Moments That Matter

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Shannon Swift, founder of Swift HR Solutions, to talk about building a business rooted in service, the fear of success many entrepreneurs quietly carry, and how EO gave her the courage to think bigger. From an unconventional childhood in Olympic National Park to scaling a nationally recognized HR company through trust, joy, and intentional culture, Shannon shares the leadership lessons that shaped both her business and her life.About Shannon Swift: Founder and CEO of Swift HR Solutions, a fractional HR and recruiting firm serving companies across the United States. Since launching Swift in 2004, Shannon has grown the company through a people-first approach centered on service, integrity, and long-term relationships. A longtime EO member and former chapter leader, she is passionate about leadership, culture-building, and creating meaningful experiences for teams, clients, and communities.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Jim Neil, President of JL Northwest, to explore the accidental path into entrepreneurship, the grit required to rebuild through crisis, and how EO transformed his approach to leadership, vulnerability, and service.About Jim Neil: Pacific Northwest business leader and longtime EO Seattle member with more than 30 years of experience in food brokerage and specialty restaurant equipment distribution. After helping grow his family’s brokerage company into one of the largest independent agencies in the region, Jim transitioned into restaurant equipment and now leads JL Northwest, serving major brands including Costco and Dutch Bros. He is passionate about servant leadership, operational excellence, and helping entrepreneurs grow through connection and community.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Russell Benaroya, COO of Timberland Partners, to explore the pressure of living up to a legacy, the vulnerability behind entrepreneurship, and the mindset shifts that helped him design a life rooted in freedom.About Russell Benaroya: Seattle-based entrepreneur, investor, and operator with a background in investment banking, private equity, and multiple ventures across health tech and financial services. Co-founded and exited several companies including Every Move and Stride, and is the author of One Life to Lead. A longtime EO member, Russell is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build businesses that align with the lives they actually want to live. About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Andy Liu to explore the lessons behind his entrepreneurial journey—from launching a tech startup during the dot-com boom to navigating failure, finding product-market fit, and exiting through a multibillion-dollar acquisition.Andy shares how early missteps, cash burn, and building a product no one wanted led to a powerful realization: sales and customer conversations are the true unlock for growth. He reflects on the anxiety that often underlies entrepreneurship, the myth that success lies “on the other side” of an exit, and how maturity, focus, and balance have reshaped his leadership today.About Andy: An entrepreneur since 1999, Andy founded and scaled a retail website optimization company during the dot-com boom, ultimately exiting through a strategic acquisition that became part of a multibillion-dollar Microsoft deal. After launching and leading a second company, he now focuses on investing and mentoring founders, bringing decades of experience in sales, product-market fit, and disciplined leadership to the next generation of entrepreneurs.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Andrea to explore the defining moments of her entrepreneurial journey—from single motherhood and launching pediatric clinics, to leading Bridgeways, a social enterprise that blends aerospace manufacturing with meaningful employment for individuals facing mental health challenges. In this candid conversation, she shares lessons in resilience, values alignment, the power of Forum, and how Entrepreneurs’ Organization shaped her leadership, marriage, and vision for belonging in business and beyond.About Andrea: Former speech pathologist turned entrepreneur, Andrea built and scaled one of the largest pediatric clinic groups in her state before stepping into nonprofit leadership as CEO of Bridgeways—an employment social enterprise serving more than 1,000 individuals annually. A 12+ year EO member and current chapter president, she is passionate about creating spaces where diverse entrepreneurs can connect, learn, and grow together.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences. This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he speaks with Tony Richardson, Managing Director at Alexander Hutton and a long time EO member, about the key moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey.After leaving Microsoft in 2005, Tony co-founded Extreme Consulting and grew it to US$84 million in revenue before navigating a complex and hard-earned exit. He shares lessons on valuation, deal structure, cultural fit, and the realities of selling a business. Tony also reflects on how EO Forum supported him through leadership challenges and personal growth. A candid conversation about scaling, exiting, and the power of community.About Tony Richardson:Tony Richardson is Managing Director at Alexander Hutton, where he advises founders on mergers and acquisitions. A former Microsoft leader and co-founder of Extreme Consulting, he has been a member of EO Seattle since 2008.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Kara, founder of Pepper’s Personal Assistant, to explore what it truly means to design a business that supports your life — not the other way around.What began as a creative solution during her son’s half-day kindergarten has grown into a 25-person team serving busy executives across Seattle. Along the way, Kara evolved from accidental entrepreneur to confident leader, implementing EOS, building a trusted leadership team, and stepping fully out of the day-to-day.Today, she runs her company while traveling the world — living proof that entrepreneurship can create both impact and freedom.In this conversation, you will hear about scaling a service business, building one-to-one trust with clients, leading W2 employees with intention, and how EO Accelerator and EO helped shape her journey. This episode is about growth — in business and beyond.About EO Seattle:Entrepreneurs’ Organization is a global community of 20,000+ entrepreneurs across 220 chapters in 61 countries. EO helps business owners connect, learn, and grow through shared experiences that support their business, family, community, and personal journeys.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions.No pitches, no sales—just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Jennifer O’Neal, co-owner of Live Oak Audiovisual, to explore the powerful shift from perfectionism to growth mindset and how that shift transformed her leadership, business, and life. In this episode of Moments That Matter, Jennifer shares how early lessons in customer service, humility, and generosity shaped her entrepreneurial journey, and how EO Accelerator helped her rebuild, reframe, and ultimately scale smarter through uncertainty.From learning to separate identity from mistakes, to leading with empathy, to surviving COVID through creativity and community, this conversation offers an honest look at what it really takes to grow as a founder. Jennifer reflects on the value of vulnerability, the importance of asking for help, and the freedom that comes from designing a business that supports both purpose and personal life.About Jennifer O’Neal:Jennifer O’Neal is the co-owner of Live Oak Audiovisual, a Seattle-based company specializing in live events, hybrid experiences, and live streaming. Starting her career in high school at McDonald’s, Jennifer learned early lessons in leadership, empowerment, and customer service that would later define her entrepreneurial approach. A graduate of EO Accelerator and now an EO member, Jennifer credits EO with helping her move beyond perfectionism, embrace vulnerability, and rebuild her company stronger after COVID. She is also a published author in the Lead Like a Woman series, a passionate mentor, and a connector who finds deep fulfillment in being a resource for others.About EO Seattle:Entrepreneurs’ Organization is a global community of 20,000+ entrepreneurs across 220 chapters in 61 countries. EO helps business owners connect, learn, and grow through shared experiences that support their business, family, community, and personal journeys.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions.No pitches, no sales—just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Nick He, founder of GPS Renting, to talk about choosing authenticity over expectation, building a life rooted in courage, and the leadership lessons that come from saying yes to your truth and no to what the world wants for you.About Nick He:Born and raised in China, Nick immigrated to the U.S. seeking freedom, belonging, and the space to finally be himself. A former Microsoft strategist who turned down an offer from McKinsey to follow his own path, Nick is now the co-founder of GPS Renting, a mission-driven property management company in King and Snohomish County. Alongside his husband Brian, he has built a values-first business with a powerful purpose: sponsoring 100 orphanages around the world. A four-year EO member known for his vulnerability, intentional leadership, and commitment to self-development, Nick continues to inspire through his story of identity, courage, family, and impact.About EO Seattle:Entrepreneurs’ Organization is a global community of 20,000+ entrepreneurs across 220 chapters in 61 countries. EO helps business owners connect, learn, and grow through shared experiences that support their business, family, community, and personal journeys.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions.No pitches, no sales—just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Leadership isn’t defined by where you start—it’s built through action, resilience, and the courage to keep moving forward.From serving as a U.S. Army officer in Iraq and Afghanistan to building multiple F45 Training studios across the Seattle area, John Bankson turned discipline into drive and risk into opportunity. His story is one of grit, reinvention, and learning to lead by example—whether in the military, in business, or in life.In Episode 7 of Moments That Matter, host Aaron Burnett sits down with John Bankson, EO Seattle member and owner of F45 Training franchises, to explore how his leadership evolved from self-reliance to self-awareness—balancing growth, team building, and authenticity along the way.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Dr. Lina Kim, founder and CEO of Floss Boss Mobile Dentistry, to talk about transforming dental care through accessibility, innovation, and compassion. From building two thriving dental practices to launching Washington’s first for-profit mobile dental clinic, Lina shares how she turned crisis into opportunity—redefining what it means to serve her community while balancing motherhood, leadership, and entrepreneurship.About Dr. Lina Kim: A University of Washington alum and longtime public-health advocate, Dr. Kim has spent over two decades bridging the gap between private and community dentistry. Her mobile dental model, Floss Boss, partners with corporations and nonprofits to bring preventive care directly to patients—combining convenience, compassion, and community in every visit. A mentor to more than 70 students and an active EO Seattle member since 2018, Lina continues to champion innovation, inclusion, and resilience in both her practice and her life.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs’ Organization is a global community of 20,000+ entrepreneurs in 220 chapters across 61 countries. EO helps business owners connect, learn, and grow through shared experiences that support their business, family, community, and personal journeys.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales—just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Edan Shahar, serial founder and CEO of Wild Zebra, to talk about lifelong learning, building a one-to-one AI tutor at scale, designing for mastery (not memorization), empowering teachers—not replacing them—and how EO’s experience-share model sharpened his leadership through big life shifts and company pivots.About Edan Shahar: Serial entrepreneur and education technologist. Former founder/CEO of a successful college-prep company; now leading Wild Zebra, a personalized AI learning platform currently being piloted by more than 6,000 students. Lifelong learner (graduated UW with 249 credits, two majors, three minors), known for Socratic debates, data-driven product building, and protecting student privacy while boosting engagement and outcomes.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.Connect with Edan Shahar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edan-shahar-273127a/Learn more about Wild Zebra: https://www.wildzebra.com/

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Carmine White, CEO of Adrian’s Housekeeping, to talk about bouncing back from bankruptcy, scaling from $50,000 to $5M in revenue, and why learning to let go was the key to building a thriving, people-first business.About Carmine White: Co-founder of Adrian’s Housekeeping, now one of the Eastside’s most trusted residential cleaning companies, serving nearly 900 recurring customers with a team of 65. With a focus on systems, culture, and client retention, Carmine has built a company defined by quality and loyalty. An EO member for 8 years, he credits the organization with transforming not just his business, but his leadership and personal growth.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.Connect with Carmine White: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmine-white/Learn more about Adrianne's Housekeeping, Inc.: https://www.adrianneshousekeeping.com/

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Lisbet Halvorsen, founder of Ravishing Radish Catering Company, to talk about learning to lead, the courage to face personal challenges, and how joining a community of entrepreneurs didn't just change her business—it saved it.About Lisbet Halvorsen: Founded Ravishing Radish Catering Company 33 years ago, growing it from a one-person operation to a team of 75 employees serving clients from Hillary Clinton to Amazon executives. Known for restaurant-quality food and distinctive style, the company has become Seattle's premier wedding caterer while expanding into corporate events. 8-year EO member who credits the organization with transforming both her leadership and personal life.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.Connect with Lisbet Halvorsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisbet-halvorsen-2542297/ Learn more about Ravishing Radish Catering: https://ravishingradish.com/

Join host Aaron Burnett as he sits down with Shahar Plinner, founder of Formations, to talk about the rush of following your instincts, the loneliness he once experienced as an entrepreneur, and the courageous decisions that unlocked his success.About Shahar Plinner: Israeli-born entrepreneur who immigrated to Seattle in 2005. Built and sold GPL Tax & Accounting (2009-2022) before founding Formations, a FinTech SaaS company serving 1,200+ self-employed professionals. 12-year EO member passionate about democratizing financial services for solo entrepreneurs.About EO Seattle: Entrepreneurs' Organization is a global community of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 220 chapters and 61 countries. EO helps entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow by supporting their business, family, community & personal growth experiences.This podcast features real entrepreneurs sharing real challenges and solutions. No pitches, no sales - just honest conversations about the moments that shape successful businesses.Connect with Shahar Plinner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaharplinner/Learn more about Formations: https://formationscorp.com/about