Driven: Unscripted Success

In this insightful and unscripted conversation, Jim Cloonan of Lond Capital shares his journey from blue-collar trades to managing multi-million dollar ventures and high-stakes investments. Jim unpacks how he transitioned from HVAC and plumbing to overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes commercial real estate, hotels, and a clinical lab operating in over 15 states.
Jim speaks candidly about what it takes to lead, restructure failing businesses, and build teams smarter than yourself. He also opens up about mentorship, learning from mistakes, and the importance of personal growth. And in one unforgettable story, Jim reveals a near-death diving experience that profoundly changed his outlook on life and success.
What You'll Learn:
The power of mentorship and learning to “shut up and listen”
Why adversity sharpens your business edge
Jim’s take on building passive income through operating businesses
The role of faith, family, and emotional intelligence in business
A pivotal story that changed Jim’s life and leadership style
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.

Emily Landis Walker brings a remarkable story of grit, global finance, and dedication to public service to this episode of Driven: Unscripted Success with hosts Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan. From humble beginnings stuffing envelopes at the Republican National Committee to leading roles at the U.S. Treasury, the International Monetary Fund, Citigroup, and even the 9/11 Commission, Emily’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
She opens up about being in New York on 9/11, the creation of critical U.S. national security standards, her work across Europe, Iraq, and Southeast Asia, and her latest consulting ventures in blockchain and business continuity. Emily’s unique career path is an inspiring testament to following opportunity, staying adaptable, and always being ready to lead in crisis.
Key Takeaways:
Emily’s transition from political roles to international finance leadership
Her real-time experience during 9/11 and contribution to national emergency preparedness
Building Citigroup's partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme
Working globally to improve disaster response and capital readiness in the tech space
Mentorship, resilience, and staying intellectually active even close to retirement
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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.

Bethany pulls back the curtain on her journey from law offices to luxury retreats. She talks about her bold leap into real estate investing, her experience launching a boutique hotel, and the lessons learned from a failed fund venture. Bethany doesn’t hold back—she shares the wins, the losses, and the mindset that carried her through both.
Listeners will walk away with:
The value of letting go and leveraging others' strengths
How failure shaped her approach to success
Insights into syndication and fund development
Her philosophy on leadership, team-building, and “everything is figureoutable”
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 sit down with the dynamic Dr. Megan Johnson McCullough—bodybuilder, author, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate. Broadcasting from Oceanside, California, Megan shares how she juggles running two thriving businesses: a fitness studio called Everybody’s Fit and an outpatient addiction treatment center, Mindful Bodies Recovery.
Her journey from basketball courts to bodybuilding stages and from personal fitness to mental health services is nothing short of inspiring. Megan opens up about the emotional challenges of entrepreneurship, the rewards of working with clients battling physical and emotional struggles, and her pursuit of purpose in every aspect of life.
Listeners will gain actionable fitness and wellness advice, learn about the value of structure and accountability, and get a candid look into the reality of starting and sustaining a business that changes lives.
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 heartfelt and powerful episode, Dr. Tiffany Bannworth shares her incredible journey from globetrotting archaeologist to educational trailblazer. After personal tragedy struck, Tiffany found herself called into a new purpose—creating a haven for students who don't fit the mold. Her school, Bworth Academy of Classical Education, is built on faith, flexibility, and a fierce commitment to helping kids rise above their circumstances.
We dive deep into how she built her school from the ground up, why she rejected government money to maintain educational freedom, and how she integrates passion, adaptability, and divine guidance into everything she does. Tiffany also opens up about loss, single parenthood, launching a school just before COVID, and her plans to expand into higher education.
Key Takeaways:
How tragedy became the foundation for a new purpose
Why flexibility in education matters more than ever
Building passive income through tutoring and asynchronous classes
The challenges and rewards of not accepting government funding
The spiritual side of entrepreneurship and education
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 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 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.