In this episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, Dr. John Dentico interviews Andrew Ackerman.

Andrew Ackerman isn't just another VC with opinions; he's the startup whisperer who's lived every role in the ecosystem. This serial entrepreneur turned angel investor turned venture capitalist has invested in 70+ startups, mentored hundreds of founders, and built innovation programs that deliver. As strategic advisor and head of Reach Labs for Second Century Ventures, he brings battle-tested perspective to property tech and construction tech, though his hard-earned lesson surprises: being a successful founder doesn't automatically make you good at recognizing success in others at scale.

Born in Israel to American parents, raised around New York City, Andrew credits his entrepreneurial grandfather, who died when Andrew was twelve, as his biggest influence. The conversation cuts through startup mythology with surgical precision, tackling founder archetypes, pattern recognition failures, and AI hype versus reality. Andrew's hope? That we find the right balance between proven methods and shiny new tools, building wisdom while maintaining optionality. For his three daughters facing 40-year career horizons in radically uncertain times, he champions transferable talents over rigid job titles; advice that resonates across generations.

Born in Israel, Raised in New York - 02:13

Grandfather's Entrepreneurial Influence - 02:46

Every Hat in the Startup World - 03:27

Founder to Investor Transition - 03:42

Pattern Recognition Pitfalls - 04:03

The Entrepreneur's Odyssey Book - 08:15

Founder Archetypes and Success - 14:30

Property Tech and Construction Tech - 19:45

AI Hype Versus Reality - 35:20

Shiny Objects Versus Accumulated Wisdom - 46:47

Career Optionality for Next Generation - 47:14

Finding Balance in Uncertainty - 48:02

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In this episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, Dr. John Dentico interviews Sean Kling. Sean Kling doesn't apologize for being Gen X—he weaponizes it. As author of "Outwork Them All: A Gen X Guide to Business and Leadership," this former Marine and Pennsylvania native makes the provocative case that in a world drowning in viral trends and AI hype, old-school fundamentals like consistency, loyalty, and face-to-face relationship building have become rare competitive advantages. Raised on stories of his grandfather's World War II service and father's Vietnam tours, Sean absorbed community values that now power his nine-step business rebuilding blueprint and lean operation philosophy: run tight, stay human, outwork everyone.

The conversation tackles generational differences with nuance—Sean doesn't dismiss younger entrepreneurs but argues they're missing the power of boring consistency over exciting pivots. He champions building trusted advisor circles, maintaining in-person networks, and running businesses without overpriced software dependencies. His mantra "the work works if you work it" cuts through motivation culture noise. Dr. Dentico reinforces this by noting that as AI handles 75-80% of routine tasks, the remaining 20%—the human connection part—becomes exponentially more valuable. For leaders exhausted by productivity hacks and viral formulas, this episode delivers street-tested strategy wrapped in Marine Corps discipline.

Small Town Pennsylvania Roots - 02:15

Marine Corps Family Legacy - 02:50

Community Service Values - 03:23

Gen X Fundamentals That Still Win - 04:09

What Younger Entrepreneurs Miss - 04:26

Outwork Them All Philosophy - 06:45

Building Your Trusted Advisor Circle - 11:30

Nine-Step Business Rebuilding Blueprint - 15:20

Running Lean Without Software Bloat - 18:45

Two Podcasts: Travel and Life Stories - 28:12

Hope for Daughters' Success - 27:24

The 20% That Matters Most - 30:02

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In this episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, Dr. John Dentico speaks with Christoffel Sneijders, a master of psychological coaching, clinical therapist, and pioneer of the 3 Brains Intelligence. Christoffel shares his journey from working in a supermarket and playing football to becoming a leading expert in human behavior and organizational transformation. He discusses how leadership is not just a title but a responsibility to understand the biological and psychological drivers behind human actions. By focusing on the "Three Brains"—the Head, Heart, and Gut—Christoffel explains how leaders can move past the logic of the "Head" brain to connect with the deeper, more intuitive systems that truly drive decision-making and authenticity.

The conversation explores the modern challenges of leadership, including the "digital noise" of the current era and the emergence of an entrepreneurial age powered by AI. Christoffel provides a fascinating perspective on why many professionals feel stuck or "run over" by technology, noting that without aligning our three internal brains, we struggle to make meaningful impact. He highlights how his methods help individuals and organizations overcome procrastination, develop genuine trust, and lead with a balance of strategy and empathy. The episode wraps up with Christoffel offering practical advice for listeners to stop over-thinking and start leading from a place of integrated intelligence.

00:00 – Introduction to Christoffel Sneijders and 3 Brains Intelligence

01:54 – Early Influences: From Supermarkets to Clinical Therapy

03:45 – The Transition to Coaching: Why People Matter Most

05:11 – Breaking Down 3 Brains Intelligence: Head, Heart, and Gut

08:15 – Moving Beyond the "Digital Noise" to Authentic Leadership

10:30 – AI and the Entrepreneurial Age: Tools vs. Human Insight

13:55 – Why the "Head Brain" Isn't Enough for Strategic Thinking

16:40 – Overcoming Procrastination by Aligning Internal Desires

19:15 – The Importance of Trust and Safety in Team Performance

21:58 – Redefining Success in the Next Three to Five Years

24:32 – The Role of Continuous Education and Side Hustles

27:10 – Final Thoughts: Becoming a More Integrated Human Leader

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In this episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, Dr. John Dentico sits down with Chris Carter, a visionary tech entrepreneur, four-time bestselling author, and CEO of Approyo. With over 25 years in the IT industry, Chris shares the fascinating "behind-the-scenes" story of launching the first SAP Cloud in 2005—a breakthrough moment that involved late-night brainstorming sessions with global teams and a surprise encounter with SAP's executive leadership. Chris discusses how his early passion for creative coding on a Commodore Vic 20 evolved into leading a global organization recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine and Forbes for its impact on digital transformation.

The conversation takes a deep dive into the practical reality of Artificial Intelligence, moving past the "bombastic claims" to focus on how leaders can use AI to find greater meaning and efficiency in their work. Chris emphasizes the importance of human oversight, noting that while AI tools like Claude or Gamma are powerful, they still require "human eyes" to prevent hallucinations and ensure quality. Exploring themes of leadership evolution and the emerging entrepreneurial age, Chris and John discuss why lifting others up and truly listening to customers remains the ultimate secret to a high-performing company culture.

00:00 – Introduction to Chris Carter: SAP Expert and Visionary Entrepreneur

02:36 – Early Influences: From Lake Michigan to Georgia Tech

04:13 – The Breakthrough: Building the First SAP Cloud in 2005

07:01 – Meeting Bill McDermott: When Innovation Outpaces Contracts

09:40 – Meaning as Currency: Why Work Must Matter

11:02 – The AI Truck: Navigating Hype vs. Reality

12:21 – Strategic Tooling: Moving Beyond "Boiling the Ocean"

14:35 – Software vs. Hardware: The Evolving Tech Horse Race

16:45 – The Prompting Evolution: Why AI Still Needs Human Eyes

19:07 – Coding Wars and the End-User Experience

22:01 – The "Human Hack": Getting Past Automated Screening

23:58 – The Cultural Secret: Listening and Lifting People Up

26:12 – AI Augmentation: Addition vs. Multiplication in Teams

31:04 – Leadership Evolution: From George Washington to Steve Jobs

33:22 – Hope for the Future: Growing the Next Generation of Talent

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In this episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, host Dr. John Dentico welcomes Al Kushner, an award-winning author and strategist specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence and professional presence Al shares his journey from a Brooklyn art school background to becoming a 20-year veteran of LinkedIn, explaining how his unique perspective on art and design helps him help others refine their digital identities. He discusses the inspiration behind his book, The AI LinkedIn Advantage, emphasizing that while many resources cover AI or LinkedIn separately, few combine them to provide a truly competitive edge in today's "noise-filled" digital landscape.

The conversation dives deep into practical strategies for maintaining authenticity while leveraging automation tools like Perplexity, Claude, and 11 Labs. Al explains his "two-prong" approach to profile optimization and outreach, sharing a recent success story of an accountant who grew his connection rate by 400% through targeted AI tactics. Looking toward the future, Al and Dr. Dentico discuss the emerging "entrepreneurial age" and why professionals must embrace AI-powered education and certifications to remain marketable. The episode concludes with a look at the future of search engines and Al's free resources for listeners to audit their own LinkedIn profiles.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Al Kushner and The AI LinkedIn Advantage
• 01:44 – Early Influences: From Coney Island to Art School
• 02:27 – Two Decades on LinkedIn: Evolution of a Thought Leader
• 04:02 – Why Combine AI with Personal Branding?
• 05:03 – Establishing Authority through Content and Newsletter Strategy
• 07:20 – Top AI Tool Recommendations: Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Claude
• 09:48 – Balancing Automation with Human Authenticity
• 10:52 – Video Strategy: Using AI Avatars and Cloned Voices
• 14:16 – LinkedIn Success Rules and Influencer Engagement
• 16:29 – Transparency: Admitting to the Use of AI
• 18:34 – Case Study: A 400% Increase in Connection Growth
• 19:52 – The Future of Work: Certifications and Lifelong Learning
• 22:52 – The Coming AI Shakeout and the Future of Search
• 28:02 – Final Thoughts and Free LinkedIn Audit Resources

You can reach AL at https://linkedvantage.com/

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Lauren Perez traded Broadway dreams for trademark expertise and discovered her true calling wasn't performing on stage but creating light bulb moments for business owners navigating intellectual property chaos. As founder of LVP Solutions, this former law firm VP now helps entrepreneurs understand what they didn't even know they needed to know about protecting their brands in a borderless digital economy where an $80 LLC competes with billion-dollar corporations before breakfast. Her journey began with everything stolen from her car on Day One in New York, forcing reinvention that led to pioneering work in licensing, globalization, and trademark strategy decades before most recognized IP would power commerce.

The conversation explores the art of stillness. Lauren champions listening over talking, creating space for those breakthrough light bulb moments rather than rushing to solutions. She discusses her Small Business Forum, a vetted expert network for founders tired of guessing games, and her expanding mediation practice that saves relationships and money by avoiding litigation. Her philosophy? She's done chasing titles and career ladders. This chapter is about finding happy through client success and making genuine difference, one light bulb moment at a time.

From Broadway Dreams to IP Pioneer - 02:59

The Car Robbery That Changed Everything - 04:13

Slow Burn to Breaking Point - 04:07

Teaching Creates Light Bulb Moments - 06:45

The Small Business Forum Vision - 11:30

Global Commerce Without Borders - 15:20

Mediation Over Litigation - 19:45

The Power of Being Still - 27:58

Listening for Light Bulb Moments - 28:14

Letting the Subconscious Work - 28:23

Finding Happy Over Building Empire - 29:00

Making Difference Through Client Success - 30:28

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Janneh Wright didn't just survive the immigrant experience; he turned it into a blueprint for operational excellence. As founder and CEO of Primus Business Management, this Guyana-born entrepreneur spent two decades proving that the "back office" isn't overhead, it's the foundation that determines whether mission-driven organizations thrive or die. His Three Cs model (Compliance, Culture, Consistency) transforms what most business owners see as administrative headaches into competitive advantages, giving entrepreneurs the pride of knowing they're running real companies, not side hustles disguised as businesses.

The conversation tackles the brutal five-year failure myth plaguing small businesses with refreshing defiance. Janneh's vision centers on creating 10, 20, and 30-year-old small businesses that anchor communities, sponsor peewee leagues, and survive corporate departures that devastate entire towns. He champions small business agility over corporate scale, arguing that nimble organizations can out-create rather than out-compete. The discussion explores "creativity pods," groups of skilled professionals forming entrepreneurial collectives, as the future of work. For business owners drowning in compliance chaos or community leaders tired of watching local enterprises fail, Janneh delivers both empathy and actionable strategy rooted in lived experience.

From Guyana to Business Leadership - 01:37

Family as Foundation - 01:49

The Three Cs Model Explained - 02:11

Compliance: Proving Your Business Exists - 03:01

Culture: Beyond Company Parties - 05:15

Consistency: The Trust Builder - 08:30

Economic Empowerment in BIPOC Communities - 14:20

Breaking the Five-Year Failure Myth - 32:43

Small Business Agility Advantage - 33:35

Out-Create, Don't Compete - 33:56

The Creativity Pods Concept - 35:29

Entrepreneurial Mindset Hypergrowth - 35:16

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HR veteran Kyle Patrick Smith didn't grow up with college as an option, his father didn't finish 11th grade, and his grandparents barely made it past elementary school. Yet after 25 years climbing corporate HR ladders, he walked away to build something better: HR Kyle Services, a consultancy proving "people first" can be more than corporate propaganda. As an Amazon bestselling author of both "Get the Job You Love" and "Find the Talent You Love," Kyle attacks talent strategy from both sides of the desk with uncommon candor about what's broken in today's workplace.

The conversation tackles post-COVID talent dynamics with refreshing honesty—people aren't just chasing paychecks anymore, and organizations still pretending otherwise are bleeding talent. Kyle champions treating departing employees as "alumni" rather than "former employees," recognizing relationships don't end at exit interviews. He predicts successful organizations will embrace the "total person" concept, meeting individual needs with flexibility instead of forcing everyone into identical employee boxes. On AI, the discussion reveals how technology serves as an articulation engine for human ideas rather than replacing genuine connection. For HR leaders exhausted by empty slogans, this episode delivers real strategy.

Small Town Roots, Big Ambitions - 01:47

Breaking the Education Barrier - 02:27

25 Years in Corporate HR - 03:05

Why He Started HR Kyle Services - 03:12

Two Books, Two Perspectives - 03:51

Get the Job You Love Philosophy - 04:02

Find the Talent You Love Approach - 05:30

Post-COVID Talent Reality Check - 15:45

From Former Employees to Alumni - 31:12

The Total Person Concept - 31:00

AI as Articulation Engine - 31:48

The Future of People-First HR - 30:37

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