All good things must come to an end, including the Strategic Growth Podcast. Episode 200 ends a series of conversations we began back in 2017 to help entrepreneurs, business owners and decision-makers better understand how to be successful in the real world. We end with a customer service training lesson based on a very recent experience of mine, with advice on how to better prepare your team to avoid these same mistakes no matter what industry you're in.

What started as "Conversations with The Golding Group" https://bit.ly/GGConvo evolved into the #NeoMarketing Podcast https://bit.ly/NMPYouTube and eventually the Strategic Growth Podcast. All of the content we have created since 2017 will remain online and available to all. If this is your first time or two hundredth time listening, go back though our catalog and engage episodes that could benefit you the most.

The Strategic Growth Podcast offers expert business insights, interviews with thought leaders and business plan triage for business owners, start-ups or anyone with a specific business problem. Listen/Stream/Subscribe to the podcast at https://bit.ly/StrategicGrowthPodcast.

Before the Strategic Growth Podcast and before the NeoMarketing Podcast, we recorded three pilot episodes called "Conversations With The Golding Group." These 3 episodes became the prototype for our current podcast and video interview series. As the podcast/video series comes to an end, we look back at these first three shows to see how the advice holds up. (Spoiler Alert: it does!)

Ep1: Crisis Management in the Real World We discuss the real-world application of crisis management protocols. This is an informative six minutes for any business owner, director or manager.

Ep2: Strategic Communication Planning We discuss Strategic Communication Planning as it directly relates to business success.

Ep3: Business Process Management (BPM). We discuss internal and external communication, audience development and other efficiency and profitability factors. This is a very insightful 10-minute discussion about all things associated with BPM.

The Strategic Growth Podcast offers expert business insights, interviews with thought leaders and business plan triage for business owners, start-ups or anyone with a specific business problem. Hosted by Kyle Golding, entrepreneur and Chief Strategic Idealist for The Golding Group. Listen/Stream/Subscribe at https://bit.ly/StrategicGrowthPodcast

Special guest Cara Evans is the Director of AXIS business incubator powered by Francis Tuttle Technology Center, immediate past chair of the Oklahoma Venture Forum and long-time entrepreneur whose economic development journey has come full circle.

Evans was previously at Autry Technology Center, where she specialized in innovation, economic development, business consulting and entrepreneurship. She has also taught business and technology courses at several other technology centers and junior colleges. In the private equity and Oklahoma startup ecosystem, she remotely manages deal flow for EncompassFSI/Private Partners Opportunity Fund, which has participated in and invested in companies in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.

The Strategic Growth Podcast offers expert business insights, interviews with thought leaders and business plan triage for business owners, start-ups or anyone with a specific business problem. Hosted by Kyle Golding, entrepreneur and Chief Strategic Idealist for The Golding Group. https://bit.ly/StrategicGrowthPodcast

Special guest George Glover is an executive coach for Vistage Oklahoma City. He manages multiple private peer advisory groups of over 50 high-integrity Oklahoma CEOs, key executives and managers who desire to improve their personal and business growth. Glover has 24+ years in global mining, steel manufacturing and construction. He has extensive corporate-level and direct business leadership experience. His international exposure to diverse leadership styles and varying team dynamics has deepened his appreciation for effective leadership and business culture.

Glover has held chief executive leadership roles in large publicly held organizations, with over 15,000 employees, and in smaller organizations, both employee and privately owned, with 300-500 employees. He possesses a broad, hands-on perspective with cross-functional C-suite leadership experience in Finance, Sales, Marketing and Operations. Glover has experienced diverse work cultures having worked and lived in the United States, China, Malaysia, Australia and Mali along with time spent in South America, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Vistage offers a layered experience and built-in accountability: a private advisory group, one-to-one coaching, world-class speakers and expert-led workshops. Each member of the peer group acts as a "private advisor" and part of the collective "brain trust." Vistage members participate in monthly, Chair-led private advisory group meetings. More than 21,000 members also have access to one-to-one executive coaching, expert speakers, and our global network of business leaders.

The Strategic Growth Podcast offers expert business insights, interviews with thought leaders and business plan triage for business owners, start-ups or anyone with a specific business problem. Listen/Stream/Watch/Subscribe at bit.ly/StrategicGrowthPodcast

Special guest Sean Akadiri, MBA is the Founder, President & CEO at AgBoost, a data analytics company in Oklahoma City. He is an Ag-Tech entrepreneur passionate about using data analytics to improve the performance and productivity of livestock.

Akadiri came to the U.S. from Nigeria when he was 19 years old on a student visa to attend college. He received a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from East Central University and earned his MBA from Mid-American Christian University. He also attended the University of Oklahoma’s College of Engineering for three years, studying Chemical Engineering.

Akadiri has over 15 years of experience in the biotechnology and life science industries. His team developed the Next-Generation Livestock Management Technology Platform called AgBoost. AgBoost is a proprietary data-driven analytical tool used by livestock producers across the U.S. and around the world to make selective breeding, management and marketing decisions for animals using data. (i.e. Genetics, performance, health and nutrition data). https://wp.ag-boost.com/

The Strategic Growth Podcast offers expert business insights, interviews with thought leaders and business plan triage for business owners, start-ups or anyone with a specific business problem. Listen/Stream/Watch/Subscribe at bit.ly/StrategicGrowthPodcast

Justin Wilson, MBA, is the President and Managing Director at Plains Ventures, an OKC and Tulsa-based Venture Capital fund management firm with over $120m in assets under management. With a background in private equity, healthcare, politics and non-profit leadership, Wilson brings a broad base of perspectives to his approach to leadership and asset management.

Plains Ventures provides resources, guidance and support needed to grow successful companies. They fuel revolutionary ideas between the coasts, guiding founders from idea to exit. Their commitment is to continue doing what we’ve always done—uncovering inspiring entrepreneurs who are creating real value in places like our home state of Oklahoma and other traditionally overlooked places. Plains Ventures has a proven infrastructure consisting of capital, experience and network that positions them to help companies succeed. https://plainsvc.com

Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science in Physiology from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He is a proud Tribal Member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and lives in Edmond with his wife, Brooklyn, and their two young sons.

The Strategic Growth Podcast offers expert business insights, interviews with thought leaders and business plan triage for business owners, start-ups or anyone with a specific business problem. Listen/Stream/Subscribe to the podcast at https://bit.ly/StrategicGrowthPodcast

We have two return guests, Suzette Change and Corey Walker, on the podcast today to talk about a BBQ fundraiser for Thick Descriptions, a non-profit org. that disrupts traditional education methods to help humans thrive where they are, building a better community with anthropology. They add anthropology to STEM education (making it STEAM). Thick Descriptions' innovative education programs offer students immersive experiences in science, technology, engineering, Anthropology and math, tailored to their communities. You can learn more and support their efforts by attending a BBQ lunch on Saturday, May 18th, 2024, at Broke Brewing (3810 N. Tulsa Ave, OKC). More details at https://www.thickdescriptions.org or on FB https://www.facebook.com/events/688493823329525.

The Strategic Growth Podcast offers expert business insights, interviews with thought leaders and business plan triage for business owners, start-ups or anyone with a specific business problem. Hosted by Kyle Golding, entrepreneur and Chief Strategic Idealist for The Golding Group. Listen/Stream/Subscribe at https://bit.ly/StrategicGrowthPodcast

The best businesses have three main components: Solve a problem, offer a manageable solution and provide value above what is expected. Local startup Storm Check was launched with this in mind. After initial success, the founders recently went through a brand elevation to become Shelter Ready! full-service cleaning and prep. for storm shelters. Learn more at https://cleanmyshelter.com

The decision to rebrand is always a tricky proposition, even more so when a company is only a year old and practically still in startup mode. But it’s worth the effort if the rebrand can make a big enough impact.

Why the change, you ask? We listened to potential customer feedback and realized the previous name, Storm Check, needed clarification. Many mistakenly associated our services with storm shelter installation or storm chasing. We wanted a positive name that clearly conveyed the safety and peace of mind provided to families who utilize a storm shelter during severe weather. Shelter Ready! is embracing a brand identity that speaks directly to the core of what they do: preparing your shelter for whatever Mother Nature may bring.

We also simplified the service packages from three tiers to one, reflecting our dedication to streamlining the customer experience. Now, with just one click, you can access comprehensive storm shelter cleaning and preparedness services conveniently available through the new and improved website CleanMyShelter.com.

As part of our rebranding efforts, we’ve also refreshed our logo, opting for an umbrella symbol to represent shelter from the storm—a universal symbol of protection and safety. This new branding is visually appealing and reinforces our commitment to protecting your family, pets and neighbors during severe weather events.

The idea started with a conversation about providing opportunities for veterans and helping keep Oklahomans safe during a storm. As residents of Oklahoma, the founders of Shelter Ready! know how important it is to have a safe, clean place to go at a moment’s notice. They are also grateful and proud of the servicemen and women who helped secure our freedom. They aim to employ veterans who have served our country and empower them to become leaders within the company across all levels.

The Strategic Growth Podcast offers expert business insights, interviews with thought leaders and business plan triage for business owners, start-ups or anyone with a specific business problem. Listen, watch, stream or subscribe: bit.ly/StrategicGrowthPodcast