Most founders assume their business slows down because of external forces—the economy, competition, or the rapid rise of AI.

That’s rarely the real reason.

In this episode, we unpack the two internal factors that quietly cap growth in otherwise successful businesses: systems architecture and leadership.

If you’ve built real traction but feel stuck, overextended, or more involved in the business than you want to be, this conversation is for you.

You’ll learn:

• What systems architecture actually means in practice

• Why sales, finance, operations, and delivery must work together

• Where breakdowns in onboarding and client experience hurt long-term growth

• How leadership patterns turn founders into bottlenecks

• How to design a business that scales without burning you out

This isn’t about hustling harder or chasing the next tool.

It’s about building a business that’s designed to grow, with clarity, structure, and calm.

As we look toward 2026, many of us are thinking about goals—what we want to achieve, change, or create next.

But what if the reason past goals didn’t stick wasn’t a lack of discipline or strategy?

In this episode, I walk you through a different way of approaching goal setting—one rooted in identity, values, and holistic wealth, not pressure or perfection.

We explore:

• Why many goals fail within the first 90 days

• The difference between process goals and outcome goals

• How identity shifts make goals easier to sustain

• Why setting too many goals creates overwhelm and self-sabotage

• How tools like the Wheel of Life can reveal what actually matters

• The power of choosing one guiding word for the year

This episode is less about tactics—and more about self-leadership.

If you’ve ever set goals you didn’t follow through on, or felt disconnected from what you thought you wanted, this conversation will help you slow down, reflect, and reset with intention.

At the end of the episode, I’ll share my personal guiding word for 2026, and invite you to discover yours.

In this episode, we dive deep into the key ingredients to startup success with Susie Ippolito, a brand strategist and creative nonfiction writer who’s passionate about helping thought leaders and solopreneurs stand out in a crowded marketplace. We uncover the importance of laying a strong foundation before jumping into marketing, how positioning builds brand confidence, and the pitfalls many small businesses face when they rush into growth strategies without a plan. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your brand, Susie’s insights will help you build a strategy that’s clear, authentic, and ready for sustainable growth.

About Susie Ippolito

Susie Ippolito is a brand strategist and creative nonfiction writer who helps thought leaders and solopreneurs stand out in crowded markets. With a background spanning digital marketing, SaaS, high-end lifestyle brands, and more, Susie combines creativity and strategy to position businesses for long-term success. It is her goal to help every client she works with achieve greater visibility, make a stronger impact, and experience sustainable growth.

Key Points Covered:

1. Susie’s Journey from Makeup to Brand Strategy

Susie shares her unconventional path, starting as a makeup artist in New York City before moving into brand strategy. Her experiences taught her the value of authenticity and understanding the core of what makes a business stand out.

2. The Importance of Strategy Before Marketing

Susie emphasizes that many businesses waste money on marketing because they haven’t established a solid strategy first. She breaks down why positioning—understanding your target market, competitive landscape, and brand voice—is the foundation for any successful business.

3. Positioning as Brand Confidence

According to Susie, positioning is like a brand's confidence. It’s built on knowledge and a clear understanding of your market, much like an athlete’s confident stance. Without it, businesses struggle to communicate their value and compete effectively.

4. Common Marketing Pitfalls

Many startups rush into hiring social media managers or building websites without validating their ideas first. Susie advises testing concepts cheaply and quickly to avoid costly mistakes.

5. Authenticity and Ethical Marketing

Susie stresses the importance of aligning growth and sales strategies with your brand’s authentic voice. She shares her own approach, which focuses on genuine connections rather than following cookie-cutter sales funnels.

6. The Role of AI in Brand Strategy

Susie introduces her AI-powered tool, "The One," designed to help small and medium-sized businesses develop comprehensive brand strategies quickly and affordably. This tool provides key elements like customer segments, brand voice, and competitive analysis, empowering businesses to communicate effectively.

7. Avoiding Quick-Fix Promises

Social media is full of misleading messages promising quick success. Susie advocates for ethical marketing and encourages businesses to focus on their own authentic goals rather than chasing unrealistic promises.

Connect with Susie Ippolito

Website: SIBrands.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susie-ippolito/

Additional Resources

Do you want weekly tips on marketing, finance, and personal growth? Subscribe to the Balanced CEO community: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast. This is a free membership where you can focus on your personal and financial growth.

Sign up for the Balanced CEO Community Here: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast

Website: https://freedomsun.co/

Instagram: @simone.liv.cr

In this episode, we dive into a transformative approach to personal growth, covering everything from shifting your identity to embracing timeless truths for success and fulfillment with Larisa Makuch, the CEO and founder of Abundance Academy and Canada’s leading abundance mentor. She brings a wealth of knowledge from her diverse professional background and shares actionable insights from her journey as an author, speaker, and mentor. If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns or unsure how to align with your goals, this episode is for you.

About Larisa Makuch

Larisa Makuch is the CEO and founder of Abundance Academy and Canada’s leading abundance mentor. She empowers professional women to achieve their dreams with clarity, confidence, and conviction. Larisa is the author of “Stop Procrastinating Your Life Away: Discover the Secrets to More Time, Money, and Freedom” and a sought-after speaker. Her expertise spans personal finance, sales, and corporate management, and she now helps women double their income while positively impacting the world.

Key Points Covered:

1. Peeling Back the Layers of Growth

Larisa explains her philosophy of personal transformation as peeling back layers, like an onion, to uncover deeper truths about yourself. This process is about committing to honest self-reflection and going beyond surface-level efforts.

2. Awareness and Curiosity as Tools for Change

She highlights that awareness is the first step to meaningful change. Observing your habits, thoughts, and behaviors without judgment helps create clarity and allows you to make intentional decisions.

3. The Power of Identity Shifts

Larisa shares how embodying the identity of the person you aspire to become can lead to lasting change. Acting “as if” aligns your behaviors with your goals, creating a ripple effect that reinforces the transformation.

4. Separating Stories from Facts

She talks about how to gain clarity by distinguishing emotional stories from neutral facts. By removing emotional weight, you can see situations more clearly and make better decisions.

5. Breaking Free from Victimhood and Scarcity

Larisa identifies common traps, like blaming or feeling powerless, and explains how to shift out of them. She also addresses the importance of clear goals and commitment to overcome scarcity thinking.

6. Defining Success and Wealth Holistically

For Larisa, success is moving purposefully toward meaningful goals, and wealth is about feeling aligned across all areas of life—health, relationships, finances, and personal joy.

Connect with Larisa Makuch

Website: myabundanceacademy.ca

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larisa-makuch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myabundanceacademy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyAbundanceAcademy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myabundanceacademy

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@larisamakuch528

Additional Resources

Do you want weekly tips on marketing, finance, and personal growth? Subscribe to the Balanced CEO community: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast. This is a free membership where you can focus on your personal and financial growth.

Sign up for the Balanced CEO Community Here: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast

Website: https://freedomsun.co/

Instagram: @simone.liv.cr

In this episode, we dive deep into a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and bold reinvention with Susana Serrano-Davey, a seasoned CFO, entrepreneur, and mentor. From being a high school dropout to climbing the corporate ladder and later founding a successful business, Susana shares how she transformed burnout and challenges into opportunities for growth.

We talk about the lessons she’s learned along the way, from managing her inner critic to redefining success and wealth on her own terms. If you’re looking for inspiration and actionable insights to create balance and fulfillment in your life and career, this episode is for you.

About Susana Serrano-Davey

Susana Serrano-Davey is a highly experienced CFO, entrepreneur, and mentor with over 20 years of international experience. Known for her collaborative and approachable leadership style, Susana has reached the C-suite, founded and sold a successful business, and now guides professionals and entrepreneurs toward greater confidence, satisfaction, and well-being in their careers.

Tune in to hear Susana’s inspiring story and practical advice on building a life and career you truly love.

Key Points Covered:

1. Resilience and Reinvention

Susana shares her inspiring journey from dropping out of high school to becoming a CFO and entrepreneur. Her story shows that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and turn life’s challenges into opportunities.

2. Career Evolution and Entrepreneurship

She talks about building and selling her own accounting business, and how stepping out of her comfort zone helped her discover her true calling in mentoring and leadership development.

3. The Importance of Work-Life Balance

Through personal experiences, including a near-death health scare, Susana learned to prioritize her well-being. She now encourages others to set boundaries and align their work with their values to avoid burnout.

4. Overcoming the Inner Critic

Susana explains how she identified and managed her inner critic using tools like NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). By fostering self-awareness and practicing self-compassion, she learned to silence self-doubt and gain clarity.

5. Redefining Success and Wealth

For Susana, success is about feeling proud and engaged in what you do, while wealth is the freedom to live authentically and pursue what matters most.

6. Self-Discovery and Second Acts

She highlights the importance of seeing your skills as tools for new opportunities, whether it’s transitioning to a new career, starting a business, or simply creating more balance in your life.

Connect with Susana Serrano-Davey

Website: www.serranodavey.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susana-serrano-davey-51117811/

Additional Resources

Do you want weekly tips on marketing, finance, and personal growth? Subscribe to the Balanced CEO community: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast. This is a free membership where you can focus on your personal and financial growth.

Sign up for the Balanced CEO Community Here: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast

Website: https://freedomsun.co/

Instagram: @simone.liv.cr

In this episode, we explore how businesses can be a force of good in the world with Stephen Karbaron, a Conscious Capitalism Consultant and international speaker. Stephen shares his journey from early personal development with Tony Robbins to becoming an advocate for conscious capitalism and a unique concept he calls “MindFlow.” We dive into how balancing purpose, adaptability, and authentic leadership can redefine success and build businesses that truly benefit society.

About Stephen Karbaron

Stephen Karbaron is a Certified Conscious Capitalism Consultant, Goal Mapping Master Coach, and international speaker with over 40 years of experience working across the globe. Passionate about helping businesses protect resources, support communities, and build prosperous, sustainable enterprises, Stephen is a member of Conscious Capitalism Europe and has spoken worldwide on topics like leadership, corporate culture, and world peace.

Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn how you can transform your business and life through conscious practices, adaptability, and purposeful leadership.

Key Points Covered:

1. Stephen’s Path to Conscious Capitalism

Inspired by Tony Robbins, Stephen embarked on a journey of self-development that led him to conscious capitalism. He shares how he first set materialistic goals that came true, and how this inspired his higher goal of becoming a “catalyst for world peace” by influencing people and organizations to lead consciously.

2. Four Tenets of Conscious Capitalism

Stephen introduces the core principles of conscious capitalism:

- Higher Purpose: Businesses should serve a greater purpose beyond profit.

- Conscious Leadership: Leaders need to be purpose-driven and self-aware.

- Stakeholder Orientation: All stakeholders—employees, customers, suppliers, and communities—should be valued.

- Conscious Culture: A positive workplace culture fosters loyalty, reduces turnover, and builds stronger connections with clients and employees.

3. Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies in Business

Stephen highlights the importance of balancing masculine qualities (like structure and focus) with feminine ones (like empathy and collaboration) in order to create a well-rounded approach to leadership.

4. MindFlow vs. Mindset

Moving beyond traditional “mindset,” Stephen shares his concept of “MindFlow,” encouraging adaptability and openness to change. He believes being in flow allows us to navigate challenges with flexibility while still pursuing our higher purpose.

5. Redefining Success and Wealth

For Stephen, success and wealth are feelings rather than achievements. Wealth is about meaningful experiences and connections, and success is about fulfilling a purpose that brings joy and impact.

6. Empowering Teams through Trust and Authentic Leadership

Stephen advocates for authentic leadership by trusting employees and empowering them to excel in their roles. He shares a story from his time working in Russia, where a CEO trusted his team to lead, which built a culture of loyalty and high performance.

Connect with Stephen Karbaron

Website: www.karbaron.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenkarbaron

Additional Resources

Do you want weekly tips on marketing, finance, and personal growth? Subscribe to the Balanced CEO community: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast. This is a free membership where you can focus on your personal and financial growth.

Sign up for the Balanced CEO Community Here: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast

Website: https://freedomsun.co/

Instagram: @simone.liv.cr

In this episode, we explore the impact of music therapy and authentic communication on personal and professional well-being with Oliver Solano Watson, the Co-Founder and CEO of Music Training Lab. Oliver shares his approach to life as a series of clues, discussing how to shift from fear to curiosity, and dive into the transformative power of music therapy, NLP, and authentic communication.

About Oliver Solano Watson

Oliver Solano Watson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Music Training Lab, where he combines his expertise in music and business management to create memorable experiences for individuals and companies.

Join us for a refreshing take on how to embrace life’s challenges, cultivate a curious mindset, and lead with authenticity.

Key Points Covered:

1. Following the Clues of Life

Oliver believes life presents us with “clues” through people, situations, and decisions. By staying open and aware, he suggests we can recognize these clues as guidance along our path and embrace life’s opportunities.

2. Mindset Shift: Moving from Fear to Curiosity

A big part of following life’s clues is viewing challenges with curiosity instead of fear. Oliver explains how a curious mindset turns obstacles into learning experiences, helping us grow without letting fear hold us back.

3. Self-Reflection and Tools for Personal Growth

Self-reflection is key to personal development, and Oliver recommends using tools like mindfulness, NLP, and feedback to increase self-awareness. He shares how these practices allow us to overcome limiting beliefs and build resilience.

4. The Power of Music Therapy and Sound

As a music therapist, Oliver has seen firsthand how music therapy reduces stress and enhances well-being. Through rhythm, sound, and active engagement, he uses music to help people reconnect with themselves, especially in stressful environments like the corporate world.

5. Breathwork and Mindful Presence

Oliver highlights how conscious breathing can quiet the mind and reduce stress. Breathing exercises help us stay present, manage emotions, and improve our overall mental state.

6. Authenticity in Leadership and Communication

Oliver emphasizes that authenticity is essential for effective leadership. Leaders who are genuine and self-aware build stronger, more trusting teams. He encourages leaders to practice active listening, mindful presence, and open communication to improve team dynamics.

7. Engaging Body and Mind through Music

In his music therapy work, Oliver uses body percussion and rhythmic exercises to fully engage clients, fostering a fun, stress-free environment that promotes creativity and stronger connections within teams.

Connect with Oliver Solano Watson

Website: www.musictraininglab.com www.oliverwatsonrhythm.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverwatsonrhythm/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliverwatsonrhythm/ https://www.instagram.com/musictraininglab/

Additional Resources

Do you want weekly tips on marketing, finance, and personal growth? Subscribe to the Balanced CEO community: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast. This is a free membership where you can focus on your personal and financial growth.

Sign up for the Balanced CEO Community Here: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast

Website: https://freedomsun.co/

Instagram: @simone.liv.cr

In this episode, we explore the power of self-awareness, leadership, and embracing change with Maria Kelly—an executive and career coach who made the bold move from a high-powered corporate role at Sotheby’s to building her own business in Barcelona. Maria shares the challenges and rewards of stepping into the unknown, adapting her leadership style, and finding balance between guiding others and leading herself.

About Maria Kelly

With over two decades of experience in international auctions at Sotheby’s, Maria Kelly has mastered the art of navigating complex business environments and driving results. As a bilingual, globally-minded executive coach, Maria helps leaders and entrepreneurs create fulfilling careers and successful businesses without compromising their values or well-being. Based in Barcelona, she’s also a co-founder of a business association for English-speaking professionals and an active Toastmasters member.

Join us to hear Maria’s inspiring story and her advice on how to embrace new opportunities and lead with confidence.

Key Points Covered:

1. Embracing New Adventures

Maria shares how she and her husband left their established life in London for a fresh start in Barcelona. She explains how letting go of the familiar helped her discover new possibilities, build resilience, and take a leap of faith to create the life she truly wanted.

2. Self-Leadership vs. Team Leadership

Moving from a corporate role with large teams to running her own business meant Maria had to strengthen her self-leadership. No longer able to delegate tasks, she’s learned the power of self-discipline, structure, and finding the motivation to keep pushing forward as a solo entrepreneur.

3. Learning from Cultural Differences in Leadership

With experience working internationally, Maria shares insights into different leadership styles. She found American work culture to be solution-focused and resilient, while some European environments were more risk-averse. This cultural awareness helped her shape her own adaptable leadership style.

4. Navigating Resistance to Change

Maria talks about introducing new ideas, like online auctions, at Sotheby’s. By starting with small buy-in from key individuals and supporting her team through the change, she successfully pushed innovation forward, even in a traditionally conservative industry.

5. Authentic Communication and Difficult Conversations

In her coaching, Maria helps leaders learn consultative, trust-building conversations—skills that help with both team leadership and sales. She emphasizes the importance of listening, collaboration, and handling challenging discussions in a way that builds mutual respect and growth.

6. Expanding into Career and Small Business Coaching

Since starting her business, Maria’s work has expanded to include career coaching and consulting for small businesses. She helps clients with everything from gaining career clarity to navigating team dynamics and scaling operations, offering her support wherever they need it most.

Connect with Maria Kelly

Website: www.askmariakelly.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askmariakelly/

Additional Resources

Do you want weekly tips on marketing, finance, and personal growth? Subscribe to the Balanced CEO community: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast. This is a free membership where you can focus on your personal and financial growth.

Sign up for the Balanced CEO Community Here: https://freedomsun.co/balancedceopodcast

Website: https://freedomsun.co/

Instagram: @simone.liv.cr