Rico Smith on Winning the Primary Election, Tackling Hurricane Relief, and Lowering Florida Insurance Rates

Execution speed isn't just a tactic — it's the ultimate competitive advantage. In this episode, Laurence Haughton, author of It's Not the Big That Eat the Small...It's the Fast That Eat the Slow, shares how his relentless drive for speed transformed his career — from an engineering tech to a best-selling author. We dive into why moving fast crushes inertia, ignites momentum, and pushes organizations forward, while slow, cautious decision-making keeps teams stuck. If you've ever felt frustrated by "admiring the problem" instead of solving it, this one's for you. Let’s break the speed barrier!Follow us on Twitter @privateinequity @leverupRT

In today’s fast-paced digital world where a plethora of information is easily available, tons of varying and clashing opinions on all sorts of topics are floating online. Author, mathematician, and political commentator Dr. James Lindsay has dedicated his career to leading an intellectual rebellion to address the most problematic trends in academic and cultural discourse. Joining Paul Swaney, he discusses how to maintain intellectual rigor in the age of social media, the unbreakable relationship of politics and media, and how to not lose your ability to think critically. Dr. James also shares his transition from academia to entrepreneurship, the origin story of his platform New Discourses, and how he handles attacks at all fronts.Follow us on Twitter @privateinequity @leverupRT

Paul Swaney sits down with Ryan Heckman, who shares how he found his way and built success in the world of private equity. He talks about the valuable lessons about leadership and culture that he has gathered along the way, which contributed a lot to him becoming Co-Founder, Managing Partner, and CEO of Rallyday Partners. Paul explains why their firm embraced innovative yet quite controversial practices, from eliminating management fees to focusing on business architecture rather than governance. He also explores why he prioritizes purpose-driven leadership and cultural development more than anything else in his career.Follow us on Twitter @privateinequity @leverupRT

Business restructuring often starts with stabilizing chaos and rallying people behind a shared vision. Paul Swaney sits down with turnaround expert Lars Vaule to explore the art of fixing struggling companies and building a thriving culture. From demoralized teams to cash flow dilemmas, Lars shares actionable insights and inspiring stories about leading through tough times. He also delves into balancing urgency with strategy, the power of creative solutions, and why great leadership means creating opportunities for every team member to grow. If you have ever wondered what it takes to transform a failing business, this conversation is for you.Follow us on Twitter @privateinequity @leverupRT

Entrepreneurship thrives at the intersection of passion, purpose, and perseverance. In this engaging conversation, Paul Swaney dives deep into the entrepreneurial insights of Taylor Kenerson, an athlete-turned-business innovator redefining success on her own terms. From lessons learned on the softball field to building startups that embrace creativity and AI, Taylor shares how values like kindness, communication, and authenticity guide her journey. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or navigating your own career pivots, this episode is packed with relatable wisdom and actionable takeaways. Join us as we explore the mindset and strategies behind turning vision into impact.Follow us on Twitter @privateinequity @leverupRT

In this episode of LeverUp®, we sat with John Caple, the Founding Managing Partner of Hidden Harbor. With over twenty years of private equity investment and operational experience, John shares his journey from his early days at Bain & Company, where he advised Fortune 500 companies and led private equity due diligence, to his pivotal role at H.I.G. Capital and Hidden Harbor Now at Hidden Harbor, John chairs the firm’s Investment Committee and leads the strategic direction of the firm, focusing on driving complex business turnarounds and achieving top-tier investment returns. Whether you're a seasoned professional in private equity or an entrepreneur looking for guidance, this episode offers actionable strategies for success. To connect with John Caple, visit Hidden Harbor Capital at https://hh-cp.com/ or reach out via his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-caple-969345/.

In today's episode, we welcome back Rico Smith, fresh off his primary election victory. We dive into how he secured a 13% win with a grassroots campaign and discuss his bold plans to tackle Florida’s biggest challenges.Rico shares his vision for lowering property insurance premiums, addressing the housing crisis, and helping Florida recover from Hurricane Helene. He also talks about how he plans to bring resources back to his community and engage younger voters with a message of hope.Comment with your thoughts on Rico’s journey and vision for Florida Follow Rico Smith: Instagram @realricosmith, Twitter @realricosmith, Facebook @realricosmith Visit Rico’s campaign website: www.votericosmith.com

Today we sit down with Skylar Romines, founder of ATW Advisors and author of So She Did. In this episode, Skylar shares her 17-year journey in commercial insurance, how she built a thriving consulting firm, and the challenges she faced transitioning from corporate America to entrepreneurship. We dive deep into career-building strategies for women, the importance of networking, personal branding tips, and how to overcome work-life balance struggles. Skylar also reveals how she cultivated her successful personal brand on social media, particularly on Twitter, which helped her land clients and grow her business. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs, women in business, and professionals looking to level up in their careers.To connect with Skylar Romines, follow her on Twitter at @SkylarRomines or find her on LinkedIn under Skylar Romines.Check out her book So She Did available on Amazon!

In this episode of the Lever Up Podcast, we sit down with Ryne Ogren, a former professional baseball player turned private equity investor. After a successful career as a shortstop and catcher with the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles, Ryne made a bold pivot into the world of digital marketing and inorganic entrepreneurship. He shares his unique journey from the baseball field to acquiring and scaling digital marketing agencies in Tampa, Miami, and Philadelphia. We dive deep into his experiences in deal sourcing, business acquisitions, and overcoming challenges in B2B marketing, along with his strategies for building successful businesses. Listen to Ryne’s insights on transitioning from sports to entrepreneurship, the importance of consistent marketing, and how his baseball background shaped his private equity approach. Key topics include:Ryne Ogren’s journey from professional baseball to digital marketing investmentsHow Ryne sourced and acquired three digital marketing businesses in 12 monthsThe importance of sales and marketing skills in small business acquisitionsThe impact of B2B marketing, lead generation, and SEO on business successLessons from deal negotiations and client management in private equityConnect with Ryne Ogren: Follow Ryne on X at @RyneOgren and check out his website https://www.ryneogren.com

In this episode of the LeverUp® Podcast, we welcome John Maher, founder of Victoriam Group and expert in performance marketing. John breaks down the art and science of data-driven marketing and shares how he helps businesses, particularly in the financial services and lending sectors, achieve sustainable growth by optimizing their marketing efforts and reducing customer acquisition costs.With over a decade of experience, John has worked with a range of businesses, from small startups to large financial institutions, helping them run hyper-targeted marketing campaigns and significantly improve their lead generation processes. Throughout the episode, John shares his HTHG (Hyper Target Hyper Growth) strategy, explaining how it’s helped clients increase conversions, drive revenue, and scale without adding unnecessary overhead.In addition to his marketing expertise, John also opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, from starting his first business at 16 to facing personal challenges along the way. He discusses the lessons learned from overcoming adversity and how resilience played a crucial role in shaping his success.