The Growth Engine with Alexander Kaarls

What does it take to scale a business without losing focus along the way? Pamela Stern, Senior Managing Director and Head of Commercial Excellence at Accordion, joins Andi Baldwin and Jacob Parks to share lessons from a career spanning consulting, private equity, and high-growth businesses. She explores how leaders can prioritize through rapid growth, use technology without creating unnecessary complexity, and rethink ways of working as AI creates new possibilities. 

In this episode of the PIEcast, Stephen Fauth, Co-CEO of Markt-Pilot, joins Jacob Parks for a conversation about leadership, customer partnership, and navigating disruption in the age of AI. Steve shares how Markt-Pilot turned customer feedback into product innovation, why advisory councils are critical for growth, and what it takes to lead a company through a major strategic pivot. He also offers insights on the unique advantages of a co-CEO leadership model, building high-performing teams, and the daily learning habits that help leaders stay ahead in a rapidly changing world. 

In this episode of PIEcast, Katie Fisher discusses how account-based marketing has evolved with AI, why sales and marketing alignment remains critical for growth, and how marketers can adapt as technology changes the profession. She also shares insights on client feedback, building strong business partnerships, and the importance of ethics, judgment, and credibility in modern marketing.

Colleen Kuesel, Chief Marketing Officer at Chartis, joins the PIEcast to discuss client-centered marketing, the evolving role of AI in professional services, and how marketers can have a greater impact on firm strategy. From early career lessons in leadership to practical insights on brand building and growth, Colleen shares ideas that marketing leaders can put into practice right away. 

Jacob Parks and Erika Flowers sit down with Bob Robertson, Chief Marketing Officer at Jackson Lewis, to discuss the lessons that have shaped his career in legal marketing and business development. Drawing on an early role focused on market research and consumer insights, Bob explains why understanding clients, competitors, and market dynamics remains critical to growth. He shares how law firm marketing has evolved, where firms still fall short, and why proactive business development, client intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration are essential for building stronger client relationships. Bob also offers practical career advice on bringing the voice of the client into an organization, identifying your unique value, and developing the trust and internal relationships that drive long-term success. 

Jacob Parks and Andi Baldwin sit down with Alexander Kaarls, Managing Partner of Houthoff, to explore how an early-career opportunity that pushed him into the deep end shaped his approach to leadership, growth, and developing talent. Drawing on his experience leading a large law firm, Alexander shares why growth must be everyone's responsibility, how learning from peers and sharing success stories can build a growth-minded culture, and why partners play a critical role in developing client relationships and driving business development.

Josh Iverson and Erika Flowers sit down with Koree Khongphand-Buckman to explore the lessons she learned selling books door-to-door, why that experience shaped her approach to business development, and what it takes to drive growth in professional services. Koree shares her perspective on client teams, relationship-building, collaboration, and the importance of asking clients the hard questions rather than assuming you know the answers. She also discusses why firms grow faster when they “hunt in packs,” how culture influences long-term success, and practical ways leaders can create more cross-selling and collaboration across their organizations.

Andi Baldwin and Erika Flowers sit down with Anita Mikus to explore how an early-career lesson on work ethic and accountability shaped her approach to leadership and growth.Drawing on more than two decades in professional services, Anita shares why outcomes—not activity—drive success, how trust is built through delivery, and why strong client relationships start with understanding the full problem.The conversation also touches on leading high-performing teams, navigating the complexities of the public sector, and what it takes to build a culture grounded in accountability and action.

RE-RELEASE from 2021: The Story of PIE with Tom McMakin. We’re celebrating 25 years of PIE. In this episode, Tom shares how PIE was built to bridge the gap between experts and the people they’re best suited to help, how the firm evolved from an early‑stage startup into a global, peer‑driven network, and why traditional approaches to selling expertise fall short in today’s market.

Andi Baldwin and Jacob Parks sit down with Mark Cheshire to explore what truly defines a great rainmaker—and why business development skills can be developed, not just inherited.Drawing on decades of experience as a CEO and client of professional services firms, Mark shares what he looked for when deciding which advisors earned his trust. Through real-world stories, he unpacks the skills that matter most, the role preparation and empathy play in client relationships, and why asking better questions can set advisors apart.The conversation also touches on how COVID disrupted skill development, what younger professionals can do differently today, and the habits Mark consistently saw in the most effective advisors.