How AI Unlocks Hidden Patterns in Recruiting & Beyond with Jordan Thompson
Release Date: 08/22/2025
Why Is Financial Preparation Key to Maximizing Business Value with Jessica Fialkovich
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Are you building a business you can walk away from on your terms without leaving money legacy and people behind? Jessica shares how losing a corporate job during the Lehman era pushed her to take control of her career by becoming an entrepreneur then selling her first company and learning the hard way that exits require preparation not excitement She explains that most owners do not exit on their own terms and that the biggest preventable mistake is not running the company like it could exit at any time Her framework centers on having a target exit option plus a backup plan focusing on...
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Can Fractional CMOs Help Struggling Businesses Scale Faster with Melanie Asher
The B2B Growth Blueprint
What if the real reason your marketing is not working has nothing to do with your ads or your posting schedule? Melanie Asher explains why businesses stall when they chase checklists and vanity metrics instead of aligning marketing with clear 6 month and 5-year goals. She breaks down how ownership of core assets like your domain data and brand protections directly affects value during a transition. The conversation also spotlights common breakdowns like disconnected systems undocumented processes and marketing efforts that cannot be measured end to end. Her core point is that marketing is...
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How Can Founder-Led Companies Break Through Growth Plateaus with Alexis Sikorsky
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Ever feel like your business hit a ceiling—and no matter how hard you grind, it won’t budge? In this episode, Alexis Sikorsky breaks down the real reasons founder-led companies stall around the $5M–$10M mark. He shares how he scaled New Access, survived the 2008 crash, and eventually reached a $100M+ exit. You’ll hear why “more ideas” isn’t the problem—lack of clarity is. And you’ll leave with a simple way to assess what to fix first, so growth becomes engineered instead of chaotic. Quotes: Don’t confuse what’s urgent with what’s important. ...
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What Are DATA Principles for Realistic Projections with Jeffrey Kates
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Welcome back to the B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast. What happens when a company is one bad decision away from real trouble? In this episode of the B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast, host Mark Osborne sits down with Jeffrey Kates, a veteran turnaround and M&A advisor who steps in when clarity and discipline matter most. Jeffrey shares why clean historical financials are important, but why forward-looking projections are what separate average operators from best-in-class leaders. He breaks down how strong projections must be tied to real operations, from workflow and supply chain timing to margins...
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Will Your Pricing Scale as Fast as Your Company Needs It To with Dan Balcauski
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Welcome back to the B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast. In this episode, Mark Osborne sits down with Dan Balcauski, founder and chief pricing officer at Product Tranquility, to explore how B2B SaaS leaders can turn pricing and packaging into a strategic advantage. Dan shares how his background in engineering, product management, and an MBA internship led him to focus on how companies capture value, not just build products. Together, they break down why pricing is not just about picking a number, why who and how you charge matters more than what you charge, and how growth stage companies can evolve...
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Is Your Business Quietly Hitting a Growth Ceiling with Ron Gerran
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Welcome back to the B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast. In this episode, Mark Osborne sits down with Ron Gerrans to unpack what really drives scalable growth in founder-led companies, and why operational maturity is often the missing link between a solid business and a business that can grow or exit cleanly. Ron shares how years as a CEO shaped his approach, why most companies get stuck in heroic execution, and how leaders can move from chaos to repeatable, scalable systems without losing the entrepreneurial energy that made the company successful in the first place. Quotes: ...
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What Is Laurie Barkman’s BUILT Method for Successful Business Transitions
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Mark Osborne welcomes Laurie Barkman, founder of Business Transition Sherpa, a consulting firm specializing in guiding business owners through growth and transition strategies. With a background in B2B growth, Laurie brings firsthand experience as CEO of a third-generation company and has led a significant acquisition, giving her unique insight into both sides of the transition process. She has worked extensively with Gen X owners who approach exit planning differently than baby boomers, seeking more personalized and strategic pathways. Laurie is also the creator of the trademarked "Built to...
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How Is AI Reshaping Digital Marketplaces Today with Andy Allaway
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Mark Osborne chats with Andy Allaway, CEO of Empire Flippers, about his career journey and the company’s nine-year evolution as a leading marketplace for buying and selling online businesses. Andy shares insights on e-commerce, SaaS, and service businesses, the growing impact of AI, and why preparing for sale is critical. He highlights the valuation power of SaaS and subscription models, the rise of online business financing, and how Empire Flippers helps entrepreneurs and investors achieve smoother exits and stronger long-term value. Quotes: “I think sellers now...
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What Innovation Strategies Drive Success for StoneGate Advisor with Marc Pierce
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Welcome back to the B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast. In this episode, the focus is on what truly drives sustainable B2B growth: building a repeatable acquisition system and protecting revenue through intentional, proactive retention. The guest is Marc Pierce, a nationally recognized healthcare strategy and consulting leader with more than 25 years of experience across payers, providers, health tech, and health data. After spending two decades building StoneGate Advisors and developing the AI-enabled STAMP platform to predict churn before renewals, Marc was recently acquired by ECG...
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How Can Family Businesses Grow and Transition Successfully with Jonathan GOldhill
The B2B Growth Blueprint
Mark Osborne welcomes Jonathan Goldhill, business coach, author, and expert in guiding family-owned companies through growth and transition. With decades of experience working alongside entrepreneurs and family businesses, Jonathan has developed a proven approach to helping organizations professionalize operations, clarify leadership roles, and build sustainable enterprise value. His coaching emphasizes the unique challenges faced by family businesses, where personal relationships and generational dynamics often intersect with strategic decision-making. In this episode, Jonathan...
info_outlineWhat happens when a startup founder blends years of experience in film, business development, and cutting-edge tech to tackle accessibility challenges with AI? In this episode, host Mark Osborne sits down with Jordan Thompson—startup mentor, advisor, and now founder of Recruited (RAIRecruited.com). Jordan shares his journey from the entertainment industry to robotics, eVTOL aircraft, and AI-powered recruiting tools for athletes. Together, they unpack the nuances of startup mentorship, the pitfalls technical founders often face, and how AI will transform not only recruiting but the way we live.
If you’ve ever wondered how to balance product vision with customer feedback, or how to create socially impactful startups that actually scale, this conversation is for you.
Key Quotes
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“Strategy is going to beat tactics. If you’re a founder selling too fast without discovery, you’ve neglected the whetstone.” – Jordan Thompson
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“Sales is a process, not an event. The battle is won or lost before the pitch begins.” – Mark Osborne
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“If your sales reps aren’t invested enough to challenge your assumptions, they’re just selling what you give them—and that’s dangerous.” – Jordan Thompson
Key Takeaways
1. Prioritize customer discovery: Early conversations are more valuable than rushing sales; they uncover true product-market fit.
2. Focus on lead quality, not just volume: Misaligned leads waste time and resources.
3. Build inclusivity into AI: Technology should serve broader demographics, not just the top performers.
4. Guard against bias and opacity: Transparency and accountability must be core to AI adoption in startups.
Conclusion
Jordan Thompson’s journey shows the power of pairing technical innovation with accessibility-focused missions. From selling life insurance in college to mentoring founders and now leading his own AI startup, Jordan demonstrates that lasting success comes from curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to social impact. This episode is a masterclass in how to grow startups that don’t just scale—but serve.
Links Mentioned
Guest Links:
[Recruited (RAIRecruited.com)](https://rairecruited.com)
[TBG Innovators](https://tbginnovators.com)