Hi, I’m Sam Goodner.
Thanks for visiting my website. I’m the author of Like Clockwork – Run Your Business With Swiss Army Precision.
I’m a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and mentor with a passion for solving business problems through the innovative use of technology. A dual citizen of Switzerland and the United States, I have experienced a diverse journey from serving as a mountain infantry officer in the Swiss Army to being recognized as an Inc. 500 CEO and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
In 1993, I founded Catapult Systems, which grew into the world’s leading Microsoft Systems Integrator before being acquired in 2013. During this same period, I also founded and sold two software product companies (PowerDOC and Inquisite), started a mobile application development firm (Mobile Alchemy), and launched a digital agency (Slingrock).
A global traveler and lifelong learner, I took my family on a year-long journey around the world in 2014, homeschooling our two children while embracing education and exploration.
In 2016, I invested in FlashParking, a small technology startup. As President and later Chief Strategy Officer, I helped guide the company to becoming the largest parking technology company in the world with over $100M in revenue and a valuation of $1 billion.
Now retired from running companies, I focus on sharing my insights with entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Podcasts
Join Sam in candid conversations with some of the top podcast hosts in business, where he dives deep into ideas, lessons, and stories that bridge entrepreneurship and life.
Sparks by Ignium
Sparks by Ignium is essentially about purpose – in a personal and business sense. It’s about helping business founders and leaders and their teams create and rediscover their spark.
Unlocking Moves
Unlocking Moves isn’t the “typical” business podcast. We’re not just looking to tell the stories of success and glory. We want the REAL stories. Because life as an entrepreneur isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Life as an entrepreneur (hell, life as a human!) is HARD! And believe me, you’re gonna learn a lot more from other peoples’ shit shows and gory stories than you will from their glory stories.
SharkPreneur
Hosted by Seth Greene and Kevin Harrington (one of the original sharks on Shark Tank), the show focuses on interviews with SharkPreneurs who share straight talk on what it takes to explode your business.
Cresset Interview
The Cresset Network provides access to private family office events featuring globally recognized innovators, thought leaders, scientists, authors, and entrepreneurs.
Everyday MBA
Business strategies and success techniques that you don’t learn in business school. For executives and entrepreneurs.
Authority Magazine (article)
In-depth Interviews with Authorities in Business, Pop Culture, Wellness, Social Impact, and Tech. We use interviews to draw out stories that are both empowering and actionable.
Strategy and Leadership Podcast
We interview CEOs, business leaders, and thought leaders to get their perspectives on strategy, leadership, management, and other trends that can support your career and help you run a “best-in-class” business or non-profit.
Breakfast Leadership
The Breakfast Leadership Show is a top 20 global podcast hosted by Michael D. Levitt. It features thought-provoking discussions with industry leaders, experts, and influencers, focusing on leadership, burnout prevention, workplace culture, and personal growth. The show provides listeners with actionable insights on improving productivity, fostering resilience, and enhancing well-being in both professional and personal life.
The Tech Leader’s Playbook
In this episode of The Tech Leader’s Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Sam Goodner, the serial entrepreneur and former CEO of Catapult Systems — Microsoft’s top-ranked consulting partner at the time of its acquisition. Sam shares his 30-year journey from starting a small IT consulting firm in 1993 with just $17,000 in the bank to scaling multiple companies to eight- and nine-figure exits, including turning a parking tech startup into a unicorn.
The Greatness Machine
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with Sam Goodner, entrepreneur, author of “Like Clockwork: Run Your Business with Swiss Army Precision,” and former CEO of Catapult Systems, one of the fastest growing tech consulting firms in the U.S. Sam shares decades of wisdom from building and scaling businesses, breaking down the systems and disciplines that drive sustainable growth.
Beyond A Million
What could a Swiss Army officer possibly teach you about building and selling companies worth hundreds of millions? Turns out – everything.
Today’s guest, Sam Goodner, took the discipline and precision he learned in the Swiss Army and applied it to entrepreneurship.
Austin Tech Connect
This week we welcome long time entrepreneur Sam Goodner. Sam grew up in Europe, served in the Swiss Army, arrived in Austin in 1992, and built Catapult Systems into Microsoft’s top global partner before selling the company. He later helped scale a parking technology company from early plateau to significant growth and a unicorn valuation.
Austinpreneur
Why do some businesses thrive through uncertainty while others crumble? According to serial entrepreneur, former Swiss Army officer and Capital Factory Mentor Sam Goodner, the difference comes down to discipline, systems, and culture—principles he’s captured in his upcoming book.
Why Not Now?
In this episode of Why Not Now? with Amy Jo Martin, serial entrepreneur and tech leader Sam Goodner reveals how Swiss Army precision shaped his entrepreneurial philosophy, and how a keynote by Amy Jo helped him finally write his new book – “Like Clockwork”.
Everyday M&A
Sharing the stories of people involved in everyday M&A’s. Everyday M&A is hosted by Thorsen Legal, a business law firm with a presence throughout California and Texas.