Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast

Hosted by RISE25 MEDIA

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159

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Feb 2026

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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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February 19, 202640 min

[EO Chicago] Lessons on Leadership, Legacy, and Learning With Ben Altman

Ben Altman is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Altman Advisors, a multi-family office he co-founded with his father in 2016 that serves high-net-worth families. The firm provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and legacy planning services. Under Ben's leadership, Altman Advisors has built a multi-generational client base, established a ten-year investment track record, and is pursuing GIPS® certification to uphold global best practices in investment performance reporting. An active member of YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) and EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization), Ben is focused on integrating AI to enhance client service and internal operations. In this episode… What separates financial advisors who consistently thrive from those struggling to keep pace in a rapidly evolving market? How do top advisors build enduring client relationships while navigating volatility, risk, and accelerating technological change? Increasingly, the answer lies at the intersection of legacy thinking, economic discipline, and AI-driven efficiency. Ben Altman, a wealth management expert with multi-generational advisory experience, exemplifies how disciplined investment strategy, rigorous diversification, and thoughtful technology adoption define modern financial advisory success. Drawing on lessons from past market cycles, Ben emphasizes the importance of avoiding concentrated risk. He also highlights the value of leveraging AI tools, such as voice-to-text dictation and context-driven prompting, to streamline workflows and enhance real-time client responsiveness. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Ben Altman, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Altman Advisors, to explore how family legacy, economic strategy, and AI converge in modern wealth management. They discuss how Ben utilizes AI to scale operations and the principles behind proactive client engagement. They also explore practical frameworks for building resilient, long-term relationships that prioritize personalized care, which is essential for trust.

February 12, 202628 min

[EO DC] Building Apps People Love With Ghazenfer Mansoor

Ghazenfer Mansoor is the Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, a software company developing HIPAA-compliant web, mobile, and cloud-based healthcare software applications. As a seasoned advisor and investor in technology and healthcare, he has fulfilled roles as an architect, programmer, software engineer, user experience specialist, product developer, growth hacker, and chief technology officer. In this episode… Ever wondered why some apps become part of your daily routine while others disappear after a single use? Creating technology people truly love requires mastering retention, trust, and thoughtful AI integration. So what separates indispensable apps from the rest? According to Ghazenfer Mansoor, a seasoned healthcare SaaS builder and author, the apps that endure are those designed around a single, essential user need and built with security and trust at their core. He highlights the importance of protecting sensitive data through privacy-first AI approaches such as retrieval-augmented generation and zero-retention language models. The impact is clear: when users feel safe and understood, they stay. He also stresses avoiding feature bloat, embedding feedback loops early, and iterating continuously based on real user behavior. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Ghazenfer Mansoor, Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, to discuss building secure, user-loved apps in healthcare and SaaS programs. They dive into designing for retention, avoiding common product pitfalls, and selecting the right tech stack to scale effectively. Ghazenfer also shares how AI tools and book recommendations shape his productivity and decision-making.

February 5, 202648 min

[EO Sacramento] Scaling Food & Beverage Brands Using AI and Innovative Marketing With CJ Bruce

CJ Bruce is the Founder and CEO of The Missing Ingredient, a marketing agency focused on helping food and beverage brands grow through strategic digital campaigns, audience engagement, and data-informed marketing. CJ specializes in simplifying complex marketing, elevating brand awareness, customer acquisition, and loyalty for high-impact food brands like Sumo Citrus, Amy's Kitchen, and Baskin-Robbins. His expertise blends research-based strategy with creative execution to deliver measurable results. In this episode… Marketing a food and beverage brand today isn't just about having a great product on the shelf. It's about building awareness, creating genuine connections, and knowing how to use modern tools like AI without losing the human touch. So what does it actually take to scale in such a crowded space? For CJ Bruce, the answer comes down to focus, creativity, and smart adoption of technology. He explains that brands grow fastest when they combine strong storytelling with systems that move customers from discovery to purchase, both online and in-store. CJ sees AI as a powerful co-pilot, helping teams generate ideas, automate workflows, and unlock opportunities that used to be out of reach for smaller brands. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by CJ Bruce, Founder and CEO of The Missing Ingredient, to discuss scaling food and beverage brands through innovative marketing and AI adoption. They explore influencer relations, viral campaign strategy, and how AI tools are reshaping agency workflows. CJ also shares advice on building long-term partnerships that drive measurable growth.

January 29, 202647 min

[EO San Diego] The Power of Relationships and Masterminds in Business With Eric Berman

Eric Berman is the Founder and Mastermind Leader of Speakeasy Mastermind, a private global community that brings experienced entrepreneurs together for collaboration, strategic problem-solving, and business growth. He is also the Founder and CEO of Brandetize and Celebritize, companies focused on digital marketing and brand visibility for thought leaders, consumer brands, and influencers. Prior to these ventures, Eric co-founded CollegeClub.com, an early large-scale online community, where he held executive roles during its rapid growth. Additionally, he consults for companies, works with venture capitalists, and hosts the Inside the Speakeasy podcast. In this episode… Strong businesses rarely win on tactics alone. What separates the companies that endure from those that stall is often something harder to quantify but easier to feel once it's missing. So what really gives entrepreneurs a lasting edge when markets shift, tools change, and competition intensifies? Drawing on decades of entrepreneurial experience, Eric Berman explains that meaningful relationships outperform tactics in the long run. He highlights how trust, openness, and long-term alignment turn connections into compounding assets rather than transactional exchanges. The result is better decisions, faster growth, and fewer blind spots over time. He also explains how performance-based partnerships and masterminds create accountability while unlocking opportunities that rarely emerge in isolation. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Eric Berman, Founder and Mastermind Leader of Speakeasy Mastermind, to discuss the power of relationships and masterminds in business. They explore how trust-based partnerships drive growth, how masterminds evolve into scalable communities, and why long-term leverage matters more than short-term wins. Eric also shares hard-earned lessons about focus, niche selection, and building businesses through collaboration.

January 22, 202646 min

[EO Minnesota] Building Scalable, Strategic Affiliate Partnerships With Rick Gardiner

Rick Gardiner is the Founder and CEO of iAffiliate Management, a leading performance marketing agency that helps DTC e-commerce brands increase revenue through strategic affiliate and partnership marketing. Under Rick's leadership, iAffiliate Management has worked with major brands, like Groupon, Hydro Flask, and Home Chef, helping clients fuel growth and build best-in-class affiliate programs over the agency's 16-plus years in business. In this episode… Affiliate marketing looks simple from the outside, but most brands discover the hard way that scale doesn't come from affiliate links alone. Real growth happens when partnerships are intentional, aligned, and built for the long game. So what does it actually take to turn affiliates into part of a sustainable growth engine? For Rick Gardiner, the key lies in treating affiliate marketing as a relationship-driven strategy, not a transactional tactic. Drawing from his experience as a long-time affiliate marketing strategist, he explains that the strongest programs are built around trust, alignment, and clear incentives, much like any high-performing partnership. When brands focus on quality over volume, affiliate alliances become a durable advantage instead of a short-term experiment. In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz is joined by Rick Gardiner, Founder and CEO of iAffiliate Management, to discuss building scalable, strategic affiliate partnerships. They explore how affiliate marketing has evolved, what separates high-impact partners from the rest, and how brands can avoid common pitfalls like cannibalization. Rick also shares advice on structuring partnerships that drive long-term growth while staying compliant and aligned.

January 12, 202620 min

[EO San Francisco] Building a Resilient Financial Advisory Practice and Navigating Uncertainty With Will Richardson

Will Richardson is a Financial Advisor with Pacific Prosperity Partners under the Northwestern Mutual umbrella. He helps individuals and families navigate uncertainty through thoughtful, long-term financial planning. Having started his career during the 2008 financial crisis, Will brings firsthand experience guiding clients through market volatility and major life transitions. He is also the host of the 10X Podcast, where he shares insights on communication, leadership, and building resilient advisory practices. In this episode… Uncertainty has a way of exposing the cracks in some of the most successful businesses. When markets swing, headlines fuel anxiety, and clients feel uneasy, what can help a financial advisory practice remain stable and continue to grow? For Will Richardson, a veteran financial advisor, the answer starts with having a plan built for turbulence, not perfection. He explains that market drops, political shifts, and ominous headlines are not exceptions but regular features of the financial landscape, and resilient practices prepare clients for that reality upfront. When expectations are set correctly, uncertainty becomes something to navigate calmly rather than something that derails long-term decisions. In this episode, John Corcoran is joined by Will Richardson, Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual's Pacific Prosperity Partners, to discuss building a resilient financial advisory practice in uncertain times. They explore how advisors can help clients stay focused during market volatility, why long-term planning matters more than decisions based on the latest headlines, and lessons learned from starting a career during major economic downturns.

January 5, 202642 min

[EO San Francisco] Navigating Crisis, Pivoting Business Models, and Building Resilience With Anna Rembold

Anna Rembold is the Founder and CEO of Metavent, a company that specializes in comprehensive corporate event operations and strategy, helping clients execute everything from intimate gatherings to large-scale events for up to 5,000 attendees. Under Anna's leadership, Metavent experienced rapid growth, reaching $4 million in annual revenue and earning a place as #403 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2019. In this episode… When everything you've built suddenly disappears, what keeps you moving forward? For founders and leaders, a crisis isn't just a strategic test — it exposes habits, assumptions, and the inner resilience that reveals itself when survival becomes the only goal. According to Anna Rembold, a seasoned entrepreneur shaped by both rapid growth and abrupt loss, the answer is grounded realism paired with adaptability. She believes that surviving a crisis starts with staying calm, taking decisive action, and being willing to let go of rigid plans in favor of what the moment demands. Her experience navigating a near-total revenue collapse during the pandemic reinforced that resilience isn't about avoiding hardship, but about building systems, support, and perspective that allow you to endure it and emerge stronger. In this episode, John Corcoran is joined by Anna Rembold, Founder and CEO of Metavent, to discuss navigating crises and pivoting business models during extreme uncertainty. They explore how the events industry was forced to reinvent itself during the pandemic, the realities of shifting from services to software, and the mental toll of prolonged instability. Anna also shares advice on protecting mental health, leaning on community, and rebuilding stronger after disruption.

December 29, 202519 min

[EO San Francisco] Resilient Leadership and Navigating Generational Transitions in Business With Taryn Bozzo

Taryn Bozzo is the CEO of AV Images, a California-based full-service audio-visual production company delivering high-impact event solutions for over 40 years. Under Taryn's leadership, AV Images has weathered significant industry shifts, including the pandemic, and continues to serve a national client base with multimillion-dollar revenues and a strong presence in the Las Vegas event market. Having stepped into the CEO role as a second-generation leader, Taryn brings a unique perspective shaped by her early career in public service and her deep roots in the company founded by her father. In this episode… Stepping into a leadership position is hard enough, but what happens when the transition is sudden, emotional, and layered with family history? This episode explores how resilience is built when leadership is inherited, rather than chosen, and tested by uncertainty at every turn. For Taryn Bozzo, the key lies in facing discomfort head-on and staying grounded in people-first values. Drawing from her experience as a second-generation leader shaped by public service, grief, and crisis, she explains that real leadership growth happens in the hardest conversations and quiet moments of self-reflection. Her story shows how resilience is less about having a perfect plan and more about the willingness to adapt, stay vulnerable, and keep moving forward. In this episode, John Corcoran is joined by Taryn Bozzo, CEO of AV Images, to discuss resilient leadership and navigating generational leadership transitions in business. They explore stepping into a family company unexpectedly, rebuilding trust and culture after years of instability, and leading through the pandemic in the live events industry. Taryn also talks about embracing vulnerability, adapting to industry change, and finding confidence as a second-generation CEO.

December 4, 202551 min

[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.

November 6, 202547 min

[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.