Corey Towe, WildSparq

Corey Towe, WildSparq

SUMMARY In this episode of Business & Brews, Matt Pierce sits down with Corey Towe, CEO of WildSparq, to unpack his unconventional journey from college ministry to startups, SaaS, and ultimately the CEO seat. Corey shares the career lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy, including why exceeding expectations creates opportunity, the importance of building trust through follow-through, and his approach to entering a new role: listen, learn, then lead. Matt and Corey also discuss what it takes to move into greater levels of leadership, why crushing your current role matters before chasing the next title, and how faith, wise counsel, and a bigger sense of purpose have guided some of Corey's most significant career and family decisions. The conversation closes with an important reminder: leadership is costly. But for Corey, the reward is found in helping people and teams accomplish what they never thought possible. IN THIS EPISODE: * Why exceeding expectations creates career opportunities * The difference between simply doing your job and developing an ownership mindset * How to “listen, learn, then lead” when stepping into a new organization * Why your “say-do ratio” matters when building trust * How to position yourself for greater responsibility and leadership * The role of faith, prayer, and wise counsel in major career decisions * Why leadership comes with a cost * Finding purpose beyond a job title KEY TAKEAWAY: If you want the next opportunity, start by crushing the role you're in today. Build trust, follow through on what you say you'll do, and look for opportunities to add value beyond your job description. ABOUT COREY TOWE Corey Towe is the CEO of WildSparq, a leadership development platform helping organizations equip leaders to lead with greater precision and impact. His career spans ministry, startups, SaaS, private equity-backed companies, and public organizations, giving him a unique perspective on leadership, career growth, and building high-performing teams.

Matt Answers America's Top Money Questions

SUMMARY What are people really worried about financially? Matt Pierce answers three of the most common questions being asked inside Fortuna, Immediate's AI-powered financial health coach. These are real questions from people looking for practical guidance on improving their financial future. In this episode, Matt breaks down: * How to pay off credit card debt faster * The difference between debt consolidation, debt management, debt settlement, and credit counseling * How much you actually need to save before buying your first home Along the way, he explains why personal finance isn't just about math, it's also about psychology. Building momentum often matters more than building the perfect plan. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Credit card debt isn't all created equal. Prioritize high-interest balances or choose the strategy you're most likely to stick with. * Stop adding new debt while paying off existing debt, and build even a small emergency fund to avoid repeating the cycle. * Debt relief can mean several different things. Understand the difference between nonprofit credit counseling, debt consolidation, debt management plans, and debt settlement before making a decision. * Don't assume you need a 20% down payment to buy your first home. Many first-time buyers purchase with significantly less. * A savings goal becomes much more achievable when you turn it into a monthly plan instead of an overwhelming number. CONNECT WITH IMMEDIATE Learn more about how Immediate is helping employees improve their financial wellbeing at joinimmediate.com [http://joinimmediate.com]. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Business & Brews and leave a review. Your feedback helps us continue bringing practical conversations about business, leadership, and financial wellbeing.

Del Smith, PhD, Acclinate

SUMMARY In this episode of Business & Brews, Matt Pierce sits down with Del Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Acclinate, to discuss leading with purpose, building trust at scale, and why great businesses solve meaningful problems. Del shares how Acclinate is working to improve representation in clinical research by educating and empowering underserved communities to make informed healthcare decisions. The conversation also explores startup leadership, company culture, learning to delegate, and the mindset required to build an enduring business. Del also shares the deeply personal story that inspired his passion for healthcare and why reaching his 50th birthday represented a milestone far beyond business success. Whether you're a founder, leader, or simply passionate about building organizations that make a difference, this episode is packed with practical leadership lessons and meaningful perspective. ---------------------------------------- IN THIS EPISODE * Why Acclinate was founded to improve diversity and trust in clinical research * The importance of education before engagement * How to scale a mission without compromising your values * Balancing purpose with business growth * Leading teams through both wins and setbacks * Why founders must evolve from player to coach to owner * Building leadership teams that complement your strengths * Del's personal health journey and the family legacy that drives his mission KEY TAKEAWAYS PURPOSE DRIVES SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES. Companies that focus on solving real problems create stronger long-term value than those focused solely on revenue. LEADERSHIP REQUIRES EMOTIONAL CONSISTENCY. Celebrate victories, learn from losses, and remain steady through both. HIRE FOR YOUR WEAKNESSES. Great leaders surround themselves with people whose strengths complement their own. GROWTH MEANS LETTING GO. Founders must continually evolve from doing the work to empowering others to lead it. BUSINESS SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY IMPACT. The legacy you leave matters more than the number in your bank account.

Kids & Money

Summary This week on Business & Brews, Matt welcomes two special guests, his daughters Kathryn and Whitley Grace, for an honest conversation about money. From saving and spending to allowance, summer jobs, and impulse purchases, they share the lessons they're learning about financial responsibility and what they think adults could do better with money. At Immediate, we believe financial wellness starts with education, and those conversations can begin at home. IN THIS EPISODE: * Why financial literacy should start early * Teaching kids the difference between wants and needs * How allowance and summer jobs build healthy money habits * Practical ways parents can start money conversations at home * A fun rapid-fire round with two future financial pros Whether you're raising kids or simply passionate about financial wellness, this episode is full of practical takeaways and a few laughs along the way.

Brandon Horne, Greenlight

Summary In this episode of Business & Brews, Matt Pierce sits down with Brandon Horne, Head of Commercial Partnerships at Greenlight, to discuss his unconventional path from biochemistry student to Army officer to fintech executive. Brandon shares lessons learned from helping scale high-growth companies, including his experience at Cardlytics and Greenlight. The conversation explores leadership, entrepreneurship, sales, company culture, career growth, and why great middle managers are often the unsung heroes behind successful organizations. From building relationships that drive enterprise sales to creating opportunities for young professionals to grow, Brandon offers practical insights for anyone navigating a fast-paced career or helping build a company from the ground up. Key Takeaways * Growth happens when you step into opportunities before you feel ready. * Shared challenges build stronger teams than shared successes. * Relationships and persistence remain critical in enterprise sales. * Great middle managers are often the foundation of strong company culture. * Leadership is measured by the people you help develop. * Small gestures can create lasting professional impact.