Episodes

How Failing Forward can become a blueprint for entrepreneurial success! Mohamed "Mo"Ahmed, founder of the Boundless Founder community and author of The Inside Out Entrepreneur, shares his journey from a corporate career at Microsoft and AWS to navigating the unpredictable world of startups. After starting his first company in 2017, Mohamed faced tough challenges—including a failed acquisition—that pushed him to rethink his approach to leadership, resilience, and mindset. In this episode of the R...

In this episode of the Rising Tide Startups Podcast, Tekla Tskhvediani shares how she went from Georgia’s corporate hospitality industry to creating a location-independent career in Bali. She talks about what led her to take that leap, the challenges she faced, and how she built a career that gives her both freedom and fulfillment. Tekla explains why the traditional job-hunting approach, like sending out resumes and hoping for the best, doesn’t work anymore. She shares how showcasing your value,...

Today, the final day of 2024, we turn the mic around and close out a banner year by hearing from our host. Kevin Prewett is the founder and CEO of Rising Tide Startups Podcast and Podbrandmedia.com. With a passion for empowering entrepreneurs and brands, Kevin has built a platform dedicated to helping startup founders grow and scale their businesses through the power of podcasting and media. As a seasoned podcaster and media strategist, he combines his expertise in content creation with his comm...

In this episode of Rising Tide Startups Podcast, Hailey Brooke Weiss, founder and CEO of Power Move Marketing, shares how her journey from collegiate volleyball captain to marketing agency leader has shaped her approach to business and leadership. With a passion for adaptability and innovation, Hailey has built a remote-first agency that offers tailored, integrated solutions to startups, acting as an in-house marketing partner for businesses. Hailey reveals how her team navigates industry shifts...

How does a flight instructor turn financial struggles into a groundbreaking fintech? Jason Schappert, founder of Moola, shares his journey from teaching aviation to empowering financial literacy through innovative fintech solutions. From being a college dropout to building a multi-million-dollar online flight school, Jason turned challenges into opportunities and now helps others navigate their own paths to success. In this episode of the Rising Tide Startups podcast, Jason talks about the lesso...

In this episode of the Rising Tide Startups Podcast, Bradley Hamner, founder of Blueprint OS and host of “Above The Business”, shares how small business owners can scale sustainably by designing systems that drive growth and efficiency, and free up their time. Having experienced firsthand the shift from burnout to balance, Bradley introduces his SCALE framework—Sustainable Revenue, Consistent Growth, Ample Time Away, Leverage, and Efficient Operations—which helps entrepreneurs grow without sacri...

Building a niche website is one thing, but turning it into a thriving SEO agency? That’s a whole different game. On this episode of the Rising Tide Startups podcast, Kevin Prewett sits down with Nile Frater, founder of Masse SEO and former owner of NoCode.Tech. Nile shares his journey from creating a no-code tech site to selling it and launching his next big venture in SEO. He dives into the highs and lows of selling a business—navigating buyer interest, tough negotiations, and ultimately sealin...

Can a single tool grow into a thriving business with thousands of loyal customers? In this episode of the Rising Tide Startups podcast, host Kevin Prewett sits down with Bilal Ararou, the visionary founder of Nuelink, to unpack his journey from a freelance web designer to the creator of an innovative social media automation platform. Bilal reveals how Nuelink, originally built to streamline his agency's social media tasks, quickly evolved into a robust tool packed with AI-driven features that si...

James Pietruszynsk, CEO of SoulSight, brings a unique perspective to branding. He believes that effective brands are built on genuine emotional connections and a deep understanding of human behavior. James recognizes the challenge of balancing innovation with brand consistency, emphasizing the importance of meaningful changes that enhance consumer experiences rather than superficial alterations. At SoulSight, James fosters an environment that encourages both strategic thinking and creativity. He...

From the bustling streets of Vietnam to the competitive business landscape of Australia, Linh Podetti's entrepreneurial journey is one of grit and innovation. As the founder of Outsourcing Angel, Linh transformed her experiences as a single mother into a business model that champions flexibility and remote work. Her story challenges conventional notions of success, showing how personal challenges can spark creative business solutions that resonate globally. Linh's path wasn't always smooth. She ...

From working in his family's Michigan restaurant to running his own tech company, Dexter Zhuang's story shows that hard work and smart planning can take you where you want to go. Dexter is the founder of Money Abroad, an online education platform that helps high-performers design their independent money paths. He started his career in San Francisco but has lived and worked across Southeast Asia and Latin America for the past six years. With over 10 years of experience building products and teams...

Alex Chompff's career trajectory spans from military service to the epicenter of Silicon Valley's internet boom, culminating in his current role as a venture capital expert. Drawing from his experience as both a seasoned investor and a father of five, he emphasizes the critical nature of business partnerships. Alex asserts that selecting the right business partner is as consequential as choosing a life partner, underscoring the long-term impact of these professional relationships. During his ten...

Lizzy Brooks is the visionary behind Virtually Brooks, a thriving virtual assistant agency that creates flexible job opportunities for American women. After transitioning from a corporate logistics career to entrepreneurship in 2018, Lizzy has grown her team to over 50 assistants, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her agency is known for its professionalism, seamless communication, and commitment to working within the same time zones as clients, ensuring efficiency and personalized servic...

What if you could enjoy the freedom to work from anywhere in the world with just a laptop and Wi-Fi? Jennifer Scholz's journey from a conventional office job to becoming an accomplished virtual assistant exemplifies this possibility. In this episode of the Rising Tide Start-Up Podcast, we explore how Jennifer turned her side project into a successful full-time business. Her experience highlights the growing popularity of remote work. It offers guidance for anyone wishing to break away from the 9...

Can you build your dream home with virtual assistance? In this episode of Rising Tide Startups, Michael Tidwell joins us to share his journey. Join host Kevin Prewett as he explores how Michael Tidwell built his dream home, grew his family, and expanded his business empire—all with the help of virtual assistants. Michael's story and his decade-long partnership with a VA show how trust and clear communication can turn remote relationships into pillars of success. Michael Tidwell is a business own...

Imagine the freedom of detaching from the day-to-day grind of your business. Many small business owners fantasize about the freedom to explore the world while their business flourishes—Scott Cox has made this dream his reality. In this episode, Scott shares his journey from being hands-on in his business to become a global digital nomad. He reveals how small changes in routine and environment can spark creativity and make lifestyle freedom possible. Scott’s story is a testament to how entreprene...

Ever wondered what it takes to pivot from the dream of a sports career to making a global impact as an entrepreneur? Let us introduce you to International Business Consultant Steve Collins, who's transcended borders and boundaries to revolutionize startups and leadership training. Explore Steve's journey from corporate newcomer to international leader, along the way emphasizing passion and strategic alignment for success. We discuss the critical role of leadership in team building, offer insight...

Reclaim your time with Jaime Jay, the pioneering mind behind Bottleneck Virtual Assistants, as he shares his journey from U.S. Army paratrooper to entrepreneur extraordinaire, navigating the transition from the rigid structures of corporate America to the creative realm of virtual assistance. We're excited to welcome Jaime Jay back for his third appearance on Rising Tide Startups, and is labelled by our host as the internet's embodiment of kindness. His story is a testament to the transformative...

In this episode of The Rising Tide Startups, we chat with Taylor Black, a dynamic entrepreneur whose roots trace back to high school ventures and now extend into the innovative ecosystem of Microsoft's venture studio. Taylor's narrative is woven from his formative years launching a B2B SaaS enterprise during his legal studies, to his strategic role in shepherding early-stage companies towards market success such as Conduit Venture Labs and Fizzy Ventures. Whether he's sharing the nuts and bolts ...

Ever feel caught in a race against time as work consumes every precious moment? Mike Abramowitz, a seasoned expert in time management for high-earners, joins our host, Kevin Prewett in this episode of The Rising Tide Startups to address this struggle, unveiling strategies honed through personal experiences. From humble beginnings at Cutco to enduring financial setbacks post-college, Mike's narrative is one of resilience and transformation. Mike Abramowitz is a #1 Amazon bestselling author, impac...

Join us on Rising Tide Startups as we welcome Brittany Brewer, Senior Account Executive at FreeUp Marketplace, for a candid discussion about her transition from a freelancer to a pivotal role in a freelancer hiring platform. Brittany shares her unique perspective on navigating the complexities of matching clients with top-tier freelancers to ensure businesses overcome their challenges through strategic hiring. She also shares FreeUp's unique approach to building a global community of virtual ser...

When you meet someone like Chris McShanag, you can't help but feel energized by the passion they bring to their work. In this latest episode of the Rising Tide Startups, our host, Kevin Prewett, had the pleasure of chatting with this virtual assistant industry trailblazer, whose story of transitioning from the asset-intensive sector to launching MedVA, BizVA, and OrthoVA is as inspiring as it is informative. These services are not just addressing staffing issues and refocusing professionals on t...

Imagine having a strategic partner working remotely yet closely with you, handling complex tasks that go beyond the traditional virtual assistant's to-do list. That's the reality Gina's company, Athena Executive Services, offers to swamped business owners. In the latest episode of Rising Tide Startups podcast, we interview Gina Cotner, the founder and CEO of Athena. Gina is a driven individual who is passionate about helping others live lives of their own design. She firmly believes that many pe...

Join us as we kick off the new year with a very special conversation on Rising Tide Startups, featuring the Czarina Lei Pineda. In this episode, Czarina (or Cha as her friends call her) shares her journey working as a virtual assistant and the unexpected turns that led to her collaborating with our host, Kevin Prewett, in enhancing the workflow of this great podcast. Cha's impact on the show includes streamlining the processes which in turn gave rise to the launch of a virtual services agency co...