What does it take to build not just a successful business, but one that leaves a lasting impact? Brian Brault has done it multiple times—scaling, exiting, and reinventing ventures while staying anchored in purpose.

A seasoned entrepreneur, former Global Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), and founder of Legacy of Significance, Brian has guided leaders across industries to align vision, culture, and values for meaningful growth. From transforming Advanced Facilities Services International into a national leader to pioneering wellness-focused spaces with PURE Wellness, his track record speaks for itself.

In this episode, Brian joins Kaihan Krippendorff to share hard-earned lessons on:

• Why most founders struggle when shifting from building to managing a business
• How to recognize when you’re in your “zone of genius” versus just doing work with excellence
• Why culture starts with the leader—and how to foster accountability without micromanagement
• What to do when your head says “go” but your heart isn’t in it

This is a conversation about more than scaling—it’s about building companies, careers, and legacies that truly matter.

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks, Verne Harnish of Scaling Up, and the team at Growth Institute.

What does it take to build a firm that grows without losing its identity?

Kurt Miscinski, co-founder and CEO of Cerity Partners, believes the answer lies in clarity of purpose, disciplined reinvestment, and redefining what partnership truly means. What began as a bold vision—to bring McKinsey-style professionalism and global scale to the wealth advisory space—has evolved into one of the industry’s fastest-growing firms, now managing over $130 billion in client assets.

In this episode, Kurt shares how Cerity Partners was architected from the ground up to align ownership, culture, and long-term strategy. Drawing from his background as a CPA and former Deutsche Bank executive, he explains why Cerity avoids the traditional consolidation mindset in favor of true partnerships—and how the right language can shape everything from team dynamics to M&A success.

Tune in to hear:

• Why Cerity chose to reinvest 100% of profits—and how it changed the game
• The power of redefining mergers as partnerships
• How reframing words like “employee” can reinforce a culture of ownership
• Lessons on modeling vision into reality for aspiring founders
• And the blueprint for building a professional services firm that endures

If you’re scaling a service business, shaping culture, or designing for longevity, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Let’s dive in with Kurt Miscinski.

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks, Verne Harnish of Scaling Up, and the team at Growth Institute.

What if the key to scaling impact isn’t one bold idea—but a clear understanding of who you are as an entrepreneur?

Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School, has spent decades mentoring more than 20,000 students, guiding startups, and redefining how we think about entrepreneurial success. In her new book, Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, she challenges the myth of the lone genius and maps out a broader, more inclusive view of what it means to build, scale, and innovate.

In this conversation, Lori breaks down the seven distinct entrepreneurial paths she uncovered—from disruptors and funders to acquirers and advocates—and the six essential traits that define successful entrepreneurs across industries and roles. Drawing from years of research and firsthand stories, she reveals how anyone—from corporate professionals to first-time founders—can tap into entrepreneurial thinking and momentum.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why entrepreneurial success doesn’t require a garage or a pitch deck
• The seven paths to entrepreneurship—and how to find yours
• The six core traits shared by unstoppable entrepreneurs
• How Lori’s journey from systems engineer to Wharton professor shaped her insights
• How to spark ideas from everyday experience and low-risk experimentation
• Why expanding access to networks and education fuels innovation

Whether you’re building something new or scaling from within, Lori’s insights will help you align your strengths with your strategy—and unlock the entrepreneurial path that’s right for you.

Let’s dive in with Lori Rosenkopf.

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks, Verne Harnish of Scaling Up, and the team at Growth Institute.

“Rule number one is: never give up. Success is always there. It’s just on a certain timeframe.”

That’s the mindset behind Shaun Noorian’s journey—and it’s what powered the rise of Empower Pharmacy from a 100-square-foot rented exam room to a 340,000-square-foot, FDA-registered pharmaceutical operation with national reach.

As founder and CEO of the largest 503A compounding pharmacy in the U.S., Shaun didn’t take the traditional path. No VC funding. No shortcuts. Just a mechanical engineer with a mission to fix a broken system from the inside out—starting with infrastructure, integration, and an unrelenting focus on patient outcomes.

Today, Empower employs over 1,300 people and defies industry norms by lowering prices every year—thanks to its fully vertically integrated model.

In this episode, we unpack:

• How Shaun scaled from a back room to a national provider in one of the most regulated industries in the world
• The strategy behind lowering costs while improving quality and speed
• Why vertical integration unlocked pricing power, margin control, and operational agility
• His decision to fund growth with debt—not equity—and the strategic freedom that created
• The systems and culture Empower relies on to scale safely in a high-stakes environment
• Why rebuilding the pharmaceutical supply chain was never just a business model—it was a mission

This is a story about scaling with intention. About building systems that last, solving real problems, and staying true to your purpose—even when the odds are stacked against you.

Let’s dive in with Shaun Noorian.

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks, Verne Harnish of Scaling Up, and the team at Growth Institute.

What does it take to build a $2 billion business—not from scratch, but from inside a legacy corporate giant?

Tushar Amin has the answer.

A seasoned strategy executive, Tushar led a transformative initiative within one of IBM’s most traditional business units—a flat-growth, high-margin division many saw as a cash cow. Where others saw constraints, he saw opportunity. By reframing IBM’s aging global infrastructure as a strategic asset, he helped create a fast-growing, globally competitive services business—without dismantling what already worked.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Tushar uncovered a horizon-two growth opportunity hidden within a horizon-one business.
• Why identifying profit pools in the ecosystem is more impactful than conventional market sizing.
• The alignment framework he used to connect go-to-market, offerings, and delivery—and scale fast.
• How to gain organizational buy-in for long-term bets, even when they challenge short-term margins.
• Why a credible value proposition rooted in real differentiation is the key to pricing power.

This is more than an intrapreneurial success story—it’s a masterclass in seeing strategic opportunity where others don’t.

Let’s dive in with Tushar Ami

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks, Verne Harnish of Scaling Up, and the team at Growth Institute.

Dave Whorton has spent decades at the highest levels of Silicon Valley—working alongside industry legends at Kleiner Perkins, co-founding pioneering companies like drugstore.com and Good Technology, and eventually charting a different course with Tugboat Institute. His focus? Evergreen businesses—companies built to last, guided by purpose, and driven by sustainable growth.

In this episode, Dave shares his journey from venture capital to founding the Tugboat Institute, where he champions a different way of building companies—one that rejects the high-risk, high-reward mentality of VC-backed startups. We dive into his new book, Another Way: Building Companies that Last… and Last… and Last, co-authored with Bo Burlingham, exploring the core principles of evergreen businesses and how they defy conventional wisdom.

Tune in to learn:

• Why many of the tech giants VCs celebrate (like Google and Microsoft) actually took minimal venture funding—and what that means for founders.
• How the explosion of the VC market has changed how businesses are built—and why that’s a problem.
• The "Evergreen 7Ps" framework and how they guide companies toward sustainable, long-term growth.
• Real-world examples of evergreen businesses that prioritize steady growth, pragmatic innovation, and people-centered leadership.

Let’s dive in with Dave Whorton.

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks, Verne Harnish of Scaling Up, and the team at Growth Institute.

Many founders dream of turning a big idea into a lasting company. Sabrina Herrera has done it—again and again.

As part of the founding leadership at Genomma Lab, one of Mexico’s most successful pharmaceutical and personal care companies, she helped shape a brand known for category-defining products and direct-to-consumer innovation. Under her leadership, Genomma became the first in its industry to go public on the Mexican Stock Exchange and expanded into more than 20 countries.

But Sabrina didn’t stop there.

Over the past two decades, she’s launched wellness brands, backed startups, served on boards, and mentored the next generation of entrepreneurs. Known for her strategic clarity, sharp financial instinct, and human-centered leadership, Sabrina brings a rare combination of heart and execution to everything she touches.

Today, she’s transforming Regina Romero—a 40-year-old handcrafted leather shoe brand—into a modern, tech-driven business with global ambitions. It’s not just a rebrand; it’s a reinvention.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Sabrina helped Genomma scale beyond Mexico
• The hardest lessons she’s learned as an investor
• Why execution always beats vision alone
• How to evolve a legacy brand without losing its soul
• Why an obsession with product quality is non-negotiable

Ladies and gentlemen, Sabrina Herrera.

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks, Verne Harnish of Scaling Up, and the team at Growth Institute.

In this episode of Strategy at Scale, we sit down with Matt Wallach, co-founder of Veeva Systems, one of the most successful enterprise software companies in the life sciences industry. While many companies craft visionary strategy statements, Matt reveals why execution—not strategy—is what truly sets high-growth companies apart.

You’ll hear how Veeva redefined cloud-based solutions for pharmaceutical companies and the pivotal choices that fueled their rapid rise—from a startup to a public company generating nearly $2.75 billion in annual revenue. Matt shares a behind-the-scenes look at how the team prioritized discipline, customer selection, and strategic patience to win in a highly regulated industry.

Tune in to learn:

• Why choosing the right first customer can make or break your business
• The strategic reasons Veeva became a Public Benefit Corporation
• Why saying “yes” to every customer request is a recipe for failure
• How “thinking slow” can accelerate long-term success
• The decision-making crossroads at scale: new markets vs. new products

Matt’s story is a masterclass in execution, focus, and discipline in scaling a
business.

Let’s dive in with Matt Wallach.

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks, Verne Harnish of Scaling Up, and the team at Growth Institute.