In this conversation, Ami Kassar interviews ⁠LaVonna Roth⁠, the founder of Shine, who shares her journey from education to empowering leaders through her unique methodology. LaVonna discusses the importance of self-awareness, confidence, and emotional intelligence in leadership, as well as her experiences as a keynote speaker.

“I have been given different gifts. I shine in a different way, just like they do. But when we come together, we're unstoppable in that way,” she said. “We light up individually. We each have our own shine, but when we synchronize together, that is when we actually elevate at the highest level. We create that synchronicity together.” 

The main topics of today’s episode will be how to stay focused on what you do best rather than on what you need to improve, why it is important to use your strengths and passions and delegate everything else, and how Lavonna built her business organically through word of mouth, referrals, and repeat business.

⁠Connect with LaVonna⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavonnaroth/

Recorded on 9/19/2025

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we speak with Certified Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Implementer Amy Holtz, who specializes in helping entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders build their businesses and achieve their goals. She explains how EOS changed her own life.

"Running a business is a lot of fun until it's not. Often, your business starts to run you instead of you running your business. It's crucial to find a balance and ensure you're steering the ship, not just reacting to the waves."

The main topics in today’s episode include why, even though EOS Implementers can work with clients virtually, in-person sessions are often more effective for team building and accountability; why Rule No. 1 for any business is maintaining steady cash flow and how that impacts growth and stability; and why, when choosing a coach or EOS Implementer, it’s important to speak with several options instead of settling on the first one you meet.

Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amykholtz/

Recorded on 8/29/25

In this week’s edition of the AmiSights podcast, Lane Kawaoka—Accredited Investor, Podcaster, Developer, and Syndicator with $2.1B AUM—shares his journey from a six-figure engineering salary to becoming a successful real estate investor and author. He discusses his book, The Wealth Elevator, which outlines the stages of financial growth and the importance of adapting to market changes. Lane also highlights the significance of working with competent operators and the potential pitfalls of diversification.

“You put your eggs in one basket and watch it like a hawk. As you get more sophisticated, you keep learning and become an expert in one strategy. It's crucial to focus and refine your approach."

Key topics in this episode include Lane’s transition from managing small rental properties to acquiring larger apartment complexes and why focusing and refining strategies is essential, the importance of diversifying investment portfolios to balance risk and opportunity as net worth grows, and the critical role of having the right operators in business ventures, particularly when expanding beyond real estate into other industries.

Connect with Lane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/

Recorded on 8/20/25

In this week’s edition of the AmiSights Podcast, Joey Coleman discusses the critical importance of employee retention and experience, emphasizing that the first 100 days of an employee's journey are crucial for their long-term engagement. 

"When we think of employee experience and customer experience, they're actually two sides of the same coin. As we improve one and polish one up, the other one increases in value and shine as well. And vice versa. If your employee experience is going down and down, I can almost guarantee that your customer interactions are getting more and more negative as well."

Today’s episode explores the importance of customer and employee retention, drawing on insights from Joey Coleman’s books Never Lose a Customer Again and Never Lose an Employee Again. It also addresses the challenges and strategies of maintaining company culture and employee engagement in a virtual, global work environment, while highlighting the powerful connection between employee experience and customer experience—and how strengthening one can directly enhance the other.

Connect with Joey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycoleman1/

Recorded on 8/12/25

In this week's editing of the AmiSights Podcast, we speak with ⁠Alana Winter⁠, Executive Coach and Retreat Facilitator. Tune in as we discuss the significance of clarity in business operations and the necessity of effective communication within teams. Alana also shares her insights on how to implement structures like the RACI matric to improve accountability and efficiency in business.
"Most people wait to ask for help until it's too late. A growth coach isn't going to help you when you can't meet payroll. At that point, the founder can't be delusional and has to be honest with themselves and recognize the real situation that they're in."

The main topics of today’s episode include how a client can align with the right coach to fit their needs, how to recognize early when it’s time to seek help rather than waiting too long, and why it is essential to address the underlying reasons that created the original problem before moving on to the next step.Learn more about Alana: https://alanawinter.com/

Recorded on 7/28/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Michael Sharp, founder of Sharp Financial, an integrated financial management company. This discussion touches on the challenges of navigating uncertainty in business, the significance of building a strong company culture, and the rewarding experiences of coaching youth basketball.

"People are looking for advice, not just services. As technology evolves, the real value lies in guiding clients through uncertainty and helping them feel secure about their future. It's about providing comfort and confidence, ensuring they navigate challenges with resilience and foresight."

The main topics of today's episode include a look at why even the most talented employee might not be the right fit if they don’t apply themselves. We’ll also explore the journey from accounting to coaching, and the valuable lessons learned throughout that transition. Finally, we’ll discuss how he built his company with long-term sustainability in mind, rather than simply creating it to flip for a quick return.

Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-h-sharp-cpa-6127a071/

Check out Sharp Financial: https://www.sharpllc.com/

6/13/2025

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to sociologist and entrepreneur Travis Luther. After selling two successful companies—including founding the MOSO Pillow—he now teaches entrepreneurs and leaders how to transform past trauma to create a prosperous future that's all their own. He discusses his career change and his fascinating research behind his keynote, “What We Learn When We Learn We Are Dying – Life Advice From the Terminally Ill.”

“It was time for me to return to some other things I was interested in before, and do some things in the second half of my life that feel a little more aligned with who I am right now and what I thought I might accomplish,” he said. “The point of what I'm doing now is trying to get people again to realize that they have a right” to their own life.”

In today’s episode, we’re exploring why the best business ideas often come from solving problems you’ve personally experienced, how entrepreneurship can offer a sense of control and empowerment for people who have been through trauma, and why getting stuck on the need for an instant solution can keep you from ever making real progress.

Connect with Travis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisluther/

Check out MOSO Pillow: https://mosopillow.com/

Recorded on 6/18/2025

In this week’s edition of the AmiSights Podcast, the MultiFunding team discusses the company’s journey to nearly $1 billion in secured funding. While Ami is proud of this incredible financial milestone, he is even more inspired by the impact it’s had—helping small businesses grow and supporting the people behind them.

I'm proud of everyone here, and thank you for everything you all do to help us reach this milestone. We've been through a lot of sweat and tears, and we've helped a lot of people through a lot of different stuff to get there. About 95% of that billion was at bank or commercial financing rates and really built to help those companies have a long sustainable future. It's not just like throwing a billion dollars of hard money against the wall. There's a lot of passion behind that.

In this episode, Ami Kassar shares how passion and persistence helped him overcome early challenges and build a thriving business. He reflects on the power of strong team culture, the impact of putting clients first, and how integrity has shaped his approach to lending. From celebrating customer success stories to prioritizing mentorship, mental health, and balance, Ami opens up about the human side of leadership and what it really takes to grow—personally and professionally.

Connect with Francis Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-miller-51116389/

Connect with Joe McAleer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-p-mcaleer-42939085/

Connect with Nick LaSorsa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-lasorsa-aa2230268/

Connect with Julie Zarr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-zarr-b3762a19/

Recorded on 4/29/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to franchise consultant Jon Ostenson, CEO of FranBridge Consulting, which helps connect entrepreneurs and investors around the country with top franchise opportunities. He explains what non-food industries are popular for franchising.

“We connect entrepreneurs and investors with what we see as the top franchise opportunities in non-food franchising—industries that are often overlooked but highly scalable and resilient. It’s all about stepping into business ownership with confidence, clarity, and the right support.”In today’s episode, we’re diving into why hiring the right people is the most important part of any business, how the tax benefits of business ownership can help offset higher incomes, and how the SBA’s reinstatement of the franchisor directory will benefit both franchisees and lenders.

Connect with Jon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonostenson/Check out FranBridge Consulting: https://franbridgeconsulting.com/Recorded on 4/23/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Eric Kaplan, CEO of AXYS Golf. He shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing how his passion for golf and personal experiences with his father's Parkinson's disease led him to develop a unique coaching methodology.“The more people that you help, the more people that you're able to inspire to teach or to play or, somebody with Parkinson's get back onto the golf course after thinking they would never play again. I have found that my journey has really been built upon helping one person at a time.”Growing up with a father who had Parkinson’s disease deeply influenced Kaplan’s desire to help others, instilling in him a strong sense of empathy and purpose from an early age. Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, the unwavering support he received at every stage played a crucial role in his success, reinforcing the importance of community and connection. A firm believer in the power of manifestation, Kaplan also credits much of his growth to consistently visualizing where he wants to be in life and aligning his actions with that vision.

Connect with Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-kaplan-947738111/Check out AXYS Golf: https://www.axysgolf.com/Recorded on 4/14/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Jeff Crilley, CEO of Real News Public Relations and host of The Jeff Crilley Show. He explains how his 25 years in broadcast journalism helped him disrupt the traditional PR model. “There are New York PR firms that have really close relationships with Good Morning America and those Wall Street Journal reporters. But here in Dallas, I've yet to meet a PR firm that guarantees anything. They promise a lot. But we get refugees on me from other PR firms that are just, it's like Bugs Bunny's steam coming out of their ears. They're mad because nothing happened at all.”In today’s episode, we’ll explore how providing a daily tip sheet has helped Crilley build trust with both clients and journalists, how cutting out the middleman by giving journalists direct access to sources has streamlined the PR process, and why the future of PR lies in people telling their own stories rather than relying solely on traditional news outlets.Learn more about Jeff at https://www.jeffcrilley.com/Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-crilley-7922871/Follow The Jeff Crilley Show Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJeffCrilleyShow/Follow on Jeff on Twitter: https://x.com/jeffcrilleySubscribe to The Jeff Crilley Show YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/jeffcrilleyRecorded on 3/20/25

In this special 200th episode of AmiSights, we mix things up—Ami interviews his brother Barak, and Barak interviews Ami. The two dive into their entrepreneurial journeys, shaped by their immigrant background, and explore how risk tolerance plays a role in both business and life. They discuss recent SBA rule changes that impact immigrant entrepreneurs and reflect on the importance of understanding different risk profiles in relationships, both personal and professional.“We saw a lot of people coming to this country, and not all of them, but many of them, taking on different entrepreneurial journeys. We watched them sweat it out and get going. I think that being a part of that immigrant culture also must have—I know it had a lot of impact on me, and I imagine it did on all of us.”

In today’s episode, we explore how being part of the immigrant culture shaped the brothers’ path into entrepreneurship, how an entrepreneur’s background plays a critical role in determining their risk tolerance, and how the differences between life and business partners can actually strengthen a business rather than hinder it.

Connect with Barak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barak/

Check out BKW Partners: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bkw-partners/Recorded on 3/28/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Dr. Sherry Walling, founder and clinical psychologist at ZenFounder, which helps entrepreneurs thrive in business and in life by avoiding burnout and isolation. Dr. Sherry Walling discusses the mental health challenges of entrepreneurs, focusing on the importance of self-awareness, building a supportive team, and maintaining friendships outside of work.

“I think it's really important for entrepreneurs to recognize their spouse as their first investor, the first person who said yes to their harebrained idea… The presence of a business is a little bit like the presence of a mistress, right? It's this ever present other thing that is absorbing the attention.”

We explore why building a healthy company should not revolve around one person, but instead be systematized in a way that allows it to grow, thrive, and exist independently of the founder. We also discuss the importance of entrepreneurs being well-rounded, with interests and relationships outside of their business, and why securing full buy-in from a significant other is essential before starting an entrepreneurial journey.Connect with Dr. Sherry Walling: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/Check out ZenFounder: https://zenfounder.com/Recorded on 3/13/2025

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Michael Hsu, founder and CEO of DeepSky, an outsourced accounting team that specializes in digital agencies, IT outsourcing companies, and digital media properties. He explains why his mission is to “keep it simple” when helping small business owners with their finances.

“Entrepreneurs are incredibly smart. If they know what the problem is, if they know what they need to work on, they can solve it. The problem is that, most of the time, they have no clue. They have no clue that they have a cash flow problem. They have no clue that they have a profit problem. They have no clue that they have an accountability problem, or any of that matter. So, it's just helping them to identify what the problem is.”In today’s episode, we’ll discuss why it’s crucial for entrepreneurs to focus on understanding the bottom line instead of getting caught up solely in top-line revenue, emphasizing the importance of mastering financial basics before layering on the more complex ideas often promoted in the business world. We’ll also explore how employees around the globe face similar challenges, regardless of their location.Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmichaelhsu/Check out DeepSky: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepsky/Recorded on 2/11/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Sue Meitner, president and founder of Centennial Lending Group (CLG), a full-service mortgage lender providing mortgage loans for new home purchases and/or refinances. She explains why she sold her company in 2018 and how she enjoys her new role on the “other side.”“We definitely have a shortage of housing. We're not pre-COVID, and our shortage of housing and the demographic of the different generations moving into homeownership, there's not going to be enough houses for them. I do think that interest rates should be lower than they are right now, but I don't think we're going to see interest rates lower this year.” In today's episode, we’ll explore the key differences between securing a mortgage through a big bank versus a dedicated mortgage company, highlighting the benefits and challenges of each. We’ll also discuss why a significant portion of Sue’s mortgage company focuses on serving self-employed individuals, addressing their unique financial needs. Finally, we’ll dive into the impact of social media and AI on the real estate industry, examining how these technologies are shaping the way professionals connect with clients and streamline the home-buying process.Connect with Sue: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-meitner/Check out Centennial Lending Group: https://clghomeloans.com/Recorded on 1/31/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Mark Worster,founder of The New Mysteries, a transformative global community that uses plant medicine and methods such as breathing to guide people on their journey of self-discovery and liberation.

Mark started his entrepreneurial journey in the IT space before he entered the transformative medicine realm. As an entrepreneur of several successful companies, he explains how no matter what system you have in place, you still need a base foundation with your finances.  

“You got to have the base firm and solid,” he said. “If you're going to build off of a base where you have no idea really what's going on financially with your business,  you can't make accurate decisions on strategy.”Today's episode explores how adversity in Mark’s previous businesses prepared him for his current venture in the alternative healthcare field, the crucial role yoga and meditation have played in shaping his mindset to navigate challenges, and how transcendence—the level beyond life’s basic needs—helps people see beyond the preconceived science of events.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markworster/

Check out The New Mysteries: https://www.thenewmysteries.org/

MultiFunding does not endorse or oppose any specific techniques, products, or services discussed on the AmiSights Podcast. Our goal is to provide a platform for open dialogue and diverse perspectives and discussion.

Recorded on 2/4/25

In this conversation, Jessica Munday shares her entrepreneurial journey, discussing her dual roles as the founder of Trio Solutions Inc. and Partner of Cloud Nine Nonprofit Advisors. She emphasizes the importance of team culture, client relationships, and the impact of AI on marketing. Jessica also reflects on the challenges of balancing work and family life, the significance of mentorship, and her experiences during the pandemic. The discussion highlights her commitment to helping nonprofits and small businesses thrive while maintaining a strong company culture.Connect with Jessica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmunday/Check out Trio Marketing: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trio-solutions-inc/Check out Cloud Nine Nonprofit Advisors: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrivewithcloud9/Recorded on 1/17/25

In this week's episode, we talk to Scott Eisenberg, Founder and Managing Director of Franklin Capital Advisors, a firm specializing in mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring for small and lower middle-market businesses. In this conversation, Scott shares his extensive experience in M&A, discussing the complexities of evaluating businesses for sale, identifying buyer types, and emphasizing the importance of understanding business value. “The more planning you can put into it, the more you can do things to, get the business ready for sale. Maybe you’ve got your financial statements, your financial reporting function isn’t really strong—you can fix that. Maybe you’ve got a couple of customers you kind of are trying to get contracts in place and get those contracts in place. estate planning—maybe your estate planning is in place, maybe it’s not. there’s a lot of things you can do to plan.”

The main topics of today's episode include why those looking to sell their business—whether to someone within the company or externally—should always have an advisor, the importance of determining if the business is sellable and envisioning how the transition will look, and the key differences in the process of working with companies that need to sell versus those that choose to sell.

Connect with Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotteisenbergfranklin/ Recorded on 1/14/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to David Becker, founder and CEO of First Internet Bank. He explains why he started the online bank way before internet banking became a common convenience and shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing the financial industry. “I think the power of AI will be more revolutionary than the Internet was 25 years ago. A lot of people are scared to death... You, as the human, will get to decipher that data, take out the results, and resolve problems. So you'll get to actually do tasks that the machine can't do, while it takes care of the mundane stuff. This should make productivity go up. It allows people to really use their minds and do creative, good work—not just task-oriented transactions. So, I think in the next 3 to 5 years, we're going to see changes we never dreamed of.”

The main topics of today's episode include how Becker keeps banking innovative by hiring outside the traditional banking talent pool, the value of hiring great people even without an immediate role as a smart long-term strategy, and Becker's perspective on why artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize the industry in the next three to five years. Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-becker-29bb679/ Check out First Internet Bank: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-internet-bank/posts/?feedView=all Recorded on 1/3/25

In this week's edition of the AmiSights Podcast, we talk to Ed Robinson, Founder and President of Capacity Building Solutions and Vistage Chair for six CEO peer groups in the Baltimore area. He shares insights on how he successfully manages and supports so many top executives. “We're dealing with a silver tsunami. There's more businesses that are going to sell. If you believe the data, there's more businesses that are going to change hands in the next 5 to 10 years than have changed hands in the last 20 because of the age of entrepreneurs and business owners. So now there's going to be a bunch of deals flooding the market with a bunch of people who've been counting on this deal to get out. That's why I tell my folks: don't put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to your business.”

The main topics of today's episode include the ongoing challenge small businesses face in finding and retaining talent, the importance of executives admitting when they don't have all the answers and seeking advice from peers, and the anticipated burst of economic activity expected in the first and second quarters of 2025.

Connect with Ed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edrobinson/

Check out Capacity Building Solutions Inc: https://capacity-building.com/ Recorded on 12/2/24