Catalytic Leadership

Why Most Founders Delay a Private Equity Exit by 5 Years

Send us a textThere’s a moment every scaled founder hits where effort stops producing leverage. Revenue is real. The team is capable. But progress feels heavier than it should, and decisions take longer, cost more, and drain energy faster than before.In this episode, I sit down with Alexis Sikorsky, a strategic advisor to founders who are serious about scaling fast and exiting strong. Alexis isn’t sharing theory. He built, scaled, and sold a Switzerland-based software company in a nine-figure private equity exit, then stayed in the game long enough to see exactly what founders misunderstand about timing, systems, and value creation.We talk candidly about why founders delay a Private Equity Exit by years: not because they lack ambition, but because exhaustion, missing numbers, and underpowered leadership structures quietly cap momentum. Alexis breaks down the mistakes that cost him five years and $50 million, what private equity actually looks for, and how founders can shift from running hard to engineering optionality.If you’re scaling a digital agency past 7 figures and thinking about sustainability, leverage, automation in leadership, or what an exit really requires, this conversation will sharpen how you see your business and your next move.Books MentionedThe Prince by Niccolò MachiavelliThe Art of War by Sun TzuIf you want to stay connected with Alexis, find him on LinkedIn or check out his book Cashing Out, where he lays out the APEX framework for founders preparing for private equity. He’s also inviting founders doing $5–15M in revenue to participate in interviews for his upcoming book; details shared directly in this episode.Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer:Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

Why Growth Fails Without Leadership Ownership Culture

Send us a textGrowth doesn’t usually fail because of strategy. It fails when ownership breaks down and culture can’t keep up with scale. If your agency is growing, your calendar is full, and you’re still the point of escalation for too many decisions, this conversation will sharpen how you think about leadership ownership culture.In this episode, I sit down with Chris Sund, President and COO of UnitiMed and GQR Healthcare, two of the largest healthcare staffing companies in the country. Chris has led rapid growth, inherited teams from founders, and made decisions most leaders delay, like hiring a Director of Culture before sales or marketing.We talk candidly about scaling without burnout, building accountability without control, stopping blame before it spreads, and why execution, not just information, is what actually drives transformation. If you’re refining internal systems, strengthening team performance, or trying to remove yourself as the bottleneck without breaking momentum, this episode will give you clarity you can apply immediately.Books MentionedThe 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. MaxwellExtreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif BabinThe Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink & Leif BabinThe Need to Lead by Dave BerkeIf you want to stay connected with Chris, visit chrissund.com or connect with him directly on LinkedIn. He’s generous with his time and deeply invested in helping leaders grow with clarity and purpose.Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer:Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

Why the Founder Bottleneck Is Blocking Your Agency’s Next Level

Send us a textGrowth can look strong on paper while everything underneath feels heavier than it should. You’re making decisions, approving work, clarifying expectations, answering questions, again. The numbers are up, but the agency still runs through you. That’s the Founder Bottleneck.In this episode, I sit down for the second time with Marilyn Jenkins, digital growth strategist and founder of MJ Media Group LLC and Law Marketing Zone. Marilyn has spent decades helping service businesses scale with clarity, most recently through her new book, The 2026 Local SEO Playbook for Law Firms, and her national TV show, The Marketing Zone.What makes this conversation different is where we focus. We don’t start with tools, AI, or tactics. We start with clarity: how founders unintentionally become the bottleneck through poor communication, over-control, and trying to stay indispensable. Marilyn breaks down why education scales trust, why mystique slows momentum, and why no system, automation, or AI will fix a leadership constraint.If your agency is busy but not scalable, this episode will give you practical insight into delegation, team development, client communication, and how removing the Founder Bottleneck unlocks your agency’s next level—without burning out your people or yourself.Books MentionedThe 2026 Local SEO Playbook for Law Firms by Marilyn JenkinsBuy Back Your Time by Dan MartellIf you want to connect with Marilyn or explore her work, the best place is LinkedIn. If you’re interested in contributing to her TV show, visit appearance.mjmediagroup.co.Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer:Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

Getting Paid as an Owner: Why High Revenue Still Leaves You Last

Send us a textYou can grow revenue, scale teams, and carry real responsibility, and still feel like the business isn’t paying you. In this episode, I sit down with Mauro Campagnaro, Financial Advisor at Campagnaro Wealth Advisory in Calgary, Alberta, to address why getting paid as an owner often breaks down as companies scale.Mauro brings over 20 years as a business owner and financial strategist. We talk about what happens after growth, when retained earnings pile up, tax exposure increases, and exit planning feels distant but consequential. This conversation is about shifting from hustle to structure: how owners think about compensation, corporate structure, tax strategy, and long-term continuity before pressure forces reactive decisions.If you’re scaling past seven figures and want clarity on owner pay, wealth preservation, and building a system that rewards the risk you carry, this episode gives you a strategic lens and practical next steps, without noise or theory.📚 Books MentionedWinning Strategies for Success by Brian TracyThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey If this conversation sparked questions about structure, tax strategy, or long-term planning, you can connect with Mauro at cwa.life or campagnarowealth.ca. He’s licensed in Canada and available for strategic conversations beyond financial planning.Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer:Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

Build Better Leaders by Protecting High Performers From Low Performers

Send us a textIf you’re scaling a team and the drag from one low performer is slowing everything down, this conversation will give you the clarity and language you need. I’m joined by Brett Hoogeveen: trained engineer, former healthcare executive, startup investor, and co-founder of Better Culture, a firm trusted by leaders from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500 companies.We explore the real reason culture becomes a bottleneck as you scale, and why protecting your high performers is one of the fastest ways to build better leaders, elevate team performance, reduce burnout, and remove the friction that keeps your agency from moving at the speed you need.Brett shares the top-down and bottom-up frameworks his team uses inside hundreds of organizations, including why removing toxic behaviors accelerates growth, how to strengthen manager consistency, and the simple cultural systems that compound into sustainable results. If you’re committed to a healthier, more energized agency in 2026, this episode will give you the playbook.If you’d like to follow Brett’s work or explore the tools he mentioned, you can connect with him on LinkedIn or visit betterculture.com. He also created a resource for this audience — the People Leader Checklist — available at betterculture.com/catalyticJoin Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call:Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer:Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube