What if the answer to solving one of the world’s biggest crises wasn’t charity, but better business?

In this episode of The Uptick, Matt Hangen, CEO of Water4, shares his remarkable journey from a rural Alabama upbringing to becoming a pioneering social entrepreneur tackling Africa's water crisis. Listen in to learn how he revolutionized the traditional nonprofit model by creating a sustainable business approach that treats communities as customers rather than charity recipients.

His groundbreaking work has evolved into a hybrid financing model that blends grants with debt financing, creating over 1,300 jobs and completing more than 20,000 clean water projects. With ambitious goals to reach nearly a billion people in rural Africa by 2050, Matt reveals the secret to how entrepreneurship can be a powerful vehicle for addressing global humanitarian challenges while restoring dignity and economic opportunity to underserved communities.

About the guest: As CEO, Matt designed and led Water4 through a massive transition in operational strategy and scale, set a new long-term vision, led an organizational rebranding, navigated multinational acquisitions and saw a doubling of the organization’s revenue in his first four years of leadership. Matt is passionate about championing people who are overlooked and helping maximize unrealized potential.

Episode highlights:

• Charity as startup capital, not perpetual capital: Discover how to merge profit with purpose, creating sustainable businesses that solve big problems while providing employment and economic growth.
• Challenges and pivots: Get hard-won tips for overcoming difficulties in scaling operations, changing mindsets and professionalizing businesses.
• Entrepreneurship as a tool for global impact: Learn about the importance of understanding customer needs, humanizing business relationships and the role of entrepreneurship in solving global problems.

Want to learn more about our guest?

• Check out Water4 online
• Follow them on Instagram

If you liked this episode:

• See it in action on YouTube
• You can also find us on Apple
• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
• Visit The Uptick blog

Catch new episodes of The Uptick Podcast every Tuesday.

Credits:

The Uptick is sponsored by Global Payments: helping businesses move faster, sell smarter and scale stronger. From the start-ups to the been-there-done-thats, our commerce platform helps millions of businesses around the world stay ahead, knowing we spent yesterday thinking of what customers need tomorrow. Because if it has anything to do with commerce, we’re already on it.

What if the biggest opportunity for growth in your business started with a disruption?

Today on The Uptick, we’re diving into the importance of reimagining disruption as opportunity, how to know it's time for change, what it takes to pivot without stumbling and why sometimes the smartest business move is letting go of the plan you thought you’d stick to forever.

In our can’t-miss conversation with Sarah Sears, founder of the award-winning design firm S Design, we cover the ins and outs of navigating major business transitions. From restructuring her business model to helping clients face the vulnerability of a total brand redesign, Sarah has seen it all.

If you’ve ever wanted to know how to lead your business through uncertainty without losing your team — or the thing that makes your business special — this one’s for you.

About the guest: Sarah Sears is an award-winning branding and design professional and AIGA Fellow. Sears speaks at local and regional events about how branding, design and marketing are catalysts for business and organizational growth.

Episode highlights:

• Balancing brand consistency and change: Gain a deeper understanding of brand equity and why consistency in branding matters just as much as staying open to evolution. Plus, get actionable tips on how to shape perception and communicate clearly during rebrands.
• Rebrands, generational shifts and mergers: Learn how to lead your business through major changes — whether it’s a rebrand, a generational shift or a merger — while honoring your roots and bringing your team along for the journey.
• Why stories matter more than slogans: Discover how authentic storytelling has the power to build emotional connection, strengthen culture and turn customers into brand advocates. And learn how to make it a core part of your strategy.

Want to learn more about our guest?

• Check out S Design online
• Follow them on Instagram

If you liked this episode:

• See it in action on YouTube
• You can also find us on Apple
• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
• Visit The Uptick blog

Catch new episodes of The Uptick Podcast every Tuesday.

Credits:

The Uptick is sponsored by Global Payments: helping businesses move faster, sell smarter and scale stronger. From the start-ups to the been-there-done-thats, our commerce platform helps millions of businesses around the world stay ahead, knowing we spent yesterday thinking of what customers need tomorrow. Because if it has anything to do with commerce, we’re already on it.

Every entrepreneur hits a pivotal moment in their journey. The kind where one risk either sinks the ship or becomes the move that saves everything.

For Colt Westbrook, that moment was a gut decision to invest in critical product parts — only days before the global supply chain fell apart.

In our debut episode, Colt shares how instinct, creating intentional culture and a commitment to product quality helped Walrus Audio grow through crisis, not in spite of it. Whether you're building a team, planning your next product launch or wondering if that risky decision might just be your best one yet, this one is for you.

About the guest: Colt Westbrook is the president of Walrus Audio, a boutique guitar effects pedal business based in Oklahoma City. He joined the company in 2014 when it had only three employees. Under Colt's leadership, Walrus Audio has gained a reputation for producing a wide range of effects pedals, including overdrives, distortions, delays, reverbs, modulations and more.

Episode highlights:

• The dealer revolution that changed everything: Discover how Walrus Audio transformed their industry by treating retailers as investors, not obstacles — and the simple communication system that made competitors scramble to catch up.
• The $500K gamble that saved their supply chain: Learn about the gut decision to stockpile semiconductors in a tornado shelter during COVID, and how strategic risk taking kept production running while competitors faced shortages.
• Building products that sound as good as they look: Get the inside scoop on Walrus Audio's product development process that balances engineering excellence with musician input — and why thinking about "version two" from day one can transform your entire approach to innovation.

Want to learn more about our guest?

• Check out Walrus Audio online
• Follow them on Instagram

If you liked this episode:

• See it in action on YouTube
• You can also find us on Apple
• Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
• Subscribe to The Uptick newsletter
• Visit The Uptick blog

Catch new episodes of The Uptick Podcast every Tuesday.

Credits:

The Uptick is sponsored by Global Payments: helping businesses move faster, sell smarter and scale stronger. From the start-ups to the been-there-done-thats, our commerce platform helps millions of businesses around the world stay ahead, knowing we spent yesterday thinking of what customers need tomorrow. Because if it has anything to do with commerce, we’re already on it.

Welcome to The Uptick — where real conversations with real business owners take center stage.

In this short trailer, host Stephen Roach introduces you to the podcast and what you can expect each week:

Candid, behind-the-scenes stories of the pivotal moments that change everything for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Whether it’s burnout, a broken system, or an unexpected breakthrough, these are the conversations that lead to clarity, growth, and transformation.

What you’ll get from The Uptick:

• First-hand stories of real turning points in business
• Weekly insight into the challenges and breakthroughs small business owners face
• Practical wisdom you can apply to your own business right away

Resources:

• Website: https://www.globalpayments.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg9HiItBheBjWJcOBE8q9HQ

Subscribe now and don’t miss a single episode of The Uptick — your go-to resource for real business breakthroughs.

The Uptick is sponsored by Global Payments