Manager Memo podcast

Hosted by Len Samborowski, MBA Associate Professor, Emeritus, Nichols College

BusinessInterviews guests

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Episodes

242

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

A biweekly podcast focused on the planning, organizing, leading, and evaluating functions of management. Interviews with leading business practitioners provide tantalizing tips, wizardly wisdom and energized encouragement to our listeners.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 2, 2026Episode 1536 min

AI Through a Jaundiced Eye

Joseph Kershenbaum is a lawyer, management consultant, author and Fractional CEO/COO of Strong Road LLC. Joseph helps startups, scale-ups and established companies execute, scale and get investor-ready. He helps drive growth and increase enterprise value. Along the way we discuss—the Journey (1:30), What founders need to Unlearn (5:00), Investor Ready Capital Pitch Deck (8:00), Variables of Nonperformance (14:45), AI Misunderstandings (18:30), AI Companions (23:00), The 3 Questions of AI (24:45), AI Influencers (29:00), and Joseph's Memo (36:00). Reach out to Joseph @ Strong Road LLC This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2027. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

October 22, 2026Episode 1436 min

Practical AI: Pocket Mentor

Derek Crager is an engineer, former Program Manager at Amazon, a visionary AI Solutions Architect, and the founder of Practical AI, a service that helps businesses embrace simple, ethical, and profitable uses of artificial intelligence. Most recently, Derek has created Pocket Mentor & Pocket SME , the world's first voice-accessible AI customer support system. Along the way we discuss—Amazon Employee Training (2:15), 70/20/10 Learning Model (7:30), The Forgetting Curve (11:00), Downtime as a Knowledge Gap (14:00), Pocket Mentor (18:30), AI Amplification (25:14), Neurodivergence (26:45), and Derek's Memo (36:30). Grab a copy of Derek's book @ Human First AI: Save Your Business, Save Your Job This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2027. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

October 18, 2026Episode 1332 min

Resilience: Everything Feels Impossible Until It's Done

Vincent Van den Broeck is the founder of Until It's Done (UID), a brand movement to help people and companies make the impossible achievable through the alignment of five pillars: Mindset, Health, Lifestyle, Action, and Structure . In this podcast, Vincent shares his journey from a catastrophic accident, that left him near death, to a life of renewed meaning and purpose. Along the way we discuss—In Brussels, Before the Accident (2:30), Recovery (7:15), The Muscle Called Resilience (11:30), Why Not Me? (15:30), What Strong Means (22:00), A Reminder (26:30), Who's Setting the Rules? (28:00), and Vincent's Memo (32:00). Grab a copy of Vincent's book @ Everything Feels Impossible Until It's Done: How the life you build becomes the life that saves you Website for Until it's Done @ https://www.theuidclub.com/the-book This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2027. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

October 12, 2026Episode 1233 min

Business Inflection Points

Tony Lorenz is a Merger and Acquisition Advisor, Investor, Executive Coach and Founder of HeadSail , a consultancy that helps CEOs and organizations navigate through critical inflection points. In this podcast Tony shares from his extensive business experience, providing his perspective on the actions and mindset necessary for success. Along the way we discuss—At the Core, "I'm an Entrepreneur" (1:30), To the Next Level (6:00), Asking the Right Question (9:15), Accountability (13:00), Importance of Timing (15:15), Balance (19:45), Culture (21:15), Windshield and Dashboard (24:30), AI (28:30), and Tony's Memo (32:30). Looking for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to Tony @ CEO Coaching International Need help on strategic planning or team development. Contact Tony @ HeadSail Consultancy This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2027. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

October 4, 2026Episode 1137 min

Growth Through Content

Ben G. Kaiser is a content strategist and founder of Kaiser Media Group, a company that helps businesses build credibility, strengthen customer relationships, and generate opportunities through authentic video storytelling. Ben helps turn an audience's attention into profitable business engagement. Along the way we discuss—The Journey (1:30), Provide the Answer (7:30), Metrics Can Be Dangerous (8:30), Vanity Content (10:45), Fountain Pens (12:30), The Authority Gap (15:00), Core 40 (16:30), Beware of Experts (20:30), Your Skill Stack (22:00), Pillar Content Flywheel (23:45), Random Act of Content (25:30), Developing your Product Story (26:45), What does AI Think? (29:00), and Ben's Memo (37:00). Looking to strengthen your digital presence? Connect with Ben Kaiser @ Kaiser Media Grab a copy of Ben's Content Playbook @ https://kmgtools.us/ebooks/content-playbook Checkout Ben's favorite YouTube channel @ Barry's Economics – "Creators don't realise what is happening to them." This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

September 30, 2026Episode 1037 min

Spartan Logistics: Supply Chains and Real Estate

Steve Harmon is a successful business leader with a core focus on supply chain management and real estate development. As the 2 nd Generation President of NAI Harmon Group of Toledo, Ohio he remains engaged with all aspects of the family businesses: Spartan Logistics, Logan Creek Construction, Harmony Family Development, and the Benchmark Restaurant Group. The Harmon holdings employ over 400 people and control more than six million square space of industrial space. Along the way we discuss – Old School (3:00), Core Values (11:00), the Importance of Logistics (13:00), KPI and Numbers (18:15), Delegation and Succession (20:45), AI and Logistics (25:00), the Future of Spartan Logistics (30:00) and Steve's Memo (35:00). Looking for opportunities in Commercial Real Estate? Reach out to Steve Harmon @ NAI Harmon Group - Commercial Real Estate Need help moving or storing your logistics? Reach out to @ Spartan Logistics This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

September 30, 2026Episode 934 min

The Operator Trap: You Have the Controls

Mike DeJong is an author, TEDx speaker, franchise owner, and turnaround specialist. Mike shares his views on the Operator Trap, that many business owners find themselves in, and ways to escape that constraint. Along the way we discuss – The Journey (1:15), Nothing Bundt Cakes (4:00), Letting Go of the Ego (9:45), Don't Scale Chaos (12:30), Types of Leaders (17:00), Pilot Stuff (20:30), Instructor Pilots (23:45), You Have the Controls (27:00), IFR vs. VFR (27:45) and What do you want More? (32:45). Grab a copy of Mike's book @ Grow Smart: Your Path to Freedom This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

September 22, 2026Episode 845 min

Business Acquisition & Merger Associates: Pulling the Covers to Your Side of the Bed

Matthew Bradbury is a business consultant and Managing Director of BAMA (Business Acquisition & Merger Associates). Matt helps unleash the equity in your company for retirement, giving, or the next chapter in life. Along the way we discuss – The Journey (2:00), Value Driven (7:30), The "Bama" Brand (12:45), Business Evaluation (17:00), EBITA and Clean Numbers (20:15), Deal Killers (21:30), Tips for Success (25:00), Representation and Warranties Issurance RWI (30:00), Getting Ready to Sell (34:15), and Management Buyout (40:15). Prepping to Sell Your Business? Reach out to Matt @ Business Acquisitions & Merger Associates This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

September 14, 2026Episode 742 min

Wavelength Coffee: On a Sustainable Wavelength

Jim Varney is an engineer, a product development consultant, and now the head brewmaster at Wavelength Coffee. In this podcast, Jim explains his purpose-driven approach in a direct-to-consumer business. Along the way we discuss – The Journey (1:45), The Coffee Industry (4:30), Air vs. Drum Roasting (7:30), Start-Up Start (12:30), Burn the Boats (17:00), Importance of Sustainability (20:15), Picking the Right Partners (27:30), The Husband and Wife Business Team (33:00), and the New England Coffee Scene (39:30). Grab yourself a steel tin of Jeff's exceptional coffee @ Wavelength Coffee Roasters This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.

September 7, 2026Episode 643 min

TheBigWord: Removing Language Barriers

Joshua Gould is an investor, podcast host and the Group CEO of TheBigWord an interpreting service platform that works to eradicate the final barrier of communication — language. Along the way we discuss – England and the World Cup (1:30), The Journey (3:00), Supporting Three Births a Day (7:00), Immigration Issues (10:00), Disaster Relief and Hearts & Minds (14:00), Building a Skyscraper - Delegation (16:00), Technology (23:30), Investing (29:30), Don't Tolerate B Performers (31:30), Always Hiring (35:15), and Joshua's Memo (39:45). Learn more about TheBigWord @ TheBigWord Interpreting Watch Gould's latest Exec Craft YouTube Video @ Build a $1M product with Zero Coding Skills This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com , PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248. Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore . Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day.