Entrepreneurial Excellence Podcast

Adam Spector

Welcome to Entrepreneurial Excellence, the podcast that unlocks the secrets of running a successful startup. Get ready for captivating interviews with industry experts, thriving entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders. Deep dive into topics like crafting killer business ideas, optimizing operations, and mastering the art of scalability. Join us for empowering insights and practical advice that will propel you towards your entrepreneurial dreams.

  1. HACE 6 DÍAS

    The Startup Fitness Framework with Shreesha Ramdas

    In this episode of Entrepreneurial Excellence Podcast, we sit down with a founder who has done what most dream of — building and selling multiple startups in just three years each. Shreesha Ramdas shares how he keeps winning by staying optimistic when others quit, how he codified culture into a system that breeds excellence, and why delegation, not control, is the real key to scaling a company. From his early days leaving India for Silicon Valley to leading a fast-growing SaaS company today, Shreesha reveals the startup fitness framework that helps founders survive chaos and build companies that endure. Tune in to learn how to build a culture that refuses mediocrity, lead with optimism, and turn every challenge into momentum. Key Topics: -The secret behind the  -Building a culture that rejects mediocrity -The startup fitness mindset for lasting success -Turning optimism into a leadership advantage -Scaling through delegation and trust -Creating products customers help design Quote  From The Episode:  “Tough situations won’t last, but tough founders will.” -Shreesha Ramdas Timestamp: [00:02] The Mindset That Turns Tough Founders Into Industry Builders [14:06] Inside the Startup Culture That Refuses to Settle for Average [26:30] From Delhi Dreams to Silicon Valley Success: How One Founder Beat the Odds [38:17] The 56-Hour Flight That Changed Everything: From Cold Calls to Category Creation [49:14] The $0-to-Acquisition Blueprint: How One Founder Outsold Giants Like Marketo and Won Big [1:02:11] Why This CEO Builds Companies Investors Can’t Stop Buying [1:25:29] Outro Connect with - Shreesha Ramdas: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/shreesharamdas Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

    1 h y 22 min
  2. 2 OCT

    From Survival Mode to Startup Greatness with Daniel Kivatinos

    In this episode, you’ll hear the story of what it takes to turn instability, sacrifice, and irrational bets into lasting success. From living on $50,000 for years and building through sheer persistence, to catching the iPad wave before anyone else, this conversation dives into the mindset, discipline, and daily habits that create real momentum.  We dig into how to survive the early days, why scaling requires a whole new way of leading, and how today’s AI wave mirrors the mobile revolution. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually feels like to build something enduring, this episode will change how you think about entrepreneurship. Tune in to learn why relentless focus, small daily improvements, and the willingness to bet on yourself are the real game-changers in building companies that last. Key Topics: -The power of irrational persistence in building companies -The sacrifices and tradeoffs founders make in the early years -How timing and bold bets can create breakthrough moments -The fragile reality of co founder dynamics and trust -The discipline of daily improvement as a path to excellence Quote  From The Episode:  “You have a million problems running a startup, until you have one health problem — then you only have one.” - Daniel Kivatinos Timestamp: [00:18] Why Most Founders Quit Too Soon (And How Daniel Kivatinos Beat the Odds) [13:53] The Irrational Persistence That Builds Billion-Dollar Startups [24:29] The Hidden Reason Most Startups Fail (And How to Avoid It) [37:54] The Brutal Tradeoffs That Separate Startup Survivors from Quitters [48:45] From Ramen to Relevance: The Startup Gamble That Actually Paid Off [1:02:18] The Unseen Discipline That Turns Struggling Startups Into Industry Leaders [1:13:39] The Relentless Mindset That Transforms Struggle Into Startup Success [1:23:54] Outro Connect with - Daniel Kivatinos: LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/kivatinos Website - https://linktr.ee/kivatinos https://www.justpaid.ai/ Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

    1 h y 24 min
  3. 25 SEP

    What They Won’t Tell You About Building a Profitable Business

    Most founders chase growth at all costs — but what if that’s the very trap that stops great companies? In this episode, we uncover the hard truths behind building businesses that actually endure. From firing friends to rejecting VC money, from scaling remote teams before it was cool to pulling companies out of financial freefall — this conversation reveals the parts of entrepreneurship you rarely hear about. You’ll learn why the “perfect” number of employees might be zero, why owning 100% is often the smartest path, and how to survive the painful cuts that keep a company alive. If you want unfiltered lessons on profit, control, freedom, and what it truly takes to win long term, this episode is the one you don’t want to miss Key Topics: -Building companies that last over hype-driven growth -The real cost of taking venture capital -Why owning 100 percent creates freedom and control -Turning unprofitable teams into cash flow machines -Defining your five year outcome as a founder Quote  From The Episode: “Founders should never think about an exit when times are bad—sell when times are good.” - Zack Onisko Timestamp: [00:16] From Bootstrapping to Billion-Dollar Lessons: Zack’s Journey in Building Enduring Businesses [13:21] Why Zach Walked Away from a Rocketship Startup to Lead an 8-Person Team [24:52] When Bootstrapping Beats Venture Capital: The Hard Truth About Growth and Control [36:30] How a Remote-First Team Scaled from Garage Hustle to 20 Million Users Without VC Money [48:56] The Untold Truth About Selling Your Company: Timing, Bankers, and Broken Cap Tables [1:00:24] The Brutal Reality of Turning Around Failing Companies (and Staying Focused as a Leader) [1:12:11] The One Question Every Entrepreneur Must Answer Before Building a Business [1:21:35] Outro Connect with - Zack Onisko: LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/zack415 Website - zack415.com Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

    1 h y 22 min
  4. 18 SEP

    From Doubted Idea to Trusted Startup: The Tiny Health Story with Cheryl Sew Hoy

    Cheryl Sew Hoy, multi-time entrepreneur and CEO of Tiny Health, proves that conviction can be stronger than credentials. From selling her first startup to Walmart Labs, to leading a $30M initiative in Southeast Asia under President Obama, to now serving over 55,000 families with gut health testing—her journey is anything but ordinary. Cheryl opens up about the hard truths of building in health tech: why prevention is a tough sell, what founder-market fit really means, and how integrity and resilience kept her going even when she faced corruption, politics, and personal threats.  If you’ve ever wondered what separates great founders from the rest, Cheryl lays it bare: obsession, execution, and the courage to learn fast.  This is not a polished Silicon Valley success story—it’s raw, real, and packed with lessons every entrepreneur needs to hear. Key Topics: -Founder market fit and why conviction matters -The challenge of selling prevention versus solving urgent pain -Building trust without credentials through science and transparency -Hiring early employees and shaping culture from the start -Resilience and integrity in the face of threats and setbacks Quote  From The Episode: “Sometimes the best founders aren’t experts at the start, but they’re willing to do anything to become one.” -Cheryl Sew Hoy Timestamp: [00:15] Nobody Wanted Prevention (So I Built a Company That Changed Everything) [15:34] How a Founder Without Medical Training Built a Health Company From Scratch [27:26] Why The Best Founders Don’t Rely on Expertise—They Build It [38:23] From Death Threats to Breaking Silence: How One Founder Refused to Back Down [50:52] The Hardest Lessons I Learned About Hiring and Culture as a Founder [1:02:26] How I Built a Startup While Raising Three Kids and Reading 10,000 Customer Emails [1:12:58] The Single Superpower Every Founder Needs to Succeed [1:17:56] Outro Connect with - Cheryl Sew Hoy: LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/cherylyeoh Website - https://www.tinyhealth.com/ Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

    1 h y 18 min
  5. 11 SEP

    The CEO Whisperer: Unmasking the Secrets of Predictable Profits with Charles E. Gaudet II

    Most CEOs believe they are data driven, but Charles Gaudet II proves that two thirds of them are flying blind.  In this raw and eye-opening conversation, the CEO Whisperer breaks down the hidden traps that cost entrepreneurs millions and the exact systems that create unstoppable momentum. We go deep on why the best founders obsess over numbers, how to spot when your culture is slipping, and the uncomfortable truth that comfort is the fastest way to kill growth. This is not a theory. These are the frameworks that turn fragile businesses into resilient ones that scale past seven and eight figures. Tune in now if you’re ready to see the blind spots in your company and learn what top performers already know about building predictable, repeatable profits. Key Topics: -Two thirds of marketing runs blind without context -Variation is the enemy of excellence -Top performers embrace numbers while low performers hide from them -Consumption is the real driver of conversion -Comfort is the million dollar mistake that kills growth Quote  From The Episode:  “Variation is the enemy of excellence.” -Charles E. Gaudet II Timestamp: [00:19] The Hidden Formula CEOs Use to Turn Chaos Into Predictable Growth [13:03] Why ‘Variation’ Might Be Quietly Killing Your Business [24:06] Why Top Performers Crave KPIs—and the Busy Ones Don’t [36:25] The KPI Secret That Builds a High-Performance Culture [48:36] The 96% Rule: How Consumption Turbocharges Your Sales [1:04:58] From Rogue Waves to Rocket Ships: How Founders Survive Disruption [1:15:06] The Million-Dollar Mistake Every Founder Must Avoid [1:27:34] Outro Connect with - Charles E. Gaudet II: LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/charlesgaudet Website - PredictableProfits.com (Company) youtube.com/channel/UCvNG-gs5lsgJZ_Mv2f5k1HQ (Other) predictableprofits.com/beyond-7-figures/ (Blog) Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

    1 h y 28 min
  6. 4 SEP

    The #1 Lie About Excellence Every Entrepreneur Believes with Mike Del Ponte

    What if the stories you’ve been told about Silicon Valley excellence are wrong? In this episode, Mike Del Ponte pulls back the curtain on what real success looks like and it has nothing to do with chasing someone else’s playbook. From near startup collapse to selling Soma, Mike reveals the hard truths most founders only learn the painful way. We explore why vision, team, and resources decide the fate of every company, and why so many CEOs fail at one of them. Mike shares how culture is built in the handoffs between people, why honesty is a superpower, and how reinvention every six months may be the only way to survive as a founder. This isn’t just about startups — it’s about what happens when coaching, faith, family, and billion-dollar ambitions collide. 👉 Tune in to discover why the real measure of excellence is nothing like you’ve been taught. Key Topics: -Defining excellence through values and authenticity -The difference between wants and true commitments -Vision team and resources as the foundation of leadership -Coaching as a catalyst for growth and survival -Balancing ambition with faith family and personal freedom Quote  From The Episode:  “Show me how you spend your time, and I’ll show you what you actually value.” - Mike Del Ponte Timestamp: [01:57] The Hidden Truth About Excellence: Why Most Founders Get It Wrong [11:19] Why Vision, Values, and Persistence Define Real Entrepreneurs [20:56] How Almost Losing It All Turned Me Into a Better CEO [30:52] The Coach That Saved My Startup and Changed How I Lead Forever [41:15] Can AI Replace Your Coach? The Founder’s Dilemma on Optimization and ROI [51:36] Reinvent or Be Replaced: The Founder’s Real Job Every 6 Months [1:02:44] The Hard Question Every Founder Avoids: Job or Family? [1:16:21] The One Trait That Separates Great Founders From the Rest [1:26:27] Outro Connect with - Mike Del Ponte: LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/mikedelponte Website - mikedelponte.co Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

    1 h y 27 min
  7. 28 AGO

    Money, Cannabis, and the Real Cost of Chasing Success with David Kram

    From Wall Street spreadsheets to cannabis smoke-filled rooms. What does success really mean? Is it hitting your first million, chasing a billion, or waking up every day doing something you love? In this episode, David Kram takes us inside the raw side of entrepreneurship — from being broke in San Francisco to building a business in the Hollywood Hills. David shares how chasing wealth brought both freedom and noise, why believing your own b******t can sometimes be the edge you need, and the harsh truth that money alone doesn’t buy happiness.  He opens up about cannabis as a proving ground for resilience, the power of conviction, and why storytelling and people are the real currencies of entrepreneurship. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to make it and why most people get it wrong — this conversation will change the way you think about success. Key Topics: -Redefining success from money to meaning -Believing your own story to create conviction -The role of cannabis in shaping resilience and risk -Storytelling and people as the real drivers of entrepreneurship -The hard truth that success takes time and consistent work Quote  From The Episode:  "If I dream it, I can achieve it. - David Kram Timestamp: [01:04] The Truth About Success, Wealth, and Why $500 Million Still Isn’t Enough [09:42] From Broke in San Francisco to a Mansion in the Hills: The Brutal Plan That Changed Everything [19:32] From Banking Spreadsheets to Cannabis Hustle: Why Conviction (and a Little Bullshit) Builds Empires [29:01] Storytelling and Billion-Dollar Deals: The Real Playbook of Entrepreneurs [35:58] The Valuation Mirage: How Entrepreneurs Fool Themselves (and Their Bankers) [45:36] The Hidden Skill Every Great Founder Masters (and Why Money Alone Won’t Drive Your Team) [53:53] The One Truth About Success Nobody Wants to Hear: It Takes Time [1:06:58] Outro Connect with - David Kram: LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/davidkram Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

    1 h y 7 min
  8. 21 AGO

    Control the Business Game and Build What Lasts with Josh Payne

    What really drives founders — is it passion, obsession, or hidden insecurity? In this episode, we dive deep into the mind of an entrepreneur who built and sold a company for a massive exit and is now reshaping what success actually means. You’ll hear the raw truth about chasing billion-dollar dreams, why “enough” is never really enough, and how founders can avoid burning themselves out on the startup treadmill. From the birth of seed-strapping to the culture clash between obsession and balance, this conversation uncovers the unfiltered realities behind building companies that last. We also explore powerful lessons on timing exits, staying in the game when the odds are stacked against you, and redefining fulfillment beyond external validation.  Tune in to discover why staying in the game might just be the ultimate founder advantage. Key Topics: -Redefining success and knowing when enough is enough -The rise of seed strapping and capital efficient growth -Obsession as both a strength and a dangerous fuel -The importance of timing and resilience in the founder journey -Balancing identity, fulfillment, and the realities of entrepreneurship Quote  From The Episode:  "You just have to ask yourself, when is enough enough?" - Josh Payne Timestamp: [02:16]: When Is Enough… Enough? The Hidden Game Behind Startup Success [11:10] AI, Obsession, and the Culture Clash Every Founder Faces [20:19] The Dark Fuel Driving Founders—and Why It Burns Out Fast [30:46] From Obsession to Ownership: The Real Rules of Delegation and Focus [40:05] The 10-Year Grind, the Exit Gamble, and Why Timing Is Everything [51:19] Stay in the Game: The Founder’s Real Secret to Winning [1:05:36] Outro Connect with - Josh Payne: LinkedIn -  linkedin.com/in/jnpayne Websites: medium.com/@jnpayne Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence

    1 h y 6 min
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Welcome to Entrepreneurial Excellence, the podcast that unlocks the secrets of running a successful startup. Get ready for captivating interviews with industry experts, thriving entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders. Deep dive into topics like crafting killer business ideas, optimizing operations, and mastering the art of scalability. Join us for empowering insights and practical advice that will propel you towards your entrepreneurial dreams.