The Beacon Way

Beacon Media + Marketing

Welcome to The Beacon Way Podcast, your guide to Inspiring Leaders + Elevating Businesses. Hosted by Adrienne Wilkerson, a founder and the CEO of Beacon Media + Marketing, this podcast is designed for small and medium-sized business owners ready for growth. Each week, we share real-time insights, actionable tips, and powerful stories from a diverse range of industry professionals. With a conversational and educational tone, Adrienne dives deep into the challenges we face every day, tackling tough topics to foster genuine connection and improvement. Whether you're navigating team dynamics, scaling operations, or seeking fresh strategies, join us for honest conversations that will encourage and equip you on your entrepreneurial journey. New episodes drop every Thursday. Hit subscribe and follow along!

  1. 6d ago

    A Proven Roadmap for Business Growth with Hugo van den Biggelaar

    Business growth should not depend on luck, assumptions, or the latest trend.  In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with Hugo van den Biggelaar, CEO of The Bitsing Company USA, to explore a proven methodology for making clearer, more intentional growth decisions.  Hugo spent more than eight years at Nike, working across finance, insights, loyalty, digital marketing, and brand strategy before moving into entrepreneurship. Today, he is helping bring the Bitsing methodology from Europe to the United States.   Bitsing is a business growth framework developed over more than 30 years and used by more than 1,000 organizations. It brings finance, strategy, positioning, marketing, and sales together in one structured plan designed to help leaders focus on the actions most likely to produce measurable growth.   In this conversation, Hugo explains why business owners should stop relying solely on gut feeling, how to identify where growth is already proven, and why the strongest brands give people an emotional reason to choose them.  Adrienne and Hugo also discuss the challenges that businesses face at every size, from small entrepreneurial teams to global organizations, and how leaders can turn scattered ideas into a practical roadmap.  In This Episode  -Hugo’s journey from Nike to entrepreneurship   -How the Bitsing methodology was developed   -Why every business needs a clear growth roadmap   -The difference between a financial goal and a strategy   -How to use revenue data to decide where to invest   -Why businesses often overlook what is already working   -How to balance current revenue with new growth opportunities   -Preparing a business to scale, sell, or exit   -Why rational selling points are easy for competitors to copy   -How emotional positioning creates brand preference   -Three practical steps toward more intentional growth   Key Takeaways  -Set financial goals first.  Brand awareness, website traffic, and sales conversions can support growth, but they are strategies rather than the final business goal.  -Follow the evidence.  Your existing revenue data can help show which services, products, audiences, and markets deserve more of your time and budget.  -Create preference, not just a reason to buy.  Price, speed, and features can all be copied. A strong brand gives people an emotional and distinctive reason to choose you.  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction  00:36 Hugo’s Journey from Amsterdam to Nike and New York  02:48 Leaving Nike and Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship  05:59 Bringing the Bitsing Methodology to the United States  06:54 How the Bitsing Growth Method Was Developed  09:34 The Seven Principles Behind the Framework  10:19 Building a Business Growth Roadmap  11:47 Why There Is No Secret Shortcut to Growth  12:36 Knowing When to Hire, Expand, or Stay Focused  15:18 Replacing Gut Feeling with Business Data  15:47 The Pencil Methodology Explained  16:46 Deciding Where to Invest Time and Marketing Budget  18:14 Growth Strategies for Scaling, Turnarounds, and Exits  19:48 Why Businesses of Every Size Face Similar Problems  22:32 Three Steps Toward Intentional Growth  23:06 Set Financial Goals Before Choosing Strategies  24:37 Let the Data Guide Your Decisions  25:03 The Three Brand Challenges Businesses Must Solve  26:24 Why Creating Preference Matters Most  26:51 Finding an Emotional Advantage Competitors Cannot Copy  28:03 Why B2B Marketing Is Still Human  28:51 How to Connect with Hugo  30:06 Closing    Connect with Hugo van den Biggelaar: Bitsing Website  https://bitsing.com  Email  hugo@bitsing.com  LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugovandenbiggelaar/   Learn More About Bitsing  The Bitsing Company  https://bitsing.com  About the Bitsing method  https://bitsing.com/about  Books  https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Laws-Guaranteed-Growth-Management/dp/906369413X

  2. Jul 16

    The Secret to Building Trust Through Storytelling with Bridget Cook-Burch

    Every business has a story.  The question is: Are you telling yours? In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with Bridget Cook-Burch, bestselling author, publisher, book coach, and founder of Your Inspired Story, to explore why storytelling has become one of the most powerful tools for building trust, establishing thought leadership, and creating lasting business impact.  Bridget shares her remarkable personal journey—from overcoming childhood adversity and a life-changing near-death experience to becoming a bestselling author and helping leaders uncover the stories that shape who they are. Together, Adrienne and Bridget discuss how authentic storytelling helps business owners connect with the right audience, why thought leadership goes far beyond writing a book, and how sharing your story can transform both your leadership and your business. The conversation also explores AI's impact on marketing, why human connection matters more than ever, and practical ways leaders can begin discovering the stories that only they can tell. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, therapist, or business owner, this episode offers valuable insights into using your experiences to build credibility, inspire others, and create meaningful connections. In This Episode • Bridget Cook-Burch's personal journey and near-death experience  • Why storytelling creates deeper human connection  • Thought leadership versus simply writing a book  • How your story becomes your competitive advantage  • Building trust through authentic communication  • Storytelling for therapists and behavioral health professionals  • Marketing in the age of AI  • Why connection is becoming more valuable than content  • The timeline exercise for uncovering your story  • Turning life experiences into lasting impact  Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The Beacon Way Podcast 00:50 Meet Bridget Cook-Burch 01:30 Bridget's Incredible Story 05:00 A Life-Changing Near-Death Experience 08:30 Discovering the Power of Story 10:30 Why Every Leader Has a Story to Tell 12:00 Thought Leadership vs. Writing a Book 15:00 Finding Your Unique Message 16:45 Storytelling for Therapists & Behavioral Health 19:45 Why People Connect With Your "Why" 23:15 AI, Marketing & Human Connection 30:20 How to Discover Your Story 34:30 Bridget's Timeline Exercise 35:00 How to Work With Bridget 37:00 Closing Thoughts 🔗 Connect with Bridget Cook-Burch Your Inspired Story https://yourinspiredstory.com Writing Retreats, Coaching & Publishing Visit Your Inspired Story to learn more about Bridget's book coaching, writing retreats, and publishing services.

  3. Jul 10

    The Entrepreneur's Roadmap: 8 Steps to Long-Term Success with Dr. Kevin Gazzara

    Thinking about starting a business—or building one that stands the test of time? In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with Dr. Kevin Gazzara, CEO of Magna Leadership Solutions and CoachSultants.com, executive coach, leadership expert, speaker, professor, and author of The Leader of OZ. Before launching his own consulting firm, Kevin spent 18 years at Intel Corporation, where he held leadership roles in product management, program management, and leadership development. He later led Intel University's management and leadership programs, helping develop more than 40,000 managers across 10 countries. Today, he works with organizations around the world to build stronger leaders, healthier workplace cultures, and high-performing teams.  During this conversation, Kevin shares his 8 Ps of Entrepreneurship, a practical roadmap designed to help entrepreneurs build businesses with intention instead of relying on trial and error. Together, Adrienne and Kevin discuss: -The 8 Ps of Entrepreneurship  -Why long-term planning gives entrepreneurs an advantage  -Building a business that can withstand change  -Creating a unique competitive advantage  -Growing your professional network  -Strategic partnerships that accelerate growth  -Why saying "no" to the wrong clients is good business  -The difference between coaching and consulting  -Leadership lessons from decades of developing executives  Whether you're launching your first company, growing an established business, or investing in your own leadership development, this episode offers practical strategies you can begin applying immediately.   Connect with Dr. Kevin Gazzara: 🌐 Magna Leadership Solutions https://magnaleadership.com 🧠 Positive Intelligence Coaching & Training https://pqtrainingandcoaching.com/ 🤝 CoachSultants https://www.coachsultants.com/ 🌍 Kevin Gazzara's Website https://kevingazzara.com  📧 Email  kevin@magnaleadership.com  📘 Free Resource  Kevin mentions his book Ready, Set, Get Hired during the episode. Reach out via email to request your complimentary copy!

  4. Jul 1

    The Marketing Strategies AI Can't Replace with Stephan Bajaio

    As AI-generated content floods the internet, one thing is becoming increasingly valuable: authentic human connection.  In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with digital marketing veteran Stephan Bajaio, founder of Vibe Logic and former co-founder of Conductor, one of the world's leading enterprise SEO platforms.  Together they explore how AI is changing digital marketing, why authenticity is becoming one of the biggest competitive advantages for businesses, and what behavioral health practices can do to better connect with the people they're trying to serve.  The conversation dives into content strategy, SEO, therapist branding, patient psychology, evergreen content, and why the best marketing isn't about selling—it's about helping.  Whether you're a practice owner, marketer, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights into creating content that builds trust, creates connection, and serves people before they ever become customers.  In This Episode: -How AI is reshaping marketing   -Why authenticity matters more than ever   -Creating content that builds trust   -Marketing for behavioral health practices   -Writing for patients instead of search engines   -Evergreen content that continues delivering value   -Human-centered SEO strategies   -Why empathy is your biggest competitive advantage   -Turning expertise into meaningful content   -The future of digital marketing     Chapters: 00:00 Introduction  00:55 Meet Stephan Bajaio  02:00 From Yahoo! to Building a Half-Billion Dollar SEO Company  03:40 Why Behavioral Health Marketing Matters  05:15 Authenticity in the Age of AI  07:10 Why Therapist Bios Often Miss the Mark  10:10 Helping Patients Feel Seen Before They Call  14:20 Marketing Is About Creating Connection  17:00 You're Not Always Marketing to the Patient  20:10 What McDonald's Can Teach Us About Marketing  24:10 Why Therapists Need to Speak Human, Not Clinical  31:00 Creating Evergreen Content That Actually Helps  36:30 Why Expertise Alone Doesn't Build Trust  41:00 Treating Real Problems, Not Bullet Points  47:00 The Lasting Impact of Helpful Content  50:00 Where to Connect With Stephan  51:20 Closing Thoughts  Connect With Stephan Bajaio  Vibe Logic  https://vibelogic.com  LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanbajaio/

  5. Jun 25

    Why Authentic Leaders Build Stronger Teams with Victoria Pelletier

    Leadership isn't about being the loudest voice in the room.  It's about building trust, creating accountability, and bringing people with you.  In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with executive leader, board director, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Victoria Pelletier to discuss her remarkable leadership journey—from overcoming a traumatic childhood and becoming an executive at just 24 years old to leading organizations through mergers, acquisitions, corporate transformations, and cultural change.  Victoria shares how years of being one of the only women in leadership shaped her approach, why she was once known as "The Iron Maiden," and how embracing authenticity transformed both her leadership style and the impact she has on the people around her.  The conversation explores human-centered leadership, accountability, workplace culture, navigating difficult conversations, leading through change, and creating environments where people can thrive while still achieving high performance.  If you're a business owner, executive, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode offers practical insights into building stronger teams and becoming the kind of leader people genuinely want to follow.  In This Episode: Victoria's journey from adversity to executive leadership   Being the only woman in the room   Why authenticity matters in leadership   The dangers of leadership masks and personas   Building trust through vulnerability   Human-centered leadership vs. command-and-control leadership   Accountability without sacrificing empathy   Leading through mergers, acquisitions, and organizational change   Creating followership instead of compliance   How to know when it's time to leave an organization   Connect With Victoria Pelletier  Website  https://victoria-pelletier.com  LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriapelletier  YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCpps5pAsPd83Bbn0YnofHRQ  Books, Speaking & Leadership Resources  https://victoria-pelletier.com

  6. Jun 18

    Why Most Branded Podcasts Fail (And How To Turn It Around) with Roger Nairn

    Why Most Branded Podcasts Fail (with Roger Nairn, CEO of Jar Podcast Solutions)   Welcome back to The Beacon Way Podcast!  In this episode, host Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with Roger Nairn, Co-Founder and CEO of Jar Podcast Solutions, to discuss what separates successful podcasts from the thousands that never gain traction. Roger shares why many branded podcasts fail, how organizations should approach podcasting as a strategic business asset, and why every podcast needs a clear purpose before the first episode is ever recorded. The conversation also explores audience-first content creation, podcast measurement and analytics, podcasting's evolution into video, the role of AI in content creation, and what the future looks like for creators, marketers, and media companies. Whether you're launching your first podcast or looking to improve an existing show, this episode offers practical insights into building content that creates lasting audience engagement. In This Episode: · Why most branded podcasts fail  · The difference between content marketing and podcast strategy  ·  How to determine your podcast's purpose  ·  Building audience-first content  · Podcast analytics that actually matter  · Video podcasts and the future of the medium  · AI's impact on content creation and storytelling  · Remote agency leadership and operations  · Why human connection still matters in an AI-driven world    Chapters00:00 Introduction & Meet Roger Nairn   01:01 The Story Behind Jar Podcast Solutions   02:20 Why Most Branded Podcasts Fail   05:32 Podcast Analytics & Measuring Success   08:05 Why Every Podcast Needs a Job   10:35 Different Podcast Formats for Different Goals   13:05 How Long Should a Podcast Be?   15:50 The Evolution of Podcasting & Video Content   17:00 The Human Element of Podcasting   18:30 Podcasting in the Age of AI   21:50 AI Slop, Authenticity & Human Connection   24:40 AI, Hollywood & The Future of Creative Work   33:00 How Jar Uses AI Internally   36:25 AI, Creativity & Agency Operations   41:15 Where to Find Roger Nairn   42:55 Closing Thoughts   Where to find Roger and Jar Podcast Solutions:  Jar Podcast Solutions Website   https://jarpodcast.com LinkedIn   Connect with Roger Nairn on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogernairn604/  Resources & Blog   https://jarpodcast.com

  7. Jun 4

    How Cheque Helps Service Businesses Get Paid Faster with Dynamic Discounting

    How Cheque Helps Service Businesses Get Paid Faster with Dynamic Discounting    Adrienne interviews Julia, founder of Cheque, who moved from Sweden to the US after leaving her role at a Stockholm accelerator to start an invoicing platform for service businesses. Drawing on interviews with about 100 service providers, Julia explains how Cheque uses dynamic discounting—letting businesses offer optional discounted net 5 or net 10 terms alongside standard net terms—so clients can pay early for a 1%–3% discount, helping vendors improve cash flow without relying on lines of credit or factoring. They discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, the pain points in existing bookkeeping and invoicing tools, and Cheque’s longer-term vision for a “credit exchange without credit” that could route early-payment demand across the platform. Julia shares how to contact her and notes Cheque’s free plan and QuickBooks integration.   Contact Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliadelin/ Cheque Website: https://www.chequepay.co/ Contact Adrienne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennewilkerson/ Beacon Media & Marketing Website: https://www.beaconmm.com/   Follow Beacon Media & Marketing Social Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/beacon-media-marketing/posts/?feedView=all https://www.facebook.com/beaconmm/ https://www.instagram.com/beaconmm/   00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:18 Julia’s Founder Story 01:29 How Cheque Works 02:37 Taking the Leap 04:02 Entrepreneur Rollercoaster 08:14 Big Vision for SMBs 09:45 Cash Flow Alternative 12:06 Dynamic Discounting Demo 16:35 Proactive vs Collections 19:51 Credit Exchange Vision 21:32 Roadmap and Risk 22:39 Free Plan and Contact 23:58 Healthcare Use Case 27:03 Closing Thanks

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Beacon Way Podcast, your guide to Inspiring Leaders + Elevating Businesses. Hosted by Adrienne Wilkerson, a founder and the CEO of Beacon Media + Marketing, this podcast is designed for small and medium-sized business owners ready for growth. Each week, we share real-time insights, actionable tips, and powerful stories from a diverse range of industry professionals. With a conversational and educational tone, Adrienne dives deep into the challenges we face every day, tackling tough topics to foster genuine connection and improvement. Whether you're navigating team dynamics, scaling operations, or seeking fresh strategies, join us for honest conversations that will encourage and equip you on your entrepreneurial journey. New episodes drop every Thursday. Hit subscribe and follow along!