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Ambition
Ambition
On the Ambition podcast, hear firsthand accounts of the challenges, risks, and rewards of transforming businesses from mom-and-pop shops to…
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Ambition

Ambition

On the Ambition podcast, hear firsthand accounts of the challenges, risks, and rewards of transforming businesses from mom-and-pop shops to complex enterprises.

Recent Episodes

Dec. 10, 2024

The Art of Resilience: Navigating Crises and Growth | Sam Fankuchen

Sam Fankuchen, founder and CEO of Golden, shares lessons on overcoming crises, building culture, and aligning stakeholders to achieve sustainable business growth.
Nov. 26, 2024

How to Scale Beyond $5M: Scaling With Strategy and Culture | Andrew Gray

Andrew Gray, CEO of Virtus, shares how he scaled his insurance brokerage with specialization, culture, and calculated risk-taking.
Nov. 12, 2024

Building Companies That Last: Strategies for Sustainable Growth | Matt Kovacs

Matt Kovacs, CEO of Blaze PR, shares how he built a sustainable business by focusing on client trust and tailored strategies.
Oct. 29, 2024

Driving Business Growth with Mergers, Acquisitions, and Strong Leadership | Darren Traub

Darren Traub, CEO of Dynamic Transformations, shares his journey in private equity and helping businesses unlock their full potential.
Oct. 29, 2024

From Basement Beginnings to Business Empire | Gregory Gragg

Gregory Gragg, CEO of Blue Chair, shares his journey from basement startup to growing multiple businesses, revealing lessons on delegation and resilience.
Oct. 23, 2024

The Ambition Podcast: COMING SOON!

The Ambition podcast features conversations with business leaders who have embraced risk, shattered ceilings, and leaned into the tension between building both a business and a life they are proud of. Recurring themes like e…

Recent Blog Posts

Navigating Business Plateaus: Strategies for Sustainable Growth

In this blog post, we delve deeper into the strategies discussed in our latest podcast episode, "The Art of Resilience: Navigating Crises and Growth | Sam Fankuchen," focusing on how businesses can overcome plateaus and achieve sustainable growth. W…

From Sleepless Nights to Success: The Virtus Story and Lessons for Entrepreneurs

This blog post delves into the inspiring journey of Andrew Gray and his company, Virtus, a testament to the power of perseverance and strategic vision. It unpacks the realities behind Virtus's remarkable growth, dispelling the myth of overnight succ…

Building a Sustainable Business: Lessons from Blaze PR

In our latest episode of Ambition with Nick, we had the pleasure of hosting Matt Kovacs, the CEO of Blaze PR, a leading public relations agency known for its client-centric approach and sustainable growth. Matt shared his remarkable journey in build…

About the Host

Nick McLean Profile Photo

Nick McLean

Nick has been working in and around M&A for almost 20 years. Earlier in his life, Nick thought he wanted to be a CEO. Well part of that was accurate, but he didn't realize he would become a 'deal junkie'. After realizing that, the goal changed and he set his sights on private equity.

As with many entrepreneurs, the traditional path to achieving goals doesn't always work. The same was true for Nick as he tried to pursue a career in private equity. Nick eventually realized that if he wanted to break into the private equity industry, he would need to start his own firm.

Nick is truly doing what he loves. He is proud to have the strong relationship he does with co-founder Thomas Sanford (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsanford405/) and thoroughly enjoys the process of working with business owners as they consider their next chapter.

If you would like to book some time with Nick, send a message via the contact page and he will reach out with a booking link.

Thanks for your interest!