Dr. Giancarlo Licata is the Founder and Director of Vital Brain Health, a Los Angeles–based center specializing in evidence-based neurofeedback and applied neuroscience. Having supported thousands of clients with chronic pain, migraines, and post‒concussion challenges, he specializes in EEG, qEEG, and functional neurology. Dr. Licata also speaks about anxiety, autism, sleep, and ADHD on national health and wellness podcasts.

Many business leaders work hard to improve performance through enhanced tools, systems, and habits, yet still face burnout, poor focus, and mental fatigue. Despite their efforts, their ability to make clear decisions or stay consistent often declines as pressure increases. How does brain function impact decision-making and performance?

According to neurofeedback and brain mapping expert Dr. Giancarlo Licata, professionals can improve mental performance by targeting brain activity. He recommends starting with a brain map to identify which regions are overworked or underperforming, then using neurofeedback to retrain those areas through short, focused sessions. Dr. Licata also emphasizes daily practices that protect and strengthen brain function — such as consistent sleep, focused breathing, limiting overstimulation from technology, and recognizing when anxiety is reducing focus. By addressing brain performance, leaders can make clearer decisions, sustain attention longer, and reduce stress without relying solely on external systems or tools.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris talks with Dr. Giancarlo Licata, Founder and Director of Vital Brain Health, about how brain mapping and neurofeedback improve performance. Dr. Licata explains how brain scans uncover hidden issues behind focus problems, how personalized training rewires neural pathways for lasting results, and how modern habits and AI tools can strengthen or weaken brain function.

Francesco Gatti is the Co-founder and CEO of Opensend, a data company for e-commerce brands that converts anonymous visitors into leads. The company works with brands, including TrueClassic, OatsOvernight, Benchmade, AlexaderWang, and Rhone. With over a decade of digital marketing experience, Francesco held roles at companies, including VOLTN, Burrata House, Herb, and Grata.

Most brands invest heavily in driving website traffic, yet the majority of visitors stay invisible and never convert. How can companies uncover these hidden audiences and turn them into engaged customers without invading their privacy?

According to identity resolution and data-driven marketing expert Francesco Gatti, brands can recognize high-intent visitors and nurture them into buyers by analyzing on-site behavior — like reading product details or checking contact pages — to gauge purchase readiness. He recommends filling ad platforms with rich, accurate data to improve look-alike audiences and cut acquisition costs. By combining quality data with careful personalization, companies can elevate ROI while respecting consumer trust.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris chats with Opensend Co-founder and CEO Francesco Gatti about turning anonymous traffic into known, marketable relationships. Francesco explains how high-intent signals reveal purchase readiness, why rich data strengthens Meta ad performance, and how AI-driven cohort analysis powers personalized ad creative.

Akash Nigam is the Founder and CEO of Genies, Inc., an avatar-technology company building personalized 3D avatars and digital identities for consumers, creators, and brands. Under his leadership, Genies has established partnerships with celebrities and major brands, including Unity, Warner Music Group, Justin Bieber, Cardi B., and Shawn Mendes. Akash is also the Founder of Humans, an AI-native venture studio.

As online interactions evolve, brands must build connections with their customers. Traditional tools like email campaigns or social media posts fall short in creating meaningful relationships. How can companies create a more personal, two-way experience that feels less like marketing and more like a genuine conversation?

According to interactive digital experience designer Akash Nigam, AI avatars can become the next user interface of the internet. Brands can create emotionally intelligent AI companions that gather user insights and build authentic relationships through natural conversations, games, and shared experiences. By leveraging AI to capture personality traits for personalized experiences and designing guardrails that prevent emotional dependency on chatbots, companies can turn followers into engaged users.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris speaks with Akash Nigam, Founder and CEO of Genies, Inc., about how AI avatars are reshaping brand relationships. Akash explains why avatars will replace mobile apps as the primary interface, how Unity’s integration with Genies brings these companions into games, and the ethical concerns of emotional dependence on AI.

Jim Moorhead is the Founder and CEO of STAND BRAVE, a consulting and coaching firm that helps organizations build empowering cultures. As a former assistant US attorney, investment banker, and law firm partner, he has advised Fortune 500 companies in crises and high-stakes settings. Jim is also the author of The Instant Survivor: Right Ways to Respond When Things Go Wrong. His STAND BRAVE™ framework guides leaders and teams to take calculated risks and respond boldly when faced with adversity.

Bravery is often celebrated in hindsight, yet in the moment, it can feel anything but heroic. With organizations facing rapid change and constant pressure, how can leaders and teams act boldly during uncertainty and high stakes? What does it take to build a culture that consistently chooses courage over comfort?

Crisis management and brave leadership authority, Jim Moorhead argues that bravery is not a rare trait but a muscle to be trained. He advises making bravery a shared team value and starting small by openly identifying problems or asking for help before scaling to bigger risks. Leaders can create structures that reward innovation and use clear company values to decide when to walk away from revenue drivers that aren’t the right fit. These habits enable agility and resilience during chaotic times.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris sits down with Jim Moorhead, Founder and CEO of STAND BRAVE, to talk about building a culture of courageous leadership. Jim explains why innovation slowdowns are often bravery problems, how his STAND BRAVE™ framework turns single acts of courage into sustained brave leadership, and why taking even one small step can spark a cycle of bold action.

Alan Gregerman is the President and Chief Innovation Officer at VENTURE WORKS Inc, a consulting firm that helps organizations create innovative strategies, products, and services. He is a keynote speaker, award-winning author, and business consultant who helps companies and organizations unlock their teams’ genius zones. For over 25 years, Alan has designed and delivered high-impact keynotes for organizations, including Google, Marriott, Verizon, Mercedes-Benz, Kaiser-Permanente, Citibank, and Lockheed Martin.

With the speed of innovation, businesses often fall into the trap of relying on what they already know. While past expertise can bring incremental improvements, it rarely sparks the kind of breakthroughs that transform industries. How can companies avoid getting stuck in the comfort of their knowledge and uncover fresh ideas to stay relevant?

Innovation expert Alan Gregerman encourages brands to embrace enlightened ignorance, a mindset that values curiosity, humility, and openness to the unknown. Outsiders often disrupt industries because they see problems without being blinded by past experiences. Alan also emphasizes the importance of balancing iteration with innovation, continually raising the bar for customer expectations, and finding creative ways to differentiate in increasingly competitive markets. He pushes leaders to reevaluate their expertise and adopt a mindset of constant learning.

In this episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris chats with Alan Gregerman, President and Chief Innovation Officer at VENTURE WORKS Inc, about how enlightened ignorance can catalyze innovation. Alan discusses why outsiders often spark breakthroughs, how businesses can balance iteration with bold innovation, and why raising customer expectations is crucial to long-term growth.

DeDe Halfhill is the Founder and Principal Consultant at TAIOH Partners, a leadership consulting firm. As a retired US Air Force Colonel, keynote speaker, and advisor, she has over 25 years of leadership experience, including advising the Commander General in Iraq and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. DeDe has developed the Master the Unseen™ framework — the hidden and emotional dynamics shaping alignment, trust, and momentum in teams.

Leaders often believe that data, KPIs, and dashboards tell the whole story of their organization. Yet, beneath the numbers are unspoken emotions and hidden dynamics that drive or derail performance. When leaders avoid difficult conversations or overlook the emotional undercurrents within their teams, they risk making costly mistakes and missing opportunities. How can leaders confront these invisible forces and lead more effectively?

Retired Air Force Colonel and leadership advisor DeDe Halfhill emphasizes the importance of curiosity, reframing negativity, and making team members feel seen and heard. Leaders can engage in coaching techniques to uncover the fear behind resistance, promote accountability, and recognize when their strengths and ideas can become liabilities. By addressing emotions directly and building trust outside of crisis moments, leaders can foster resilience and connection and boost performance.

In today’s episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, DeDe Halfhill, Founder and Principal Consultant at TAIOH Partners, joins William Harris to discuss uncovering the leadership blind spots that can derail performance. DeDe talks about reframing dissent as care, the identity crisis leaders often face after major transitions, and the importance of acknowledging humanity in the workplace.

Jon Sneider is the Founder, President, and Executive Producer of Wild Gravity, an award-winning creative production company. With more than 25 years of experience in marketing and advertising on the agency and client sides, he’s held senior roles at L.L.Bean, Microsoft, and Redfin. Jon is also the author of Hacking Advertising, which talks about building effective advertising campaigns.

Many businesses still rely on large agencies to produce their advertising, only to face bloated costs, long timelines, and diluted creative. The traditional agency model often creates inefficiencies, with multiple vendors and layers of approval that hinder the process. How can companies deliver world-class ads without sacrificing quality?

Advertising veteran Jon Sneider has created an approach to challenge traditional advertising inefficiencies. He maintains that small, expert teams eliminate unnecessary hierarchies and deliver stronger results with less overhead. By focusing on breakthrough, brand and message recall, likability, and purchase intent, companies can create effective ads that scale industries. Additionally, combining AI with human expertise accelerates production while retaining high-performing creative.

In this week’s episode of the Up Arrow Podcast, William Harris hosts Jon Sneider, Founder, President, and Executive Producer of Wild Gravity, to talk about reinventing advertising for efficiency and impact. Jon shares examples from high-performing insurance campaigns, his experience managing sales teams and advertising budgets at large corporations, and how growing up before the internet fueled his creativity.

Jeff Webb is the Founder and President of the International Cheer Union (ICU), the world governing body for cheerleading. Under his leadership, the ICU has grown to represent over 116 national federations and achieved recognition by the International Olympic Committee. Jeff also founded the Universal Cheerleading Association and Varsity Brands (formerly Varsity Spirit), where he elevated cheerleading into a global sport before selling the company for $2.5 billion.

Cheerleading has become a widely recognized global sport, but scaling it into a multibillion-dollar category was no easy feat. From undercapitalization to supplier failures and resistance from industry leaders, it required resilience, creativity, and bold leadership. How did the king of cheerleading transform his niche passion into a worldwide movement recognized by the Olympic Committee?

Modern cheerleading pioneer Jeff Webb reinvented team uniforms to match athletic performance and created competitions that captured TV audiences. He emphasizes the importance of staying close to the field, practicing continuous improvement, and cultivating a strong culture through rigorous hiring and leadership standards. By treating cheerleading like other popular global sports, Jeff scaled it into a distinct category.

Join William Harris in today’s episode of the Up Arrow Podcast as he chats with Jeff Webb, Founder and President of the International Cheer Union (ICU), about how he built cheerleading into a global sport. Jeff discusses how he created a new market through innovation and shares leadership philosophies and hiring practices.