When Scott Jackson says his role as CEO of Global Impact is to be a 'follower of leaders,' he challenges conventional thinking about executive leadership. In our conversation, he explains how this counterintuitive approach—empowering others while providing crucial behind-the-scenes support—has helped his organization channel over $2.5 billion to global causes. Scott's practical insights on trust-building and strategic empowerment offer a compelling leadership model for CEOs grappling with how to scale impact while developing their teams.

About Scott Jackson

Scott Jackson is the President and CEO of Global Impact. He also leads Global Impact Ventures, a family of mission-driven organizations, including Global Impact, Geneva Global, Capital for Good, GI Social Welfare Fund, and Global Impact's international affiliates. Jackson is a global philanthropy, fundraising, communications, and marketing veteran with over 25 years of experience. He oversees advisory and infrastructure services and provides leadership, direction, and oversight for Global Impact, which has raised nearly $2.5 billion with our partners for global causes. Jackson is the author of the 2017 book “Take Me With You,” which was rereleased with new content in 2021. Previously, he served as Vice President for External Relations at PATH, as Senior Vice President of World Vision US, and as President of APCO Seattle. Jackson received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Edinburgh. He also holds a bachelor’s degree and an honorary doctorate from the University of Puget Sound.

In this commentary, Deborah Fell examines the psychology of entrepreneurship, drawing from her conversation with Net at Work Co-Founder and Co-CEO Eddie Solomon. Through stories of infrastructure pioneers, transformational leaders, and second-generation successors, she reveals how true entrepreneurs share an unshakeable mindset – they may pivot, but failure is never an option.

Listen to the full episode here.

Eddie Solomon - Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Eddie has over two decades of entrepreneurial experience in the technology and services industry. In 1996, Edward co-founded Net at Work, offering a service-oriented approach to IT and network support. As an owner of an emerging business, Edward completely understands the value of executive-level involvement- and its contribution to a project’s ultimate success- from the earliest planning stages through completion and beyond.

Additionally, Eddie has co-founded several start-ups, including Docutrend Imaging Solutions, a managed provider of office equipment and print management services; Cloud at Work, a hosting services provider; Pixafy, an eCommerce agency recently acquired by Kensium, LLC. with a focus on integration to ERP, and Swype Payments, a payment processing provider acquired in 2021 by FortisPay. Eddie serves on the board for Young Jewish Professionals (YJP), a not-for-profit organization focused on providing business, educational, and mentoring opportunities for the new generation of Jewish business leaders.

In 2021, Edward was named to the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.

Before starting Net at Work, Edward worked in commercial and investment banking for Republic National Bank and NatWest Markets, where he managed accounting for real-estate properties and restructured Chart of Accounts, respectively. Edward received his MBA in Finance from Baruch College, NY.

Company Overview

Net at Work is a well-established IT service provider based with offices in the United States, Canada, and India specializing in software solutions and services for small and medium-sized businesses. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in New York City, the company has grown to over 450 remote-based, full-time employees. Net at Work’s core offerings include software sales, implementation, managed services, fractional CIO, and hosting services for ERP, CRM, HRMS, and e-commerce solutions.

Net at Work serves a diverse North American client base exceeding 6,000 customers across various industries such as service, distribution, manufacturing, retail, software, technology, healthcare, not-for-profit, and construction. Providing a strong portfolio of value-added professional and managed services, Net at Work partners with industry-recognized software publishers like Sage, Oracle NetSuite, Acumatica, Creatio, and Rippling to provide comprehensive business management solutions. In addition to its primary services, the company offers IT-managed services and private hosted cloud services through its sister company, Cloud at Work and a strong alliance program that includes Sage 100/300 ERP resellers and over 300 managed service providers. Net at Work’s technology solutions, deep business expertise, and strategic partner network together provide highly adaptable and scalable solutions that empower clients to optimize performance and drive growth.

In this episode, we sit down with Eddie Solomon, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Net at Work, a technology services company he started with his brother in 1996. From their humble beginnings as Russian-Ukrainian immigrants in Brooklyn to building a thriving enterprise serving over 5,000 businesses, Eddie shares insights about true entrepreneurship versus business ownership, the delicate balance of working with family, and how to maintain an innovative spirit while scaling. Eddie shares his fascinating perspectives on creating a culture of "intrapreneurship" and the importance of meeting both clients and employees where they are. This conversation offers valuable lessons for business leaders at any stage of their journey.

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Eddie has over two decades of entrepreneurial experience in the technology and services industry. In 1996, Edward co-founded Net at Work, offering a service-oriented approach to IT and network support. As an owner of an emerging business, Edward completely understands the value of executive-level involvement- and its contribution to a project’s ultimate success- from the earliest planning stages through completion and beyond.

Additionally, Eddie has co-founded several start-ups, including Docutrend Imaging Solutions, a managed provider of office equipment and print management services; Cloud at Work, a hosting services provider; Pixafy, an eCommerce agency recently acquired by Kensium, LLC. with a focus on integration to ERP, and Swype Payments, a payment processing provider acquired in 2021 by FortisPay. Eddie serves on the board for Young Jewish Professionals (YJP), a not-for-profit organization focused on providing business, educational, and mentoring opportunities for the new generation of Jewish business leaders.

In 2021, Edward was named to the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.

Before starting Net at Work, Edward worked in commercial and investment banking for Republic National Bank and NatWest Markets, where he managed accounting for real-estate properties and restructured Chart of Accounts, respectively. Edward received his MBA in Finance from Baruch College, NY.

Company Overview

Net at Work is a well-established IT service provider based with offices in the United States, Canada, and India specializing in software solutions and services for small and medium-sized businesses. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in New York City, the company has grown to over 450 remote-based, full-time employees. Net at Work’s core offerings include software sales, implementation, managed services, fractional CIO, and hosting services for ERP, CRM, HRMS, and e-commerce solutions.

Net at Work serves a diverse North American client base exceeding 6,000 customers across various industries such as service, distribution, manufacturing, retail, software, technology, healthcare, not-for-profit, and construction. Providing a strong portfolio of value-added professional and managed services, Net at Work partners with industry-recognized software publishers like Sage, Oracle NetSuite, Acumatica, Creatio, and Rippling to provide comprehensive business management solutions. In addition to its primary services, the company offers IT-managed services and private hosted cloud services through its sister company, Cloud at Work and a strong alliance program that includes Sage 100/300 ERP resellers and over 300 managed service providers. Net at Work’s technology solutions, deep business expertise, and strategic partner network together provide highly adaptable and scalable solutions that empower clients to optimize performance and drive growth.

A lot of CEOs talk about humility, but it's rare to meet one who truly embodies it. Last week, I spoke with Ray Hatch, CEO of Quest Resources Holding Corporation, and what struck me most wasn't his impressive track record - it was his genuine humility in action. His philosophy that "I have limitations and I don't want my limitations to be the limitation of the company" speaks volumes about his leadership approach. Today, I'll share some key insights from our conversation about humble leadership, risk-taking, and the courage to keep learning even after decades of success.

About Deborah's Guest:

Ray Hatch, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director at Quest Resource Holding Corporation Ray is a senior executive with in-depth experience building profitable businesses and orchestrating transformational growth. He brings over 25 years of experience in the waste management and food services industries. He has managed businesses and/or business units with more than one billion dollars in revenue. Previously, Ray served as President of Merchants Market Group, an international food service distribution company. Ray also served in various executive roles with Oakleaf Waste Management, a provider of waste outsourcing that was acquired by Waste Management.

Links from this episode:

Ray Hatch on LinkedIn

GRHC

Full episode with Ray Hatch

Trust versus faith — it's a distinction that Ray Hatch, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Quest Resource Holding Corporation, explores with a refreshing candor in this conversation with Deborah Fell. Drawing from his unique journey from food distribution to waste management and lessons learned as a basketball coach's son, Ray shares how he transformed a struggling public company by cutting revenue in half while growing profits - a move that required more than just trust from his team and board; it demanded faith.

Ray and Deborah tackle the formidable challenge of building a team that can scale a company from $300 million to potentially billions. It’s not just about hiring smart people - it's about finding those who can see "the art of the possible" and aren't afraid to think beyond current limitations.

As Ray puts it, with a characteristic blend of humility and conviction, "I have limitations. I don't want those limitations to be my company's limitations." It's this kind of straight-shooting wisdom, wrapped in authentic leadership experience, that makes this episode a compelling exploration of what it takes to build and lead high-performing teams in today's complex business environment.

About Deborah's Guest:

Ray Hatch, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director at Quest Resource Holding Corporation Ray is a senior executive with in-depth experience building profitable businesses and orchestrating transformational growth. He brings over 25 years of experience in the waste management and food services industries. He has managed businesses and/or business units with more than one billion dollars in revenue. Previously, Ray served as President of Merchants Market Group, an international food service distribution company. Ray also served in various executive roles with Oakleaf Waste Management, a provider of waste outsourcing that was acquired by Waste Management.

Links from this episode:

Ray Hatch on LinkedIn

GRHC

In healthcare, some of the most impactful organizations work quietly behind the scenes, touching countless lives without widespread recognition. MTF Biologics, led by CEO Joe Yaccarino, is one such organization. Their work in tissue donation and medical biologics represents a profound cycle of hope - where end-of-life decisions become new beginnings for others. As someone who has witnessed the fragility of health through my late husband's battle with MS, I deeply appreciate how medical innovations can transform lives. But today's story isn't about personal loss - it's about an organization that bridges tragedy and hope, connecting donor families' selfless decisions with surgical teams delivering life-changing outcomes. From the engineers developing cutting-edge processes to the recipients gaining renewed possibilities, MTF Biologics demonstrates how healthcare innovation can honor one life while healing another. Join us as we explore their remarkable mission and impact.

Listen to the full episode here >

About Joe Yaccarino

Joe has served as CEO of MTF Biologics since June 2018. He received the Leadership Award for Large Businesses in NJ Top Workplaces in 2020 and 2022, and his organization has been named a New Jersey Top Workplace for five years running. Joe joined MTF in 1997 as its first processing engineer, developing several spinal surgery innovations that led to significant growth for the organization.

Joe's accomplishments include leading teams through more than 45 successful new product launches and creating innovative technologies for cartilage, dermal, adipose, amniotic, and cell-based tissues. In his CEO role, Joe has focused on building high-performing Business Units and developing Key Strategies to further MTF’s growth and fulfill its mission to save and Heal Lives.

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:

Joe Yaccarino on LinkedIn

MTF Biologics

MTF Biologics

MTF Biologics is a nonprofit organization headquartered in central New Jersey with a 37-year history of advancing tissue and organ donation. Employing over 1,400 people, MTF Biologics has honored the incredible gifts of more than 165,000 donors while processing over 11 million tissue grafts to save and heal lives worldwide. The organization partners with medical professionals to deliver high-quality, safe, and innovative tissue for transplant, helping patients recover from injury and illness. MTF Biologics also supports research efforts aimed at improving the science of tissue transplantation. Their commitment to donor families and recipients drives their mission of transforming lives, offering hope and healing through the profound gift of donation. Through these efforts, MTF Biologics touches millions of lives each year. Learn more about their mission at mtfbiologics.org.

In healthcare innovation, success isn't just about breakthrough technology or market leadership - sometimes, it requires heroes at every level. Today's conversation with Joe Yaccarino, CEO of MTF Biologics, reveals how one of the world's largest tissue banks has built an organization where heroic acts happen daily - from donor families making selfless decisions in moments of tragedy to engineers developing cutting-edge processes to surgical teams delivering life-changing outcomes.

What makes this discussion particularly valuable for leaders is how Yaccarino, an engineer by training, has scaled MTF Biologics from 100 to 1,400 people by recognizing and empowering heroes throughout his organization. His journey from building medical devices to leading a major healthcare nonprofit demonstrates how to create a culture where every role - from shipping and logistics to R&D and surgical partnerships - is mission-critical and treated as such.

Join host Deborah Fell as she and Yaccarino explore how to build an organization where excellence isn't just expected, it's required at every level - and how this approach has helped MTF Biologics perform over 500,000 transplants annually while staying ahead of market disruption and maintaining a significant mission that saves and heals lives.

About Joe Yaccarino

Joe has served as CEO of MTF Biologics since June 2018. He received the Leadership Award for Large Businesses in NJ Top Workplaces in 2020 and 2022, and his organization has been named a New Jersey Top Workplace for five years running. Joe joined MTF in 1997 as its first processing engineer, developing several spinal surgery innovations that led to significant growth for the organization.

Joe's accomplishments include leading teams through more than 45 successful new product launches and creating innovative technologies for cartilage, dermal, adipose, amniotic, and cell-based tissues. In his CEO role, Joe has focused on building high-performing Business Units and developing Key Strategies to further MTF’s growth and fulfill its mission to save and Heal Lives.

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:

Joe Yaccarino on LinkedIn

MTF Biologics

MTF Biologics

MTF Biologics is a nonprofit organization headquartered in central New Jersey with a 37-year history of advancing tissue and organ donation. Employing over 1,400 people, MTF Biologics has honored the incredible gifts of more than 165,000 donors while processing over 11 million tissue grafts to save and heal lives worldwide. The organization partners with medical professionals to deliver high-quality, safe, and innovative tissue for transplant, helping patients recover from injury and illness. MTF Biologics also supports research efforts aimed at improving the science of tissue transplantation. Their commitment to donor families and recipients drives their mission of transforming lives, offering hope and healing through the profound gift of donation. Through these efforts, MTF Biologics touches millions of lives each year. Learn more about their mission at mtfbiologics.org.

Deborah Fell reflects on her powerful conversation with Jeff Ostenso, CEO of Ironmark, and her chance encounter with another second-generation CEO during an extended train delay. These interactions highlight a crucial reality: family-owned businesses form the backbone of the American economy, representing 87% of U.S. businesses and employing 60% of American workers. From Jeff's transparent leadership style to his profound realization at a company picnic that Ironmark supports 500 family members, these insights reveal how second-generation leaders are transforming their family legacies while prioritizing employee growth. Join us for this commentary on Episode 81, where we explore the quiet but mighty impact of family-owned businesses in America.

Listen to the full episode, EP81, with Jeff Ostenso.