Jag Prakasam (Qdeck)

Sanjay Bhatia (Runday.ai)

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Taylor Baker sits down with Sanjay Bhatia, CEO and founder of Runday.ai and a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience building AI-driven companies. Their conversation explores how artificial intelligence is transforming sales, marketing, and customer engagement, while highlighting the importance of combining human expertise with AI-powered systems. What You’ll Learn: * Why traditional advertising is becoming less effective and how data-driven outreach is creating new opportunities for growth. * How AI-powered brand ambassadors can identify, qualify, and engage ideal buyers before a salesperson ever enters the conversation. * The importance of focusing on buyer intent and timing rather than relying on broad marketing campaigns and lead-generation funnels. * Why community-building through webinars, masterminds, and industry ecosystems can outperform purely transactional marketing efforts. * How businesses can use AI to empower employees, eliminate repetitive tasks, and improve productivity rather than replace human talent. * Why demographic workforce trends may create labor shortages for years to come and how AI can help organizations bridge those gaps. * The value of adopting a true omnichannel approach that combines email, phone, social platforms, messaging apps, and AI-driven engagement. * Why hiring people you genuinely enjoy working with can have a greater long-term impact than hiring solely based on credentials or experience. Throughout the conversation, Sanjay presents a vision of AI as a tool for creating more meaningful and efficient connections between buyers and sellers. Rather than replacing people, he believes AI can enhance human capabilities, improve targeting, reduce wasted effort, and help businesses build stronger relationships with the right customers at the right time. His perspective offers a practical roadmap for organizations looking to grow in an increasingly data-driven and AI-enabled marketplace. To learn more about Sanjay Bhatia and his work, visit Runday.ai.

Brad Hawkins (Infinite Protection)

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Taylor Baker sits down with Brad Hawkins, CEO of Infinite Protection and a longtime entrepreneur focused on making cybersecurity accessible for small businesses. Their conversation explores the growing cybersecurity challenges facing entrepreneurs, the importance of building security-minded cultures, and how leaders can create lasting impact through both technology and people development. What You’ll Learn: * Why small businesses are increasingly targeted by cyber threats and often lack the resources of larger organizations * How Brad’s entrepreneurial experiences shaped his mission to make cybersecurity affordable and practical for growing companies * Why employee behavior and company culture are often the biggest cybersecurity vulnerabilities * How gamification and education can help teams develop stronger security habits without creating fear or frustration * The value of proactive cybersecurity assessments and identifying vulnerabilities before they become costly problems * Why successful entrepreneurs view obstacles as learning opportunities rather than failures * How adaptability and continuous course correction are essential for long-term business growth * Why investing in people, leadership development, and personal growth creates lasting value beyond business results Throughout the conversation, Brad emphasizes that cybersecurity is not simply a technology problem—it is a people, leadership, and education challenge. He shares how entrepreneurs can protect their businesses through practical security measures while also embracing a mindset of resilience and adaptability. The discussion highlights the importance of taking action, learning from setbacks, and building organizations where both security and personal growth are prioritized. Ultimately, Brad’s message is that long-term success comes from continually improving systems, empowering people, and staying committed to progress even when the path forward changes. To learn more about Brad Hawkins and his work, visit infiniteprotection.ai.

Thomas Hood (Shade Doctor)

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Taylor Baker sits down with Thomas Hood, President and CEO of Shade Doctor, to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, and the mindset required to build a market-leading company. Thomas shares his journey from mowing lawns as a teenager to leading a rapidly growing national organization, while offering insights on faith, customer service, innovation, and personal development. What You’ll Learn: * Why long-term business success is built on process, discipline, and work ethic rather than chasing money alone. * How serving a purpose greater than profit can create stronger teams, better customer experiences, and healthier organizations. * The importance of identifying underserved opportunities within established industries and creating differentiated solutions. * Why innovation and product design can become a powerful competitive advantage in crowded markets. * How effective communication throughout the customer journey is often just as important as delivering a great product. * Why leaders should embrace accountability and learn from their mistakes instead of avoiding them. * How setbacks, failures, and difficult seasons can become valuable lessons that shape future success. * Why maintaining a growth mindset and continually raising standards is essential for staying ahead of competitors. Throughout the conversation, Thomas emphasizes that meaningful success comes from a combination of hard work, humility, personal accountability, and a commitment to continual improvement. His story illustrates how strong values, a customer-focused approach, and a willingness to learn from both victories and failures can help entrepreneurs build businesses that create lasting impact while staying true to their mission. To learn more about Thomas Hood and his work, visit shadedocs.com.

Thiru Thangarathinam (KeenStack)

Host Taylor Baker sits down with Thiru Thangarathinam, CEO and Founder of KeenStack and a longtime technology entrepreneur, to discuss building and scaling IT services companies, creating a culture-driven organization, and navigating growth in an increasingly AI-powered business landscape. The conversation explores the mindset, leadership principles, and strategic focus required to build sustainable, enterprise-focused businesses. What You’ll Learn: * Why a strong company culture can become a lasting competitive advantage that competitors cannot easily replicate. * How investing in employees leads to better customer experiences and stronger business outcomes. * Why adopting a growth mindset helps entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty, ambiguity, and constant change. * How authenticity and empathy remain critical differentiators, even as AI-generated content becomes more common. * Why focusing on a specific niche can create stronger positioning, greater efficiency, and clearer market leadership. * How landing enterprise customers can create more predictable revenue streams and long-term growth opportunities. * The importance of balancing AI adoption with governance, cost management, and human connection. * Why resilience is one of the most essential traits for entrepreneurs facing setbacks, rejection, and ongoing challenges. Throughout the conversation, Thiru emphasizes that sustainable business growth is built on a foundation of culture, clarity, focus, and resilience. Drawing from his experience building and exiting a successful consulting firm before launching KeenStack, he shares how authentic leadership, strategic specialization, and a commitment to continuous learning can help entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty while positioning their organizations for long-term success. To learn more about Thiru Thangarathinam and his work, visit keenstack.com.

Anthony Koltenuk (Pledged Inc.)

In this episode of the Achieve Podcast, host Taylor Baker sits down with Anthony Koltenuk, founder of Pledged Inc., a platform designed to help universities better manage and grow their corporate relationships. Their conversation explores how better data, stronger collaboration, and thoughtful technology can unlock new opportunities for higher education institutions and the businesses that partner with them. What You’ll Learn: * Why many universities struggle with fragmented data and how disconnected systems create missed opportunities. * How identifying a specific niche market can help startups gain traction in complex industries. * The importance of customer discovery and validating assumptions before building a solution. * Why successful technology adoption depends on reducing user friction and integrating with existing workflows. * How universities can increase revenue and strengthen partnerships by improving visibility into corporate engagement. * Practical ways AI can enhance decision-making when paired with high-quality data and human oversight. * Why relationship-building remains one of the most effective strategies for sales and long-term customer retention. * How collaboration, transparency, and shared information can help organizations break down internal silos and achieve better outcomes. Anthony shares how a simple frustration with outdated university systems evolved into a mission to modernize the way higher education institutions manage corporate partnerships. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the value of listening closely to customers, designing technology around real human needs, and using AI as a tool rather than a replacement for critical thinking. The episode offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology, education, and relationship-driven growth. To learn more about Anthony Koltenuk and his work, visit pledged.to.