In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we meet John Trainor, President and CEO of Kreativa-Inc., whose Emmy-winning career in media led to a groundbreaking nearshore outsourcing model. Inspired by late-night collaboration challenges with Indian teams at the Chicago Tribune, John founded Kreativa-Inc. in 2015 to leverage Latin American talent in the same time zone—a strategic advantage that now delivers 2-3x performance gains for small businesses through AI-driven marketing and operational efficiency. He reveals how the pandemic validated his remote-work vision and why overcoming stereotypes about Latin American talent requires targeting C-suite decision-makers who "get it."

John pulls back the curtain on scaling a 65-person firm while remaining its chief rainmaker, sharing hard-won lessons on authenticity in leadership ("fake it till you make it is dead") and why AI will disrupt mediocre marketing, creating opportunities for innovators. His "one new client per month" growth philosophy and emphasis on keeping operations human-centric—even as technology advances—offer a masterclass in sustainable scaling. For founders, this conversation is a goldmine on turning time-zone challenges into competitive advantages and why the future belongs to leaders who keep it real.