Value Creators

Following principles of business administration is the path to disaster for your business or any business. Yet business administration is what’s taught in business school and revered as the highest goal of management. We need to change how we think about business, which requires changing our mental model.Entrepreneurial leadership is the new mental model..In Part 2 of the special 3-part series of The Value Creators Podcast featuring the alternative approach to the business administration methods taught in MBA school, Venture Mode, Hunter Hastings and co-author Mark Packard continue their exposition of what comes after traditional business administration. Together, they examine how business schools institutionalize bureaucracy, why reform from inside the system is nearly impossible, and how administration mode crowds out entrepreneurial leadership.They introduce a radically different alternative: the Master of Business Enterprise (MBE)—a new model of business education grounded in entrepreneurship, experimental learning, uncertainty, and real-world value creation. The conversation explores why customers—not processes or analytics—must be at the center of business thinking, and why skills like empathy, judgment, creativity, and tenacity are essential for navigating uncertainty.This episode challenges long-held assumptions about business models, what business education should teach, who it should serve, and how entrepreneurial leaders are truly developed.Key Insights:Why the MBA reinforces administration mode and systematically underproduces entrepreneurial leaders.How exploration, discovery, and customer-centered value reshape business education.Why entrepreneurship must be learned through practice, empathy, and real-world experience.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Mark Packard on LinkedInGet the book "Venture Mode: Escape the Administration Trap"Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on SubstackChapters:00:00 – Why Business Schools Produce Administrators, Not Entrepreneurs02:10 – How the MBA Institutionalizes Administration Mode04:50 – Why Accreditation Prevents Real Reform07:15 – Introducing the Master of Business Enterprise (MBE)09:50 – Subjectivism, Customers, and Value Creation12:45 – Why Entrepreneurship Cannot Be Reduced to Checklists15:40 – Teaching Empathy, Judgment, and Creativity19:20 – Learning Entrepreneurship Through Practice23:30 – Who Is the Real Customer of Business Education?31:45 – The Future of Entrepreneurial Leadership

5/22/26 • 32:53

The most damaging error for a business is to run in administration mode. It’s the worst way to run a business. Yet it’s given the highest accolade: the greatest credential you can get is an MBA, a master’s in business ADMINISTRATION.  Administration mode is parroted in every business book, business periodical, and online business education. Administration is a trap baited with best practices, process lock-in, inflexible resource allocation, risk aversion, and impossibilities like strategic planning and financial forecasting.  To save American business from the administration trap, Mark Packard and Hunter Hastings wrote a book titled Venture Mode - the alternative to administration mode. In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Mark and Hunter talk about why administration is so deeply flawed in the context of today’s fast-paced, innovative economy — and what to do instead.Together, they introduce a fundamentally different operating model that replaces bureaucracy, internal control, and prediction with entrepreneurial leadership and relentless customer value creation. In this first of three special episode of The Value Creators podcast, the authors explain how administrative thinking became institutionalized through business schools and management science — and why it is quietly destroying productivity, innovation, and growth.Key Insights:Administration mode turns off the entrepreneurial engine and replaces value creation with value replication.Venture mode shifts focus from internal processes and control to continuous adaptation around customer value.Entrepreneurship is not limited to startups — it is a scalable economic function essential for long-term growth.If organizations aim to survive and thrive in uncertain markets, they must escape administration mode and rediscover entrepreneurship as their core operating logic.Resources:➡️ Get the book "Venture Mode: Escape the Administration Trap"Connect with Mark Packard on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on SubstackChapters:00:00 – Why administration is a terrible way to run a business02:10 – Introducing Venture Mode and the administration trap03:05 – Manager mode vs. entrepreneurial leadership06:12 – Why bureaucracy kills innovation and agility09:01 – How positivism shaped business education14:18 – The real economic cost of bureaucracy19:12 – Entrepreneurship as the source of growth22:35 – What venture mode really means26:08 – Entrepreneurship beyond startups28:38 – The mindset shift from administration to venture mode

5/11/26 • 36:23

What is the real purpose of the firm: creating value or capturing it?In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings is joined by Ashutosh Garg to explore one of the most fundamental misunderstandings in modern business thinking—the confusion between value creation and value capture. While traditional economic and management frameworks emphasize profit extraction, pricing power, and competitive positioning, Ashutosh explains why these ideas can mislead firms away from their true role in the economy.The conversation reframes the firm as a value creation system, where profit is not the goal but the result of successfully serving customers. Together, they unpack how focusing on value capture leads to short-term thinking, distorted incentives, and weakened customer relationships, while a value creation mindset unlocks long-term growth and resilience.Key Insights:Why value capture is often misunderstood as the goal of the firm rather than a consequence of value creationHow profit emerges as a signal of successfully serving customers—not as an objective to optimize directlyWhy firms that focus on customer value outperform those focused on extraction, pricing, and competitive advantageIf you want to rethink strategy, profit, and the role of business in society, this episode offers a powerful shift in perspective.Resources➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Ashutosh Garg on FacebookConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on SubstackGet your copy of Venture Mode: Escape The Administration Trap By Finding and Unleashing Entrepreneurial LeadersChapters:00:00 — Value creation vs. value capture: the core confusion02:18 — Why profit is not the goal of the firm05:40 — The dangers of value extraction thinking09:05 — Pricing power vs. real customer value12:30 — Who defines value in the market16:10 — Why competition is the wrong focus20:25 — Learning, adaptation, and dynamic markets24:40 — Metrics, incentives, and distorted behavior29:15 — Rethinking strategy around value creation34:50 — Final thoughts: building value-driven firms

4/7/26 • 30:02

We’ve been taught that business success comes from logic, prediction, and data-driven strategy. But what happens when uncertainty makes all of that break down?In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Angus Fletcher, author of Primal Intelligence, about why entrepreneurs don’t succeed by predicting the future — but by creating it.Angus Fletcher is uniquely qualified to draw on both neuroscience and entrepreneurial theory, and to add perspective from a field he himself pioneered, story science. He runs a special research lab at Ohio State University called Project Narrative, and its insights have been applied in US Army Special Forces, NASA, Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Angus explains how the human brain is designed for uncertainty, not optimization, and why intuition, imagination, emotion, and judgment are not flaws that interfere with rationality, but essential decision-making systems for entrepreneurial action.Key Insights:Why logic and prediction fail in conditions of true uncertaintyHow primal intelligence helps entrepreneurs act when the future is unknowableWhy storytelling, not data, is the brain’s primary way of making sense of the worldIf you want to rethink intelligence, leadership, and entrepreneurship for a world that can’t be predicted, this conversation offers a powerful new lens.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about Angus FletcherConnect with Angus Fletcher on LinkedInGet the book "Primal Intelligence. You Are Smarter Than You Know"Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

1/10/26 • 46:48

How do you build a real business — not just a product — inside a marketplace like Amazon? And how does generative strategy change the way entrepreneurs think about scale, risk, and value creation?In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings talks with Neil Twa, founder and coach of Voltage Holdings, to break down what it really takes to build, operate, and exit successful marketplace-based companies. Neil explains his Train–Equip–Activate framework, how to separate business-building from product-picking, and why discipline, patience, and marketplace fit matter more than trends or hacks.Key Insights:Why marketplaces reward systems, not spontaneity — and how most sellers fail before they truly start.Generative entrepreneurship vs. opportunistic entrepreneurship: building for scale rather than chasing outcomes.Why the goal isn’t just revenue — it's margin, defensibility, customer value, and eventually sellability.This episode is a hands-on masterclass for entrepreneurs who want to move beyond “Amazon hustle culture” and instead build asset-backed, generative companies that endure.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Neil Twa on LinkedInLearn more about Voltage HoldingsGet the book Almost Automated Income with FBA: Build a Profitable Lifestyle-Driven Amazon Business. Exit for Millions. Even Without Any Ecommerce ExperienceConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

12/18/25 • 47:05

In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Professor Mohammad Keyhani to explore generativity — the ability of ideas, tools, and technologies to create more ideas and innovations beyond their initial intention. Instead of seeing AI as a replacement for human creativity, Professor Keyhani explains how it can become an amplifier that unlocks exponential innovation, where small teams can produce outsize impact by enabling end-user innovation that can never be foreseen.We discuss how entrepreneurs can design systems that produce unexpected value, why open-ended experimentation generates more upside than traditional planning, and how creativity becomes more powerful when humans collaborate with technology rather than competing with it.Key Insights:Generativity creates exponential value, turning a single innovation into an ecosystem where ideas build upon ideas.AI augments human creativity instead of replacing it, accelerating exploration and expanding what individuals can produce.Entrepreneurship becomes discovery, not execution — value emerges through iteration, experimentation, and creative freedom.If you're building products, ventures, or ideas that you want to scale beyond yourself, this episode will expand how you think about innovation in the AI era.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Mohammad Keyhani on LinkedInLearn more about DigitVibeGet the book The Generativity Advantage: Unpredicted Innovation at ScaleConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

12/13/25 • 47:28

What does it really take to build a successful entrepreneurial business—and a successful entrepreneurial life?In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with entrepreneur and author James Harold Webb, whose career spans multiple eight-figure businesses across healthcare, diagnostics, and fitness. James shares the foundational principles behind his success: clarity of mission, disciplined execution, learning, and a commitment to serving others.He explains why purpose—not passion—drives good decisions, how hiring self-managing people accelerates growth, and why systems are essential for building a business that operates independently of the founder. James also reflects on leadership, energy management, and the mindset required to scale without losing focus or integrity. Above all, he stresses learning: the capacity to welcome errors and missed targets and business crises as opportunities to improve.Key Insights:Clarity creates direction — With a clear mission, entrepreneurs make sharper decisions and avoid emotional drift.Self-managed teams drive scale — Hiring people who don’t need constant direction frees leaders to focus on strategy.Systems create freedom — Documented processes and aligned incentives help businesses run smoothly without founder dependence.Failures are simply new opportunities to succeed.If you want to build a business—and a life—rooted in purpose, discipline, and service, this conversation delivers the essentials.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with James Harold Webb on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

12/4/25 • 39:30

Customer experience is the new gold — valuable, and becoming more valuable.In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Sujay Saha, CEO of Cortico-X, a leader in experience design, to explore how the world’s most forward-thinking companies are reshaping customer experience in the AI era.Sujay introduces a new discipline — experience-led architecture — where strategy, design, and technology converge to create experiences that reflect customer needs instead of reacting to them. He also explains how to measure the true ROI of experience, proving its financial impact beyond customer satisfaction scores.Finally, he shows how AI is changing the way organizations understand people — blending data with emotion to design interactions that drive loyalty, trust, and long-term value.Key Insights:Businesses should design experiences, not just processes. Experience-led businesses grow faster because they see every interaction as a design opportunity.Prove the ROI of experience. Customer experience is measurable — and profitable — when tied to clear business outcomes.Blend objective data and subjective emotion. The future of business intelligence is human intelligence — understanding not just what customers do, but how they feel, and why.If you want to future-proof your business around people and their experiences — not just products and processes — this episode is essential listening.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Sujay Saha on LinkedInLearn more about Cortico-XConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

11/8/25 • 48:38

What do billion-dollar founders see that the rest of us don’t? What separates those who build legacies from those who just build businesses? And how can storytelling—not just strategy—be the most powerful tool for influence and growth?In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings talks with Doug Crowe, brand strategist and founder of Author your Brand, to unpack the timeless principles that define the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Doug has worked with hundreds of founders to distill not just what they do—but how they think.Key insights include:Why vision, not charisma, is the real superpower of 9- and 10-figure founders.The OODA loop framework and how elite entrepreneurs make faster, smarter decisions.How to evolve your leadership as your business grows—or risk becoming the bottleneck.The non-negotiable role of personal branding in a world flooded with AI and noise.Why your founder story is your strategy—and how to tell it so people remember.How culture and cross-training can turn every employee into a brand ambassador.What you must stand for—and stand against—to build an enduring legacy.Doug and Hunter go deep on the intersection of humanity and business, showing that in a digital-first world, the brands that win will be the ones that connect on a human level—with purpose, story, and truth.Whether you're a startup founder or scaling a 9-figure enterprise, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, storytelling, and the future of brand.This one’s not just about building a business. It’s about becoming the kind of founder who changes industries.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Doug Crowe on LinkedInLearn more about Author Your BrandConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

10/29/25 • 47:01

In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Ryan Turnipseed about the greatest enemy of entrepreneurial value creation: bureaucracy. Value creation is a universal economic goal, so how and why have bureaucratic restraints emerged, and why are they so resistant to innovation? Drawing on the contrasting theories of James Burnham and Ludwig von Mises, Ryan explains how managerialism and bureaucratic systems suppress innovation, limit consumer sovereignty, and redirect businesses away from value creation toward rule-following and control.From rebranding fiascos to government regulation, from MBAs to corporate conformity, this conversation unpacks why bureaucracy persists and how entrepreneurs can resist it. Ryan highlights examples of entrepreneurial leadership—such as Elon Musk’s overhaul of Twitter—that demonstrate how decisiveness and freedom can dismantle bureaucratic inertia.Key insights include:Why bureaucracy prioritizes rules and efficiency over profit and consumer value.How Burnham and Mises offer different but complementary theories of bureaucracy’s rise.Why entrepreneurs must assert autonomy and freedom to restore value creation in their businesses.This is a must-listen for leaders who want to build adaptive, value-driven organizations in the 21st century.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseSubscribe to Ryan Turnipseed's YouTube ChannelConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on SubstackMorning Star: Pioneering Zero-Bureaucracy OrganizationIs Managerialism Inevitable? Two Explanations For Cracker Barrel’s Attempted Rebrand - Ryan Turnipseed on Substack

10/15/25 • 50:56

Corporations were built for stability, hierarchy, and control—but the world now moves in networks, flows, and continuous change.In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Dr. Ross Wirth, a world-renowned organizational transformation expert with decades of experience in the energy industry, in academia, and in hands-on consulting. Wirth explains why “change management” as a project is doomed, why old structures suffocate adaptability, and how radical decentralization and entrepreneurial intent can reshape organizations for the future.Key insights include:Why industrial-era mindsets create rigidity—and how to replace them with continuous adaptability.How radical decentralization and autonomy empower teams far beyond “delegated authority.”Why organizations must evolve—not through revolution, but by systematically removing barriers to freedom and innovation.This is a blueprint for leaders who want to shift from outdated structures to dynamic ecosystems where entrepreneurship thrives inside the firm.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseArticles by Dr Ross Wirth on LinkedIn:Constraints on Organizational Adaptability The Org-change Manifesto for the New EraFrom Change-as-persuasion to Change-as-cocreationConnect with Dr. Ross Wirth on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

10/9/25 • 55:29

What does it mean to build a civilization that advances forever—and what role do entrepreneurs play in that project? In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings interviews John Deming (author) and Mike Hamel (editor) about their book Blueprint for a Spacefaring Civilization: The Science of Volition. Deming and Hamel frame markets, innovation and entrepreneurship through the lens of volitional science: a scientific approach to subjective value and long-term progress.Key insights include:Markets are non-coercive discovery engines that reveal value through voluntary exchange.Volitional science reframes entrepreneurship as an experimental, long-horizon activity that discovers meaning and utility.Institutional design matters: intellectual property, revenue-share structures, and time-horizons shape whether innovation translates into civilization-scale progress.This episode mixes economic theory, civilizational vision, and practical proposals—from licensing regimes to new corporate structures—aimed at accelerating durable progress.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CoursePurchase the book "Blueprint for a Spacefaring Civilization: The Science of Volition"Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

9/29/25 • 49:12

This episode has been reposted from Strategy Meets Reality Podcast.How do organizations create meaningful value in a world that’s complex, nonlinear, and constantly changing?In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings talks with Mike Jones — consultant, organizational psychologist, and host of Strategy Meets Reality — about systems thinking, value creation, and practical implementation. Mike explains why older, linear management models let people down in adaptive environments, how leaders should think about value exchange and asset stewardship, and why action and learning matter more than perfect forecasting.Key insights include:Why systems thinking is essential for organizations operating in a complex, adaptive world.How value is discovered through exchange and experience—not merely engineered inside firms.Why action, not endless planning, generates the information leaders need to adapt and create value.This episode is for founders and leaders who want frameworks that actually work in messy, real-world organizations.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about Strategy Meets Reality PodcastConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

9/15/25 • 58:10

Why do customers choose one offering over another—often in a split second? In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings talks with Duncan Berry, PhD, a consultant to leading brands at the intersection of semiotics, psychology, and neurology. Duncan explains how value is meaning from the customer’s point of view, why most behavior is pre-conscious and emotional, and how entrepreneurs can design signals, experiences, and narratives that align with what people actually feel and do.Key insights include:Value = meaning: Start from the customer’s lived experience, not the firm’s internal value chain.Emotion and speed: People form judgments in tens of milliseconds; design must communicate instantly.Signals & archetypes: Semiotics and association help brands encode meaning customers recognize fast.This conversation reframes value creation as a human science: understand meaning, design signals, and earn the right to your customer’s next choice.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about Applied IconologyConnect with Duncan Berry on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

9/4/25 • 54:56

How should entrepreneurs act when uncertainty is everywhere—from volatile markets to chaotic policies and global instability?In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Jeremy Vesta helps us explore the role of entrepreneurship in uncertain times, including those caused by the chaos of government intervention and policy chaos. Building on insights from Austrian economics, this conversation dives into how entrepreneurs manage uncertainty, make decisions when the future is unknowable, and why markets remain powerful discovery processes even in chaos.Key insights include:Why policy instability amplifies uncertainty and raises the cost of investment.Entrepreneurs don’t try to eliminate uncertainty but act decisively in spite of it.Why markets thrive as discovery mechanisms precisely because no one knows the outcome.This episode is a guide for business leaders and entrepreneurs on finding clarity in uncertainty, acting with confidence, and creating value when the future can’t be predicted.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about CurallyConnect with Jeremy Vesta on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

8/27/25 • 50:40

AI is now at the leading edge of value creation, where creativity, innovation and new business thinking will exercise great leverage. Entrepreneurs - and especially young entrepreneurs unburdened with the baggage of old business models - will lead the value creation revolution. Dr. Raushan Gross is a professor, author, and expert in AI, in business systems, and in entrepreneurship, all of which he is teaching to students in preparing them to enter a rapidly evolving marketplace. With Hunter Hastings, he explores how AI can empower these young entrepreneurs, and why agency—not technology—is the driver of progress, especially for new startups and small businesses who embrace technology and automation without losing their human advantage.Dr. Gross shares how entrepreneurial thinking must evolve in a world of predictive algorithms, and how leaders can build businesses that remain adaptive, authentic, and focused on value creation.Key insights include:Why entrepreneurs must focus on agency over automation—and how to stay proactive in a reactive world.How small businesses can leverage AI as a strategic collaborator, not just a productivity tool.Why the new economic advantage isn’t size, but speed, flexibility, and intentionality.If you want to lead with clarity in an AI-enabled world, this episode offers the mindset shift and tools to help you do it.Resources:Raushan Gross AI Articles Archive➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

8/11/25 • 52:32

Many businesses and business functions are grappling with the question of the role of AI in future value creation, none more so than marketing agencies and the marketing function in business. Bryan Phelps is CEO of the marketing agency Big Leap, actively navigating this challenge every day. Bryan shares how his team developed a clear AI policy to guide innovation—and why humans must remain at the center of creativity, decision-making, and brand expression.This episode is a practical and forward-thinking look at how businesses can build trust, scale responsibly, and stay human in the age of algorithms.Key insights include:Why your AI strategy should start with a policy—and how to align teams with clear principles.How to preserve brand essence and emotional connection while integrating AI into marketing.Why trust and empathy are the new growth engines—and how to lead with values, not just data.If you’re building a brand in the age of AI, this conversation will help you navigate the future with clarity, integrity, and confidence.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about Big LeapConnect with Bryan Phelps on LinkedInBryan’s NewsletterConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

8/3/25 • 48:55

 How do you design a company—and an AI—that leads with empathy?In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Stephen Sakach, founder and CEO of The Zero Company and creator of aiCMO, an AI-powered marketing platform built to scale human connection. Stephen shares his journey through digital media, consciousness studies, and systems design to develop a framework where love, purpose, and empathy drive business performance.He calls it BLISS—Build Love Into Scalable Systems.Key insights include:How empathy can become the foundation for scalable marketing systemsWhy companies must audit their operations through the lens of purposeWhat it takes to align AI development with emotional intelligence and ethical goalsThis is a visionary, practical conversation for anyone building the future—consciously.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about Zero Company Performance MarketingLearn more about aiCMO.ioConnect with Stephen Sakach on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

7/21/25 • 48:57

The robots are here. Are they useful? Are they ethical?In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Marianela Nanninga, CEO of ToDo Robotics. Marianela shares her journey from global tech sales to building one of the most innovative commercial robotics ventures in the U.S. Focused on usefulness over hype, she explains how robots are transforming hospitality, healthcare, and food service by performing real work—with real ROI.From AI-driven cleaners in 24/7 casinos to chip-delivering restaurant bots, this episode explores the entrepreneurial mindset, systems integration, and human-centered design needed to lead in the robotics revolution.Key insights include:Why “Usseful Robotics” is about integration, not hypeHow automation complements (not replaces) human workWhat ethical deployment really means in practiceWhether you're leading innovation, exploring automation, or rethinking operational strategy, this conversation is filled with insights for the future.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about ToDo RoboticsConnect with Marianela Nanninga on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

7/8/25 • 53:56

What does it take to unlock capital in a system full of red tape, landmines, and outdated institutions? In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings is joined by Dave Kotter, CEO of Integrity Capital and founder of the Hybrid Debt Fund. Dave pulls back the curtain on commercial real estate financing, innovative lending structures, and how technology—especially AI—is transforming capital flows.From high-net-worth investors to B2B borrowers, Kotter explains why relationships are the key product, not interest rates. He shares how Integrity Capital designs financing that works for the future—faster, more flexible, and centered on the entrepreneur.Key insights include:How to unlock capital through advisory-based lending modelsHow debt innovation is reshaping the role of banksHow AI, alternative platforms, and decentralization are democratizing investmentWhether you're raising funds, deploying capital, or building a financing venture, this is an essential guide to value creation in the modern financial ecosystem.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about Integrity CapitalLearn more about Hybrid Debt FundConnect with Dave Kotter on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

6/27/25 • 44:08

Entrepreneurial leaders are focused on value for others, especially customers and colleagues. They deliver through innovation, which is the implementation of a better future for those customers and colleagues. This outer-directed focus must start from a place of trust, clarity, and purpose. A place Jim Murphy calls Inner Excellence.Jim Murphy is a high-performance coach and author of Inner Excellence. Drawing from his years coaching elite athletes, Jim shares the spiritual and mental tools that allow leaders to transcend fear, train presence, and perform with joy. This is a masterclass in leading from the inside out. Key insights include:Why your thoughts are not you—and how to gain freedom from themHow to surrender control to unlock courage and creativityThe business case for training your heart, not just your mindInner Excellence isn’t about perfection—it’s about joy. And it starts in the one place most of us avoid: within.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about Jim Murphy and Inner ExcellenceConnect with Jim Murphy on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

6/14/25 • 43:49

What makes a business truly stand out in the hyper-competitive challenge to create customer value? It’s not just the product—it’s the experience, and the system that generates and sustains it.In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Vance Morris, former Disney leader and expert in service system design, about why a customer experience system is the most strategic asset in business. From theme parks to high tech to carpet cleaning to consulting, Vance reveals how to create experience systems that delight customers, and drive lasting loyalty.Key insights include:Why systematization enables—not limits—exceptional service.How systems harness personality, emotion, and consistency to create customer connection.What it means to “plus” every interaction, and how to embed improvement into daily operations.Whether you're a small business owner or enterprise leader, this episode offers a masterclass in designing customer experiences that actually mean something—and work effectively.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Vance Morris on LinkedInLearn more about Vance MorrisConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

6/5/25 • 51:01

How do you build a retail business around passion—and scale it successfully? What does it mean to think in systems, not just solve problems?In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with serial entrepreneur Joe Zentmyer, founder of Snaggletooth Goby and builder of thriving passion communities—from indoor climbing gyms to tropical fish hobbyists and service ventures. Joe shares how he applies systems thinking, relationship-building, and detail-obsessive iteration to create businesses that endure and expand.Key insights include:Why systems—not checklists—create scalability and resilience.How community, location, and hospitality converge to generate value.The importance of building teams that thrive in uncertainty and complexity.This is a hands-on masterclass in entrepreneurial systems design, filled with hard-earned lessons for anyone seeking to grow a values-driven, experience-based business.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Joe Zentmyer on LinkedInLearn more about Snaggletooth GobyConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

5/21/25 • 44:20

How we lead is who we are.In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Becky Schmooke—entrepreneur, leadership coach, and author of Choose the Handle That Holds. Becky shares how the system of philosophy we label as Stoic generates practical tools for leadership, self-awareness, and resilience. Rather than hierarchical leadership vested with titles and administrative control, Becky proposes a more human vision of leadership: grounded in personal values, emotional clarity, and active participation.Key themes include:Why authority and leadership are not the same—and how leadership is a lifestyle, not a position.How Stoicism reframes control, responsibility, and purpose in business and life.What it means to “choose the handle that holds”—and how to build emotional intelligence through action, not theory.This conversation is a guide for anyone who wants to lead with clarity, build resilient organizations, and live aligned with their deepest values.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseBuy Becky’s book: Choose The Handle That HoldsVisit Becky's Webiste: beckyschmooke.com Connect with Becky Schmooke on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

5/9/25 • 51:21

The term alternative investments refers to investment opportunities that the financial regulators want to preserve for financial elites and protect from the average “retail investor” like you and me. They’re investments like venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds. They’re too sophisticated for individuals who are not “accredited”. These potentially high-yielding investments must be fenced off from broad accessibility. Too risky for the plebes.But, despite the regulators, financial markets are evolving to make alternative investments more accessible, liquid, and tailored to individual investors. How do you design products that combine institutional sophistication with retail access—without compromising on structure, performance, or trust? Through customer-centric design: knowing customers well and giving them access to products that meet their needs and give them new choices.In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings talks with Kim Flynn, President of XA Investments, a pioneer in private market innovation and product design. Kim shares how her firm is breaking down barriers in the investment landscape, from new fund structures to investor education and cutting-edge indexes. Key insights include:• Why the term “alternatives” is evolving into a broader concept of private markets.• How products like interval funds and tender offer funds balance liquidity and long-term investing.• The importance of demand-focused product design and timing innovation to market needs.• How educational tools like the XAI Interval Fund Index create transparency and drive adoption.• Why creativity, empathy, and structured iteration are critical in financial product innovation.Whether you're an investor looking to access private equity or a product builder seeking to serve new markets, this episode provides a playbook for innovation at the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship, and education.Learn how venture-mode creativity is coming to financial markets—and how the next generation of investment products will empower everyone.📚 Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course Learn more about XMS Capital Connect with Kim Flynn on LinkedIn Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to the The Value Creators on Substack

4/29/25 • 49:25

How does entrepreneurship truly drive economic growth, and why is it often ignored in mainstream economic models? What role does imagination play in creating market-changing value?In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings is joined by Per Bylund, professor, author, and one of the leading voices in Austrian economics. Per introduces a radically dynamic model of entrepreneurship based on his new book, Entrepreneurship and Evolutionary Economics.Key insights include:Why modern economics has pushed entrepreneurship to the margins—and why that’s a mistake.The difference between creating knowledge and creating value.Why entrepreneurial success depends on imagination, empathy, and experimentation.How the infeasibility zone traps safe innovators—and how to leap past it.Bylund’s three models of entrepreneurship, culminating in Model 3, where entrepreneurs reshape markets.The importance of institutional support—and the dangers of policy overreach.This episode redefines entrepreneurship not as a function of business plans or investment capital, but as an imaginative, value-creating force that reshapes the economy from within. If you want to understand how real economic growth happens, this conversation is essential.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseRead this episode's Knowledge Capulse at thevaluecreators.comCheck out Per Bylund’s Latest Book: Entrepreneurship In Evolutionary EconomicsRead Per Bylund’s Book: How To Think About The EconomyRead Per Bylund Book on The Economic Damage Caused by Regulation: The Seen, The Unseen And The UnrealizedFollow with Per Bylund on X: @PerBylundConnect with Per Byklund on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInThe Value Creators on Substack

4/17/25 • 50:21

Can companies operate effectively without bosses, titles, or hierarchies? How can organizations empower employees to take full ownership of their roles while maintaining accountability and productivity?In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Doug Kirkpatrick, author of The No Limits Enterprise and a pioneer of self-management. Doug shares his experience implementing self-management at The Morning Star Company, a firm that scaled successfully without traditional managers or management.Key insights include:The two core principles that enable a self-managed organization: no coercion and keeping commitments.How the Colleague Letter of Understanding (CLOU) replaces job descriptions and performance reviews.Why bureaucratic hierarchies are outdated and how eliminating them enhances agility and innovation.The evolving role of leadership as facilitators rather than controllers.The connection between self-management, trust, and high business performance.How AI and digital transformation are making self-management more relevant than ever.For business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to rethink traditional management, this episode offers a compelling look at the future of work. Discover how to transition from a control-based hierarchy to a high-trust, self-managed enterprise.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Doug on LinkedInRead Doug’s Blog on “The Future of Work”Get Doug’s Book The No-Limits EnterpriseRead Morning Star’s Success StoryConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInThe Value Creators on Substack

3/26/25 • 39:46

What if the traditional view of leadership—an individual who is assertively bold, visionary, and all-powerful—was actually harmful? What if leadership is not about commanding authority but interpersonal relationships, collaboration, self-awareness, and authenticity?In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Josefine Campbell, international business coach and author of 12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader: Unlocking Authenticity for Resilience. Josefine shares how toxic leadership dynamics can damage organizations and individuals—and how employees and leaders alike can protect themselves and build resilience.Key insights include:Why the traditional leadership myth is outdated and how a more human-centered approach is needed.How selfish leaders manipulate employees and erode company culture.The role of energy management in maintaining resilience against toxic leadership.Why self-awareness and authenticity are essential for outstanding leadership.The importance of corporate culture in preventing toxic leadership behaviors.Practical tools like the Awareness Matrix and Values Lighthouse to help individuals navigate difficult leadership situations.Whether you're a leader striving to improve or an employee dealing with a challenging manager, this episode offers valuable tools to foster authenticity, resilience, and ethical leadership. Learn how to protect yourself from toxic leadership and embrace a leadership model that works for the 21st century.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseVisit josefinecampbell.comConnect with Josefine on LinkedInSign Up To Josefine’s NewsletterCheck Out Josefine’s books:12 Tools for Managing a Selfish LeaderPower Barometer: How To Manage Personal Energy For Business SuccessConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInThe Value Creators on Substack

3/14/25 • 44:13

How can businesses shift from rigid, hierarchical structures to agile, fast-moving organizations that adapt to change effortlessly? What if businesses could remove bottlenecks, eliminate bureaucracy, and enable knowledge to flow freely—boosting innovation and engagement?In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Mark Beliczky, co-creator of the Kinetic Flow State Organization (KFSO) model. Mark explains why traditional business structures are failing in today’s dynamic market and how KFSOs enable companies to replace control with continuous motion and adaptability.Mark served as President and CEO of ProHome Holdings, LLC, and in Executive Management roles at The Carlyle Group. He was the Founder, President & CEO of Salus Sciences, LLC, and held senior executive positions with PepsiCo, UBS, Citigroup, Sunrise Senior Living and other companies. He has been engaged in numerous business start-ups, turnarounds, transformations, and acquisitions/ mergers. Mark is a Fellow at the Strategic Management Forum, and a member of the American Academy of Management and the International Leadership Association. He holds an MBA from Loyola University, is a graduate of Heidelberg University, and has a faculty appointment at Georgetown University. He has authored over 120 articles on leadership, management, culture and performance excellence, and has led numerous leadership seminars and been a speaker at global leadership forums.Key Episode insights include:Why legacy business models—designed for stability—fail in today’s high-speed market.How a KFSO enables real-time knowledge flow, decision-making, and adaptability.The two key components of a KFSO: kinetics (momentum) and flow (barrier elimination).How psychological safety and real-time feedback drive innovation and employee engagement.The shift from top-down leadership to dynamic, expertise-driven leadership.The step-by-step process for transitioning from a legacy model to a KFSO.For business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone rethinking organizational design, this episode offers a blueprint for creating a company that moves fast, innovates freely, and thrives in an era of continuous change. Discover how to enable a Kinetic Flow State Organization designed for the future.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseConnect with Mark Beliczky on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInThe Value Creators on SubstackRead Mark's Articles:The New Organizational Model That Is Needed For The 21st CenturyReimagining Organizational Structures for the 21st Century: The Agility AdvantageAdapting for Success: The Organizational Shift Every 21st Century Business NeedsThe Evolution of Agile and the Rise of Enterprise Flow Organizations

3/4/25 • 53:45

Real estate is more than buying and selling properties—it’s about creating value for tenants, investors, and communities. How do you scale a real estate business from a single duplex to managing thousands of units? How do you navigate economic cycles while ensuring consistent returns for stakeholders?In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Ivan Barratt, founder of BAM Capital, about his entrepreneurial journey and the principles that have driven his success in the real estate industry.Key insights include:How Ivan scaled his business from a duplex to managing nearly 9,000 units.The importance of creating a positive workplace culture for property management success.The concept of forced appreciation and its role in increasing property value.Strategies for navigating economic cycles and balancing cash flow with long-term growth.The potential of AI in enhancing property management while preserving human connection.Whether you’re an aspiring real estate entrepreneur or looking to invest in multifamily housing, this episode offers valuable lessons on leveraging innovation, culture, and strategy to create lasting value. Learn how to approach real estate as a value-driven business and scale sustainably.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseVisit BAM CapitalConnect with Ivan Barratt on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInThe Value Creators on Substack

1/30/25 • 39:44