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Over the past decade, I’ve scaled revenue and client success at three SaaS companies from $3M to $50M+ ARR, delivering 110%+ net revenue retention and top 10% NPS scores (65+).

Today, we help recruiting agency owners & Principals ($5M–$20M billings, 5–20 recruiters) land new clients from LinkedIn by becoming a trusted authority in their market. 

Our clients are busy business owners. They don’t want to be “content creators.” 

They want done-for-you exec content that lands new clients. That’s what we do.

In the past 12 months, we’ve generated $5M+ in client billings from LinkedIn by positioning recruiting agency owners as the go-to authorities in their markets.

Our methodology:
→ Revenue Growth Engine - a 3-step system perfected with 40+ founders & recruiting agencies
→ Content strategy that generates demand for contingent and retained searches (not just likes)
→ Strategic outreach to initiate conversations with your ideal clients
→ All requiring just 1.5 hours per week from busy Principals and owners

Our results:
→ 40+ owners and Principals served
→ $5M+ in client billings generated from inbound leads via LinkedIn
→ 8+ qualified inquiries per month within 90 days (average client result)
→ Doubling client pipelines in under 6 months
→ Clients include 7 and 8-figure recruiting agencies commanding $75K+ fees and securing multi-search mandates

And we're just getting started!

We help recruiting business owners who are:
→ Tired of building trust from scratch and ready for clients who arrive pre-sold
→ Reliant on a referral pipeline that has plateaued and feels unpredictable
→ Ready to turn decades of expertise into an inbound client pipeline

Ready to turn LinkedIn into your #1 growth channel?
→ Book a 25-minute strategy call: 

https://calendly.com/rohan-karunakaran-mbww/1-1-strategy-call

Rohan Karunakaran

One of my highlights of 2025 was spending a week in Sedona in early December.

I'd just wrapped a retreat with the Becoming the Bridge community (great humans!) and made a last min decision to extend my stay.

There’s something about the high desert, red rocks, and mountains that have been around for thousands of years that naturally invite moments of silence and stillness.

And yes — the energy vortex is real !

What was one of your highlights from 2025?

CEO at Frontier Growth Engine | Podcast host at Founder-Led 🎙️

One of my highlights from 2025 was attending a Dr. Joe Dispenza advanced retreat in Nashville. 

It was a fully immersive 7 day experience. 1,500 people. 14-hour days from 6am-8pm. Some days started at 4am. 

A few key takeaways that stayed with me:

1. Most people are living in the past:

Most people are living in a loop where today looks like yesterday. 

If we keep making a copy of a copy of a copy - like an old cassette tape - we’re becoming a cheaper, more diluted version of our true selves. 

To break the loop, we must become greater than the body, the mind, and the environment — all of which are largely conditioned by the past.

“Overcoming is the becoming process.”

The resistance we feel — to get out of bed, go to the gym, or have the hard conversations — is often the past being projected into the future.

The mind predicts an unpleasant experience so the body responds with resistance or avoidance. 

If we can overcome ourselves in those small moments, we step into possibility to a life that feels both more exciting and more peaceful. 

As I wrote in my journal: “If I can overcome myself in the morning, everyone else will be easy” HA!

2. Opening the heart:

The universe only gives us what we feel worthy of receiving. And worthiness comes from an open heart. 

Fear and frustration don’t open the heart. A constantly analytical mind doesn’t open the heart (learned that one the hard way 😄).

There’s nuance here — including practical ways I’ve found to cultivate an open heart — which probably deserves its own post.

The true masters (Jesus, Krishna, Buddha) knew the path: remove anything that stood in the way between them and an unconditionally open heart. 

3. Meditation as remembering:

The world is designed to help us forget our true selves:

• Societal conditioning
• The educational system
• The food we eat

The invisible scripts — when to buy a house, have children, what “success” is supposed to look like, etc, etc. the list is long !

The idea is not to fight against it. But to notice this old software program running and make intentional choices to update it. 

It starts with awareness. 

Meditation is the act of remembering. Of tuning out the noise so we can tune into the intelligence whispering within us.

From a neuroscience perspective, this often corresponds with shifting from high-beta analytical brainwave patterns into slower, more coherent alpha and theta states — states associated with calm focus, creativity, emotional regulation, and heart-brain coherence.

The result - the mind becomes an instrument of the heart:

• Decisions feel clean
• Work feels more easeful
• We feel more regulated, present and grounded

The ultimate goal: 

“Get so good doing it with your eyes closed, you can do it with your eyes open.” 

There were many more takeaways, including a breakthrough experience I had. 

It might be a little “woo” for LinkedIn, so let me know in the comments if you want a Part 2 👇

B2B lags B2C by ~10 years.

Had a great conversation with Will Leatherman and he said it perfectly:

"If B2C’s creator era kicked off in 2014… B2B is right on schedule"

And the playbook is already written:

2016 → B2C social goes mainstream
2019 → Personal brands disproportionately outperform corporate brands
2020s → Distribution > product

Now the same shift is hitting B2B.

Founders & CEOs are becoming the face of their products & services.

Those who start now will be 2–3 years ahead by the time everyone else catches on.

I thought I was decent at discovery calls.

Then I role-played with the author of Gap Selling.

He dismantled my process in 10 minutes.

3 takeaways that completely changed how I run discovery:

1. Product-centric vs. help-centric selling:

Most founders (myself included) jump to the pitch too quickly. 

“Aha — they mentioned a problem. Let me tell them about our solution.”

Keenan . calls this product-centric selling.

Help-centric selling is different.

It goes deep on:
→ What are you trying to do?
→ What’s preventing you from doing it today?
→ What is that costing you?
→ How long has this been going on?
→ Is it actually worth changing?

If you’re not uncovering those, and gettting them to emotionally feel and articulate the pain of their current state, the pitch — and the decision — won’t have real stakes. And will likely fall flat.

2. Get them to quantify the gap

Keenan’s rule: define everything.

“Onboarding takes too long.” How long?

“We’re losing revenue.” How much?

Most founders hear a problem and move on.

But vague problems don’t create urgency. Numbers do.

When they say “$700K is at risk”  it becomes real.

3. Not going deep on consequences

This one got me.

Keenan didn’t stop at the surface issue.

He kept asking: 
→ What happens if referrals dry up next quarter? 
→ What's it costing you to spend 20 hours a week on outbound that goes nowhere? 
→ If you're spending 5 calls just to build trust — is that the best use of your time?

By the end, "I should probably invest more in thought leadership" became a $500K pipeline gap.

He wasn't manufacturing fear. He was helping me connect what I already knew.

Selling isn't about pitching features — it's about the cost of inaction.

Founder-led sellers - Which is harder for you: finding the pain or getting the prospect to quantify it?

Agency > Intelligence.

Garry Tan (Y Combinator CEO) and Andrej Karpathy (former Tesla AI Director) are both saying it:

When AI puts world-class intelligence on tap for $20/month, the bottleneck is no longer knowing.

It's acting.

For founders building movements, this means:

Good product + great distribution > Excellent product + weak distribution.

Product still matters. But distribution is the multiplier. And there's a crowded graveyard of "technically superior" products that never found their market. 

George Mack has a framework for this - the "Jail Cell Test":

"You wake up in a 3rd world jail cell. You’re only allowed to call one person you know to get you out. Who do you call?"

You don't call the person with the the most intelligence or credentials. You call the person with agency.

The one who improvises. Who finds the gap in the fence. Who happens to life instead of waiting for life to happen to them.

I see brilliant founders failing this test every day.

They have the expertise. The track record. The intelligence.

But they're Person A in the image - stuck on the island, spelling "HELP" in the sand with sticks:

• Waiting for referrals
• Waiting to be "discovered"
• Waiting for some future moment before they share what they know

Person B used the same sticks to build a raft.

• Narrating the struggle while they build
• Recruiting before they have a finished product
• Treating distribution as a force multiplier, not a marketing chore

Same resources. Different agency. Different outcomes.

The gap in 2026 isn't knowledge. It's nerve.

High agency for your movement means turning your expertise into trusted distribution - not waiting for permission that isn't coming.

Start building the raft.

What's one move you've been over-analyzing that you could execute today?

Image credit: George Mack

Helping Leaders Ignite Change Through Inner Growth 🌱

There are truly two ways to live in 2025:

1. Striving endlessly for more. Feeling separate & disconnected.
2. Living fully in the present. Aware of our shared connection.

Most live stuck in the first.

Inevitably leading to stress, burnout, and a sense that something’s missing.

The bigger problem?

This way of living doesn’t just drain your energy, it costs you the deeper joys of life:

- A clear & peaceful mind.
- Meaningful relationships.
- A deep sense of fulfillment.

The truth?

You don’t have to sacrifice well-being for success.

Life doesn’t need to feel like a constant grind.

Your way forward:

Live (and lead) with presence, connection, and intention.

My goal is to help leaders and organizations:

- Embrace the present moment to lead with clarity & connection.
- Build emotional intelligence for stronger relationships.
- Shift focus from individual goals to shared progress.

The future belongs to those who lead with the heart, inspiring collective growth over individual ambition.

--

I am a husband, father and co-creator.

For 15+ years, I have been building tech companies and supporting leaders to:

- Improve lives
- Extend quality time
- Foster positive change

My deepest purpose in life is to touch and improve as many lives as possible.

To achieve this, I share everything I know and continue to learn over time.

It's up to you to decide how to use this knowledge to help others.

If you ever want to work with me, my door is open.

If not, take what you learn and pay it forward. 

We are all in this together!

Marco Franzoni

If you have to make yourself smaller to fit in,

it’s time to find a space built for growth.

It’s not a confidence issue, it’s a context issue.

Because the wrong environment can turn
strength into self-doubt.

Here’s how a limiting culture quietly gets to you:

❌ You triple-check every word because candor feels risky

❌ You hide your pace because moving fast triggers pushback

❌ You lower your standards to fit a room that fears growth

And before you notice, you forget the version of you 

Healthy rooms don’t need you muted.

So here’s a leaders checklist:

↳ Do people elevate your ideas or water them down?

↳ Can you bring tension with care — without fallout?

↳ Do your strengths spark collaboration or insecurity?

You’re not the problem.
The environment is.

And there are always two choices:

Change the culture.
Or move to a room that can handle your full range.

Don’t spend your life adjusting to places that deplete you.

Choose people who sharpen your presence and stretch how you think.

Find environments that recognize your strengths, not feel threatened by them.

You were built to expand.
Not to fold.

💬 Who in your life expands your potential?
Tag them. Let them know.


♻️ Please repost to promote cultures that help people rise. 
🙂 Follow Marco Franzoni for more.

Mindful Leadership Advocate | Helping leaders live & lead in the moment | Father, Husband, & 7x Founder | Follow for practical advice to thrive in work and life 🌱

Most people still treat respect like a reward.

But dignity was never meant to be conditional.

I learned this the hard way:

Watching a leader light up for investors,
then overlook the intern who saved their deadlines.

The colleague who praised the board member,
but never once acknowledged the team who fixed their weekly crises.

The ambitious pro who works a room with charm,
yet walks past the hospitality staff.

Here’s the truth I keep coming back to:

Respect isn’t a bonus.

It’s the baseline.

What it looks like in practice:

↳ Look up from your phone when someone speaks  
↳ Ask the quietest person in the room what they think  
↳ Treat the first-year hire like they matter — because they do  
↳ Slow down long enough to notice who makes your success possible
↳ Give credit to the people who support the work, not just those who present it  

Tiny gestures.  
Daily habits.

That’s what builds leaders people remember 
not titles, not status, but presence and care.

💬 Who’s someone who made you feel genuinely seen?  
Shout them out below.


♻️ Please repost to promote everyday respect.  
🙂 Follow Marco Franzoni for more.

“Gen Z doesn’t want to work.”
“Boomers can’t adapt.”
“Millennials overthink everything.”
“Gen X doesn’t care.”

We keep repeating these labels.
But they don’t tell the truth.

What’s true is this:
Each generation learned to survive in a different world.
So they show up differently at work.

If you treat them all the same, you’ll miss what they're capable of.

Every generation wants to succeed.
Every generation wants to feel valued.
They just express those needs differently.

This guide covers:
↳Where friction tends to appear
↳Common myths about each generation
↳What’s actually true beneath them
↳How to lead each group with intention

🟩 Millennials (1981–1996) 🟩  
Seen as: Needy, restless, over-caffeinated dreamers  
In reality: They’re bridge-builders between analog and AI.  
They want meaning and momentum.  
Lead them with trust, not micromanagement.  

🟦 Gen Z (1997–2012) 🟦  
Seen as: Lazy, distracted, uncommitted  
In reality: They crave *impact*, not just income.  
They speak up faster, experiment sooner, and walk when purpose fades.  
Lead them with transparency and speed.  

🟫 Boomers (1946–1964) 🟫  
Seen as: Outdated or stubborn  
In reality: They hold the institutional memory every team needs.  
They’ve seen cycles rise and crash—and still show up.  
Lead them by honoring their wisdom, not dismissing it.

🟥 Gen X (1965–1980) 🟥  
Seen as: Cynical or detached  
In reality: They’re the quiet stabilizers.  
They balance chaos with calm and loyalty with logic.  
Lead them with autonomy and honest feedback.

Here’s the truth:
Generational tension isn’t a problem, it’s potential.

When curiosity replaces judgment,
differences turn into shared strength.

The best leaders?
↳They listen longer.
↳They translate across decades.
↳And they build cultures where everyone feels seen.

Which generation teaches you the most right now?


♻️ Please repost to promote better leadership across generations.  
🙂 Follow Marco Franzoni for more.

Success isn’t about being the brightest.

It’s about who sharpens you ✨

I used to feel safest being the expert.

Turns out, that comfort was my ceiling.

Real expansion starts when you:

- Feel exposed, not impressed
- Listen more than you speak
- Stay long enough to be stretched

Here are 5 shifts that changed my growth path 👇🏼

1) Celebrate others out loud  
↳ Generosity compounds trust and momentum  

2) Admit what you don’t know early  
↳ Clarity arrives faster without pretending  

3) Let others finish your thinking  
↳ Pausing invites better ideas to emerge  

4) Track patterns, not opinions  
↳ Repeated signals matter more than loud takes  

5) Build rooms, not pedestals  
↳ Systems beat solo brilliance every time  

Growth isn’t about standing out alone.  
It’s about rising inside the right ecosystem ✨  

Which shift feels most uncomfortable right now?


♻️ Please repost to promote collective growth over ego.  
🙂 Follow @Marco Franzoni for more.

Fear-led leadership may hit fast.  

But trust-led leadership lasts.

I've seen it too many times, leaders chase quick wins.

While they lose the people who could help them build something lasting.

When fear takes the wheel, teams choose:

↳ compliance over creativity  
↳ caution over contribution  
↳ burnout over belief  

Here’s what to do to make your people stay:

❌ Ignoring the quiet ones  
↳ Silence often hides disengagement.  

❌ Micromanaging every move  
↳ It tells people you don’t trust them.  

❌ Confusing urgency with importance  
↳ Not everything needs to be a fire drill.  

❌ Holding back feedback until it’s too late  
↳ Growth happens in real time, not in reviews.  

❌ Rewarding results over relationships  
↳ You’ll hit targets, but lose loyalty.  

What to start doing instead:

✅ Lead with clarity, not control  
↳ Direction beats pressure every time.  

✅ Coach, don’t control  
↳ Help them think, not just execute.  

✅ Build psychological safety  
↳ Let people speak without fear of fallout.  

✅ Celebrate small wins  
↳ Recognition fuels intrinsic motivation.  

✅ Share your own learning curve  
↳ Vulnerability builds credibility.  

Fear can force performance for a moment.  

But trust fuels momentum that lasts.


♻️ Please repost to promote people↳first leadership.  
🙂 Follow Marco Franzoni for more.

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Marco Franzoni

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taplio

The Battle

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Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Rohan Karunakaran's LinkedIn Performance

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