Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder

Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder is the premier corporate finance and leadership podcast uncovering what truly drives business valuation, strategic growth, and enterprise value.You’ve heard the saying, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” Performance, company worth, and strategy are driven by metrics—but the real story happens behind the spreadsheets. Hosted by business valuation expert and best-selling author Dave Bookbinder, this show goes beyond traditional financial statements to explore the operational leadership, execution, and hidden factors that maximize business asset value.In each episode, Dave sits down with global CEOs, entrepreneurs, and financial thought leaders to unpack real-world insights on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and scaling intangible assets. Whether you are a business owner looking toward exit planning, a CFO managing financial strategy, or an executive driving growth, this podcast will change the way you calculate true org

Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 335 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, a business show with 335 episodes published.

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  Episode #443

  Why Culture Is a Financial Asset - Brett Hoogeveen

  Aug 18, 202634 min

  Company culture is not a soft HR expense - it is a high-yield strategic asset that directly drives bottom-line profitability and enterprise value. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Brett Hoogeveen, co-founder of BetterCulture and seasoned angel investor, to explore how organizational culture impacts business valuation. Together, they unpack why poor workplace environment quietly drains corporate cash flow through toxic management, quiet quitting, and high turnover. Key Takeaways & Strategies: Culture as a Value Driver: Shift the executive mindset from viewing culture as an expense (like office perks) to treating employee behaviors and attitudes as revenue-generating assets. Stars vs. Vacuums Framework: Learn how to shift your organization's performance distribution curve by protecting superstars, upskilling the middle majority, and removing energetic drains. Protecting Good Talent: Why leaders have a strict obligation to protect the right of top performers to work alongside other good employees, even when forced to confront toxic high-producers. The Accidental Manager: Bridge the decade-long gap between when employees are promoted into leadership and when they receive formal management training. Strategic Culture Planning: How to build a continuous improvement plan for culture that scales as your business expands beyond its early stages. Assuming Positive Intent: Lower internal friction and eliminate subtle innovation-killers by training teams to default to trust and curiosity. To protect your bottom line and build long-term value, stop treating people as line-item expenses and start actively managing your corporate culture as a strategic priority. About Our Guest: Brett Hoogeveen, CSP is a nationally recognized leadership expert and co-founder of BetterCulture, a leadership development and technology firm that helps companies build better leaders, stronger teams, and thriving workplace cultures. Brett helps organizations turn culture into a competitive advantage - using practical tools, proven strategies, and a contagious belief that better culture = better business. Over the past decade, Brett has trained thousands of leaders and partnered with hundreds of executive teams - from scrappy startups to Fortune 500s - on practical strategies to create winning cultures. One of fewer than 900 Certified Speaking Professionals (CSP) worldwide, Brett delivers engaging and actionable keynotes on leadership, culture, and workplace performance. He is also the host of The BetterCulture Podcast. Here is the URL to the free resource that Brett is offering listeners of this show. The resource is a complimentary AI-driven Executive Culture Strategic Plan. https://betterculture.com/behindthenumbers About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know , was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know Connect with Dave on LinkedIn Connect with Dave on FaceBook Follow Dave on Twitter Check out www. NEWROI.com for more. Want to share your insights with the business community? Message Dave to learn how you can be a guest on Behind The Numbers. https://linktr.ee/BehindTheNumbers Check out more of Behind The Numbers on YouTube BEHIND THE NUMBERS WITH DAVE BOOKBINDER IS AN AWARD-WINNING PODCAST THAT IS ENJOYED IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES. THANK YOU FOR MAKING BEHIND THE NUMBERS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS GLOBALLY! Subscribe to Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with your network and leave a review—it helps more business owners and advisors discover the show!

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  Episode #442

  Overcoming Founder Syndrome: Scaling Beyond the Bottleneck - Luke Mickelson

  Aug 11, 202635 min

  True operational scale requires more than expanding a business model—it demands scaling the human capital and personal leadership of the founder behind it. In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, to explore how a humble garage project evolved into an international movement addressing an invisible community crisis. Luke shares the origin story of delivering his first bunk bed to a six-year-old girl named Haley—a single act of compassion that sparked a organization now spanning over 440 chapters, 130,000 volunteers, and 300,000 beds delivered to kids in need. The conversation dives into the business strategies and human capital dynamics behind managing a massive, decentralized workforce. Luke breaks down how coining the term "child bedlessness" brought clarity to a hidden problem to drive corporate support, how to maintain strict product quality across hundreds of autonomous chapters, and why high-touch assembly-line experiences turn casual sweat equity into lifelong brand loyalty. Luke also tackles the painful personal hurdles of rapid growth, pulling back the curtain on "Founder Syndrome" and identity fusion. He candidly shares how he recognized he was becoming an operational bottleneck, offering a preview of his Founder Syndrome Survival Course designed to help leaders navigate governance shifts, prevent burnout, and transition smoothly from frontline operator to strategic visionary. Listeners will gain actionable insights on evaluating success through a true valuation mindset—reframing ROI to include long-term developmental outcomes for children and deep psychological returns for volunteers. Whether you are scaling a business, leading a non-profit, or seeking to align purpose with execution, this episode delivers a masterclass on turning a simple act of service into a high-impact movement. About Our Guest: Luke Mickelson is the founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), the largest bed-building charity in the world, with a mission built on a simple but powerful truth: child bedlessness may not be a real word, but it’s a real problem. In 2012, Luke built a bunk bed in his garage for a local family in need. What happened next changed everything. That single act of service sparked a movement—one that has since grown into a nationwide and international network of volunteers who have delivered hundreds of thousands of beds to children who would otherwise be sleeping on the floor. Luke’s work has been recognized nationally, including being named a CNN Hero, and featured on Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, the Today Show, and Mike Rowe’s Returning the Favor. But for Luke, the true reward isn’t recognition—it’s the impact created when ordinary people choose to act. Today, Luke brings that same message to stages across the country. His keynote, Making Passion Purpose, challenges audiences to recognize the “tiny moments” in their own lives—the small opportunities to serve, lead, and make a difference. Because those moments, when acted upon, don’t just change someone else’s world… they can change your own. In addition to his work with SHP, Luke speaks and teaches on the realities of the founder’s journey, including the challenges of identity, growth, and letting go. His insights on Founder’s Syndrome and leadership evolution help leaders move from building something meaningful… to building something that lasts. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know , was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know Connect with Dave on LinkedIn Connect with Dave on FaceBook Follow Dave on Twitter Check out www. NEWROI.com for more. Want to share your insights with the business community? Message Dave to learn how you can be a guest on Behind The Numbers. https://linktr.ee/BehindTheNumbers Check out more of Behind The Numbers on YouTube BEHIND THE NUMBERS WITH DAVE BOOKBINDER IS AN AWARD-WINNING PODCAST THAT IS ENJOYED IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES. THANK YOU FOR MAKING BEHIND THE NUMBERS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS GLOBALLY!

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  Episode #441

  Stop Paying CEO Rates for Admin Work - Nicole Grinnell

  Aug 4, 202627 min

  In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Nicole Grinnell - founder of Bosun Solutions and Mic'd Up Booking - to break down the exact financial and operational mechanics of scaling a small business. They pull back the curtain on payroll optimization, calculating the true opportunity cost of doing your own admin work, and why high-performing executive assistants are revenue multipliers, not expenses. Nicole walks through the spreadsheet arbitrage of fractional staffing, explaining how shifting from fixed W2 payroll overhead to variable fractional support insulates profit margins during market volatility (a model battle-tested during COVID-19). They dig deep into the hidden financial cost of a bad hire, the exact vetting processes needed to protect cash flow, and why Net Profit is the ultimate metric every scaling founder must track. Plus, Nicole outlines how to turn podcast guesting into a low-effort, high-ROI B2B sales engine that drastically shortens sales cycles. Key Topics Covered Small Business Payroll Optimization: How replacing full-time W2 salary risk with flexible, fractional labor protects cash flow and profit margins. Effective Delegation & Opportunity Cost: The exact math behind why paying CEO-level rates for basic administrative tasks drains business valuation. The EA as an Operational Multiplier: Reframing administrative support from a balance-sheet expense into a revenue-generating asset. Preventing Costly Hiring Mistakes: How thorough vetting and clear performance KPIs reduce turnover and prevent bad hires. Critical Scaling Metrics: Why net profit margin matters infinitely more than vanity top-line revenue metrics. B2B Podcast Marketing & Conversion: How appearing on targeted podcasts builds host trust and acts as a high-ticket referral engine. About Our Guest: Nicole Grinnell is a two-time business owner who comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and small business owners. As the daughter of a Small Business Owner turned Corporate Executive Support- she has unique insight to the needs that the Entrepreneur & CEO face in order to scale their business. Her entire career has involved balancing family and life, from working for her family business, to getting married and having children while climbing the corporate ladder. She now has a marriage, two teenage children, and has grown her businesses to $2 million in revenue. Her goal is to help other small businesses succeed. Driven by her passion for organization and efficiency, she founded Bosun, a remote staffing firm that provides affordable solutions to help small business owners grow and scale, regardless of economic conditions. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know , was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know Connect with Dave on LinkedIn Connect with Dave on FaceBook Follow Dave on Twitter Check out www. NEWROI.com for more. Want to share your insights with the business community? Message Dave to learn how you can be a guest on Behind The Numbers. https://linktr.ee/BehindTheNumbers Check out more of Behind The Numbers on YouTube BEHIND THE NUMBERS WITH DAVE BOOKBINDER IS AN AWARD-WINNING PODCAST THAT IS ENJOYED IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES. THANK YOU FOR MAKING BEHIND THE NUMBERS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS GLOBALLY!

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  Episode #440

  Behind the Numbers of Authority: How Smart Leaders Turn Stages Into Revenue - Terry Fossum

  Jul 28, 202630 min

  On this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Terry Fossum - #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author, global TEDx speaker, LA Magazine’s Person of the Year, and winner of Fox’s Kicking & Screaming. Together, they go behind the data to unpack the hidden drivers of enterprise value, executive execution, and authority-building. Terry shares his "throw away the box" playbook for business reinvention and breaks down the behavioral economics behind his Oxcart Technique - a framework grounded in prospect theory designed to engineer success and eliminate execution breakdowns. Key Topics Covered: The Disruption Data: Why 52% of the Fortune 500 from the year 2000 no longer exist, and why a company’s past success is often its biggest threat. Closing the Quota Gap: Why 73% of sales reps miss their targets and how to design "failure scenarios" that actually motivate action. The Economics of Authority: How leaders can leverage stages and books as strategic business assets to turn invisible expertise into high-value clients. Reverse-Engineering Systems: Lessons in persistence from Terry's brother, who decoded NASA's selection process to become an ISS Space Station Commander after being rejected six times. High-Stakes Leadership: What surviving the Fijian jungle on reality TV teaches us about guiding teams through fear, uncertainty, and corporate transformation. Resources & Links Mentioned: Build your authority platform: TheStageAdvantage.com Keynotes, books & coaching: TerryLFossum.com Find Terry's bestselling book, The Oxcart Technique, on Amazon Listen to the Comeback Chronicles podcast About Our Guest: Terry L. Fossum is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble bestselling author (and USA Today bestseller) of The Oxcart Technique. His TEDx talk was ranked the #2 New TEDx Talk in the World. He has delivered more than 1,500 keynote engagements and helped raise millions of dollars from the platform. He delivers two signature keynotes. Never Miss a Goal Again, built on his Oxcart Technique® and grounded in Nobel Prize–winning behavioral economics, is the keynote sales-driven organizations bring in when traditional training stops producing — insurance agencies, real estate brokerages, financial advisors, dealership groups, and direct-sales companies. Throw Away the Box helps leadership teams and organizations reinvent themselves in the age of AI, built on original interviews with the leaders behind NASA, Tesla, The North Face, E!, and FANUC. In 2017, Terry won Fox's prime-time network reality competition Kicking & Screaming, representing the Boy Scouts of America. He is a former Captain in the United States Air Force, a graduate of Texas A&M University, and the President & Endowment Chair of the BSA's Inland Northwest Council. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know , was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know Connect with Dave on LinkedIn Connect with Dave on FaceBook Follow Dave on Twitter Check out www. NEWROI.com for more. Want to share your insights with the business community? Message Dave to learn how you can be a guest on Behind The Numbers. https://linktr.ee/BehindTheNumbers Check out more of Behind The Numbers on YouTube BEHIND THE NUMBERS WITH DAVE BOOKBINDER IS AN AWARD-WINNING PODCAST THAT IS ENJOYED IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES. THANK YOU FOR MAKING BEHIND THE NUMBERS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS GLOBALLY!

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  Episode #439

  Earning Attention in a Crowded Market - Cass Bailey

  Jul 21, 202632 min

  How do you build a resilient, scaling business when the rules of the market are constantly changing? In this episode of Behind The Numbers, host Dave Bookbinder sits down with Cass Bailey, founder and CEO of Slice Communications, to unpack the realities of modern entrepreneurship, leadership evolution, and the art of strategic communication. Cass shares her unconventional journey to launching Slice during the Great Recession, the hard-won lessons from selling and later reacquiring her company, and how her leadership style has adapted alongside her business's growth. Inside this episode, you’ll discover: Earning Attention: What it actually takes to stand out in today's oversaturated marketplace. The ROI of Storytelling: Why authentic leadership and internal alignment are critical for connecting with employees, customers, and stakeholders. AI with a Human Touch: How Slice Communications leverages artificial intelligence to supercharge research and planning while keeping human creativity at the center. CEO Schooling: The executive education programs, frameworks, and advisory networks that shaped Cass's growth. A Quick-Win Tool: A simple, powerful listening technique that any leader can put into practice today. Whether you're an established business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a team leader, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies to help you scale your company, sharpen your communication, and future-proof your organization. About Our Guest: Cassandra (Cass) M. Bailey is the CEO of Slice Communications, founder and current Chairwoman of Social Media Day, Inc., creator of the My Mom Is… children’s book series and has been working in marketing communications for more than 20 years. She believes that integrated public relations, social media, and email marketing efforts are critical for growing businesses and non-profits looking to accomplish their goals. Cass has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, and The Today Show and has written for, or been quoted in, Forbes, Philadelphia Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, TheNextWeb, and a number of other publications. Cass has also been named as a “Rising Star” by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and received the “Brava” award from Philadelphia Smart CEO. About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is known as a trusted provider for independent business valuations, corporate asset appraisals, and exit planning advisory and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries. Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers. He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.” Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know , was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions. He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries. Grab Dave’s Books: The New ROI: Return on Individuals | The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers | A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know Connect with Dave on LinkedIn Connect with Dave on FaceBook Follow Dave on Twitter Check out www. NEWROI.com for more. Want to share your insights with the business community? Message Dave to learn how you can be a guest on Behind The Numbers. https://linktr.ee/BehindTheNumbers Check out more of Behind The Numbers on YouTube BEHIND THE NUMBERS WITH DAVE BOOKBINDER IS AN AWARD-WINNING PODCAST THAT IS ENJOYED IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES. THANK YOU FOR MAKING BEHIND THE NUMBERS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS GLOBALLY!

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