Coffee with Jon - Think Big. Get Unstuck. Grow Your Business

Coffee with Jon -Formerly THINK Business Deep, soulful conversations with executives, managers, and sales professionals who are making a real difference — in their companies, their communities, and within themselves. Inspired by the legendary Larry King, Coffee with Jon brings you 1:1 interviews built around curiosity, authenticity, and the art of truly listening. Like King, host Jon Dwoskin puts the guest and their journey at the center of every conversation — asking the questions that uncover not just what people do, but why they do it, and what drives them to show up and lead the way they do. Every episode is a chance to see the bigger picture, shift your perspective, and find the spark that moves you to your own next level. Pull up a chair. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and let's - Get Unstuck & THINK BIG!

What Are You Good At: : The Playbook for Smart Scaling with Alisa & Jeff 08/13/2026

Jon Ostenson on AI Proof Your Franchise The Smarter Path to Business Ownership 08/11/2026

The Long Game Wins: Business Lessons from a Soft Serve Stand with Gemma Geldmacher 08/10/2026

Can AI Predict Disease Before Doctors? Adam Wolfe of Chroneme 08/04/2026

Think Like Elon: Eric Jorgenson on First Principles, Focus & Innovation 07/30/2026

Eric Miller on Why Your Household Is the Most Important Business You Own 07/28/2026

Why Focus Beats Hustle in Building a Brand with Ben Feys and Kevin Niehoff 07/23/2026

What Are You Good At: Jeff and Jason Hamama on Growth, AI & Success 07/21/2026

Katie Fortunato on AI-Native Growth & Monetizable Content 07/16/2026

Jason Wong on Why Packaging Sells Before You Do 07/14/2026

Kelly Rogers Victor on Why Small Health Choices Matter 07/10/2026

David Homan on Why Connection Is Your Greatest Competitive Advantage 07/09/2026

David Homan on Why Connection Is Your Greatest Competitive Advantage Connection is your greatest multiplier—if you know how to build it right. Enjoy my conversation with David Homan, CEO of Orchestrated Connecting. 3 takeaways: Connection is built, not found. It starts with curiosity, vulnerability, and showing up consistently. Give first—without keeping score. The best relationships aren’t transactional… they’re intentional. Gratitude compounds. A simple thank you can strengthen a relationship for a lifetime. Most people focus on outcomes. The best focus on people. --- A “Connector of Connectors:” David Homan connects people. His primary skill in life is learning about people, helping them reframe and pitch themselves better, and then creating long-lasting relationships based on the premise that for everyone for whom he connects the dots, they would be described as an action oriented, natural giver with high integrity. His book, Orchestrating Connection, published in 2025 is a USA Best-Seller, and his community of over 2300 global “superconnectors” represents family offices, venture capitalists, impact investors, entertainers, athletes, CEOs/Founders, community organizers, and a myriad of other incredible “occupations” that do little to describe how amazing each individual in this community of communities is. He launched his tech company, SOAR Connect in July 2024 and will be bringing out of beta to change the way we build relationships at scale with trust. How David got here: As a prior non-profit CEO, David raised millions for the arts while running a multi-national, multi-million dollar Foundation that survived near total destruction due to Bernie Madoff, and incubated a social impact film company for the Dalio Family Office. His impact advisory firm, Orchestrated Opportunities, partners with family offices, start-ups, funds, and nonprofits to builds new, structured ecosystems of relationships to strategically scale and expand their growth. Focal areas include mental health, health and wellness, climate change, art, philanthropy, social justice, and investing in women, among others. David is a recognized classical composer whose music can be found by saying “Alexa–please play the music of David Homan” with 7 albums and radio play internationally. His latest project is a film/mini-series focused on a composer who loses his mind to Alzheimer’s. He serves as an Advisor to NEXUS, the Catalyst Impact Foundation, Regeneration.VC, and as Board Chair of the Arthur Miller Foundation. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Website: LinkedIn: Email: Get Jon's Book: Connect with David Homan:Website: Instagram: LinkedIn: *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast. /episode/index/show/thinkbusiness/id/42025080

Eva Yazhari on Investing with Purpose and Profit 07/08/2026

Eva Yazhari on Investing with Purpose and Profit "Eva Yazhari, Founder & CEO of Beyond Capital Ventures—a firm investing in high-growth companies across emerging markets, led by conscious leaders balancing profit + purpose. One theme stood out: awareness drives everything. 3 takeaways: Nothing is neutral. Every decision—time, money, energy—creates impact. Think local to find purpose. Connection isn’t out there. It’s right in front of you. Awareness beats outcomes. Fear-based decisions kill growth. Possibility creates it. --- Eva Yazhari is an experienced investor, author, and advocate for conscious capitalism. As Managing Partner of Beyond Capital Ventures, she leads early-stage investments in East Africa and India, focusing on essential sectors with the potential to impact millions. Her investment portfolio spans over 50 equity and 9 debt deals, reaching more than 100 million customers and championing equitable ownership for all founders. Eva began her career on Wall Street as Vice President at EnTrust Capital, managing over $5 billion in investments. She now brings that institutional expertise to mentoring founders and scaling purpose-driven companies in emerging markets. She serves on the boards of Viebeg Medical, Lal10, and CarePoint, and contributes strategic oversight across the BCV portfolio. She’s also a member of the Athena Leadership Council at Barnard College. Eva is the author of The Good Your Money Can Do and co-hosts The Beyond Capital Podcast and The BCV Podcast, where she features global impact leaders. Splitting her time between London and Los Angeles, Eva combines financial rigor with values-driven leadership. She holds a BA in Mathematics from Barnard College, with additional credentials from MIT Sloan and Harvard Business School." Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Website: LinkedIn: Email: Get Jon's Book: Connect with Eva Yazhari: Website: X: Instagram: LinkedIn: Facebook: *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast. /episode/index/show/thinkbusiness/id/42006590

Joshua Gershonowicz on Making Smarter Business Decisions 07/08/2026

What Are You Good At: AI Is the New Teammate with Alex Mehr 07/06/2026

Mark Podolsky on Building True Financial Freedom 07/06/2026

Georgee George on Turning a Simple Idea into a Thriving Brand 07/06/2026

Hikari Senju on Winning Attention in the Age of AI 07/03/2026

Yining Wang on Why Your "Why" Is Your Greatest Competitive Advantage 07/02/2026

Matt Watson on Building Trust That Drives Growth 07/01/2026

Daniel Hindi on Why AI Chatbots Are Changing Customer Service 06/30/2026

What Are You Good At: Speed, Data and Adaptability with Gilad Bechar 06/29/2026

Frederick Fisher on Why Listening Is the Ultimate Sales Skill 06/28/2026

Frederick Fisher on Why Listening Is the Ultimate Sales Skill Most people wait for opportunity. The best ones sell their way into it. Enjoyed my conversation with Fred Fisher. 50+ years in business. Still sharp. Still curious. 4 things that stuck: 1 - Opportunity is sold — not given. At 17, he talked his way into a French kitchen in Grenoble. Sales isn’t a department. It’s a life skill. 2 - Listening wins. Great mentors don’t preach. They ask questions that flip the light switch. 3 - Technology scales. Humans close. Email is efficient. The phone builds trust. 4 - If you want to grow faster than the people around you — pick up the phone. Never stop learning. --- Frederick Fisher, J.D., CCP, is a seasoned expert in Professional Liability with a career spanning over 50 years. Renowned for his dedication to client financial security, he advocates for providing clients with strong financial safeguards, letting competitors focus on ""selling some insurance."" Fisher serves on the Editorial Board of Agents of America, is an original faculty member at the Claims College’s School of Professional Lines (sponsored by the Claims & Litigation Management Association) and has been the Senior Technical Advisor for over 30 years on a research manual titled Professional Liability Insurance published by the International Risk Management Institute. A founding member and Past President of the over 40,000-member strong Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), he was awarded the PLUS Founders Award in 2019. In addition to his roles in education and advisory, Fisher is a prolific writer and speaker. He authored the 2024 publication “Claims Made Insurance - The Policy That Changed the Industry” (published by the Insurance Journal/Wells Publishing Co.) and has over 80 industry-related articles to his name, along with more than 150 industry-related presentations and classes. Fisher’s career began with two decades as a Professional Lines Claims Adjuster, specializing in Professional Liability claims, qualitative claim audits, risk management, and loss control. Later, he founded ELM Insurance Brokers, where he led as CEO for over 20 years. Currently, he consults as a Subject Matter Expert for several PLUS RPLU courses, advises A.M. Best as a recommended expert, and provides expert witness testimony. Known for his insights into “The Gotchya’s that’ll Getchya ™ 1” of Executive Liability and Specialty Lines Insurance, he remains a trusted advisor to businesses navigating complex liability landscapes. Fred not only has a remarkable sense of humor, but also knows how to explain complex insurance contract language in a way that is understandable to everyone. Having grown up with an educated palate, Fred is an excellent cook. That comes as no surprise when one learns that, as a student, he spent time in France and convinced a local restaurant to teach him to cook, a hobby he still savors. In the 80s, he also published a cookbook, the Joys of Spice. Learn more at https://www.fishercg.com/ Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Website: LinkedIn: Email: Get Jon's Book: Connect with Frederick Fisher, J.D., CCP:Website: LinkedIn: *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast. /episode/index/show/thinkbusiness/id/41835640

Nathan Strum on Why First Impressions Drive Business Growth 06/27/2026

Nathan Strum on Why First Impressions Drive Business Growth When a client calls your business… what does your voice communicate? Confidence? Clarity? Chaos? Enjoyed talking with Nathan Strum, CEO of Abby Connect, about why the first 7 seconds of a call can shape lifetime value. Here are 3 takeaways: 1 - Culture Beats Training You can’t script care. If the internal culture is strong, callers feel it immediately. 2 - AI Done Right Feels Human In a 500,000-call study, escalation rates were nearly identical between AI and live receptionists. When built around human experience, technology supports connection — it doesn’t replace it. 3 - Your Phone Is a Revenue LeverEvery incoming call is a decision point. Handled well, it builds trust. Handled poorly, it sends them somewhere else. Most companies obsess over marketing. Few obsess over the moment someone actually reaches out. That moment? That’s where growth compounds… or disappears. First impressions aren’t small details. They’re the foundation. --- Nathan Strum is the CEO and co-founder of Abby Connect, where for the past 20 years, they've been helping small businesses make exceptional first impressions with professional, friendly receptionists who feel like part of their team. Now, they're taking that experience and expertise into the next chapter — combining human connection with the efficiency of AI through their new AI Receptionist. What’s driving this shift? Small businesses need to be responsive 24/7, but they also want personal service that doesn’t feel robotic. After 18 months of development and two months of real-world beta testing, we’re excited to bring this hybrid approach to market — giving businesses the best of both worlds. As a founder who’s spent two decades focused on customer experience, Nathan is passionate about technology that enhances service, not replaces it. I’m also learning that after 20 years behind the scenes, there’s value in stepping out and sharing what they've learned along the way — especially at a time when AI is rewriting the rules of customer communication. -- Abby Connect is U.S.-based answering service that embodies the warmth and professionalism of a dedicated member of your team, always ready to help. Abby has been serving the communication needs of businesses like yours for 20 years. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Website: LinkedIn: Email: Get Jon's Book: Connect with Jordan B. Segal:Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast. /episode/index/show/thinkbusiness/id/41835615

Jordan B. Segal on Why Great Deals Start with Better Questions 06/27/2026

Jordan B. Segal on Why Great Deals Start with Better Questions Great talking with Jordan B. Segal, Attorney at Maddin Hauser. 5 takeaways that stuck with me: 1 - You know early—if you’re paying attention. Jordan wanted to be an attorney as a kid—and was already developing his voice. 2 - Advocacy starts with clarity. You can’t advocate for yourself—or your business—without knowing your goals. 3 - A red flag isn’t a red light. When something doesn’t make sense, pause and ask better questions. 4 - Fair-fair beats win-win. The best deals come from understanding both sides’ interests. 5 - Good attorneys don’t stop deals—they structure them better. The goal isn’t avoidance. It’s alignment and protection. --- JORDAN B. SEGAL, shareholder, brings an entrepreneurial spirit, pragmatic approach, and a natural dealmaking proclivity to his work helping companies and individuals achieve their business and real estate objectives. A true counselor and partner for his clients, Jordan understands that every decision matters, every transaction is consequential, and every question or concern deserves a thoughtful, practical, and timely response. Whether structuring a new venture, advising on day-to-day issues, navigating a complex acquisition, or finding creative solutions in a deal that others said couldn’t be done, Jordan acts as a force multiplier for business and real estate clients who trust his sound, actionable guidance and reap the benefits of his demonstrable commitment to their success. A transactional attorney focused on mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, and entity formation and governance, Jordan recognizes that strategic deals and business moves do not happen in a vacuum. That is why he adopts a holistic perspective that considers both immediate concerns as well as long-term impacts on operations, valuation, and scalability. Jordan meets his clients where they are, giving them accessible and understandable information and insights that they need to make informed decisions while sparing them from gratuitous legalese. Jordan tailors his counsel to his clients, whether they are entrepreneurs starting their first venture, family-owned businesses planning generational transitions, or private equity funds building portfolios. Whatever the client’s specific circumstances, Jordan’s objective is the same: to be the trusted advisor who does whatever it takes to clear roadblocks and get deals done. Consistently sought out for complex, novel matters that require solutions that are at once creative and workable, Jordan always remains mindful of his clients’ bottom line, knowing that the value of his representation is measured not just in the consistent results he delivers but also in the efficiency and agility with which he does so. He can leverage his experience across a broad spectrum of industries as well as in-house perspectives to help clients succeed at every stage of the business lifecycle, from initial formation and financing that enables an entrepreneurial dream to take flight to business succession planning and exit strategies that allow his clients to enjoy the fruits of their labor while ensuring the continuity of their business and securing their legacy. Often serving in an “outside in-house counsel” role, Jordan has worked on nearly every legal issue that intersects with the daily and long-term concerns of business owners, including mergers and acquisitions; employment; data privacy and security; corporate structuring, governance, maintenance, and financing; real estate, land use, and development matters; supply chain and logistics contracting; regulatory compliance and government investigations; and any other matter that might affect the business. In short, Jordan helps businesses form, scale, grow, and, of course, make money. An avid legal writer and speaker, Jordan has been published frequently throughout his career in academic and business journals, including Michigan Business Law Journal, Compliance Today, and Cooley Law Review. His articles and presentations include vital business legal insights on corporate data security, nondisclosure agreements, nonprofits, and cannabis law. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Website: LinkedIn: Email: Get Jon's Book: Connect with Jordan B. Segal:Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast. /episode/index/show/thinkbusiness/id/41835610

Ranya Nehmeh on Building Culture in a Hybrid World 06/25/2026

Ranya Nehmeh on Building Culture in a Hybrid World I sat down with Ranya Nehmeh, HR strategist, professor, and author of In Praise of the Office. Our conversation reinforced what I’ve been hearing from many clients lately. HR today isn’t just policies or processes. -It’s culture. -It’s learning. -It’s how people actually develop in a distributed world. HR is a strategy now -Culture, development, and psychological safety—all part of the role. The hybrid has to be designed -Onboarding, mentoring, and collaboration don’t happen by default. If people come in only to sit on Zoom, something’s off. Leaders set the tone -Presence, learning, and collaboration follow what leaders model. When work is designed with care, people feel it. And when people feel it, they show up differently. And that’s where great work starts— and where retention improves as people choose to stay. --- Dr. Ranya Nehmeh is a people and talent management expert, future of work advocate, author, and adjunct university professor. With over 20 years of experience across both the private and public sectors, she has worked at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and human capital. Ranya began her career at a public relations speaker bureau in London before joining a global telecommunications company. She then moved into senior HR roles within international financial institutions, including the European Central Bank in Frankfurt and the OPEC Fund for International Development in Vienna. She has led projects related to talent management, internal talent marketplaces, strategic workforce planning, and leadership development, among other initiatives. She is the co-author of In Praise of the Office: The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work (Wharton School Press, 2025) and author of The CHAMELEON Leader: Connecting with Millennials (2019). Her work explores how organizations can create more human-centered, agile, and sustainable workplaces. Ranya is also a frequent contributor to leading journals and publications. Her most recent articles appeared in the Harvard Business Review, Hybrid Still Isn't Working (July/August 2025), HR's New Role (May/June 2024), and It's Time To Do Away with "Dry Promotions" (July 2024) Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Website: LinkedIn: Email: Get Jon's Book: Connect with Dr. Ranya Nehmeh:Website: *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast. /episode/index/show/thinkbusiness/id/41803800

Gabe Lullo on the Power of Consistent Prospecting 06/24/2026

Gabe Lullo on the Power of Consistent Prospecting Always Be Prospecting Today on THINK Business, I sat down with Gabe Lullo, CEO of Alio, a company that makes 11 million cold calls a year. Yes, 11 million. We dug into something every business needs to hear: Momentum is not a strategy. Prospecting is. Too many teams slow down once the pipeline gets full. They rely on inbound. They wait. They hope. Whether business is good, bad, or booming, the companies that keep hunting stay relevant, stay sharp, and stay growing. We also talked first impressions, SDR training, the power of simple questions, and why the best salespeople never sound “salesy”—they sound human. AI is accelerating the game, no doubt. But one thing still separates leaders from laggards: Pick. Up. The. Phone. People are getting fewer calls today because everyone else is afraid to make them. That’s an advantage for anyone willing to act. 3 Takeaways for Your Business Outbound is not optional. First impressions fuel conversions. The phone is your unfair advantage. People buy from people. A call breaks through the noise faster than any email sequence ever will. --- Gabe Lullo’s expertise in sales, marketing, recruiting, and management began when he started his own business after graduation from the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford. He owned and operated his own sales, training, and marketing firm for more than a decade. Gabe excelled in training sales and marketing professionals, and additionally, has had a successful career in executive recruiting. Gabe has been instrumental in expanding the company's search and placement for IT, Software Development, Sales, Customer Success, Marketing, and Executive leaders. Gabe's most recent success has been with us here at Alleyoop. For many years, he has been working to build and grow the company by focusing on its culture, environment, customer success, and sales. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Website: LinkedIn: Email: Get Jon's Book: Connect with Gabe Lullo:Website: LinkedIn: *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast. /episode/index/show/thinkbusiness/id/41793200

Charlie Cooper on Turning Passion into Purpose 06/23/2026

What are You Good At: Mentorship & Follow-Up with Tony Konja 06/22/2026

Coffee with Jon - Think Big. Get Unstuck. Grow Your Business

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