Power Forward

Erika Swilley knew from an early age that she wanted a career in which she could help others. She didn’t know her path would lead to sports and the NBA. In this episode, Erika explains how she’s followed her passion to become the Detroit Pistons Vice President of Community and Social Responsibility.

As a 17-year veteran of the business, Erika knows the best way to identify community needs is by actually listening to people in the community. You’ll hear about her approach and how anyone looking to give back can do the same.

Erika also shares her leadership style and career advice, including the importance of finding others who have jobs that you want. 

As the Director of Operations for Michigan State’s basketball team, David Thomas was known as the guy who got things done. Now, he’s doing something brand new - in the world of financial planning. In this episode, you’ll find out why David made the move and the importance of having a plan.

David has been an entrepreneur before and learned more from his mistakes than his successes. You’ll hear the lengths David went to in the face of adversity.

You’ll also learn why everyone should view themselves as their own CEO whether they run a business or not.

Robert Tuchman has started, built, and sold companies before. However, starting a new business during the pandemic presented a new set of challenges. In this episode, you’ll find out what it takes to go out on your own as an entrepreneur and why it’s important to pursue your passions. 

Robert also hosts a podcast, which gives him the opportunity to interview some of the most successful business people in the world. He’ll share his biggest takeaways from those conversations.

You’ll also hear Robert’s perspective on praising your team and why every entrepreneur has to accept failure and be able to pick themselves up off the mat.

Lauren Foundos was killing it in her job on Wall Street, but she knew it was time - time to make her business idea a reality. Five years later, she’s raised millions in capital and her fitness tech company is partnering with brands such as the NFL, UFC, and Under Armour. In this episode, you’ll find out how Lauren stopped thinking and started doing.

Lauren’s breakthrough moment occurred when she appeared on a TV show called Unicorn Hunters. You’ll hear the story of how she pitched some of the biggest names in business, including the co-founder of Apple.

You’ll also learn how Lauren navigates the ups and downs that come with being part of a start-up and why believing in your business is essential to success.

Running 100 100-mile races in 100 weeks is a daunting goal on its own. But what happens when a global pandemic threatens to bring the journey to a halt? In this episode, our conversation with Michael Ortiz continues. You’ll hear how the Game of Hundos went on despite unexpected obstacles.

As he got deeper into the project, Michael put his goals out there for all to see. He’ll explain why sharing your goals creates a greater sense of accountability.

We’ll also find out what Michael learned about himself through the project and what he hopes others take away from his story.

You don’t have to be extraordinary to accomplish extraordinary things. That’s the message from Michael Ortiz, who went from not being a runner at all to pursuing a goal that seems impossible: running 100 100-mile races in 100 straight weeks. 

Michael took on the challenge of distance running to honor the memory of his brother, who died after a tragic accident. You’ll find out how running ultramarathons became a medium for Michael to live his life differently. 

You’ll also find out how Michael’s idea to push his limits came to be and why the hardest part of accomplishing a goal just getting to the starting line. 

From the NBA to the financial industry, Gina Coleman has been comfortable in every room she’s been in. It’s helped her achieve success both as an entrepreneur and as a corporate executive. In this episode, you’ll find out Gina’s advice for earning a seat at the table.

As the Chief Sales Officer at Mass Mutual Great Lakes, Gina is always looking for ways to add value for clients. She’ll explain how that type of mindset can lead to a mutually beneficial relationship. 

Gina is big on being your own advocate and she believes the best way to do that is to control your messaging. You’ll learn how simply asking for what you want can help anyone climb the ladder.

Leading a 75-year old company comes with a lot of pressure. And Andrew Blake wouldn’t have it any other way. In this episode, you’ll find out how he’s planting his flag in the soil of a company that is still finding new ways to grow after all these years. 

Andrew’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to the idea that is now Blake’s Hard Cider Company – a brand with national reach. He’ll explain how leaning into adversity can lead to innovation. 

The foundation of Blake’s is rooted in farming and the values that come with it. You’ll learn how those values shape their culture, which is essential to maintaining a strong brand. 

Cubie and Christian Hernandez are more than loan officers at Mares Mortgage. They are true advisors to their clients and citizens who uphold their community. In this episode, the Hernandez brothers share how they’re making an impact beyond the mortgage business.

As former D-1 college athletes, Cubie and Christian have both been shaped by their experiences in sports. They’ll talk about lessons they carry into business, including the importance of being a role player.

We’ll also find out the values that Mares Mortgage is built upon and how that all starts with the company’s founder – Cutberto Hernandez, Sr. Cubie and Christian explain how their Dad has inspired them to always do more for others than they do for you.

From the basketball court to the boardroom, every winning team has a common denominator that sets it apart. In this episode, Jamy Bechler pulls back the curtain on leadership through practical strategies and principles he teaches after 20+ years in athletics. 

Whether he’s coaching a team or a business, Jamy believes the best leaders are the ones who develop other leaders. He’ll explain how empowering your people sets them up to maximize their potential.

We’ll also discuss why optimism can be a strategy, how to be better and not bitter after experiencing a setback, and what it really means to have a strong culture.

What makes someone who is climbing the corporate ladder decide to start over from the ground floor? For Amanda Adamcheck, it came down to the chance to live her dream. In this episode, you’ll find out how Amanda turned a side hustle into a thriving apparel business.

Amanda’s business relies heavily on a community she’s grown through social media. You’ll learn how to build a brand that will keep customers coming back.

As a leader, Amanda aims to empower her team while inspiring other women who want to become entrepreneurs. She’ll explain why staying in your own lane can bring true fulfillment.  

Leading the mortgage industry in innovative technology isn’t enough for Jason Bressler. He’s looking to build the best IT team in any business, anywhere. In this episode, you’ll find out how UWM’s Chief Technology Officer plans to do that by finding the right people and finding out what drives them.

UWM’s IT team is more than 5 times larger than it was when Jason first joined the company 5 years ago. You’ll learn how Jason created an environment where people feel comfortable voicing their opinions because they know their leaders are listening.

You’ll also find out why Jason embraces vulnerability as a leader and why his favorite movie serves as an valuable analogy during times of adversity.

Figuring out what direction you want your business to take can be daunting – that is until you realize there is no right or wrong choice. There’s only the choice that’s best for you. In this episode, you’ll learn how Heather Zara built her own video production company by listening to the voice inside.

Zara Creative has gone from producing wedding videos to working with big national clients. Heather will explain how she’s grown the business by creating content that inspires action.

As a leader, Heather had to establish the right values so she could build the right team. You’ll find out how to create a culture based on an ecosystem instead of an “ego system.”

Who do we serve and what does delight look like for them? By asking those two questions, Rich Sheridan created a company that has attracted people from around the world who want to replicate the culture of Menlo Innovations. In this episode, you’ll find out how the CEO of Menlo built a company on the business value of joy.

One of the ways Menlo does this is by fostering an environment where people aren’t afraid to experiment. Rich will explain what can happen when leaders pump fear out of the room.

We’ll also discus Menlo’s innovative hiring and business practices, which lean heavily on values such as comradery, collaboration, and compassion.

Rod Wallace has one of the most important jobs a leader can have: shaping the future of the next generation. Rod creates opportunities for young people through music, something he’s passionate about as a 30-year veteran of the music business himself. In this episode, you’ll learn how Rod’s innovative thinking is opening doors for those in his community.

Rod believes that the best leaders are the ones that do more listening than talking. He’ll explain why seeking to understand people is more important than being understood.

You’ll also find out how a new fellowship that Rod started is helping to amplify the voices of the African-American community, while also setting them up to succeed outside the studio.

As a long-time talent agent, Steve Herz has helped elevate the careers of countless broadcasters. In the process, Steve has figured out what separates good from great in any business. In this episode, Steve reveals how mastering the soft skills can help you separate yourself from the pack.

Steve is also an entrepreneur and has clients and colleagues who have been with him for decades. He’ll explain how to build, develop, and maintain long-lasting relationships.

We also find out Steve’s advice for winning in sales, which starts with losing a sales-driven agenda.

Find a way instead of an excuse. That’s the mantra mortgage broker Skylar Welch used to reach her 2020 goals despite the obstacles thrown her way by the pandemic. In this episode, you’ll find out how Skylar has grown her business with a mentality that she has to achieve what she sets out to do.

Skylar isn’t new to mortgages, but she is new to leading a team. She’ll explain why it’s so important to surround yourself with like-minded people who are focused on getting the job done together.

You’ll also learn how Skylar’s business has boomed without paying for leads. She’ll explain how adding a personal touch can help make a client yours for life. 

Desmond Ferguson knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur since he was cutting hair in his Mom’s basement. It’s what allowed him to buy his first car at 16 years old and eventually start Moneyball Sportswear. In this episode, you’ll find out how Moneyball went from a hobby to a business that’s been around for almost 2 decades.

Desmond actually started Moneyball while he was still playing professional basketball overseas. He’ll explain how the connections he made have fueled his company’s sales and how others should look at every connection as a business opportunity.

You’ll also hear how Moneyball has carved out its own niche in the retail space through 3 areas that any business can take advantage of. 

Anyone who’s ever run a business knows it can be a delicate dance to manage everything – sometimes literally! In this episode, you’ll find out how Stacy Tuschl started her own dance studio at the age of 18 and turned it into a multi-million dollar business before becoming a small business growth coach. 

Stacy is big on setting goals and finds that the fewer goals she hits, the more success she actually has. She’ll explain how it pays to think big.

You’ll also learn why striving for perfection can actually hurt your business and how you can start out with just a few clients and still scale if you do things right. 

There’s no substitute for hard work. It’s a lesson Matt Gouge learned from his father, who never missed a day of work as a truck driver. It’s the same lesson that has made Matt a successful mortgage broker. In this episode, you’ll find out how Matt has grinded every step of the way to build his business.

A natural at sales and marketing, Matt had to learn how to lead. He’ll explain how building trust with your team enables you to grow and scale your business.

Matt also talks about his love for advising and helping people, including why adding value without expecting anything in return will help your business over the long haul.