The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership

Repost: Defending the Underdogs — Cybersecurity Lessons from Kyle Hanslovan (Huntress) This is a repost of an earlier episode of the Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership. In this episode, Jess Larsen sits down with Kyle Hanslovan, cybersecurity expert and CEO of Huntress, to unpack what it really takes to protect small and mid-sized businesses from modern cyber threats. Long before Huntress became a trusted name in defensive security, Kyle’s journey began in the U.S. Air Force, continued through the intelligence community, and ultimately led him into the front lines of cybersecurity entrepreneurship. Kyle shares how thinking like an adversary—rather than just reacting to threats—became foundational to his approach, and why strong communication skills are just as critical as technical expertise in the security world. He also tells the origin story of Huntress: a real-world challenge, a bold proof-of-concept, and a clear realization that smaller organizations were dangerously underserved when it came to cyber defense. Even years later, this conversation remains strikingly relevant—offering timeless insights on leadership, problem-solving, and building mission-driven companies that protect the people most often overlooked. If you’re interested in cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, or leadership forged under pressure, this episode is well worth revisiting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bootstrapping to a $4.2B Global Powerhouse: Inside G-P with Founder & CEO Nicole Sahin What does it take to turn a complex, “impossible” idea into a multi-billion-dollar global infrastructure company — without raising a dollar of venture capital for the first eight years? On this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Nicole Sahin, Founder & CEO of G-P (Globalization Partners), the company that pioneered the global Employer of Record model and grew it into a $4.2 billion category leader serving companies in 180+ countries. Nicole’s story is both unconventional and deeply intentional. Before launching G-P, she helped companies like Tesla and NetSuite expand internationally — witnessing firsthand the pain, delays, and cost of setting up entities around the world. Her solution? Build the entire global legal infrastructure once, then let customers plug into it instantly. What followed was a masterclass in conviction: —turning down venture capital until G-P was already thriving, —scaling through explosive growth (30 employees → 200 → 1,100+), —reengineering the company during the pandemic as global hiring transformed overnight, —and launching Gia, a fully AI-powered global HR and compliance platform built on 13 years of proprietary data. Nicole opens up about the truth behind her success: the spiritual practices that kept her grounded, the brutal decisions required to scale leadership, the moments of doubt, the “dark night of the soul,” and the discipline of following intuition even when her entire team disagrees. Her approach blends operational rigor with mindset mastery — a rare balance in a founder who has built a category-defining global company. This conversation is both entrepreneurial strategy and personal philosophy — a blueprint for founders who want to build massive companies without sacrificing integrity, clarity, or themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seth Godin on Significance, Status, and the Future of Work This episode is a special repost from the archives of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, featuring legendary author and thinker Seth Godin. Originally recorded around the launch of his book The Song of Significance, this conversation feels even more relevant now than when it was first released. Seth and Jess dig into why the industrial age model of work is breaking down—and what should replace it. They talk about how to build workplaces where people don’t just show up, but come alive: doing work that matters, with people they care about, in environments of dignity, agency, and meaning. Seth shares powerful stories about Ray Anderson’s carbon-neutral carpet company, Jacqueline Novogratz and Acumen’s patient capital, and a $3 pair of eyeglasses that changes someone’s entire life. If you’re a founder, CEO, fund manager, or leader who cares about more than just the next quarter’s numbers, this replay is a roadmap for building companies that race to the top—not the bottom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Holly Parker, legendary NYC broker, bestselling author, and founder of The Holly Parker Team—personally responsible for more than $13 billion in sales. Holly opens up about the real secrets behind long-term success: empathy, emotional intelligence, impeccable integrity, and the ability to serve clients in ways that have nothing to do with square footage or contracts. Holly shares stories from behind the scenes of ultra-high-net-worth real estate: co-op board landmines, ego mistakes rookies make, how to build trust with people who live in a world of constant requests—and why her clients invite her not just into their apartments, but into their lives. She and Jess dive deep into authenticity, family legacies, investing like a portfolio manager, and why connection—not transactions—is the currency she cares about most. This conversation blends strategy, relationships, psychology, and heart. If you want to sell at the highest levels, build real trust, or simply learn how the best in the world think, this episode is a masterclass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luxury, Trust & the Future of Travel: Inside THIRDHOME with Giles Adams What if your second home wasn’t just a retreat—but a passport to the world’s most extraordinary properties? In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Giles Adams, Partner & President at THIRDHOME—the global private club redefining luxury travel, home exchange, and how the world’s wealthiest families experience their time off. With more than 20,000 properties across 103 countries, THIRDHOME has built a trusted network of second-home owners who trade time at multimillion-dollar estates, private islands, penthouses, safari reserves, and even yachts. Giles shares the origin of THIRDHOME’s “club over platform” philosophy, why simultaneous swaps don’t work for ultra-high-net-worth travelers, and how they built a brand so trusted that growth is driven almost entirely by member word-of-mouth. He also breaks down the creation of THIRDHOME Reserve, the ultra-exclusive tier for owners of $10M+ homes—and what it takes to serve some of the world’s most discerning clientele. Jess and Giles dive into the art of earning trust with luxury homeowners, the surprising impact of their Paramount+/Netflix TV series Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, and why connection—not consumption—is the currency that really powers global travel at this level. Whether you’re building a premium brand, navigating UHNW markets, or simply fascinated by the future of luxury hospitality, this conversation is packed with insight, psychology, and strategies from a company that has quietly mastered them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices