Kathleen Allen, professor of entrepreneurship at the USC Marshall School of Business and recent recipient of the Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award from the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, joins Smart Companies host Kelly Scanlon for a lively discussion on why entrepreneurship shouldn't just be taught in business school, what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, and trends in entrepreneurship. Dr. Allen is also the founding director of the Marshall Center ...
Feb 21, 2014•25 min
Our guest today is Denise Mills, the co-founder and Chief Mindset Officer of LeaderFuelNow, a company that provides leadership training, business consulting and executive coaching. Today she joins us to bust the three biggest myths about why business owners can't Think Bigger: time, money and people. A speaker, facilitator, coach, consultant and trainer, Denise has founded 26 companies with gross revenues of more than $60 million, and she’s coached hundreds of startups throughout the world. Deni...
Feb 14, 2014•23 min
Our guest today is Melissa Thompson, the founder and CEO of TalkSession, Inc., a healthcare technology company that develops web-based platforms for therapy sessions between mental healthcare providers and patients. In 2013, Melissa was selected as a “Healthcare Transformer” for the StartUp Health Academy Entrepreneurship Program, in partnership with GE and is also a part of Springboard Enterprises’ Life Sciences Accelerator. TalkSession was featured at the White House in September 2013 as a tec...
Feb 14, 2014•18 min
Betsy Johnson, co-founder of beach apparel line SwimZip, recently landed an appearance on ABC's Shark Tank and swam away with an investment from shark Lori Greiner of QVC. The apparel offers built-in UV protection. Betsy talks about the inspiration behind SwimZip, what she and her co-founder brother did to launch the idea, what it's like behind the scenes at Shark Tank, and where the investment from Greiner will take the company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 07, 2014•26 min
Small business expert Jim Blasingame joins us to discuss his recently released third book “The Age of the Customer – Prepare for the Moment of Relevance.” Jim share his thoughts on how The Age of the Customer has changed the rules of selling—and the strategies small businesses can use to stay relevant and profitable. Jim is a radio talk show host, author, syndicated columnist, keynote speaker and president of Small Business Network Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...
Feb 07, 2014•30 min
Recent data breaches involving Target and other major corporations have attracted national attention. Attracting less attention are small and mid-size businesses that could be even more vulnerable. Joining us today is Jeff Lanza, an FBI Special Agent who investigated corruption, fraud, organized crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and terrorism for more than 20 years. Today he discusses with us why smaller organizations are more vulnerable to cybercrime, how they can protect themselves and thei...
Jan 31, 2014•24 min
Doing things a little differently has helped turn STUFF, a Brookside shop, into a neighborhood institution and landed them on NICHE magazine's list of top stores in America that feature fine American crafts. Co-owners, sisters and entrepreneurs Sloane and Casey Simmons talk about their pursuit of good stuff—both in business and in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2014•28 min
Anton’s Taproom, which opened in October in Kansas City’s Crossroads District, is not your typical KC restaurant. How many restaurants do you know that have a butcher's shop (complete with homemade sausages and lard), a tilapia farm, an aquaponic herb garden and an art gallery on the premises? Host Kelly Scanlon sits down with owner and restaurateur Anton Kotar and talks about the eatery’s distinctive approach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2014•29 min
Meet Smokin' Ed Currie, who proudly holds the Guinness World Record for hottest chili on Earth. On the Scoville heat scale, where zero is bland and a regular jalapeno pepper registers close to 5,000 units, Currie's world-record batch of "Carolina Reapers" comes in at a tongue-tingling 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units. Currie worked more than four years to produce a true scorcher of a pepper - and he regularly eats five of them a day! Join host Kelly Scanlon as she discusses peppers with the owner a...
Jan 24, 2014•25 min
Sherry Turner, founder of OneKC for Women, joins host Kelly Scanlon to discuss resources for women business owners in Kanas City, the OneKC for Women initiative, and unique sources of funding for KC women business owners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17, 2014•27 min
Kelly explores the next frontier in "sharing services" with entrepreneur Kevin Petrovic, co-founder of a fast-growing company called FlightCar. FlightCar lets people rent out their cars while traveling instead of paying for airport parking. Parkers save and make money, while renters get a cheaper price. Kevin will explain how the concept is working in Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and very soon, Seattle. An intriguing story, especially when you realize the CEO is only 19. Learn more about y...
Jan 17, 2014•28 min
Small Changes, Big Shifts // Dr. Michelle Robin, 1 p.m. Mark Whitacre, is the highest-ranking executive-turned-whistleblower in U.S. history. At just 32, Whitacre served as both divisional president and corporate vice president of Archer Daniels Midland. On Small Changes, Big Shifts, he'll explain his involvement in a price-fixing scheme at the company—and how he turned whistleblower but only after his wife threatened to turn him in. Tune in for an inspiring story of forgiveness and redemption! ...
Jan 14, 2014•42 min
Smart Companies KC host Kelly Scanlon sits down with Richard Shipley, co-founder and CEO of LocalStart.org, an organization that works to create top-of-mind awareness for products made in Kansas City—and strengthen the local economy. Tune in to find out how the initiative started, the progress that's been made, where the movement is headed and how you can get involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2014•30 min
Jeff Martin, founder of the Smallcakes franchise, has developed a big appetite for international growth. Tune in as Jeff, who is a two-time veteran of the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars," discusses how he turned these sweet treats into a worldwide franchise boasting more than 120 flavors. You'll hear about how a major misstep led to his cupcakes being featured on "The View," learn how he's built the franchise, and get a sneak peek into his plans for Cupcake Creameries - ice cream stores featuring ...
Jan 10, 2014•23 min
2013 was quite possibly the year of bitcoin; it was the year in which its price skyrocketed above $1000 as it simultaneously moved from the shadows of the Internet to dinner-table discussions. Bitcoin is open-source software that has been trumpeted as both a virtual currency and a payment system. Will it revolutionize the way money is sent around the world? In today's show, Host Kelly Scanlon talks to partners at Kennyhertz & Perry, Attorneys at Law in Prairie Village, Kansas where Brandon P...
Jan 03, 2014•27 min
On Small Changes - Big Shifts, Host Dr. Michelle Robin talks to Ironman competitor and cancer survivor, Terry Griege. Terry shares her inspiring story about how she overcame her cancer and battled through the grueling training for the Ironman, all the while, udergoing chemotherepy for her stage IV colon cancer. And Terry will tell us how we too, can work to overcome life's obstacles, not only to better ourselves but also how we can also inspire those around us. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
Dec 31, 2013•46 min
Tim Burt, known internationally as the "Commercial Professor," joins Kelly to share insights into how to create effective advertisements for any platform. Tim is a renowned commercial audio producer and marketing visionary who has more than 20 years of broadcast experience for companies worldwide. He's created and produced more than 10,000 commercials, is the founder of RestaurantMarketingSeries.com, is the author of the “Move Your Food” video and consulting course for restaurants, is a professi...
Dec 27, 2013•24 min
Can you really, systematically and consistently get the results you want from others while making them feel genuinely good about themselves, about the process, and about you? Great influencers — whether CEOs, entrepreneurs, or other leaders — seem to have a knack for getting the results they want from people, but in a way that everyone is happy. In this chat, Bob Burg, best-known as coauthor of the international bestseller, The Go-Giver,shows us how to take our influence to an entirely new level...
Dec 20, 2013•38 min
Tune in to a lively discussion about why Dan Isenberg, executive director of the Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project, has written a book called Worthless, Impossible and Stupid: How Contrarian Entrepreneurs Create and Capture Extraordinary Value. Dan discusses his definition of entrepreneurship, challenges several assumptions about entrepreneurs, puts failure in perspective, talks about the importance of creating extraordinary value, and tackles public policy issues relating to entrepreneu...
Dec 13, 2013•34 min
Our guest is New York Times technology and business columnist Nick Bilton, who's just released his second book, Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship and Betrayal. Nick shares the behind-the-scenes story of Twitter's founding that most people don't know, and he discusses the business, societal and human implications of the company. Bilton's New York Times columns and articles have led to investigations by the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice and Congress. In 2...
Dec 06, 2013•19 min
Kick off the Christmas season as guest Chanda Bell, co-founder and co-author of the holiday phenomenon “The Elf on the Shelf,” gives us the inside story on how she, her mother and her twin sister turned a cherished family tradition into a best-selling brand, delivering holiday magic to parents and children across the country. Bell and her mother and sister were recently named the Georgia Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration. She and her sister were also named as...
Nov 29, 2013•18 min
Our guest today, Chuck Blakeman, has built several businesses, and he now uses his experience to help other business owners and leaders build Participation Age companies. Join us to find out why you should strive to build a Participation Age company, and why employees are ALWAYS a bad idea. Chuck’s first book, Making Money Is Killing Your Business, was rated the #1 business book of 2010 by the National Federation of Independent Businesses. He also appears frequently in print and online, includin...
Nov 22, 2013•26 min
Over the last few years, Kansas City's entrepreneurial community has caught the attention of investors, large corporations and the national media. A lot of people are asking how it happened and what it means long-term. Join Kelly as she talks with three Kansas City entrepreneurial leaders—Barnett Helzberg, Joe Lieberman and Maria Meyers—about what it takes to build a sustainable entrepreneur ecosystem. And get details about eKC, an upcoming event that features key people and organizations in Kan...
Nov 15, 2013•29 min
Our guest today William Bronchick, CEO of Legalwiz Publications, joins us to discuss the keys to long-term success in business. Bill is a nationally-known attorney, author, entrepreneur and speaker who has trained people all over the country to become financially successful, speaking to audiences of as many as 16,000 at “Get Motivated” events and sharing the stage with Rudy Giuliani, Steve Forbes, and Colin Powell. His best-selling book, “Flipping Properties,’ was named one of the 10 best real e...
Nov 08, 2013•21 min
Kelly's guest today is JV Crum III, who is the author of the Conscious Millionaire: Grow Your Business by Making a Difference. An entrepreneur, investor, attorney, speaker, visionary, and the founder and CEO of Conscious Millionaire Institute, LLC, he turned around his family’s transportation company at the age of 23 and became a millionaire in his twenties. A funny thing happened though. As he accumulated his wealth, JV realized it wasn’t about the money. Join us today to find out how you can b...
Nov 01, 2013•22 min
HR 5050 turns 25 years old today! On Oct. 25, 1988, President Ronald Regan signed HR 5050 into law. Long overdue, the legislation finally allowed women business owners to get credit in their own names without a male co-signor, established the National Women's Business Council - a direct link to the President and Congress on legislative issues, created the Women's Business Centers, and mandated that women-owned businesses be counted in the census. Joining us are Virginia Littlejohn, Dr. Terry Nee...
Oct 25, 2013•47 min
Is your business stuck? My guest, Barry Moltz, gets business owners growing again! With decades of entrepreneurial experience in his own business ventures as well as consulting countless other entrepreneurs, Barry has discovered the formula to get stuck business owners unstuck and marching forward. Barry is a member of the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, and he’s the author of several best-selling books, including You Need to Be A Little Crazy: The Truth about Starting and Growing Your Business, ...
Oct 18, 2013•18 min
By the time he was 30, Larry Katzen made partner at Arthur Andersen, enjoying a fast-paced rise through the ranks as the firm grew in size and renown. But It came crashing down in 2002 when Arthur Andersen was indicted based on accusations related to scandals at Enron. With the firm’s survival in question, Katzen moved quickly to encourage employees to carefully complete all remaining assignments. Now in his new book You Thought Accountants Were Boring - My Life Inside Arthur Andersen, Katzen ta...
Oct 11, 2013•24 min
Having a plan is important, but if you can't adapt quickly and confidently when business conditions change, you could be putting your company at risk. This week's guest, Brent Gleeson, knows firsthand about the importance of making good decisions on a moment-by-moment basis. Gleeson offers an unparalleled perspective on change. As a Navy SEAL combat veteran, Gleeson has the unique knowledge of how important it is to analyze intelligence, intake situational data, and then be able to throw it all ...
Oct 04, 2013•28 min
We welcome Heather Schuck, CEO and founder of the leading children’s brand Glamajama. Heather is a well respected and admired mom entrepreneur. Despite her lack of fashion or business experience, she was able to turn her failed eBay hobby into a multi-million dollar company with her uncompromising will, eagerness to learn, and endless determination. She's also the author of the Working Mom Manifesto. Heather shares how her children's fashion line has become a favorite of celebrities, how she's b...
Sep 27, 2013•31 min
