Dan Lee is a Partner at Pin High Strategies, a merchant banking and advisory firm serving independent sponsors and founder-led businesses on capital raising and strategic growth. He has spent 25 years investing in private companies across both debt and equity. Previously, Dan was a Partner at Garnett Station Partners and a co-founder of Comvest Capital Partners, which he helped grow from $250 million to $12 billion. He has partnered with more than 100 founders and small businesses to support long-term growth and value creation.

Strong businesses don't grow from setbacks alone — they grow when leaders turn experience and relationships into leverage. What separates founders who scale from those who plateau isn't just strategy, but how well they activate networks and capital. How do entrepreneurs rebound from career shifts, tap deep connections, and leverage the rise of independent sponsors?

Drawing on decades of private equity and advisory work, Dan Lee explains how enduring relationships and strategic focus create a competitive advantage. As a partner at Pin High Strategies, he explains how collaboration, trust, and long-term alignment transform networks into genuine opportunities rather than one-off transactions. Dan also explores the growing influence of independent sponsors — operators who acquire and grow companies without traditional institutional funds — and why this model gives founders both flexibility and control.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Dan Lee, Partner at Pin High Strategies, to discuss building resilient business platforms and leveraging deep networks for capital and growth. They explore why independent sponsors are gaining traction, how strategic niches accelerate success, and how to turn professional setbacks into new opportunities. Dan also shares lessons on raising capital, scaling platforms, and building partnerships that last.

Justin Brooke is the Founder of AdSkills and AgentSkills, companies that help marketers and businesses master paid advertising and advanced AI tools for marketing and automation.

Seva Ustinov is the Founder and CEO of Plurio by Elly Analytics, a marketing analytics platform that delivers full-funnel insights and AI-powered automation to optimize performance and growth.

Paul Powers is the Founder and CEO of Physna, a world-leading 3D AI and geometric search platform that codifies 3D models into detailed data that is understandable by software applications.

Are you searching for tools and strategies that give you an edge, but find everyone using the same playbook? What if scaling and outsmarting competitors came not from pricey courses but from overlooked books, AI tools, and tactics used by top founders? What unconventional approaches keep today's most innovative entrepreneurs ahead?

Justin Brooke, Seva Ustinov, and Paul Powers reveal how they're transforming marketing, operations, and productivity with innovative AI and business strategies. Justin highlights how product-led growth and sales-focused copywriting can boost conversions and uncover customer behavior insights. Seva explains how integrating AI agents with workflow tools like ClickUp can streamline processes, reduce unnecessary tasks, and optimize ad management for software and service companies. Paul emphasizes how leveraging AI for both personal and professional use — like creating personalized GPTs or tracking key metrics — can replace multiple apps and enhance efficiency across teams.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Justin Brooke, Seva Ustinov, and Paul Powers to discuss how AI and innovative strategies are transforming business growth. They cover product-led growth and sales insights, AI-driven workflow optimization, and leveraging AI for personal and professional productivity. They also share tips on using AI tools to streamline operations and gain a competitive edge.

Eric Berman is the Founder and Mastermind Leader of Speakeasy Mastermind, a private global community that brings experienced entrepreneurs together for collaboration, problem-solving, and business growth. He is also the Founder and CEO of Brandetize and Celebritize, companies focused on digital marketing and brand visibility for thought leaders, consumer brands, and influencers. Prior to these ventures, Eric co-founded CollegeClub.com, an early large-scale online community, where he held executive roles during its rapid growth. He also advises companies, works with venture capitalists, and hosts the Inside the Speakeasy podcast.

Strong businesses rarely win on tactics alone. What separates the companies that endure from those that stall is often something harder to quantify but easier to feel once it's missing. So what really gives entrepreneurs a lasting edge when markets shift, tools change, and competition intensifies?

Drawing on decades of entrepreneurial experience, Eric Berman explains that meaningful relationships outperform tactics in the long run. He highlights how trust, openness, and long-term alignment turn connections into compounding assets rather than transactional exchanges. The result is better decisions, faster growth, and fewer blind spots over time. He also explains how performance-based partnerships and masterminds create accountability while unlocking opportunities that rarely emerge in isolation.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Eric Berman, Founder and Mastermind Leader of Speakeasy Mastermind, to discuss the power of relationships and masterminds in business. They explore how trust-based partnerships drive growth, how masterminds evolve into scalable communities, and why long-term leverage matters more than short-term wins. Eric also shares hard-earned lessons about focus, niche selection, and building businesses through collaboration.