Building software is easier than building trust.

In this episode of The Warm-Blooded Founders, Christopher Sherrick sits down with Stephen Simons, CEO of Restyn., for a conversation about what it means to lead with intention in a world increasingly shaped by software and automation.

Stephen brings decades of experience as a software architect, business executive, and team builder, working across startups and global organizations. His approach is rooted in faith, customer focus, and a belief that strong businesses are built by people who care deeply about how they work, not just what they ship.

Together, they explore how founders and leaders can build meaningful software development businesses without losing sight of values, relationships, and responsibility. Stephen shares what it looks like to lead a BLESSED life at work, one grounded in purpose, service, and accountability, even as teams scale and systems grow more complex.

The conversation also digs into the role of AI in modern organizations. Rather than chasing replacement narratives, Stephen offers a perspective on how technology can support people, strengthen decision-making, and create better outcomes without eroding trust or humanity inside teams.

This episode is for founders, operators, and technology leaders who want to grow responsibly, lead with clarity, and build systems that serve both customers and the people behind the work.

Topics covered include:

1. Building a meaningful software development business

2. Leading a BLESSED life at work

3. Humanizing AI without replacing people

A thoughtful conversation about leadership, technology, and staying grounded while building in a software-first world.

Noelle London has spent her career working at the intersection of startups, talent, and economic impact, from scaling innovation programs for cities to helping early-stage companies connect with capital, talent, and enterprise partnerships.

Today, she is the founder and CEO of Illoominus, a people insights platform built to solve a problem she saw across every organization she worked with; HR tools that collect data but fail to translate it into something leaders can actually use.

On The Warm-Blooded Founder Show, Christopher Sherrick speaks with Noelle about what it takes to move from supporting other founders to fully committing to building something of your own.

This episode explores:

1. Founding Origin And Stepping Into Full Commitment

2. Forming The Early Team

3. Pivoting Amid Market Forces

Noelle’s journey reflects what many founders feel but rarely say out loud, the tension between helping others build and deciding it is finally your turn to step forward.

This episode is for founders and operators who are carving out their own path and learning to adapt in real time.

Be sure to check out https://lnkd.in/dG272Eup

Every founder has a moment that breaks the plan and forces a new one.

For Shivani Dhamija, that moment happened the week she arrived in Canada.

She came with a postgraduate degree and the belief that she would land a leadership role immediately. Instead, she found herself earning $10.40 an hour, caught between disappointment, culture shock, and the reality of starting over without a network, a roadmap, or certainty.

What happened next is the reason she leads one of the most recognized food brands in Atlantic Canada.

One meal she cooked for one person sparked what eventually became Shivani’s Kitchen, now stocked in Walmart, Costco Wholesale, Sobeys, Superstore, and restaurants across the country. Her story is built on resilience, grit, and the willingness to pivot long before success feels guaranteed.

On this episode, Christopher Sherrick sits down with Shivani to explore the turning points founders rarely talk about in public:

1. Recovering from setbacks and finding your footing again

2. Building financial understanding when money feels tight

3. Pivoting after failure without losing your identity or momentum

Shivani’s honesty and experience cut through the noise. She built a national brand from a moment of uncertainty, and her perspective will resonate with anyone who has had to rebuild, rethink, or restart.

If you are navigating your own pivot or learning to rise after a hit, this conversation will give you something real to hold onto.