Mark Faris Experience

Mark Faris

This podcast is all about unlocking the secrets to building successful businesses and creating lasting wealth by learning from the best of the best. We'll sit down with incredible entrepreneurs to explore how they started their businesses, the key lessons they've learned, and the challenges they faced to reach the top.

  1. #110: How 4 Strangers Turned Propel Holdings into a $1.5 Billion Company | Noah Buchman

    1D AGO

    #110: How 4 Strangers Turned Propel Holdings into a $1.5 Billion Company | Noah Buchman

    How do four complete strangers turn a $4M seed investment into a $1.5 Billion FinTech empire without raising additional outside equity for a decade? In this episode of the Mark Faris Experience, Mark sits down with Noah Buchman, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Revenue Officer of Propel Holdings, a founder-led fintech that’s grown into a public company with 600+ employees, $450M+ in revenue, and a $1.5B valuation. Noah shares the real origin story of how four strangers came together after spotting a massive opportunity in an overlooked market, turning a $4M friends-and-family raise into a billion-dollar company by building mobile-first tech and staying relentlessly focused on the problem. They also dive into the behind-the-scenes drivers of long-term scale: how to find and keep great talent, how to build a network that actually pays dividends, and the daily habits Noah uses to make better decisions (including his “24-hour rule”). Noah shares his investing filter: do your homework and think long-term—plus the core values that helped Propel build a standout culture: extraordinary service, urgency, and excellence. 💡 Book mentioned by Noah Buchman: Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution — by Uri Levine

    53 min
  2. #109: From Testing at the G7 to Serving 35 Countries | Laura McGee’s Entrepreneurial Journey

    FEB 1

    #109: From Testing at the G7 to Serving 35 Countries | Laura McGee’s Entrepreneurial Journey

    In this episode, Mark sits down with Laura McGee, CEO and Founder of Diversio, a global AI platform helping organizations understand and improve workplace culture through data. Laura shares her unconventional journey from law and consulting at McKinsey to building a fast-growing AI company operating across 35 countries, including the bold early moves that helped Diversio land its first clients through YPO and the G7 before the product was fully built. They explore the realities of entrepreneurship—hiring the right people, overcoming fear of failure, building resilient partnerships, and raising capital without losing leverage. Laura also shares how she evaluates founders and investments, why leadership and sales matter more than the product alone, and how entrepreneurs can find opportunity by going where others aren’t looking. A must-listen for founders, operators, and investors alike.

    48 min
  3. #108: This Serial Entrepreneur Built a 20-Facility Self-Storage Business | Joe Downs

    JAN 25

    #108: This Serial Entrepreneur Built a 20-Facility Self-Storage Business | Joe Downs

    In this episode of The Mark Faris Experience, Mark sits down with Joe Downs, CEO and Co-Founder of The Belrose Group, a commercial real estate firm focused on self-storage facilities. Joe has acquired 20 self-storage facilities and now teaches others how to build and scale self-storage businesses. Joe shares his journey from financial advisor to serial entrepreneur—navigating failure, reinvention, and ultimately finding his edge in self-storage after recognizing how fragmented the industry remained. He explains why self-storage has attracted institutional capital, what makes the asset class resilient, and how he sources and operates mom-and-pop–owned facilities. They also dive into leadership and scaling lessons, including “mind your kitchen,” the CEO dance between delegation and accountability, and why building around your unique ability is critical to long-term success. 💡Book mentioned by Joe Downs • Be Your Future Self Now by Benjamin Hardy

    1h 1m
  4. #107: Built a Luxury Cottage and Vacation Rental Brand with 600+ Rentals | Jayne McCaw

    JAN 18

    #107: Built a Luxury Cottage and Vacation Rental Brand with 600+ Rentals | Jayne McCaw

    How do you build a premium business that clients keep coming back to—without racing to the bottom on price? In this episode of The Mark Faris Experience, Mark sits down with Jayne McCaw, President and Founder of Jayne’s Luxury Rentals, to unpack how she built one of the finest luxury cottage and vacation rental brands—scaling from just three properties to 600+ summer rentals, with a 70% repeat client rate. Jayne shares the real story behind her growth—why relentless customer service became her advantage, how she built a hard-to-replicate business moat, and what entrepreneurs can learn about scaling, hiring, and delivering white-glove experiences in any industry. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✓ How customer experience can become your strongest competitive advantage ✓ What it takes to scale a high-end, service-driven business ✓ Why repeat customers are the real driver of long-term wealth ✓ Lessons every entrepreneur can apply—regardless of industry Whether you’re building a business, scaling a brand, or thinking long-term about wealth creation, this conversation is packed with practical insight. 💡Book mentioned by Jayne McCaw • Unreasonable Hospitality — by Will Guidara

    36 min
  5. #106: From Early Hustles to Helping Businesses Scale with Empathy — Aly Champsi’s Story

    JAN 11

    #106: From Early Hustles to Helping Businesses Scale with Empathy — Aly Champsi’s Story

    In this episode, Mark Faris sits down with Aly Champsi, Managing Director at DW Healthcare Partners, a healthcare-focused private equity firm with over $2.2B in capital under management. Aly shares his personal and professional journey—from growing up with a younger brother with Down syndrome to becoming Chair of Special Olympics Ontario, and how empathy, patience, and people-first leadership have shaped his success in business. He walks through his career path from investment banking and consulting to private equity, and explains how DW Healthcare Partners partners with founder-led healthcare companies to help them scale thoughtfully and sustainably. The conversation dives deep into what separates great businesses from average ones: the importance of A-players hiring A-players, the power of ruthless focus, common red flags investors see when evaluating hundreds of companies each year, and how strong leaders balance big-picture thinking with operational excellence. Aly also shares practical advice on hiring, productivity, long-term investing, wealth creation vs. wealth preservation, and why relationships—not transactions—are the foundation of lasting success. 💡 Books Mentioned by Aly Champsi: • The Value of Tenacity — Ann Donegan Johnson • Oh, the Places You’ll Go! — Dr. Seuss • Biographies of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk — Walter Isaacson

    33 min
  6. #105: How Shobhit Khandelwal Built a 250+ Person AI Company Helping Enterprises Scale

    JAN 4

    #105: How Shobhit Khandelwal Built a 250+ Person AI Company Helping Enterprises Scale

    In this episode, Mark Faris sits down with Shobhit Khandelwal, Founder & CEO of ShyftLabs, a 250+ person AI and data company helping enterprises use data to drive real business outcomes. Shobhit shares his journey from growing up in India to Wall Street, high-growth startups like Jet.com, and ultimately building a fully bootstrapped company serving some of the largest organizations in North America. They break down what AI actually means for operators today—how AI agents automate repetitive work, turn data into action, and improve customer experience without losing the human element. The conversation also covers leadership, trust-based growth, evolving SEO in an AI-driven world, and why process clarity is the foundation for successful automation. Whether you’re building a business, leading teams, or navigating AI’s impact on your industry, this episode offers a practical, operator-focused perspective. 💡 Book Mentioned by Shobhit Khandelwal: • Skunk Works — Ben R. Rich & Leo Janos

    49 min
  7. #104: How Mallory Steele Helps Entrepreneurs Scale Without Burning Out

    12/28/2025

    #104: How Mallory Steele Helps Entrepreneurs Scale Without Burning Out

    In this episode of The Mark Faris Experience, Mark sits down with Mallory Steele, entrepreneur, business coach, and founder of WoW Collective—a fast-growing community helping women scale sustainable businesses. Mallory shares how she grew the collective to 200+ members, led a 50-person team, and helped scale a tech company at 150% year-over-year. Raised by entrepreneurs and mentored by billion-dollar business builders, Mallory breaks down how her upbringing shaped her disciplined, numbers-driven approach to business. Mark and Mallory dive into what it truly takes to scale without burning out—from shifting out of self-employed mode to building systems that replace you. They explore delegation frameworks like the “hit-by-a-bus list,” hiring for values and track record, and why entrepreneurs must let go of control to grow. Mallory also shares her mission to end entrepreneurial poverty and why mastering your morning routine is critical for clarity, leadership, and long-term success. 👉 Learn more about WoW Collective: www.wowcollective.app 💡 Book Recommendation from Mallory Steele: • How to Win Friends and Influence People — by Dale Carnegie

    40 min
  8. #103: What It Takes to Lead a 100+ Year Family Business | Ben Hertzman

    12/21/2025

    #103: What It Takes to Lead a 100+ Year Family Business | Ben Hertzman

    In this episode, Mark Faris sits down with Ben Hertzman, President of Progress Luv2Pak and founder of Gather Packaging, to unpack what it really takes to lead under pressure. Ben shares how he manages stress at the top, why breaking complex challenges into their smallest components creates clarity, and the simple but powerful habit he relies on—writing and recording raw thoughts—to uncover the real problem beneath the noise. They dive into leadership, resilience, and why some of Ben’s biggest wins came immediately after his toughest setbacks. Ben also explains how tools like AI can help entrepreneurs organize their thinking, make better decisions, and stay focused on what truly matters—not just what feels urgent. The conversation wraps with rapid-fire insights on books, habits, family, and Ben’s advice for building a meaningful business without burning out. If you’re a founder, operator, or business leader navigating growth, pressure, and uncertainty, this episode delivers practical wisdom you can apply right away. 💡Book Recommendation from Ben Hertzman: • Kitchen Confidential — by Anthony Bourdain

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This podcast is all about unlocking the secrets to building successful businesses and creating lasting wealth by learning from the best of the best. We'll sit down with incredible entrepreneurs to explore how they started their businesses, the key lessons they've learned, and the challenges they faced to reach the top.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Faris
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110