South Florida Leaders

What does it take to become a great surgeon and a strong leader? For Dr. Jacob Carlson, it's about more than skill. It's about caring for people, working hard, and finding joy in what you do. In this episode of the South Florida Leaders Podcast, host Brian Fay sits down with Dr. Jacob Carlson, a double board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Coral Gables, Florida. Dr. Carlson shares how seeing a young girl’s life change through surgery inspired him to become a plastic surgeon. He talks about his years of medical training, the challenges he faced along the way, and why helping people live better lives is what drives him. Brian and Dr. Carlson also discuss what patients should know before choosing a plastic surgeon. Dr. Carlson explains why proper training, trust, safety, and personal care matter so much. The conversation goes beyond medicine. Dr. Carlson shares how his mentors shaped the way he leads, why he is learning Spanish to better serve his South Florida patients, and how he now helps train the next generation of surgeons. He also opens up about growing his career, learning the business side of medicine, planning for his financial future, and what success really means to him. For Dr. Carlson, success is not about having the biggest house or the nicest car. It's about doing work he loves and making a difference in people's lives. Whether you're a business owner, a medical professional, or someone working toward a big goal, this episode offers helpful lessons about hard work, leadership, and never giving up.

What does it take to build a successful career, start a business, move your family to a new country, and keep moving forward through change? In this episode of the South Florida Leaders Podcast, Brian Fay sits down with Francisco Roa to talk about leadership, discipline, technology, entrepreneurship, family, and the lessons Francisco has learned throughout his journey. Francisco has spent 15 years working with LiveU in the broadcast technology industry. Originally from Colombia, he moved to the United States with his family three years ago and is building a new chapter of his life in South Florida. Alongside his career, Francisco has spent seven years building an entrepreneurial venture focused on nearshore engineering and graphic design services. Francisco explains why discipline has become one of the most important principles in his life. For him, success comes from continuing to show up and do the work, even on the days when you do not feel like doing it. He also shares what moving from Colombia to the United States taught him about family, community, and asking others for help. That experience helped shape his view that people should not always try to solve their problems alone. Brian and Francisco also discuss leadership. Francisco believes great leadership is about inspiring others through your actions. It means trying to become a little better each day and giving your best to your family, team, and community. Francisco also shares how his definition of success has changed. Instead of focusing only on money or job titles, he now finds meaning in helping other people succeed. The conversation closes with Francisco's thoughts on South Florida, his goals for the future, and the importance of thinking about long-term financial security.  

What happens when AI meets healthcare? On this episode of the South Florida Leaders Podcast, Brian Fay sits down with healthcare consultant Bryan Heinlein to talk about how AI is changing the patient experience, improving healthcare call centers, and helping organizations solve complex problems. Bryan works with Impact Advisors, where he specializes in data, AI, and call center technology. He explains how healthcare organizations can move beyond frustrating phone trees and use AI and natural language technology to better understand what callers need and get them to the right place. But this conversation goes well beyond technology. Bryan shares his approach to building a successful career: start broad, learn how your industry and company really work, and then develop deep expertise in an area where you can become a trusted resource. He also talks about solving difficult client problems, knowing when to ask for help, and why he believes strong leadership should include collaboration, energy, and even a little fun. Bryan also shares why healthcare is personal to him and how his family’s experience with the healthcare system continues to motivate his work today. Looking ahead, Bryan believes demand for AI in healthcare call centers is ready to grow quickly. He explains why the goal should not simply be replacing people, but using AI to support employees, improve service, and help teams do higher-value work.  

What happens when the business that made you successful suddenly stops working? On this episode of the South Florida Leaders Podcast, Brian Fay sits down with entrepreneur, author, speaker, and AI consultant Ron Szpatura to talk about change, leadership, and why the best time to pivot is before you are forced to. Ron shares the story of building a successful publishing business that generated millions of dollars over two decades. Then technology and the 2008 economic downturn changed the market. Advertisers pulled back, consumers found information online, and Ron watched the business model that had worked for years begin to disappear. That difficult experience taught Ron a lesson that now guides his work: what works today may not work tomorrow. Ron explains why business owners and professionals should look ahead, identify their options, and prepare for change while things are still going well. He also shares why he believes vision is one of the most important qualities of leadership. Great leaders do not simply see things as they are. They see what they could become. Today, Ron brings that philosophy to Our Future Proof Team, where he helps businesses embrace AI and new marketing tools. He also discusses his revenue-share consulting model and why he prefers having his success connected to the results he helps clients create. Brian and Ron also explore a powerful question: Can your passion become your source of income? Ron believes finding a way to earn a living doing something you truly enjoy can completely change the way you think about work and success. The conversation also covers entrepreneurship, taking calculated risks, creating income beyond your own time and effort, investing for the future, and surrounding yourself with people who have vision. Ron is the author of Future Proof: 10 Simple Steps to Go From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. His mission is simple: inspire, educate, and help people build a better future.  

Navigating the healthcare system can feel overwhelming, especially when you or someone you love is facing a serious illness, injury, or complicated medical situation. In this episode of the South Florida Leaders Podcast, Brian Fay talks with nurse, case manager, and patient advocate Anne Llewellyn about how patients and families can take a more active role in their healthcare. Anne has been a nurse since 1978, but even with decades of healthcare experience, she discovered just how complicated the system could be when she became a patient herself. That experience helped inspire her work in patient advocacy. Anne explains how a patient advocate can help patients and families communicate with doctors, understand medical information, find the right resources, deal with insurance and billing issues, and make more informed healthcare decisions. She also discusses the growing need for advocates among “solo agers”—older adults who may live far from their children or other family members. An advocate can attend appointments, communicate with family members, research care options, and help make sure important information does not fall through the cracks. One of Anne’s biggest messages is simple: prepare for your healthcare the way you would prepare for an important business meeting. Know your medications and why you take them. Keep notes about what your doctors tell you. Know who your doctors are and make sure information is shared between them. Most importantly, stay involved and ask questions. For Anne, success is not simply solving a problem for a client. It is helping people learn how to advocate for themselves. She shares the story of a patient with a spinal cord injury who eventually learned to handle many of the healthcare issues Anne had once managed for him. Helping someone regain that sense of control is what success means to her. Anne’s goal is to help more patients, families, healthcare professionals, and employers understand the value patient advocates can bring to the healthcare journey.