Entrepreneurship is hard - but the right perspective makes all the difference.

In this episode of Taking Flight: An Entrepreneur’s Journey, host Sarah Tourville speaks with Jim McNamara, founder of 8 Penny Labs, about building businesses that can compete in a fast-moving digital economy.

Jim shares his unconventional path from literature to global technology leadership, including years of working with international teams across the U.S., Europe, and beyond. After seeing how small and mid-sized businesses struggle to keep pace with enterprise-level technology, he launched 8 Penny Labs to help level the playing field through clear strategy, strong communication, and modern software solutions.

This conversation dives into identifying real market gaps, leading global teams across time zones, addressing challenges head-on, and cutting through the noise surrounding AI and emerging technology. Jim also reflects on the importance of trusted co-pilots, decisive leadership, and why entrepreneurs can’t afford to delay tough conversations.

A must-listen for founders and leaders navigating growth, technology, and change.

Recorded live at EO Atlanta’s 30th Anniversary Signature Event, this episode of the EO Atlanta Taking Flight Podcast features Sirmantha Ellison, founder of From Sir With Love. Sirmantha shares her journey from public accounting to building a creative business centered on bespoke stationery, intentional corporate gifting, and the art of gratitude.

She discusses working with corporations, nonprofits, and event planners to create thoughtful brand experiences, narrowing her niche from weddings to corporate clients, and balancing creativity, handwritten notes, and emerging tools like AI. As an EO Accelerator member and proud “gratitude enthusiast,” Sirmantha reflects on the power of community, focus, and values-driven growth.

In this powerful episode of EO Atlanta: Taking Flight, Sarah sits down with Mike Dames: West Point graduate, U.S. Army engineer officer, Afghanistan veteran, MBA from the University of Chicago, business investor, and CEO of Colography.

Mike takes us on an honest and insightful journey through his transition from military leadership to entrepreneurship, revealing the highs, lows, and inner resilience required to “get the plane off the ground.” He introduces us to Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), a path many have never heard of, and breaks down how it offers a unique route for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to buy, lead, and grow existing businesses rather than start from scratch.

Throughout the conversation, Mike opens up about:

-The surprising challenges of becoming a CEO and why he calls it the role of Chief Emotional Officer.
-The cultural transformations required in a 40-year-old legacy business.
-Knowing your strengths, filling your gaps, and hiring the right “number two.”
-What excites him about the future of Colography, including new logistics-intelligence products launching in 2026.

Mike also shares the personal side of his journey: growing up in a single-parent home, playing Division I sports, jumping out of airplanes at Fort Bragg, and navigating the shift from high-stakes military missions to corporate roles that didn’t feel meaningful, ultimately driving him toward entrepreneurship and ownership.

This episode is packed with real talk, strategy, inspiration, and raw vulnerability. Whether you’re a veteran, an entrepreneur, an operator, or someone exploring ETA, Mike’s story offers remarkable insight into what it truly takes to build, lead, and scale a business while staying grounded in purpose.

Tune in and get ready to take flight.

In this episode of the EO Atlanta Taking Flight Podcast, Sarah Tourville sits down with David Hern, CEO of Sofer Advisors, to dive into the art and science of understanding what makes a business truly valuable.

David shares how his Atlanta-based, family-run firm helps companies of all sizes. From startups to long-established enterprises, he helps them discover their worth through detailed valuation services. He discusses the biggest factors that drive business value, including the importance of strong financials, reducing founder dependency, and building recurring revenue streams.

Listeners will also hear David’s insights on why removing yourself from your business can increase its value, how to reduce “key person risk,” and why Sofer Advisors chose a name that reflects their mission, not a single individual.

With themes of service, agility, and empathy at the heart of Sofer Advisors’ work, this conversation offers practical wisdom for entrepreneurs looking to grow, scale, or eventually exit their companies.

Key Takeaways:

• Why “working yourself out of the business” adds value
• How customer diversification and recurring revenue boost valuations
• The advantages (and challenges) of running a family business
• How agility and empathy set Sofer Advisors apart

Tune in for an insightful and down-to-earth discussion about what makes businesses thrive—and what makes them worth more.

Listen to the full episode available now on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

In this powerful episode of EO Atlanta Taking Flight, Sarah sits down with Erica Gwyn — an entrepreneurial powerhouse, faith-driven visionary, and purpose-led founder behind Seven Oaks Academy Montessori preschool in Gwinnett County, GA and The Nonprofit Guru, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations grow with clarity and impact.

Erica opens up about her extraordinary journey — from growing up in foster care to becoming the owner of an award-winning Montessori school and a respected leader in the early education and nonprofit sectors. She shares how she has reimagined business models, expanded access to high-quality education across Georgia, and built thriving ecosystems rooted in equity, innovation, and legacy.

Tune in to hear how Erica’s deep faith, unwavering focus, and fierce determination are fueling her mission to build lasting impact through education, community, and generational wealth — all while inspiring others to rise above their own beginnings and take flight.

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Jaci Lund, founder of Treebird Branding, a creative agency that’s redefining what it means to build meaningful brands in a fast-changing world. Jaci shares the honest story behind starting Treebird out of creative frustration, the philosophy that drives their unique brand-building process (yes, it involves a little "witchcraft"), and how a floor tile at an Atlanta restaurant became a viral branding win. We also dive into the role of AI in marketing, the balance between creativity and professionalism, and why being “weird” might just be your agency’s greatest strength. If you're passionate about branding, design, or entrepreneurship, this is an inspiring conversation you won't want to miss.

Connect with Jaci on LinkedIn and follow her company Treebird Branding

In this episode, Sarah Tourville sits down with Christian Dodder, founder of Fire Protection Services and longtime EO Atlanta member, to celebrate EO Atlanta’s 30th anniversary and unpack an inspiring entrepreneurial journey.

Christian shares how he transitioned from selling his first company under a non-compete to diving headfirst into the complex, regulation-heavy world of fire and life safety systems with zero prior experience. Discover how he scaled a small mom-and-pop operation into a $12M powerhouse with 77 employees, all while staying focused on his niche: inspections and maintenance, not construction.

We cover:

• Why recurring revenue and regulation made fire safety attractive
• How saying “no” became a competitive advantage
• The power of focus and strategic growth
• Reinventing yourself mid-career
• Scaling leadership and stepping out of the day-to-day

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or looking for your next pivot, this conversation is full of practical insights, real talk, and lessons in building something meaningful from the ground up.

Recorded live in celebration of 30 years of EO Atlanta.

In this inspiring episode, host Sarah sits down with Galina Juliana Cuada, founder of Galina Juliana Photography, a boutique production company specializing in cinematic, high-end architectural photography for luxury resorts and hospitality brands.

Recorded live at EO Atlanta's 30 Year Anniversary Event, this intimate conversation dives into Galina’s journey from journalism to hospitality photography, her unique visual style, and how she brings spaces to life through meticulous storytelling, technical mastery, and an unwavering commitment to quality.

Galina shares how her work has helped prestigious resorts elevate their brand presence, the power of over-delivering in business, and why generosity and attention to detail are her greatest competitive advantages. From scouting locations months in advance to recreating golden-hour light on a rainy day, her dedication is unmatched and it shows in the results.

Whether you're in hospitality, branding, photography, or just love hearing from passionate entrepreneurs, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry that helps luxury destinations make unforgettable first impressions.