Coffee with Curtis

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Nicola Anderson, CEO and founder of Capacity to Grow. They discuss the importance of evolving leadership and the need for clarity in business growth. Nicola emphasizes the importance of understanding one's capacity, the role of people in business, and the need for motivation within sales teams. Nicola also highlights the impact of personal branding, the importance of creating a positive work environment, and the evolving role of women in the construction industry. The conversation culminates in a key takeaway about the art of delegation and trusting team members to foster growth.

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Brian Spivak, CEO of Barzel Media. Brian shares his journey from a salesman to the founder of Barzel Media, an agency that connects brands with pro-Israel creators. He discusses the impact of the October 7th events on his career, the challenges faced by influencers advocating for Israel, and the importance of authenticity in influencer marketing. Brian also highlights the political landscape brands navigate today and shares success stories from his agency. The conversation touches on the future of influencer marketing, the role of AI, and the lessons learned in leadership and resilience throughout his entrepreneurial journey.

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Marcus Hemsley, founder of Fountain Partnership. They discuss the current landscape of performance marketing, emphasizing the importance of nurturing existing customer relationships over chasing new leads. He highlights the balance between brand and performance marketing, the role of trust in building customer relationships, and the impact of AI on marketing strategies. Marcus also shares insights on effective business growth strategies, the significance of purpose in business, and his personal commitment to environmental sustainability through the Million Tree Pledge. 

In this episode, Robert sits down with award-winning broadcaster and media coach Steve Orr, co-author of Podcasting for Small Business, to unpack why audio is thriving in the attention economy. With 30+ years in radio, Steve shares what traditional broadcasting can teach modern podcasters about structure, storytelling, and sustaining momentum. They explore the intimacy of audio, why podcasting builds trust in a way other channels can’t, and how small businesses can use it to drive visibility, thought leadership, and real revenue impact. They also dive into why most podcasts “podfade” and how to avoid it, the three-act narrative structure every host should understand, and media training tips for hosts and guests: Focus. Prepare. Practice.If you’re a founder, marketer, or leader considering podcasting as part of your strategy, this conversation is a practical playbook on how to plan, launch, and sustain it without losing the human element that makes audio powerful. Connect with Steve Orr on LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Michael Rosen, an experienced comms expert and Head of Communications at Kingsley Napley. They discuss the evolving landscape of communication and public relations, exploring the differences between communication and marketing, the impact of digital media and AI on the industry, and the importance of personal branding in professional services. Michael shares insights on how to navigate the challenges posed by AI, the future of communication professionals, and the significance of measuring ROI in communication strategies.

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Maxine Marks, the founder of Luxury Property in Israel, known as the Pink Lady. They discuss the importance of branding in real estate, the dynamics of running a family business, and the impact of social media on client relationships. Maxine shares her journey of building a unique brand around the color pink, her marketing strategies, and the significance of creating a community for her clients. The conversation also touches on legacy, client experience, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

On this episode of Coffee with Curtis Business, Robert is joined by Alex Dwek, COO of Nas Company—the global media and education powerhouse behind Nas Daily, Nas Academy, and Nas.io. Alex shares the journey from scaling Uber and Grab in Southeast Asia to helping transform Nas from a viral content brand into a full-fledged ecosystem reaching 500 million views a month.The conversation explores how businesses can adopt a media company mindset, why personal brands often surpass corporate ones, and how AI is expediting the journey from concept to market. Alex also unpacks his latest initiative: mentoring 100 people to launch and monetize their own businesses in just 30 days—no audience required.From breaking down the secrets of building trust and brand alignment through content to using AI as a creative co-founder, Alex offers sharp, actionable insights for entrepreneurs, executives, and creators alike. If you’ve ever wanted to turn attention into opportunity, this episode is a masterclass in doing it at speed and scale.

On this episode of Coffee with Curtis Business, Robert is joined by Steve Burg, VP Strategy at Webz.io. They delve into the intricacies of performance marketing, exploring methodologies, the importance of content with purpose, and the evolving role of AI in marketing strategies. They discuss the buyer journey, lead scoring, and maximizing conference ROI, while emphasizing the need for marketers to understand their audience deeply. Steve shares insights from his extensive experience, highlighting the significance of creating memorable experiences and the impact of gamification in marketing. The discussion wraps up with a look at the current hype cycle of AI and its practical applications in the marketing realm.

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Adam Kosky—an ex-Meta, ex-Spotify seasoned customer success leader—to explore how CS is evolving from a support function into a true driver of growth. They dive into how AI is reshaping CS, the power of storytelling, and why aligning sales and success teams is critical. From building community to launching client-facing podcasts, this episode is packed with fresh takes on turning customer success into your company's unfair advantage.

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Lior Illouz, co-founder of HeyBonds and ex-Meta. They explore the intersection of technology, culture, and business, diving into the evolution of podcasting, AI’s impact on content creation, and the nuances of navigating cultural differences in global business. Lior reflects on key lessons from his time at Meta, highlighting the power of feedback, vulnerability, and embracing failure to drive innovation. The conversation covers the role of strategic partnerships in scaling growth and adapting to fast-changing markets. Lior also unpacks the vision behind HeyBonds, an AI-powered relationship coach designed to personalize guidance for individuals and couples, democratize relationship therapy, and boost emotional intelligence. Additional insights include fundraising strategies and the broader goal of transforming HeyBonds into a full-spectrum relationship platform.

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Rosie Purr, an account executive at Giddy Up and B2B comedy content creator who blends tech sales expertise with a passion for humor. They dive into Rosie’s sales journey, her use of comedy to connect with audiences on LinkedIn, and how authenticity drives real engagement. Rosie breaks down her creative process and they both reflect on the evolving sales landscape, where marketing, humor, and personal branding increasingly intersect. The conversation explores LinkedIn’s unique culture of support, the growing role of humor in business content, and the balance between entertainment and education. Rosie also shares her viewership stats, insights into the creator economy’s growth, and thoughts on shifting from social to interest-based content discovery.

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by AB Lieberman, CEO of Clicks Talent. The conversation covers the evolution of influencer marketing, the growing demand for authenticity in content, and AI’s expanding role in the industry. AB unpacks his journey from freelancer to CEO, shares the mission behind Clicks Talent, and offers practical advice for building high-impact influencer programs. They examine the shift from traditional social media to interest-based platforms like TikTok and strategies for capitalizing on these trends. Other highlights include moving beyond persona-based targeting toward engagement-first approaches, the rising potential of TikTok and LinkedIn for B2B marketing, and the power of user-generated content. AB also delves into the emergence of AI influencers and the challenges of balancing automation with human creativity in content production.

In this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert Curtis is joined by Alec Kremins, Partnerships Manager at the hyper-growth newsletter platform, beehivv. They unpack the newsletter renaissance and why it’s one of the most powerful tools in modern content marketing.Alec dives into the rise of platforms like beehiiv, the magic of storytelling, and why personal branding and trust are the real currency in today’s attention economy. Robert and Alec also workshop how to kickstart your own newsletters, sharing actionable tips on growing an audience, dialing in your niche, and keeping readers coming back. From AI-powered content to balancing value and promotion, this episode is a playbook for anyone looking to level up their newsletter game.

On this episode of Coffee with Curtis, Robert is joined by Yael Morris, founder of Decode Insights, to unpack the hidden power of customer insights in sales and marketing. They dive into what really drives customer behavior, why most feedback methods fall short, and how asking better questions leads to better results. From the psychology of sales conversations to the role of AI in decoding patterns, this episode is packed with real talk, real stories, and real takeaways. Whether you’re B2B or B2C, Yael’s insights will challenge your assumptions and help you build deeper, trust-driven customer relationships.

Robert is joined by Derek Fox, CEO and Founder of Midsail Research to discuss an important but often overlooked area when growing a business, market and competitor research. 

Robert is joined by Jacqueline Rose, a leading voice in educating people about women's health, perimenopause and menopause. Jacqueline shares with us just how this stage of life for all women can impact their performance in the workplace, especially in highly results driven roles of business like leadership, sales and marketing. Women's health issues are still not an understood area in the workplace, even with women and this episode lifts the lid on this important topic. Jacqueline takes us through the causes, symptoms and how women can be supported to continue to impact the world of work. 

Robert is joined by Bridie Castiel on this episode of Coffee with Curtis. Bridie is a well-known social media and communications leader in Israel. Having built her own social media agency working with clients to grow their brand attention, Bridie took a career decision to "go all in" on one of her clients, the work productivity powerhouse, Monday.com as their Digital Communications Team Lead over a year ago. Bridie shares her personal story, how she manages her downtime for mental wellness and the way her career has unfolded recently. As the first generation to grow up on social, we discuss the psychology of "putting yourself out there" and why it remains such important for businesses and people in an overly commodotized marketplace. Finally, Robert and Bridie chat about her current role managing omnichannel communications for a super brand. 

Robert is joined on this episode of Coffee with Curtis by Sarah Dray, CEO of Dray Translations. Sarah has built the leading legal translation company in Israel, working with all the major law firms. We discuss the power of language in business and how it can be used to open new markets for companies. Trust in business is always essential, even more so when translating legal documentation. Sarah tells us how she built a reputation in her work, why having her name above the door matters, and creating her personal brand on LinkedIn.  We also chat about her career from lawyer to business owner and the rewards and struggles in a 10-year journey of developing her company. Sarah wraps up by giving us an insight into the future of translation with the rise of AI and where she wants to take her business forward. 

Robert is joined on this episode of Coffee with Curtis by Len Wise. Len is a global brand strategist who has worked for some of the biggest companies in the world, creating memorable brands and campaigns. Branding is so much more than what we see on the surface. Len has developed his own methodology for SaaS companies to develop what he calls a lovemark that creates loyalty without reason and interacts with every part of the company. Len talks about his favorite brand strategy projects, how they were implemented, and how smaller brands can start building their own 'lovemark' too. This episode is packed with gems and value. 

Robert is joined by Guy Gordon on this episode of Coffee with Curtis. Guy is a brand strategist and storyteller, and who can resist a story told in an Irish accent. Guy shares his methodology when approaching how companies develop their brand and gives outstanding examples from his two decades in the sector working with some of the biggest names like Saatchi and Amazon. We hear about his favorite campaigns, the campaign he'd most love to work on, and the humanizing of a brand using personal branding opportunities through social media. A jam-packed episode.

Robert is joined by Michal Tamir and Gil Schoenberg, the co-founders of Superfy. Superfy is disrupting the way we search with an app that lets you ask questions and get answers in live chat. The app connects you to the right people automatically with the probability of getting a more nuanced search answer from people just like you. We discuss the future of search, why voice will be an important component in the way we find answers and the impact ChatGTP will have in the way we generate and consume information. Michal and Gil also share their views on the hot topics of how we validate and fact check information (so-called fake news), online safety and the development on digital communities.

BONUS EPISODE: Robert is joined by Simon Gerstler, co-CEO's of Pipe. They sit down for an end of year review and look back at the market changes. Both share who were the stand out companies from their client portfolio over the last months and discuss why LinkedIn remains such an important tool in your GTM strategy. They discuss their proudest moments from 2022 professionally, what companies need to do to win in 2023 and other market insights for the upcoming year.

Robert is joined by Elinor Honigstein on this episode of Coffee with Curtis. Elinor is the Head of UK Office & Strategic Partnerships for the UK-Israel Tech Hub which is an initiative operated by the British Foreign Office. She shares with us the benefits of this trade partnership and her views on why Israel is continuing to see a tech boom. In addition Elinor is an advocate for women in tech and business. She recently was recognised as a TechWomen 100 Award Winner for 2021 and also is the founder of the VC Club & Women Leading Innovation Network. We tackle some big issues on the podcast.

Robert is joined by Yardenne Assa and Stephie Knopel, co-founders of Unboxable, an HR tech platform that is changing the way we hire talent to focus on relevancy and skillset. We had a great conversation on how the workforce is changing, how recruiting is adapting as well other big themes happening in the world of work. Ahead of international women's day, we also discuss their views on being coined 'female founders' and lots more.

Robert is joined by Daniel Bernard, sports industry investor and entrepreneur. Daniel shares so much in this podcast about his career in the sports industry, the approach he takes to leadership in business and how to empower your people. He also discusses why developing a niche when investing is critical and views on the betting industry which is so closely tied with sports. We also discuss the tech boom in Israel and the burgeoning peace in the middle east following the Abraham Accords.

Robert is joined by Gaby Laifer, Chief Growth Officer at TLC Marketing. TLC Marketing work with some of the biggest consumer brands you know and Gaby shares some of the secrets to how they approach marketing. Gaby explains the power of story-doing instead of story-telling to show your audience how you understand them and why they should become your brand fans. He also discusses his leveraging of LinkedIn to grow his personal brand and the impact that has also had for TLC, where he has worked for over 20 years.

Robert is joined by professional basketball player and high performance coach Robert Rothbart. In a wide ranging conversation the two Robert's discuss his successful sports career, the keys to cultivating a winning mindset in your life, building your life around your own talents and what you love to do as well as personal development strategies in partnering with a high performance coach. They also discuss the current issues around politics and social justice playing a role in sport and business and the impact that has on brand and bottom line.

Robert is joined by Ben Morrison, CEO of Ben Morrison Consulting, a firm that specializes in working with charities and not for profits to power their fundraising strategies to raise more money for their organizations. Ben shares ideas for donation strategies, why working for and with charities is so rewarding and how the pay gap should narrow for those interested NFP's as a career choice. We also discuss the "sales and marketing" techniques required to deliver branding, messaging and fundraising strategies for strategies and the parallels with the business world. 

Robert is joined by Deb Coviello, CEO of Illumination Partners and host of the successful 'The Drop in CEO Podcast'. Deb discusses her own career journey from corporate America to entrepreneurialism and how you can reinvent yourself for success. She also shares her own strategies and methodologies when working with business leaders to get to the root of the issues in their own organizations and find solutions to deliver transformation. We also chat about the impact of her podcast on her work as well as some stellar advice on navigating purpose in your company. 

Lirone Glikman is CEO of The Human Factor by Lirone Glikman, a consulting firm working with companies around the world on their business development strategies. Lirone shares her story with us from 16 year old radio host to becoming a founder of a business that combines her passion for people, marketing, ideas and innovation. Lirone discusses her upbringing, period as an Israeli army spokesperson and what drives her in the world of business today as well as her role focusing on sustainability for the United Nations. 

Ilya (Eli) Spitalnik is the CEO of Powtoon, the world's leading animation software. Eli joins me on this episode to discuss the psychology of communication, how communication can be most effectively delivered, the future of work, artificial intelligence and an insight into his rocketship company that powers presentations for over 40 million users around the world. Eli is a special leader and he shares his leadership philosophy with us too. 

Alan or Azi Cutter as he likes to go by is the CEO entrepreneur of AC Lion International, a powerhouse recruitment firm specializing in tech company hires across functions. His firm was named a Forbes Best Recruiting Company in America four years in a row and they have placed thousands of people since being founded over 20 years ago. In addition Alan is an investor in tech through his AC Lion Venture Partners vehicle focusing on disruptive technologies for the talent acquisition market. We chat about a wide range of topics from the recruiting sectors changes over the years, where the innovation is coming from in the sector, how to navigate inclusion and diversity and the future of work and a whole lot more.  

Gemma Claire is a non-executive director, chair and serial entrepreneur having led and founded multiple businesses. A former boardroom adviser to Arnold Schwarzenegger on The Apprentice, Gemma is also the business expert on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, contributor on a range of news channels as well as an ambassador for the charity Surviving Economic Abuse. She also advises the UK Government, most recently on its 10-year strategy to improve the nation’s financial wellbeing. On this episode of 'Coffee with Curtis', Gemma and I discuss her inspiring career, how to be a media personality for your sector, gender pay equality, the future of work and what the modern business leader looks like in today's world. 

Jonathan Raveh is the Head of Thought Leadership at the rocketship Israeli tech unicorn, Appsflyer. He is charged with driving the company strategy for demand generation and thought leadership. In his role, Jonathan is also the voice for over 70 Appsflyer employees, crafting messages and written content mainly for LinkedIn to showcase the company from a range of perspectives including technology, sales, marketing, people and more. He shares how he is able to curate his content at this scale, explains what is thought leadership and who can do it and some tips on compiling the perfect posts for social media. 

Mat Jacobson is the CEO of Ducere Global Business School and a leading ed-tech entrepreneur who is disrupting the higher education landscape to deliver outcomes based learning and degrees with no more exams and full online learning delivered by some of the biggest names in business and leadership. Mat shares his insights on the future of education, why universities are still relevant, enabling educational access for all regardless of status and much more. 

Amelia Sordell is the CEO of personal branding agency, Klowt that burst onto the scene in 2020. In this episode, Amelia shares her experiences of how to use human-centered marketing to acheive impactful business outcomes, what is personal branding and why it is so important in the post-social media era. Amelia discusses the power of platforms like LinkedIn where she has achieved incredible results not only for herself but for her clients this year. She also gives her top tips for developing your own personal branding immediately and how one of her recent posts got over one million views. So much value in this end of year episode. 

Rob Goldstone is a journalist, publicist, and podcaster who has represented some of the biggest names in the world like Richard Branson and Michael Jackson. He has created some of the best moments for named brands and individuals over his career. He was thrown into the limelight himself when a 137 word email he sent to the Trump organization and subsequent meeting with then candidate Donald J Trump created the storm that would be known as Russia-gate and dominate much of the Trump administration's narrative over the past four years. Rob discusses his experiences with these household names, views on how to become the greatest showman in your business, managing PR around a crisis and insights on the media opportunities in today's world. 

Sivan Felder is the co-founder of Two Heads, leaders in video marketing production for B2B companies. Sivan is the master of showing the world just how easy it is to craft your own marketing videos so you can drive awareness and leads to your business whilst being authentic when recording light goes red.  In this episode, Sivan shares her insights on how to overcome the psychological barriers to getting on screen, the best way to make those first steps and for those already comfortable what to do to enhance your production.  In her own words, listen in so you can learn to ‘JUST PRESS RECORD’. 

Debra Sobell is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Verity London, a purpose driven strategic communications agency, helping brands develop and communicate their 'Social Purpose' to drive positive commercial and societal change. In a fascinating episode, Debra shares with us the reasons why every company needs to weave a purpose driven approach into their strategy, where to start with that process and what is the impact can be for your bottom line. 

Dan Cohen is a veteran public relations, political  communications and media strategist. His work in the mid-1990′s at General Mills was recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being on the forefront of leveraging brands to greater PR success. Today Dan is the Principal of Full Court Press Communications guiding clients in the third sector (such as child healthcare insurance) and the political arena, managing comms for Democratic candidates from Mayoral to Congressional races.  Dan shares his PR and communications insights and golden nuggets on Episode 4 of Coffee with Curtis.

Clodagh Higgins is a successful business mentor, performance coach, expert consultant to hundreds of digital marketing agencies around the world and top rated podcaster. She shares her career journey, how to build methodology when setting goals and great advice for agency owners on how to grow their business. Clodagh also tells us how podcasting has impacted her professional life. 

Sage Ray from Slack is my guest on Episode 2 of Coffee with Curtis. Based in Australia, Sage talks about how she 'fell into' a career in sales and thrived and why more women should enter the sales vertical. Plus, as a leading sales executive for Slack, Sage shares insights on the impact that Slack is making on the future of work and how to communicate, collaborate and build culture in a remote working world. 

My conversation with Helen Gottstein, CEO of Loud & Clear Communication takes us on a journey on how best to present yourself, your story and your business. The power of presentation is even more important in today's world of Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Listen to Helen to learn how to bring your best presenting self to business. We cover all this and more in the first episode of 'Coffee with Curtis'.