Unfulfilling executive career? Transform it before it traps you.

When a family crisis took me out of school at 14 to get a full-time job, it sparked a journey across many industries, roles, and nations.
 
Office work, construction, and self-employment in Australia. Study in the UK. Ministry in Africa. Sales and executive roles in the US. And yet others.

I led the transformation of Arby’s to become one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant chains. Rated in the Top 10 of over 3,000 franchise systems in the US, with a new location opening every 39 hours. 

When a takeover harmed the culture, I resigned to find a meaningful new path. But then my income was nearly tripled and I stayed on. 

Two years later, I resigned again, to buy or create a business aligned with my values.
I sought strategic, executive-level career support. And couldn’t find it. 

In that gap, I finally recognized my calling. So in 1992, I became a pioneer in this field. 

In 2014, a failed project left us with inadequate capital, and I turned the business over to a consortium of colleagues and clients. They closed it in 2016. In the meantime, I had created and launched a more resilient model. 

Today, our stressed societies desperately need more leaders motivated and able to reform management structures that undervalue higher needs and promote lower ones. 

If you’re ready to reimagine what your career can be, and to align it with your best contributions, there has never been a better time to do so. 

Let’s explore what’s possible. 

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://rjacareers.com/schedule-a-call-rj/

Russell Johnson

Builtfirst

Co-Founder

GoGrow

Founding Member and Advisor

Schematic Ventures

Investor

500 Startups

Associate

United States Marine Forces Reserve

Intelligence Specialist

Digital Capital Advisors

Investment Banking Analyst

Pillar Technologies, Inc.

Growth and Strategy Analyst

Oasis500

Investment Analyst

SaySo LLC

Add AI & No-Code to your business. Co-Founder of BuiltFirst.

1️⃣ Build AI applications without code.
2️⃣ Automate processes with no-code tools.
3️⃣ Enhance your product and processes with AI.

Are you ready to apply AI and No Code to your business?

Let me introduce myself, I'm Michael, an entrepreneur, passionate about business operations, systems, and processes to elevate your company's performance.

My mission is to i) drive Builtfirst to a success ii) empower founders with low-tech backgrounds using the transformative power of technology to revolutionize their businesses and change their lives.

I'm a veteran turned venture capitalist, and I have worn many hats across the startup and VC ecosystem.
My experience includes:

- US Marine
- Security guard
- Venture Associate
- Multiple roles in 500 startups
- Program Manager
- Data Analyst

I then transitioned to entrepreneurship, co-founding GoGrow, a staff augmentation and development firm that grew to $1.5 million ARR within 18 months.

My second venture, Builtfirst, evolved into a partnerships company empowering businesses to set up no-code or low-code partner marketplaces.

We raised $3.75m in Seed funding from Stage II Capital and Fuse Ventures.

- I'm a blue-collar New Jersey native.
- I felt like I never 'belonged' in the tech world (and often still don’t).
- This feeling has driven me and fueled my passion; which is:

→ Make technology accessible for everyone.

Follow me here on LinkedIn while I arm entrepreneurs with technology solutions that can streamline business operations, primarily through AI and no-code tools and systems.

→ I post on LinkedIn at 9:30 am Eastern Time
→ I discuss startups, no-code, and AI

Michael Julve

taplio

The Battle

Russell Johnson

Michael Julve

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