S2 E2: Susan Reilly Salgado, Ph.D., Founder & Principal of Grason Consulting

In this episode of The Founders’ Journey podcast, host Ryan Heckman interviews Susan Salgado who spent 15 years working with restaurateur Danny Meyer to scale Union Square Hospitality Group's magical culture. Salgado reflects on her journey from academic researcher to cultural architect, sharing how she led Meyer's hospitality-driven philosophies into systematic practices and legendary success as the company’s Director of Culture and Learning. Through stories about her early days studying Gramercy Tavern as part of her Ph.D. dissertation to catalyzing Shake Shack's explosive growth, Salgado demonstrates how hospitality-infused cultures can transform any organization into new levels of growth and enduring significance. If you loved Danny’s book, “Setting The Table”, you will cherish this opportunity to dig a little deeper into cultural best practices and powerful value creation strategies.

S2 E1: Jeff Hunter, Founder & CEO of Talentism

What if everything we thought we knew about human potential in business was wrong? In this textured conversation with Jeff Hunter, founder & CEO of Talentism, he challenges conventional wisdom about leadership, personal growth, and organizational success. Hunter's fascinating journey has taken him through multiple start-ups, Electronic Arts during its revolutionary growth phase, and Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associates. Now, through his groundbreaking work at Talentism, he shares provocative insights that will transform how you think about workplace performance. He reveals why confusion might be your greatest asset and offers a revolutionary perspective on how companies truly achieve exponential growth. Whether you're a CEO, investor, or someone passionate about unlocking your own potential, this episode promises to reveal new first principles about what drives success in business and life. Don’t miss this opportunity to begin the new year with new understandings and inspiration about growth at work and beyond.