In this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge interviews Gal Ko, Founder and CEO of BoldPMM. Gal shares his journey from surfing adventures to leading BoldPMM, a product marketing firm focused on helping businesses create compelling stories and scale through strategic marketing. The episode provides valuable insights into overcoming market saturation, using podcasts for strategic marketing, and the importance of storytelling for CEOs and marketers looking to stand out in competitive markets.

Gal Ko emphasizes that effective product marketing is built on one key principle: storytelling. Product marketers must craft a narrative that resonates with their target audience, aligning with their needs, desires, and pain points. This narrative forms the foundation for a company’s go-to-market strategy, ensuring that messaging is consistent and engaging across all channels. By focusing on values and the problems a product solves, marketers can differentiate their brand and build stronger connections with potential customers.

However, Gal highlights a critical challenge—market saturation. With the overwhelming amount of content and ads online, it’s harder than ever for startups and established companies to stand out. Traditional marketing tactics often fail to break through the noise, especially for startups in competitive markets like Israel. Gal recommends diversifying content channels, shifting focus from paid ads to value-driven content, and leveraging niche communities to engage with potential customers directly. This approach not only cuts through the noise but also fosters organic, lasting relationships with customers.

One of the most powerful tools Gal advocates for is podcasting. As an effective marketing tool, podcasts allow for deeper, long-form storytelling that resonates with a targeted audience, including executives and decision-makers. Gal shares that podcast appearances allow business leaders to showcase their expertise, offer valuable insights, and establish authority in their industry. By using podcasts strategically, businesses can amplify their reach, build credibility, and position themselves as thought leaders—especially in competitive markets where breaking through the noise can be particularly challenging.

Gal Ko is the Founder and CEO of BoldPMM, a product marketing firm dedicated to helping businesses create impactful stories and market their products effectively. With extensive experience in marketing and a passion for innovation, Gal works with businesses to differentiate their brands and drive success through strategic marketing efforts.

BoldPMM is a product marketing firm that specializes in storytelling and go-to-market strategy for businesses looking to make a lasting impact in their industries. They help companies build compelling narratives, connect with their target audience, and navigate market saturation to achieve meaningful business growth.

• BoldPMM Website
• Gal Ko on LinkedIn

• Storytelling for Product...

In this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge speaks with Loic Potjes, Founder and Managing Partner of Disruptive Leap. Loic brings decades of executive experience and coaching insight to the conversation, sharing what it really takes to lead effectively in today’s high-pressure business environment. From managing overwhelm and isolation to enhancing team engagement and time mastery, this episode offers a powerful roadmap for CEOs and founders who want to lead with greater clarity, balance, and impact.

Loic opens the conversation with a personal note—his love of wine and community, especially as part of a wine club in Johannesburg. For Loic, passion outside of work fosters connection and personal renewal—qualities that matter just as much in leadership. But when the topic turns to the realities of being a CEO, the tone gets deeper: leadership is often lonely, reactive, and draining.

He explains how many CEOs find themselves overwhelmed, stuck in the busyness of daily operations, and losing clarity on what truly drives business growth. According to Loic, one of the most effective strategies for reclaiming purpose and focus is to transition from reactive task management to a proactive leadership rhythm. That starts with self-awareness: understanding what energizes you, what drains you, and how to build a team that fills your gaps. By making space for strategic thinking and empowering complementary teams, CEOs can realign with their zone of genius and free themselves from burnout.

Loic also discusses the power of consistent communication and engagement. Disengaged teams, he notes, are a global epidemic—with only 8% of French employees reportedly feeling engaged. To counter this, CEOs must not only lead with clarity but also create environments where employees thrive. Engagement starts at the top, and Loic shares practical steps for CEOs to model intentional leadership while nurturing team motivation and accountability.

Loic Potjes is the founder and managing partner of Disruptive Leap, where he coaches CEOs and executive teams to lead with clarity, resilience, and impact. Drawing from his extensive background in leadership, Loic helps clients unlock their potential, align their priorities, and scale both personal and professional growth.

Disruptive Leap is an executive coaching firm focused on helping CEOs and leadership teams transition from reactive management to high-impact, purpose-driven leadership. With a focus on mindset, strategy, and sustainable performance, Disruptive Leap equips leaders to elevate both their businesses and their lives.

• Disruptive Leap Website
• Loic Potjes on LinkedIn

• How Loic uses personal passions to build meaningful professional networks
• The biggest challenges CEOs face: overwhelm, isolation, and time mismanagement
• Why moving from reactive to proactive leadership is key to sustainable success
• Practical tips on building complementary teams and fostering engagement
• Loic’s coaching approach to help CEOs regain clarity and lead with...

In this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge speaks with William Holsten, author of UH-OH! Avoid Unintentional Blunders That Derail Entrepreneurial Success and Goof-Proof Your Business. William brings decades of innovation leadership and entrepreneurial experience to the table, helping founders avoid the kinds of costly mistakes that derail even the most promising ventures. This episode is packed with actionable strategies that help entrepreneurs build self-awareness, minimize risk, and create resilient systems that catch problems before they happen.

William explains that while some mistakes are inevitable in business, many are completely preventable with the right systems in place. One of his most powerful tools, the pre-mortem, helps teams anticipate failure by imagining a project has already collapsed—then working backward to uncover what went wrong. Combined with the use of checklists—borrowed from high-reliability fields like aviation—this method equips business leaders to stay focused during high-stakes decision-making.

He also introduces Kissa Kongo, a physical and verbal confirmation technique adapted from Japanese railway safety protocols. By pointing and speaking aloud during critical tasks—such as verifying data or completing checklists—entrepreneurs can reduce mental fatigue and prevent errors that happen under stress. It’s a simple but powerful way to build consistency and attentiveness into everyday operations.

William’s broader philosophy centers on cultivating self-awareness and strategic reflection. He encourages entrepreneurs to pause regularly, assess their decisions, and implement feedback loops to avoid repeating mistakes. With supporting tools like scenario planning, progress tracking, and post-mortems, William empowers founders to build systems that anticipate, prevent, and learn from failure—without stifling innovation.

About William Holsten:

William Holsten is a seasoned innovation executive, author, and speaker with over three decades of experience leading transformative business initiatives. His book UH-OH! distills hard-earned wisdom into practical tools that help entrepreneurs identify and avoid costly, preventable errors. William's work is dedicated to empowering leaders to goof-proof their businesses and thrive under pressure.

About WilliamHolsten.com:

WilliamHolsten.com is the online home of the UH-OH! framework and a resource hub for entrepreneurs seeking to minimize avoidable mistakes. From free tools and downloads to speaking engagements and workshops, William helps founders and teams build resilience, improve clarity, and lead with intention.

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

• William Holsten’s Website
• William Holsten on LinkedIn
• Get the Book: UH-OH!

Episode Highlights:

• Why some mistakes are essential for growth—and others are entirely avoidable
• How to use pre-mortems and checklists to strengthen your decision-making
• The surprising business power of “Kissa Kongo” verbal confirmation
• Strategies for building team accountability without micromanagement
• William’s tips for staying sharp under pressure and avoiding burnout

Conclusion:

In a high-speed business world where founders juggle constant demands, William Holsten’s...