In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Laurent Cohen Founder and CEO of Go OBL, a voice-first AI platform helping local businesses never miss customer calls, capture leads, and book appointments automatically.

With more than 20 years of entrepreneurial and technical leadership experience across Europe, the United States, and Israel, Laurent has built and scaled multiple businesses across industries including eCommerce, digital marketing, and AI. His journey has been shaped by high growth success, painful setbacks, and hard-earned lessons about resilience, accountability, and leadership.

In this conversation, Laurent shares the story of how an unexpected volcanic eruption in Iceland nearly destroyed his thriving eCommerce business by disrupting global shipping during peak holiday season. What initially felt like an “act of God” became one of the most transformative moments of his career, forcing him to confront hard truths about risk, overconfidence, and the importance of personal accountability.

Laurent explains why business owners must stop seeing themselves as victims of circumstance and instead take ownership of their blind spots, decisions, and missed opportunities. He shares how rebuilding after crisis ultimately led him to create an even larger and more successful company.

Beyond business resilience, Laurent also reflects on how living and building businesses across France, the United States, and Israel shaped his leadership philosophy. He discusses the differences between craftsmanship, efficiency, and urgency and how each culture taught him a different dimension of entrepreneurship.

This episode explores:

- How a volcanic eruption nearly bankrupted Laurent’s business and changed his mindset forever

- Why accountability is one of the most underrated leadership skills

- The danger of success making entrepreneurs feel invincible

- How setbacks often become the foundation for future breakthroughs

- The differences between doing business in France, the U.S., and Israel

- Why entrepreneurs must trust their intuition while staying accountable for mistakes

- How imposter syndrome can show up even in highly experienced founders

- The role meditation played in helping Laurent manage stress, anxiety, and internal pressure

- Why AI is widening the gap between those who actively learn and those who get left behind

Laurent’s perspective is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t built when everything is going well it’s built in the moments when things fall apart and you decide what story you’re going to tell yourself next.

If you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or business owner navigating uncertainty, setbacks, growth, or AI transformation, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, mindset shifts, and real world lessons.

Connect with me here:

Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon

Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8

Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast

Guest Details:

Company: Go OBL

Website: https://getoblic.com

Founder: Laurent Cohen

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In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Kate Pletcher Founder and CEO of Treehouse Partners, a boutique executive search firm specializing in placing executive talent and helping organizations build stronger leadership teams.

Before launching Treehouse Partners 15 years ago, Kate led a successful franchised staffing firm in Los Angeles and served as Director of Global Brand Licensing for Skechers. Her unconventional path into executive recruiting shaped a business model that challenges traditional hiring norms and focuses less on rigid résumés and more on understanding people, culture, and long-term fit.

In this conversation, Kate shares how one failed early hire taught her one of the most important lessons in business: sometimes expertise isn’t what makes someone the right fit. Instead, she explains why skills like adaptability, calm under pressure, customer service, and curiosity often outperform technical experience alone.

Kate also opens up about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the reality of running and scaling a business while raising a family, volunteering, traveling, and managing the everyday chaos of life. She shares her perspective on letting go of perfection, deciding what truly matters, and giving yourself permission to stop trying to “do it all.”

This episode explores:

Why hiring for industry expertise alone can backfire

How unconventional backgrounds can create stronger businesses

What makes Treehouse Partners different from traditional recruiting firms

Why cultural fit matters more than checking every box on a job description

The myth of “doing it all” and how successful leaders actually prioritize

Why leaders shouldn’t follow the outdated rule of “never let them see you sweat”

The challenge of growing from founder to CEO and learning to let go

Why businesses benefit from broad expertise rather than overly narrow specialization

How imposter syndrome still shows up, even for highly accomplished leaders

Practical ways to manage self-doubt and build confidence through evidence

Kate’s perspective is a refreshing reminder that leadership isn’t about perfection, control, or having all the answers. Often, it’s about self-awareness, trusting your instincts, building the right team, and being willing to rewrite the rules that no longer serve you.

If you’re building a business, leading a team, hiring talent, or navigating the messy reality of growth and leadership, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and grounded insights.

Connect with me here:

Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon

Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8

Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast

Guest Details:

Company: Treehouse Partners

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katepletcher/

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If your business is growing, but somehow everything still lands back on your desk, it may not be a time management issue — it may be the decisions shaping your leadership.

Join my FREE live webinar where I’ll walk you through 3 key decisions that help leaders increase revenue without adding more hours to their schedule.

👉 Save your spot here: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com

Stop being the bottleneck. Start leading with more clarity, focus, and freedom.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If your business is growing, but somehow everything still lands back on your desk, it may not be a time management issue — it may be the decisions shaping your leadership.

Join my FREE live webinar where I’ll walk you through 3 key decisions that help leaders increase revenue without adding more hours to their schedule.

👉 Save your spot here: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com

Stop being the bottleneck. Start leading with more clarity, focus, and freedom.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leadership doesn’t have to mean carrying everything alone.

If your business is growing, but somehow everything still lands back on your desk, it may not be a time management issue — it may be the decisions shaping your leadership.

Join my FREE live webinar where I’ll walk you through 3 key decisions that help leaders increase revenue without adding more hours to their schedule.

👉 Save your spot here: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com

Stop being the bottleneck. Start leading with more clarity, focus, and freedom.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Patrick McCann — Chief Executive of the City of London Law Society, co-founder of multiple legal diversity initiatives, former Director of Learning at Linklaters, and one of the most visible LGBTQ+ voices in the UK legal sector.

Patrick brings an energizing, deeply human perspective to leadership, challenging the rigid conventions often embedded in traditional industries like law. From his early career as a lawyer navigating hierarchical systems that rewarded conformity, to simultaneously teaching aerobics classes for over two decades, Patrick shares how breaking rules, embracing individuality, and prioritizing people over positional power shaped his unconventional path.

This conversation explores what leadership really looks like beyond titles, status, and traditional authority. Patrick opens up about navigating anxiety, late-diagnosed ADHD, imposter syndrome (or as he calls it, becoming an “imposter”), and the ways leaders can create environments where people actually feel seen, supported, and able to thrive.

Beyond leadership, this episode dives into identity, self-awareness, inclusion, and why the most impactful leaders are often the ones willing to challenge outdated systems while staying grounded in kindness and authenticity.

We explore:

- Why “follow the rules” can be some of the worst career advice you ever receive

- Patrick’s unexpected journey from lawyer to sought-after aerobics instructor

- The hidden class systems and hierarchies inside elite professional environments

- Why great leaders focus more on people than titles, profits, or ego

- The importance of recognizing and calling out people’s strengths specifically

- How anxiety, ADHD, and losing things became part of Patrick’s leadership self-awareness

- Why self-doubt can become self-indulgent if left unchecked

Patrick’s perspective is a reminder that leadership isn’t about becoming more polished, more hierarchical, or more intimidating — it’s about becoming more yourself, more intentional, and more committed to helping others grow.

If you’ve ever questioned traditional leadership models, struggled with self-doubt, or wondered how to succeed without sacrificing authenticity, this episode will leave you both inspired and rethinking what effective leadership actually looks like.

Connect with me here:

Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon

Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8

Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast

Guest Details:

Organization: City of London Law Society

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mccann-066017207/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Leadership doesn’t have to mean carrying everything alone.

If your business is growing, but somehow everything still lands back on your desk, it may not be a time management issue — it may be the decisions shaping your leadership.

Join my FREE live webinar where I’ll walk you through 3 key decisions that help leaders increase revenue without adding more hours to their schedule.

👉 Save your spot here: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com

Stop being the bottleneck. Start leading with more clarity, focus, and freedom.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Nick Jain — co-founder of Eagle Rock CFO Services, Harvard Business School graduate, former professional investor, and finance leader who has helped scale businesses across trucking, software, and e-commerce to over $100M in revenue.

Nick brings a refreshingly analytical and unconventional perspective to leadership, challenging many of the “feel-good” business rules people are often taught early in their careers. From questioning the popular advice to simply “be yourself” as a leader, to explaining why successful businesses should be built through small experiments instead of big all-or-nothing bets, Nick shares practical lessons shaped by years of experience leading finance and operations teams.

This conversation dives into the realities of leadership, decision-making, entrepreneurship, and what it looks like to build an AI-native consulting business from the ground up. Nick also opens up about the challenges of sticking to decisions, managing uncertainty, navigating partnership dynamics, and why leadership is often less glamorous and far more methodical than popular culture suggests.

Beyond business strategy, Nick shares his thoughts on AI, entrepreneurship, and how math, experimentation, and calm decision-making shape both his work and mindset.

We explore:

Why the advice to “just be yourself” can actually hurt aspiring leaders

Why successful leaders are often more analytical than charismatic

The struggle of sticking with decisions after they’ve been made

How Nick and his co-founder are building an AI-native advisory firm

Why smaller, highly efficient businesses may outperform traditional large firms

The realities of co-founder communication, role clarity, and partnership agreements

Nick’s perspective is a reminder that leadership isn’t always about confidence, charisma, or bold speeches — often, it’s about clear thinking, thoughtful experimentation, and building systems that let businesses grow smarter.

If you’ve ever questioned traditional leadership advice or wondered what modern entrepreneurship really looks like in the AI era, this episode will give you a lot to think about.

Connect with me here:

Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon

Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8

Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast

Guest Details:

Company: Eagle Rock CFO Services

Website: https://eaglerockcfo.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmjain/

If you’re building, leading, or scaling a business — and want a more practical, grounded perspective on leadership, finance, and experimentation-driven growth — this conversation offers both strategy and insight.

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