Driven: Unscripted Success

What does it take to stay ahead in the tech world for over 40 years? In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Brenda Christensen, a pioneer in tech PR and cybersecurity, shares her incredible journey from Detroit newspaper reporter to co-founder of Goldmine Software and beyond.
Brenda opens up about launching one of the first CRM platforms, working alongside titans like Bill Gates and Mark Cuban, and why intuition—not just intelligence—is the true X factor behind success. She also shares behind-the-scenes moments from the industry, her cameo in Freaks and Geeks, and how she’s leading the next wave of AI-driven transformation with Stellar Public Relations.
We also explore the challenges she faced as a woman in tech, her early work in robotics, and her thoughts on how AI will shape the future of human work and creativity.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How Brenda turned a journalism degree into a powerhouse PR and tech career
The secret ingredient that top leaders use: intuition
The story behind her $100M company exit
Her thoughts on the future of AI, automation, and jobs
Why finding—and owning—your gift changes everything
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan dive into the inspiring journey of Tom Waring Jr., co-founder of Note Advisors. From waiting tables in New York to helping business owners exit with dignity and clarity, Tom shares the pivotal moments that shaped his path to financial leadership.
Why should you listen?If you’ve ever wrestled with defining success, building a long-term vision, or scaling your business while preserving company culture, this one’s for you. Tom brings humor, humility, and hard-earned insights on leadership, legacy, and what it really means to build something that outlasts you.
What you'll learn in this episode:
How Tom transitioned from a hopeful police officer to a thriving financial advisor.
The personal and professional philosophies behind Note Advisors’ culture.
Why vision is more important than ego in succession planning.
Tips for shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance and trust.
How Tom’s approach to leadership empowers both employees and clients.
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Jackie Cawley shares her journey of reinvention after a successful career as a physician and healthcare executive. From starting her own wellness institute to writing a transformational book and creating a virtual course, Jackie opens up about the challenges of stepping into entrepreneurship later in life and how she helps others pursue personal growth.
Listeners will hear how Jackie integrates science, mindfulness, and self-discovery in her work, why she considers herself a guide rather than a coach, and the transformative power of challenging limiting beliefs. She also shares what it took to leave behind people-pleasing tendencies, how she planned her own retirement, and the importance of investing in yourself—not just financially, but emotionally and mentally.
 
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this warm and insightful conversation, Halyna Kovalyshin joins Mike and Nareman to talk about her career in memory care nursing. Originally from Ukraine, Halyna discusses what led her into the field, how she personalizes patient care, and why emotional connection is at the heart of everything she does.
She opens up about the emotional challenges of working in dialysis and memory care, explains her holistic approach to health and healing, and shares why listening is the first step to building trust with patients. The episode wraps with a peek into her entrepreneurial side—owning her own home care company and launching a supplement business.
Whether you're in healthcare, thinking about caregiving, or just love stories about people making a difference, Halyna’s insights will leave you inspired.
 
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What happens when you combine engineering brilliance, entrepreneurial grit, and a heart for service? You get Steve Crow. In this inspiring episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Steve opens up to Mike and Nareman about the divine moments, daring risks, and deep personal values that shaped his extraordinary journey.
From building groundbreaking oil and gas technology with patented solutions to overcoming personal and professional rock bottoms, Steve’s story is one of resilience, vision, and faith. He shares how a chance name in his Palm Pilot reignited his life’s purpose, how poker taught him to take calculated risks, and why integrity matters even when no one is watching.
We also dive into his adventures as a pilot, the upcoming book How to Embrace Your Bully, and his next big mission—bringing indestructible homes to the U.S. market. Packed with insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, and living a life of design—not default—this conversation will fire up anyone chasing impact over comfort.
Key Topics:
Discovering purpose after corporate success
Building and protecting patents
Taking bold risks and strategic leaps
Emotional intelligence and real leadership
The faith and mindset behind Steve’s decisions
Creating a life of intentional design
The power of living with integrity
 
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this powerhouse episode, Nareman Hamdan sits down with global marketing icon Tim Love—former Vice Chairman of Omnicom, author, artist, and host of the podcast Discovering Truth. With a career spanning decades, continents, and some of the world’s most influential brands (like P&G, Pepsi, Nissan, and J&J), Tim shares wisdom on leadership, creativity, and truth in the age of social media.
Tim opens up about his early advertising days with Procter & Gamble, global adventures across Brussels, Tokyo, and Singapore, and lessons learned leading diverse teams in fast-changing environments. He dives into the roots of his book Discovering Truth, his reflections on brainwashing and behavioral psychology, and his theory of "neurodystopian conditioning."
Listeners will leave inspired by Tim’s call for curiosity, cross-cultural understanding, and honest leadership.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
The story behind Tim’s first big break with P&G’s Thrill product
Why “thinking like the sun” shaped his global leadership style
What Discovering Truth reveals about misinformation and media
The surprising connection between advertising psychology and brainwashing
Why enthusiasm and fun are non-negotiable in a successful team
 
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this powerful episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with technologist, boardroom strategist, and podcast host Andrew Chrostowski. From his early days as a research physicist in the U.S. Air Force to leading innovation at global companies like Schick Wilkinson Sword and Tyco, Andrew shares stories of transformation, leadership, and adapting to disruption.
We explore how culture trumps strategy, how failure tolerance drives innovation, and why the systems you build ultimately determine your organization’s performance. Andrew also unpacks his thoughts on the AI revolution, what it means for the frontline workforce, and how he’s using podcasting to highlight voices shaping the future of work.
Whether you're in leadership, tech, or just navigating your own success story—this episode is a blueprint for growth, resilience, and forward thinking.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Why people—not tech—are often the real challenge in innovation
The power of failure tolerance in organizational risk-taking
What AI means for the future of frontline workers
Andrew’s unique take on passive income and lifelong learning
How he balances board service, blacksmithing, and building the future
 
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this insightful episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, co-host Nareman Hamdan sits down with Vlad Popovic, Regional Vice President at Ntech, to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity and the growing role of AI. From his humble beginnings in Montenegro to navigating snowstorms in NYC, Vlad shares the bold leaps and calculated risks that led him to Southwest Florida and to building a thriving career in tech leadership.
Discover how empathy, humility, and curiosity have been cornerstones of Vlad’s success, both in managing teams and developing meaningful client relationships. He opens up about his leadership style, why mentorship matters, and how being open to new ideas can shape better outcomes.
Listeners will also get an inside look at:
The realities of AI in business today
Strategies to build trust and autonomy in sales teams
The importance of local community education around cybercrime
Passive income and real estate investment tips for tech professionals
 
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this powerful episode, Mike Mannino sits down with Ralph Laughton, CEO of a highly awarded senior home care agency based in Southwest Florida. Ralph shares his entrepreneurial journey from starting with little industry knowledge to becoming a nationally recognized leader in Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s care.
You’ll hear how Ralph and his wife Pearl built a home care business that puts caregivers first, built on a foundation of in-depth training, employee benefits, and a culture of empathy. Discover how this people-first approach dramatically reduced turnover and raised care standards across the board.
They also discuss Ralph’s shift from active income to long-term investments, including real estate and commercial property ownership. Plus, hear his advice on learning from mentors, joining mastermind groups, and being a lifelong student of your industry.
What You’ll Learn:
Why caregiver retention is the backbone of exceptional service
How national training and certification can elevate your business
Tips for growing a home care agency through strategy and empathy
The critical role mentorship and mastermind groups play in success
What it takes to win national recognition in a competitive field
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Michael McCahey, a former Olympian turned tech industry powerhouse, shares how lessons from fencing shaped his approach to high-stakes business. From his early struggles in sport to breaking records in corporate sales, Michael offers a masterclass in preparation, resilience, and execution. In this wide-ranging chat, Michael and host Mike Mannino cover topics like:
The discipline and mindset it takes to win—on the field and in the boardroom
How mastering the rules (and sometimes the loopholes) can become a strategic advantage
The story behind a major deal with Adobe—and why McCahey had to fight his own company to close it
Life after retirement: traveling, reflecting, and still mentoring the next generation
Whether you're a young athlete, a sales professional, or just someone who wants to understand the psychology of winning, this episode delivers powerful takeaways and real-world wisdom.
Guest Bio:Michael McCahey is a former Olympic fencer and senior enterprise sales executive with a long career at top firms like Salesforce and Adobe. He's built sales teams, closed multimillion-dollar deals, and led with integrity. Now retired, he mentors others and enjoys a well-earned life of travel, golf, and giving back.
 
---------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.