The Ambitious Coach Lab

Cam Lawson
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business

The Ambitious Coach Lab is a practical, human-centered podcast for business coaches who want to grow and scale a meaningful, sustainable practice. Through real conversations, proven frameworks, and stories from the field, we explore what it takes to build the coaching practice of your dreams. 

  1. 6d ago

    Build Your Own Referral Engine: The Power of Centers of Influence with Mike Snively

    What if the best business development strategy for your coaching practice is building a network of people who can sell you when you’re not in the room? In this episode, Cam sits down with Mike Snively to unpack his systematic approach to building an intentional network of Centers of Influence. Mike shares how he arrived in Greenville with virtually no network and grew from zero to more than 1,300 connections in three years by replacing transactional networking with consistent relationship building. They explore his “pie” model for identifying ideal referral partners, the 18 “Purple Pelicans” who know his business well enough to pitch it themselves, and why he gives 10 to 15 times more than he expects to receive. Mike also breaks down the habits behind hundreds of introductions and COI meetings, offering coaches a practical roadmap for building a network that compounds over time.  Biography Mike Snively is a business development leader with decades of experience across sales, marketing, and executive leadership. Today, he leads business development for a cybersecurity-focused managed service provider while teaching leaders how to systematically build meaningful professional networks. Known for his highly intentional approach to relationship building, Mike has developed a repeatable methodology around Centers of Influence, consistent giving, and strategic introductions that turns networking from an occasional activity into a business development habit.  Links Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-snively-17944513/  Learn more about Mike’s work: https://expertip.net/  Use code AC20 for 20% off Ninety: https://www.ninety.io/?utm_source=community&utm_medium=abl&utm_campaign=cam  Join our free LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16297012/

  2. Aug 27

    Stop Selling Your Time: How Coaches Build a Practice That Scales with Gil Gerretsen

    What if the key to growing your coaching practice isn’t more marketing, but building a system that makes your expertise scalable? In this episode, Cam sits down with BizTrek founder Gil Gerretsen to explore what more than 30 years of coaching CEOs and founders has taught him about building a scalable practice. Gil shares his Hive methodology for identifying exactly who you serve and where those people already gather, why coaches get stuck chasing marketing tactics, and how turning expertise into a repeatable system creates a stronger offering. They also unpack his 10% Rule for client concentration, the danger of building a practice entirely around selling your time, and why coaches should think beyond scale toward what Gil calls “superscale.” Biography Gil Gerretsen is the founder of BizTrek and a longtime business mentor who has spent more than 30 years helping CEOs and founders build scalable businesses and more effective marketing systems. After a career in corporate turnarounds and building and selling his own software company, Gil launched BizTrek in 1994 and has since worked one-on-one with more than 1,000 business leaders. His methodology helps entrepreneurs turn marketing from a collection of tactics into a repeatable, scalable system. Links Connect with Gil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilgerretsen/  Learn more about BizTrek: https://biztrek.com/  Use code AC20 for 20% off Ninety: https://www.ninety.io/?utm_source=community&utm_medium=abl&utm_campaign=cam  Join our free LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16297012/

  3. Aug 20

    Change the Question, Change the Answer: Lessons From the Session Room with Ren Flickinger

    The best coaches don’t give their clients the answer. They create the conditions for their clients to discover a better one. In this episode of Stories From the Session Room, Cam sits down with Ren Flickinger of Exit Momentum to unpack the discipline behind great coaching and facilitation. Ren shares how changing the way you frame a question can materially change what a leadership team sees, why coaches need to resist the urge to solve their clients’ problems, and how silence can sometimes be the most valuable tool in the room. Through stories from real sessions, including a $2 million inventory problem where the 51st idea became the breakthrough solution, Ren explores the balance between letting a team wrestle with an issue and knowing when to step in and refocus the conversation. They also dig into session preparation, continuous improvement, accountability, and why mastery means constantly examining how you could have coached the room better. Biography Ren Flickinger is a business coach and partner at Exit Momentum, where he works with leadership teams to build stronger operating rhythms and scale their organizations. Before becoming a coach, Ren helped a construction company grow from roughly $20 million to more than $120 million in revenue while adding eight locations and hundreds of employees. That experience gives him a unique perspective in the session room because he has personally lived through the growth, complexity, and challenges his clients are navigating. Today, he brings that operator experience into his coaching, helping leaders identify blind spots, ask better questions, and build the discipline required to execute at a high level. Links Connect with Ren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ren-flickinger-2529b330a/  Learn more about Exit Momentum: https://exitmomentum.com/  Take the free Exit Momentum Assessment: https://app.exitmomentum.com/ Use code AC20 for 20% off Ninety: https://www.ninety.io/?utm_source=community&utm_medium=abl&utm_campaign=cam  Join our free LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16297012/

  4. Aug 13

    You Can’t Learn This From a Playbook: Lessons From the Session Room with Pete Srodoski

    What happens when the tension in the session room gets so high that the framework is no longer enough? In this episode of Stories From the Session Room, Cam sits down with business coach Pete Srodoski to explore what it takes to lead through the messy, emotional, and unpredictable moments that happen inside leadership teams. Pete shares lessons from coaching more than 150 CEOs, including how to address the elephant in the room, create space for necessary conflict, and know when to push versus when to listen. They unpack why experience matters more than simply knowing a methodology, how great coaches give quieter voices permission to speak, and why the best facilitators are willing to abandon the script when the people in the room need something different. Biography Pete Srodoski is a business coach, former CEO and COO, bestselling author, and creator of R3. After beginning his career in retail and working his way from bagging groceries to executive leadership, Pete went on to lead multiple organizations before transitioning into coaching. Today, he draws on decades of real-world leadership experience to coach CEOs and leadership teams through growth, conflict, accountability, and the complex human dynamics of running a business. Links Connect with Pete on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersrodoski/ Learn more about Pete’s work: https://rollwithpunch.com/ Use code AC20 for 20% off Ninety: https://www.ninety.io/ Join our free LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16297012/

  5. Aug 6

    When Great Coaches Go Off Script: Lessons From the Session Room with Adam Landrum

    What separates great coaches from good ones when the session doesn’t go according to plan? In the very first episode of Stories From the Session Room, Cam sits down with executive coach and Made to Matter founder Adam Landrum to explore what really happens inside the room when coaching gets messy. Drawing from decades of leadership experience, Adam shares why the best coaches trust their intuition, know when to abandon the agenda, and create space for honest conversations instead of trying to control them. From handling emotional moments with leadership teams to helping founders build confidence in themselves, this episode is packed with practical lessons every coach can apply in their own practice. If you’ve ever wondered what separates experienced facilitators from rookie coaches, this conversation is a masterclass. Biography Adam Landrum is the Founder and Executive Coach at Made to Matter, where he helps founders and leadership teams build healthier businesses through transformational coaching. Before launching his coaching practice, Adam founded and led the marketing agency Up&Up for more than 20 years before successfully exiting the business in 2023. A certified executive coach with additional training in Conscious Leadership, Adam is passionate about helping entrepreneurs develop the confidence, habits, and self-awareness needed to lead thriving organizations while creating meaningful impact. Links Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlandrum/  Learn more about Made to Matter: https://madetomatter.coach/  Use code AC20 for 20% off Ninety: https://www.ninety.io/?utm_source=community&utm_medium=abl&utm_campaign=cam  Join our free LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16297012/

  6. Jul 24

    Season 2 Coming Soon!

    We're taking a quick summer break and will be back for Season 2 starting in August!

  7. Jul 17

    Being Known: How Coaches Build Trust Before They Sell with Jami Mullikin

    What does it really take for coaches to become the obvious choice before a prospect ever reaches out? In this episode, Cam sits down with Jami Mullikin, founder of Wonder, to explore why the best coaches don’t build audiences, they build trust. Drawing from decades of experience in marketing, entrepreneurship, and working alongside coaches in the EOS ecosystem, Jami shares why personal branding is less about becoming famous and more about being known by the right people. Together, they unpack the role of community, thought leadership, and authentic storytelling in attracting ideal clients, why awareness always comes before demand, and how coaches can leverage AI without sacrificing authenticity. If you’ve ever wondered how to consistently generate opportunities without feeling salesy, this conversation offers a practical roadmap.  Biography Jami Mullikin is the Founder and Visionary of Wonder, a growth agency that helps companies running on EOS accelerate sales, marketing, and brand strategy. A lifelong entrepreneur, former agency owner, corporate sales and marketing executive, and EOS Integrator, Jami combines deep business experience with a passion for helping founders and leadership teams clarify their message and build meaningful relationships. He is also the host of the Inside the 90 podcast, where he explores leadership, entrepreneurship, and the systems that help businesses grow.  Links Connect with Jami on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mullikin/  Learn more about Wonder: https://www.workwithwonder.com/  Check out the Inside the 90 podcast: https://www.workwithwonder.com/podcast  Win Without Pitching books: https://www.winwithoutpitching.com/books  Use code AC20 for 20% off Ninety: https://www.ninety.io/?utm_source=community&utm_medium=abl&utm_campaign=cam  Join our free LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16297012/

  8. Jul 9

    The Difference Between Lifestyle Coaches and Ambitious Coaches: Lessons From Over 3,000 Coaching Conversations with Tom Brinson

    What separates coaches who build thriving businesses from those who simply create another job for themselves? In this episode, Cam sits down with Tom Brinson to unpack the patterns behind thousands of conversations with coaches, consultants, and fractional executives. Drawing from his experience recruiting and supporting coaching partners at Ninety, Tom shares why ambitious coaches build businesses instead of lifestyles, the importance of having a clear vision for your practice, and how narrowing your focus creates better clients and stronger referrals. They also explore why systems matter from day one, how technology should amplify rather than complicate coaching, and why the future belongs to coaches who help clients execute, not just strategize.   Biography Tom Brinson is the Head of Inside Sales at Ninety, where he helps entrepreneurial leadership teams and business coaches leverage technology to improve execution and organizational alignment. With more than 15 years of experience in high-growth startups, Tom has spent the last several years working alongside thousands of coaches, consultants, and fractional executives, giving him a unique perspective on what separates good coaching practices from truly exceptional ones. He is passionate about helping ambitious coaches build scalable businesses, create lasting client impact, and lead with clarity and intention.  Links Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-brinson/ Learn more about Ninety: https://ninety.io Use code AC20 for 20% off Ninety: https://www.ninety.io/?utm_source=community&utm_medium=abl&utm_campaign=cam  Join our free LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/16297012/

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About

The Ambitious Coach Lab is a practical, human-centered podcast for business coaches who want to grow and scale a meaningful, sustainable practice. Through real conversations, proven frameworks, and stories from the field, we explore what it takes to build the coaching practice of your dreams. 

Information

  • Creator
    Cam Lawson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Ambitious Coach Lab
  • Show Website
    The Ambitious Coach Lab