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C2 Biz Growth

C2 Biz Growth

By: John Hale III
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About this listen

C2 Biz Growth features insightful information and lessons learned from entrepreneurs and CEOs who are growing and scaling their companies. We realize that being the CEO and leader can be a lonely position. However, Success breeds Success and our conversations with men and women on the “entrepreneurial battlefield” will inform, inspire, and drive you to keep marching onward and upward.


C2 Biz Growth is hosted by John Hale III, Founder and CEO of The Cornerstone Group, a business advisory and strategy consulting firm specializing in enhancing companies’ ability to accelerate growth and scale their businesses.

© 2025 C2 Biz Growth
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • From Toxic to Thriving: Leadership Lessons with Anton Gunn - Episode 21
    Jan 5 2026

    In Episode 21 of C2 Biz Growth, host John Hale III sits down with leadership expert, executive coach, and CEO of 937 Strategy Group, Anton Gunn, for a powerful conversation on leadership, workplace culture, and employee engagement.

    Anton shares how his family background, college football, healthcare leadership, and even hip-hop culture have shaped his leadership philosophy. He explains why great leaders focus on empowering people, not controlling them, and how toxic workplace cultures quietly drive disengagement, burnout, and costly turnover.

    The discussion dives deep into the real economic impact of employee disengagement, why trust is built through consistent action, and how data driven decisions should guide leadership strategies. Anton also addresses the importance of mental health for leaders, coaching as a tool for professional development, and why organisations must invest in people if they want sustainable success.

    Anton offers practical insights on introducing AI into organizations without losing human connection, communicating the purpose behind change, and creating effective off boarding experiences that maintain long term loyalty. Throughout the episode, he emphasises clarity, action, and care for employee well-being as essential leadership superpowers.

    This episode is a must listen for leaders, executives, and founders who want to build healthy cultures, reduce turnover, and lead with purpose in a rapidly changing workplace.

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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • From $35K to $90 Million: Business Blueprint Revealed with Austin Okere - Episode 20
    Dec 22 2025

    In this powerful episode of the C2 Biz Growth Podcast, host John Hale III sits down with Austin Okere, Founder of CWG Plc and the Ausso Leadership Academy. Austin shares how he grew CWG from a modest startup with thirty-five thousand dollars in capital to a ninety-million-dollar valuation, and reflects on the mindset that fueled that journey.

    The conversation explores the evolution of CWG, the importance of trust and relationships in business, and the realities of securing foreign investment in Nigeria. Austin also discusses private equity, currency challenges, and the strategic decision to focus on banking, oil, and telecom. He explains why mentorship is central to his mission through the Ausso Leadership Academy and introduces his vision of redefining billionaires by their impact on society rather than their accumulated wealth.

    Austin breaks down the three powers that sustain success, way power, will power, and wait power, and offers practical lessons on leadership, innovation, and building businesses that thrive in changing markets.

    Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of entrepreneurship in emerging economies, the value of influence driven leadership, and the importance of giving back to the next generation of founders.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Leadership that Listens: People, Power, and Purpose with Cllr. Biyi Oloko FCA - Episode 19
    Dec 8 2025

    In this insightful episode of the C2 Biz Growth Podcast, host John Hale III sits down with Biyi Oloko, Executive Vice Chairman of Stephen Simeon Limited, Co-Founder of the Reading Tech Cluster, and a Council Member of the West Berkshire Council in the United Kingdom. Biyi shares his journey from his early life in Nigeria to building a global career in finance, investment, government, and leadership.

    He reflects on how his work with the Nigerian government and his service in UK local government shape his approach to business, community engagement, and long-term strategy. The conversation explores his passion for talent development, the evolution of his investment strategies, and the crucial role that mentorship and sponsorship play in business growth. Biyi discusses the creation of the Reading Tech Cluster and his belief that global impact begins with meaningful local action. Throughout the episode, he highlights the importance of adaptability, reflective leadership, and surrounding yourself with the right people to achieve sustainable success.

    Listeners will gain practical insights on raising capital, building trust, developing teams, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship in a rapidly changing world.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
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