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Are You in the People Business?

by Erica Mattison
Feb 19, 2026
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After meeting an experienced entrepreneur, wealth manager, and longtime finance professor, Kashif Ahmed, at a Suffolk University event in Boston, I invited him to join me for a conversation on the podcast.

What stayed with me was not a tactic. It was perspective.

After decades in financial planning and business ownership, his view is simple: you are in the people business.

Whether you run a firm, lead a team, or are considering your next professional move, trust and discipline matter more than flash.

In our conversation, we explored:

  • Why trust matters more than transactions

  • The two emotions that most often shape financial decisions

  • The persistence required to build something sustainable

  • Why networking works best when it’s about contribution

One metaphor he shared has stayed with me:

At 211 degrees, water is hot.
At 212 degrees, it boils.

That one degree is often the difference persistence can make.

If you work in leadership, entrepreneurship, or professional services, there is something here worth considering.

You can read the full reflection here âž”

Or listen to the full episode here âž”

If this conversation prompts you to think about your own direction or next move, you can explore my coaching plans here âž”

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