From Switchblades to Startups to Soulmates: The Wild Ride of Henry Woodman

Henry Woodman’s story reads like a screenplay, which makes this episode feel like it comes full circle, because a screenplay is exactly what he’s working on now. In this episode, Henry takes us on a wild ride through his entrepreneurial journey: from smuggling and reselling switchblades at 13, to launching a virtual tour company, to building and selling his startup to a global tech platform used by hotels around the world, and lots of lessons in between.But this isn’t your typical startup success story. Along the way, Henry battled burnout, bootstrapped through trade show hustle, learned hard lessons in business discipline, and ultimately sold his company right before the pandemic decimated the travel industry. Now? He’s back to his creative roots turning a forgotten family manuscript into a feature film and tv show about reincarnated love.We talk about:Spotting opportunities (even when you’re broke and lost)What founders get wrong about traction, vision, and cultureWhy "wash, rinse, repeat" is the real secret to growthHow to hire when you can’t afford top talentWhy timing is luck but staying in the game is everythingHow Henry’s latest venture blends romance, time travel, and the very real future of AI-powered storytellingIf you’ve ever wondered what happens after the exit or how to keep reinventing yourself across decades, this one’s for you.Check out The Reincarnation of MarieConnect with Henry on LinkedInFollow on InstagramGrowth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster.If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.