Business Leaders of America Podcast With Dylan Bloyed

Business Leaders of America Podcast Featuring Will Harvey Founder of Harvey Capital Episode Overview In this episode of the Business Leaders of America Podcast, we sit down with Will Harvey, Founder of Harvey Capital, a private real estate credit firm focused on real estate lending, investing, and disciplined capital management. Will began his career in 2015 as a residential loan officer before transitioning into real estate investing, house flipping, syndications, and eventually building Harvey Capital. Today, the firm originates first-lien bridge loans to real estate investors and acquires owner-financed notes nationwide. In this conversation, Will breaks down how his early experience in the mortgage business shaped the way he thinks about risk, capital allocation, and long-term wealth creation. He shares why he ultimately left the traditional lending world to build something of his own, what he learned from flipping houses, and how many of the best opportunities in his career came from unexpected situations rather than carefully planned strategies. Will also explains the philosophy behind Harvey Capital and why he prioritizes capital preservation, margin of safety, patience, and disciplined underwriting over chasing trends or forcing deals. He discusses why he prefers credit over equity in the current market environment, how he evaluates asymmetric risk-reward opportunities, and why long-term thinking gives investors a major advantage in a world driven by short-term gratification. Throughout the episode, Will shares practical insights on raising capital, aligning interests with investors, identifying mispriced opportunities, and how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape real estate investing and underwriting. From public-private real estate arbitrage to first-lien lending and long-term investing discipline, this episode offers valuable lessons for anyone interested in building wealth through real estate and intelligent capital allocation. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Founder of Harvey Capital, a private real estate credit firm • Originated 29 real estate loans with zero principal losses • Built investment strategies focused on public-private real estate valuation discrepancies • Experienced across residential lending, house flipping, syndications, real estate credit, and public market real estate investing • Invests alongside partners in every fund managed, emphasizing alignment of interests How to connect with Will Harvey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-harvey-8751503b8/ Website: https://harvey-capital.com Email: will@harvey-capital.com Show Notes 01:20 — Getting started in real estate Why Will was drawn to commission-based work and the appeal of uncapped income potential 03:00 — Leaving the traditional lending world Why he stepped away from being a W-2 employee to build something of his own 05:00 — Accidentally getting into house flipping How an unexpected opportunity turned into a successful house flipping business 08:00 — Developing an investment philosophy Why patience, unemotional decision-making, and long-term thinking became foundational principles 10:30 — Holding cash instead of forcing deals How Will manages investor expectations while waiting for the right opportunities 13:00 — Understanding first-lien bridge loans Why Harvey Capital focuses on credit and downside protection instead of equity positions 17:30 — Investing alongside partners How alignment and having personal capital invested changes decision-making 19:30 — Knowing when to exit investments The thought process behind exiting a highly profitable real estate opportunity before the upside disappeared 24:00 — Deploying $10 million today Where Will would focus capital over the next 12–24 months and why 25:30 — AI and the future of investing How artificial intelligence is changing underwriting, research, and investment analysis in real estate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Business Leaders of America Podcast Featuring Joshua Lifrak Director of Performance and Coaching at Limitless Minds Episode Overview In this episode of the Business Leaders of America Podcast, we sit down with Joshua Lifrak, a mental performance coach who has spent more than two decades helping elite athletes, executives, and high-performing teams perform at their best under pressure. From professional sports organizations to executive leadership teams, Joshua’s work focuses on building the mindset, focus, resilience, and daily habits required to sustain success over time. Joshua previously served as the Director of Mental Skills for the Chicago Cubs during their historic 2016 World Series Championship run and later became the Major League Mental Skills Coach for the New York Mets. Throughout his career, he has worked with world-class performers across professional baseball, golf, tennis, motorsports, and corporate leadership environments. In this conversation, Joshua breaks down what mental performance coaching actually looks like behind the scenes and why high performance is less about perfection and more about presence. He shares lessons from inside championship organizations, explains the concept of neutral thinking, and discusses why communication, trust, and culture are often the real differentiators in elite teams. Joshua also dives into the philosophy behind his book, WIN TODAY, including the six-step framework he developed to help people improve performance one day at a time. From handling adversity and emotional pressure to building stronger relationships and more focused leadership habits, this episode offers practical insights that apply far beyond sports. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Director of Performance and Coaching at Limitless Minds • Author of WIN TODAY • Former Director of Mental Skills for the Chicago Cubs • Former Major League Mental Skills Coach for the New York Mets • Worked with world #1 golfers, Grand Slam finalists, NFL and NBA athletes, and Fortune 500 executives How to connect with Joshua Lifrak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-lifrak-59ab5442/ Website: https://www.joshualifrak.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Book: https://www.joshualifrak.com/copy-of-win-today Show Notes 02:10 — Drawn to greatness How Joshua’s fascination with elite performers and psychology led him into the mental performance space 08:35 — What a mental performance coach actually does Why mindset alone is not enough and how behaviors, habits, and self-awareness drive results 11:45 — Inside the Cubs’ 2016 World Series run What it was like behind the scenes during one of the most historic championship runs in sports 16:10 — The players who maximize their potential Why the athletes most committed to mental training often gain the biggest competitive advantage 20:40 — Why people stop growing How comfort and routine quietly prevent high performers from sustaining success 22:00 — The philosophy behind WIN TODAY Why focusing on winning one day at a time creates momentum and long-term growth 26:00 — The after-action report framework The simple daily review process Joshua learned from Navy SEAL training principles 28:10 — Neutral thinking vs. positive thinking How elite performers manage pressure by focusing on facts instead of emotions 34:30 — Communication and trust inside elite teams How culture, clarity, and feeling seen and heard create high-performance environments 42:05 — Winning today in real life How uncertainty, adversity, and daily habits shaped Joshua’s philosophy on performance and resilience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Business Leaders of America Podcast Featuring Jack Oujo Founder, Oujo Wealth Strategies Episode Overview In this episode of the Business Leaders of America Podcast, we sit down with Jack Oujo, author of Too Smart to Be an Umpire and founder of Oujo Wealth Strategies. Jack’s story is one of true reinvention. After spending nearly a decade working his way through professional baseball and reaching Triple-A, just one step away from the Major Leagues, his career as an umpire came to an abrupt end. Faced with starting over in his early 30s, with a growing family and limited financial resources, Jack made the decision to rebuild from the ground up. What followed was a remarkable journey. Through discipline, education, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right way, Jack built a multi-million-dollar financial advisory firm managing hundreds of millions in assets. In this conversation, Jack shares what it really looks like to start over, from recognizing and confronting adversity head-on to rebuilding confidence and creating a clear path forward. He breaks down the importance of having a plan grounded in math, why taking ownership of your future is non-negotiable, and how lessons from professional sports, like preparation, resilience, and handling pressure, translate directly into business success. From building a business with no clients and negative net worth to becoming one of the top-producing advisors in the country, this episode is a powerful look at resilience, discipline, and redefining success when life doesn’t go according to plan. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Founder of Oujo Wealth Strategies, a leading tax-focused wealth management firm • Built a firm with over $800M in assets under management • Named one of the top financial advisors in the nation (Financial Times FT400) • Author of Too Smart to Be an Umpire • Reached Triple-A as a professional baseball umpire, one step away from the Major Leagues • Recipient of the Joe Ryan Award as the highest-rated umpiring prospect in the minor leagues How to connect with Jack Oujo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-oujo-cpa-cfp-ms-tax-97906810/ Website: https://www.oujowealthstrategies.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Smart-Umpire-Jack-Oujo/dp/1506915329 Show Notes 01:40 — The moment his Major League dream ended What it felt like to be released just one step away from the big leagues 05:00 — Rebuilding after rock bottom Facing adversity, recognizing the decline in confidence, and taking action 09:30 — Reinventing through education Why Jack bet on himself and committed to mastering a new field 13:45 — Starting a business from zero Building with no clients, no capital, and a plan grounded in math 18:20 — Lessons from baseball How discipline, pressure, and preparation translated into business success 22:10 — Building trust from nothing Why underpromising and overdelivering became his foundation 26:30 — Long-term thinking in business How focusing on outcomes—not hype—creates lasting success 30:15 — Hiring mistakes and building a team Why your first hires matter more than anything 35:40 — Advice for starting over What to prioritize when rebuilding in your 30s or 40s 41:20 — Writing Too Smart to Be an Umpire The message and lessons he hopes resonate with readers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Business Leaders of America Podcast Featuring Joseph Shalaby Founder & CEO, E Mortgage Capital Episode Overview In this episode of the Business Leaders of America Podcast, we sit down with Joseph Shalaby, Founder and CEO of E Mortgage Capital, one of the fastest-growing mortgage platforms in the United States. With over two decades in the industry, Joseph has built a nationwide company operating in over 40 states and supporting a network of hundreds of loan officers. But his journey didn’t start in boardrooms, it started with adversity. Born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in the United States, Joseph grew up in a poverty-stricken household, an experience that shaped his mindset around discipline, resilience, and gratitude. In this conversation, Joseph shares how those early struggles continue to influence his leadership style today, from his commitment to servant leadership to his relentless focus on efficiency, speed, and execution in a highly competitive and volatile industry. He opens up about the realities of building a business through market crashes, personal setbacks, and the constant pressure of leading at scale. We also dive into how Joseph leveraged personal branding to build a massive audience and turn it into a powerful recruiting engine, why authenticity wins in today’s content-driven world, and how social media has become one of the most valuable assets in modern business growth. From closing loans in record time to building a culture rooted in resilience, Joseph breaks down what it really takes to scale a company, stay relevant, and continue winning, no matter how tough the market gets. This episode is a powerful look at the intersection of grit, faith, business strategy, and modern brand building. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Founder & CEO of E Mortgage Capital, a top mortgage platform operating nationwide • Built a network of 900+ loan officers across 40+ states • Host of the Coffeez for Closers podcast (Top 10 Business Podcast) • Author of the bestselling book Rising from the Sand • Built a personal brand reaching millions of views daily across social platforms How to connect with Joseph Shalaby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-s-7611718/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephshalaby/ Website: https://www.emortgagecapital.com/ Show Notes 01:50 — Growing up in poverty How Joseph’s upbringing shaped his mindset around money, discipline, and gratitude 06:55 — The inflection point in building E Mortgage Capital Why reviving a broken industry model became the foundation for rapid growth 09:01 — Producer vs. CEO Why Joseph never fully left production and how that gives him an edge as a leader 11:04 — The power of personal branding How building a massive social following became his #1 recruiting engine 13:05 — Turning content into a competitive advantage Why authenticity and relatability outperform traditional marketing 19:19 — Winning through speed and operational excellence Why faster execution is the ultimate differentiator in the mortgage industry 21:57 — Leading through market volatility How to stay resilient in an industry defined by constant change 22:52 — What separates elite founders The one trait every successful entrepreneur shares: resilience 24:56 — Writing Rising from the Sand Why Joseph chose to share his story and the message behind the book 26:42 — Where to connect with Joseph Shalaby How to find him on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, and stay connected with his content, podcast, and business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Business Leaders of America Podcast Featuring Dr. Adam Link Founder, Fireweed Capital Episode Overview In this episode of the Business Leaders of America Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Adam Link, Founder of Fireweed Capital and a unique voice at the intersection of technology, investing, and real-world financial strategy. Dr. Link has managed over $600 million for more than 2,500 clients, but what truly sets him apart is his perspective, shaped not just by success, but by experience. With a doctorate in computer science and a background leading cloud optimization at Coinbase, he brings a data-driven, systems-based approach to investing that challenges many of the traditional assumptions in wealth management. In this conversation, Adam shares how stepping away from financial advising early in his career to spend a decade in tech gave him the real-world experience he felt he was missing and how that ultimately reshaped the way he advises clients today. He opens up about the realities of building wealth, the psychological shift that comes with hitting financial milestones, and why many investors unknowingly work against themselves. We also dive into the hidden risks of passive “set it and forget it” investing, why most “diversified” portfolios aren’t as diversified as people think, and how human behavior often undermines long-term financial success. Adam breaks down the importance of active risk management, the limitations of AI in investing, and what founders and high earners should do when navigating sudden wealth or liquidity events. This episode is a candid and insightful look at what happens when academic theory meets market reality and how to build a strategy that actually holds up when it matters most. Notable Awards and Recognitions • Founder of Fireweed Capital, a firm focused on active risk management and financial planning • Managed over $600M for 2,500+ clients • Former Senior Engineering Manager at Coinbase leading cloud infrastructure and optimization • Doctorate in Computer Science with a background in finance and cybersecurity How to connect with Dr. Adam Link LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlink/ Website: https://fireweedcapital.com/ Show Notes 01:24 — Early career in financial advising Why Adam entered the industry early and what initially drew him to financial advising 04:18 — Imposter syndrome and early misconceptions How advising without real-world experience reshaped his views on investing 06:41 — Lessons from Silicon Valley What being around high-net-worth individuals taught him about money and purpose 11:21 — The psychology of becoming a millionaire Why hitting financial milestones doesn’t always bring the fulfillment people expect 15:21 — Losing $800K in real estate What went wrong, the risks of leverage, and lessons learned from the loss 21:50 — Why failure creates better investors How experience and setbacks build stronger decision-making over time 24:18 — The flaws of passive investing Why “set it and forget it” strategies often fail in real-world behavior 29:08 — The myth of diversification How most portfolios are more concentrated than investors realize 33:37 — AI and investing Where AI creates value and where it falls short in real-world execution 38:13 — Advice for founders and high earners How to approach liquidity events, avoid lifestyle creep, and build a long-term strategy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices