What if one of the biggest challenges in restaurant operations isn't food cost or labor; but how employees get paid?

In this episode of the ChatGTM Podcast, Michael Beck and Chad Horn sit down with Vaughn Ackman, Co-Founder and President of Sales at DishOut, to discuss one of the most overlooked areas of restaurant operations: tip management.

Vaughn shares his journey from restaurant operator and Sysco executive to SaaS founder, and explains why DishOut was created to eliminate one of hospitality's biggest operational headaches. From automated tip calculations and digital tip distribution to compliance, transparency, and employee trust, this conversation explores how better technology can create a better experience for both operators and frontline employees.

The discussion also dives into startup lessons, restaurant culture, technology adoption, employee retention, and why taking care of your people ultimately leads to a better guest experience.

If you're a restaurant owner, operator, HR leader, finance executive, or hospitality technology professional, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

✅ Why restaurant tip management is more complicated than ever

✅ Building trust through transparency

✅ Eliminating manual spreadsheets and tip calculations

✅ Cashless tip distribution and employee safety

✅ Startup lessons from building DishOut

✅ Why restaurant technology should remove friction

✅ How great employee experiences create better guest experiences

✅ Hospitality technology trends shaping the future

Vaughn Ackman

Co-Founder & President of Sales

DishOut

🌐 https://dishout.com

The ChatGTM Podcast features conversations with the founders, executives, innovators, and operators shaping the future of hospitality, restaurant technology, AI, leadership, and go-to-market strategy.

Hosted by Michael Beck and Chad Horn, each episode delivers authentic conversations with the people building what's next.

🎙️ New episodes every week.

👍 Like this episode.

💬 Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway.

🔔 Subscribe to ChatGTM for more conversations with hospitality's top leaders.

What's the biggest operational headache your restaurant faces today and could better technology solve it?

Let us know in the comments.

#ChatGTM #VaughnAckman #DishOut #RestaurantTechnology #HospitalityTechnology #RestaurantOperations #TipManagement #RestaurantLeadership #EmployeeExperience #RestaurantInnovation #HospitalityLeadership #RestaurantSoftware #RestaurantAI #SaaS #IncTankGTM #MichaelBeck #ChadHorn

What if the greatest leadership advantage wasn't AI... but authenticity?

In this episode of the ChatGTM Podcast, Michael Beck and Chad Horn sit down with Claude Silver, the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, where she leads the people and experience strategy behind one of the world's most recognized marketing organizations.

Working alongside Gary Vaynerchuk, Claude has spent more than a decade proving that culture isn't a perk, it's a competitive advantage.

This conversation explores what happens when leaders stop managing people and start believing in them.

From emotional intelligence and psychological safety to leadership, vulnerability, accountability, and the future of work, Claude shares why the strongest organizations aren't built on fear, they're built on trust.

We also dive into her new book, Be Yourself at Work, and discuss why so many professionals are exhausted; not because of the work itself, but because they're performing a version of themselves they believe the workplace expects.

If you're a CEO, founder, manager, HR leader, or anyone responsible for building teams, this episode is a masterclass in creating cultures where people, and businesses thrive.

In This Episode

✅ What it really means to be a Chief Heart Officer

✅ Building culture inside Gary Vaynerchuk's organization

✅ Why culture is a business strategy—not an HR initiative

✅ Emotional intelligence as a leadership superpower

✅ How to create psychological safety at work

✅ Why authenticity outperforms performance

✅ Hiring for culture addition, not culture fit

✅ The importance of self-awareness in leadership

✅ Why empathy and accountability belong together

✅ Lessons from Claude's book Be Yourself at Work

Guest

Claude Silver

Chief Heart Officer | VaynerX

Author | Be Yourself at Work

🌐 https://claudesilver.com

📘 Pick up Be Yourself at Work

About ChatGTM

The ChatGTM Podcast features conversations with the founders, executives, innovators, and thought leaders transforming hospitality, retail, AI, leadership, and Go-to-Market strategy.

Hosted by Michael Beck and Chad Horn, each episode explores the people behind the brands and the ideas shaping the future of business.

🎙️ New episodes every week.

👍 Like this episode

💬 Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with extraordinary leaders.

Question for the Audience

What's one thing leaders can do today to create a workplace where people truly feel safe to be themselves?

Tell us in the comments.

#ChatGTM #ClaudeSilver #VaynerX #GaryVee #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CompanyCulture #PeopleFirst #LeadershipDevelopment #PsychologicalSafety #FutureOfWork #Authenticity #BusinessLeadership #IncTankGTM #GoToMarket

What if AI didn't replace great leaders... but made them even better?

In this episode of the ChatGTM Podcast, Michael Beck and Chad Horn sit down with Patrick Bobrukiewicz, technology leader at Thrive Restaurant Group, Google AI Influencer, and one of hospitality's most respected voices on AI and operational innovation.

While much of the conversation around AI focuses on automation and efficiency, Patrick offers a different perspective:

The future belongs to organizations that use AI to make people more human, not less.

From freeing General Managers from spreadsheets to empowering better leadership, improving employee culture, and creating more meaningful guest experiences, Patrick explains why AI should be viewed as an Iron Man suit, not a replacement for the person inside.

The discussion explores the intersection of leadership, technology, culture, and hospitality, offering practical insights for restaurant operators, franchise leaders, technology providers, and anyone preparing their organization for the future of work.

✅ Why AI should make leaders more human—not replace them

✅ Freeing General Managers from the back office

✅ Building trust in AI across restaurant operations

✅ The future of restaurant leadership

✅ Why EQ becomes more valuable in the age of AI

✅ Connecting POS, labor, guest feedback, and operational data

✅ How AI can improve culture and employee engagement

✅ The importance of designing technology around people

✅ Why frontline adoption determines AI success

✅ Creating personalized guest experiences through AI

💬 "Burn the kilowatt hours, not the man hours."

💬 "Return on Attention is becoming just as important as Return on Investment."

💬 "The companies that win in the AI era will focus on the humans first."

Patrick Bobrukiewicz

VP AI Strategy & Innovation | Thrive Restaurant Group

Google AI Influencer

Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-bobrukiewicz/

The ChatGTM Podcast features conversations with the founders, operators, executives, and innovators shaping hospitality, retail, AI, and Go-to-Market strategy.

Hosted by Michael Beck, CEO of Inc Tank GTM, and Chad Horn, each episode explores the people, ideas, and technologies transforming the industries they serve.

🎙️ New episodes every week.

👍 Like this episode

💬 Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with industry leaders.

Question for the audience:

Will AI replace great leaders...

...or give them more time to become even better leaders?

Tell us what you think in the comments.

#ChatGTM #IncTankGTM #GoToMarket #GTM #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #RestaurantTechnology #HospitalityTechnology #Leadership #RestaurantLeadership #GoogleAI #Hospitality #FutureOfWork #OperationalExcellence #RestaurantInnovation

Tim Gannon, co-founder of Outback Steakhouse, shares his entrepreneurial journey, from early sacrifices to the birth of a global brand. The conversation delves into the importance of partnerships, resilience, and strategic decision-making, culminating in the purpose of his book and reflections on his life's journey. The conversation with Tim Gannon covers a wide range of topics, from reflecting on the legacy of Norman Brinker to the symbolism of the saddle and life lessons. Tim shares insights on mentorship, early adventures, making money, the importance of partnership, scaling a brand, the role of flavor and branding, dreaming big, embracing failure, and the power of branding and naming. Throughout the conversation, the theme of entrepreneurship, adventure, and resilience shines through, offering valuable takeaways for listeners.

Takeaways

• Importance of strategic decision-making
• The value of strong partnerships The importance of mentorship and early adventures
• Embracing failure and dreaming big

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey Begins
• 01:56 The Saddle and the Sacrifice
• 03:16 The Decision to Build
• 06:20 Early Ventures and Lessons
• 08:38 The Importance of Partnerships
• 13:17 Resilience and Perseverance
• 15:38 The Birth of Outback
• 21:14 The Purpose of the Book
• 25:19 Reflections and Lessons Learned
• 26:45 The Legacy of Norman Brinker
• 27:15 Reflecting on Mentorship and Early Adventures
• 28:11 The Motorcycle Journey and Lessons Learned
• 30:06 Making Money and Taking Control
• 31:22 The Importance of Partnership and Staying in Your Lane
• 40:33 Scaling the Outback Brand and Protecting Culture
• 48:47 The Role of Flavor and Branding
• 45:20 Dreaming Big and Embracing Failure
• 46:58 The Symbolism of the Saddle and Life Lessons
• 49:27 The Guardians of Flavor and Legacy
• 51:23 The Power of Branding and Naming
• 52:14 Dreaming Big and Never Giving Up

Why do great teams stop speaking up?

According to Erika Till, it isn't because they stop caring. It's because they stop believing anyone is listening.

In this episode of ChatGTM, hosts Michael Beck and Chad Horn welcome Erika Till, Founder of Rise Light Co., for a conversation about leadership, trust, communication, and the culture every organization says it wants but few know how to build.

Drawing from years spent helping technology companies scale, Erika explains why employee experience ultimately defines customer experience, how communication breaks down as companies grow, and why leaders must create environments where people feel safe enough to challenge ideas, share feedback, and contribute to the vision.

This conversation explores:

✔ Why great teams eventually go silent
✔ Why employee experience drives customer experience
✔ The hidden cost of toxic high performers
✔ Why culture isn't pizza parties or perks
✔ Building trust through better leadership
✔ The disconnect between sales, operations, and executive leadership
✔ The power of asking better questions
✔ How founders can build organizations people genuinely believe in

Whether you're a founder, CEO, operator, sales leader, HR executive, or fractional leader, this episode offers practical leadership lessons that apply to every growing organization.

Erika Till
Founder, Rise Light Co.

Connect with Erika on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikatill/

ChatGTM is the podcast where hospitality, retail, SaaS, and Go-to-Market leaders share the ideas, strategies, and stories shaping the future of business.

Hosted by Michael Beck, CEO of Inc Tank GTM, and Chad Horn, each episode features candid conversations with founders, executives, innovators, operators, and thought leaders helping organizations grow smarter.

If you're passionate about:

• Go-to-Market Strategy
• Fractional Leadership
• Hospitality Technology
• Restaurant Technology
• Revenue Growth
• AI
• Leadership
• Company Culture
• Customer Experience

...you're in the right place.

👍 Like the episode
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments
🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week

Connect with ChatGTM & Inc Tank GTM

🌐 https://www.inctankgtm.com

Follow Michael Beck:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbeck/

Follow Chad Horn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-horn/

#ChatGTM #IncTankGTM #GoToMarket #GTM #FractionalLeadership #Leadership #CompanyCulture #EmployeeExperience #CustomerExperience #RevOps #HospitalityTechnology #RestaurantTechnology #ExecutiveLeadership #Founders #B2BSaaS

What do professional baseball, restaurant technology, AI, and sales leadership have in common?

More than you might think.

In this episode of ChatGTM, hosts Michael Beck and Chad Horn sit down with Erik Wetzel, Vice President of Sales at Buyers Edge Platform, to explore the leadership principles that separate good sales organizations from great ones.

Erik's journey began on the baseball field, where he learned that championships aren't won by swinging for home runs. They're built through consistency, discipline, resilience, and showing up every single day. Today, he brings those same lessons to one of hospitality's fastest-growing organizations, helping restaurant operators solve complex challenges while leading high-performing sales teams across the Buyers Edge Platform ecosystem.

The conversation explores why discovery wins deals, how AI is transforming sales without replacing human leadership, why rejection is a necessary ingredient for growth, and what it really means to build a culture where people thrive.

Whether you lead a sales team, run a restaurant, build technology, or simply want to become a better leader, this episode is packed with practical insights you can put to work immediately.

• Erik's transition from professional baseball to sales leadership
• Why consistency always beats chasing home runs
• The leadership philosophy behind Buyers Edge Platform
• Building trust with restaurant operators
• Why discovery is the foundation of every successful sale
• How great leaders motivate instead of intimidate
• AI's role in the future of sales organizations
• Lessons from John Davie's growth strategy
• Creating resilient sales teams
• Why culture always outperforms fear

If you're building, scaling, or leading a go-to-market organization, this conversation belongs on your playlist.

🎙 Guest
Erik Wetzel
Vice President of Sales
Buyers Edge Platform

Learn more:
https://www.buyersedgeplatform.com

Connect with Erik:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-w-286454230/

Subscribe for more conversations with the executives, founders, operators, and innovators shaping the future of hospitality and restaurant technology.

👍 Like
💬 Comment
🔔 Subscribe

#ChatGTM #SalesLeadership #HospitalityTechnology #RestaurantTechnology #BuyersEdgePlatform #Leadership #RevOps #GoToMarket #ArtificialIntelligence #Hospitality

Everyone is talking about AI.

Almost nobody agrees on what an AI agent actually is.

In this episode of ChatGTM, Michael Beck and Chad Horn sit down with Sterling Douglass, Co-Founder & CEO of Chowly, for a conversation that cuts through the hype and focuses on what AI is actually doing inside real businesses today.

Sterling explains the difference between AI workflows and AI agents, why most companies are implementing AI incorrectly, and how Chowly is using AI to help restaurant operators drive more revenue through marketing, online ordering, SEO, Google Ads, and customer engagement. Rather than chasing flashy demos, Sterling shares what it takes to build AI systems that deliver measurable business outcomes.

The conversation also explores Claude Code, prompt engineering, leadership during technological change, AI adoption inside organizations, and why critical thinking has become even more valuable in an AI-first world.

If you're a restaurant operator, founder, technology leader, marketer, or simply trying to understand where AI is headed, this episode is packed with practical insights you can put to work immediately.

In This Episode

• What an AI agent actually is
• AI workflows vs. AI agents
• Why most AI projects fail
• Claude Code and "vibe coding"
• How Chowly is embedding AI into restaurant marketing
• Building products that create measurable outcomes
• AI adoption inside growing companies
• Leadership during rapid technological change
• The future of restaurant technology
• Why critical thinking matters more than ever

About Sterling Douglass

Sterling Douglass is the Co-Founder & CEO of Chowly, a restaurant technology company serving more than 17,000 restaurant locations across the United States. Since founding Chowly in 2015, Sterling has helped transform the company from a POS integration platform into an AI-powered digital commerce and marketing platform focused on helping restaurants grow revenue through online ordering, SEO, Google Ads, loyalty, and guest engagement.

Sterling is also the co-host of the AI for Restaurants podcast alongside Aaron Newton, where they explore practical AI implementation, automation, and the future of restaurant technology without the hype.

Connect with Sterling

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterlingddouglass/

Learn more about Chowly
https://www.chowly.com

Listen to AI for Restaurants
https://aiforrestaurants.ai

About ChatGTM

ChatGTM brings together founders, operators, investors, technologists, and industry leaders who are building the future of hospitality, retail, AI, and go-to-market strategy. Hosted by Michael Beck and Chad Horn.

Follow the ChatGTM Podcast:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/chatgtm-podcast

If you enjoyed this episode:

👍 Like

💬 Leave a comment

🔔 Subscribe

#ChatGTM #SterlingDouglass #Chowly #AIForRestaurants #AIAgents #ArtificialIntelligence #ClaudeAI #Anthropic #RestaurantTechnology #RestaurantMarketing #RestaurantLeadership #HospitalityTechnology #OnlineOrdering #DigitalMarketing #Innovation #Leadership

What if the biggest competitive advantage in your business isn't your technology...

It's your people.

In this episode of ChatGTM, Michael Beck and Chad Horn sit down with Jazmine Charles, Head of People & Partnerships at Disrupt Foods, for a conversation about leadership, culture, AI, and why the best restaurant organizations invest in people before they invest in anything else.

After spending more than 15 years leading sales for Fortune 100 companies, Jazmine now helps shape the culture behind one of the fastest-growing multi-brand restaurant organizations. Her philosophy is simple: build great people, and great businesses follow.

Together they explore why "People Operations" is replacing traditional HR, how AI can empower leaders instead of replacing them, and why every operator should think differently about hiring, onboarding, retention, and leadership.

If you're a restaurant operator, franchisee, hospitality executive, HR leader, or anyone responsible for building high-performing teams, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can put to work immediately.

• Why Disrupt Foods believes in an "Aces Only" culture

• You can't scale a culture you haven't defined

• Building leaders instead of just managing employees

• Using AI to make better operational decisions

• Why data should support people—not replace them

• Creating an employee experience people don't want to leave

• The Disrupt Business Academy and developing tomorrow's entrepreneurs

• Why community impact is part of great leadership

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazminecharles/

Learn more about Disrupt Foods:
https://www.disruptfoods.com (Update with official website if different.)

🎙️ Follow ChatGTM on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/chatgtm-podcast

New conversations every week with the leaders shaping restaurant technology, hospitality, AI, operations, customer experience, and the future of business.

If you enjoyed this episode:

👍 Like

💬 Comment

🔔 Subscribe

📤 Share it with someone building great teams.

00:00 Introduction

02:20 Meet Jazmine Charles

06:30 Why People Operations Matters

14:30 Building an "Aces Only" Culture

22:00 AI That Helps People Lead Better

31:00 Community, Leadership & Disrupt Business Academy

44:15 Rapid Fire

52:00 Final Thoughts

#ChatGTM #RestaurantTechnology #HospitalityTechnology #Leadership #PeopleOperations #CompanyCulture #RestaurantLeadership #EmployeeExperience #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #Hospitality #DisruptFoods