Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast

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The Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast is powered by Rise25 Media. On this podcast, we feature top founders and entrepreneurs and their journeys.

  1. DEC 4

    [EO Chicago] Reshaping Hiring Through Technology and Personal Grit With Vikram Seth

    Vikram Seth is the Founder of Simpalm and Ducknowl, where he provides AI-driven remote staffing and digital solutions to help businesses scale using top talent, particularly from Latin America. Under his leadership, his companies have helped US enterprises — including Fortune 500 clients such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Best Buy — hire tens of thousands of employees and improve their talent-assessment processes. What began as an internal tool, Ducknowl is now a widely used SaaS platform. In this episode… Hiring has always been a mix of intuition and imperfect information. Résumés rarely tell the full story, and interviews often reward confidence more than competence. So how do you really uncover potential in a world where traditional hiring signals keep failing? According to Vikram Seth, a longtime builder of technology and global talent pipelines, the answer starts with giving people a fair chance to show who they are. He believes many great candidates are overlooked simply because their résumés don't "speak their language," a challenge he understands personally. Drawing from years of helping companies hire at scale, he explains how video screenings, structured assessments, and clear data can cut through the noise and reveal true ability. He also points out that hiring isn't just about tools — it's about patience, context, and understanding that new talent needs time to settle in before they shine. The result is a process that's more humane, more accurate, and far more effective for long-term growth. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Vikram Seth, Founder of Simpalm and Ducknowl, to discuss reshaping hiring talent through technology and personal grit. They explore why traditional screening fails modern talent, how structured assessments can reduce bias, and what companies misunderstand about finding the perfect hire. Vikram also shares his remarkable journey from washing dishes to Georgetown — and the mindset that carried him forward.

    52 min

  2. NOV 6

    [EO DC] Identifying and Removing Bottlenecks To Scale Your Business With Jordan Solender

    Jordan Solender is the Founder of IT Select, where he serves as an IT Executive, helping organizations transform their technology procurement with faster, AI-driven models. Under his leadership, IT Select has expanded to serve clients in 38 states, streamlined procurement cycles from 120 days to as few as 30. For himself, Jordan achieved an eight-figure exit from a previous technology advisory firm. Beyond IT Select, Jordan's entrepreneurial journey began at age 13 and spans multiple businesses in technology, events, hospitality, and business coaching, and he is widely recognized for his expertise in AI transformation and optimizing business processes. In this episode… Scaling a business can feel like a balancing act between growth and control. Many founders find themselves buried in day-to-day tasks, unsure of how to delegate without losing visibility or quality. But what if the biggest obstacle to scaling isn't the market or the team but the founder? According to Jordan Solender, a tech entrepreneur and systems strategist, most businesses hit a ceiling because the founder becomes the bottleneck. He explains that by identifying where time and decision-making pile up, leaders can begin to document, delegate, and automate. Jordan highlights that real growth starts when founders remove themselves from one process at a time, using AI, automation, and clear systems to replace their constant involvement. This shift not only restores time and focus but transforms businesses from founder-dependent to self-sustaining. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Jordan Solender, Founder and IT Executive of IT Select, to discuss how entrepreneurs can identify and remove bottlenecks to scale their businesses. They talk about automation and AI as growth tools, how to delegate effectively, and the importance of knowing your numbers. Jordan also shares his bottleneck audit framework and insights from building multiple successful companies.

    47 min

  3. OCT 30

    [EO Seattle] Making AI Practical, Fun, and Profitable for Businesses With Nicole Donnelly

    Nicole Donnelly is the Founder and CEO of AI Smart Ventures, a company that helps businesses leverage artificial intelligence to work smarter and accelerate growth through hands-on training, consulting, and practical AI implementation. A serial entrepreneur, Nicole previously built a global baby brand from her kitchen table and has been a leader in AI-powered marketing since 2015, amassing over 8,900 LinkedIn followers and guiding clients to achieve remarkable results like dominating 60% of AI search results in their industries. In this episode… Artificial intelligence is evolving at lightning speed. But how can everyday businesses keep up without feeling overwhelmed or left behind? Between flashy new tools, endless updates, and confusing terminology, the real challenge isn't access to AI; it's knowing how to make it work for you. What if exploring AI could actually be fun, hands-on, and profitable all at once? According to Nicole Donnelly, a former pro athlete turned entrepreneur and AI educator, the key to adopting AI successfully is curiosity and experimentation. She explains that her team dedicates time each week to test tools and compare models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to see what performs best for real business scenarios. She highlights how businesses can use AI not just to automate repetitive tasks but to unlock creativity. The impact, she says, is transformative: teams become more efficient, more confident, and genuinely excited to innovate. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz speaks with Nicole Donnelly, Founder and CEO of AI Smart Ventures, to discuss making AI practical, fun, and profitable for businesses. They explore how to choose the right AI tools, use automation to boost engagement, and create personalized outreach that drives results. Nicole also shares insights on AI security, team training, and the importance of maintaining joy and curiosity in the AI journey.

    1h 16m

  4. OCT 23

    [EO Orange County] Making Marketing Agencies More Profitable With Brandon Kordower & Daniel Simon

    Brandon Kordower is the Founder and CEO of AURA Accounting Solutions, a firm that provides fractional CFO and controller services to help marketing agencies scale profitably. With deep expertise in financial strategy, Brandon has guided clients through transformative growth journeys resulting in multiple eight-figure exits. His data-driven approach empowers agencies to make confident, strategic decisions that boost margins and scalability. Through AURA, he continues to help agencies gain clarity, control, and consistent profitability. Daniel Simon is the Executive VP at AURA. He has over 25 years of agency experience and 30 years in executive leadership, with a background spanning investment banking, music and fine arts, marketing communications, and restaurant ownership. Daniel's broad experience allows him to bridge creative and financial strategy, helping agencies align vision with profitability. At AURA, he plays a key role in guiding teams toward high growth and operational excellence. In this episode… Most agency owners are great at creative work. But when it comes to the financial side, things can get messy. Tracking revenue, profitability, and utilization often takes a back seat to client work and growth. The result? Revenue might rise, but profits stay flat or even shrink. So, what does it actually take to make a marketing agency sustainably profitable? According to Brandon Kordower, a financial strategist for marketing agencies, profitability begins with clarity — specifically, understanding your numbers and how they connect to performance. He highlights that most agencies chase revenue without analyzing margins or capacity, creating hidden inefficiencies that erode profits. Daniel Simon adds that since people are an agency's most significant cost and asset, leaders must measure utilization and time to make wiser staffing and pricing decisions. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Brandon Kordower, Founder and CEO, and Daniel Simon, Executive VP, at AURA Accounting Solutions, to discuss how marketing agencies can improve profitability through better financial practices. They explain the benefits of accrual accounting, the metrics every agency should monitor, and how minor adjustments can drastically impact margins. They also share lessons from helping clients achieve multimillion-dollar exits.

    1h 1m

  5. OCT 2

    [EO Los Angeles Valley] Building a Life and Career Around Color Analysis With Rachel Zhang

    Rachel Zhang is a color analyst and a Franchise Owner at House of Colour, a company that offers personalized color and style analysis to help clients build confident, flattering wardrobes. She is based in Westlake Village, California, and works with clients to identify their most harmonious "power colors." Before joining House of Colour, she spent over a decade in recruiting and held a role at Facebook (now Meta). She combines her corporate experience with her passion for fashion to support clients in making strong visual impressions.  In this episode… Many entrepreneurs struggle to find the right path when an unexpected change forces them to pivot. Sometimes the answer comes from an unlikely source, like discovering a hidden passion that unlocks new confidence. How can something as simple as color transform a career and day-to-day life? According to Rachel Zhang, a color analyst and entrepreneur, the right colors can completely change how people see themselves and how others perceive them. She highlights that most people are wrong about which colors suit them best, and once they experience and implement color analysis, their confidence shifts dramatically. The impact goes beyond personal style — it affects first impressions, business opportunities, and even relationships. By turning her own layoff into a launchpad, she demonstrates how embracing this science-backed approach to color can build both confidence and a thriving business. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, host John Corcoran sits down with Rachel Zhang, Franchise Owner at House of Colour, to talk about building a life and career around color analysis. They discuss how a tech layoff led her to entrepreneurship, why color analysis is more powerful than styling, and how wearing the right colors influences confidence and business growth. Rachel also shares insights on educating clients and helping professionals use color to make stronger impressions.

    22 min

  6. SEP 29

    [EO San Francisco] Balancing Motherhood, Mental Health, and Business Growth in Family Law With Valerie Fenchel

    Valerie Fenchel is the Founding Attorney and CEO of Fenchel Family Law, a San Francisco-based firm that helps clients navigate divorce, custody, and other complex family law matters. She advises clients, crafts strategies, and collaborates with therapists, actuaries, and forensic accountants to resolve disputes. Valerie also serves as the Secretary of the Jewish Bar Association of San Francisco and leads pro bono legal efforts for survivors of domestic abuse. In this episode… Growing a thriving business while raising young children can feel like an impossible balancing act. Add the emotional weight of leading a law firm through a pandemic, and it becomes even more challenging. How can entrepreneurs protect their mental health while managing explosive growth and the demands of family life? According to Valerie Fenchel, a seasoned family law entrepreneur, the key lies in embracing resilience and setting clear boundaries. She highlights how early career setbacks, such as failing the bar exam and navigating a male-dominated tech environment, built the grit needed to start her own practice. Launching a fully remote firm before the pandemic allowed her to adapt quickly when it hit and positioned her business for growth. Even while becoming a mother of two and facing the loss of key team members, she doubled her firm by focusing on high-caliber hires and prioritizing mental well-being. Her journey shows that sustainable success comes from aligning personal values with business strategy. In this episode, John Corcoran sits down with Valerie Fenchel, Founding Attorney and CEO of Fenchel Family Law, to discuss balancing motherhood, mental health, and business growth. They explore how to recover from professional setbacks, strategies for scaling a remote law practice, and lessons learned from hiring senior-level attorneys. Valerie also shares insights on protecting mental health while leading through rapid change.

    26 min

  7. SEP 18

    [EO Arizona] Building Scalable Businesses Through Documentation and Delegation With Chris Ronzio

    Chris Ronzio is the Founder and CEO of Trainual, a SaaS platform that helps small and growing businesses document, organize, and share their processes, roles, and training materials. Before launching Trainual, he built and sold a national video production company and led an operations consulting firm focused on business efficiency. Chris also hosts the Organize Chaos podcast and authored The Business Playbook, which offers practical guidance for building scalable, process-driven companies. In this episode… Scaling a business often feels like juggling people management, processes, and growth all at once. Many entrepreneurs get stuck doing everything themselves, which stalls progress and burns out leadership. How can leaders create systems that free up their time while empowering teams to succeed? According to Chris Ronzio, a seasoned entrepreneur and bestselling author, the key is documenting and delegating with clarity. He highlights that every business has a unique playbook made up of its brand, products, policies, and processes, and codifying this knowledge ensures consistency across teams. The result is stronger accountability, smoother onboarding, and the ability to scale without bottlenecking growth. Chris explains how early struggles shaped his focus on building tools for role-based training, feedback loops, and culture-driven leadership. He emphasizes that creating repeatable systems is what allows founders to step back and focus on long-term strategy. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Chris Ronzio, Founder and CEO of Trainual, to talk about building scalable businesses through documentation and delegation. Chris shares the lessons from his early product launch struggles, explains how customer feedback shaped Trainual, and discusses the importance of core values in scaling culture. Chris also gives insights on partnerships, leadership development, and empowering teams to take ownership.

    48 min

  8. SEP 11

    [EO Silicon Valley] Real Estate's Best Kept Secret: Land Development Investing With Alice Chen

    Alice Chen is a Partner at Pender Hastings Capital, a private equity firm specializing in niche, high-return land development investments in the US and Canada. She is also the Founder of Alice Chen Companies, a portfolio of ventures spanning international trade, financial services, consumer products, technology, and investment management. A former mergers and acquisitions attorney, Alice transitioned her legal expertise into capital allocation across private equity, venture capital, and tax-advantaged strategies. Her work has been featured in major outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, LA Times, and Success Magazine. In this episode… What if one of the most profitable opportunities in real estate was hidden in plain sight? Many investors chase multifamily developments or single-family rentals, but few explore the less obvious paths that can generate outsized returns. Could the real secret to long-term growth lie in a strategy most people overlook? According to Alice Chen, a seasoned investor and private equity fund manager, the real estate industry's best-kept secret is land development. She highlights how a shortage of millions of single-family homes in the US has created an urgent demand for finished lots, which national homebuilders rely on to expand. By partnering with best-in-class land developers and focusing on large-scale problems like housing deficits, she explains how investors can minimize risk while achieving strong returns. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Alice Chen, Partner at Pender Hastings Capital and Founder of Alice Chen Companies, to talk about land development investing as real estate's best-kept secret. Alice shares why major homebuilders outsource this process, how her team structures funds to manage risk, and why timing is crucial in achieving profitable exits. Alice also discusses her personal routines that keep her grounded as an entrepreneur and investor.

    45 min
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The Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast is powered by Rise25 Media. On this podcast, we feature top founders and entrepreneurs and their journeys.

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