What happens when you walk away from the “dream job”? In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner talks with Sarah Walton—former Nike executive turned founder of Better Meant—about how burnout, parenting, and the pursuit of freedom reshaped her definition of success.

Sarah left corporate life without a plan and ended up building a thriving company that helps others find agency, happiness, and true work-life balance. Her story is a powerful reminder that fulfillment often starts with listening to what you really want.

🔍 What you’ll get from this episode:
•What led Sarah to leave Nike with no backup plan
•The surprising start of Better Meant and her first clients
•How to reconnect with your health—mentally and physically
•Why gritty founders win (and what most get wrong)
•Her advice for anyone stuck in a job that “should” be enough
•Tools for finding purpose and designing a life you love

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⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - Meet Sarah Walton
02:10 - Quitting Nike without a plan
04:20 - What family means now
06:50 - Health, values, and energy
08:30 - The surprising birth of Better Meant
13:45 - When it stopped being “just a project”
17:15 - What freedom looks like today
20:50 - Her #1 advice to aspiring founders
22:30 - How to connect with Sarah

Learn more about Better Meant:

https://www.bettermeant.co/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bettermeant/

Instagram @bettermeant.co

Connect with Sarah:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahwaltoncoach/

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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Cindy Grabowski spent 30 years climbing the ladder in MedTech, becoming a VP of Clinical Affairs. Then—at age 56—she walked away.

In this inspiring episode of A Founder’s Life, Cindy shares why she left her high-level role to create something with deeper purpose: an e-learning platform called MindGrove, designed to help people enter the MedTech industry—no college degree required. Her story is about reinvention, authentic leadership, and defining success on your own terms.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:
•How Cindy went from temp secretary to VP in MedTech
•Why she believes formal education isn’t always the answer
•What she’s building now—and how it’s changing lives
•Her approach to balance, health, and leadership
•What aging backwards really means
•Advice for founders: Why sharing your vision is the key

📺 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to follow A Founder’s Life

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 - Cindy’s intro & blended family
02:30 - Redefining family & chosen relationships
04:00 - From secretary to MedTech leader
07:00 - Leaving corporate life to build MindGrove
10:00 - College vs. real-world education
12:00 - Her new venture and mission
15:00 - Health, aging, and wellness habits
18:00 - Running, yoga, and “motion is lotion”
21:00 - Balance, purpose & leading with intention
23:00 - Advice for entrepreneurs
24:00 - Connect with Cindy

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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Ron Green has built 9 startups. But what he shares in this episode isn’t just about business — it’s about building a life that works.

As the CTO of Kung Fu AI, Ron is deep in the AI space. But behind his professional success lies a story of personal evolution: from burnout to balance, from overwork to intentional living.

In this conversation, Ron shares:
• The real cost of “grind culture” and how it backfires
• How he balances intense work with family, health, and fun
• His philosophy on fitness, sleep, and why moderation wins
• Hard-won startup lessons from biotech to AI
• What most people get wrong about AI’s future
• Why failing forward is a strength, not a weakness

Whether you’re a founder, future entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to build a better life — this one is for you.

👇 Subscribe to A Founder’s Life for more honest, unfiltered founder stories:
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⸻

Timestamps:
00:00 – Meet Ron Green
01:00 – What Family Means to Ron
03:30 – Remote Work, Gen Z & Quality of Life
05:00 – Burnout & Diminishing Returns
07:00 – Work-Life Balance Tips
10:00 – Ron’s Health Philosophy
13:00 – The Role of Strength Training & Sleep
15:00 – Startup Journey & Biotech Breakthrough
18:00 – The AI Revolution is Faster Than You Think
22:00 – Building Kung Fu AI
24:00 – Best Advice for Founders
27:00 – Why Failure Isn’t a Stain
30:00 – Where to Find Ron

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

Subscribe Now!

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