More Than Legal

Danielle Laughlin
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Business
  • Updated Bimonthly

More Than Legal unpacks the truth behind power, profit, and purpose in business. Hosted by Danielle Laughlin, an expert business strategist and attorney, each episode blends legal insight with real-world stories to help founders, creators, and investors make smarter, more ethical decisions that build legacies instead of chasing short-term wins. Music credit: Cinematic Suspense Series Ep. 009 by Sasha Ende (CC BY 4.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Image credit: ForeverStruck, AL Gawlik Photography

  1. Sep 8

    The Purpose of Business Is People

    Dr. Randy Ross is the CEO of Remarkable, a bestselling author, speaker, and culture expert who helps organizations build healthier relationships, stronger teams, and more meaningful work environments. He is the author of Make Life Good and works with leaders and organizations to create cultures where people can find passion, purpose, and impact in their work. In this episode of More Than Legal, Dr. Ross joins Danielle Laughlin to talk about purpose, culture, leadership, relationships, and why business should be about more than making money. Dr. Ross shares how his background in faith, nonprofit leadership, and corporate work shaped his belief that work can be a place of meaning, transformation, and impact. He also explains why relationships drive results, how leaders can create healthier cultures, and what it means to move from making a good living to making life good. Dr. Ross shares insights on: Why work should be connected to meaning and purpose How leaders can build cultures where people thrive Why money is not the primary motivator for most people The importance of putting people above profit Why relationships drive results in business How healthy teams create stronger organizations What it means to become “remarkable” Why business can be a vehicle for making a positive impact How leaders can help people find passion and purpose in their work The difference between making a living and making life good Whether you are a business owner, founder, executive, team leader, or someone trying to bring more purpose into your work, this conversation is a reminder that business is ultimately about people. The vehicle may be the business, but the purpose is the impact we have in the lives of others. Learn more about Dr. Randy Ross: Website: https://drrandyross.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrandyross/

  2. Aug 25

    The Founder Journey Beyond the Exit

    Anthony Lamot is a Belgian-born, Austin-based entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and former CEO of DESelect, a Marketing Optimization Platform that connects to Salesforce and is used by enterprise teams worldwide. Under his leadership, DESelect grew from an idea into a category-defining product in the Salesforce ecosystem, culminating in its acquisition by Unaric in 2025. In this episode of More Than Legal, Anthony shares his journey from psychology student to marketing technology consultant, startup founder, CEO, and consciousness explorer. He talks about building DESelect, bootstrapping in the early days, raising capital, navigating a successful exit, and what founders can learn from the process. Anthony also shares his perspective on lucid dreaming, personal growth, and how exploring the subconscious can become a powerful tool for reflection, healing, and performance. Anthony shares insights on: How his background in psychology shaped his path into technology and entrepreneurship The early consulting experiences that led him into CRM and marketing technology Why DESelect was built inside the Salesforce ecosystem The importance of selling before building How bootstrapping helped DESelect grow before raising outside capital What founders should understand about investors, term sheets, and legal documents Why traction changes the role of legal support for startups What it feels like to go through an acquisition as a founder Why culture and values matter during an exit How lucid dreaming can help people engage with the subconscious The relationship between consciousness, personal growth, and performance Whether you are a founder, investor, startup operator, or simply curious about the connection between business and consciousness, Anthony’s story is a reminder that building a company is not only a financial journey. It is also a deeply personal one. From launching and scaling a SaaS company to exploring what comes after the exit, this conversation offers practical lessons on entrepreneurship, values, resilience, and the inner work behind building something meaningful. Learn more about Anthony Lamot: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-lamot/

  3. Aug 11

    Using Capital to Build a Better World PT II

    Juliana Garaizar is a Partner at Greenbackers Investment Capital and a General Partner at Portfolia Rising America Fund. She is also the former Chief Investment Officer at Greentown Labs and former Director of the Texas Medical Center Venture Fund. In Part Two of this episode, Juliana continues the conversation around women, money, investing, and access to capital. She shares why investing is not only a financial decision, but also a way to create impact, support innovation, and help bring more inclusive products, companies, and opportunities into the market. Juliana shares insights on: Why more women need to participate in investing How investing can create a multiplier effect for communities The relationship between wealth, education, and access to capital Why many women feel shame around money, pricing, and asking to be paid How founders can use data to push back against bias when pitching Why diverse and women founders need to know their numbers deeply How investing can be a form of impact, not just financial return Why inclusion is not about “us vs. them,” but about growing the pie Learning by doing, asking questions, and getting comfortable with imperfect action Whether you are a founder, investor, business owner, or someone who wants to better understand how money can be used for impact, this conversation is a reminder that capital is a tool. When more people have access to it, more people can help build the future they want to see. Connect with Juliana:   / juliana-garaizar-8443b7

  4. Jul 28

    Using Capital to Build a Better World

    Juliana Garaizar is a Partner at Greenbackers Investment Capital and a General Partner at Portfolia Rising America Fund. She is also the former Chief Investment Officer at Greentown Labs and former Director of the Texas Medical Center Venture Fund. In this episode of More Than Legal, Juliana shares how her global background, experience in venture capital, and passion for impact investing shaped her approach to using capital as a tool for change. From climate tech to women founders and underfunded communities, she explains why access to capital matters and how investing can help build the future we want to see. Juliana shares insights on: Building bridges across cultures, markets, and innovation ecosystems Why understanding finance is essential for creating impact Bringing climate tech and sustainability conversations into Houston’s energy ecosystem Using capital to support founders, technologies, and communities that are often underfunded Why “us vs. them” thinking limits progress in business and innovation How portfolio strategy can apply to investing, impact, and life Why growing the pie is more powerful than fighting over the current one The importance of empowering more women and underrepresented investors How investing can create a multiplier effect across communities Whether you are a founder, investor, business leader, or someone curious about impact-driven capital, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that money is not just a financial tool. When used with intention, it can create opportunity, support innovation, and help build a better world.

  5. Jul 14

    Building the Business Behind the Brand

    Adam Swerdlow is the former COO of The Chosen, where he helped scale the company from a four-person startup to an organization generating over $100 million in annual revenue. He built the operational infrastructure behind that growth, overseeing areas like finance, investor relations, business operations, events, and long-term strategy. Today, he runs Alpine Consulting, advising growth-stage companies on strategy, M&A, and business development. In this episode of More Than Legal, Adam shares what it really takes to build the business behind the brand. From operations and capital raises to leadership, emotional intelligence, and long-term growth, he offers a practical look at the systems that help companies scale without losing control. Adam shares insights on: Building the operational foundation behind a fast-growing brand What founders often miss when scaling a business Why vision needs structure, systems, and follow-through Lessons from helping grow The Chosen The role of finance, operations, contracts, IP, payroll, and insurance in sustainable growth Why emotional intelligence matters as much as technical skill How leaders can make better decisions under pressure Building companies for longevity instead of short-term wins Why strong operators help protect the mission behind the business Whether you are a founder, operator, creative entrepreneur, or business leader, this conversation is a reminder that growth does not happen by vision alone. The strongest brands are supported by the right infrastructure, the right people, and the discipline to build for the long game. Connect with Adam: Alpine Consulting LinkedIn

  6. Jun 30

    Building With Integrity in the Startup World

    Sarah Tamilarasan is the Founder and CEO of Sotaog, a software company helping industrial companies connect sustainability directly to financial performance. With a foundation in engineering and a focus on operational economics, Sarah is helping companies unlock greater value from existing assets through intelligent, ROI-driven sustainability strategies. In this episode of More Than Legal, Sarah shares how Sotaog is reframing sustainability as a driver of cash flow, resilience, and strategic advantage. The company’s momentum includes winning a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy and competing successfully against multi-billion-dollar companies. Sarah shares insights on: Building Sotaog and helping industrial companies find hidden value in their operations Why sustainability and profitability should work together, not against each other Using data to improve cash flow, reduce OpEx, and increase throughput What it takes to compete as a startup against much larger companies Building trust with customers, investors, and team members The importance of integrity, transparency, and resilience in entrepreneurship Fundraising, bootstrapping, and staying grounded while building a company Leading in a male-dominated industry without losing your standards or sense of purpose Whether you are a founder, investor, operator, or business leader, this conversation is a reminder that growth is not just about moving fast. It is about building with integrity, solving real problems, and creating value that lasts. Learn more: Sotaog: https://www.sotaog.com/ Sarah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahchandrasekar

  7. Jun 16

    Building With Ethics in Entertainment

    Randy Davidson is the Founder and CEO of Georgia Entertainment, the leading source of news, analysis, and commentary for Georgia’s film, broadcast, digital production, arts, music, and gaming industries. In this episode of More Than Legal, Randy shares his perspective on Georgia’s creative economy, the importance of building real community, and why the entertainment industry should be viewed not only as a creative space but as a major driver of business, workforce development, and innovation. Randy shares insights on: Building Georgia Entertainment as a platform for the state’s creative industries Why Georgia’s entertainment economy deserves serious business and policy attention The meaning behind “rally locally, recruit globally.” How Georgia Insider is creating a more intentional community for industry leaders Why young creatives should be able to build real careers in Georgia Finding your lane and doing work that gives you energy Making ethical decisions, even when the opportunity looks good on paper Why money should not be the only scoreboard in business Playing the long game while building something meaningful Whether you are a creative professional, entrepreneur, business owner, or leader in Georgia’s entertainment industry, this conversation is a reminder that meaningful work takes vision, community, and patience. Randy’s story shows what can happen when you find your lane, stay committed to the mission, and build for long-term impact. Learn more: Georgia Entertainment: https://www.georgiaentertainment.com/ Georgia Insider: https://www.georgiainsider.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgiaentertainment/posts/

  8. Jun 2

    Using Business to Tell Stories That Matter

    Coury Deeb is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated filmmaker with 20+ years of work spanning 30 countries and 30 states. He co-owns Nadus Studios, Kentucky’s first sound stage campus, and has built a career around stories that do more than move people emotionally. They move people to act. In this episode of More Than Legal, Coury shares how filmmaking, business, purpose, and service come together in his work. From commercial projects to nonprofit storytelling, he explains why profit can be a powerful tool when it supports a mission bigger than itself. Coury shares insights on: Using business as a platform to tell stories that matter Why commercial work can support purpose-driven work How nonprofit storytelling can help organizations build awareness and inspire action Why “profit is a tool” but should never become the mission Protecting culture and values while building a creative business Finding purpose in work that serves others Whether you are an entrepreneur, creative professional, nonprofit leader, or business owner, this conversation is a reminder that meaningful work is not just about what you build. It is about who you serve, what you stand for, and the impact your work creates.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

More Than Legal unpacks the truth behind power, profit, and purpose in business. Hosted by Danielle Laughlin, an expert business strategist and attorney, each episode blends legal insight with real-world stories to help founders, creators, and investors make smarter, more ethical decisions that build legacies instead of chasing short-term wins. Music credit: Cinematic Suspense Series Ep. 009 by Sasha Ende (CC BY 4.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Image credit: ForeverStruck, AL Gawlik Photography

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle Laughlin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Danielle Laughlin
  • Show Website
    More Than Legal