Building a Mission-Driven Tech Company with Kathy Durfee
Release Date: 10/22/2025
Unlocking Scalable Growth by Systematizing Marketing With Kasandra Murray
Systems Simplified
In This Episode Great marketing alone can’t sustain growth if operations aren’t prepared to support it. In this episode, Adi Klevit sits down with Kasandra Murray to explore the critical connection between marketing and operations. Kasandra explains how marketing may bring leads through the door, but it’s operational systems—training, documentation, and follow-through—that determine whether those leads turn into satisfied customers and long-term growth. Adi and Kasandra discuss common gaps they see across industries, particularly the tendency for businesses to overspend on marketing...
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How Chris LaFay Builds Websites That Scale With Your Business
Systems Simplified
In This Episode A website should support your business—not slow it down. In this episode, Adi Klevit sits down with Chris LaFay to discuss why most business websites fail to scale alongside the company. Chris explains how poorly structured websites often turn into bottlenecks, forcing founders and teams to rely on developers for even the smallest updates. Adi and Chris explore how a website can be intentionally designed as a sales and trust-building system. Chris shares his philosophy of building websites that function like living proposals—answering questions, showcasing proof, and...
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Lindsay Nahmiache on How Strategic Systems Create Freedom for Founders
Systems Simplified
In This Episode Adi Klevit sits down with Lindsay Nahmiache for a powerful conversation about growth, discomfort, and the systems that allow founders to evolve beyond daily operations. Lindsay shares how unexpected moments—like being stranded in Nepal without a passport—became pivotal experiences that shaped her ability to think clearly, creatively, and strategically. Adi highlights how these personal experiences directly influence leadership style and long-term business success. They also explore the early days of Lindsay’s marketing agency, including how saying “yes” before...
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Unlocking Business Freedom Through Documentation With John Gwaltney
Systems Simplified
In This Episode Freedom doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through systems. In this episode, Adi Klevit sits down with John Gwaltney to unpack how intentional systemization allowed him to step out of daily operations while continuing to scale multiple businesses. John shares the evolution of Outback Deck, from knocking on doors and handing out flyers to building a $14–15 million operation that runs without constant owner involvement. John explains how hiring improved once his team invested in documented processes and repeatable hiring systems. He also walks through how operational...
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Wendy Lieber on Where AI Helps—and Where Humans Must Lead
Systems Simplified
In This Episode: Just because AI can do something doesn’t mean it should. In this episode, Adi Klevit sits down with Wendy Lieber to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in business today: AI and marketing. Wendy shares what she’s seen firsthand as agencies and entrepreneurs rush to automate everything—and why that approach often backfires. Adi and Wendy explore where AI genuinely adds value, such as research, organization, and efficiency, and where it creates risk by removing the human element. They discuss why sales, storytelling, and relationship-building still require...
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Unlocking Sustainable Leadership Systems With Tony Thelen
Systems Simplified
In This Episode Leadership isn’t sustainable without intention, structure, and reflection. In this episode, Adi Klevit sits down with Tony Thelen to explore the often-overlooked concept of systematizing leadership. Drawing on decades of executive experience at John Deere, Tony explains why repeatable success depends on systems—not just in operations, but in how leaders manage themselves, their decisions, and their priorities. The conversation also explores Tony’s book, Things We Desire, inspired by the 1927 poem Desiderata. Tony and Adi discuss how enduring values such as peace, purpose,...
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Building a Business That Runs Without You: Jamey Schrier’s Path to Freedom
Systems Simplified
In This Episode Most business owners don’t struggle because they lack effort—they struggle because they’re trapped by control, identity, and belief systems. In this episode, Adi Klevit sits down with returning guest Jamey Schrier to explore why so many entrepreneurs remain buried in daily operations long after they intended to scale. Jamey outlines three core constraints that keep owners stuck: fear of letting go, over-identification with a role or profession, and deeply ingrained beliefs—especially around money. Adi and Jamey connect these mindset challenges to the practical necessity...
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How Christina Lenkowski Turns Podcasts Into a Powerful Business Growth System
Systems Simplified
In This Episode: What if your next big marketing breakthrough didn’t come from ads — but from your voice? In this episode, Adi Klevit talks with podcast publicist Christina Lenkowski about how entrepreneurs can use podcasts to expand their reach, credibility, and client base. Christina shares the difference between hosting your own show and guesting on others, emphasizing that each has its place — but that guesting is often the fastest route to visibility. Adi and Christina dive into the systems behind successful podcasting: how preparation builds trust, why consistency drives results,...
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How Knight Campbell Merges Adventure and Leadership Development
Systems Simplified
In This Episode: What can climbing a mountain teach you about leadership, decision-making, and systems? Knight Campbell has built his business around that very question. In this conversation, Adi Klevit talks with Knight about how outdoor adventure experiences serve as powerful laboratories for leadership development. Drawing from his time in the U.S. Navy and his work as a leadership professor, Knight explains why systems create safety — and how safety, in turn, builds trust. He and Adi explore how structure enables creativity, the parallels between guiding teams up a mountain and leading...
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From Values to Action: The Culture Branding Model Explained by Nader Safinya
Systems Simplified
In This Episode Culture is often discussed but rarely operationalized. Many organizations state their values, but few have systems that ensure those values guide behavior, communication, and decision-making at every level. In this episode of Systems Simplified, Adi Klevit interviews Nader Safinya, founder of Blackribbit, about his culture branding methodology that unifies customer and employee experiences. Nader explains why organizations unintentionally design two separate experiences, how this misalignment weakens culture, and why culture must be built on three foundational values that never...
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In this episode of Systems Simplified, host Adi Klevit interviews Kathy Durfee, Founder and CEO of TechHouse, about building a purpose-driven technology company grounded in systems and human connection. Kathy shares her unconventional journey from studying organic chemistry to becoming a leader in tech consulting, explaining how necessity, adaptability, and a mission to help others shaped her entrepreneurial path.
Kathy discusses how TechHouse helps small and mid-sized businesses grow by combining process optimization with practical technology. She introduces the company’s diagnostic blueprint, a structured approach that identifies root causes before implementing change. Through examples, she illustrates how automation, process mapping, and data visibility can help teams reduce friction, make smarter decisions, and scale sustainably.
She also highlights how artificial intelligence is transforming small business operations. Rather than replacing people, Kathy shows how AI can amplify human expertise, enabling entry-level employees to learn faster and contribute more effectively. Her examples demonstrate how automating data collection, centralizing information, and applying AI to replicate expert knowledge can free teams to focus on innovation.
Finally, Kathy reflects on the future of work and why small businesses are best positioned to thrive in the AI era. She emphasizes that well-documented systems and transparent processes build confidence, foster agility, and create opportunities for talented individuals seeking meaningful work in more flexible, people-centered organizations.