Beyond the Bottom Line is back—with less fluff, more grit.

We’re back. And if you're reading this, you’re probably in the thick of running a business, building a team, or trying to fix what someone else broke. Same.

In this relaunch of Beyond the Bottom Line, I get into what sparked it all—standing in the grocery store meat aisle trying to buy chicken thighs, and realizing: this is exactly how AI is treating candidates. We’ve turned people into products, and recruiting into a pattern-matching game where resumes are filtered like packages of poultry.

This episode is part rant, part reality check, and fully grounded in 30 years of scars, screw-ups, and figuring it out the hard way. I’m not anti-AI. I’m anti-bad process, bad training, and the idea that automation should ever replace actual connection.

So if you’re a recruiter, a leader, a founder, or just someone trying to hire and retain people the right way—pull up a seat.

Let’s talk about hiring with purpose, fixing what’s broken, and why the hell we all need to stop letting tech make decisions we should be owning.

Introducing: THE RON TABLE — Episode 1 is officially live!

Where real people, real entrepreneurs, and real talk crash headfirst into unfiltered, unpolished, and sometimes uncomfortable honesty.

This isn’t just another podcast. It’s a table full of bold takes, hard truths, belly laughs, and brutally honest convos about business, leadership, startups, recruiting, growth—and all the messy sh*t no one warns you about.

Whether you're leading a company, plotting your escape from your 9-to-5, or building something from scratch— pull up a chair, and maybe a strong drink.

The advice is real. The stories are raw.

The takes? Sometimes borderline ridiculous—but always what people need to hear.

This week, Nicole Gray, CTACC and I dive into what it’s REALLY like to become an entrepreneur.

-Not the Insta or FB ad versions.

-Not the “12 steps to freedom” pitch.

-Not the “Buy this course and manifest millions” BS.

Because if starting and scaling a business was that easy… the Kardashians would’ve franchised it by now.

So yeah—follow us, tune in, and welcome to The Ron Table.

We’re not here to sugarcoat it. We’re here to say the stuff everyone else is too scared to post on LinkedIn.

“You want answers?” We think you can handle the truth 😉

Let’s be real—success isn’t handed out. It’s earned. And no one knows that better than Laura Cole, VP of Staffing & Sales at Exegistics.

Laura’s story isn’t just about climbing the ladder—it’s about rewriting the playbook for leadership and building unstoppable teams. From stepping into staffing by sheer instinct (before she even knew what she was signing up for) to becoming a powerhouse leader who has shaped teams, businesses, and careers, her journey is packed with lessons every business owner, leader, and entrepreneur needs to hear.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Why hiring the right people is the real game-changer for business growth
• The power of leadership clarity—because what you talk about is what gets done
• How mentors & community shape success (even when they don’t have the official title)
• Why women in leadership still have more room to rise—and how to make it happen

Laura has built, rebuilt, and transformed businesses, and she drops some serious wisdom on what it takes to not just lead, but to win.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re on the right path, battled imposter syndrome, or struggled to build a high-performing team, this episode is for you.