Business Growth Spotlight

Heidi Schalk
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED DAILY

Welcome to Business Growth Spotlight, the podcast where we shine a light on innovative business leaders, cutting-edge strategies, and the latest trends shaping the world of business growth. Whether you're a corporate leader, entrepreneur, or online educator, this podcast delivers actionable insights and expert conversations to help you scale your business, increase revenue, and stay ahead in a competitive market. Join host Heidi Schalk as we dive deep into the stories and strategies of industry leaders, uncovering the tools and tactics they use to drive success. From navigating corporate challenges to mastering online visibility, this podcast is your go-to resource for scaling your business and reaching your goals. Tune in weekly for inspiring conversations, practical advice, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in today’s ever-evolving business landscape.

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep. 166 Why Industry Expertise Is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage in AI Startups with Darshan Honale

    Show Notes: In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk sits down with Darshan Honali, founder of i2VC, to explore why deep industry expertise is becoming the true competitive advantage in today’s AI driven startup ecosystem. Darshan shares how i2VC connects industry experts across healthcare, financial services, renewable energy, space tech, and cybersecurity with venture capital firms and early stage startups. The conversation dives into what is actually driving growth right now, how founders should think about AI beyond the hype, and why narrowing your ideal customer profile accelerates traction. This episode is a practical guide for founders, operators, and investors who want signal over noise in a rapidly evolving AI market. Bio: Darshan Honale is a venture advisor and ecosystem builder working at the intersection of industry expertise, applied AI, and venture capital. He is the founder of i2VC, a platform focused on helping domain experts across healthcare, finance, energy, and enterprise technology, connect with startups, venture funds, and private capital in meaningful ways. Darshan advises startups, syndicates early-stage deals, and works closely with founders and investors on go-to-market clarity, capital strategy, and where AI actually creates value beyond the hype. He is particularly passionate about why industry expertise is becoming more important than software alone in an AI-driven world. He regularly speaks at investor and operator focused events and moderates panels across healthcare, private capital, and emerging technology. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/in/hdarshan Website:  i2vc.com Connect with me: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/ 🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

    36 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Ep. 165 How Rove Travel Is Redefining Luxury Property Management

    Show Notes: In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk sits down with David Saadia, Director of Operations at Rove Travel, to explore how luxury hospitality is evolving in a remote first, AI driven world. Broadcasting from Mexico City, David shares his global hospitality journey, from studying in Switzerland to leading hotel operations across major international cities, and how he transitioned from traditional hotel management into a fast growing luxury property management startup. This conversation dives into experiential travel, operational excellence, company culture, AI implementation, and what it truly takes to scale a hospitality brand without sacrificing service standards. Bio: I was born and raised in Mexico City from a French father and American mother. At 16 I attended a hospitality summer program at Cornell and knew this was the path I wanted. I studied at Les Roches in Switzerland and later completed a Bachelor of Arts in Food and Beverage and Revenue Management at Kendall College in Chicago. My career has taken me through several countries and brands. I worked in Barcelona at the Ritz Carlton, in New York at the Eventi Hotel, in Thailand, Italy, and Chicago. At 23 I moved to California to run operations for a 93 room hotel, overseeing housekeeping, front office, reporting directly to the General Manager. After 8 years abroad I moved back to Mexico City to be closer to family and stepped into the startup world. I joined WeWork in its early stage and worked across operations and sales. I eventually led all building openings across Latin America during a period of rapid growth. I later joined Oyo Rooms, where I led Sales Operations and helped build processes for a business development team of around 300 to 400 people. A few years later, my passion for hospitality brought me back when I got recruited as General Manager at Habitas. I managed their flagship hotel in Tulum and their new property in Bacalar, overseeing about 200 team members and 77 rooms. A year ago I joined Rove Travel as Director of Operations. I oversee the guest experience across multiple US markets and manage a fully remote concierge team. My work focuses on operational systems, quality control, vendor management, training, and building consistent hospitality standards across our luxury rental portfolio. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rove_travel?igsh=MTZvZDd3bXhtMGgzZg== Website:  www.rovetravel.com Connect with me: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/ 🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

    28 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Ep. 164 How to Turn E Commerce Into a Cash Flowing Investment Asset with Dolapo Adedayo

    Show Notes: In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk welcomes Dolapo Adedayo, Founder of Trend Hijacking, to discuss how e-commerce can be repositioned from a side hustle into a structured, cash flowing investment vehicle. Dolapo shares how his journey began in 2017 when he acquired his first profitable e-commerce business, scaled it, and exited within two years. That experience reshaped his perspective on digital businesses, leading him to build a firm that helps investors buy, scale, and exit profitable e-commerce brands using institutional grade diligence and below market acquisition strategies. Rather than building from zero, Dolapo advocates skipping the zero to one phase and acquiring businesses that already have product market fit, infrastructure, teams, and cash flow in place. From there, the focus becomes operational optimization, margin expansion, global scalability, and structured exits within one to three years. Bio: Dolapo Adedayo is the Founder and Managing Partner of Trend Hijacking, an alternative wealth advisory helping high-net-worth individuals, professionals, and entrepreneurs diversify into digital assets, specifically e-commerce businesses, through structured acquisition, growth, and exit strategies. Under Dolapo’s leadership, Trend Hijacking has developed a proven model designed to create predictable and outsized returns: - Acquire profitable e-commerce businesses below market value. - Scale them using performance-driven frameworks to achieve 2–5× revenue growth within 12–24 months. - Exit at premium multiples of 3–5×, maximizing client ROI. Unlike traditional brokers, Dolapo and his team operate as buy-side advisors and operators, applying private equity discipline to every phase of the process, from sourcing and evaluation to negotiation, scaling, and exit execution. Through this model, Dolapo has helped investors generate consistent cash flow, mitigate risk, and build long-term wealth within the rapidly growing $6 trillion e-commerce sector. His mission is clear: To democratize the strategies used by private equity firms and make them accessible to individual investors seeking to diversify portfolios and build sustainable wealth through digital commerce. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: Personal Socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adedayo-dolapo/ https://x.com/DolapoAdedayo3 Business Socials: https://www.youtube.com/@TrendHijackingAcquisition https://trendhijacking.com/blog https://trendhijacking.com/ecommerce-businesses-for-sale Website:  http://trendhijacking.com/ Connect with me: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/ 🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint:  https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

    44 min

  4. FEB 13

    Ep. 163 How EEG Brain Imaging Is Transforming Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Treatment

    Show Notes: In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, Heidi Schalk sits down with James Hamet, CEO and Founder of Vistim Labs, to explore a breakthrough approach to neurological care. Vistim Labs is tackling one of the biggest challenges in neurology: knowing whether a treatment is actually working. While tools like PET scans and MRIs provide structural information, they are expensive, difficult to access, and not designed for frequent monitoring. James shares how Vistim Labs uses advanced EEG based brain imaging to deliver real time, non radioactive insights into brain function in just 30 minutes. The conversation dives into how this technology helps physicians personalize treatment plans for conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. With nearly 40 percent of patients potentially receiving therapies that do not produce results, having measurable feedback can dramatically improve outcomes. By providing objective data, doctors can adjust treatment sooner, build trust with patients, and accelerate progress. James also explains the science behind neurofeedback and how measurable feedback drives neuroplasticity. From retraining fall prevention responses in elderly patients to supporting cognitive recovery, feedback loops are central to measurable improvement in both medicine and performance. Beyond the science, this episode explores the realities of building a high tech medical company. James discusses regulatory hurdles, insurance reimbursement challenges, long sales cycles, and the importance of humility and generosity in scaling innovation. He shares why scientific conferences have been his most effective growth strategy and how physician education remains a critical focus. A powerful takeaway from this conversation is that Alzheimer’s disease is not necessarily a hopeless diagnosis. Emerging research and measurable treatment monitoring are changing what is possible. Key topics covered include • How EEG based brain imaging compares to PET scans  • The importance of treatment monitoring in neurology  • Personalized therapy for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease  • Neurofeedback and brain plasticity  • FDA approval and reimbursement challenges in medical innovation  • Scaling a mission driven biotech startup  • Increasing access to neurological diagnostics across the United States To learn more or connect with James, visit vistimlabs.com. If you are a neurologist, physician, patient, or know someone navigating a neurological condition, this episode is one you will want to share. Bio: Serial neurotechnology entrepreneur, specialized in brain imaging To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jchamet/ Website:  https://vistimlabs.com Connect with me: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/ 🎁 Grab your Spotlight to Scale Blueprint: https://spotlighttoscale.com/blueprint

    38 min

  5. FEB 11

    Ep. 162 Training for the Sport of Life: Why Fitness Is the Ultimate Business Advantage with Yancy Culp

    Show Notes: In this high energy episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Yancy Culp, Co Creator and Senior Director of Spartan DEKA, for a powerful conversation that connects fitness, leadership, mindset, and business growth. Yancy shares his journey from completing a grueling 72 hour Spartan Death Race to helping build a globally recognized fitness competition designed for all levels. What began as a bold idea inside the Spartan ecosystem has evolved into thousands of revenue generating events inside gyms, studios, and fitness communities around the world. This conversation goes far beyond physical fitness. Yancy explains why movement is foundational to high performance leadership and why training the body directly impacts clarity, decision making, resilience, and long term success in business and life. Bio: Yancy Culp is the Co-Creator and Senior Director of Spartan DEKA. A U.S. Navy veteran with more than 30 years in the health, wellness, and fitness industry, Yancy has built a career as a coach, business owner, and team leader. His journey with Spartan began during the 2013 Spartan Death Race, a 72-hour challenge that became a life-changing experience and sparked a lasting friendship and opportunity to work for Spartan founder and CEO Joe De Sena. Before joining Spartan and DEKA, Yancy spent over 15 years managing Fixed Base Operator (FBO) aviation facilities and military aviation contracts, leading large-scale operations and service teams on U.S. military bases and civilian airports. During this period and continuing today, he has coached more than 5,000 group exercise classes while managing his own fitness businesses. Ever the multitasker, Yancy has also developed a long-standing career in the health and wellness space. He serves as the Active Lifestyle Coach for the science-driven nutrition company Humann and as a Master Coach for Get Burly, which offers mental and physical conditioning camps focused on leadership and personal development. From day one, Yancy’s mission with DEKA has been to create a globally recognized sport for all fitness levels, offering fitness testing experiences that highlight the value of consistent training and caring for what he calls “our beautiful machine - our body.” He believes everyone is an athlete and that we should all train for the ultimate sport: life. Yancy says: “My fitness love tank is filled every weekend when I see DEKA gyms around the world hosting events and celebrating fitness with their members and communities. Gym owners are hanging DEKA finisher medals around the necks of first-time testers, elite athletes, and everyone in between. At 4,500+ events and counting, it’s safe to say we’ve created a globally recognized sport for all levels—and we’re just getting started.” To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/yancy-culp-b792b519b/ Instagram: @yancyculp @deka.fit @spartan @dekaeurope  Connect with me: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

    45 min

  6. FEB 9

    Ep. 161 Digital Wellness, EMF, and Scaling a Mission-Driven Brand with DefenderShield

    Show Notes: In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Kylen Ribeiro, CEO of Defender Shield, to explore the intersection of business growth, digital wellness, leadership, and EMF protection. Kylen shares the powerful origin story behind Defender Shield, founded by a telecom engineer who discovered the potential health impacts of electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation long before it entered the mainstream conversation. What began as a solution to protect family members from laptop radiation has grown into a global digital wellness brand trusted by health-conscious consumers, parents, and clinicians alike. This conversation dives deep into EMF exposure, modern technology habits, leadership as a female CEO, education-first marketing, and how companies can scale while staying mission-driven. Kylen also offers practical, no-cost steps listeners can take immediately to reduce EMF exposure in their homes and workplaces. Whether you’re a business leader, parent, wellness advocate, or simply someone navigating life in a tech-heavy world, this episode delivers insight, clarity, and actionable guidance. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: facebook.com/defendershield Instagram.com/defendershield  tiktok.com/defendershield defendershield.com https://defendershield.com/pages/bios Connect with me: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/HeidiSchalk

    46 min

  7. FEB 6

    Ep.160 The Real Growth Inflection Points and How to Build a Scalable Go To Market Strategy That Actually Works in 2026

    Show Notes: In this episode of the Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Sam Palazzolo, founder of Tip of the Sphere and the Javelin Institute, to unpack what real business growth looks like heading into 2026. Sam brings decades of experience spanning Fortune 500 companies, consulting at Deloitte, private equity advisory, executive development, and scaling organizations from 25 million to 250 million in revenue. The conversation dives deep into go-to-market strategy, leadership decision making, AI driven growth, and why many companies stall at critical inflection points. Listeners will learn why most growth challenges are not one size fits all, but often stem from broken sales and marketing systems. Sam explains how his go to market operating system is designed to eliminate spray and pray tactics by creating repeatable market entry points, compressing sales cycles through AI, and building predictable revenue forecasting models. The episode also explores how leaders can set themselves up for success in the first 100 days in a new role. Sam shares the thinking behind his First 100 Days Play Call Sheet and why waiting too long to take action is one of the most common leadership mistakes. AI is another major theme throughout the discussion. Sam shares real examples of how AI has allowed his teams to do the work of sixteen people with just two high performers. He also explains why every company needs clear AI policies, internal accountability, and a willingness to test continuously. The conversation closes with practical advice on referrals, outbound strategy, inbound marketing, and why relying solely on referrals limits growth. Sam also outlines his 2026 plans including 30 day and 90 day scale sprints designed to rapidly accelerate revenue for growth focused organizations. This episode is a must listen for founders, CEOs, and revenue leaders who want to enter 2026 with clarity, momentum, and a scalable growth system. Sam's Bio: Most strategists stop at the whiteboard. I don't. I'm Sam Palazzolo—and I've been in your seat. - Led 2 tech startups from $0→$15M→Exit in under 18 months (COO/CRMO) - Advised a distribution company from $75M→$1B over 13 years - Run a family office focused on M&A since 2012 - Ex-Deloitte (led billion-dollar retail transformations) - 8x author ("Leading at the Tip of the Spear" + "50 Scaling Strategies") Now I serve as Managing Director at Tip of the Spear Ventures and Fractional Chief Strategy Officer to companies scaling from $25M to $500M+. I don't just advise. I embed. I spend 78% of my time inside high-growth companies driving strategy, execution, and accountability. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/spalazzolo/ https://tipofthespearventures.com/ https://javelininstitute.org/ 🎁 Reach out to Sam to get your Business Growth Spotlight listeners a 30 minute working session that includes his First 100 Days Play Call Sheet, a diagnosis of top revenue blockers, and a 45 day acceleration roadmap designed to compress sales cycles by up to 25 percent. Connect with me: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

    47 min

  8. FEB 4

    Ep. 159 Unshakable Leadership How Strong Leaders Build Strong Businesses with Berkshire Group's Founder

    Show Notes: In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with leadership expert and founder of Berkshire Group, Janet Kendall White, for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to build strong leaders, resilient teams, and sustainable businesses. Janet shares her journey from corporate leadership into entrepreneurship at a young age, including the mindset shifts required to fully commit to building a business without a back door. With more than 30 years of experience developing leaders across industries, she explains why leadership success always starts with intentionality, emotional intelligence, and communication. The conversation explores how leadership has fundamentally changed over the past three decades, especially in the wake of COVID, remote work, and ongoing global uncertainty. Janet discusses why many leaders fail when they are promoted based solely on technical skills and how organizations can better support new leaders instead of setting them up for burnout or failure. Janet also walks through her proprietary leadership development process, including assessments, emotional intelligence mindsets, meeting effectiveness, problem solving, and creating cultures where productive conflict and innovation can thrive. Heidi and Janet dive into the realities of balancing leadership, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and redefining success in different seasons of life. They also discuss founder-led marketing, the power of referrals when done intentionally, and how Janet rebuilt her visibility after COVID through LinkedIn, speaking, and relationship driven outreach. The episode concludes with a discussion of Janet’s new book, Unshakable Leadership, and what the next chapter looks like for Berkshire Group, along with a candid reflection on what can hold even the most experienced leaders back. This episode is a must listen for founders, CEOs, and leaders who want to build stronger cultures, lead with confidence, and create lasting impact. Bio: Janet Kendall White is the founder and CEO of Berkshire Group, Inc., a WBE and WOSB certified, award-winning organization with a three-decade track record of transforming leaders, teams, cultures, and businesses. She is the author of Unshakeable Leadership: A Map for Unlocking Strength, Strategy, and Success and has been featured in Entrepreneur, Fortune, and Bloomberg BusinessWeek. A sought-after speaker and facilitator locally, nationally, and internationally, Janet helps leaders unlock their potential, enhance emotional intelligence, and create lasting impact. She is a Past President of NAWBO Northeast Ohio, serves on the Board of Directors of the NAWBO National, the Board of Stark State College Foundation, and the Board of Cuyahoga Valley Association of Talent Development. In her spare time you will find Janet volunteering as a Trailblazer for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, coordinating the scholarship fund for Rolling Thunder Ohio Chapter 2 or hiking and cycling.  To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/berkshiregroup/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/berkshiregroup Instagram:  @janetkwhite Website:  https://berkshiregroupinc.com Grab her Book:  Amazon.com: Unshakable Leadership: A Map For Unlocking Strength, Strategy, And Success eBook : Kendall White, Janet: Kindle Store Connect with me: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/

    39 min
See All (167)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Business Growth Spotlight, the podcast where we shine a light on innovative business leaders, cutting-edge strategies, and the latest trends shaping the world of business growth. Whether you're a corporate leader, entrepreneur, or online educator, this podcast delivers actionable insights and expert conversations to help you scale your business, increase revenue, and stay ahead in a competitive market. Join host Heidi Schalk as we dive deep into the stories and strategies of industry leaders, uncovering the tools and tactics they use to drive success. From navigating corporate challenges to mastering online visibility, this podcast is your go-to resource for scaling your business and reaching your goals. Tune in weekly for inspiring conversations, practical advice, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in today’s ever-evolving business landscape.

Information

  • Creator
    Heidi Schalk
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Business Growth Spotlight
  • Show Website
    Business Growth Spotlight