In this mind-expanding episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with Ajay Malik—CEO of StudioX-AI, futurist, inventor, and former tech exec at Google, Cisco, HP, and Motorola. Now based in San Jose, California, Ajay shares how his obsession with innovation led to 100+ patents and the founding of StudioX, an AI platform built to democratize predictive insights for businesses.

Ajay discusses the ethics of AI, financial planning with machine learning, and how to make AI not just a tool—but a co-founder. This episode is a masterclass in what it takes to lead with vision and values in an increasingly AI-driven world.

• Ajay’s Origin Story: Left cushy tech jobs for 120-hour weeks—by choice. “I have to have that freedom to build and create.”
• Patents as Motivation: He calls the recognition of unique innovation “addictive.”
• Why StudioX Exists: To give businesses AI tools once only available at places like Google.
• On AI & Ethics: Warns of “intellectual property pollution” in large language models—like using stolen code unknowingly.
• Financial Planning with AI: “Skill is no longer a differentiator. Everyone has an employee now—it's called AI.”
• Business Advice: Make AI usage mandatory in your company. “Every founder should be prompting together with their team.”

In this episode, she unpacks how authenticity, strategic financial planning, leadership evolution, and bold branding helped her business not just survive—but scale. From creating “Stoplight Reports” to empowering global teams, Arielle offers practical advice with raw honesty and high energy.

• Arielle didn’t start with Marketing 411—she had several businesses that didn’t make it.
• The breakthrough came from a chance meeting with her future business partner in the roofing space.
• They combined forces to meet a pressing market demand for marketing services in contracting.

• Realized no business—even those making hundreds of millions—has it all figured out.
• Shifted from feeling “I must be doing it wrong” to “everyone’s figuring it out.”

• Initially didn’t understand financial metrics beyond basic awareness.
• Introduced weekly financial reviews (instead of monthly) using Stoplight Reports.

• Key advice: “There’s no financial problem in your business that more sales can’t fix.”

• Know your numbers: P&L ≠ bank balance.
• Start with financial awareness, then make strategic changes.
• Reverse engineer growth: start with the vision, then identify the systems, tools, and people needed.

• Being female in a male-dominated space is an advantage, not a limitation.

• Biggest hurdle: herself.
• Used techniques like the “Bring a Solution, Not Just a Problem” model and the 10/80/10 rule.

• “If you’ve never hit multi-7 figures, you won’t know how to act like one. You learn as you go.”
• “Marketing systems should not just bring in leads—they should bring in the right ones.”
• “Being a business owner means you never arrive. You’re always on the move.”
• “You are in a lifelong video game. It's you versus you.”
• “Don’t cage your people—let them fly. That’s when the magic happens.”

In this episode, Laura dives into her growth strategy, from starting her firm in her living room to making intentional hiring decisions and scaling while staying mission-driven. She also breaks down how she approached financial planning, cash flow, and the importance of knowing when to ask for help. Her perspective on balancing business with empathy, motherhood, and personal leadership makes this episode especially empowering for women and minority entrepreneurs.

1. Survivor of a serious injury at age 3 (German shepherd attack).
2. Channeled that trauma into a passion for justice and advocacy.
3. Initially practiced defense law, then transitioned to plaintiff representation after discovering her true alignment.

1. Fell in love with Austin during law school internships.
2. Returned to build her practice after starting her career in South Texas.

1. Started her firm solo, working from her living room.
2. Grew intentionally by hiring based on mission-alignment, not just skill.
3. First hire: a college student she trained personally.
4. Growth was strategic, beginning with part-time help and building toward a full legal team.

1. Knew personal injury inside out from her work in other firms.
2. Understood case value, staffing needs, and time to resolution.
3. Recognized her financial knowledge limits—brought in experts, including her husband and bookkeeping help early on.
4. Emphasized not abdicating financial oversight, even when delegating.

1. Advocates for mission-driven leadership.
2. Prioritized collaboration and culture fit over quick hiring.
3. Sees guilt and imperfection as part of balancing business, motherhood, and life.

1. Built referral networks to help people she couldn’t take on as clients.
2. Values transparency and support in client and team relationships.

In this insightful episode, Randy Lorensen shares his unexpected journey from poker pro to national franchise founder. He talks candidly about starting Premium Cabinets with no background in design or construction, and how his drive for continual growth led him to systematize the business for national scalability. Randy also dives deep into financial mindset, offering practical tips for business owners, and previews his upcoming book aimed at transforming the way people understand money.

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs looking to gain control of their finances, scale smart, and adopt an abundance mindset.

1. Originally moved to Texas during the dotcom boom and played poker professionally for 8 years.
2. Got into the cabinet business with no prior experience—learned everything from scratch.
3. Started Premium Cabinets with the idea to build and sell it quickly, but ended up falling in love with the business.
4. Gained traction by creating systems, training materials, and a proprietary CRM platform that supports dealers nationwide.
5. Grew the company through word of mouth—now operates in 35+ markets.

1. Advocates strongly for financial literacy and believes it's a foundational pillar of personal freedom.
2. His upcoming book Demystifying Money uses fiction storytelling to make complex financial concepts approachable and engaging.
3. Believes that most people underestimate the role money plays in shaping life decisions, yet don’t understand how money really works.

1. Hire a bookkeeper: Most entrepreneurs aren’t built to manage finances—and that’s okay.
2. Never stop marketing: “Advertising should be the last thing you cut.”
3. Know your numbers: Cash flow and tax planning are essential to business survival.
4. Invest in yourself: Randy regularly took sales courses, analyzed his own pitch recordings, and refined his skills to grow.

In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Jonathan Raymond, the founder and CEO of Ren AI, a coaching technology company based in San Diego, California. With a background that spans law, tech entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership, Jonathan shares how he discovered the missing link in leadership: authentic, emotionally intelligent conversations.

We dig into:

1. Why leaders struggle with hard feedback
2. How personal development collides with business results
3. The myth of “soft skills” in the workplace
4. Why culture is the biggest driver of financial outcomes
5. Common financial missteps leaders make while scaling

Plus, Jonathan delivers a powerful answer to our signature question—what it really takes to be a business owner in today’s world.

1. Jonathan realized in his first CEO role that driving results wasn’t enough—he lacked the ability to develop people.
2. Despite personal training in therapy and mindfulness, he couldn’t translate those skills into the workplace. That gap sparked the creation of Good Authority and eventually Ren AI.

1. Leaders often confuse vulnerability with weakness. In fact, acknowledging fear or anxiety fosters trust and deepens engagement.
2. Authenticity is not a luxury—it’s a productivity tool.

1. The disconnect between culture and financial outcomes is a major issue in growth-stage businesses.
2. Jonathan breaks it down: poor metrics aren’t a product problem—they’re a people and behavior problem.

1. Leaders often spend most of their time on the bottom 20% of performers, neglecting the team’s top talent.

1. Get your team in person. Even just to connect, no agenda. Building context and relationship improves team alignment and reduces friction.
2. Ask deeper questions: “Who was your first boss?” “What did authority look like growing up?”

In this candid and energizing episode, Julie Cole shares the story of how she left a career in law to co-found Mabel’s Labels, all while raising six kids and navigating the challenges of early entrepreneurship. From launching in a basement with her sister and two friends to growing into a business with a 20,000 sq. ft. facility and 50+ employees, Julie walks us through the grit, risk, and reality behind building a brand parents trust.

She dives into how thoughtful business planning, strong partnerships, and a culture of shared accountability powered their growth — and how managing both a family and a startup required perspective, planning, and humor. Julie also opens up about the role of privilege in entrepreneurship and why it’s important to name it.

1. Julie is a “recovered lawyer” who left her legal career when her eldest child was diagnosed with autism.
2. She co-founded Mabel’s Labels with her sister and two friends to fill a market gap for durable name labels.

1. Launched the business while raising six kids — a chaotic, scrappy, and exhausting time.
2. Emphasizes that entrepreneurship isn’t glamorous; it's long hours, risk, and sacrifice.

1. Despite starting with modest expectations, they treated the business seriously from day one.
2. Had structured business planning, took meeting minutes, and developed a long-term growth mindset.
3. “It’s a living document” — business plans were revisited regularly as the company scaled.

1. Mabel’s Labels was bootstrapped — no outside funding.
2. Sharing financial and mental load among co-founders was a key to early survival.
3. Strong communication, clear expectations, and a shareholder agreement were crucial.

1. Julie stresses the need to eventually step back and let managers lead.
2. Founders must stop “working in the business” to “work on the business.”

1. During the pandemic, their pre-existing remote culture helped them adapt fast.
2. Team created new product lines (e.g. distancing decals) without founders initiating — thanks to a culture of empowerment.

1. Entrepreneurship is mentally taxing; Julie advocates for mentorship, therapy, and self-awareness.
2. Co-founders acted as each other's support system and accountability partners.

In this episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with self-made entrepreneur Yousef Benhamida, who turned a one-bedroom apartment and a few hundred dollars into Humboldts Secret Supplies—now one of the top-selling plant nutrient brands in the U.S.

Yousef opens up about how success came not just through hustle, but from rock bottom moments, personal loss, and radical discipline. From taking stimulants to stay awake through 16-hour workdays to losing it all after reaching a false peak, he shares the real story behind what it takes—not just to build a business, but to rebuild a man.

1. Your First Win Might Not Be the Big One: Yousef thought he "made it" when he hit early revenue milestones, only to later realize his vision had been too small. True business ownership came with hard-earned wisdom.
2. Pain as a Catalyst: From heartbreak and burnout to financial collapse, Yousef believes his greatest breakthroughs came through personal pain. He sees setbacks as vital inflection points.
3. Discipline > Motivation: For Yousef, the turning point was shifting from chasing success to building consistency. He cut out distractions, toxic habits, and false validation to gain long-term focus.
4. Business Planning Without Formal Tools: With no roadmap or degree, Yousef learned by doing. Trial, error, and iteration replaced traditional strategy.
5. What It Really Takes: It’s not about flashy goals like a Ferrari or a million dollars—it’s about whether you can survive the storm and stay in the game when everything goes sideways.

1. Entrepreneurs building from scratch
2. Business owners hitting burnout or plateaus
3. Men navigating emotional growth and masculine leadership
4. Listeners looking for a brutally honest take on success and failure
5. Anyone feeling stuck, lost, or distracted — needing that wake-up call

1. 🧪 Humboldts Secret Supplies – Yousef’s company

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Jamie Seeker sits down with Kyle Bachus, co-founder of Bachus & Schanker, LLC in Denver, Colorado. From his early inspiration as a 17-year old arguing in a mock Supreme Court, to founding one of the most respected personal injury law firms in the region, Kyle shares what it really takes to build a values-driven business — one rooted in justice, service, and heart.

But this episode goes far beyond business. When Kyle’s own mother was tragically killed in a crosswalk accident, the work he had done for decades suddenly became deeply personal. That loss redefined how he practiced law, inspired his bestselling book Unthinkable, and drove him to create a victim-centered approach that supports families through grief — legally, emotionally, and practically.

Through humor, humility, and incredible insight, Kyle opens up about taking risks, betting on himself, and building a team culture grounded in empathy and excellence.

Guest: Kyle Bachus

Organization: Bachus & Schanker, LLC

Location: Denver, Colorado

Website: kylebachus.com

1. The moment a teenage Kyle realized law was his calling
2. Launching a law firm with $13,800 and a handshake at a Denver bar
3. Early business planning decisions (and the creative hustle behind them)
4. Betting on yourself: entrepreneurship without a safety net
5. Staying grounded in your “why” through rapid firm growth
6. Experiencing personal tragedy and the impact it had on his practice
7. Writing Unthinkable and redefining client advocacy in wrongful death cases
8. The power of empathy in law and leadership
9. Kyle’s perspective on legacy, service, and what it truly takes to be a business owner

1. Business is personal. The best leaders bring their whole selves to their work, even in grief.