Fortune's Path Podcast

Episódios

• 
  Chris Barkley - How to Make it in Independent Film 18.09.2026 57min

  Chris Barkley has a name for the thing that quietly wastes an artist's years: the Hollywood no. Nobody tells you your work is bad. They tell you to keep going. It's kind, and it's a form of dishonesty — and Chris would rather you heard the other version, even when it stings. Chris and I got into: — Why a good script isn't good enough anymore, and what the one-in-five-hundred ones do differently — What a Nashville songwriter told Chris at twenty-one that changed how he writes — How you can tell a performance is fake before you can say why — And why the clip you saw go viral had thirty thousand dollars behind it.
• 
  Greg Ceccarelli — Cut Twice, Measure Once 04.06.2026 1h 4min

  What does it mean to cut twice and measure once? Greg Ceccarelli, CPO of Spec Story, has built his career moving fast through IBM, Google, GitHub, Dropbox, and Pluralsight — and he's learned that the biggest bottleneck in building software isn't writing code anymore. It's making decisions. Greg and host Tom Noser dig into how AI is rewriting the economics of software development, why SaaS seat pricing is broken, and what it actually takes to build shared context across a team. Plus: the real challenge of distribution in a polluted content landscape, and why Greg believes asking questions is his single greatest professional skill.
• 
  Oliver Dauert — Biodiversity for Business 23.02.2026 56min

  Oliver Dauert has loved nature since he was five years old, but he didn't take the obvious path of studying ecology or marine biology. Instead he chose business, convinced that understanding the system was the best way to change it. After working in tech and watching biodiversity fall to the bottom of every corporate priority list, he eventually decided he couldn't keep showing up for work that didn't address what he saw as the defining crisis of our time. The result is Wildya, a consultancy and online community built for the people already working on nature — the founders of small NGOs, the entrepreneurs trying to restore coral reefs or rewild bison, the passionate professionals who are great at the nature part but struggle with the business part. Oliver's pitch is simple: he helps them get more attention, convert that attention into revenue, and scale their impact. The conversation ranges widely — from the Jenga tower metaphor Oliver uses to explain ecosystem collapse, to the practical steps any business can take to start contributing to local biodiversity, to the surprisingly honest accounting of what two years of entrepreneurial pivoting actually looks like. Oliver is refreshingly candid about the timing mistakes, the identity struggles, and the loneliness of caring deeply about something most people can't even pronounce correctly. What comes through most clearly is Oliver's belief that business and nature don't have to be enemies — that the same tools used to sell products and build brands can be turned toward restoring the world. That's the bet Wildya is making, and after listening to Oliver make his case, it's a hard one to argue with.
• 
  The Death of Seat-Based Pricing with Lee Bridges 16.01.2026 51min

  AI-driven efficiency is killing seat-based SaaS pricing. When a customer reduces a team from 10 people to 3, they just eliminated 70% of your potential revenue. Lee Bridges, a veteran product manager, recently led a pricing transformation that confronted this reality head-on. His solution: outcome-based pricing that charges customers when they achieve measurable results tied to their revenue, not when they add users. The key insight? Traditional per-seat pricing misaligns incentives—vendors want more users, customers want fewer. Outcome-based pricing flips this: "If I give you a dollar and you're going to give me $10 back, I'd be insane to not do that as many times as I can." Lee shares how his field service software reduced quote preparation from 20 minutes per asset to 90 seconds—a massive efficiency gain that would devastate seat-based revenue. Instead, they charge per quoted asset using tiered prepayment credits. The conversation also tackles why B2B SaaS isn't dying despite AI hype (consistency and training matter), vibe coding realities, and why expecting everyone to become a product manager through LLM interfaces is unrealistic. Bottom line: If you're charging per seat and building AI features, you're on a burning platform.
• 
  Kerry Cicero - How to Be a Good Leader When No One Told You How to Be a Good Leader 30.06.2025 57min

  In this episode of the Fortunes Path podcast, host Tom Noser interviews Kerry Cicero, author of 'It's Simple But Not Easy: A Leadership Guide for New Managers and Struggling Leaders.' Kerry shares her journey from personal adversity to becoming a seasoned leader in the business world. She discusses the challenges of being promoted without guidance, the importance of empathetic leadership, and how to build high-performing teams while maintaining human connections. Kerry also reflects on her background, experiences with bad bosses, and the differences in leading various business departments. The conversation delves into emotional management, the impact of leadership styles, and Kerry's ultimate goal of helping organizations improve through public speaking.
• 
  Ashley Kent: Balancing Life and Business 27.05.2025 1h 3min

  In this episode, host Tom Noser interviews Ashley Kent, founder and CEO of Clearstart, a boutique marketing growth agency specializing in venture-backed health tech companies. They discuss the challenges and joys of running a business with 15 employees while raising two young children, the evolution of marketing strategies in venture-backed businesses, and the impact of AI on marketing practices. Ashley shares insights on transitioning from founder-led sales to scalable systems, building repeatable marketing strategies, and the importance of maintaining strong client relationships amidst rapid growth. She also reflects on personal growth and resilience during tough times, providing inspiration for fellow entrepreneurs.
• 
  The Art of Business Leadership with Anderson Williams 24.04.2025 57min

  Tom Noser sits down with Anderson Williams, Principal for Talent Development at Shore Capital Partners, to explore the intersection of art, education, and business leadership. Anderson shares how Shore Capital helps small, family-run businesses scale by providing not just capital but strategic partnership and leadership development. He details the structure and philosophy behind their Leadership Academy, which focuses on building trust, improving communication, and developing leaders at all levels. Drawing from his unique background as both a fine arts master and business leader, Anderson explains how his artistic training fundamentally shaped his approach to problem-solving, feedback, and continuous improvement. The discussion reveals powerful parallels between artistic creation and business innovation, particularly in how both require being present, seeing differently, and iterating through failures. Anderson articulates a compelling vision of business as fundamentally human-centered: "We're humans working together with other humans and human-created systems to provide products and services to solve problems for other humans. And we call it a business." This episode offers valuable insights for leaders seeking to build trust, develop talent, and approach business challenges with creative vision.
• 
  David Ells — xAPI and How to create a tech standard 27.08.2024 1h 3min

  How do you create and establish a new standard in software? How do you use tech to help people learn? And are the people who administer educational systems like universities and corporations in an irreconcilable conflict with students? In this podcast, David Ells, managing director of Open LMS, discusses his journey in online learning technology, touching on the creation of new standards like the Experience API (XAPI), which tracks comprehensive learning experiences beyond just course completions. David emphasizes the convergence of higher education and corporate training towards skill-based learning and more tailored educational paths to better serve the evolving demands of the job market. He also reflects on the challenges and opportunities in the adoption of new learning technologies, the importance of a flexible approach to education, and his vision for the future of Open LMS in spearheading innovative, modular, and adaptable learning solutions.
• 
  JJ Rosen on Being In The Right Market at the Right Time 08.08.2024 1h 4min

  JJ Rosen is the founder of Atiba, an end to end technology services company with a thirty year history of serving clients of all shapes and sizes. A dying breed, JJ is a native Nashvillian. He talks about his childhood summers as a roadie with his Dad, how his obsession with computers began, and how being in the right market at the right time can mean you don't have to advertise your business.
• 
  Eve Eden on Designing for Accessibility, Anticipating Technological Development and Designing for Product Led Growth 23.07.2024 1h 2min

  In this episode of the Fortune's Path Podcast we chat with Eve Eden, founder of Eve UX Design Agency, about her expertise in design and thoughts on the slow shift from tangible to digital technologies, designing products for every degree of ability and the natural kindness, thoughtfulness and patience she finds in Nashville. She also shares invaluable wisdom regarding product-led growth and its reliance on proper UX design, with a must-hear hints for UX design best practices.
• 
  Jake Levirne On How to Use AI and The Internet the Right Way, How It Affects Our Psyche and How to Use New Tools Ethically. 25.06.2024 1h 7min

  In this episode of the Fortune’s Path Podcast we chat with veteran computer scientist and product manager Jake Levirne about AI, utopian online communities, his time with Digital Ocean and Docker as well as his new venture Ducky.foo, which seeks to prevent the bounty of AI development from remaining in the hands of the wealthy. We touch on some classic Fortune’s Path subjects such as virtuous monopolies, love as a business value and the nature of knowledge. Enjoy!
• 
  Beth Antony: Navigating a Better Way Through the College Application Process 20.05.2024 1h 1min

  Entirely by word of mouth, educator and college counseling professional Beth Antony has built a successful business based on a simple truth: there is a better way to navigate the college application process. Over the past decade, she’s helped high school seniors into their first choice college. Her better way applies not just to kids applying to colleges, but to anyone who's trying to find their place, including businesses that are trying to find their market. Beth’s dedication to both her pro bono and for-profit clients is inspiring and uplifting.
• 
  Sloane Scott on Healthcare Self-Pay, Creating Shareholder Value 05.05.2024 55min

  Sloane Scott has an amazing personal story. Along with being a 3x ovarian cancer survivor, she has led multiple health tech companies to successful exits as a strategic leader and communicator. She discusses navigating her cancer journey with no health insurance and, as a successful business leader, discusses how to create shareholder value. She lays out in a detailed and practical way how to navigate safe pay as a patient. She's seen healthcare from a business and patient perspective, and has lots of valuable insights to share on both.
• 
  Jason Moore on Selling SaaS into Healthcare 14.03.2024 1h 4min

  Entrepreneur and successful tech founder Jason Moore joins Fortune's Path founder and president Tom Noser to discuss Jason's experience in selling SaaS into healthcare, and offers advice for those starting down that road. He emphasizes the importance of patience in SaaS sales, particularly in the healthcare industry — where decision-making can be slow. Moore also shares his journey from being a salesperson to starting his own companies and highlights the pros and cons of selling in the education and healthcare markets. He discusses the significance of early technical decisions and the impact they can have on a company's scalability. Moore's company, Stratasan, was acquired by Syntellis in 2022.
• 
  Eric Satz Makes the Case for Alternative Assets 29.02.2024 58min

  In this episode of the Fortune's Path Podcast, host Tom Noser interviews Eric Satz, founder of Alto, an investment platform that allows individuals to invest their retirement accounts in alternative assets like crypto, art, real estate - even fine wine. Satz discusses his journey of building Alto from scratch and the challenges he faced along the way. He also talks about the fun and not-so-fun aspects of starting a business. Satz emphasizes the importance of building a strong team and having the support of family and loved ones when embarking on an entrepreneurial venture. He also shares his thoughts on the financial industry, the value of alternative assets, and the role of luck in business success.
• 
  Sharon Chou — How to AI 30.01.2024 1h 2min

  Sharon Chou discusses her background in physics and engineering, including her research in material design and quantum physics. She explains the basics of circuits and quantum computing, highlighting the differences between traditional computing and quantum computing. The conversation also delves into the ethics and risks of artificial intelligence, particularly in relation to bias and decision-making. Sharon emphasizes the importance of transparency and data curation in AI models. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the application of AI in mortgage and loan decisions, considering fairness and ethical considerations. The conversation explores various topics related to hiring and decision-making in business. It discusses the correlation between higher education and earnings, as well as the challenges of being blind to race and gender in the hiring process. The conversation also delves into the ethical dilemmas of ignoring correlations and the importance of simplifying the hiring process. It highlights the need to focus on skill-based factors in hiring and the tricky nature of job descriptions. The application of AI in the hiring process and the role of emotion in decision-making are also explored. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of applying the scientific method to solve business problems and being skeptical of information sources.
• 
  What Software Makers Can Learn From Adidas 18.01.2024 1h 8min

  Software makers can learn a lot from companies like Adidas. In this episode of the Fortune's Path podcast, Tom talks with quality and compliance expert Norbert Teston, formerly Director of Compliance Excellence at Adidas, the international athletic wear behemoth. He's now President of NT Creative and Consulting, where he helps COOs and Heads of Operations eliminate the fear and risk of product recalls. Learn: - How this French native started his career in Vietnam - What triggered his start in the footwear business - What it's like to be in a factory with 20,000 people - The nuances of creating a company culture of quality excellence But most important, how the quality processes in manufacturing might be applied to software development.
• 
  Rich Bouchner: Dogs, sales, and Life 18.01.2024 54min

  How can a dog get you through bad times? How does selling door to door to non-English speakers prepare you for a career in finance? What should you look for when investing in real estate? These are some of the questions we ask Rich Boucher, veteran real estate investor, dog lover, and sales expert. Rich is the Senior Director, Capital Markets for Alpha Investing, a private equity real estate firm providing investors with access to institutional-grad assets with compelling, risk-adjusted returns. Rich talks how Alpha investing chooses properties, why they only invest in properties that already exist, why high interest rates haven’t hurt his business, and why he still wants to sell face to face, on this episode of the Fortune’s Path podcast. The Fortune’s Path Podcast is a production of Fortune’s Path, where we help technology businesses create products that generate monopoly profits. Fractional product management. Product leadership coaching. Competitive Intelligence. Find your genius with Fortune’s Path.
• 
  Chris Boyd: Fintech and Incentivizing Hourly Workers 17.10.2023 54min

  What’s the best way to incentivize workers, especially in the construction industry? How do you bring technology to construction to improve outcomes for everybody? What’s it like building a technology product from scratch? Chris Boyd, former VP of product at Built Technologies, a Nashville unicorn, is now head of product for TrunkTools, an innovative construction fintech startup. Chris talks with Tom Noser of Fortune's Path about how TrunkTools has shown promise among early adopters who’ve generated measurable improvements in productivity and safety using the tool.
• 
  Ray Guzman — AI & Overcoming the Paper Ceiling 26.09.2023 1h

  What should non-technical people know about AI? How do you overcome not having a college degree? What advice do you give young entrepreneurs? These are some of the questions we ask Ray Guzman, Army Veteran, advisor, board member, strategist, and CEO of Switchpoint Ventures, an innovation enabler making AI investments in organizations that seek transformation through machine learning. Ray talks about his time in the Army and as a high potential employee at Microsoft, the place mindfulness plays in his life, and how he became a believer from being a rational skeptic, on this episode of the Fortune’s Path podcast.