Episodios

  • Brock Weeks (Savi CEO) on AI-Powered Retail Insights, Scaling Sales & Saying 'No' to Shiny Objects | Growth Elevated
    Jul 21 2025

    How can AI-powered video analytics transform retail and restaurant operations without drowning in complexity?

    In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, Julian Castelli sits down with Brock Weeks, CEO and co-founder of Savi, to uncover how his team is turning security cameras into real-time operational tools for cutting costs, reducing theft, and dramatically improving customer experiences.

    Key Takeaways:

    • From Security to Profitability - How Savi repurposes existing cameras to track labor efficiency, theft, and wait times (saving brands $15K/site!).

    • Scaling Sales the Right Way - Why Brock delayed hiring until his CAC metrics proved scalability (and the costly mistake most startups make).

    • The Power of ‘No’ – How focusing on restaurants first (not banks or pharmacies) unlocked Savi’s 10,000-site growth.

    • Leadership Lessons - Building a durable company culture with Radical Candor, OKRs, and Andy Grove’s High Output Management.

    • COVID Pivot to Profit - Launching weeks before lockdowns and why narrowing their niche saved the business.

    Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Explore expert insights, practical strategies, and powerful tools to elevate your impact in business.

    👉 Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

    📲 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ for daily leadership inspiration and updates.

    Let’s grow together!


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    34 m
  • What It Really Takes to Grow a Startup with Joe Grover, Former CMO of Homie
    Jul 7 2025

    In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli engages with Joe Grover, a seasoned entrepreneur and current CMO at Ampleo.

    Joe shares his journey, focusing on his impactful role at Homie, a tech company disrupting the real estate market with a cost-effective, transparent model.

    He discusses marketing strategies, challenges in scaling, and the importance of profitability over mere growth. Joe also highlights Ampleo's mission to enhance small business success through fractional leadership.

    The episode underscores the value of mentorship, strategic insights, and the entrepreneurial spirit in building successful ventures.

    Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Explore expert insights, practical strategies, and powerful tools to elevate your impact in business.

    👉 Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠

    📲 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ for daily leadership inspiration and updates.

    Let’s grow together!

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    35 m
  • Having AI FOMO? Practical Tips for Logging Real AI Wins in Your Business for 2025
    Jun 23 2025

    In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli is joined by AI expert Kevin Williams and MyAdvice CEO Shawn Miele to discuss practical strategies for AI adoption in organizations.

    Sean shares his company’s journey, highlighting the importance of leadership, company-wide involvement, secure platforms, and continuous training.

    Kevin offers insights on industry trends, the need for AI literacy, and common pitfalls. The conversation covers empowering employees, automating tedious tasks, and fostering a culture of innovation to achieve measurable AI wins in 2025.

    Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Explore expert insights, practical strategies, and powerful tools to elevate your impact in business.

    👉 Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠

    📲 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ for daily leadership inspiration and updates.

    Let’s grow together!

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    59 m
  • Eli Portnoy, CEO of BackEngine.ai, on the Simple Tools Powering Big Ideas
    May 26 2025

    In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli interviews Eli Portnoy, CEO and co-founder of Back Engine.

    Eli shares his entrepreneurial journey, focusing on his experiences with Sense360, a data analytics company for the restaurant industry.

    He discusses the challenges of transitioning from founder-led sales to a scalable model, the impact of COVID-19 on his business, and the importance of adaptability and collaboration.

    Eli also highlights the evolving role of AI in business, emphasizing the need for curiosity and innovation. The episode offers valuable insights into scaling startups and leveraging AI for efficiency.

    Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Explore expert insights, practical strategies, and powerful tools to elevate your impact in business.

    👉 Visit us at ⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠

    📲 Follow us on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ for daily leadership inspiration and updates.

    Let’s grow together!

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    43 m
  • Nate Randle - CEO of Gabb
    May 12 2025

    In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli converses with Nate Randle, CEO of Gabb, a company focused on creating a safe tech environment for children.

    Nate shares his career journey from sports to tech, highlighting roles at Nike, Callaway Golf, and the Utah Jazz, before transitioning to tech firms like Vivint and Qualtrics. He discusses Gabb's mission to protect children from social media dangers while fostering family connections.

    The episode also explores leadership lessons, the importance of strategic partnerships, and the challenges of entering the competitive telecom market.


    Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Explore expert insights, practical strategies, and powerful tools to elevate your impact in business.

    👉 Visit us at GrowthElevated.com
    📲 Follow us on LinkedIn for daily leadership inspiration and updates.


    Let’s grow together!

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    34 m
  • Ken Gavranovic - CEO of Product Genius Corporation
    Apr 7 2025

    In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli converses with Ken Gavranovic, a seasoned entrepreneur and former CEO of Webcom. Ken shares his journey in scaling Webcom to significant growth and a successful IPO during the early internet era. Key insights include the importance of automation, marketing strategies, and data-driven decision-making. Ken emphasizes understanding customer needs, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and integrating AI to enhance business operations. He also discusses the transformative potential of AI, particularly for small businesses, and underscores the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in leadership.

    For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    40 m
  • Tom Lineen - Founder & President, West Town Payments
    Mar 25 2025

    In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli converses with Tom Lineen, a seasoned leader in the payments industry and founder of West Town Payments. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020, Tom's company focuses on underserved markets like hemp and CBD. Tom shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing the challenges of finding a banking partner and the strategic decisions that led to his company's success. He emphasizes the importance of trust, transparency, and leveraging technology. The episode offers valuable insights into navigating business growth during challenging times.


    For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    26 m
  • Rob Kaminski - Co-Founder & Partner, Fletch PMM
    Mar 10 2025

    In this episode of the Growth Elevated Leadership Podcast, host Julian Castelli converses with Rob Kaminski, co-founder of Fletch Product Market Management. They explore the challenges technology startups face in product marketing and positioning. Key themes include the importance of clear messaging, the pitfalls of broad target definitions, and the necessity of a focused approach. Rob shares his journey and insights from consulting with over 300 startups, emphasizing the need for specificity in defining value propositions. The episode provides valuable strategies for startups to refine their messaging, target their audience effectively, and navigate market complexities.


    For more resources on how to be a a better leader in business, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowthElevated.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    43 m