Ami Kassar on Surviving Cash Flow Crises and Predatory Lending

For more than 20 years, Ami has challenged executives to think differently about how they capitalize growth. Regularly featured in national media including The New York Times, Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Forbes and Fox Business News. He has advised the White House, the Federal Reserve Bank and the Treasury Department on credit markets. An in-demand speaker and trusted advisor to growth-focused business leaders, Ami has helped thousands of business owners achieve ambitious growth goals through creative and personalized funding solutions. His work has helped create tens of thousands of jobs. Join us on this insightful and timely episode where we explore the post-pandemic shifts in capital / small business finance.

In this episode, I am joined by the remarkable Bill Gallagher, a seasoned business coach with over three and a half decades of entrepreneurial experience. Bill has an extraordinary story to share about taking a much-needed vacation in the midst of his company's rapid growth phase, showcasing his leadership philosophy: you can scale up without burning out. He will delve into the critical role of implementing metrics, dashboards, and regular strategic sessions to maintain sanity while steering your company's ship to new heights. We will peel back the layers on various growth models, including acquisitions, building out, and franchising. Bill will lend his expertise on the subtle shifts in business models that occur during this process. From discussing the success of borderless teams to unraveling the complexities of M&A, this episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to scale their business effectively. In this straightforward and deeply insightful conversation, Bill will emphasize the importance of understanding personal strengths, solid leadership teams, and the dynamics that play into strategic decision-making. Plus, we'll touch upon the playful side of life - yes, you heard it right, there's a story involving a gorilla outfit that you won't want to miss! And for those keen to play a bigger game, Bill has the playbook. He'll outline the need for a clear vision, audacious goals, and attracting top-grade talent. With daily huddles, weekly meetings, and quarterly planning sessions on the agenda, Bill reminds us that everyday efforts lead to exponential growth.

Tom Spadea is a seasoned professional in the franchising industry with over two decades of experience under his belt. His journey didn't begin in the legal realm; instead, Tom found his footing in franchise sales, playing a pivotal role in scaling prominent brands like Rita's Italian Ice. His leadership proved instrumental as he led the charge in expanding the brand from just over 300 units to a staggering 500 units, showcasing his acumen in the growth and development of franchises. In this episode, Tom shares his extensive experience in the franchising world and discusses how integrating global talent can be a strategic move for franchise organizations. He emphasizes the importance of being intentional and fostering a relationship-driven approach with offshore and remote team members to drive loyalty and efficiency within the organization. The episode also explores the impact of global talent on the domestic team, the cultural aspects of blending international teams, and the tools and practices that have been effective in managing remote global experiences. If you're a business leader or entrepreneur in the franchising industry, this episode is a must-listen as it offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of franchising and the untapped potential of global talent.

Meet Dave Westcott, a dynamic and versatile business leader with a diverse portfolio of companies under his leadership. As the current CEO of Evergreen Brands, Dave is renowned for his unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service and deep-rooted passion for philanthropy. His extensive experience is marked by influential roles, including his tenure as CEO of TransBlue, a franchise company in the general contracting realm, and Condo Shield, where he emphasized operational excellence and unparalleled customer satisfaction. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Dave is propelled by a humanitarian spirit, having established Enbridge Global, a nonprofit organization with a mandate to make a significant global impact. His journey is characterized by an impressive melding of business acumen and a dedication to creating positive change, both in the corporate world and beyond. To discover more about how Dave utilizes offshore talent to catalyze his ventures, visit doxatalent.com. Join us as we delve into the story of a leader who's genuinely shaping the future through innovation and compassionate outreach.

Caryn Kopp is the Chief Door Opener of Kopp Consulting, a firm that helps businesses land executive-level prospect meetings. She is a nationally recognized speaker and an expert in business development featured in Inc., Fortune Magazine, Forbes, Newsweek, and The Wall Street Journal morning radio show. Caryn authored The Path to The Cash!® The Words You NEED To Bypass Those Darned Prospect Objections! and Biz Dev Done Right. She is also the Sales Messaging Coach of Scaling Up Coaches Worldwide, a firm that will help you grow and scale your company, leveraging proven trademarked tools and techniques. In this episode… Are you seeking strategies to help your sales team start conversations with qualified prospects more frequently and efficiently? Have you thought about outsourced sales, and what do you need to know about it?  According to Caryn Kopp, a veteran sales consultant, getting in the door for the first meeting with high-level prospects is the most challenging part of business development. She recommends outsourced sales to experts who can find the right opportunities and secure initial meetings for you so you can focus on closing more sales and business development. She shares her journey in the sales messaging space and building and running a firm to help busy entrepreneurs with high-level prospecting.  In this episode of The Future Is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Caryn Kopp, Chief Door Opener of Kopp Consulting, to discuss tips for landing executive-level prospect meetings and closing. Caryn explains how Kopp Consulting differentiates itself in the market by helping companies struggling with executive-level prospecting, its model for hiring door-opening talent, insights on outsourcing the door-opening function of a business and working with in-house sales teams, and tips for training and onboarding your salespeople.

JP Dahdah is the Founder and CEO of Vantage IRAs, a top self-directed retirement plan administration and alternative custody company that helps investors diversify their retirement savings. He specializes in alternative investment custodial services for self-directed IRAs and private market investments. With a 25-year career in financial services, JP has received various awards and recognitions, including the Entrepreneur of the Year and Forty Under 40 Award from the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Most Admired Leaders award from the Phoenix Business Journal. He is also the Founder of Advance Guatemala, a charity supporting Guatemalans in need. In this episode… Do you have an Individual Retirement Account and want to put the funds in the account to work? In what ways can you better invest your retirement money?  According to investment expert JP Dahdah, many large financial institutions limit people's IRA investments to the stock market, making them lose out on other viable alternative investment opportunities. He shares his entrepreneurial journey with a mission to inform Americans about the investment choices available within their retirement accounts. You can also win in the retirement game and deserve an IRA with the freedom to invest your money where you want. In this episode of The Future Is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with JP Dahdah, Founder and CEO of Vantage IRAs, to discuss how people can have a self-directed IRA. JP shares his journey in the self-directed IRA space to starting Vantage IRAs, the alternative assets people invest in outside of the stock market, Vantage’s expansion journey leveraging borderless talent, and his philanthropic work through Advance Guatemala.

Kent Gregoire is the Co-founder of Stakeholder Business, a firm that helps leaders build thriving stakeholder businesses that matter. He is also the Founder and CEO of Symphony Advantage. Kent is a serial entrepreneur who launched his first manufacturing company at 14. Since then, he has founded and led over a dozen organizations throughout his entrepreneurial journey. Kent has also provided advisory training and coaching services to executive-level management under the Symphony Advantage Brand. He is an angel investor in purpose-driven companies and a sought-after speaker in the US and beyond. In this episode… Do you desire to leave a lasting legacy by creating a company that impacts the industry and the world? What's the secret to building that kind of business? Having been an entrepreneur since 14, Kent Gregoire gained a lot of financial success but felt like something was missing. After listening to his father's advice, he discovered conscious capitalism. It's a way of unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit for good and elevating humanity by aligning businesses with people, purpose, and profit. As a certified conscious capitalism consultant, Kent shares how he now helps others build thriving stakeholder businesses. In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Kent Gregoire, Co-founder of Stakeholder Business, to discuss how entrepreneurs can adopt a conscious capitalism approach in their businesses. Kent shares his path to conscious capitalism, how to become a certified conscious capitalism consultant, the difference between conscious capitalism and stakeholder capitalism, and tips for becoming a purpose-driven company and its importance.

Spencer Sheinin is the Founder and CEO of Shift Financial Insights, a firm providing outsourced bookkeeping, accounting, and financial insights to small and medium-sized businesses. He is a CPA with over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, having owned businesses in manufacturing, construction, real estate, cold storage, and financial services. Spencer is also a guest speaker for the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and an active Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) member. He was a recipient of the Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 award and is a finalist for the Surrey Business Excellence award. In this episode... Financial clarity is fundamental to the success of any business. As an entrepreneur, how can you acquire financial knowledge to make informed decisions for your organization? Many small and medium-sized businesses lack the necessary resources to employ an accountant. Consequently, business owners must manage bookkeeping and other financial statements singlehandedly. Yet many entrepreneurs aren’t financially literate and fail to manage their companies effectively. Finance is a separate skill set from operating a business, so Spencer Sheinin recommends hiring financial insights companies. These professionals provide you with the financial information necessary to make decisions that propel your company forward. In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Spencer Sheinin, Founder and CEO of Shift Financial Insights, to discuss simple methods for managing finances. Spencer explains how Shift helps entrepreneurs maneuver their financial blind spots, why many entrepreneurs struggle with bookkeeping, Shift’s ideal clients, and how the company differentiates itself in the market.

TA McCann is the Managing Director of Pioneer Square Labs, a Seattle-based software development studio that creates and launches technology startups. As a serial entrepreneur, he was the Founder and CEO of Senosis, acquired by Google, Gist, acquired by Blackberry, and Rival IQ, a leader in marketing analytics. TA is an active angel investor, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, and a TechStars mentor. Before his startup career, he was a professional sailor, having competed in two America's Cups and the Whitbread Round the World race.  In this episode... As an aspiring entrepreneur, formulating and executing ideas is foundational for launching a startup. Where can you get the support to transform your vision into a scalable business?  According to TA McCann, building a profitable startup is hard. The process involves ideation, validation, creation, implementation, and growth. It also requires domain expertise, extraordinary talent, execution, and precise timing. He recommends going to a startup studio to partner with experts who can help you through these processes and build your dream business.  In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with TA McCann, Managing Director of Pioneer Square Labs, to discuss how he helps create entrepreneurs. TA talks about a startup studio model and how it differs from traditional venture capital, the five-stage process PSL uses to develop business ideas, and shares his thoughts on in-person, hybrid, and remote working environments.

Nathan Donohue is the Co-founder and Partner of Consilio Wealth Advisors, an SEC-registered independent wealth management firm for technology professionals. As Partner and Advisor, he drives firm strategy, execution, and internal processes for the team. Nathan is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who started his financial planning practice in 2008 while finishing college. He is also a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and is a member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization Seattle. In this episode… Throughout their careers, everyone is encouraged to save money. But what does this entail? Many people lack an adequate understanding of finances and lose control of their personal lives. How can you manage your funds without working your life away?  You work hard for your money. But Nathan Donohue says not to let it steal your freedom. Life is about accumulating memories, not cash. He recommends hiring wealth advisors to help you navigate the complexities of the financial landscape and make informed decisions to achieve your financial objectives. Nathan manages an advisory firm that guides and helps clients feel confident about their financial decisions. In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Nathan Donohue, Co-founder and Partner of Consilio Wealth Advisors, to discuss wealth management tips. Nathan talks about wealth management and how he got into the space, the start of Consilio and how it helps its clients, and how the financial services industry is evolving.