Leading in the Dark: A Leadership Podcast

Leading in the Dark is a podcast for people responsible for real outcomes. Hosted by Nick Akers, CEO and President of Inzo Technologies, the show features candid conversations with owners, operators, executives, investors, and public-sector leaders across business, public safety, and nonprofit organizations.

Podcast at a glance

  • Host: Nick Akers, CEO and President of Inzo Technologies.
  • Audience: Business owners, operators, executives, investors and public-sector leaders.
  • Focus: Leadership decisions, operating businesses and entrepreneurship through acquisition.
Leading in the Dark podcast cover art with host Nick Akers

Listen to Leading in the Dark

Press play below, or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and watch past episodes on YouTube.

Listen on: Spotify · Apple Podcasts · YouTube

Latest episodes

  • Nick Akers & Brenden Van Buren (November 6, 2026)
    Brenden Van Buren, President of Pro Max Fence Systems, bought the company through a search, tripled it and later partnered with private equity. He explains why fit with the seller can matter more than the financials.
  • Nick Akers & Connor Pera (October 23, 2026)
    Connor Pera, owner of The Print Authority in Nashville, bought the company through a self-funded, part-time search. He covers how print demand shifted to fast, small runs and what ownership costs in leverage and stress.
  • Nick Akers & Patrick Dichter (October 9, 2026)
    Patrick Dichter, owner of Appletree Business Services, has run quality of earnings reviews on more than 100 deals. He covers the findings that most often kill deals and the email payment fraud hitting small businesses.

Talk to Inzo

Inzo Technologies runs managed IT, cybersecurity and voice for businesses, and reviews the technology of companies being bought or sold. If an episode raised a question about your own systems, book a no-obligation Insight Session with our team.

Schedule an Insight Session

Who the podcast is for

  • Business owners and operators
  • CEOs and senior executives
  • Leaders navigating growth and transition
  • People accountable for decisions with real consequences

Who you will hear from

Guests include company owners, search fund operators, private equity-backed executives, CIOs, nonprofit leaders, and public safety professionals who’ve led teams in high-stakes environments.

Conversations for People Who Own the Decisions

Leadership rarely comes with perfect information. Leading in the Dark brings together experienced leaders to unpack the decisions they made when the path forward wasn’t clear. Episodes span technology, manufacturing, healthcare, creative services, finance, nonprofit work, and public safety, focusing on responsibility, risk, culture, and ownership.

Why entrepreneurship through acquisition is part of the show

Leading in the Dark is also shaped by Nick Akers’ background in entrepreneurship through acquisition. Nick acquired Inzo Technologies as a searcher, so he knows what it means to evaluate risk, make decisions with incomplete information, and step into leadership with real accountability. That perspective shows up often in the conversations, especially with owners, operators, and leaders navigating growth, transition, and change.

Explore Inzo's ETA Resources →

Interested in Joining the Guest Roster?

We feature a small, curated group of leaders. Reach out to inquire.