Chris Hurn, CEO of Community Bankshares, joined the show to talk straight about entrepreneurial leadership in high-stakes environments. He traces his roots to watching his single mother run a chocolate business out of their basement, an early masterclass in grit, marketing, and operations. That foundation shaped his view of what it means to lead—not just manage.

Now a leader in small business financing, Chris outlines the crucial difference between being an entrepreneur and becoming a CEO. He explains how leaders must eventually move beyond scrappiness and take calculated risks with debt to scale their companies. But he’s quick to note that optimism must be balanced with pragmatism. Cash flow—not charisma—is what gets a loan approved.

Chris also unpacks the coming wave of business acquisitions driven by baby boomer retirements, sharing insights on what industries are hot and where private equity is warping the landscape. His message is clear: real leadership is about seeing around corners and backing up vision with execution.

Want to learn more about Chris Hurn’s work? Check out their website at https://www.phxbusiness.com.

Connect with Chris Hurn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishurn/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Allison De Paoli joins Craig Andrews to break down how employers can lead through one of the most neglected aspects of their business—health insurance. Drawing from decades of experience and her family’s entrepreneurial legacy, Allison shows how leaders can stop hemorrhaging money on bloated health plans and start using benefits as a tool for retention, loyalty, and long-term cost control.

She argues the system isn’t broken—it’s rigged. But with the right strategy, employers can bypass middlemen, reclaim fiduciary control, and offer high-quality care without budget blowouts. Allison walks through real-world examples of employers who’ve turned skyrocketing premiums into savings—without shifting the cost burden onto employees.

If you lead a team and think better healthcare is out of reach, this episode will challenge that belief—and give you a roadmap to lead differently.

Want to learn more about Allison De Paoli's work? Check out their website at https://www.altiqe.com.

Connect with Allison De Paoli on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-de-paoli/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.

Everett O’Keefe shares the origin story of Ignite Press, from a chance reconnection to a publishing powerhouse. His leadership was tested early when co-founder John tragically passed away, forcing Everett to carry the vision forward alone. Instead of folding, he doubled down. That decision sparked the launch of nearly 200 bestselling books and reshaped how thought leaders share their message.

In this episode, Everett unpacks the power of books as a leadership tool—helping entrepreneurs build credibility, refine their message, and amplify their impact. He also offers a practical roadmap through the complex publishing landscape, covering ghostwriting, hybrid models, and the importance of editorial integrity.

His message is clear: authorship is leadership. A book is more than a marketing tool—it’s a durable asset that outlives trends, outlasts platforms, and outperforms expectations. For Everett, real leadership means using your voice to unlock someone else’s potential.

Want to learn more about Everett O’Keefe's work? Check out their website at https://IgnitePress.us.

Connect with Everett O’Keefe on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/everettokeefe/.

Get a complimentary copy of The Power of the Published: https://mypodcastperk.com/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.