---

Charles Cormier is a serial entrepreneur, ultra athlete, 3x Ironman finisher and founder building multiple ventures around lead generation, podcasts, and AI, after launching more than 100 companies and experiments over the past decade.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Entrepreneurial Journey and Product Market Fit
• 05:18 Traits of Successful Founders
• 07:34 Sales and Cold Calling
• 10:42 Lessons from Business Failures
• 16:54 Balancing Multiple Ventures
• 31:06 AI in Business Operations
• 36:10 Future Growth and Advice

---

Ravid Razak is the founder and CEO of DreamItReel, a video production company that has grown over 11 years from affordable consumer videos into work for major brands. He’s a former management consultant turned creative operator who now focuses on staying ahead of AI while keeping the business lean, high-touch, and human-centered.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to DreamItReel
• 01:08 Transition from Consulting to Videography
• 03:05 Pivoting the Business Model
• 05:35 Impact of AI on the Industry
• 16:24 Operational Structure and Outsourcing
• 21:11 Challenges and Focus Areas
• 23:29 Remote Team and Work-Life Balance

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Chris Gulotta is the founder of NxtLayr.AI, a business helping companies understand, build, and implement AI-based systems to improve their workflows, productivity, and operations.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Business Journey
• 02:38 Motivation to Start Next Layer AI
• 05:22 Consultation Services and Three-Pillared Approach
• 13:22 Misconceptions and Challenges of AI
• 22:16 AI Receptionists and Customer Care Specialists
• 27:28 Advice for Business Founders

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Marlen Madrigal was a former executive assistant with more than 12 years of experience supporting different business founders across different industries. She then transitioned and founded her own company, HireCentral, a staffing agency helping other businesses scale through remote staffing.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 From EA to Recruitment
• 03:02 The Role of an Executive Assistant
• 14:31 The Transition to Entrepreneurship
• 32:23 Expanding into Latin America

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Lysander Cuevas Jr. reveals how he transitioned from military service to becoming a sought-after consultant in the tech space. Discover the innovative strategies behind his digital consulting firm, Bot Fanatics, and how he’s transforming client relationships through transparency and trust.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Lysander's background
• 10:04 Learning and leveraging AI tools for business growth
• 15:55 Explaining complex tech to clients in simple terms
• 25:06 Networking, human connection, and word-of-mouth growth
• 37:00 Advice for tech-focused entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

After her mother fell ill, Lisa helped run a family business, which ultimately led to the founding of QPC Group in 2008. What started as a remanufacturing company for printer cartridges quickly transformed into a full-fledged office technology provider.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Lisa Spark and QPC Group
• 04:17 The Impact of Travel and Cultural Understanding
• 07:28 Evolution of QPC Group and Service Expansion
• 18:10 Operational Challenges and Business Scalability
• 31:11 Hiring Remote and Offshore Staff
• 45:00 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Willa Kammerer is a 17+ year entrepreneur and founder of Firestarter, a company that helps individuals and businesses build personal brands through branding, digital foundations, technology, and implementation.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Willa Kammerer and Firestarter
• 06:28 Understanding Personal Branding Beyond Logos
• 11:29 Experimenting with AI in Business
• 16:43 Growing the Team and Remote Support
• 26:28 Pushing the Tech Foundation Forward

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Ashley Janelle is an award-winning UX designer and founder of Empathive, a 16-week UX boot camp designed to help students transition into UX through hands-on learning and one-on-one mentorship.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Ashley Janelle and Empathive
• 02:24 What is UX and why is it important?
• 07:02 Adapting the curriculum for market changes and AI integration
• 12:44 The importance of being a generalist in UX roles
• 18:58 Working with offshore VAs and remote staffing experiences
• 28:41 The importance of responsible content creation and community building
• 29:10 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: start small and deliver value

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

Episode 27: Carmen Dörwald (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmendoerwald/ ) talks to Austin Rohleder (https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-rohleder-ba6232213/) about building a founder-first marketing agency, leveraging AI and data, and the realities of growing a business from the ground up.

---
Austin Rohleder is the founder of Capstone Marketing Group, a fractional CMO agency helping businesses manage their marketing from strategy through execution, with a strong focus on measurable business results.

---

Chapters:

00:00 From Marketing Director to Founder

06:51 Building a Remote Team

08:53 The Hiring Lesson That Changed Everything

12:45 AI as a Business Superpower

19:51 Getting Your First 5–10 Clients

23:18 The Reality of Entrepreneurship

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Saadi Sabah is the founder of ECA Financial Consultancy, a firm that began as a side hustle serving friends and family and grew into a business serving more than 900 clients each tax season.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and guest background
• 05:00 Strategies for client acquisition and word-of-mouth
• 09:00 Building a team and operational setup
• 10:17 Overcoming delegation fears and building trust
• 22:02 Thoughts on AI and automation
• 25:56 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Nicky Fairclough is an entrepreneur, owner of Cold Hut Recovery, and founder of AI consultancy Reduce Admin, where he uses his engineering and automation background to help businesses reduce administrative work with AI.

---

Chapters

• 00:00  From Unilever Engineer to Entrepreneur
• 03:42  Launch Day Chaos: When Everything Goes Wrong
• 07:31 The Cost of Scaling Too Fast
• 12:10  Turning Business Mistakes into an AI Opportunity
• 20:10  Why Founders Should Grow Slower

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Erik Gross is the co-founder of The Tech Academy, a software developer boot camp that has helped thousands of people break into tech, and the author of The Uncommon Engineer: The Art of Being Wrong for Fun and Profit. Carmen Dörwald sits down with Erik Gross about building a successful business by recognizing where you need help, finding the right people to complement your strengths, adapting to change, and developing the self-belief and resilience needed to navigate the founder’s journey.

Connect with Eric and learn how he built A high value career in tech: https://erikdgross.com/free-course

---

Chapters

• 00:00 The Mindset Every Founder Needs
• 01:03 The Unexpected Origin of The Tech Academy
• 04:21 Why Fundamentals Matter in the Age of AI
• 19:32 Knowing What You Can’t Do Alone
• 27:41 Building a Team That Can Actually Succeed

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Marcel Löwigt is a serial entrepreneur with more than 18 years of experience in business, sales, and scaling companies, and is the founder of GrowthZilla OS, an AI-powered marketing platform designed to help SMEs grow more efficiently.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
• 09:16 Marcel's personal journey from homelessness to success
• 15:52 Challenges faced by small businesses in sales and marketing
• 21:57 The impact of AI in business and common mistakes
• 26:00 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Natasha Bhogal is a Los Angeles-based senior marketing leader and fractional CMO who founded In Current Creative in 2017, a full-funnel marketing consultancy that works with a select number of clients through a flexible network of specialized consultants.
---

Chapters

• 00:00 From Marketing Leader to Unexpected Founder
• 01:51 What Makes InCurrent Creative Different?
• 10:12 Consultancy vs. Agency: Building a Business Your Way
• 25:58 Why You Don't Need to Scale to Succeed
• 27:01 Leaning Into Resistance & Trusting Your Gut

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Chuck Thokey is the Co-Founder of Top Rep, a leading home services sales and leadership training company, as well as an award-winning sales and marketing coach, keynote speaker, business consultant, and author. With more than two decades of experience in sales, coaching, and leadership, Chuck has helped organizations build high-performing sales teams, improve closing ratios, and grow their sales by more than 150%.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 – Meet Chuck Thokey & Top Rep
• 01:04 – Building a High-Performing Sales Team
• 09:28 – Hiring, Coaching & Developing Top Talent
• 20:56 – How AI Is Transforming Sales Training
• 32:28 – Chuck’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs.

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Christopher Haywood is the founder of Strategic Executives Agency, specializing in executive search and leadership consulting for dynamic organizations. With a management consulting background, he redefines how firms find and engage top leadership talent.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Setup
• 02:11 Founding of Strategic Executives Agency
• 12:11 Evolution of the Business and Services Offered
• 24:21 Incorporating AI in Business Operations
• 29:57 Team Culture and Operational Challenges
• 30:31 Business Advice for Entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Stephanie Reese is the founder of Higher and Thread, where she helps mission-driven organizations build stronger hiring, systems, and organizational structures. She has over 12 years of experience in nonprofit and HR/operations leadership, with a focus on capacity, change management, and helping teams work more effectively.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and business overview
• 07:10 Challenges in Organizations
• 12:50 AI Integration and Concerns
• 23:01: Business Takeaways and Advice

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Lisa Colantuono is the founder of Agency Search Kaizen and an agency search consultant with 25 years of experience helping brands find the right agency partners. She’s known for her relationship-first approach, emphasizing trust, integrity, and doing what’s best for clients and people.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
• 07:31 The importance of trust and rapport in agency relationships
• 12:59 The purpose of business and serving others
• 17:25 Stories of successful and challenging agency partnerships
• 30:00 Lessons from pitch theater and building trust
• 40:19 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Kavian Spells, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, has spent the last decade in engineering and financial technology. His journey into entrepreneurship started with a desire for personal growth and new challenges. Moving to Colombia six months ago, Kavian decided to channel his skills and experiences into creating Kaveman Digital, a website building agency helping small enterprises thrive online.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Kavian's background
• 08:40 Kaveman Digital and its Mission
• 10:05 The importance of strategy and branding in web design
• 12:46 Client experience and target markets
• 21:18 Business growth plans and team building
• 24:44 Thoughts on AI and its impact on business

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Jan Barlow founded Better JobFit with a mission that stemmed from her own tumultuous career journey. After rising to success in the pharmaceutical industry, Jan faced an unexpected job restructure that led to personal and professional turmoil. She lost her home, her health, and her marriage, prompting her to reevaluate her path and ultimately inspire her to create Better JobFit. 

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Overview
• 00:33 Jan’s Origin Story and the Creation of Better Job Fit
• 06:07 Matching People by Strengths, Not Background
• 10:14 Custom Job Matching and Employer Trust
• 27:52 Advice for Entrepreneurs and Taking the Risk

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Ayad Mirjan is the owner of Orange Bag Laundry, which he founded in 2019, although his journey in the laundry industry began in 2017. Initially starting as a residential laundry service, Ayad’s business has pivoted to focus predominantly on commercial laundry services, catering to hotels, spas, and gyms across the United States.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and guest background
• 05:24 Investing in automation and scaling operations
• 07:42 Hiring and team management strategies
• 13:54 Automation and AI in laundry processing
• 17:33 Growth plans and national expansion
• 22:14 Work-life balance and personal insights

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Cornell's journey to founding .Lumen began in a family where everyone except him lived with a disability. Growing up, he developed a deep understanding of the daily mobility challenges faced by people who are blind, inspiring him to build a more accessible alternative to guide dogs. Today, .Lumen has developed AI-powered smart glasses that use self-driving technology and haptic feedback to help users safely navigate their surroundings.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Business Overview
• 05:31 Personal Journey and Family Inspiration
• 08:00 Innovative Solutions for the Visually Impaired
• 10:36Team Structure and Collaboration
• 13:21 Challenges and Resilience in Entrepreneurship
• 16:02 The Role of AI in Business
• 21:13 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

After losing his brother to hospital negligence during COVID-19, Sailesh Pattnaik founded RxGPT, an AI platform helping hospitals reduce operational failures and save lives. Today, he leads the company's vision to transform healthcare with AI while advising startups on growth, go-to-market strategy, and digital transformation. With more than 20 years of experience and over 300 startups consulted, he's helping shape the future of AI-powered healthcare.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Business Overview
• 05:30 How RxGPT Helps Hospitals Reduce Operational Inefficiencies
• 09:00 Using AI to Solve Healthcare Operations Challenges
• 15:18 Biggest operational challenges
• 25:52 Building RxGPT to Save Lives
• 31:35 Founder Insights: Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Dellyn Lee is a recruiter with 10+ years of experience who blends career coaching with gaming-inspired content to make job hunting more engaging and practical. He runs a solo coaching business focused on resumes, LinkedIn optimization, interview prep, and job search strategy, while also creating YouTube content, live streams, and digital products. Beyond that, he volunteers in recruiting and gaming-related spaces, and works full-time in recruiting, giving him a broad, hands-on view of the job market. His overall mission is to help job seekers level up their careers in a tough market by making the process more accessible, educational, and human.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Dylan Digital: Merging Gaming with Job Hunting
• 06:58 Navigating the Job Market Challenges
• 09:47 The Role of AI in Recruitment
• 18:17 Future of Job Hunting and Networking
• 32:41 Job Search Strategies and Motivation
• 36:34 Taking the Leap: Starting Your Own Business

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Liz Rivas is the Founder and CEO of RoamCircle, a women-first community and friendship app designed to help solo female travelers, digital nomads, expats, and remote workers find authentic friendships and safe communities around the world. Inspired by her own experiences traveling alone across 13 countries, Liz created RoamCircle to help women connect, belong, and build lasting relationships wherever life takes them. Before launching RoamCircle, she spent over a decade leading enterprise marketing initiatives for global technology companies and is passionate about empowering women through travel, friendship, and community.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to RoamCircle and Its Purpose
• 09:37 How RoamCircle Works and Its Features
• 15:06 AI's Impact on Human Connection and Community
• 16:31 The Power of Vulnerability in Content Creation
• 25:07 Building a Supportive Team
• 29:21 Future Goals for RoamCircle

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Brendan Lebitsch founded High Life Tech at just 18 years old, starting with custom phone cases that allowed customers to print their designs. Over time, the company evolved, expanding its product range to include keychains, lanyards, and more.
---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Brendan Lebitsch and His Ventures
• 07:57 Operational Challenges in Merchandise Development
• 09:49 Leveraging Technology and AI for Efficiency
• 18:21 The Role of AI in Business and Creativity
• 21:36 Rebranding to Off Menu: The New Direction
• 24:06 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Tyler Raciti is the founder and CEO of Volumes, a New York-based, venture-backed startup focused on helping world models work with 3D and 4D spatial data. Prior to founding Volumes, he worked as a Physical AI Strategist at Monitor Deloitte, advising organizations across robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace, smart cities, and emerging technologies. Tyler is also the founder of PRO-NEO, a nonprofit organization that successfully helped shape New York State opioid overdose prevention policy impacting millions of students. His career spans public service, consulting, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurship, all driven by a passion for tackling complex problems with meaningful real-world impact.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Business Overview
• 06:19 Revolutionizing AI with Physical Data
• 12:09 Building a Team and Overcoming Challenges)
• 38:03 Personal Journey and Final Thoughts

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

• 00:00 - Introduction and Business Overview
• 02:04 - Founding the Darcy Agency
• 06:08 - Inspiration Behind the Name Darcy
• 11:52 - AI in Marketing and Tools Used
• 16:11 - Challenges in Freelancing and Starting a Business
• 25:52 - Advice for New Entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Quy Tran is the founder of Sound Life Science Services, a consulting firm dedicated to supporting the life sciences industry. With a background in biophysics from UCLA and extensive experience in various roles within the industry, Quy has a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in life sciences. His journey from academia to business ownership is a testament to resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Quy's Background and Career Journey
• 10:24 The Founding of Sound Life Science Services
• 18:18 Networking and Community Involvement
• 21:00 Balancing Work and Family
• 26:58 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

Rickard Jean-Noel is the executive director and founder of Real Word Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals living under the poverty line by providing essential services like food, clothing, and shelter. Originally from Haiti, Rickard's journey from political refugee to community leader is marked by his commitment to faith, perseverance, and creating a lasting legacy through his multifaceted work in ministry, psychotherapy, and real estate.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Moving to America from Haiti
• 00:10 Early Challenges and Opportunities
• 00:21 Founding Real Word Ministries
• 00:30 First Sermon: The Reincarnation of Ricard G. Noel
• 00:40 Journey to Community Leaders

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

Episode 5: Carmen Dörwald (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmendoerwald/) talks to Chad Vavra (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadvavra/) about using AI to accelerate entrepreneurship, validate business ideas, and help small teams achieve more without increasing headcount.

---

Chad Vavra, founder of ChatAgency.ai, shares his journey from leading UX at Cisco to creating a platform that accelerates entrepreneurial processes using AI. With over 20 years of experience working with global brands, Chad discusses the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into business strategies. 

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction and episode overview
  02:00 - Chad Bavra's professional journey
  06:00 - Differentiating ChatAgency.ai from general AI tools
  12:00 - Use cases: building business reports, competitor analysis, and market research
  28:00 - Key takeaways and wrap-up

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

Work with South African talent: https://hirenile.com

Episode 4: Carmen Dörwald (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmendoerwald/) talks to Kimberly Celic (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-celic-5342a07/) about the importance of leadership, culture, and hiring the right people for company growth and success.

---

Kim Celic is the Founder and CEO of Transformative People Solutions. With extensive experience in people operations and organizational growth, she is passionate about helping teams thrive through people-first leadership, culture, and employee experience. She is currently writing a book focused on building more fulfilling and human-centered workplaces.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Company Background
• 05:46 Supporting Companies in Growth and Transformation
• 12:00 The Importance of Hiring the Right People
• 17:56 The Fourth Relationship and Employee Experience
• 23:40 Background in HR and Entrepreneurship
• 31:12 The Role of AI in Business
• 36:26 Alignment and Communication within the Team

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

---

Episode 3: DhungJoo Kim (https://linkedin.com/in/dhungjookim) talks to Leonard Jackson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-jackson-mba-68b7b810/) about how to transform your life through taking action.

---

Leonard Jackson has starred in over 200 commercials while being a full time parent and building a company, Norfleet Transportation, that now does $60M+/year in revenue.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Business Overview
• 06:19 Revolutionizing the Factoring Process with AI and Digitization
• 12:09 Implementing Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)
• 38:03 Contacting Leonard and Final Thoughts

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

Work with South African talent: https://hirenile.com

Episode 2: Aleksandar Hadzhiyski (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandar-hadzhiyski/) talks to Carmen Dörwald (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmendoerwald/) about his inspiring journey from professional basketball to founding Titan Agency, a thriving marketing firm. Discover how Aleksandar leverages AI and team empowerment to drive success.

---

Aleksandar Hadzhiyski transitioned from a career in basketball to building Titan Agency, a company that excels in digital marketing and innovation. Join us as he shares insights on overcoming challenges, the power of AI, and the importance of a strong team culture.

---

Chapters

• 00:00 Starting Titan Agency
• 05:28 Building and Managing the Team
• 13:22 AI Tools and Automation
• 23:54 Remote Work and Hiring Strategy
• 30:14 Advice for Entrepreneurs

-- 

Behind the Founder is a Cherry Assistant Original Podcast // Brought to you by Cherry Assistant.

In this episode of Behind the Founder, we sit down with Andrew Baker, founder of Financial Haus, to break down exactly how he built and scaled his business from the ground up.

Andrew shares the real story, not just the wins, but the decisions, challenges, and systems that helped Financial Haus grow. From early client acquisition to building a scalable operation, this is a tactical look inside how founders actually execute.

If you’re a founder, operator, or someone trying to build something real, this episode will give you a clear lens into what it takes.

In this episode, we cover:
• How Andrew got Financial Haus off the ground
• The key inflection points that drove growth
• Mistakes and lessons learned along the way
• Systems and processes behind scaling
• Advice for founders trying to break through

Subscribe for more founder breakdowns and real conversations with people building serious businesses.