#62 - Leadership Lessons From the Military and High Finance with John Pierson

#62 - Leadership Lessons From the Military and High Finance with John Pierson

Where pressure, leadership, and character collide. In today’s episode, Marcus Arredondo talks with John Pierson about operating at the highest levels when mistakes are costly and standards are unforgiving. From elite finance to mission-critical roles, John brings a rare perspective shaped by environments where trust, discipline, and judgment matter every day. This conversation offers a grounded look at what separates those who last from those who fade when the pressure is real. John Pierson is the founder of P2 Investments, a boutique talent advisory firm working with top hedge fund investment and technology professionals worldwide. With decades of experience across military service, presidential air traffic control, and global finance, John is known for a relationship-driven approach built on trust, integrity, and long-term thinking. He advises both individuals and firms operating in high-stakes environments where performance and character must align. Get in touch with John Pierson: Website: https://www.p2investments.com/ [https://www.p2investments.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/p2agents/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/p2agents/]  Episode highlights: (2:34) What a hedge fund talent pod really is (4:59) Hedge funds Vs. Traditional investing explained (7:58) Serving both talent and firms ethically (12:58) Telling a person’s story, not sending resumes (17:12) Integrity over transactions (20:46) Ego, PTSD, and personal cost of success (27:57) Faith as a turning point (31:10) Teamwork lessons from the Marines (38:37) Discipline defined (41:08) Major trends shaping hedge funds and vetting (49:25) Air traffic controller for the President (52:09) Returning to Vietnam with his father (54:40) Outro Connect with Marcus * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus [https://x.com/cus] Scales of Success * Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com [http://scalesofsuccesspodcast.com] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess [https://x.com/scalesofsuccess] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess [https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess] Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess [https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess] —-- Leave a Review If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140 Get in Touch You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

#61 - When Achievement Forces You to Rebuild Everything with Precious L. Williams

In this episode of Scales Of Success Podcast, host Marcus Arredondo connects with Precious L. Williams for a raw, grounded conversation about ambition, resilience, and what success really asks of you. This is not a highlight reel or a victory lap. It is an honest look at rebuilding after loss, redefining achievement, and choosing a path that still feels whole. If you are chasing big goals and quietly wondering about the cost, this episode will stay with you. Precious L. Williams is the Founder and CEO of The Perfect Pitch Group, a Shark Tank alum, and a 13-time National Elevator Pitch Champion. She is a 5x #1 bestselling author and internationally recognized speaker who trains entrepreneurs, leaders, and Fortune 100 teams to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. Precious has worked with global brands including Verizon, BMW, Blackstone, HubSpot, Harvard University, and Columbia University, and is known worldwide for helping people turn powerful ideas into results. Learn more about Precious L. Williams: Website: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/ [https://perfectpitchgroup.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectpitchgroup/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/perfectpitchgroup/?hl=en] Newsletter: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/subscribe [https://perfectpitchgroup.com/subscribe] Book Links: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/books/ [https://perfectpitchgroup.com/books/] Work 1 on 1 with her: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/experienceprecious/ [https://perfectpitchgroup.com/experienceprecious/] FREE Gifts (first chapter of Rainmaking 101 and “Making it Rain in Your Business” PDF: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/free-gifts/ [https://perfectpitchgroup.com/free-gifts/]  Episode highlights: (2:26) Losing everything after Shark Tank (6:56) Why losing law created freedom (8:05) Choosing identity over tragedy (12:24) Turning pain into confidence (15:11) Performing under emotional pressure (20:19) The power of reading books (26:24) The most successful pitches (33:19) Why being bold beats being liked (38:50) Through the open door and partnerships (48:24) How the pitching started (53:23) Writing poetry (59:54) Building purpose after addiction (1:02:29) Outro Connect with Marcus * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus [https://x.com/cus] Scales of Success * Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com [http://scalesofsuccesspodcast.com] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess [https://x.com/scalesofsuccess] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess [https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess] Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess [https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess] —-- Leave a Review If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140 Get in Touch You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

#60 - After the Win: Purpose, Identity, and Burnout with Justin Wills

What do you do when the goal that drove you is gone? In today’s episode, Marcus welcomes Justin Wills, founder, executive, advisor, and investor with a deep focus on community, technology, and art, and a driving force behind the revival of Luna Luna. Justin shares the rarely discussed side of building, exiting, and starting again, including burnout, identity shifts, creative instinct, and learning to trust what feels right when the noise gets loud. This conversation is for founders, creatives, and leaders navigating ambition, purpose, and longevity. It is not about hacks or hype. It is about endurance, energy, and choosing work that can sustain you long after the win. About Justin Wills: Website: https://justinwills.com/ [https://justinwills.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwills/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwills/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justincwills/ [https://www.instagram.com/justincwills/]  Episode highlights: (2:22) How Society6 was born (7:56) Why the founding team worked and took risks with family (15:18) Hunger and trust (25:06) The shock after a big exit (30:58) When money replaces meaning and why people and teams matter (35:30) Luna Luna and lost art revived (41:21) Buying Luna Luna sight unseen (46:26) From big vision to reality (51:28) Building and advising new ventures (55:54) Burnout, balance, and recovery (1:02:46) Outro Connect with Marcus * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus [https://x.com/cus] Scales of Success * Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com [http://scalesofsuccesspodcast.com] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess [https://x.com/scalesofsuccess] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess [https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess] Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess [https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess] —-- Leave a Review If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140 Get in Touch You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

#59 - The Human Truth Behind America’s Migration Machine with Jason De León

Stories that cut through borders, fear, and silence. In this episode, Marcus sits down with Jason De León to explore the human realities behind migration, smuggling, and survival. Through raw honesty and years of fieldwork, Jason brings forward the voices and moments most people never witness, revealing how hope, courage, and impossible decisions shape every journey north. This conversation pulls you beyond the headlines and into the lives that hold the true weight of our global migration crisis. Jason De León is a MacArthur Fellow, award-winning author, and Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA. He leads the Undocumented Migration Project, a research and arts collective bringing visibility to the human cost of global migration. His book Soldiers and Kings won the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction, and he is also a professor of Anthropology and Chicana/o and Central American Studies. Get in touch with Jason De León: 🌐 Website: https://www.jasonpatrickdeleon.com/ [https://www.jasonpatrickdeleon.com/]  Learn more about: The Undocumented Migration Project - Where migrant stories become visible. https://www.undocumentedmigrationproject.org/ [https://www.undocumentedmigrationproject.org/]  Episode highlights: (2:14) Creating work from love, not awards (8:48) Facing danger and learning who to trust (13:19) What true access to someone’s story requires (15:44) The emotional cost of carrying others’ lives (20:31) What people misunderstand most about smugglers (25:16) How the U.S. relies on migrant labor every day (31:16) Why simple policy “fixes” don’t solve anything (42:02) The Undocumented Migration Project (44:12) How work and fatherhood helped him heal his own trauma (50:25) Jason's writing process and what teaches his kids about purpose (56:24) Outro Connect with Marcus * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus [https://x.com/cus] Scales of Success * Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com [http://scalesofsuccesspodcast.com] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess [https://x.com/scalesofsuccess] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess [https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess] Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess [https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess] —-- Leave a Review If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140 Get in Touch You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.

#58 - How Your Brain Shapes Who You Become with Dr. Sarah McKay

In today’s episode of Scales Of Success Podcast, host Marcus Arredondo connects with neuroscientist Dr. Sarah McKay to reveal the real science behind identity, agency, and how the brain changes across life stages. You’ll learn why “baby brain” is misunderstood, how neuroplasticity fuels confidence, and what actually helps the brain create clarity, resilience, and long-term wellbeing. If you want a simple, smart way to understand your mind and upgrade your life, this conversation gives you the science and the strategy to start now. Dr. Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist, Oxford-trained researcher, author, and founder of Think Brain and The Neuroscience Academy. She specializes in neuroplasticity, women’s brain health, pregnancy, and cognitive wellbeing. She is the bestselling author of The Women’s Brain Book, Baby Brain, and Brain Health for Dummies, and is known for turning complex neuroscience into practical insights for everyday life. Learn more about Dr. Sarah McKay: 🌐 Website: https://drsarahmckay.com/ [https://drsarahmckay.com/] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmmckay/?originalSubdomain=au [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmmckay/?originalSubdomain=au] Check out her books: https://drsarahmckay.com/books/ [https://drsarahmckay.com/books/] Episode highlights: (3:25) How the brain gathers information (7:05) Thoughts, body signals, and meaning (10:50) What gray matter changes really mean (13:15) Pregnancy, pruning, and efficient brain wiring (17:04) The father’s brain and parenting changes (19:54) Why “baby brain” is misunderstood (26:19) Culture, confidence, and kids’ self-belief (31:23) Belonging, self-belief, and opportunity (48:32) The path to clear science communication (56:12) Real habits that support brain health (57:28) Outro Connect with Marcus * Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus [https://x.com/cus] Scales of Success * Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com [http://scalesofsuccesspodcast.com] * X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess [https://x.com/scalesofsuccess] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/ [https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/] * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess [https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess] Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess [https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess] —-- Leave a Review If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140 Get in Touch You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.