Experience Leadership - The Small Business Podcast

In this episode of Marc Haine Live, leadership and transformation expert Leann Rose Crook reveals how personal life changes—especially for women aged 35–55—directly impact engagement, retention, and culture during corporate transformation.

We explore:

• Why disengagement is often a transformation issue, not a performance issue
• The hidden cost of losing experienced women during change
• How language, identity, and values shape resilience
• A practical 6-step framework leaders can use to stabilize teams and retain talent

Backed by insights from Gallup, Deloitte, and real-world leadership experience, this episode is essential listening for business owners, managers, and HR leaders navigating change.

About Leann Rose

Leann Rose is a dynamic force of nature, blending her adventurous spirit with a profound ability to connect deeply with people. As the founder of Lango Living, Leann brings over 30 years of experience in transformative coaching, guiding individuals to uncover their true potential. Her journey began in grade 5, inspired by the exotic cultures of Kenya, igniting a lifelong quest to see life through diverse perspectives. Leann's path is as varied as it is inspiring. 

From her award-winning career in Sales and Marketing, transforming everyday lives through beauty, to her fearless exploration in the oil sands of Canada and the deserts of Iraq, she has continually reinvented herself. Her time in Iraq, sitting on hand-woven carpets and engaging with tribal cultures, taught her the power of curiosity and empathy—lessons she now shares through her keynote speeches and coaching. Leann's vision for Lango Living is to create a world where people connect deeply, using their natural skills and passions to make meaningful change. 

Whether she's walking the desert sands with pioneering Iraqi women or engaging in transformative journeys with courageous women, Leann inspires others to live authentically and purposefully. Her stories of exploration and empowerment challenge us to embrace new challenges, find our power, and share what we have learned with others. 

Connect with Leeann Rose

LangoLiving.com 
leann@langoliving.com 
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... 
  / lango_living   
  / 77164944  
   / @langoliving  

 

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Before You Invest in AI, Ask These Questions

with Dr. Alex Leathard

AI is everywhere. But is it actually helping your business, or just adding cost, confusion, and a shiny new layer of risk?

In this episode of Marc Haine Live, MARC sits down with Dr. Alex Leathard, the human-first AI advisor, to explore how business owners, managers, and leaders can adopt AI safely, responsibly, and with purpose.

About Alex

When he's not consulting on data and AI strategy, Dr. Alex Leathard can be found with a trombone in hand, exploring the Sussex countryside, or spending time with his family. 

But his deep curiosity - his love for solving complex problems - is what drives him professionally. As an independent consultant, Alex helps organizations achieve meaningful data and AI success through a human-centric, ethical, and values-led lens. 

His journey has been highly varied - from university research to Big Four consulting - and he’s used that wiggly career path to hone one core truth: the biggest blocker to data success is never the tool; it's always a missing clarity or a lack of cultural alignment within the leadership team. He helps leaders bridge that gap.
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Alex is offering a 30-minute clarity conversation to explore where you are on your AI journey, what problem you are trying to solve, what is working, what is not, and what kind of help you may actually need.

You will leave with an honest assessment, a prioritized list of next steps, and a clearer sense of where to go next.

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Connect with Alex

https://hecaton.consulting
alex@hecaton.consulting
  / alexleathard  

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Why Big Ideas Fail Without a Roadmap

with Lisa Ascolese

Most business owners don’t fail because they lack ideas.
They fail because they underestimate what those ideas will cost—in money, time, energy, and focus.

Whether you’re launching a new product, rolling out a service, expanding your operation, or betting big on “the next thing,” one mistake shows up again and again: leaders start with excitement and end with regret because they didn’t plan for the real investment required.

In this episode of Experience Leadership, Marc is joined by Lisa Ascolese—known as The Inventress—to unpack a lesson inventors learn the hard way and business leaders can’t afford to ignore.

What she shares applies far beyond inventing—it’s about how to build anything without bankrupting yourself along the way.

You’ll learn:

- Why big ideas are dangerous without a roadmap
- How to break massive goals into financially survivable steps
- The hidden emotional cost leaders rarely plan for
- Why optimism without structure drains businesses
- How to decide what to do now versus what to delay

Need to brainstorm aspects of your business? Book your complimentary 30-minute brainstorm with Marc. Schedule a time that works for you at https://meetwith.marchaine.com

About Lisa

Lisa Ascolese, known globally as “The Inventress,” has developed hundreds of products, holds dozens of patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and continues to work with her clients long after their products hit the market.

She’s also the author of The Inventress’s Guide to Inventing the Right Way: All Or Nothing, Now Or Never—a practical, no-nonsense guide that blends strategy, mindset, and action, complete with affirmations and journaling to keep inventors grounded along the way.

Lisa describes herself as a “hand holder”—and after hearing her story, you’ll understand why. Her mission is simple: help inventors

Connect with Lisa

https://inventingatoz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_inventress/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.ascolese 
X: https://x.com/lisaascolese?lang=en 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLAkwl6Tf6YzCpFzTvhhOg 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaascolese/?original_referer=

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Why Business Owners Become the Bottleneck (And How to Fix It)

with Rory Prendergast

Most business owners don’t have a time problem.
They have a decision hoarding problem.

If you’re working 60+ hours a week, constantly firefighting, answering the same questions over and over, and feeling like the business grinds to a halt the moment you step away—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Marc Haine Live, Marc is joined by Rory Prendergast, a serial entrepreneur who has built and sold three multi-million-dollar businesses, scaled a franchise across three continents in one year, and quite literally run his business while sailing across the Atlantic—without phone or email.

We unpack why SOPs don’t work the way you’ve been promised, why “common sense” disappears the moment someone becomes an employee, and why most owners accidentally become the bottleneck that keeps their business stuck.

Need to brainstorm aspects of your business? Book your complimentary 30-minute brainstorm with Marc. Schedule a time that works for you at https://meetwith.marchaine.com

4-minute systems audit for next steps https://www.simplebusinesssense.com/4minuteaudit

About Rory

Rory Prendergast is on a mission to “Make Bigger Lives”—and he does it by helping business owners escape the grind and reclaim control of their time. Having built and sold 3 multi-million-dollar businesses and launched a global franchise in just one year, Rory knows firsthand the pain of working 60+ hours a week while your business runs you. 

Today, Rory helps founders systemize their entire business in 90 days using his One Page Framework System—empowering teams to make better decisions, take ownership, and run operations without constant oversight. He teaches owners how to work on their business instead of in it, creating self-managing teams, a culture of accountability, and processes that actually stick. 

From clarifying leadership frameworks to turning SOPs into actionable systems, Rory’s approach is practical, real-world, and designed to free owners from the day-to-day while scaling their operations and profits. He lives by the principle that the best businesses don’t rely on a single visionary—they rely on empowered teams, clear decision-making, and leaders who know when to step back. 

Connect with Rory

roryprendergast.com 
team@roryprendergast.com 
https://www.instagram.com/rorysbox/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruaidhriprendergast/ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Mvo-uZvIZys_pyEy745IQ

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The Financial Freedom Mistake Too Many Entrepreneurs Make

with Rebecca Irey

Many small business owners are working harder than ever, earning more than ever, and still wondering why financial freedom feels like a carrot tied to a treadmill.

In this episode of Marc Haine Live, Marc sits down with Rebecca Irey, founder of Blue Skye Financial, to challenge one of the most expensive assumptions in small business: that if the business keeps growing, the owner will eventually be financially free.

Need to brainstorm aspects of your business? Book your complimentary 30-minute brainstorm with Marc. Schedule a time that works for you at https://meetwith.marchaine.com

About Rebecca

Rebecca Irey is the founder of Blue Skye Financial and a financial advisor on a mission to help women break free from financial dependence and confusion. She works with women, families, and entrepreneurs to design tax-efficient retirement strategies and long-term wealth plans that prioritize independence and legacy. Rebecca believes financial literacy is power—and that women deserve a seat at the head of the financial table. 

Connect with Rebecca

www.blueskyefinancial.com 
rebecca@blueskyefinancial.com 
Facebookfacebook.com/blueskyefinancial 
Instagraminstagram.com/blueskye_financial
LinkedinBlue Skye Financial | LinkedIn YoutubeBlue Skye Financial"

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The Leadership Layer Every Growing Business Needs

with Nick Avaria

Your company may have a strong plan, a decent strategy, and a team that works hard every day.

So why is scaling still so painfully slow?

For many small and mid-sized businesses, the problem is not the product. It is not the market. It is not even the effort.

In this episode of Marc Haine Live, Marc sits down with Nick Avaria, an agency growth and leadership scaling expert who has bought and sold seven agencies and helped scale multiple companies into the seven- and eight-figure range.

Need to brainstorm aspects of your business? Book your complimentary 30-minute brainstorm with Marc. Schedule a time that works for you at https://meetwith.marchaine.com

About Nick

Nick has spent over a decade as an agency owner, and scaled multiple agencies past multiple 7 and 8-figures per year. He has bought and sold 7 agencies and is no stranger to merging leadership teams and company cultures. His philosophy is simple: Make more profit, re-invest that into training for your staff, they perform better, so you pay them more (above market, preferably), hire new top performers to inject new energy into your team, and repeat. 

Nick started consulting with other agency owners when he saw how burnt out his peers were while trying to scale and working 60+ hours per week. He wants them to see their hard work pay off so they can grow fantastic work places where employees and clients can thrive, all while spending less time behind their desk. 

He has been in (and still is in) the trenches, he still owns agencies, and now he’s finally found a system that consistently scales agencies at high profits.

Free 30-minute audit:  https://www.agencyacquisitions.io/book-a-call/

Connect with Nick

https://www.agencyacquisitions.io/ 
nick@agencyacquisitions.io 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickavaria/ 
https://www.instagram.com/nick_avaria/ 
https://www.youtube.com/@AgencyAcquisitions

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The Science of Making It Without Losing Yourself

with Trevor G. Blake

Too many business operators and managers are trapped in a dangerous cycle of stress, overwork, reactive decision-making, and burnout.

They believe that success requires constant sacrifice. Longer hours. More pressure. Less sleep. Fewer boundaries. A calendar that looks like it lost a bar fight with a spreadsheet.

In this episode, Trevor G. Blake challenges the traditional hustle-culture model and shares how business leaders can build high-performance companies through clarity, focus, emotional resilience, and sustainable operating habits.

About Trevor

Trevor G. Blake is a physicist, serial entrepreneur, and internationally bestselling author of Three Simple Steps. Over the course of his career, he built and sold multiple companies collectively valued at more than $600 million while challenging the traditional “burnout and hustle” model of success.
Today, Trevor teaches entrepreneurs and professionals how to improve performance, clarity, leadership, and emotional resilience through practical principles rooted in psychology, neuroscience, and focused execution. His work has impacted audiences worldwide through books, mentorship programs, and transformational education.

Connect with Trevor

https://scienceofmakingit.com/ 
https://www.tiktok.com/@the.science.of.making.it?lang=en 
https://www.instagram.com/the.science.of.making.it/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorgblake/

 

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How Business Leaders Can Create Real Value with AI

with Dr. Fern Halper

Business leaders everywhere are being told they need to “use AI” before they get left behind. Wonderful. Helpful. Not terrifying at all.

In this episode of Marc Haine Live, Marc sits down with Dr. Fern Halper, Founder of the AI Foundations Group, VP and Senior Research Director for TDWI, and author of Data Makes the World Go ’Round: The Data, Tech, and Trust Behind AI Success. Together, Marc and Fern explore why AI adoption is not just a technology issue. It is a leadership issue, a data issue, a trust issue, a workflow issue, and, yes, sometimes a “maybe we should stop clicking buttons and call this a strategy meeting” issue.

About Fern

Dr. Fern Halper is VP and Senior Research Director for TDWI and founder of the AI Foundations Group. She has spent more than two decades researching analytics, data management, governance, and artificial intelligence, and has been recognized as a Top 50 Thought Leader in Agentic AI. Fern is a widely respected industry speaker, researcher, and author who has written several well-known technology books, including Cloud Computing For Dummies and Big Data For Dummies. Her latest book, Data Makes the World Go ’Round, explores the organizational, operational, data, and governance foundations required for successful enterprise AI adoption.

Her book: Data Makes the World Go ’Round: https://zurl.co/ifEKL 

Connect with Fern

 www.aifoundationsgroup.com
LinkedIn - fbhalper (www.linkedin.com/in/fbhalper) 

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Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working — And How to Fix It

with Sacha Awwa

Is your small business wasting money on marketing that is not generating consistent leads, customers, or revenue?

In this episode of Experience Leadership, Marc sits down with Sacha Awwa, Marketing Strategy Expert, founder of Sacha Awwa Marketing Group, co-founder of My Marketer Mentors, and host of the Uncomplicate It podcast.

About Sacha

Marketing strategist Sacha Awwa, founder of Sacha Awwa Marketing Group (SAMG) and host of the Uncomplicate It podcast, is on a mission to stop small businesses from wasting money on the wrong marketing strategies. Her podcast dives into the “why” behind founders’ journeys and explores the ever-changing marketing landscape with fellow experts.“Every day, I see brilliant entrepreneurs spending on strategies that were never built for them,” Sacha says. “They choose popular tools over the right ones for their stage of growth. That cycle ends now.”With a background in design and a sharp analytical mind, Sacha’s path took her from agencies to tech startups, where she mastered blending customer-focused strategy with real-world execution. She’s also the co-founder of My Marketer Mentors, a community built by small business owners for small business owners, helping them confidently navigate the marketing landscape.SAMG brings clarity, strategy, and results to businesses that need it most.

Connect with Sacha

www.mymarketermentors.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachaawwa
https://www.instagram.com/uncomplicate__it

 

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Manager Mistakes That Kill Team Trust

with Paul Leon

New managers don’t usually set out to become toxic. They don’t wake up, sip their coffee, and say, “Today, I shall destroy team morale before lunch.” But it happens.

In this episode of Experience Leadership, Marc sits down with Paul Leon, host of The Manager’s Mic Podcast, to explore the accidental habits that kill rapport between managers and their teams.

This conversation is especially valuable for newer people managers in sales, customer service, operations, hospitality, retail, and other people-facing businesses where relationships drive results. Because here’s the expensive problem: many team members don’t leave because of the company logo on the building. They leave because of the person they report to.

Need to brainstorm aspects of your business? Book your complimentary 30-minute brainstorm with Marc. Schedule a time that works for you at https://meetwith.marchaine.com

About Paul

Paul Leon is the host of The Manager’s Mic Podcast, where he helps managers, leaders, and business owners improve the way they communicate, sell, lead, and build trust with their teams.

Having worked with more than 500 companies, Paul brings a practical, real-world perspective to the challenges people managers face every day — especially newer managers who were promoted because they were great at the job, but were never really trained to lead people.

His work focuses on helping managers build rapport, strengthen team relationships, improve sales conversations, and create healthier workplace cultures without burning themselves out in the process.

Paul’s own story adds another layer to his message. Once a college dropout, he is now completing his MBA in April 2026, proving that growth is not about where you start. It is about what you are willing to learn, apply, and improve.

Through The Manager’s Mic, Paul gives leaders practical tools, honest insights, and real strategies to help them become the kind of managers people want to follow.

Connect with Paul

https://www.themanagersmic.com/ 

LinkedIn -   / paulleon   
YouTube -    / @managersmicpodcast   
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/14QTEM... 

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