
Houston Business Radio
151 episodes — Page 1 of 4
Improv, Leadership, and Workplace Joy: Joel Zeff on Creating Engaged Teams
Shane Shaltry: Finding a New Mission Through the Warrior PATHH Program
Jim Barnebee: How to Evaluate, Implement, and Actually Benefit From AI
Young Han: Scaling Companies Without Sacrificing Personal Well-Being
Dale Young: From Tech Executive to Purpose-Driven Leadership Coach
Justine Carino: The Truth About Work-Life Balance for Ambitious Women
Wendi Pannell: Building Execution Discipline with the Business Gym Model
Alese Johnston: How Intentional Relationships Support Health, Purpose, and Longevity
Dana Watkins: Maximizing Business Value Through Strategic Exit Planning
Amanda Banks: Integrity, Influence, and the Future of Human-Centered Leadership
Parker Schaffel: Hard Conversations, Real Accountability, and Better Teams

Carrie Kemper Allen: Protecting Your Legacy—Why Estate Planning Matters More Than You Think
Today’s guest is Carrie Kemper Allen, estate planning and probate attorney and founder of the Law Office of Carrie Kemper Allen. Carrie has been serving families in the Houston and Pearland area for more than 20 years, helping them navigate estate planning, wills, and probate with both expertise and compassion. With a background in business […]

Joshua Berry: How Open Curiosity Creates Better Leaders Than Control Ever Will
Joshua Berry is a world-class facilitator of change. As an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and CEO of Econic, Joshua has spent the last two decades evolving the what, who, and why of Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed startups. Along with his team, Joshua has sparked change in organizations like US Bank, John Deere, Procter & Gamble, […]

Nathan Turner: The Overlooked Real Estate Strategy of Mortgage Notes
Nathan Turner is an experienced mortgage note investor and the founder of Earnest Investing, where he helps investors achieve passive income through the power of note investing. With years of experience in the real estate space, Nathan transitioned from real estate ownership to specializing in mortgage notes, using his expertise to help investors diversify their […]

Madeleine Calcote-Garcia: Connecting Community, Culture, and History at the Fort Bend Museum
Growing up in Houston, Madeleine Calcote-Garcia had access to some of the finest museums in the world. Visiting those venerable institutions as a child had a lasting impact that influenced her professional choices. Today, Madeleine stands out for her ability to build and maintain community relationships. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History with […]

Dan Ward: How Detroit Labs Solves Complex Problems with Human-Centered Tech
Dan Ward is Co-Founder and President of Detroit Labs, a digital innovation studio in downtown Detroit. Through the years, Detroit Labs has partnered with clients like GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Jimmy John’s, Domino’s Pizza, Driveway.com, and many others to drive growth through design and technology. Dan has mentored students at Central Michigan University in the New […]

Ryne Johnson: Building a Buffalo Culture Through Servant Leadership
Ryne Johnson is a dynamic business leader and Owner of Spirit Movers, where he has spent more than a decade driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Beginning his career with the company as a Cybersecurity Analyst and Project Manager, Ryne quickly rose through the ranks to Vice President & General Manager before ultimately becoming Owner. […]

Andre Ankri: Turning ADHD, AI, and Radical Candor into Leadership Superpowers
Andre Ankri is a visionary entrepreneur and technology strategist with more than a decade of experience spanning construction, security technology, and business development. As Founder and CEO of UTS Group, he leads the integration of advanced technologies and automation to create intelligent, secure, and scalable environments across Canada. In addition to UTS Group, Andre heads […]

Steve Morris: When the Operating System That Built Your Success Stops Working
Steve Morris is an entrepreneurial guide and business coach who helps leaders transform their businesses—and their lives—through clarity, focus, and intentional growth. He began his career designing multi-million-dollar racing yachts and leading elite teams to victory in some of the world’s most demanding yacht races. He later managed a small business and oversaw million-dollar budgets […]

Kevin Ruelas: From Service to Calling — Building AI That Serves Justice
Kevin Ruelas is an experienced international executive known for balancing hands-on leadership with high-level strategic vision. Equally comfortable rolling up his sleeves in operational environments or operating in the boardroom, Kevin brings a results-driven approach to scaling teams, strengthening performance, and charting sustainable growth paths for organizations. With multi-disciplined management experience spanning Professional Services, Business […]

Crystal Tenney: The Subtle Behaviors That Quietly Destroy Trust at Work
Crystal M. Tenney, DBA (Hon.) is a Neuroscience Practitioner, Executive Coach, and Leadership Strategist transforming the way leaders think, communicate, and lead. As Founder and CEO of STRATOVANCE Leadership Intelligence Institute, she brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence — equipping organizations to develop human-centered leaders who […]

Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer: The Daily Practice That Changes Everything
Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer is a USA Today bestselling author, international speaker, executive coach, and the founder of Bentzen Performance Partners. With more than 30 years of C-suite experience, she guides leaders and organizations through high-impact transformation by blending strategic clarity with deep human insight. At the heart of her work is the belief that people—not […]

Devin Gambino: Why Financial Clarity Is the Most Undervalued Growth Strategy
Devin Gambino is a proud husband, father, and trusted partner to business owners seeking clarity, structure, and growth. As an approved and verified Fractional CFO provider by Visa, Devin has spent over a decade helping entrepreneurs master their numbers, scale with confidence, and build businesses that support both financial freedom and personal fulfillment. With a […]

Robert McKnight: The Human Side of Commercial Insurance & Community Impact
Robert McKnight is a seasoned commercial insurance specialist with nearly a decade of experience serving the real estate and construction industries. An Arizona native and graduate of the University of Arizona, Robert began his career in commercial real estate before transitioning to land acquisition consulting. A pivotal career shift led him into insurance, where he […]

Amos Schwartzfarb: The Startup Operator Who Built a Playbook for Winning
Amos Schwartzfarb—one of the most influential figures in the startup ecosystem, known for his decades of hands-on operating experience, investing expertise, and founder-first mindset. Amos’s career began unexpectedly in the early days of e-commerce, packing boxes at Shoreline Mountain Project—an experience that led him into a 25+ year journey through seven startups, multiple acquisitions, and […]

Dr. Kevin Dyson: From NFL Legend to Transformational Educator
  Dr. Kevin Dyson is the Founder of the Music City Academy and a former NFL wide receiver best known for the iconic “Music City Miracle” and being “One Yard Short” in Super Bowl XXXIV. After his football career, he transitioned into education, serving nearly 20 years in public education, including as Principal of Centennial […]

Mary McCorvey: Moonshots, Media, and the Art of Building What Matters
Mary McCorvey is a seven-time founder, U.S. military veteran, and creative powerhouse whose ventures span media, technology, and social impact. Her work lives at the intersection of innovation and storytelling, where she elevates bold ideas and brings them to life with purpose and heart. Most recently, Mary collaborated with Intuitive Machines, the pioneering Houston-based aerospace […]

Steve Klebe: Life, Leadership, and Lessons from the Payments Pioneer
Steve Klebe is a payments industry trailblazer whose 35+ year career has helped shape the infrastructure behind today’s global digital commerce. From spearheading enterprise payments performance at Stripe, to leading global partnerships for Google Pay (GPay), to holding executive roles at Verifone and CyberSource, Steve has been at the forefront of innovation in how the […]

Drew Davis: Inside the Chief of Staff Association and the Future of Leadership
Drew Davis is the Senior Vice President of Commercial at the Chief of Staff Association (CSA), the premier global network for Chiefs of Staff across industries. With 12 years of experience in the U.S. intelligence community, Drew brings deep expertise in organizational strategy, principal support, and enterprise alignment. Throughout his career, he has supported directors, […]

Brian Dukes: Turning Experience Into Exit Wisdom for Founders
Brian Dukes is the Co-Founder of Exitwise, an M&A advisory platform focused on empowering business owners with education and transaction support for successful exits. His career began in Big 5 Consulting, followed by an MBA from the University of Michigan. Rather than taking a traditional MBA route, Brian joined a startup joint venture with Ford […]

Paul Thornton: The Leadership Formula for Performance and Balance
Paul Thornton is a seasoned author, leadership coach, and speaker dedicated to helping individuals lead with clarity, purpose, and performance under pressure. With decades of experience teaching and consulting on leadership development, Paul has trained countless professionals to better understand their leadership styles and elevate their effectiveness in both personal and organizational settings. He is […]

COL (Ret) Irene Glaeser: Choose Your Battles – Leadership, Resilience, and Life Beyond the Uniform
Irene V. Glaeser, COL (Ret.) is a decorated U.S. Army Military Police veteran and the CEO of Spahr, a service-disabled, woman-owned small business delivering advanced IT solutions—including cybersecurity, software development, and cloud engineering—to federal and Department of Defense clients. Under her leadership, Spahr also manages two Small Business Administration Mentor-Protégé joint ventures with TekSynap, expanding […]

Cole Napper: How Gen AI and Talent Intelligence Are Transforming Business
Cole Napper is the Vice President of Research, Innovation & Talent Insights at Lightcast, where he is a globally recognized thought leader in labor market intelligence, people analytics, workforce planning, and talent intelligence. With a career spanning major brands like FedEx, Toyota, PepsiCo, Texas Instruments, and Grainger, Cole has led high-impact people analytics functions that […]

Rich Kozak: Impact-Driven Branding – Building Brands That Serve with Purpose
Rich Kozak is the founder and CEO of RichBrands and widely recognized as The Voice of Impact Driven Branding. With over 47 years of experience in defining and launching brands, Rich has helped countless entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their purpose and amplify their impact through branding that resonates deeply. At RichBrands, Rich mentors heart-centered individuals […]

Terron Sims II: Strategy, Service, and the Making of a Resilient Leader
Terron Sims is a combat veteran, national security expert, and graduate of West Point with over 30 years of leadership across the U.S. Army, Department of Defense, and federal government. He served in Iraq in 2003, where he helped establish local governance and worked alongside U.S. and international agencies. Terron has advised U.S. presidential candidates, […]

Jason Lucking: From Gemology to Technology and the Future of Smarter Airfare
Jason Lucking is an accomplished gemmologist and business strategist with over a decade of experience in the fine jewelry industry. A graduate of Birmingham University and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Jason has worked internationally across retail, auction, and luxury brand sectors. From launching family-run stores in the UK to building high-end client relationships […]

Janneh Wright: Turning Vision into Sustainable Growth for Nonprofits and Small Businesses
Janneh Wright is the Founder and CEO of PRIMUS Business Management, where he has spent over 20 years helping small businesses and nonprofits transform their brilliance into scalable, sustainable infrastructure. As a seasoned consultant, speaker, and systems strategist, Janneh has empowered hundreds of Black and BIPOC entrepreneurs to shift from chaotic hustle to structured growth. […]

Terry Hess: Strategic Capital for Real-World Business Success
Terry Hess is a seasoned business leader and Principal with over 20 years of experience in executive management, strategy, and financial operations. He has held CEO and CFO positions in small to mid-sized businesses, where he consistently delivered growth and enhanced enterprise value. His leadership combines strategic insight with hands-on operational execution to unlock potential […]

Al Kushner: Blending AI and Authenticity for Smarter LinkedIn Success
Al Kushner is an award-winning author and leading LinkedIn Growth Strategist known for revolutionizing digital networking. His acclaimed book, The A.I. LinkedIn Advantage, has reshaped how professionals and businesses harness artificial intelligence to grow their presence, expand networks, and drive meaningful engagement on LinkedIn. Combining deep platform knowledge with cutting-edge AI strategy, Al empowers individuals […]

Michael Smith: The Future of IT Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World
Michael Smith is a transformative, award-winning global business IT executive with a proven track record of driving organizational growth and long-term profitability across a range of industries. With deep expertise in aligning technology strategy to business objectives, he is known for delivering innovative solutions that enhance productivity, streamline operations, and maintain a competitive edge. Michael’s […]

Michael Dodsworth: How Fanfare Is Reinventing the Art of the Product Drop
Michael Dodsworth is the founder and CEO of Fanfare, a platform designed to transform product launches, brand events, and collaborations into seamless, unforgettable experiences. Under his leadership, Fanfare helps companies create deeper customer connections, boost engagement, and capture actionable insights from every interaction. By blending technology with human-centered design, Michael is redefining how brands build […]

Dr. Melissa Patton: Leading Through Grit, Growth & Real-World Resilience
Dr. Melissa Patton is a transformation strategist, fractional COO, and the founder of Patton Consulting Group. With over two decades of experience, she partners with mission-driven leaders to scale organizations with clarity, cohesion, and resilience. From education and aerospace to STEM and workforce development, Melissa’s work empowers teams to align strategy with execution while cultivating […]

Susan Schramm: De-Risking Growth and Moving People Into Action
Susan Schramm is a strategic advisor, speaker, and author dedicated to helping leaders turn big ideas into lasting impact. As the founder of Go to Market Impact, she partners with mission-driven organizations to navigate high-stakes strategies with clarity and confidence. With a background leading initiatives at Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, Siemens, and Nokia, […]

Chad Ackerman: Making Passive Investing Approachable, Practical & Profitable
Chad Ackerman is the founder of CARE and Chad Ackerman Real Estate, as well as a certified FocalPoint Business Coach. After a 25+ year career in corporate leadership, Chad made a decisive leap into entrepreneurship and real estate investing—co-founding Left Field Investors, a fast-growing passive investing community that was later acquired by BiggerPockets and rebranded […]

Aaron Trahan: From Chaos to Clarity – A Performance Mindset for Scalable Growth
Aaron Trahan is a business coach, advisor, and former corporate executive with over 20 years of experience leading high-growth consumer businesses. By age 30, he was leading a billion-dollar retail brand, building a reputation for scaling teams, operations, and profitability. Today, Aaron helps B2C companies implement customized operating systems that drive clarity, execution, and sustainable […]

Manny Skevofilax – How to Scale Your Business Without Losing Profit or Control
Manny Skevofilax is a consultant, speaker, and author who helps business owners overcome growth challenges, improve profitability, and achieve financial freedom. Since 2003, he has specialized in strategic planning, financial analysis, and operational efficiency to deliver real results. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Manny holds a B.S. in Business and an M.S. in Finance from […]

Derek Zahler – From Special Forces to Sustainable Solutions – Leading Through Innovation
Derek Zahler is a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier turned entrepreneur and strategist, currently serving as Managing Partner at Linden Brock Equity Partners and founder of C-SixB. With a background in high-stakes operations and a mindset honed by elite military training, Derek now brings that same clarity, adaptability, and executional rigor to the business […]

Steve Landrum: Building Sales Teams That Win – The Mindset, Systems & Leadership Behind Growth
Steve Landrum is a seasoned national sales and business development executive with over 36 years of experience delivering B2B and B2C solutions across a wide range of industries. As the Principal of Etowah Sales Solutions, LLC, Steve serves as an Outsourced VP of Sales, helping businesses uncover their true value, streamline processes, and implement sustainable […]

Ambar Balderas: People-First Operations and the Future of Legal Leadership
Ambar Balderas is a trailblazing operations executive redefining how law firms think about leadership, accountability, and scalable growth. As Director of Operations at The Debt Defenders, she blends empathy with precision, crafting operational systems that reduce friction, empower people, and support long-term innovation. Ambar is committed to building firm infrastructure that doesn’t just support the […]

Joshua Kornitsky: Coaching with Curiosity – The Human Side of EOS
Joshua Kornitsky is a fourth-generation entrepreneur and Professional EOS Implementer® with more than 20 years of experience across technology, strategy, and business leadership. His career began in the automotive industry alongside his father, giving him early exposure to the complexities of running a family business. From there, he expanded into IT, software development, training, and […]