Business Leaders of America Podcast cover art

Business Leaders of America Podcast

Business Leaders of America Podcast

By: Dylan Bloyed
Listen for free

About this listen

 Business leaders from across America sharing their personal journeys and experiences with existing and emerging leaders of America, offering insights into their paths to success.2023 Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Jimi Gibson - VP of Brand Communication at Thrive Agency

    Jimi Gibson - VP of Brand Communication at Thrive Agency
    Sep 4 2025
    Check out LiveGood, where top-tier wellness products meet unbeatable prices: https://www.livegood.com/Podcast Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America Podcast. In this episode, I’m excited to be joined by Jimi Gibson, Vice President of Brand Communication at Thrive Agency, TEDx speaker, Forbes Agency Council member, and the creator of The Magic Script™. Jimi’s journey is far from typical. He began his career as a professional magician, performing for sold-out crowds, and eventually realized that the same skills that captivate an audience on stage could be applied to the world of business and marketing. For over 25 years, Jimi has been helping businesses cut through the clutter with messaging that connects, converts, and drives real results. At Thrive Agency, he works with clients across the globe, crafting strategies that combine psychology, storytelling, and performance—helping the agency earn a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America for seven consecutive years. In this conversation, we explore Jimi’s unique approach to messaging, the inspiration behind The Magic Script™, and how businesses can leverage clarity and connection to stand out in today’s noisy digital landscape. We also touch on how Thrive tailors messaging strategies across different cultures and regions, and how Jimi’s experience on stage and in marketing informs his advice for leaders looking to elevate their communication skills. Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights on cutting through the noise and creating messaging that truly drives action. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Vice President of Brand Communication at Thrive Agency • Former professional magician, performing for sold-out audiences and mastering attention and engagement techniques • Played a key role in helping Thrive Agency secure a spot on the Inc. 5000 list for seven consecutive years • Developed marketing and messaging strategies for clients across multiple countries, including the U.S., Canada, and U.K. • Over 25 years of experience in marketing, helping businesses clarify messaging and drive growth • TEDx speaker sharing insights on communication, influence, and leadership • Creator of The Magic Script™, a brain-based framework that transforms brand messaging into action • Forbes Agency Council member, contributing thought leadership to the marketing industry How to connect with Jimi Gibson • https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimi-gibson/ • https://thriveagency.com/ • https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrive-agency/ • https://x.com/ThriveAgency • https://www.instagram.com/thriveinternetmarketingagency/ Show Notes [1:27] Jimi shares how he got his start as a professional magician performing for sold-out crowds, and when he realized those skills could translate into the world of business and marketing. [6:20] Speaking about his 25+ year career in marketing, what led him to join Thrive Agency, and what drew him to their unique approach and mission. [10:33] The role strong messaging and brand communication play in driving Thrive’s sustained growth, both for their clients and internally, helping the agency earn a spot on the Inc. 5000 list for seven consecutive years. [19:32] The inspiration behind creating The Magic Script™, his brain-based framework for messaging, and how it differs from traditional brand messaging. approaches. [27:13] How Thrive tailors messaging strategies to resonate across cultural lines and geographic regions while serving clients worldwide. [31:27] The Thrive is incorporating AI into its processes when working with clients and the impact it’s having on marketing strategies. [33:00] Jimi shares how listeners can connect with him directly and discover more about the work he’s leading at Thrive Agency. [34:27] Advice for leaders on how to elevate their communication skills, with insights shaped by both strategic leadership experience and time on the TEDx stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Darrick "DJ" Johnson - Founder of Sherpa

    Darrick "DJ" Johnson - Founder of Sherpa
    Sep 1 2025
    Check out LiveGood, where top-tier wellness products meet unbeatable prices: https://www.livegood.com/Podcast Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America Podcast. In this episode, we sit down with Darrick “DJ” Johnson, a former collegiate and professional football player who successfully transitioned into the world of technology and entrepreneurship. Today, DJ serves as the Director of Enterprise Sales at Microsoft and is the Founder of Sherpa, an AI-powered sports intelligence platform. Growing up in Compton, California, he overcame tremendous challenges to earn his degree from Georgetown University and later rise into leadership roles at global tech giants including Apple, Dell, and Microsoft. DJ shares his journey from the football field to the world of technology, reflecting on his experiences managing multi-million-dollar AI and cloud deals and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He dives into the inspiration behind founding Sherpa, his new AI-powered sports intelligence platform, explaining how it unifies the athlete lifecycle from NIL deals and pro contracts to scouting and recruiting in ways previous tools haven’t. This episode is a fascinating look at the intersection of sports, technology, and entrepreneurship, and how DJ is helping athletes and those who represent them maximize value on and off the field. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Founder of Sherpa, an AI-driven platform designed to streamline operations and empower organizations with advanced decision-making tools. • Director of Enterprise Sales at Microsoft, where he leads enterprise-level cloud and digital transformation initiatives for some of the world’s largest organizations. • Held leadership roles at Apple and Dell, driving growth and innovation across global technology markets. • Recognized for his ability to bridge the gap between sports, leadership, and technology, inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and executives. • Former professional football player, bringing the discipline, resilience, and leadership skills from the field into the corporate world. How to connect with Darrick “DJ” Johnson • https://sherpasports.ai/ • https://sherpaclouds.com/ • https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrick-dj-johnson-li/ • https://www.instagram.com/deejack24x8/ • https://www.instagram.com/sherpaclouds?igsh=MTN3d3Jsa3Q0eWRqaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr • https://x.com/sherpasportsai?s=21 • https://www.linkedin.com/company/sherpa-clouds-inc/ Show Notes [1:52] DJ shares his journey from playing professional football to becoming Director of Enterprise Sales in Cloud & AI at Microsoft, and how he made the transition from the field to the world of tech and AI. [5:19] The biggest lessons DJ learned at Microsoft while managing multi-million-dollar deals and helping major organizations scale with AI and cloud solutions. [11:08] Why mentoring and advocating for diversity in STEM is such an important part of his mission and how he works to encourage greater representation in tech. [18:33] The inspiration behind founding Sherpa, his new AI-powered sports intelligence platform, and explains the market gap it aims to fill. [22:10] How Sherpa unifies the entire athlete lifecycle from NIL deals to pro contracts to scouting and recruiting in ways that previous tools haven’t achieved. [28:19] The why he chose to build Sherpa on Microsoft and AWS, highlighting how enterprise-grade tech supports the platform’s scale and security. [30:41] Sports teams, agencies, and organizations that have started using Sherpa and the early feedback the platform has received. [34:56] DJ shares the best ways for listeners to learn more about Sherpa and how they can connect with him directly. [36:16] Advice for anyone launching a new AI-driven product, sharing key insights from his own experience building Sherpa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Chaitra Vedullapalli - Founder & President of Women in Cloud

    Chaitra Vedullapalli - Founder & President of Women in Cloud
    Aug 26 2025
    Check out LiveGood, where top-tier wellness products meet unbeatable prices: https://www.livegood.com/Podcast Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America podcast. In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Chaitra Vedullapalli—a globally recognized leader, innovator, and changemaker in technology and business. Chaitra is the co-founder of Meylah, a go-to-market accelerator helping companies scale through digital strategies, and the president of Women in Cloud, a movement that has already unlocked over $500 million in economic access for women entrepreneurs worldwide, with a bold mission to reach $1 billion by 2030. Over her career, Chaitra has led billion-dollar GTM initiatives at Microsoft and Oracle, developed the 4P Co-Sell GTM Method that’s empowered hundreds of companies, and continues to champion innovation, inclusion, and global economic development. She’s also an author, speaker, and thought leader whose influence spans across technology, governance, and impact. In our conversation, we talked about what first sparked her interest in technology and leadership, the early steps in building Women in Cloud’s global ecosystem, and some of the biggest challenges women in tech still face today. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Founder and President of Women in Cloud, a global network unlocking over $500M in economic access for women entrepreneurs, aiming for $1B by 2030. • Co-Founder & CMO of Meylah, a cloud-based GTM accelerator for tech companies. • Former Director at Microsoft and at Oracle, leading billion-dollar GTM initiatives, digital transformation, and high-impact technology and business strategies • Global keynote speaker at the United Nations, TEDx, Grace Hopper Celebration, Microsoft Inspire, and other premier platforms • Author of upcoming books: AI in Nonprofits, Opulis, and Iconic Leadership • Recognized on Forbes 1000 Next and other global thought leader lists for impact in technology, inclusion, and entrepreneurship • Board member and advisor for multiple corporate and nonprofit organizations • Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2024) • Creator of the 4P Co-Sell GTM Method, empowering hundreds of companies to achieve multi-million-dollar growth How to connect with Chaitra Vedullapalli • https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaitrav/ • https://chaitravedullapalli.com/ • https://womenincloud.com/ • https://meylah.com/ • https://www.facebook.com/chaitra.vedullapalli • https://x.com/cvedulla Show Notes [1:48] Chaitra shares what sparked her interest in technology and business leadership, reflecting on her journey leading billion-dollar GTM initiatives at Microsoft and Oracle. [4:47] The early steps and strategies behind building Women in Cloud’s powerful global ecosystem, which has unlocked over $500M in economic access for women entrepreneurs. [10:32] Highlighting some of the biggest challenges women in tech face today and how Women in Cloud is tackling these issues directly. [13:27] Chaitra explains the 4P Co-Sell GTM Method she developed, detailing how the framework drives growth for hundreds of companies and how she applies it in her work at Meylah. [18:15] Predictions for the future of AI and discussing the dilemmas and challenges we face in the tech industry. [21:57] The Chaitra talks about her book Opulis, celebrating stories of women entrepreneurs and leaders driving innovation and economic access worldwide. [25:22] How listeners can connect with her and get involved with initiatives like Women in Cloud, Meylah, her board work, and thought leadership efforts. [25:22] Advice to entrepreneurs looking to start a business in tech, sharing key steps and insights for getting started successfully. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.