactive environments where customers can actively participate and provide invaluable insights. This approach allows businesses to strengthen product development and build loyalty by making customers feel directly involved.

Mark Osborne emphasizes the relevance of these strategies for early-stage companies, emphasizing iterative design and customer engagement, even with limited resources. By integrating these principles, businesses can not only strengthen their product development but also create a loyal customer base that feels directly involved in the process.

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #50. Creating Value With AI Agents with Michael Walker

October 27, 2024 /0 Comments/in /by

We are about to enter the era of AI agents, and learning about them and deploying them is relevant to every business. What are they? How can a business develop one? How can a business successfully deploy one? How can a business develop a team of AI agents to work together to automate processes? How will these AI agents create value for customers?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings gets answers to these questions from  Michael Walker of SmythOS. Michael is the right expert to learn from because he prioritizes customer-centricity in AI solutions. Michael believes that businesses should put customer needs and benefits first, before technology features. That’s the Value Creators mindset, and it helps businesses to avoid the common pitfall in tech-first startups where excessive focus on features can obscure the value for end-users. According to Michael, this focus on customer problems is foundational, and AI deployment should primarily aid in addressing customer needs rather than showcasing technological capabilities.

SmythOS advocates for a future where AI and humans work in synergy to optimize value creation effectiveness.