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Steve Maher is a technology executive, entrepreneur, investor, and CEO with nearly 30 years of experience building and scaling enterprise software companies. Throughout his career, he has helped grow multiple SaaS businesses through acquisitions and public offerings, including a company that achieved a $5.5 billion IPO. Beyond business, Steve is the co-founder of The Maher Foundation and AutismHelp.ai, organizations dedicated to helping families navigate the growing challenges associated with autism and neurodiversity.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The mindset required to scale companies and create long-term wealth
• Why networking becomes more valuable as your career advances
• The difference between public market investing and private market opportunities
• Building meaningful relationships with high-net-worth individuals
• The personal story behind The Maher Foundation and AutismHelp.ai
• How autism is impacting millions of families across America
• The future role of AI in business, sales, and entrepreneurship
• Redefining legacy through impact rather than personal recognition

About the Podcast

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and high-performing men building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the lessons, principles, and experiences that help successful men create meaningful impact in business, family, and life.

Timestamps

00:00 The moment Steve's life changed forever
01:07 Introduction to Steve Maher
01:47 Building and scaling enterprise software companies
02:42 Why Steve created The Maher Foundation
03:21 Discovering his son's autism diagnosis
05:05 The $5.5 billion IPO and unexpected success
06:08 The autism services cliff facing families
07:36 Building a foundation that creates lasting impact
09:31 Wealth management, philanthropy, and legacy
12:17 How The Maher Foundation evolved over time
15:29 Creating AutismHelp.ai
18:36 Using AI to simplify autism support services
23:12 The biggest challenges families face today
27:32 Philanthropy as a wealth-building strategy
30:34 Why successful people should consider giving back
31:00 How philanthropy builds powerful networks
34:01 The hidden networking advantages of charitable work
38:38 The realities of raising a child with severe autism
44:09 Stories from families impacted by AutismHelp.ai
48:16 Why the autism crisis is growing
53:35 Advice for parents raising children with autism
56:11 Building wealth and creating opportunities
57:18 The four pillars of success
01:00:14 Why AI is changing every industry
01:03:02 How AI is transforming sales and business
01:06:33 Hard work versus networking
01:08:19 How the ultra-wealthy think about investing
01:10:46 Accessing private market opportunities
01:14:38 Why Steve joined The Standard
01:16:14 Redefining legacy through impact
01:18:12 Final thoughts and AutismHelp.ai

About The Standard

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

Learn more:
https://thestandardmen.com

Join The Standard: Thestandardmen.com

Gary Mizell is the founder of Kore Systems, a systems integration company specializing in mission-critical infrastructure for the federal government, municipalities, pharmaceutical compounding facilities, and data centers. Over the last 18 years, he has grown the company into a multi-million-dollar operation generating approximately $6 million in annual revenue while leading a team of 15 employees. In addition to his legacy business, Gary is also a partner in a new data center venture and has worked on major international infrastructure projects involving nuclear nonproliferation with the Department of Energy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Building a $6M infrastructure company from the ground up
• The transition from employee to entrepreneur and knowing when to take the leap
• Why relationships and integrity are the foundation of long-term business success
• The hidden cost of hustle culture on family, health, and emotional wellbeing
• Leadership lessons from scaling a company without burning out
• How emotional health directly impacts decision making and business performance
• The role of meditation, breathwork, and self-awareness in entrepreneurship
• Creating a legacy that extends beyond money and professional success

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and high-performing men building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the mindset, discipline, and strategies required to grow successful businesses while navigating responsibility, family, faith, and long-term impact.

Timestamps

00:00 The cost of hustle culture and burnout
01:07 Introduction to Gary Mizell
01:42 Building Core Systems and mission-critical infrastructure
03:02 Launching a new data center venture
03:20 Growing a $6M company over 18 years
04:22 Learning the trades and discovering entrepreneurship
07:14 Why skilled trades are making a comeback
09:23 Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur
11:17 Choosing independence over security
14:54 Working internationally on nuclear nonproliferation projects
17:53 Balancing entrepreneurship and family life
18:20 When Gary’s daughter told him, “Dad, you look dead”
20:06 Replacing yourself as the bottleneck in business
22:03 Creating meaningful memories with family
26:01 The challenges of entrepreneurship and fatherhood
30:47 Why long-term client relationships matter
36:44 Integrity, trust, and difficult business relationships
44:17 The power of referrals and strategic partnerships
46:15 Why hustle culture eventually breaks people down
49:02 Why Gary joined The Standard
53:54 How emotional health impacts business performance
59:24 Meditation, breathwork, and managing stress
01:03:23 Aligning family vision, business, and personal growth
01:07:01 “All my dreams have come true”
01:08:07 Building a retreat center focused on healing and leadership
01:10:56 Defining legacy beyond money and success

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

Join The Standard: thestandardmen.com

David President is a Vice President of Sales and the owner of Suit Sharks, where he oversees a portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts across the U.S. and internationally. With over 20 years in hospitality, he has risen from entry-level roles to executive leadership, managing multi-million dollar revenue streams and large-scale teams. In addition to his corporate career, he is an entrepreneur behind a custom menswear brand and has built a growing real estate portfolio alongside his wife.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How to strategically balance a high-level corporate career with entrepreneurship
• The real economics behind hotels, occupancy, and cash flow
• Why leaving your job too early can be a costly mistake
• Building wealth through real estate, tax strategy, and long-term thinking
• Turning adversity into discipline and resilience
• The role of structure, routine, and systems in managing multiple income streams
• How identity, presentation, and first impressions impact success
• The importance of faith, brotherhood, and emotional growth in a high-performing life

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and high-performing men building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the mindset, discipline, and strategies required to grow successful businesses while navigating responsibility, family, and long-term impact.

Timestamps

00:00 How real estate creates multiple streams of income
00:54 Introduction to David President
02:00 Career as VP of Sales and Marketing in hospitality
04:00 Growing up in adversity and being raised by grandparents
08:00 Lessons on love, discipline, and faith from childhood
12:30 Starting in hospitality and climbing the corporate ladder
17:00 Moving into leadership roles and career growth
22:00 Managing large teams, budgets, and hotel revenue
25:00 How hotels actually make money
27:30 Why lower-end hotels can outperform luxury properties
30:00 Revenue strategies, marketing, and occupancy rates
34:00 Building business systems and managing multiple income streams
36:30 Why keeping your W2 can accelerate wealth building
38:00 Creating structure and routines for high performance
41:00 Growing a tailoring business with minimal overhead
45:00 Real estate investing strategy and tax advantages
50:00 The power of presentation and first impressions
54:00 Style, identity, and building confidence through appearance
58:00 Finding brotherhood and joining The Standard
01:00:00 Emotional growth and confronting past trauma
01:02:00 Faith, discipline, and daily practices
01:04:00 Taking risks and stepping out on faith
01:08:00 Defining legacy and long-term impact

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

To apply go to: thestandardmen.com