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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nicole Donnelly is the Founder and CEO of AI Smart Ventures, a company that helps businesses leverage artificial intelligence to work smarter and accelerate growth through hands-on training, consulting, and practical AI implementation. A serial entrepreneur, Nicole previously built a global baby brand from her kitchen table and has been a leader in AI-powered marketing since 2015, amassing over 8,900 LinkedIn followers and guiding clients to achieve remarkable results like dominating 60% of AI search results in their industries.

Artificial intelligence is evolving at lightning speed. But how can everyday businesses keep up without feeling overwhelmed or left behind? Between flashy new tools, endless updates, and confusing terminology, the real challenge isn't access to AI; it's knowing how to make it work for you. What if exploring AI could actually be fun, hands-on, and profitable all at once?

According to Nicole Donnelly, a former pro athlete turned entrepreneur and AI educator, the key to adopting AI successfully is curiosity and experimentation. She explains that her team dedicates time each week to test tools and compare models like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to see what performs best for real business scenarios. She highlights how businesses can use AI not just to automate repetitive tasks but to unlock creativity. The impact, she says, is transformative: teams become more efficient, more confident, and genuinely excited to innovate.

In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz speaks with Nicole Donnelly, Founder and CEO of AI Smart Ventures, to discuss making AI practical, fun, and profitable for businesses. They explore how to choose the right AI tools, use automation to boost engagement, and create personalized outreach that drives results. Nicole also shares insights on AI security, team training, and the importance of maintaining joy and curiosity in the AI journey.

Brandon Kordower is the Founder and CEO of AURA Accounting Solutions, a firm that provides fractional CFO and controller services to help marketing agencies scale profitably. With deep expertise in financial strategy, Brandon has guided clients through transformative growth journeys resulting in multiple eight-figure exits. His data-driven approach empowers agencies to make confident, strategic decisions that boost margins and scalability. Through AURA, he continues to help agencies gain clarity, control, and consistent profitability.

Daniel Simon is the Executive VP at AURA. He has over 25 years of agency experience and 30 years in executive leadership, with a background spanning investment banking, music and fine arts, marketing communications, and restaurant ownership. Daniel's broad experience allows him to bridge creative and financial strategy, helping agencies align vision with profitability. At AURA, he plays a key role in guiding teams toward high growth and operational excellence.

Most agency owners are great at creative work. But when it comes to the financial side, things can get messy. Tracking revenue, profitability, and utilization often takes a back seat to client work and growth. The result? Revenue might rise, but profits stay flat or even shrink. So, what does it actually take to make a marketing agency sustainably profitable?

According to Brandon Kordower, a financial strategist for marketing agencies, profitability begins with clarity — specifically, understanding your numbers and how they connect to performance. He highlights that most agencies chase revenue without analyzing margins or capacity, creating hidden inefficiencies that erode profits. Daniel Simon adds that since people are an agency's most significant cost and asset, leaders must measure utilization and time to make wiser staffing and pricing decisions.

In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Brandon Kordower, Founder and CEO, and Daniel Simon, Executive VP, at AURA Accounting Solutions, to discuss how marketing agencies can improve profitability through better financial practices. They explain the benefits of accrual accounting, the metrics every agency should monitor, and how minor adjustments can drastically impact margins. They also share lessons from helping clients achieve multimillion-dollar exits.

Rachel Zhang is a color analyst and a Franchise Owner at House of Colour, a company that offers personalized color and style analysis to help clients build confident, flattering wardrobes. She is based in Westlake Village, California, and works with clients to identify their most harmonious "power colors." Before joining House of Colour, she spent over a decade in recruiting and held a role at Facebook (now Meta). She combines her corporate experience with her passion for fashion to support clients in making strong visual impressions.

Many entrepreneurs struggle to find the right path when an unexpected change forces them to pivot. Sometimes the answer comes from an unlikely source, like discovering a hidden passion that unlocks new confidence. How can something as simple as color transform a career and day-to-day life?

According to Rachel Zhang, a color analyst and entrepreneur, the right colors can completely change how people see themselves and how others perceive them. She highlights that most people are wrong about which colors suit them best, and once they experience and implement color analysis, their confidence shifts dramatically. The impact goes beyond personal style — it affects first impressions, business opportunities, and even relationships. By turning her own layoff into a launchpad, she demonstrates how embracing this science-backed approach to color can build both confidence and a thriving business.

In this episode of the Rising Entrepreneurs Podcast, host John Corcoran sits down with Rachel Zhang, Franchise Owner at House of Colour, to talk about building a life and career around color analysis. They discuss how a tech layoff led her to entrepreneurship, why color analysis is more powerful than styling, and how wearing the right colors influences confidence and business growth. Rachel also shares insights on educating clients and helping professionals use color to make stronger impressions.