Most people think you need a team, office, and round-the-clock hustle to run a successful marketing team. Todd Krise is here to challenge that. In this episode of Activating HOPE, he shares how he left traditional agency life to build a solo business powered by AI and designed for freedom. You’ll hear how to launch your own setup—tools, processes, and mindset included.

But this episode isn’t just about going it alone. Todd also introduces a growing network of like-minded marketers—what he calls “mercenaries”—who are building lean operations while tapping into shared tools, knowledge, and accountability. And for those leading teams, there’s a powerful takeaway: AI isn’t just for automation, it’s a tool for developing people. Todd explains how leaders can use AI to upskill team members, streamline collaboration, and create a more empowered, agile workforce.

Whether you're freelancing, transitioning out of a full-time role, or guiding a team through digital transformation, this episode will show you a smarter way to grow—without the bloat, burnout, or bureaucracy.

Todd Krise is the founder of MercenaryMarketing.ai, where he helps marketers and small business owners learn how to run lean, AI-powered agencies without the need for big teams or bloated systems. With a master’s degree in business communication and six years of experience teaching digital marketing as an adjunct professor, Todd blends practical know-how with a no-fluff approach to modern marketing.

After leading media operations inside traditional agencies, he stepped out on his own to prove that solo operators can deliver more value—faster—when they pair the right tech with the right mindset. His mission is to help others take back control of their time and income by simplifying the business side of marketing. Todd shows how AI can power both personal freedom and team growth without adding unnecessary overhead. Through automation, clear strategy, and a little bit of grit, he helps professionals build flexible, profitable careers—without burning out or selling out.

Leading in moments of crisis requires the higher-thinking part of your brain, your frontal cortex, to orchestrate all of your other brain components to find those stroke-of-genius thoughts that allow things to move forward instead of spiraling into an outright catastrophe. Yet this level of adversity shifts your thinking to the more primitive, survival, component of your brain, your amygdala. At your moment of existential crisis, your intellect is cut in half. What if you could instead double or triple your available intellect at these times? During this episode of Activating HOPE with Joe Luttrell, we’ll discuss how to elevate your own intellect, when you need it the most, so you can lead others involved in the crisis to do the same.

Joe Luttrell is Executive Director of Client-Side Consulting Services and of EQ Leadership Seminars, LLC. He is the author of “Historeq Emotional Accountability™: How Washington, Lincoln, and Churchill Transformed Anxiety into Emotional Intellect” and worldwide seminar and webcast provider on the Emotional Accountability practice and body of knowledge. The seven principles of Emotional Accountability have been included as a primary catalyst in Northeastern University’s Transformative Leader course curriculum.

Joe was a University of Louisville Delphi Center PMI Project Management Professional Instructor and SEI Capability Maturity Model Integration Complex Project Strategic Consultant.

He leads Organizational Change Management and Operational Process Reengineering initiatives for fortune 500 companies. He is a three-term Past President of Kentuckiana PMI. His professional credentials include: Certified Project Management Professional (2012-2020), Certified IIBA Business Analyst Professional, Certified Six-Sigma Professional, and Certified Microsoft Dynamics Project Manager. Joe’s talks are lively, surprising, provocative, and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat while you are having fun learning the most relevant and practical topic in leadership today, Emotional Accountability.

In this episode of Activating HOPE, we take an honest and hopeful look at what it truly means to lead a nonprofit in today’s complex world. This conversation explores the passion that fuels nonprofit leaders—and the pressures that come with the job.

Our guest, DeVon Holt, brings a wealth of experience and insight to the table as we unpack both the inspiring opportunities and tough challenges of mission-driven leadership. From navigating resource constraints and stakeholder expectations to staying anchored in purpose amid constant change, we’ll explore what it takes to lead with clarity, resilience, and heart.

DeVone Holt is a powerhouse of purpose-driven leadership. With nearly 30 years of experience as a brand builder, culture shaper, strategic communicator, and people convener, DeVone brings a rare combination of vision and execution to everything he touches.

In 2024, he was named President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, a 96,000-square-foot cultural institution dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of "The Greatest"—a legacy rooted in service, justice, and courage.

Before stepping into this role, DeVone served as Chief External Affairs Officer at Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, where he led the transformation of a 20-acre brownfield site into a $120 million Opportunity Campus—complete with the area's first full-service hospital in over a century and Kentucky’s first high school for adults, a bold initiative he personally championed.

His career spans leadership roles in education, workforce development, and economic revitalization. From attracting $400 million in urban business investments to co-founding a consulting firm that helped companies invest in inner-city communities, DeVone’s impact is far-reaching. He’s also the author of the best-selling book Hip-Hop Slop, a former radio host, and a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Simmons College of Kentucky for his work revitalizing underserved neighborhoods.

DeVone is a proud husband and father of two future leaders—and today, he joins us to talk about legacy, leadership, and what it truly means to activate hope.