Business Ninjas by WeLevel
Welcome to Business Ninjas, the podcast where we interview top business leaders and entrepreneurs who share their secrets to success. Learn from the masters and apply their insights to grow your own business. Join us as we explore the strategies and tactics used by today's most successful companies. Tune in now and become a business ninja yourself. 🤺🚀
Episodes
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andy Steuer sits down with Isabelle Tashima, Investor at Volition Capital, for a behind-the-scenes look at growth equity investing. Isabelle walks through her path into private equity, what a day in the life of an investor actually looks like, and how Volition partners with founder-led companies that are ready to scale. Together, they unpack what investors look for beyond revenue numbers—tea...
What does it take to transform a 50-year-old lighting supplier into a modern infrastructure intelligence partner? In this episode, WLS Lighting & Electrical CEO, Brandon Scogins, shares how the company evolved from bucket-truck service calls to leading the industry in connected lighting, analytics, and sustainability reporting.
We talk about the LED boom, the rise of total cost of ownership thinking, the push toward unified...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, Andrew Lippman sits down with Kristin McLane, President of CIMx Software, to talk about three decades of transforming how manufacturers build, track, and deliver products. Since 1996, CIMx has been helping manufacturers modernize production processes, eliminate paper-based workflows, and gain visibility across the shop floor with their advanced Manufacturing Execution System (MES) solutions.
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In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Nikhil Rai of QNX, a BlackBerry subsidiary, to explore how their real-time operating system powers the automotive industry — and why the company is expanding into new frontiers like industrial automation, medical devices, and aerospace.
From digital cockpits and over-the-air updates to mission-critical systems that demand zero failure, QNX has built its reputatio...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Stu Seltzer, President of Seltzer Licensing Group. Stu shares his journey from working at Yves Saint Laurent and Warner Brothers to founding his own licensing agency more than 25 years ago. They dive into how brand licensing helps companies—from global CPGs to nonprofits and entertainment brands—unlock growth through partnerships, collaborations, and royalties. ...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Logan Yonavjak, Co-Founder and CEO of the Founder Readiness Institute. Logan shares how her two decades in impact investing, natural capital, and startup financing led her to launch a groundbreaking new tool: the Founder Readiness Level. Unlike typical assessments, this framework measures a founder’s ability to handle complexity, pivot under pressure, and grow a...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman chats with Matt Seefeld, EVP at MedEvolve. Matt shares his journey from consulting to healthcare entrepreneurship and how MedEvolve helps medical providers survive and thrive in today’s margin-crushing environment. From skyrocketing costs and declining reimbursements to the complexity of revenue cycle management, Matt breaks down the realities of running a healthcare practice ...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Daniel Murray, President and CEO of Roman Stone. Founded in 1903, Roman Stone has been at the forefront of precast concrete manufacturing for more than a century. Daniel shares how his 30+ years of experience in precast shaped his leadership—and how Roman Stone is scaling from a New York legacy brand into a national player. From underground infrastructure and sh...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman chats with Paula Grunfeld, Chief Revenue Officer and Managing Director at Bunny Studio and Bunny Creative.
Paula shares her global journey from media to SaaS to creative leadership—and how Bunny Studio grew from a scrappy voiceover platform into a full creative services powerhouse. Now, with the launch of Bunny Creative, the company offers a managed, hands-on production partner...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman chats with Ladd Schuiling, VP of Sales at SkilledTrades.com
Ladd brings nearly two decades of experience in construction recruiting and operations to explain how SkilledTrades.com is tackling one of the toughest challenges in the industry—finding and retaining skilled labor. From electricians to plumbers to CDL drivers, SkilledTrades.com is a niche job board designed specifical...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, Andrew chats with Ravi Bijlani, Founder & CEO of KYXStart, about how they’re changing the game for B2B fintech. KYXStart is on a mission to make it easier for banks, fintechs, and financial institutions to activate new product offerings, streamline KYB (Know Your Business) processes, and accelerate client onboarding: all through a single integration.
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andy Steuer sits down with Chris Carter, CEO and Founder of Approyo, to talk about how his team is transforming SAP cloud migrations with AI‑driven insights and real‑world expertise. Chris shares why the clock is ticking for the 483,000 organizations that need to move to SAP S/4HANA by 2027—and how Approyo’s AI‑powered tools like Overwatch and FlowGen simplify the entire journey. From pre‑mi...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman chats with John Fontein, Co‑Founder of Sesame, the first direct‑to‑consumer healthcare marketplace where patients can book appointments with doctors at clear, upfront cash prices—no insurance needed. John shares how a personal family health scare inspired him to tackle one of America’s most frustrating problems: access to affordable, transparent care. From urgent telehealth vi...
In this inspiring episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Beth Demke, CEO of North Dakota’s Gateway to Science, to discuss how a grassroots idea grew into a 43,000-square-foot science hub serving over 130,000 people annually. Beth shares how passion, community support, and good old-fashioned organization turned a former shoe store into a state-of-the-art learning center where kids, adults, and even seniors en...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Nelson Dunk, Owner and Chief Creative Officer of Hammer & Anvil, a trailblazing immersive content studio reshaping how museums engage the public. Nelson shares how his passion for handcrafted storytelling and cutting-edge virtual reality tech converged to form a new kind of educational experience. One that’s high-resolution, photorealistic, and built for sha...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman chats with Michael McGuire, Chief Revenue Officer at NobelBiz, a leader in omnichannel contact center solutions and carrier services. With over 30 years of experience running and fixing call centers, Michael shares why NobelBiz stands out in a crowded tech space: it’s built by people who’ve actually lived the contact center life. From telecom cost savings and spam-call suppres...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, Andrew sits down with Elizabeth Ji, CEO and Managing Attorney at The Ji Law Firm, to unpack what makes a truly client-centered approach to immigration law. From work visas to employer-sponsored green cards, Elizabeth brings a personal touch, deep expertise, and refreshingly candid communication to a space often clouded by bureaucracy and burnout.
Whether she’s guiding individuals through...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, Andrew Lippman chats with John Polk, President of John Polk & Associates, about how smart businesses turn data into influence—not just reports. With a background in strategy, analytics, and leadership at Capital One, John now helps companies refine their presentation and storytelling skills to better connect with audiences, drive decision-making, and sharpen their strategic messaging.
John’s f...
In this episode of Business Ninjas, Andrew Lippman sits down with Jay Jung, founder and principal of Embarc Advisors, a boutique investment banking and M&A advisory firm serving the middle market. With a background at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey, Jay has worked on major deals like Yahoo’s sale to Verizon and MuleSoft’s acquisition by Salesforce. Now, he’s bringing that elite-level execution and insight to 7- and 8-figure mergers...
Radon, founder and CEO of Recovered and Free, and TEDx Southlake speaker. Don shares his raw, personal journey from addiction to long-term recovery, and how it inspired him to build a radically different kind of recovery program. Unlike traditional treatment centers driven by insurance payouts and clinical detachment, Recovered and Free is a peer-led, private-pay men’s program that prioritizes real connection, honest dialogue, and ...
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