In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Anthony Enrico, founder and CEO of LeanScale, about why hiring salespeople doesn't create demand, what outbound saturation has done to the top of the funnel, and where AI automation has actually paid for itself inside a go-to-market operation.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Rashmi Airan — keynote speaker, author and franchise consultant — about the decision that ended her legal career, what pressure does to a capable person's judgment, and why the biggest lie in franchising is that any of it is supposed to be easy.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Matt Solomon, founder of 25/8 Motivate, about the parts of franchising the industry doesn't advertise — why passive ownership is mostly a myth, how validation calls get quietly stacked in the brand's favour, and why he thinks franchise consulting as it works today is close to obsolete.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Yuval Yatskan, CEO of ePlane AI, about AeroGenie — an agentic decision engine that reads entire datasets instead of sampling them, runs thousands of simulations per second, and leaves an audit trail you can replay when someone asks you to defend the call.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Rogue Schott, head of franchise expansion at Block Renovation, about the three to four months between signing a franchise agreement and opening the doors — the stretch of the journey nobody talks about, and where most first-time owners lose money before they ever serve a customer.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Dusty Gulleson, founder and CEO of Tectonic, about why AI initiatives stall on undocumented processes rather than technology, which roles are quietly collapsing inside services companies, and why relationships — not agents — are still the real moat.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Scotty Milas, senior franchise consultant at The Perfect Franchise and host of his own podcast on franchising, about what it actually takes to franchise a business, why he calls himself an educator instead of a matchmaker, and where AI stops and gut instinct takes over.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Bill Krassner, a franchise consultant at FranNet with 35 years in the industry as an operator, area developer, and consultant, about picking the right franchise, why validation calls beat the FDD, and where AI genuinely helps — and doesn't — in franchising.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Russ Merbeth, a FranChoice franchise consultant and owner of Bandera Advisors, about matching first-time franchisees to the right brand, what to actually look for in an FDD, and why the process still needs a human matchmaker even in the age of AI.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Fabio Cannavale — founder of Last Minute Travel Group and investment firm BHeroes — for a second conversation, this time about designing a company from scratch around AI agents instead of people, why “artificial intelligence” is the wrong name for what's happening, and where travel intermediaries still add real value.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Lakshmi Natarajan, a fractional executive, startup advisor, and investor, about pivoting through fractional and portfolio roles, what founders get wrong about go-to-market, and where innovation is racing ahead of the industries it's disrupting.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Mike Warren, founder of Alethia Strategic Business Solutions, about running an executive coaching practice and a venture capital firm side by side, why people — not products — make or break a company, and which industries are overdue for disruption.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Terese McGroarty, franchise consultant at FranNet, about how she matches aspiring business owners to the right franchise, the red flags that kill a deal, and why business ownership is really about the role, not the industry.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Dani Thomas, founder of Dani Thomas Private Travel, about designing bespoke journeys for ultra-wealthy clients, the discipline of true concierge service, and where AI fits into an industry built on trust.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Scott Foster, founder and CEO of JJ Scott, about turning solventless hash rosin into a strain-specific cannabis beverage — and the branding, distribution, and industry politics standing in the way.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Cagdas Ucar, VP of Technology at FundCanna, about building financial technology in one of the most restricted, cash-based industries in America.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Matt O'Rego, CEO and co-founder of Cornerstone, a data and automation platform serving the travel industry for over 30 years. They explore how corporate travel data flows work behi...

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Christian Jacobsen, Founder and CEO of The Many, an integrated advertising agency with a strong participation-first approach to brand building.

In this episode, Serhiy Oplakanets talks with António Costa, co-founder of NewData.Tech and seasoned data leader, about what it really takes to make data work for AI. They break down the difference between having a lot of data and having...

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij speaks with Matthew Ferguson, Managing Director of eManaged, about what it really takes to grow and manage a successful multi-channel e-commerce business. They discuss the realities of selling ac...

In this episode, Paul Bauman, CEO of Vino Virginia, shares how wine tourism is evolving beyond traditional tours into immersive, experience-driven travel. We discuss the shift toward personalization, the impact of AI on booking behavior,...

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Travis Pittman, CEO of TourRadar, about the future of travel.

In this episode, we sit down with Leonardo Zanarella, CTO at AlbaTravel, to explore how one of Italy's leading tour operators is evolving with technology.

In this episode of Reframe First, host Oleksij Rak sits down with Dawn Reshen-Doty, CEO of Benay Enterprises, Inc., to discuss how businesses can scale through strong financial systems, smart processes, and emerging AI tools. With over 4...

Marcin Dakowski and Serhiy Oplakanets explore the human side of AI: from leadership challenges and workplace anxiety, to the way rapid technological change affects identity, productivity, and decision-making.

Tamara Simić, COO of Skipper4You, shares how the company manages yacht crews, deliveries, and operations across multiple countries. In this episode, we explore the realities of nautical tourism, from seasonality and last-minute bookings ...

Jake Dunlap, CEO of Skaled, shares how AI is transforming sales, revenue operations, and go-to-market strategies. In this episode, he breaks down how companies can use AI to increase productivity, automate repetitive tasks, and build sma...

Fabio Cannavale shares how AI is transforming travel, from personalization to automation, and why the future is moving beyond mass tourism into curated experiences. Insights on startups, productivity, and what's next for the industry.

In this episode, Janet Semenova, Co-Founder of Boutique Travel Advisors, shares how luxury travel is evolving through personalized experiences, wellness tourism, AI-powered planning, and changing traveler expectations. She explains how h...

Jason Boyce, Founder & CEO of Avenue7Media, shares how brands can grow on Amazon using AI, data, and full-funnel marketing. From early FBA days to advanced strategies, he breaks down what it takes to build a profitable e-commerce brand t...

In this episode of Reframe First, Trevor Shorte (Chief Growth Officer at Consulta) shares insights on sales, consulting, and growth in the AI era.

In this episode, Michael Snyman, Chief Commercial Officer at Alloggio, shares how the company scales short-term rental operations across Australia and New Zealand.

Joe Carter explains how franchising works, from starting a business to scaling and exiting. Learn how to choose the right franchise, expected ROI, and how to build a business that attracts investors.

In this episode of Reframe First, Gulce Karsli, Chief Executive Officer of Oojo, shares how the company is reshaping online travel with real-time pricing and high-touch customer service.

In this episode, Chris Martin, Director of Product & Technology at Golf Escapes, shares how the company creates tailor-made golf holidays around the world. He explains how complex golf trips are planned, from flights and accommodations t...

In this episode, Frederik Schwerdtfeger, Head of Product at Borrow A Boat, breaks down how a global boat rental marketplace operates. He shares insights on managing over 21,000 boats worldwide, handling complex booking processes, and del...

In this episode, Dan O´Beirne, Founder of Magical Private Travel, shares how he builds personalized luxury travel experiences across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. He explains why traditional “cookie-cutter” tours fall short and how his c...

In this episode of Reframe First, Walter Biscardi, Founder of Where Is Walter Travel, shares how he built a multi-million dollar travel agency through customer experience, referrals, and social media. We explore how he leveraged TikTok, ...

In this episode of Reframe First, Pat Cormier, Founder of Intarsia Solutions, shares insights on leadership, change management, and how organizations can adapt in the age of AI.

In this episode of Reframe First, Barbara Gabriel, CEO of FX Yachting, shares insights into the world of luxury yacht charters and bespoke travel experiences. Discover how her company manages a fleet of 60+ yachts, delivers personalized ...

In this episode, Hamza A Liaqat, Co-Founder and Head of Growth at Dvours, shares how his team builds and operates fully managed e-commerce stores for partners across platforms like Amazon and Shopify. He breaks down how passive income wo...

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij speaks with Rei Vardi, founder and CEO of Eon, about building a fully automated car rental marketplace. Ray shares how Eon Rides connects unused vehicles with renters through a seamless digital e...

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak talks with Salvatore Tirabassi, Founder of CFO Pro Analytics, about how fractional CFO services help growing businesses gain financial clarity, improve reporting, and make smarter decisions. ...

In this episode, Andre Powell, CMO at TripForge, shares how the company is combining AI, community, and real traveler data to create more personalized and confident travel experiences. We talk about the future of travel planning, Gen Z t...

In this episode of Reframe First, host Oleksij Rak speaks with Oscar Almgren, CEO of UTEGUIDEN.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij sits down with Filip Smoljan, Chief Growth Officer at Worldee, to explore how travel is evolving in the age of AI and personalization.

Sarah Stahl, VP of Marketing at Lake.com, joins the podcast to discuss the future of travel marketing, creator-driven trust, AI search visibility, and how Lake.com scaled from 3,000 to 70,000 properties in just a few months.

In this episode of Reframe First, host Oleksij Rak speaks with Sergio Khoury, co-founder and CEO of Ordering.com, a platform that powers online ordering systems for restaurants, franchises, and marketplaces around the world.

In this episode of Reframe First, Nick Pepitone, CEO of Franchise Performance Group, shares how franchises scale from a few locations to hundreds. He explains responsible franchising, the challenges of expanding a brand, and why systems,...

In this episode, Paul Thompson, Fractional COO & Leadership Accelerator at The Proper Group, shares insights on leadership in the age of AI. He discusses how companies can scale efficiently, the rise of fractional C-suite leadership, and...

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak sits down with Craig Aronoff, Co-Founder of the Family Business Consulting Group. Craig shares insights from more than 30 years of advising family-owned businesses around the world, helping t...

In this episode, Francesco Piccolo, Founder and CFO of TripGuru, shares how the company is building a more sustainable approach to tourism across Southeast Asia. He talks about the challenges of scaling travel experiences while maintaini...

Lorraine Woodward shares the powerful story behind Becoming RentAble and how her personal experience led her to build a platform dedicated exclusively to accessible short-term rentals.

In this episode, Oleksij speaks with Danielle Rudic, VP of Marketing & Product at Travelive, about what really happens behind luxury travel experiences — and why destination management companies (DMCs) remain critical in an AI-driven world.

In this episode of Reframe First, Oleksij Rak sits down with Kristen Perdue, CEO and Chief AI Officer at AlterBridge Strategies, to break down what companies are getting wrong about AI adoption. Kristen explains why AI is 70% people and ...

In this episode, Oleksij speaks with Holly Hager, Co-Founder and COO of House of Puff, about building a design-led cannabis brand inside one of the most regulated industries in the world.

In this episode, Oleksij speaks with Bill Wollrab, founder of All People & Co-founder at Yard House Restaurants, about rethinking the foundations of e-commerce through community ownership, sustainability, and shared value creation. All P...

In this episode, I had a conversation with Melissa Dusendang, Head of E-commerce & Operations at SHEFIT, about what it really takes to scale e-commerce operations behind a high-growth DTC brand. SHEFIT became widely known after appearing...

In this episode, I had a conversation with Hayley Melidonis, founder and CEO of Bubbl, about rethinking the foundations of travel - from transactional bookings to people-first experiences. Bubbl is building what Hayley calls a “connected...

Michael Hvisdos, CEO of inQuizo, on why curiosity fuels performance and innovation in the AI era — and why effectiveness beats efficiency as buyer behavior shifts.

Jeff Kischuk, co-founder and CEO of Tripian, on what's really changing in travel infrastructure — structured data, personalization limits, agentic AI, and why human advisors still matter.