Growth Under Pressure

Eric Josovitz
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Growth Under Pressure pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to scale fast. Hosted by Eric Josovitz, Founder of AdaptCFO, each episode features leaders of high-growth companies sharing their toughest financial and operational challenges—from cash flow crunches to major fundraising milestones—and the strategies that got them through. Whether you're navigating rapid growth or gearing up for it, you'll get real-world stories and actionable CFO insights you can put to work in your own business

  1. 4d ago ·  Video

    How a No-Excuses Mindset Builds Great Leaders | EP 24

    "When the pressure hits, most people freeze, run, or panic. Great leaders stay calm, assess the situation, and lead." In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz, CEO of AdaptCFO, sits down with Brent Willis, former executive at Coca-Cola and Kraft Foods, West Point graduate, and current CEO of ProHawk AI, to discuss what separates great leaders from everyone else when everything is on the line. Brent shares leadership lessons from the military, corporate boardrooms, startup environments, and global business operations. From overcoming major failures to leading teams through uncertainty, this conversation is packed with practical advice for founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and executives navigating growth under pressure. 💡 In this episode, you'll learn: • Why a no-excuses mindset creates stronger leaders • The 3 ways people fail under pressure • How military leadership principles apply to business • Why successful CEOs focus on process instead of blame • The importance of accountability, discipline, and courage • How to build trust and high-performing teams • Why perseverance is the strongest predictor of success • Lessons from failure, leadership, and business transformation Whether you're scaling a company, leading a team, raising capital, or navigating uncertainty, this episode delivers timeless leadership lessons from someone who has spent decades performing under pressure. #Leadership #CEO #Founder #Entrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthUnderPressure #BusinessStrategy #Management #Resilience #Accountability #WestPoint #Entrepreneurship #StartupLeadership #ScalingCompanies #AdaptCFO 00:00 Introduction 01:02 Meet Brent Willis: From West Point to CEO 07:19 How Great Leaders Learn from Failure 10:43 Stop Blaming People. Fix the Process. 14:23 The Leadership Rule That Wins Under Pressure 19:36 Building ProHawk AI 25:48 Work-Life Balance as a CEO 31:56 The LIVE HEALTHY Framework 37:34 The Four Values Every Leader Needs 43:46 Using Business to Change Lives 48:05 The Medal That Means the Most 52:23 The #1 Predictor of Success 56:23 Losing $10 Million on Toblerone 58:01 The Coca-Cola Lesson That Changed Everything 1:02:18 Rapid Fire Questions 1:04:20 Closing Thoughts   🙌 Want more from AdaptCFO? Free CFO consultation → adaptcfo.com Financial fitness scorecard → adaptcfofinancialfitness.scoreapp.com Other episodes → adaptcfo.com/blog AdaptCFO case studies → adaptcfo.com/results If you're scaling and want to avoid the financial and operational pitfalls discussed in this episode, AdaptCFO's bookkeeping → controller → fractional CFO model is built for this stage. Connect with Eric Josovitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josovitz/ Watch more podcast episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL01dHCWwlIvyHyJVG_G0E7yBBRA_DSn4A&si=xX4EDVtxUjUpnxVd

    1h 5m

  2. Jun 18 ·  Video

    How Faith Helped Me Survive 9/11, Cancer, and Near Bankruptcy | Ep 23

    What do you do when everything seems to be falling apart? In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josowitz sits down with Vince Bianco, growth-focused CEO, board member, advisor, and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience building and scaling companies. Vince shares the incredible story of navigating one of the most challenging periods of his career: burning $400,000 per month, raising capital during the uncertainty of 9/11, and learning that his co-founder had been diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer—all within weeks of each other. The conversation explores leadership under pressure, faith in business, private equity, board governance, entrepreneurship, and the lessons Vince learned from building and selling multiple companies. Whether you're a founder, CEO, executive, or business owner facing uncertainty, this episode offers practical insights on staying focused, leading with confidence, and finding peace in the middle of chaos. 🎙️ In this episode: • The 9/11 crisis that nearly derailed Vince's company • Building and scaling multiple venture-backed businesses • Why faith became a critical leadership tool • Lessons from private equity-backed growth • How great boards support CEOs during difficult times • The importance of discipline, consistency, and trust • Vince's advice for leaders navigating pressure and uncertainty #Leadership #CEO #Entrepreneurship #Founder #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #BusinessStrategy #PrivateEquity #ScalingABusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessPodcast #FounderPodcast #StartupFounder #GrowthMindset #LeadershipLessons #BusinessOwner #GrowthUnderPressure

    1h 8m

  3. Jun 4

    How an Emmy-Winning Founder Survived Startup Hell | Ep 22

    What do you do when your startup is days away from running out of cash? In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz sits down with Brad Thomas, Emmy-winning entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Evercast, and Founder of Cash GPS, to discuss the realities of building a company when everything seems to be falling apart. Brad shares the behind-the-scenes story of growing Evercast from a startup idea into an Emmy-winning platform used by major Hollywood productions, surviving cash flow crises, navigating investor challenges, scaling through COVID, and learning how to lead under extreme pressure. Whether you're a founder, CEO, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation is packed with hard-earned lessons on resilience, leadership, fundraising, cash flow management, company culture, and making decisions when the stakes couldn't be higher. In this episode: ✅ How Evercast became an Emmy-winning company ✅ The investor story that nearly ended the business ✅ Why cash flow is more important than most founders realize ✅ Lessons learned from startup failures and near-bankruptcy moments ✅ How to build a strong company culture and leadership team ✅ Why founder ego can hold a business back ✅ The mindset that helped Brad survive startup hell One of the biggest takeaways from this episode: "There's always a move to make." If you're building a company, leading a team, or navigating your own growth journey, this episode is for you. 🎙️ Growth Under Pressure is the podcast where founders, CEOs, and business leaders share the real stories behind growth, leadership, and overcoming challenges. #GrowthUnderPressure #BradThomas #Evercast #StartupFounder #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #CashFlow #BusinessGrowth #CEO #FounderJourney #StartupLife #SmallBusiness #BusinessPodcast Chapters 00:00 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 11:45 Lessons from Early Failures 22:20 The Importance of Ego in Entrepreneurship 32:45 Building a Strong Company Culture 39:19 Creating Cash GPS: A Personal Mission 46:35 Building for Scale and Real-Time Insights 58:15 Navigating Challenges with Faith and Perspective 01:06:25 Learning from Mistakes and Continuous Growth 🙌 Want more from AdaptCFO? Free CFO consultation → adaptcfo.com Financial fitness scorecard → adaptcfofinancialfitness.scoreapp.com Other episodes → adaptcfo.com/blog AdaptCFO case studies → adaptcfo.com/results If you're scaling and want to avoid the financial and operational pitfalls discussed in this episode, AdaptCFO's bookkeeping → controller → fractional CFO model is built for this stage. Connect with Eric Josovitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josovitz/ Watch more podcast episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL01dHCWwlIvyHyJVG_G0E7yBBRA_DSn4A&si=xX4EDVtxUjUpnxVd

    1h 13m

  4. May 18

    Inside the Mind of the Marketer Behind Alex Hormozi & Simon Squibb | Ep 21

    In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz, CEO of AdaptCFO sits down with Tobias Allen — the marketer behind campaigns for Acquisition.com, Alex & Leila Hormozi, and Simon Squibb's Free Humanity group. Tobias shares his journey from learning sales and persuasion as a teenager to leading high-stakes marketing for some of the biggest personal brands online. The conversation dives deep into founder pressure, burnout, scaling businesses, AI in marketing, and the hidden emotional cost of growth. They discuss: -How Tobias landed his first clients at 16 -The mindset behind scaling million-dollar brands -Why beginner's luck is often a real advantage -The reality of hustle culture and burnout -How AI is changing marketing and copywriting -The importance of mentorship, leverage, and focus -Preparing for fatherhood while leading at a high level -Why most founders waste time on the wrong things This episode is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, operators, marketers, and founders trying to scale without losing themselves in the process. #GrowthUnderPressure #AlexHormozi #SimonSquibb #Marketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #AI #FounderJourney #Leadership #Podcast   Chapters 00:00 The Foundation of Success 02:45 The Role of Mentorship 06:05 Learning from the Classics 08:59 The First Foot in the Door 11:51 Understanding Beginner's Luck 14:49 The Journey of Self-Discovery 18:12 The Power of Email Marketing 21:00 Consistency and Momentum 23:55 Deep Focus vs. Broad Engagement 27:12 Current Projects and Strategies 30:04 Budgeting and Creative Solutions 37:00 Building with Limited Resources 39:00 High-Pressure Moments in Startups 45:57 Balancing Work and Family Life 55:45 Childhood Influences on Success 01:01:08 Leveraging AI for Business Growth

    1h 12m

  5. May 4

    From $400K Debt to 7 Companies | Air Force Veteran Turned CEO| Ep 20

    What does it take to scale a business with the same discipline learned in the military? In Episode 20 of Growth Under Pressure, Eric Josovitz sits down with Tyrus Shivers, Founder and CEO of Legacy Wealth Capital Group, to share the real, unfiltered journey of entrepreneurship. From serving in the United States Air Force to becoming a partner in seven companies, Tyrus explains how military discipline, systems, and structure shaped the way he builds and scales businesses today. He also opens up about what most founders do not talk about. The failure, the debt, the pressure, and the mental toll that comes with growth. He also opens up about what most founders do not talk about. The failure, the debt, the pressure, and the mental toll that comes with growth. In this episode, you will learn: -How military discipline and systems translate into real business growth -The reality behind fast growing companies and why many fail -How to scale from $1M to $10M with the right people and infrastructure -The mindset shift from operator to investor -Why most entrepreneurs make emotional and costly decisions -The truth about social media success versus real business fundamentals -How to stay resilient under extreme pressure -Book and resource recommendations every founder should know If you are a founder, entrepreneur, or operator looking to grow your business, this episode will challenge how you think about scaling.   🎧 Listen now to learn what it really takes to grow under pressure. 👍 If you found this valuable, make sure to like, subscribe, and drop a comment with topics you want us to cover next.   #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #StartupScaling #FinanceAdvise #financetips #financeleadership #mentorship #inspiration #investing #cfo #accounting #Leadership #FounderJourney #MilitaryToBusiness #businessstrategy #businesstips #scaling #GrowthUnderPressure #PrivateEquity #RealEstateInvesting #StartupLife #BusinessPodcast #CEOmindset     Chapters 00:00 Tyrus Shivers: From Military to Entrepreneur 05:52 Navigating the Real Estate Landscape 13:12 Discipline and Systems from Military to Business 25:55 Growth Under Pressure: Real Stories of Entrepreneurship 27:11 Navigating Pressure in Business 29:32 The Importance of Mentorship and Honesty 32:28 Building Resilience Under Pressure 37:12 Decision-Making Strategies for Entrepreneurs 42:54 Childhood Influences on Entrepreneurial Spirit 49:18 Perspective on Hard Work and Challenges 52:53 Key Resources for Founders Under Pressure 55:06 0321.mp4       🙌 Want more from AdaptCFO? Free CFO consultation → adaptcfo.com Financial fitness scorecard → adaptcfofinancialfitness.scoreapp.com Other episodes → adaptcfo.com/blog AdaptCFO case studies → adaptcfo.com/results   If you're scaling and want to avoid the financial and operational pitfalls discussed in this episode, AdaptCFO's bookkeeping → controller → fractional CFO model is built for this stage.   Connect with Eric Josovitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josovitz/ Watch more podcast episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL01dHCWwlIvyHyJVG_G0E7yBBRA_DSn4A&si=xX4EDVtxUjUpnxVd

    55 min

  6. Apr 20

    A Strategic Shift from Tech to Real Estate| Ep.19

    Want to learn how to raise capital, build powerful relationships, and succeed in real estate investing? In this episode of the Growth Under Pressure podcast, host Eric Josowitz sits down with investor and entrepreneur Victor Menasce to break down the real strategies behind capital raising, trust-building, and long-term success. Victor shares how he transitioned from a career in tech and microprocessors into real estate investing during the 2008 recession—and how he used relationships and strategic thinking to build a thriving investment business.  💡 In this episode, you'll learn: The 5 key principles of raising capital successfully Why relationships matter more than deals How to build trust with investors The truth about "passive income" in real estate How to handle pressure and uncertainty in business Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or just getting started, this conversation is packed with real-world insights you can apply today.  📌 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content on business, investing, and growth under pressure. #RealEstateInvesting #CapitalRaisin #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #InvestingTips #cfo #finance #leadership    key  topics Transition from tech to real estate Principles of capital raising Importance of relationships and trust Handling high-pressure situations in projects  sound  bites "Real estate is much more predictable" "You never know how it's gonna go" "Always develop multiple alternatives" Chapters 00:00 From Tech to Real Estate: A Career Shift 05:54 The Art of Capital Raising 11:56 Building Trust and Relationships 18:08 Navigating Challenges in Real Estate 23:53 Lessons from Experience and Mentorship 30:08 The Importance of Metrics and Continuous Learning

    35 min

  7. Apr 6

    How a CFO Became a Space Startup CEO | Ep. 18

    Most founders focus on scaling companies. Gary Calnan is building an entire economy  in space. In this episode, Gary shares his journey from finance and entrepreneurship to becoming a pioneer in space resource recovery and infrastructure. From early curiosity sparked by shuttle launches to working with Fortune 1000 companies, his path ultimately led him to the frontier of space innovation. We explore how space debris, asteroid mining, and in-space manufacturing could unlock the next industrial revolution  and why the space economy today looks a lot like the early days of the internet. Gary breaks down his framework for space resource value chains, including the idea of building "steel mills" in space, and explains how modular technologies are creating scalable opportunities for startups. He also shares insights on resilience, navigating uncertainty, and why embracing failure is critical in frontier industries. This episode is for founders, innovators, and anyone curious about the future of space, technology, and entrepreneurship. 🚀 Key Topics: Transition from finance to the space industry Space infrastructure & resource utilization Startup challenges and resilience Space mining, recycling, and debris economy Leadership under uncertainty The future isn't just something to watch  it's something to build.

    1h 20m

  8. Mar 23

    From WeWork Leader to AI Law Firm CEO Ep #17

    In this episode of Growth Under Pressure, host Eric Josivits engages in a compelling conversation with Jen Berrent, founder and CEO of Covenant, an AI-native law firm. Jen shares her unique journey from being a big law partner to a senior executive at WeWork, where she navigated the company through its hyper-growth phase. She discusses her passion for tackling hard problems and her fascination with entrepreneurship, which has shaped her career path. Jen emphasizes the importance of merging legal expertise with business acumen, a theme that resonates throughout her professional journey. As the conversation unfolds, Jen delves into her transition from general counsel to COO at WeWork, highlighting the operational challenges and the need for effective legal translation within a fast-paced startup environment. She reflects on the intense demands of working in a hyper-growth company, the balance between legal and operational roles, and the importance of maintaining a human element in the evolving landscape of AI in law. Jen also shares insights into her current work at Covenant, focusing on building trust with clients and leveraging AI to enhance legal services while ensuring quality and accessibility. In this episode, Eric and Jen delve into the evolving landscape of startup funding and the pressures that come with it. They discuss the trend of founders opting to bootstrap their businesses to significant annual recurring revenue (ARR) while maintaining profitability. Jen emphasizes the importance of raising only what is necessary and the discipline required in managing funds effectively to avoid pitfalls like down rounds. The conversation shifts to the concept of runway, where Jen shares insights on the balance between spending and strategic growth, highlighting how tight financial constraints can foster innovation and focus in startups. As the discussion progresses, Jen recounts her experiences with pressure in high-stakes environments, particularly during her time at WeWork. She reflects on the importance of clear communication during crises and the necessity of taking a moment to articulate challenges rather than retreating in fear. The episode concludes with Jen sharing her personal strategies for managing transitions in her career, emphasizing the value of curiosity and embracing discomfort as a pathway to growth. The conversation is rich with practical advice for entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of leadership and decision-making under pressure. takeaways "I've always really been interested in hard problems." "You have to know the business needs, but you also have to know the legal context." "Being a partner in a law firm provides a lot more balance than being in the thick of a hyper-growth company." "We really try to put that sort of strategic layer on top of a QA layer so that there is an experience of software." "We replace outside counsel; we think big law is great for elite legal work." Raise only what you need. Tight financial constraints can foster innovation. Clear communication is crucial during crises. Embrace discomfort as a pathway to growth. Curiosity drives career transitions. Sound Bites "I've always really been interested in hard problems." "You have to know the business needs, but you also have to know the legal context." "Zero balance." "Raise only what you need." "The crime is in the cover-up." "A founder under pressure should always communicate." Chapters 00:00Introduction to Jen Berrent and Her Journey 02:38Transitioning from Law to WeWork 06:43The Role of General Counsel vs. Outside Counsel 12:43The Challenges of COO in a Hyper-Growth Company 16:01Current Focus at Covenant and AI in Law 23:10Covenant's Approach to Legal Services 27:31The New Era of Startup Funding 29:06Managing Runway and Financial Discipline 30:20Growth Under Pressure: Jen's Experiences 39:21Navigating Career Transitions 43:01Daily Practices for Managing Pressure 47:17Working with Visionary Founders

    55 min
See All (24)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Growth Under Pressure pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to scale fast. Hosted by Eric Josovitz, Founder of AdaptCFO, each episode features leaders of high-growth companies sharing their toughest financial and operational challenges—from cash flow crunches to major fundraising milestones—and the strategies that got them through. Whether you're navigating rapid growth or gearing up for it, you'll get real-world stories and actionable CFO insights you can put to work in your own business

Information

  • Creator
    Eric Josovitz
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Growth Under Pressure