<![CDATA[Beyond Zenith]]>a6227269-08b3-5107-9bd7-dc1683e9c67cFri, 02 Oct 2026 04:00:21 +0000Captivate.fmBeyond Zenithhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/85c292b9-346f-4c56-acab-5d387add807d/Untitled-design-1.jpgBeyond ZenithBeyond ZenithBeyond ZenithBeyond Zenith is a podcast that explores what it truly takes to rise above the ordinary and achieve extraordinary success. Each episode delivers powerful insights from visionary leaders, innovators, and high-achievers who share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and strategies that drive lasting impact. Whether you’re building your career, leading teams, or pursuing personal growth, Beyond Zenith inspires you to think bigger, lead boldly, and exceed your highest goals.https://beyondzenithusa.captivate.fmfalseepisodicnopodcastJailbroke An Ipod, Built An Ad Network | Mike ChoiJailbroke An Ipod, Built An Ad Network | Mike ChoiIn this episode of Beyond Zenith, Mike (Co-Founder and CPO, Koah) sits down with Kian Wilkinson to unpack the journey from building eleven apps in search of the right idea, to launching Koah, an AI native ad network built for a world where AI apps need to monetize without wrecking the user experience. They get into why founders should not delegate their first customers to anyone else, what Koah actually looks for when hiring, why he wishes he had started exercising in the morning years earlier, and the thinking behind Koah's recent rebrand.

]]>In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Mike (Co-Founder and CPO, Koah) sits down with Kian Wilkinson to unpack the journey from building eleven apps in search of the right idea, to launching Koah, an AI native ad network built for a world where AI apps need to monetize without wrecking the user experience. They get into why founders should not delegate their first customers to anyone else, what Koah actually looks for when hiring, why he wishes he had started exercising in the morning years earlier, and the thinking behind Koah's recent rebrand.

]]>5d098252-9257-4259-934f-ca695f4f0d89Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -040050:56falsefull13135 Year Wait. She Solved It In 90 Days5 Year Wait. She Solved It In 90 DaysIn this episode of Beyond Zenith, Irina sits down with Nicola Moss to unpack how a single phone call from the US Air Force turned into a mission to unlock cutting edge technology for the US government, why she hires the leader before the team every time she can, the real story behind Knox's 16 authorizations to operate with a 17th on the way, her advice for founders chasing product market fit, and the hardest lessons she's learned building three companies back to back.

]]>In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Irina sits down with Nicola Moss to unpack how a single phone call from the US Air Force turned into a mission to unlock cutting edge technology for the US government, why she hires the leader before the team every time she can, the real story behind Knox's 16 authorizations to operate with a 17th on the way, her advice for founders chasing product market fit, and the hardest lessons she's learned building three companies back to back.

]]>4e6c6321-3750-4953-ba78-8042adc8a23cFri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -040058:35falsefull1212A Blizzard Built a $100M in RevenueA Blizzard Built a $100M in RevenueAlex Reynolds went from Bain to employee twenty five at Peak, then built his first startup, Swift Intro, on top of LinkedIn's API, only to watch it disappear overnight when LinkedIn shut the API down. He landed at Shutterstock, met his future co-founder Stefan during a New York blizzard when barely anyone else showed up to the office, and together they took a new business line from zero to a hundred million dollars in four years. That experience became the blueprint for Vendelux, the event intelligence platform he now runs as co-founder and CEO, which he bootstrapped for years before Tribeca Venture Partners led a fifty million dollar Series B.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Alex sits down with Kian Wilkinson to talk about why in-person connection is becoming the last trust channel as AI floods every other one with noise, the blizzard that led him to his co-founder, what it actually felt like the moment Vendelux hit product market fit, the real decision behind bootstrapping versus raising venture money, why he anti-sells Vendelux to almost every candidate he meets, and his twenty year vision to help humanity build meaningful professional relationships.

]]>Alex Reynolds went from Bain to employee twenty five at Peak, then built his first startup, Swift Intro, on top of LinkedIn's API, only to watch it disappear overnight when LinkedIn shut the API down. He landed at Shutterstock, met his future co-founder Stefan during a New York blizzard when barely anyone else showed up to the office, and together they took a new business line from zero to a hundred million dollars in four years. That experience became the blueprint for Vendelux, the event intelligence platform he now runs as co-founder and CEO, which he bootstrapped for years before Tribeca Venture Partners led a fifty million dollar Series B.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Alex sits down with Kian Wilkinson to talk about why in-person connection is becoming the last trust channel as AI floods every other one with noise, the blizzard that led him to his co-founder, what it actually felt like the moment Vendelux hit product market fit, the real decision behind bootstrapping versus raising venture money, why he anti-sells Vendelux to almost every candidate he meets, and his twenty year vision to help humanity build meaningful professional relationships.

]]>dbb07207-f46b-4733-bdc0-6df4e74a027dFri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -040047:40falsefull1111Cloudforce's AI Gateway, ExplainedCloudforce's AI Gateway, ExplainedBrian didn't start in product. He started in email marketing, back when email marketing was still new. He talked his way into product management at a startup that had none, made a few mistakes, learned on the fly, and never looked back. Now he's Senior Director of Product Management at CloudForce, building Nebula One, an AI gateway that gives universities, hospitals and governments a secure way to deploy AI without losing control of it.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Brian sits down with Nicola Moss to talk about walking into CloudForce as its first dedicated product leader with no roadmap to inherit, why he's a self confessed Claude fanboy who's only now starting to test the others, the real cost behind the AI bill that's coming due for every company giving away free tokens, why the intern test is the best way to get people started with AI, and what he thinks won't change about product leadership no matter how far AI goes.

]]>Brian didn't start in product. He started in email marketing, back when email marketing was still new. He talked his way into product management at a startup that had none, made a few mistakes, learned on the fly, and never looked back. Now he's Senior Director of Product Management at CloudForce, building Nebula One, an AI gateway that gives universities, hospitals and governments a secure way to deploy AI without losing control of it.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Brian sits down with Nicola Moss to talk about walking into CloudForce as its first dedicated product leader with no roadmap to inherit, why he's a self confessed Claude fanboy who's only now starting to test the others, the real cost behind the AI bill that's coming due for every company giving away free tokens, why the intern test is the best way to get people started with AI, and what he thinks won't change about product leadership no matter how far AI goes.

]]>a7c0c5f9-b5bf-4edb-84b6-991d9de4ecf2Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:20:00 -040001:13:40falsefull1010From Space X Engineer to AI EngineerFrom Space X Engineer to AI EngineerDoug Toulmage spent years building Starlink from the earliest test satellites at SpaceX. Then ChatGPT launched, he met his co-founders for brunch, and within days he'd left his job to start Gradial.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Doug (Co-Founder and CEO, Gradial) sits down with Nicola Moss to unpack the whole story: why he chose marketing over finance, HR, and legal as the vertical to bet on, the moment he knew Gradial had found product market fit for not one but two products, how customers have taken campaigns from six weeks down to six hours, and what he learned about founder life the day his calendar went from packed to empty.

]]>Doug Toulmage spent years building Starlink from the earliest test satellites at SpaceX. Then ChatGPT launched, he met his co-founders for brunch, and within days he'd left his job to start Gradial.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Doug (Co-Founder and CEO, Gradial) sits down with Nicola Moss to unpack the whole story: why he chose marketing over finance, HR, and legal as the vertical to bet on, the moment he knew Gradial had found product market fit for not one but two products, how customers have taken campaigns from six weeks down to six hours, and what he learned about founder life the day his calendar went from packed to empty.

]]>6a3e8ca9-d703-40c0-bbff-6fb27936ebe4Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:15:00 -040001:13:45falsefull99From Corporate to CampfireFrom Corporate to CampfireJohn Glasgow spent a decade in corporate finance before he ever wrote a line of code through Magento's $2 billion sale to Adobe, then the Invoice2Go acquisition from the inside, before deciding the ERPs he'd been a customer of, and then a partner of, needed to be rebuilt from scratch.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, John Glasgow (CEO and CFO Campfire) sits down with Kian Wilkinson to unpack the whole story: the $500 bet his first customer's accounting team made on whether Campfire would even survive, why he skipped small businesses to go straight for mid-market, how a legacy ERP's monopoly speech became his founding moment, and what it actually means to build an AI-native product rather than bolt AI onto an old one.

]]>John Glasgow spent a decade in corporate finance before he ever wrote a line of code through Magento's $2 billion sale to Adobe, then the Invoice2Go acquisition from the inside, before deciding the ERPs he'd been a customer of, and then a partner of, needed to be rebuilt from scratch.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, John Glasgow (CEO and CFO Campfire) sits down with Kian Wilkinson to unpack the whole story: the $500 bet his first customer's accounting team made on whether Campfire would even survive, why he skipped small businesses to go straight for mid-market, how a legacy ERP's monopoly speech became his founding moment, and what it actually means to build an AI-native product rather than bolt AI onto an old one.

]]>ea044336-592c-4336-ab27-d171576d0170Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:40:00 -040051:40falsefull88Sold to Google and Microsoft | Russell Long, CEO of Authentica SolutionsSold to Google and Microsoft | Russell Long, CEO of Authentica SolutionsRussell Long started as a teacher and coach in a Texas classroom. He went on to build six companies, sell half his business to Microsoft, watch the other half land at Google, and then buy the brand back to build again.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Russell (CEO and Founder, Authentica Solutions) sits down with Nicola Moss to unpack the whole story: the acquisition drama nobody talks about, what Microsoft told him they were really buying, why he raised capital for the first time in 2024, and what K12 and higher education leaders are underestimating about their data as AI reshapes the industry.

]]>Russell Long started as a teacher and coach in a Texas classroom. He went on to build six companies, sell half his business to Microsoft, watch the other half land at Google, and then buy the brand back to build again.

In this episode of Beyond Zenith, Russell (CEO and Founder, Authentica Solutions) sits down with Nicola Moss to unpack the whole story: the acquisition drama nobody talks about, what Microsoft told him they were really buying, why he raised capital for the first time in 2024, and what K12 and higher education leaders are underestimating about their data as AI reshapes the industry.

]]>889714aa-6534-476a-b240-266d437c6dc1Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -040001:35:23falsefull77Why Mercedes Bent left Lightspeed to build her own firmWhy Mercedes Bent left Lightspeed to build her own firmOn this episode of Beyond Zenith, Our Co-founder Nicola Moss sits down with Mercedes Bent, founder of a new venture capital firm focused on pre seed and seed stage startups, and former investor at Lightspeed.

They get into multi agent orchestration and what it actually means to manage a growing swarm of AI agents, why she thinks this is such an exciting moment for CTOs and senior engineers to move into venture, and what unique perspective technical operators bring that traditional investors often can't.

]]>On this episode of Beyond Zenith, Our Co-founder Nicola Moss sits down with Mercedes Bent, founder of a new venture capital firm focused on pre seed and seed stage startups, and former investor at Lightspeed.

They get into multi agent orchestration and what it actually means to manage a growing swarm of AI agents, why she thinks this is such an exciting moment for CTOs and senior engineers to move into venture, and what unique perspective technical operators bring that traditional investors often can't.

]]>df76f2b7-94d7-4e72-b7c9-6b75c035a428Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -040001:04:05falsefull66From Stanford Straight Into a 5 Person StartupFrom Stanford Straight Into a 5 Person StartupOn this episode of Beyond Zenith, Our Co-founder Kian Wilkinson sit's down with Ashley Aruffo, VP of Product Development at Craft.co, a supplier intelligence tool built for the defense industrial base.

They talk about her journey into product, why handoffs are usually where product teams go wrong, and what it felt like the moment Craft found product market fit. Ashley breaks down what Craft actually does, why they call themselves the sixth sense of your supply chain, and where she thinks people get AI wrong when it comes to creating real value.

]]>On this episode of Beyond Zenith, Our Co-founder Kian Wilkinson sit's down with Ashley Aruffo, VP of Product Development at Craft.co, a supplier intelligence tool built for the defense industrial base.

They talk about her journey into product, why handoffs are usually where product teams go wrong, and what it felt like the moment Craft found product market fit. Ashley breaks down what Craft actually does, why they call themselves the sixth sense of your supply chain, and where she thinks people get AI wrong when it comes to creating real value.

]]>f94aee3c-9bf7-46a2-ad0f-c9baa17ac6f1Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -040045:40falsefull77How AI Agents Cut Invoices Collection Time in 20 DaysHow AI Agents Cut Invoices Collection Time in 20 DaysUnlock the future of finance with a bold vision: what if managing complex revenue could be fully automated, accurate, and effortless? Ali Hussain, CEO of the innovative startup Tabs, reveals how AI-driven revenue automation is transforming the CFO's world, turning years of manual work into seamless digital streamlining. Prepare to discover how a passionate operator turned industry insider is redefining revenue management for fast-growing companies eager to ditch legacy systems and embrace true innovation.

]]>Unlock the future of finance with a bold vision: what if managing complex revenue could be fully automated, accurate, and effortless? Ali Hussain, CEO of the innovative startup Tabs, reveals how AI-driven revenue automation is transforming the CFO's world, turning years of manual work into seamless digital streamlining. Prepare to discover how a passionate operator turned industry insider is redefining revenue management for fast-growing companies eager to ditch legacy systems and embrace true innovation.

]]>0464909d-5cb6-4882-adf3-1448e3cae761Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -040041:33falsefull55From Microsoft Engineer to a Startup CTOFrom Microsoft Engineer to a Startup CTOMost startups get derailed by scaling too fast but Yoodli's rapid rise proves a different approach works. In this episode, Derek Sessions, CTO of Yoodli, shares how relentless customer obsession, rapid prototype iteration, and an unwavering focus on real impact fueled a company that went from zero to $60 million in funding in just a few months. Discover how to navigate high-speed growth without losing sight of what truly matters.

]]>Most startups get derailed by scaling too fast but Yoodli's rapid rise proves a different approach works. In this episode, Derek Sessions, CTO of Yoodli, shares how relentless customer obsession, rapid prototype iteration, and an unwavering focus on real impact fueled a company that went from zero to $60 million in funding in just a few months. Discover how to navigate high-speed growth without losing sight of what truly matters.

]]>9a346054-9d4c-49b4-bb74-9dbb5a252f5aMon, 22 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -040001:01:19falsefull44The Key to High-Performing Tech TeamsThe Key to High-Performing Tech TeamsIn this episode, Richard shares over 30 years of entrepreneurial and technical insights, from the early internet days in Australia to leading AI-driven transformation today. Discover how a focus on human connection, adaptability, and practical leadership creates teams that outperform even the biggest giants. Richard’s story of nearly losing everything, navigating technical debt, and scaling at lightning speed provides a masterclass in resilience and strategic thinking.

]]>In this episode, Richard shares over 30 years of entrepreneurial and technical insights, from the early internet days in Australia to leading AI-driven transformation today. Discover how a focus on human connection, adaptability, and practical leadership creates teams that outperform even the biggest giants. Richard’s story of nearly losing everything, navigating technical debt, and scaling at lightning speed provides a masterclass in resilience and strategic thinking.

]]>635148b0-d466-444e-8731-fe31d9d92bc7Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -040001:35:41falsefull33From Computer Science to CIO: The Unfiltered Truth about Tech Leadership.From Computer Science to CIO: The Unfiltered Truth about Tech Leadership.Most tech leaders struggle to keep up with rapid change, but Howard Miller, CIO at UCLA Anderson, shares a simple way to stay ahead: learning. In this episode, he explains why staying curious, reading widely, and keeping up with trends can sharpen your thinking and help you lead through change. Sometimes the smartest strategy is simply learning faster. You’ll learn how to filter what matters, build better habits, and avoid the common mistake that holds leaders back.

]]>Most tech leaders struggle to keep up with rapid change, but Howard Miller, CIO at UCLA Anderson, shares a simple way to stay ahead: learning. In this episode, he explains why staying curious, reading widely, and keeping up with trends can sharpen your thinking and help you lead through change. Sometimes the smartest strategy is simply learning faster. You’ll learn how to filter what matters, build better habits, and avoid the common mistake that holds leaders back.

]]>f6b5e88a-7fe5-489d-ae4a-e257eb945cfdFri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -040001:07:07falsefull22Journey from CTO to CEOJourney from CTO to CEOIn this engaging episode of Beyond Zenith, host Nicola welcomes Husein Sharaf, CEO of Cloudforce, to discuss his remarkable journey from a curious child fascinated by technology to leading a high-performing cloud consultancy.

Husein shares insights into his early career, the pivotal lessons learned from working with major companies, and the challenges of transitioning from employee to entrepreneur. He also delves into the importance of company culture, leadership principles, and the future of AI in business.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about innovation, leadership, and the drive to succeed.

]]>In this engaging episode of Beyond Zenith, host Nicola welcomes Husein Sharaf, CEO of Cloudforce, to discuss his remarkable journey from a curious child fascinated by technology to leading a high-performing cloud consultancy.

Husein shares insights into his early career, the pivotal lessons learned from working with major companies, and the challenges of transitioning from employee to entrepreneur. He also delves into the importance of company culture, leadership principles, and the future of AI in business.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about innovation, leadership, and the drive to succeed.

]]>725ecbb0-85d9-4fdd-a2aa-c80b10f58ce2Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:10:00 -040001:17:44falsefull