Michael Glauser grows up with a singular dream: the NBA. But when his path veers which leads to the Mexican professional league, he discovers that his values and his environment were no longer in sync. This pivotal moment sparks a shift from playing the game to coaching the players— but not in sports, those in business. As the owner of CienEQ, Michael now serves as a specialized executive coach, helping leaders and their teams find alignment, overcome obstacles, and unlock their full potential. Michael now takes the discipline of a pro athlete and turns it into a growing coaching career where he coaches executives to accelerate success, master executive presence, and remove barriers to growth.

With a lifelong love of candy apples, Katie Nolte, owner of Katie’s Caramel Apples is the heart and hands behind Katie’s Caramel Apples in San Diego, California. What begins as a simple home-based venture has grown into something much sweeter—a reflection of grit, purpose, and unwavering priorities.

Katie shares how she builds her business from the ground up with determination and discipline, while holding firm to a value many entrepreneurs struggle to protect: family coming first. Through long days, hard work, and the pressures of growing a business, she never loses sight of what matters most.

This conversation is a refreshing reminder that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of the people you love. Katie’s story is about more than business—it’s about balance, faith, and defining success on your own terms.

Toby Tilford is co-founder and co-CEO of Links Healthcare Group, a company known for revitalizing struggling nursing homes and transforming them into thriving care communities. What began in 2017 has grown into an organization operating 40 facilities across California and Tennessee, serving nearly 5,000 residents and employing more than 6,000 team members.

Toby shares the story behind the mission that shaped both his life and his leadership. A Southern California native raised in Orange County in a close-knit family within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Toby develops an early foundation of faith, discipline, and service. His childhood is with athletics—especially volleyball—and Scouting, where he earns his Eagle Scout award at just 13 years old.

A high achiever from an early age, Toby graduates high school at 17 and begins college at University of California, Riverside, playing club volleyball before later trying out for the men’s volleyball team at Brigham Young University. Although he doesn’t make the final roster, the experience becomes an important lesson in resilience and personal growth.

In this conversation, Toby reflects on how those formative experiences shaped the way he leads today as he helps rebuild healthcare organizations and the communities they serve.