What happens when you combine entrepreneurial instinct, emerging tech, and a deep understanding of how sales actually works?

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with Paul Pacun, CEO and Founder of vablet, to explore how modern sales teams can operate smarter, stay compliant, and build real trust with clients.

Paul shares the story behind the “light bulb moment” sparked by the iPad—and how that idea evolved into a powerful sales enablement platform used by global enterprises. From managing complex content to enabling offline access and ensuring compliance in highly regulated industries, vablet is redefining how sales teams show up in the field.

But this conversation goes deeper than tools.

It’s about how the best salespeople don’t sell harder—they sell smarter, using technology to remove friction and focus on what actually matters: relationships.

• How Paul turned an early tech insight into a scalable business • Why video-first selling is changing the game for modern sales teams • The importance of compliance, security, and content control in enterprise sales • How great tools eliminate friction and enable authentic client relationships • Leadership lessons on building teams—and knowing when to make tough calls • The intersection of money, purpose, and long-term impact

00:00 Introduction 01:54 Meet Paul Pacun 02:30 Entrepreneurial Origins 04:25 The iPad “Light Bulb” Moment 06:12 Building vablet 08:54 Compliance & Security 10:52 Remote Training Workflows 13:07 Sales & Relationship Building 16:06 Leadership Lessons 17:46 Health & Balance 20:19 Money Meets Purpose 21:57 Legacy & Impact 23:35 Inspiring the Next Generation 26:52 Where to Find vablet 27:32 Closing

Paul Pacun is the CEO and Founder of vablet, a leading sales enablement platform designed to help teams deliver the right content—anytime, anywhere, even offline. Trusted by global organizations across healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, vablet empowers sales teams to stay organized, compliant, and effective in every client interaction.

About the show

Beyond the Numbers is where growth-minded professionals talk strategy, legacy, and the financial decisions that shape their future. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast explores how people align business growth with personal purpose through intentional wealth-building. Chris is also President of Everett Wealth Solutions, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Illinois for fiduciary financial planning and asset management across the nation.

What does it really take to build an elite engineering team—and why is retention one of the most overlooked financial risks in business?

In this episode of Beyond The Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with John Szeder, a Fractional Chief Technology Officer and “zero-to-one” builder, to explore the intersection of engineering leadership, business performance, and long-term value creation.

From his early inspiration in online gaming to leadership roles at Zynga and beyond, John shares the real lessons behind building high-performing teams—and why keeping great talent is one of the most important financial decisions a company can make.

• What separates elite engineering teams from average ones • Why retention is a business value problem—not just HR • The “zero-to-one” mindset and building from scratch • Lessons from Zynga and live operations environments • How AI is reshaping hiring and engineering leadership • The rise of fractional CTO roles and portfolio careers • Equity, compensation, and the reality of startup incentives • Why your career is your most valuable financial asset • How to build meaningful, engaging team cultures

John Szeder is a Fractional Chief Technology Officer who works with companies like Seismic Studios and Tennex Networks, helping them build and scale elite engineering teams. Known as a “zero-to-one” expert, he specializes in taking ideas from concept to execution across industries—from gaming to startups.

He brings a unique perspective shaped by both technical and leadership experience, emphasizing retention, culture, and long-term value creation as core drivers of business success. John is also active in the Technology Executives Club, where he contributes to discussions on AI, leadership, and the future of engineering.

Beyond the Numbers is where growth-minded professionals talk strategy, legacy, and the financial decisions that shape their future. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast explores how people align business growth with personal purpose through intentional wealth-building. Chris is also President of Everett Wealth Solutions, Inc. is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of Illinois for fiduciary financial planning and asset management across the nation.

00:00 Show Intro 00:35 Meet John Szeder 02:38 Career Inflection Points 04:36 From Builder to Leader 05:35 Zynga Lessons & Live Ops 07:13 Zero to One Mindset 08:32 What Makes Teams Elite 11:04 Retention as Value 13:09 Career as Human Capital 15:29 Culture, Meaning & Joy 17:50 Leading in the AI Era 20:02 Fractional CTO Playbook 22:02 Money, Equity & Startups 24:32 Advice and Closing 28:28 Where to Find John 30:41 Final Outro

• Leadership and growth • Financial strategy for high performers • Building wealth with purpose

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, host Chris Everett sits down with Ralph Dahm, a veteran in technology, financial investigations, and executive search, to explore the growing world of crypto fraud and blockchain forensics.

Ralph began studying Bitcoin in 2013, when it was increasingly being used to bypass anti-money laundering (AML) laws and financial regulations. Since then, he has dedicated his career to tracing stolen digital assets, helping fraud victims seek justice, and educating the public about the risks of cryptocurrency scams.

During the conversation, Ralph explains how crypto fraud affects real people, why recovery is so difficult, and why only 2–5% of cases result in recovered funds. He also walks through how blockchain tracing actually works, from transaction “hops” to AI-powered forensic tools used to follow funds across wallets and exchanges.

Chris and Ralph discuss:

• How investigators trace cryptocurrency across blockchains • Why law enforcement often struggles to pursue crypto cases • The rise of romance scams, tech-support scams, and AI impersonation fraud • The global networks behind modern financial crime • The risks of Bitcoin ATMs with high fees and weak identity verification • Emerging regulations designed to protect victims • Practical steps anyone can take to avoid becoming a fraud victim

If you’ve ever wondered whether crypto is truly anonymous—or how investigators recover stolen digital assets—this episode offers an inside look at the world of blockchain forensics and financial crime investigations.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:35 Meet Ralph Dahm 02:50 Early Bitcoin Origins 04:08 Victims and Law Enforcement 06:27 Romance Scam Story 07:43 Subpoenas and Recovery 10:20 First Call With Victims 12:04 Fake Recovery Firms 13:26 Tracing on the Blockchain 14:37 AI and Old Cases 16:03 Explaining Blockchain Evidence 17:20 Working With Law Firms 17:53 AI Voice Scam Example 18:48 Justice for Scam Victims 21:07 Bitcoin ATM Fraud 23:15 Career Advice and Fraud Red Flags 25:22 Resources and Prevention Tips 28:03 Closing and Call to Action

About Ralph Dahm

Ralph Dahm is a Certified Financial Crimes Investigator (CFCI) with more than 30 years of experience in technology, financial crime investigations, and executive recruiting.

He is the Founder of Twin Oaks Holdings, President of IT Audit Search, and Executive Managing Director at Smart Ballots, where he focuses on blockchain technology, election security, and fraud investigation.

Ralph works at the intersection of blockchain forensics, cryptocurrency fraud recovery, and financial crime prevention, helping victims, law firms, and law enforcement agencies trace stolen digital assets and pursue justice.

His professional network includes 10,000+ contacts across law enforcement, blockchain, and financial crime communities, and he frequently writes and speaks about the evolving risks of crypto fraud and digital asset security.

Connect with Ralph: • https://ralphdahm.com • https://twinoakscrs.com • https://linkedin.com/in/ralphdahm

About the Podcast

Beyond the Numbers is where conversations about wealth go deeper. Hosted by fiduciary financial planner Chris Everett, the podcast brings together leaders from business, finance, law, and technology to discuss the strategies, decisions, and purpose behind building lasting wealth.

Subscribe for more conversations about wealth, leadership, and purpose.

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