TFTSL Ep35 – Virginie Glaenzer
Today in the Sky Lounge we are joined by Virginie Glaenzer, fractional CMO at TechCXO and author of “”The Economy of Abundance.”” From landing in Silicon Valley with four suitcases during the height of the dot-com boom to building community-driven marketing strategies that outperform traditional branding, Virginie shares insights from 25 years of digital transformation. She explains why the AI revolution exceeds the internet boom in scope, how Gen Z is rejecting traditional business models, and why the future belongs to co-creators rather than controllers. Plus hear about her minimalist lifestyle, founding the Acorn Oak women’s community, and why Dubai’s mall-centric culture shocked this world traveler.
TFTSL Ep34 – Brantley Fry
Today in the Sky Lounge we are joined by Brantley Fry, Partner at TechCXO specializing in human capital management. Brantley shares her remarkable journey from environmental lawyer working on the largest spills in US history to political service as state director for a US Senator, and eventually to the startup world where she helped navigate a successful acquisition by Quest Diagnostics. Her philosophy of being a “”connector”” between people and policy has guided every career move, and she reveals the inside story of managing culture and communication during M&A. Plus, hear about her transformative 500-mile walk across Spain on the Camino de Santiago.
Takeaways
Brantley Fry emphasizes the importance of viewing people as fuel, not friction, in business.
Her career path has been shaped by a mix of luck and preparation, often finding herself in the right place at the right time.
Effective communication is crucial in legal practice, especially during complex cases.
Brantley highlights the significance of connecting people and policy throughout her career.
She believes in the value of recruiting for culture and the importance of aligning values during mergers and acquisitions.
The healthcare sector in Birmingham is evolving, with a focus on biotech and health tech initiatives.
Brantley advocates for the need for more good people in politics to bridge divides and address common issues.
She shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in startup legal needs and the role of fractional executives.
Brantley discusses the importance of understanding the business problem when hiring and the value of non-traditional candidates.
Her experience walking the Camino de Santiago taught her about the diverse paths in life and the connections we make along the way.
TFTSL Ep 33 – Alex Gafford
Today in the Sky Lounge, we are joined by Alex Gafford from BlueStreet Capital, who’s living proof that the traditional 40-hour work week is completely broken. Alex’s company discovered something remarkable nine years ago – an asset that increased their KPIs by 24%, boosted revenue by 30%, and dramatically improved retention without costing them a penny. That asset? Time itself. Through their revolutionary five-hour workday experiment, they’ve unlocked the secret that knowledge workers can only maintain peak mental performance for about five hours max, and everything after that is just diminishing returns dressed up as “dedication.” Alex breaks down the neuroscience of ultradian rhythms, reveals why multitasking wastes 28% of your day, and explains how his team finances everything from AI infrastructure buildouts to data center expansions while working just 25 hours a week. Plus, he shares wild stories about financing raw GPUs for AI companies and why the future of work isn’t about grinding harder – it’s about being strategically smarter with your energy.
TFTSL Ep32 – Joe Gruca
“Today in the Sky Lounge we are joined by Joe Gruca, Partner in Revenue Growth at TechCXO. Joe shares his remarkable journey from getting laid off during the 2008 financial crisis to helping grow Hire iQ, a pioneering automated interview platform, into a successful predictive hiring platform used by global giants like Delta Airlines. Now helping early-stage tech CEOs accelerate growth, Joe offers hard-earned insights on building repeatable sales motions, the evolution of B2B selling, and why founder-led sales are both essential and limiting.
TFTSL Ep31 – Mike Biwer
Today in the Sky Lounge, Todd Merrill interviews Mike Biwer, CEO of Cavallo, discussing his journey to the company, the importance of distribution in the economy, and the challenges and strategies in the software and ERP space. They explore the origin of Cavallo’s name, the company’s growth, customer satisfaction, and the significance of profitability in distribution. Mike shares insights on navigating ERP changes, the role of private equity, and how to approach economic cycles. He also offers advice for aspiring software CEOs, emphasizing the need for product market fit and understanding customer problems.
TFTSL Ep30 – Bob Brogan
Bob Brogan joins us in the Sky Lounge to share his journey as Managing Partner at TechCXO for the Great Lakes Region. He pulls back the curtain on four decades in operations, IT, consulting, and strategy—including the story behind an incredible $100 million exit. From his family’s surprising connection to the Chicago Bears to what really makes a business investable, this conversation delivers wisdom that’s been battle-tested through multiple economic cycles.
TFTSL Ep29—Teja Yenamandra
Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Teja Yenamandra, founder of Gun.io — the dev marketplace built for engineers who don’t belong on job boards. From martial arts to macro trends, Teja breaks down why great hiring is about rhythm, not resumes; how AI is reshaping the shape of work itself; and what most startups forget after the match is made. This is a founder story built on cold calls, precision matching, and scaling trust — not headcount.
TFTSL Ep28 – Michael Weinstein
“Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Michael Weinstein — fractional CFO, economic strategist, and finance veteran — who brings his hard-won insights and wit to an time of financial uncertainty in the current economic climate. From early days at Anheuser-Busch (yes, there was free beer) to senior roles in asset management, Michael has seen more business cycles than most of us have had iPhones.
We dig into the structural fractures in today’s economy, why uncertainty is stalling investment, and how tariffs are creating ripple effects across industries. Michael breaks down why venture capital exits are clogged, the “overvalued” truth behind many private companies, and how interest rates are shaping (and stalling) our next wave of innovation. Plus, we explore how entrepreneurship might be the escape hatch — if we’re bold enough to build what’s next.
TFTSL Ep27 – Jeff Haynie
Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is tech entrepreneur and innovation veteran Jeff Haynie, co-founder of Appcelerator and now founder of Agentuity, a startup building a next-gen cloud platform for AI agents.
Jeff takes us deep into the early days of mobile development—before React Native, before Node.js—and the wild ride of launching Titanium, an open-source mobile framework that scaled to millions of developers. From those Silicon Valley go-go years to today’s decentralized future, Jeff shares startup lessons, hard-won insights, and where he sees the future of AI development going next.
TFTSL Ep26 – Matt Oess
“Joining us today in the Sky Lounge is Matt Oess, a seasoned leader in sales, marketing, and executive coaching at TechCXO. With over a decade of experience guiding C-suite executives, Matt shares invaluable insights on leadership coaching, AI-driven business transformation, and navigating the complexities of high-stakes decision-making.
We dive deep into AI’s game-changing potential, the evolving role of coaching in leadership, and how businesses can leverage AI for productivity, sales, and innovation. Matt also takes us behind the scenes of his work with the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy, where he’s helping shape global policies on emerging technologies like AI, semiconductors, and cybersecurity.
From early-stage startups to billion-dollar enterprises, Matt has seen it all. He reveals why vulnerability is a CEO’s secret weapon, how AI is revolutionizing business workflows, and why the next era of software might outgrow traditional SaaS models.
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that bridges technology, leadership, and human potential—perfect for executives, tech enthusiasts, and emerging leaders preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.”