From Proving to Becoming: An Entrepreneur's Journey

Building Beyond the Blueprint With MIke Kichline

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Mike Kichline, co-founder of Projectline and LER, to explore the lessons behind scaling a business from startup to successful exit, the power of defining leadership roles, and why the hardest chapter of entrepreneurship can begin after you've achieved everything you set out to accomplish. About Mike Kichline: Mike Kichline is the co-founder and former CEO of Projectline and LER, two Seattle-based companies that grew from a small consulting practice into a global marketing and technology services organization with more than 430 employees before being acquired by Accenture in 2020. A longtime EO Seattle member, Mike is passionate about leadership, organizational growth, and helping entrepreneurs prepare not only for building successful businesses, but for what comes after the exit. About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences. This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Service, Joy, and the Swift Way

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Shannon Swift, founder of Swift HR Solutions, to talk about building a business rooted in service, the fear of success many entrepreneurs quietly carry, and how EO gave her the courage to think bigger. From an unconventional childhood in Olympic National Park to scaling a nationally recognized HR company through trust, joy, and intentional culture, Shannon shares the leadership lessons that shaped both her business and her life.About Shannon Swift: Founder and CEO of Swift HR Solutions, a fractional HR and recruiting firm serving companies across the United States. Since launching Swift in 2004, Shannon has grown the company through a people-first approach centered on service, integrity, and long-term relationships. A longtime EO member and former chapter leader, she is passionate about leadership, culture-building, and creating meaningful experiences for teams, clients, and communities.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

From Taker to Giver: How Jim Neil Found His Place in EO

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Jim Neil, President of JL Northwest, to explore the accidental path into entrepreneurship, the grit required to rebuild through crisis, and how EO transformed his approach to leadership, vulnerability, and service.About Jim Neil: Pacific Northwest business leader and longtime EO Seattle member with more than 30 years of experience in food brokerage and specialty restaurant equipment distribution. After helping grow his family’s brokerage company into one of the largest independent agencies in the region, Jim transitioned into restaurant equipment and now leads JL Northwest, serving major brands including Costco and Dutch Bros. He is passionate about servant leadership, operational excellence, and helping entrepreneurs grow through connection and community.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

From Proving to Becoming: An Entrepreneur's Journey

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Russell Benaroya, COO of Timberland Partners, to explore the pressure of living up to a legacy, the vulnerability behind entrepreneurship, and the mindset shifts that helped him design a life rooted in freedom. About Russell Benaroya: Seattle-based entrepreneur, investor, and operator with a background in investment banking, private equity, and multiple ventures across health tech and financial services. Co-founded and exited several companies including Every Move and Stride, and is the author of One Life to Lead. A longtime EO member, Russell is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build businesses that align with the lives they actually want to live. About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences. This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Growth, Grit, and Perspective with Andy Liu

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Andy Liu to explore the lessons behind his entrepreneurial journey—from launching a tech startup during the dot-com boom to navigating failure, finding product-market fit, and exiting through a multibillion-dollar acquisition. Andy shares how early missteps, cash burn, and building a product no one wanted led to a powerful realization: sales and customer conversations are the true unlock for growth. He reflects on the anxiety that often underlies entrepreneurship, the myth that success lies “on the other side” of an exit, and how maturity, focus, and balance have reshaped his leadership today. About Andy: An entrepreneur since 1999, Andy founded and scaled a retail website optimization company during the dot-com boom, ultimately exiting through a strategic acquisition that became part of a multibillion-dollar Microsoft deal. After launching and leading a second company, he now focuses on investing and mentoring founders, bringing decades of experience in sales, product-market fit, and disciplined leadership to the next generation of entrepreneurs. About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences. This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.