In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Victor Chukwudolue and Matthew Attalah of Step Labs. Matthew, with a background in design, shares how Step Labs started unexpectedly during his final year at university when he took on a project that eventually led to the establishment of the business. Victor, more focused on tech, shares his journey into web development, starting with FreeCodeCamp and eventually specializing in Webflow and Shopify. Matthew and Victor discuss their partnership, hi...
Nov 24, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 78
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Adam Adams of Grow Your Show Podcast. Adam's journey started from growing up in Utah to becoming a successful entrepreneur and real estate investor. Adam attributes much of his early inspiration to his stepdad, a real estate investor and entrepreneur who introduced him to the principles of financial success through the book "Rich Dad Poor Dad." Despite initial reluctance due to dyslexia, Adam's perspective changed after a profi...
Nov 22, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 77
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Marco Torres, the Co-founder of Marketing Boost.com. Marco explains how Marketing Boost started as a solution to obtain video testimonials for their travel business. To incentivize customers, they offered bonus vacations, leading to the creation of a system that eventually evolved into Marketing Boost.com. The company collaborates with hotels worldwide to offer complimentary stays and other incentives, helping businesses grow by leveraging these i...
Nov 20, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 76
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Lance Cayko, co-founder of F9 Productions Inc. Lance started his remarkable journey from growing up between a sugar beet farm and a cattle ranch in North Dakota to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the world of architecture and construction. Lance shared valuable lessons learned from early experiences, emphasizing the significance of perseverance, humility, and constantly reevaluating one's approach in the face of challenges. Lance highli...
Nov 17, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 75
In this podcast episode, I was lucky enough to interview Christian Hyldahl, President and Founder of Varium Investment Partners. Christian shared his background and journey before founding Varium. After realizing the limitations and politics of larger firms, he started his own traditional RIA in 2005, focusing on building portfolios stock by stock. However, he eventually recognized the need for a different approach, leading to the creation of Varium, which prioritizes specialization and efficien...
Nov 15, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 74
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Melissa Allen, Co-Founder of Active Life Company. Melissa grew up in Davenport, Iowa, and shared that she spent 24 years in the health and fitness industry. She transitioned from owning a corrective exercise center to venturing into the world of sunscreen with Active Life Company. Melissa discussed the inspiration behind starting a sunscreen business, recounting a personal experience where her dog detected skin cancer on her husband's head. S...
Nov 13, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 73
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jacob Kleinman Phillips, CEO of Touchpoint Design. Jacob grew up in Delaware County. He reflected on his upbringing in a family of entrepreneurs, where his parents ran businesses ranging from general contracting to a sweet chocolate factory named Sweet Dreams. Growing up in this environment, Jacob absorbed the essence of entrepreneurship, blending passion with business acumen. As Jacob unfolded his professional trajectory, he transitioned from a b...
Nov 10, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 72
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Kirsten Bronkovic, co-founder of EmpathED. Kirsten grew up in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and shared how she was kind of enterprising even as a young kid where she even held an art sale. Her entrepreneurial spirit was evident even at a young age. Later, she enrolled in a program at the University of Pittsburgh that took her around the world via ship, landing in different countries. This life-changing experience led her to co-establish EmpathED. Fast fo...
Nov 08, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 71
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview a good friend, Ben Albert, the CEO and founder of Balbert Marketing. Ben was born and raised in Rochester, New York, and emphasized that he never saw himself as an entrepreneur, initially pursuing a more conventional career path. However, his passion for music and involvement in the local music scene paved the way for his transition into entrepreneurship. Ben explained that he leveraged his marketing skills, particularly in guerrilla marketing, to...
Nov 06, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 70
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Pete Mauro, owner of DT Cubed. Born in the Philadelphia area but raised in South Jersey, Pete found himself at a crossroads between government work and pursuing personal happiness. He embarked on his career as a civil servant for the Navy, eventually becoming a GS 14 at a young age. However, the demands of his role in Washington, D.C., led him to prioritize his personal happiness, ultimately influencing his decision to start his own engineering fi...
Nov 03, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 69
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jennifer Crompton, President and founder of Something Creative, LLC. Growing up in South Jersey, Jen shares her upbringing and how her family's entrepreneurial background influenced her path. This path became evident during her time as a grad assistant at Rowan University when her mentor pushed her to take on a challenging marketing project. Jen's journey led her through several setbacks, which ultimately pushed her to pursue her passion...
Nov 01, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 68
In this special episode, I was lucky enough to interview two of the best co-founders, Ivan Barajas Vargas and Renan Ugalde of MuukTest. MuukTest is a front-end testing automation platform that offers innovative solutions for software testing. Ivan shares his roots growing up in Mexico, emphasizing how his family's entrepreneurial endeavors, particularly their grocery stores, instilled an early entrepreneurial mindset. Renan, also from Mexico, talks about the influence of his family's e...
Oct 30, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 67
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tanya Isa, founder of KitSF. Tanya recounts her extraordinary journey from leaving Ukraine to becoming the CEO of a thriving business in San Francisco. She highlights her ambitious nature from an early age, recalling her first small business venture selling newspapers at the age of 12. Tanya's entrepreneurial spirit eventually led her to launch her first business in Donetsk, Ukraine, and later her successful Language Center. Tanya encountered...
Oct 27, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 66
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Behdad Jamshidi, founder of CJAM Marketing. Behdad walked us through his remarkable journey from a humble immigrant upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Behdad's parents' immigrant experience instilled in him a sense of determination and entrepreneurship even at a young age. His path wasn't a straight line; he initially pursued a traditional engineering career but always felt the urge to explore unconventional avenues, ...
Oct 25, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 65
In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview Brandon Barnum, CEO of HOA.com. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Brandon shares his inspirational journey from a humble upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Growing up in a financially challenged environment, he was always drawn to the idea of financial success. Despite early challenges and limited resources, he worked hard and learned the art of generating referrals, significantly increasing his income. Brandon emphas...
Oct 23, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 64
In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jon Brown, one of the masterminds behind Interlaced.io. Jon shares his journey from growing up in a small town in Southern Maine to his involvement in the IT services industry. His career path took him through various experiences, from working as a graphic designer to teaching English overseas. It was during his time as an IT support specialist in Maryland that he realized his passion for IT services, leading him to start his own IT co...
Oct 20, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 63
In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview Cathy Nesbitt, the CEO and founder of Cathy's Crawly Composters. Cathy went from being a city dweller to an eco-entrepreneur in a small town. She recognized a significant environmental problem when the landfill for the greater Toronto area closed in 2002 so she came up with an innovative solution: indoor composting with worms. Despite the initial aversion people had towards worms in their homes, Cathy's passion for sustainabi...
Oct 18, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 62
In this special episode, I was lucky enough to interview Reza Piri, CEO and founder of Productbot.AI. His background and early life in College Station, Texas, provided some insights into his upbringing and exposure to entrepreneurship, thanks to his father's successful ventures in the oil field services industry. Transitioning from the oil field to IT, Reza highlighted that empathizing with customers and solving their pain points through AI was a key theme. He underlined the role of underst...
Oct 16, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 61
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Keith Scandone, CEO and co-founder of O3 World. Keith grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia in Bucks County to pursue a career in acting in Los Angeles. His journey to entrepreneurship wasn't typical, and he emphasized the value of resilience and thinking outside the box. During his time in Los Angeles, he explored various roles and it was through one of his experiences that he discovered his passion for producing and the creative freedom it...
Oct 13, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Boy oh boy, I could not stress enough how special this guest is. In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Federico Toledo, the co-founder, and CEO of Abstracta, AKA the QA Doctor. Federico is from Uruguay and shares how his upbringing in a close-knit community near the capital city played a pivotal role in his growth. He emphasizes the value of Uruguay's free university education, which allowed him to study computer science, paving the way for his future endeavors. Federico also tra...
Oct 11, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 59
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Mark Phinick, President and CEO of Let's Make It Rain. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Mark's path was set in motion when he relocated to Chicago in 1984. With a background in computer science and a unique perspective on technology, Mark found his niche in the world of sales, helping small companies grow into successful ventures. Mark's passion for helping businesses use technology effectively shines through as he encounters challenge...
Oct 09, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 58
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview the great Mike Kaeding, CEO of Norhart, a real estate development company that specializes in designing, building, and renting apartments while prioritizing affordability in housing. Mike's childhood was closely tied to the company, with his parents founding it in Minnesota. However, when life took an unexpected turn, Mike was thrust into the CEO position. Mike shared Norhart's strategies for success, emphasizing the importance of buildi...
Oct 06, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 57
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Chris Anderson, founder of Elevate Media Group. Chris's story is unique among entrepreneurs; he didn't have the typical childhood lemonade stand or early business ventures. Instead, he grew up in a small Indiana town and developed a desire to live a different life, which eventually evolved into entrepreneurship. When life took unexpected turns for Chris, he realized the importance of seizing opportunities. This led him to start his own p...
Oct 04, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode. I was lucky enough to interview the fantastic Nicole Lipkin, CEO and founder of HeyKiddo. Nicole's early experience not only influenced her work ethic but also instilled resilience and problem-solving skills, as her parents encouraged her to learn from failures when she and her brother were given the opportunity to start a toy-selling business. Fast forward to today, Nicole is an accomplished clinical and organizational psychologist who successfully built and scaled a psych...
Oct 02, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Robert Indries, CEO and Founder of Robert Indries Holdings. Robert shared a profound personal story that catalyzed a significant shift in his business approach. He recounted the pivotal moment when facing financial hardship which served as a powerful wake-up call to transform his business practices. This pivotal decision marked the beginning of his journey towards financial success, and within a short period, he achieved remarkable milestones, bec...
Sep 29, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 54
This week I was lucky enough to interview a very cool and articulate guy named Roy Osing. Roy is the author of the book "Be Different or Be Dead". One of the highlights of Roy's illustrious career was driving a company to billion-dollar annual sales. Roy documented his journey in a book - not the ordinary how-to textbook type - but instead, focused on the unique strategies he employed to achieve this extraordinary feat. Let's fly all the way to Vancouver and explore Roy Osing...
Sep 27, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 53
This episode's so special that we're releasing it early! Patrick Faga, CEO and Founder of FirstWork is a really incredible young entrepreneur. He created an app-based educational platform designed to enhance learners develop their verbal skills at an early stage. Patrick was born and raised in Washington DC. And even when studying, grew to wonder how people's brains impact their behavior. Patrick's curious mind led him to create an environment that encourages people to align ...
Sep 25, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this week's new episode, I had the chance to interview the fantastic Darleen Priday, CEO and Founder of DP Consults, a business consulting and service focused on giving confidence to the clients in order for them to sell the business effectively. What sets Darleen apart is her unique approach to business development, which has not only proven wildly successful for her but has also transformed the lives of her clients. Hop on and let's fly to Orlando, Florida, and catch this short bu...
Sep 20, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Boy oh boy are you all in for a treat this week! I got to spend some quality time with Alex Sanfilippo, the brilliant founder and CEO of PodPros, a software company meticulously crafted for independent podcasters -- myself included! PodPros offers various solutions like PodMatch, PodcastSOP, Podcast Lottery, PodAwards, and Best Podcasts -- all of which are designed to improve every podcaster's end-to-end experience. Alex proves you can build an empire by focusing on delivering value and enj...
Sep 18, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 50
John Cecilian Jr., CEO and Founder of Cecilian Partners, radiates pure entrepreneurial energy. A people-first business owner born in Chicago, John worked his way across a ton of big brands like Micahel Kors, QuikSilver, Under Armour, Clutch, and Vineyard Vines. He learned what it means to deliver value and bring new technology to existing markets. With a passion for customer experience transformation, John shares his experiences from learning the ropes in retail to managing shareholder relations...
Sep 15, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 49
