Discover how a seasoned consultant uses sales strategy, business systems and financial insight to drive growth, profit and lasting revenue. In this episode of the Business 101 Podcast, we dive deep with Christopher Filipiak, a business coach who teaches founders and solo consultants how to design more profitable, scalable businesses through intentional systems, honest pricing and real ownership.Christopher breaks down how bad sales habits ruin businesses; how mindset is only one part of the fix; and why building a business without being glued to every client call is the real goal. You'll learn why intellectual courage, clean sales processes and ruthless calendar discipline are critical for long-term business success.We also explore how finance, data and ratios influence the bottom line; the AI tools solo consultants should be using; and how corporate refugees can turn experience into income. If you're building a business or trying to escape the chaos of inconsistent cash flow, this is your episode.Christopher’s insights cut through fluff. This is not motivational talk; it’s tactical. Bring your notes; you’ll leave with actions.📌 Chapters0:00 - Intro; who is Christopher Filipiak1:45 - Sales vs. systems; why most founders stall4:20 - Business profit: the real math behind growth6:55 - Solo consultant frameworks that scale9:40 - Why “more leads” isn't your first fix13:20 - AI in business: smart solo tools16:30 - Time, calendar, leverage; the real assets20:10 - Pricing right: consultant revenue drivers24:00 - Losses, ratios and profit signals27:50 - Career shifts: from corporate to consultant30:40 - How to grow without burning out33:00 - Wrap-up: business, money, systems that work---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Find Chris here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherfilipiak/Connect with Ayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioyegbadeStream the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2slCYeTCsSW1usBQeXdUJp?si=7152f76cce464b5#business #money #finance #entrepreneurship #sales #consulting #growth #profit #Business101Podcast

Ayo Oye, MBA, ACA, B.Sc., (Business Consultant with experience at McKinsey, Deloitte & PwC across 3 continents), sits down with Katherine Lacefield (Founder, Just Be Cause Consulting) to discuss the art of fundraising and its critical role in business.Before starting her firm - which specializes in advising non-profits raising funds for philanthropic causes, Katherine spent 20 years planning and executing fundraising strategies for various non-profit organizations in Canada and around the world. As the former Coordinator and Communications Manager of PhiLab, Canada's largest philanthropic grantmaking research lab, Katherine has been at the forefront of grantmaking research, particularly in the realms of social and environmental justice since 2017. Through her role, she has fostered invaluable relationships with grantmaking foundations, nonprofits, and philanthropy researchers worldwide. Her work has covered diverse aspects of philanthropy, including the arts, invisible causes, marginalised communities, environment and climate change, social inequalities, and indigenous relations.

Ayo Oye, MBA, ACA, B.Sc., (Management Consultant with experience at McKinsey, Deloitte & PwC across 3 continents), sits down with Brandon Woodward (Managing Partner at Woodward, Kelley, Fulton & Kaplan Law Office) to explore the legal considerations involved in building a sustainable business.Brandon took his law firm from a card table in his spare bedroom to a six-figure business advising startups and closely held companies across the Treasure Coast. Now, with over 25 years of guiding founders through everything from growth to exits, Brandon shares hard-won lessons that could save your business time, money, and future headaches. We dive into the biggest legal blind spots entrepreneurs overlook, the costly mistakes hidden in the fine print, and why your contracts are often your strongest competitive edge. We also explore how Brandon’s firm built a resilient culture, what running a business while raising a family really looks like, and how to set yourself up for a clean exit years before you sell.Whether you’re just launching your startup or scaling toward your next big milestone, this conversation will arm you with the practical, story-driven insights you need to protect and grow your business sustainably.

In this episode, we explore critical lessons in business resilience and growth with John Follis, co-founder of Follis & Verdi. John’s journey from being fired to receiving honors at the White House is a case study in leveraging adversity for entrepreneurial success. Discover how to navigate the challenges of starting a business in the competitive advertising industry, identify hidden opportunities in setbacks, and understand why creating your own unique path can lead to sustainable growth. This conversation offers valuable insights for early-stage founders and professionals alike, emphasizing the importance of creativity and resilience in achieving business success.

What happens when a former tech executive applies business intelligence, financial strategy, and data-driven thinking to the wellness industry?

In this episode, we speak with Steve Cowan, founder of BeMicro, America’s first freeze-dried microgreens supplement company. After leaving a lucrative tech career, Steve bootstrapped a product nobody understood — and turned it into a fast-growing company with national reach and impressive revenue growth.

We dive into:

• How to build a profitable business using real-time data insights and financial ratios

• Turning an unconventional idea into a scalable revenue-generating company

• Why every founder needs a consultant mindset — like those from McKinsey, PwC, or Deloitte

• Managing losses, measuring the bottom line, and navigating risk

• The role of AI in business operations, consumer insights, and growth strategy

Whether you're a chartered accountant, aspiring entrepreneur, or exploring new markets, this episode delivers sharp insights on growth, finance, and bold moves that lead to profit.

🎧 It’s not just about plants — it’s about building a data-smart business before the world sees the opportunity.

Discover a smarter way to grow your business in this power-packed episode featuring Stephanie Hayes — a top-tier business consultant and founder of Assets to Exits. We unpack actionable strategies to move beyond revenue and start building sellable business assets that enhance your valuation, profit margins, and long-term growth.

Explore the intersection of AI, data, finance, and business strategy — including real insights on exit planning, financial ratios, and valuation metrics trusted by firms like McKinsey, Deloitte, and PwC. Whether you're a solo founder, service provider, or scaling a company, this episode is your blueprint to creating sustainable business wealth, not just income.

🔍 Key takeaways include:
• Building profit-generating assets within your company
• How AI in business can boost valuation and revenue
• Understanding and applying business ratios for smarter decisions
• The difference between growth and value creation
• Exit planning strategies for entrepreneurs and consultants
• Lessons from acquisitions, losses, and navigating the bottom line

This conversation is a must-listen for accountants, chartered professionals, consultants, and data-driven founders looking to boost their bottom line and turn insights into impact. Your smarter business journey starts here.

In this finance-focused episode, we explore Volkswagen’s business failures through the lens of data, money, and corporate risk. Learn how AI, finance, and consulting firms like McKinsey & Deloitte could’ve changed its fate.

Dive into the complex financial legacy of Volkswagen—from its controversial roots with Hitler and Porsche to the profit losses, ratio missteps, and brand damage that followed. Discover how poor data decisions and financial mismanagement nearly cost the company its global standing.

We unpack lessons modern businesses, chartered accountants, and consultants can learn from this history. You’ll also hear how AI in business, smart data analysis, and financial strategy are helping today’s companies avoid similar failures.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or finance expert, this episode offers timeless insights on revenue, loss prevention, bottom line protection, and sustainable growth.

In this episode of Business 101, we dive deep into a €10 billion business blunder that reshaped the future of two iconic companies—Volkswagen and Porsche. What started as a bold financial move by Porsche ended in massive losses and an unexpected reversal of control. We analyze this high-stakes case through the lens of money, data, AI in business, and corporate strategy.

Learn how poor risk management and overleveraged derivatives flipped the balance of power, and why understanding financial ratios, revenue growth metrics, and consultation from experts like McKinsey, Deloitte, and PwC is crucial to protecting your company’s bottom line.

💡 Whether you're a business leader, accountant, finance consultant, or data-driven entrepreneur, this story is packed with lessons on profit, loss, and using data and AI to avoid strategic failure.

Ideal for anyone interested in company growth, chartered accounting, and the future of finance in corporate decision-making.