Libsyn Directory

[Top Giver Series] Crafting Winning Teams for Growth With Patrick Ropella

Release Date: 12/18/2025

[Top Author Series] The Story Behind ESPN’s Sports Heaven With Mike Soltys & Garrett Z. Sutton

INspired INsider Podcast

Mike Soltys is the official historian and former Vice President of Communications at ESPN, the sports media giant that revolutionized 24-hour sports broadcasting. During his 43-year career, he led media relations and communications efforts as ESPN grew into a global sports powerhouse. Garrett Z. Sutton is a corporate attorney, best-selling author, and Owner at Corporate Direct, where he helps entrepreneurs and investors structure and protect their businesses. He is the author of multiple books, including Start Your Own Corporation, Run Your Own Corporation, and several titles in Robert...

[Top Women Series] Why Relationships Drive the Best Business Opportunities With Meghan Fialkoff

INspired INsider Podcast

Meghan Fialkoff is the Co-founder of The Modern Day Wife, a lifestyle brand renowned for producing luxury events that unite women, brands, and influencers across North America. Under her leadership, the brand has hosted over 50 events with audiences of up to 2,000 guests and has partnered with companies like Bloomingdale’s and W Hotels. Meghan has been recognized by LA Style Magazine and Modern Luxury, and was named a 40 Under 40 honoree by Beverly Hills Living Magazine. With a background in nonprofit leadership and philanthropy — including ringing the Nasdaq Opening Bell for her...

[Top Giver Series] The Smart Tax Strategies Every Business Owner Should Know With Courtney Epps

INspired INsider Podcast

Courtney Epps, EA, PhD, is the Founder of OTB Tax and a nationally recognized tax strategist, international speaker, and TEDx speaker. With nearly 20 years of experience, she helps entrepreneurs and businesses — from startups to $100 million companies — use strategic tax planning to legally reduce taxes and drive financial growth. She is also the Founder of Tax Rebels, an educational platform and community that teaches entrepreneurs how to use proactive tax strategies to keep more of what they earn. Courtney is the best-selling author of More Relaxing, Less Taxing and What’s Your Plan...

[SaaS & AI Series] AI Transforming Enterprise Workflows With Raghu Bala

INspired INsider Podcast

Raghu Bala is the CEO and Founder of Synergetics AI, a firm helping enterprises design and deploy agentic AI systems to drive growth, operational efficiency, and lasting competitive advantage. A serial entrepreneur with four startup exits, he has led Synergetics AI in developing cutting-edge solutions in autonomous and agentic AI, collaborating with organizations like MIT and HPE. Raghu previously held senior roles at Yahoo, InfoSpace, and PwC and holds degrees from The Wharton School and Stanford University. In this episode… Imagine a world where your digital twin shops for you, makes...

[SaaS & AI Series] How Clean Data Powers AI and Better Customer Experiences With Dale Renner

INspired INsider Podcast

Dale Renner is the Founder and CEO of Redpoint Global, a software company that helps businesses collect, organize, and use customer data to improve marketing, customer experiences, and business decisions. Since 2006, he has led the company’s vision of enabling marketers to orchestrate meaningful customer interactions across channels using advanced data capabilities. Dale brings more than 25 years of experience in CRM consulting, data processing, and analytics software. Earlier in his career, he was a global managing partner at Accenture, where he founded the firm’s Global CRM practice. In...

[Top Resources Series] The Ultimate Guide to Productivity Hacks

INspired INsider Podcast

Corey Ganim is the Founder of Return My Time, a company helping small business owners identify operational bottlenecks and reclaim time through practical AI tools and workflow-intelligence solutions. Paul Feith is the President of Paul Gregory Media, an award-winning digital marketing agency serving nonprofits, specializing in branding, campaigns, and social media that drive impact. Phil Herrington is the Owner of The Connector Community, a business networking platform focused on connecting professionals and facilitating relationship-driven introductions and collaborations to help...

[Private Equity & Author Series] The Owner’s Manual for Scaling and Selling With Seth Deutsch

INspired INsider Podcast

Seth Deutsch is the Founder and Managing Partner of Samson Partners Group, a strategic advisory firm that helps founders build investor-ready companies and maximize value before a private equity exit. He has managed teams in over 80 countries, acquired more than 70 companies, executed four recapitalizations, and operated businesses with revenues from $25 million to $2 billion. Seth is the author of The Owner’s Manual and the creator of the Exit Value Realization System™ (EVRS), a framework that helps owners reduce risk, increase valuation, and prepare for successful transitions. In this...

[SaaS & Sales Series] The Skill–Will Blueprint for Modern Sales Organizations With Bart Fanelli

INspired INsider Podcast

Bart Fanelli is the CEO and Co-founder of Skillibrium, an AI-driven revenue operating platform that aligns learning, execution, and coaching to help organizations scale high-performance revenue teams. With more than 25 years of revenue leadership experience, he has played key roles in scaling enterprise software companies, including Splunk, during a period of significant hypergrowth. He has worked with organizations from pre-IPO through post-IPO stages and is the co-author of The Success Cadence. Bart is recognized for building structured coaching frameworks that combine operational discipline...

[AI & Agency Series] AI-Powered Lead Generation and Automation for Agencies With Ken McLoud

INspired INsider Podcast

Ken McLoud is the Founder of Laconic Technology, a technology company focused on helping businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence and custom software to streamline operations, boost efficiency, and unlock growth. Drawing on his experience in AI engineering and strategic consulting, he partners with clients to design solutions that integrate smoothly with existing systems and deliver measurable business results. Prior to founding Laconic Technology, Ken worked as a Design Engineer at Ruger Firearms, where he leveraged his technical expertise to develop innovative products. In...

[SaaS Series] The Data-Driven Future of Media With David Rothstein

INspired INsider Podcast

David Rothstein is the CEO and Co-founder of Newsmatics, a next-generation news technology company dedicated to transforming the way organizations collect, analyze, and distribute information. Under his leadership, Newsmatics has grown to 70 employees and launched products like EIN Presswire, which processes 175,000 press releases annually, and Perspectify, a media bias tool. David’s career spans from pioneering internet publishing in 1990s Prague to building a network of 3,900 news sites and partnering with universities on innovation hackathons. He is passionate about using technology...

More Episodes

Patrick Ropella is the Founder and Chairman of Ropella 360, a global executive search and advisory firm specializing in connecting transformational leaders with private equity and mid-market companies. With over 35 years of experience, he has contributed to the growth of major global corporations such as Dow, General Electric, BASF, Nike, and Johnson & Johnson. As the author of The Right Hire and Pathways to Private Equity Partnerships, Patrick’s C-suite and investor insights are featured in hundreds of publications worldwide. His strategic vision and expertise have made him a trusted advisor to leaders across industries.

In this episode…

The path to extraordinary success often starts in unexpected places — from humble beginnings to high-stakes boardrooms. Some people manage to rise without the usual credentials, building influence, trust, and transformative relationships along the way. What enables someone to become a connector who impacts leaders, industries, and entire organizations?

According to Patrick Ropella, a renowned leadership strategist, the real advantage comes from mastering human connection rather than relying on traditional qualifications. He highlights how deep listening, specialization, and long-term trust outperform transactional sales and recruiting. This approach creates lasting impact by aligning the right leaders with the right missions. Over decades, he developed a system for identifying A-players, ensuring cultural fit, and supporting leadership transformation across complex industries. His stories — from helping global brands innovate to supporting frontier-technology teams — show how clarity, accountability, and relationship-building shape high-performance outcomes.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Patrick Ropella, Founder and Chairman of Ropella 360, to discuss building elite teams through authentic leadership. They explore how to identify A-players, the principles behind his Smart Search System, and what drives lasting transformation in organizations. Patrick also shares insights on trust, communication, and scaling through strong relationships.

In this episode…

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