Bill Himmelstein is the Founder and CEO of Tenant Advisory Group, a commercial real estate brokerage for tenants and buyers. With more than two decades of experience in representing tenants, he has led Tenant Advisory Group to complete over $1 billion in transactions for clients ranging from professional service firms to technology companies. Bill is also a Certified Commercial Investment Manager.

Entrepreneurial journeys often begin at moments of uncertainty, shaped as much by values as by timing. Leaders must decide whether to follow conventional paths or design businesses around principles that prioritize people, relationships, and long-term trust. How can you make sound business decisions amid economic pressure and market changes?

According to commercial real estate expert Bill Himmelstein, building a durable business requires clarity of purpose, discipline in execution, and a willingness to learn quickly from mistakes. Focusing on client outcomes, delegating to the right people, and nurturing strong mentor relationships can unlock sustainable growth. Bill recommends keeping professional relationships at the center of decision-making.

In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett chats with Bill Himmelstein, Founder and CEO of Tenant Advisory Group, about building a values-driven business amid uncertainty. Bill talks about starting a company during the 2008 crisis, why relationships will outlast AI in commercial real estate, and how sale-leaseback strategies can fuel business growth.

Susan Kearney is the Managing Director, Board Member, and Partner at Newport LLC, a business advisory firm helping middle-market companies grow and exit. Before Newport, she was the COO of Network for Good, where she achieved 40% annual recurring revenue growth, and the Co-founder of Voxant, a digital media company acquired by Blinkx. Susan also held executive positions at Paragren Technologies and IRI Software.

Heather Bennett is the Managing Director and Partner at Newport LLC, where she advises CEOs and business owners on brand marketing, revenue growth, and leadership development. With over 20 years of experience, she has led P&L management for brands with over $100 million in revenue and driven innovation at companies like Kraft Heinz Company, Instant Brands, and Unilever. Heather is also the author of the Amazon bestseller Fun and Fulfilling Careers One Question at a Time and serves on the boards of the Foundation for Hearing & Speech Resources and Slipstream.

Strong leadership isn't just about strategy; it's about people, perspective, and personal growth. As companies scale and evolve, leaders are challenged to balance vision with execution while staying grounded in what matters. What does it take to lead effectively through growth, uncertainty, and change?

Leaders must make intentional choices and develop continuous self-awareness. Eric Brown recommends starting by intentionally hiring people who complement your weaknesses while staying engaged enough to value their work. Danguole Altman emphasizes choosing partners with aligned vision and values before moving forward, urging leaders to pause and confirm mutual understanding. Matt Vuckov suggests setting a clear vision, energizing your team around it, and then stepping back so they can execute without micromanagement. Jody Jankovsky encourages leaders to identify areas of unconscious incompetence and actively invest in continuing education to move up the competence ladder. As Lisa Mascolo observes, leaders should model consistency and empathy at all times, reinforcing trust by communicating the same values whether doors are open or closed.

In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney and Heather Bennett look back on their most insightful episodes. Featuring Eric Brown, Danguole Altman, Matt Vuckov, Jody Jankovsky, and Lisa Mascolo, they discuss valuing people and complementary leadership, aligning vision with partners and teams, and building consistent, empathetic leadership practices that support long-term growth and exits.

Mark Bealin is the Founder and CEO of SearchLab, a digital marketing agency specializing in local SEO and paid search. Under his leadership, the company was awarded Microsoft Advertising's 2022 Global Emerging Partner of the Year Award and appeared on the Inc. 5000 list. With over a decade of experience as a search marketer, Mark specializes in SEO, paid search, analytics, and entrepreneurship.

Founders often reach a point where growth feels both exhilarating and overwhelming; profitability is visible, but the path forward is uncertain. Markets shift, teams expand, and the skills that got the business started no longer guarantee what comes next. How can leaders evolve without losing momentum?

Digital marketing leader Mark Bealin focuses on perspective and discipline. He emphasizes shifting from doing the work to building the system, hiring people who've already achieved the next stage of growth, and grounding decisions in customer needs rather than tactics. Mark also recommends embracing uncomfortable skills and adopting long-term thinking over daily perfection to build resilience and clarity.

In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett chats with Mark Bealin, Founder and CEO of SearchLab, about scaling a marketing agency by evolving as a leader. Mark discusses shifting from operator to owner, using thought leadership and hiring to accelerate growth, and applying customer-first thinking to navigate AI-driven change.