The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra

Todd Westra
  • 4.6 (11)
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  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Todd Westra interviews Executives and Business Owners who share the key decisions they made to make amazing breakthroughs in their quest to Scale their business.

  1. Ep #478 Eli Portnoy: Unlock Growth with Customer Feedback

    APR 17

    Ep #478 Eli Portnoy: Unlock Growth with Customer Feedback

    Eli Portnoy is a serial B2B tech founder focused on solving business problems through customer insight. He’s the CEO of BackEngine, a SaaS platform that uses AI to analyze customer conversations and deliver real-time feedback to teams, such as marketing, product, and customer success. Eli emphasizes the power of customer insight to drive B2B growth. As CEO of BackEngine, he leverages AI to transform customer conversations into real-time insights for teams like product and marketing. With over 15 years of experience as a serial founder, he’s dedicated to proving the ROI of feedback and integrating it at the core of his ventures. Eli discusses the challenge of creating a new category, which requires education and mindset shifts. Selling new solutions is tough in a cost-cutting market. He also points out the challenge of explaining ROI — while the concept resonates with founders, quantifying it and convincing executives remains difficult. Additionally, scaling while staying focused is crucial, as there are numerous potential use cases to prioritize for growth. Eli credits his progress to 5-6 trusted advisors who offer honest feedback. He values surrounding himself with truth-tellers, not just "yes" people, and encourages seeking help early. He believes, "Feedback is the greatest gift anyone can receive, and it applies to all areas of life." Ways to connect with Eli Portnoy: 🔗 Website: https://www.backengine.com/  🔗 Personal LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliportnoy/  🔗 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/backengine-ai/  🔗 CompanyTwitterr:https://x.com/eportnoy  🔗 YouTube: https://medium.com/@eportnoy  👉 I highly suggest you watch this entire exchange between  Eli Portnoy and ⭐️Todd Westra 📈 👉 If you're looking for tips and strategies to grow and scale your business, this episode is for you! ✅ 1. Subscribe and Listen to ⁠The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra ⁠ ✅ 2. Supercharge your growth and tap into the wisdom of others. Schedule a pre-podcast call today.  👉 https://content.toddwestra.com/ ✅ 3. Join our CEO peer advisory board and be part of a supportive community of like-minded leaders. 👉 ⁠https://captainscouncil.com/home⁠ ✅ 4. Maximize LinkedIn outreach. Join our webinar for solutions to time constraints in connecting and engaging with desired prospects. 👉  ⁠https://outreach.withmoku.com/ #GASpodcast  #WithMoku  #Toddwestra #BusinessGrowth #CustomerFeedback #B2BScaling #AIinBusiness #EntrepreneurTips #GrowthPodcast #EliPortnoy #ScaleYourBusiness #LeadershipInsights #B2BMarketing #StartupStrategy #AIFeedback #BusinessScaling #FounderStories

    29 min
  2. Ep #477 Andrew Hartman: Beat Overwhelm & Master Your Time

    APR 10

    Ep #477 Andrew Hartman: Beat Overwhelm & Master Your Time

    Andrew Hartman, founder and CEO of TimeBoss, is a former COO who turned his personal battle with overwhelm into a solution for leaders and teams. Through group coaching, workshops, and one-on-one sessions, TimeBoss helps them achieve results without burnout. Andrew highlights his TimeBoss method: treating time as a valuable asset, cutting multitasking, and using weekly planning, prioritizing, and time-blocking for deep work. His system adapts to any role—salespeople block peak hours, strategists guard creative time. Success comes from aligning time with stakeholders and framing yourself as a "conquering hero." Andrew tackles key issues: Overwhelm is seen as usual but costly. Endless to-do lists spark stress and reactive behavior. Cognitive overload drives quick fixes, not creativity. Poor time management causes lost productivity and work-life imbalance. Relying on tools like ChatGPT won’t fix the problem; only a mindset shift will. Andrew’s message targets small business owners, leaders, and teams that are overwhelmed and have poor time management skills. Andrew also acknowledges the broader impact—employees, spouses, and partners affected by overwork. Ways to connect with Andrew Hartman: 🔗 Website: https://www.timeboss.us/  🔗 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhartman/  🔗 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/time-boss/  🔗 Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timebossus/#  🔗 Company Facebook: https://x.com/timebossus?s=11  👉 I highly suggest you watch this entire exchange between  Andrew Hartman and ⭐️Todd Westra 📈 👉 If you're looking for tips and strategies to grow and scale your business, this episode is for you! ✅ 1. Subscribe and Listen to ⁠The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra ⁠ ✅ 2. Supercharge your growth and tap into the wisdom of others. Schedule a pre-podcast call today.  👉 https://content.toddwestra.com/ ✅ 3. Join our CEO peer advisory board and be part of a supportive community of like-minded leaders. 👉 ⁠https://captainscouncil.com/home⁠ ✅ 4. Maximize LinkedIn outreach. Join our webinar for solutions to time constraints in connecting and engaging with desired prospects. 👉  ⁠https://outreach.withmoku.com/ #GASpodcast  #WithMoku  #Toddwestra #TimeManagement #BusinessGrowth #Overwhelm #ProductivityTips #EntrepreneurLife #ScalingBusiness #ToddWestraPodcast #TimeBoss #OverwhelmSolution  #BusinessGrowth  #ProductivityTips  #CEOStrategies  #SmallBusinessSuccess  #BurnoutPrevention  #GrowthPodcast  #Prioritization  #StrategicPlanning  #WorkLifeBalance  #ScalingBusiness

    33 min
  3. Ep #476 Bertus Paris: Scale a Fitness Franchise to 100 Units

    APR 4

    Ep #476 Bertus Paris: Scale a Fitness Franchise to 100 Units

    Bertus/Bert Albertse, CEO and President of JETSET Pilates, is driving the company's growth with a focus on fitness, health, and wellness. Under his leadership, JETSET Pilates has reached 100 units in development in just three years. The brand offers a modern, accessible Pilates model centered on small-group fitness, appealing to new business owners and experienced investors. Bert's leadership focuses on building a strong culture, prioritizing people, and promoting health and wellness. He empowers franchisees and emphasizes long-term growth. The franchise appeals to a diverse range of entrepreneurs, from first-time owners to experienced investors, ensuring a solid foundation for expansion. Bert highlights franchising challenges, such as managing risk in the fitness industry and adapting the model to diverse markets. He stresses the importance of finding franchisees with the right mindset and balancing independence with structure. Bertus emphasizes continuous learning and improvement and acknowledges that no franchise system is perfect. Bert  gives a shoutout to his mentors, the JETSET Pilates team, and the franchise partners for their ongoing support. He highlights that having the right people, from franchisees to team members, is key to the brand's success and values learning from experienced franchisees and partners. Ways to connect with Bertus Paris: 🔗 Website: https://jetsetpilates.com/  🔗 Personal LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bertus-albertse-819ba8222  🔗 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jetset-pilates/  🔗 Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jetsetpilates/  🔗 Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jetsetpilates  🔗 Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@JETSETPilatesTampa  Please like, share, and subscribe to our podcast channels!  ➡ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GASwithTodd ➡ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gaswithtodd ➡ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@todd.westra ➡ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaswithtodd/ ➡ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaspodcast/ ➡ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growthandscalingpodcast 👉 I highly suggest you watch this entire exchange between  Bertus Albertse and ⭐️Todd Westra 📈 👉 If you're looking for tips and strategies to grow and scale your business, this episode is for you! ✅ 1. Subscribe and Listen to ⁠The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra ⁠ ✅ 2. Supercharge your growth and tap into the wisdom of others. Schedule a pre-podcast call today.  👉 https://content.toddwestra.com/ ✅ 3. Join our CEO peer advisory board and be part of a supportive community of like-minded leaders. 👉 ⁠https://captainscouncil.com/home⁠ ✅ 4. Maximize LinkedIn outreach. Join our webinar for solutions to time constraints in connecting and engaging with desired prospects. 👉  ⁠https://outreach.withmoku.com/ #GASpodcast  #WithMoku  #Toddwestra #fitnessfranchise  #businessgrowth  #entrepreneurship  #BertusAlbertse  #JETSETPilates  #healthandwellness  #franchisescaling  #smallgroupfitness  #businessstrategy   #Entrepreneurship #FranchiseOpportunities PilatesCommunity #ContinuousLearning #BusinessGrowth #FitnessInvestors #FranchiseLeadership #BuildingCulture #RiskManagement #AdaptabilityInFranchising  #InvestInFitness #FranchiseCulture #LongTermGrowth #FitnessIndustry#WellnessIndustry #FranchiseExpansion

    28 min
  4. Ep #475 Nick Raschke: Scale with Paid Marketing

    MAR 26

    Ep #475 Nick Raschke: Scale with Paid Marketing

    Nick Raschke is the Co-Founder & COO of Doe Media, a company specializing in paid marketing and advertising. With a strong entrepreneurial background, Nick has extensive experience scaling e-commerce and tech companies.  Nick highlights Doe Media's growth, aiming to lead paid marketing by improving strategies for successful brands. During the pandemic, they helped small businesses thrive and launched a mask business that made over $1 million in three weeks. Nick is pursuing mergers and acquisitions, including Surge, to enhance email marketing and TikTok efforts, aiming to double or triple growth in 18-24 months. Nick shares the challenges of launching his mask business during the pandemic, including financial strain from Shopify and PayPal withholding $600,000, which affected cash flow. He highlights that scaling beyond $1 million brought management complexities, requiring better collaboration and delegation. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding legal issues, choosing the right lawyers, and avoiding setbacks. Ways to connect with Nick Raschke: 🔗 Website: http://www.doemedia.com/  🔗 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-raschke/  🔗 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doemediachicago/  🔗 Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doe.media/  🔗 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@doemedia5484  Please like, share, and subscribe to our podcast channels!  ➡ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GASwithTodd ➡ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gaswithtodd ➡ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@todd.westra ➡ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaswithtodd/ ➡ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaspodcast/ ➡ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growthandscalingpodcast 👉 I highly suggest you watch this entire exchange between  Nick Raschke and ⭐️Todd Westra 📈 👉 If you're looking for tips and strategies to grow and scale your business, this episode is for you! ✅ 1. Subscribe and Listen to ⁠The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra ⁠ ✅ 2. Supercharge your growth and tap into the wisdom of others. Schedule a pre-podcast call today.  👉 https://content.toddwestra.com/ ✅ 3. Join our CEO peer advisory board and be part of a supportive community of like-minded leaders. 👉 ⁠https://captainscouncil.com/home⁠ ✅ 4. Maximize LinkedIn outreach. Join our webinar for solutions to time constraints in connecting and engaging with desired prospects. 👉  ⁠https://outreach.withmoku.com/ #GASpodcast  #WithMoku  #Toddwestra #NickRaschke #DoeMedia #paidmarketing #ecommercegrowth #scalingabusiness #businessacquisitions #pandemicpivot #marketingstrategies #growwithadvertising #DoeMedia #PaidMarketing #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusinessSuccess #MergersAndAcquisitions #EmailMarketing #TikTokMarketing #Entrepreneurship #PandemicBusiness #MarketingStrategies #GrowthGoals #BusinessExpansion #BrandSuccess #DigitalMarketing #SocialMediaGrowth #MarketingInnovation

    32 min
  5. Ep #474 Ana-Paula Issa: Scale with Cloud Energy Solutions

    MAR 19

    Ep #474 Ana-Paula Issa: Scale with Cloud Energy Solutions

    Ana-Paula Issa is the CEO of Encycle, a company she founded nearly 15-16 years ago. Originally a salesperson, she transitioned into energy entrepreneurship, driven by her passion for sustainability and energy management. Ana-Paula highlights that Encycle's technology, inspired by emergence theory and nature's collaborative systems, helps businesses optimize energy usage by reducing energy consumption in heating and cooling systems. The company has evolved from a hardware-based model to an entirely cloud-based solution, enabling quick deployment and significant energy savings. Ana faced challenges as a female immigrant in a sales role, missing a VP promotion. After a leadership role at another company, mentorship from Scott Lease improved her skills, and she focuses on scalable, cloud-based energy solutions. She encourages leaders to embrace mentorship and replicate successful sales processes. Her shoutout goes to Scott Lease, whose mentorship was pivotal in her leadership development. Scott's guidance gave Ana invaluable insights, helping her navigate complex leadership challenges and grow professionally and personally. Ways to connect with Ana-Paula Issa: 🔗 Website:  https://www.encycle.com/  🔗 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apissa/  🔗 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/encycle-technologies-inc/  Please like, share, and subscribe to our podcast channels!  ➡ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GASwithTodd ➡ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gaswithtodd ➡ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@todd.westra ➡ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaswithtodd/ ➡ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaspodcast/ ➡ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growthandscalingpodcast 👉 I highly suggest you watch this entire exchange between Ana-Paula Issa and ⭐️Todd Westra 📈 👉 If you're looking for tips and strategies to grow and scale your business, this episode is for you! ✅ 1. Subscribe and Listen to ⁠The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra ⁠ ✅ 2. Supercharge your growth and tap into the wisdom of others. Schedule a pre-podcast call today.  👉 https://content.toddwestra.com/ ✅ 3. Join our CEO peer advisory board and be part of a supportive community of like-minded leaders. 👉 ⁠https://captainscouncil.com/home⁠ ✅ 4. Maximize LinkedIn outreach. Join our webinar for solutions to time constraints in connecting and engaging with desired prospects. 👉  ⁠https://outreach.withmoku.com/ #BusinessGrowth #ScalingStrategies #EnergyManagement #SustainableBusiness #CloudSolutions #FemaleEntrepreneur #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #GreenTech #WomenInBusiness #ToddWestra

    38 min
  6. Ep #473 Nahed Khairallah: Boost Your Business: How HR Drives Growth!

    MAR 13

    Ep #473 Nahed Khairallah: Boost Your Business: How HR Drives Growth!

    📍Full episode details here: https://links.growthandscaling.com/473 Nahed Khairallah is the founder and host of the Organized Chaos Podcast and an HR consultant who helps seven-figure companies scale to nine figures by transforming HR into a key growth accelerator. He views HR as a critical catalyst for success, driving growth by aligning people, processes, and infrastructure. Rather than focusing solely on operations and product development, Nahed emphasizes the importance of HR in achieving scalable growth without the need for excessive hiring. He works with businesses to design HR systems aligning with strategic goals, ensuring the right talent and operations run smoothly. A significant challenge Nahed addresses is premature scaling—founders expanding too quickly without the proper infrastructure, leading to financial strain or bankruptcy. He also warns against hiring too many people, which increases burn rates and can result in layoffs. Additionally, he cautions founders about overestimating their founding teams’ ability to manage larger-scale operations, which can lead to poor decisions. Nahed’s shoutout goes to early-stage founders and companies under $10 million. He encourages them to invest in scalable processes and HR infrastructure from day one, helping them be better prepared for growth when the time comes. This proactive approach allows businesses to avoid scrambling during scaling and ensures they can effectively manage growth. Ways to connect with Nahed Khairallah: 🔗 Website: https://organizedchaos.fyi/ 🔗 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khairallahnahed/ 🔗 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/organizedchaos-podcast/ Please like, share, and subscribe to our podcast channels!  ➡ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GASwithTodd ➡ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gaswithtodd ➡ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@todd.westra ➡ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaswithtodd/ ➡ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaspodcast/ ➡ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growthandscalingpodcast 👉 I highly suggest you watch this entire exchange between Nahed Khairallah and ⭐️Todd Westra 📈 👉 If you're looking for tips and strategies to grow and scale your business, this episode is for you! ✅ 1. Subscribe and Listen to ⁠The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra ⁠ ✅ 2. Supercharge your growth and tap into the wisdom of others. Schedule a pre-podcast call today.  👉 https://content.toddwestra.com/ ✅ 3. Join our CEO peer advisory board and be part of a supportive community of like-minded leaders. 👉 ⁠https://captainscouncil.com/home⁠ ✅ 4. Maximize LinkedIn outreach. Join our webinar for solutions to time constraints in connecting and engaging with desired prospects. 👉  ⁠https://outreach.withmoku.com/

    36 min
  7. Ep #472 Scott Hayford: How to Help Tech Startups Succeed in Government Acquisitions

    MAR 5

    Ep #472 Scott Hayford: How to Help Tech Startups Succeed in Government Acquisitions

    📍Full episode details here: ⁠https://links.growthandscaling.com/472⁠ Welcome back to The Growth and Scaling Podcast!  Join us as ⁠Scott Hayford⁠, Founder and CEO of ⁠BlackHays Group⁠, discusses how his firm helps tech startups secure government contracts with a focus on sustainability and long-term relationships. From a solo venture to a team of 22, his approach has helped clients secure $15-$17 million in awards while extending their runway and avoiding costly consultants. Scott emphasizes the flexibility of his work model, allowing team members to contribute without the pressures of full-time roles, particularly benefiting those transitioning to later stages of their careers. BlackHays Group offers affordable consulting, focusing on client growth rather than taking a percentage of awards, and prioritizes fulfillment over profit. Tune in to learn how Scott helps startups overcome challenges like funding struggles, military-to-civilian transitions, and navigating slow government processes, all while building key relationships to secure contracts. Ways to connect with Scott Hayford: 🔗 Website: https://blackhaysgroup.com/ 🔗 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthayford/ 🔗 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackhaysgroup/ Please like, share, and subscribe to our podcast channels!  ➡ Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/GASwithTodd⁠ ➡ TikTok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@gaswithtodd⁠ ➡ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@todd.westra⁠ ➡ Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/gaswithtodd/⁠ ➡ LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaspodcast/⁠ ➡ Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/growthandscalingpodcast⁠ 👉 I highly suggest you watch this entire exchange between Scott Hayford and ⭐️⁠Todd Westra⁠ 📈 👉 If you're looking for tips and strategies to grow and scale your business, this episode is for you! ✅ 1. Subscribe and Listen to ⁠⁠The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra ⁠⁠ ✅ 2. Supercharge your growth and tap into the wisdom of others. Schedule a pre-podcast call today.  👉 ⁠https://content.toddwestra.com/⁠ ✅ 3. Join our CEO peer advisory board and be part of a supportive community of like-minded leaders. 👉 ⁠⁠https://captainscouncil.com/home⁠⁠ ✅ 4. Maximize LinkedIn outreach. Join our webinar for solutions to time constraints in connecting and engaging with desired prospects. 👉  ⁠⁠⁠https://outreach.withmoku.com/

    33 min
  8. Ep #467 Asim Razzaq: How to Save Money on Cloud Software: Smart Strategies!

    FEB 27

    Ep #467 Asim Razzaq: How to Save Money on Cloud Software: Smart Strategies!

    📍Full episode details here: https://links.growthandscaling.com/467 Asim Razzaqis the Co-founder and CEO of Yotascale, a tech entrepreneur focused on solving critical problems. He believes in creating "painkiller" solutions—essential products customers can’t live without—rather than nice-to-have features. Asim advises founders to target a niche, ensure demand, and focus on execution, avoiding distractions like competition or vanity metrics. His key highlights include his focus on execution over hype, advising against getting distracted by competition or vanity metrics. He stresses the importance of aligning with the right customers, tracking the metrics that matter, and surrounding oneself with the right people and mentors. He emphasizes the value of honesty, self-reflection, and adjusting to what's working and what's not The challenges he highlights for founders involve staying disciplined and focused on solving real problems, avoiding distractions, and navigating the complexities of monetization and product-market fit. Ultimately, Asim Razzaq advocates prioritizing real solutions and building businesses grounded in solving urgent, persistent pain points. Asim Razzaq’s shoutout goes to mentors, team members, and advisors who guide, challenge, and support founders. He values collaboration and honest feedback from those who help him stay focused on solving real problems and executing effectively. Ways to connect with Asim Razzaq:    🔗 Website: https://yotascale.com/ 🔗 Company Twitter: https://x.com/yotascale 🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yotascale 🔗 Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asimrazzaq/ 🔗 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yotascale/ What’s in this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:38 Who is our guest for today 01:50 What does his company do 03:36 How does he help companies save money 04:34 What problem led him to start his business 06:43 Where did the biggest costs come from 09:03 How did his company evolve 11:52 What key lessons did he learn 13:29 captainscouncil.com 15:51 What advice does he have for startups 21:58 How should founders approach customer discovery 24:23 What’s the risk of building without customer feedback 27:04 How do founders identify real pain points 27:34 What signals show a product is truly needed 28:07 Why is starting with a platform a mistake 29:26 Should founders focus on competitors or execution 30:38 Where should founders prioritize their time 32:52 How can founders validate their market 33:16 What mindset helps founders succeed 33:39 Why is customer-driven growth important Please like, share, and subscribe to our podcast channels!  👉 I highly suggest you watch this entire exchange between Asim Razzaq and ⭐️Todd Westra 📈 👉 If you're looking for tips and strategies to grow and scale your business, this episode is for you! ✅ 1. Subscribe and Listen to ⁠The Growth and Scaling Podcast with Todd Westra ⁠ ✅ 2. Supercharge your growth and tap into the wisdom of others. Schedule a pre-podcast call today.  👉 https://content.toddwestra.com/ ✅ 3. Join our CEO peer advisory board and be part of a supportive community of like-minded leaders. 👉 ⁠https://captainscouncil.com/home⁠ ✅ 4. Maximize LinkedIn outreach. Join our webinar for solutions to time constraints in connecting and engaging with desired prospects. 👉  ⁠https://outreach.withmoku.com/

    36 min
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4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Todd Westra interviews Executives and Business Owners who share the key decisions they made to make amazing breakthroughs in their quest to Scale their business.

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