Business Ninjas by WeLevel

In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andy Steuer sits down with Isabelle Tashima, Investor at Volition Capital, for a behind-the-scenes look at growth equity investing. Isabelle walks through her path into private equity, what a day in the life of an investor actually looks like, and how Volition partners with founder-led companies that are ready to scale. Together, they unpack what investors look for beyond revenue numbers—team dynamics, capital efficiency, and long-term vision—and how f...

What does it take to transform a 50-year-old lighting supplier into a modern infrastructure intelligence partner? In this episode, WLS Lighting & Electrical CEO, Brandon Scogins, shares how the company evolved from bucket-truck service calls to leading the industry in connected lighting, analytics, and sustainability reporting. We talk about the LED boom, the rise of total cost of ownership thinking, the push toward unified platforms, and why commercial property owners need better visib...

In this episode of Business Ninjas, Andrew Lippman sits down with Kristin McLane, President of CIMx Software, to talk about three decades of transforming how manufacturers build, track, and deliver products. Since 1996, CIMx has been helping manufacturers modernize production processes, eliminate paper-based workflows, and gain visibility across the shop floor with their advanced Manufacturing Execution System (MES) solutions. Kristin shares how CIMx empowers manufacturers to gain full contr...

In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Nikhil Rai of QNX, a BlackBerry subsidiary, to explore how their real-time operating system powers the automotive industry — and why the company is expanding into new frontiers like industrial automation, medical devices, and aerospace. From digital cockpits and over-the-air updates to mission-critical systems that demand zero failure, QNX has built its reputation on safety, reliability, and innovation. Now, the company is...

In this episode of Business Ninjas, host Andrew Lippman sits down with Stu Seltzer, President of Seltzer Licensing Group. Stu shares his journey from working at Yves Saint Laurent and Warner Brothers to founding his own licensing agency more than 25 years ago. They dive into how brand licensing helps companies—from global CPGs to nonprofits and entertainment brands—unlock growth through partnerships, collaborations, and royalties. Stu also talks about his new book, Brand Licensing for Dummies...