In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Lamees Butt, SVP of Zoovu. Lamees delved into her journey from a humble upbringing in East London to her current role in the tech industry. Growing up in East London instilled in Lamees a hunger for success and a drive to think outside the box. Despite facing challenges, she pursued her passion for entrepreneurship, starting with a personal shopping business during her university days. This venture eventually led to the creation of "My Manneq...
Mar 08, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 118
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Brian Childress, Founder and Fractional CTO of Summit Labs. Brian shares his journey from growing up in Virginia to founding Summit Labs, inspired by his grandfather's entrepreneurial spirit as a custom home builder. Despite lacking initial tech interest, Brian discovered his passion for software development in graduate school and founded Summit Labs to explore freelancing opportunities while maintaining a full-time job. Over the years, Summi...
Mar 06, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 117
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ron Gidron, the CEO and founder of xtype, a platform engineering solution for ServiceNow customers. Ron shares insights from his background growing up on a farm in Israel to becoming an entrepreneur in the tech industry. Despite his humble beginnings, Ron's journey led him to work with companies like Mercury Interactive before venturing into entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the entrepreneurial spirit he developed from his farming roots, highli...
Mar 04, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 116
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Barbara Spitzer, CEO and founder of Two Rivers Partners, LLC. Barbara grew up as an army brat and moving frequently, Barbara developed resilience and anxiety, which later shaped her career as a consultant. Despite her anxiety, Barbara adopted a mantra of perseverance and preparation, which helped her excel in client meetings and presentations. After a successful career at companies like Ernst & Young and Accenture, Barbara founded Two Rivers P...
Mar 01, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 115
In this episode., I was lucky enough to interview Laura-Beth Trucks, the CEO of LB Trucks Coaching. Laura-Beth shares her journey from Alabama to Colorado, where she worked in nonprofit leadership development, to eventually founding her coaching business. After completing her master's degree in clinical mental health, she realized her passion for coaching and decided to start LB Trucks Coaching. Despite unexpected challenges, such as piecing together multiple jobs to support herself through...
Feb 28, 2024•31 min
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Gregory Shepard, CEO and co-founder of BOSS Startup Science. Gregory shares his journey, highlighting his challenges growing up with autism, dyslexia, and other conditions in a tough environment. Despite adversities, he recalls his entrepreneurial spirit emerging early, from selling Rubik's cubes to catching and selling rattlesnakes for profit. Gregory's determination led him to overcome obstacles, from learning to code and starting inte...
Feb 26, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 113
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview the fantastic Dai Manuel, Chief Transformation Officer at DaiManuel.com. Dai discussed his upbringing in Ontario with two entrepreneurial parents and how their work ethic influenced him. He recounted his journey from personal training to selling fitness equipment, highlighting the transition to performance-based pay structures and his success in sales. Dai emphasized the importance of authenticity and consistency in his messaging, particularly on ...
Feb 23, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 112
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Caden Braly, CEO and Founder of Innovative Risk. Caden discusses his upbringing in Prosper, Texas, surrounded by a community of entrepreneurs, including his father and grandfather, who instilled a strong entrepreneurial spirit in him. Despite initially being hesitant about entering the insurance industry due to witnessing the stresses his father faced, Caden found a passion for it after exploring different opportunities and realizing the critical ...
Feb 21, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 111
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Patric Shannon, Founder of LeadSnap. Patric delves into his origins in a small town in Dayton, Ohio, and his unexpected foray into professional poker and subsequent transition to entrepreneurship. Patric shares about his early career as a tax accountant and his serendipitous discovery of online poker, which ultimately led him to pursue a career as a professional poker player. However, as the industry landscape evolved and personal values came into...
Feb 19, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 110
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Krish Ramineni, CEO and Co-founder of Fireflies.ai. Krish dives into his entrepreneurial journey from Silicon Valley to founding one of the most innovative AI platforms. Krish shares how his upbringing in a family of entrepreneurs fueled his passion for technology and startups, leading him from UPenn to Microsoft and eventually to co-founding Fireflies.ai. Krish recounts his early ventures, including building a campus event platform during college...
Feb 16, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 109
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Susan Coelius Keplinger, CEO of Force of Nature. Susan shares insights from her journey as a marketing titan and entrepreneur. Growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, Susan's path led her to chase the internet dream in San Francisco after college. She co-founded Triggit, an ad tech company, with her brother Zach, learning valuable lessons in entrepreneurship and the importance of setting boundaries between work and family. Despite the challenges, ...
Feb 14, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 108
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Oshri Cohen, founder of Red Corner. Oshri delves into his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of his consulting practice as a fractional CTO. Oshri reflects on his upbringing, shaped by early experiences of independence and resilience due to facing racism. From launching his first business at 13 to establishing a custom development shop in his twenties, Oshri's path underscores his knack for problem-solving and innovation. Oshri shares ...
Feb 12, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 107
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Steve Kilberg, CMO of SKRP Media LLC. Steve dives into his journey as an entrepreneur and his role in helping businesses grow and sell their assets. Steve shares how his upbringing in Detroit, with a father encouraging independence, shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. Despite initially working for others, Steve's desire for autonomy led him to venture into his own businesses, starting with digital marketing and later transitioning to e-commerc...
Feb 09, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 106
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Fahvyon Jimenez, Founder and Principal of Jimenez Strategy & Analytics, Fahvyon grew up with a father who was a business owner, and he got inspired by the idea that the best way to accomplish things is through entrepreneurship. Drawing from his experiences and skills in data science and ethnography, Jimenez Strategy & Analytics focuses on helping mission-driven organizations, particularly nonprofits, schools, and hospitals, address their m...
Feb 07, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 105
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Scott Anderson, founder of Doubledare Executive Coaching, Consulting, and Search. Scott shares his early entrepreneurial endeavors, from starting a shoeshine business at a young age to launching an advertising agency and eventually transitioning to executive coaching. Scott delves into the significance of location-based niches and the power of focusing on specific verticals within the business world. He emphasizes the importance of identifying a p...
Feb 05, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 104
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Sean Boyce, founder of Nxt Step Consulting. Sean reflects on his roots in Philadelphia, the impact of his education and network on his entrepreneurial spirit, and the lessons learned from his early attempts at business. Sean talks about his first business, an endeavor aimed at solving issues in the recruiting industry, and the pivotal lessons he gained from its relative lack of success. Sean shares insights into the common mistake of not focusing ...
Feb 02, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 103
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Edward DuCoin, founder and partner of Orpical. Edward grew up in South Jersey and his early experiences with financial struggles and observing his family's challenges fueled his entrepreneurial spirit. Starting with a ski tours business at 13, he eventually founded a teleservices company that grew to over 1,500 employees. Orpical, initially a website design firm, evolved into a business consulting and software development agency that stays ah...
Jan 31, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 102
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Roy Vella, Managing Director and Founder of Vella Ventures Ltd. Roy delves into his upbringing in Brooklyn and its influence on his entrepreneurial journey. Roy reflects on his formative years, emphasizing the cultural impact of being from Brooklyn and the street-savvy and hustling mentality ingrained in him. Roy's family background highlights his father's transition from a math teacher to early involvement in computers and Roy's ea...
Jan 29, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 101
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Marc Adler, the Fractional Chief Technology Officer of CTO as a Service. Marc reveals his roots in Queens, New York, and his unique exposure to the world of stockbroking through his father's career, setting the stage for his journey into the tech industry. Marc reminisces about his early days in tech, starting as one of the first Windows developers on Wall Street in the late '80s. He shares anecdotes from his time at Goldman Sachs and th...
Jan 22, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 99
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Cody Eddings, the CEO and co-founder of SnapRefund. Cody shares his entrepreneurial journey, rooted in childhood experiences in St. Louis, Missouri, where he initiated small businesses like mowing lawns. Growing up, Cody explores tech background, from playing World of Warcraft to becoming a software engineer and co-founding SnapRefund. It delves into the company's mission to empower underserved communities with financial technology, emphasizi...
Jan 19, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 98
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Fiona Jamison, President and CEO of Spring International. Fiona's journey from a British helicopter factory to becoming the accidental CEO of a prominent HR analytics firm is both fascinating and inspiring. Having purchased the company to ensure its continuity, Fiona shares the unconventional story of how her three-year plan turned into a long-term commitment. She discusses an effective sales approach, where she sees herself more as a relatio...
Jan 17, 2024•28 min•Ep. 97
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview John Rossman, managing partner of Rossman Partners. John shares his journey from growing up in Portland, Oregon, to becoming an executive at Amazon and eventually starting his own business, Rossman Partners. John emphasizes the importance of simplicity and efficiency, highlighting how these principles, inspired by his time at Amazon, have shaped his approach to problem-solving. John's first client, a healthcare insurance startup, and he share...
Jan 15, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 96
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Brittany Jenkins, Founder of WeAreTech, an ed-tech platform providing equitable digital literacy tools to underserved communities. Brittany delves into the genesis of WeAreTech, and the challenges in the tech industry that led her to create a platform for equitable digital literacy. Originally from San Diego, California, Brittany reflects on her laid-back upbringing and its impact on her entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of movin...
Jan 12, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 95
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jamon Holmgren, founder and CTO of Infinite Red. Jamon grew up in a small town in coastal Oregon and recounts his early experiences with coding, starting a business, and the influence of his father, who was an entrepreneur. Jamon shares insights into his first business endeavors, from coding projects for a friend's construction company to starting his own home design and remodeling business. He highlights his challenges during the 2008 housin...
Jan 05, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 93
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview The Chaz Wolfe, Owner and Founder of Gathering The Kings. Growing up in a single-mother household in Columbia, Missouri, Chaz emphasizes the impact of his challenging upbringing, instilling in him the values of grit, commitment, and determination. He highlights his father's influence, a veterinarian and cattle rancher, discovering him later in life. Chaz delves into the nuances of personal branding, offering advice to young individuals and se...
Jan 02, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 92
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Justin Leusner, CEO and founder of TDAY Sports. Justin shares insights into his journey as the founder and president of TDAY Sports, revealing his roots in a small town near Philadelphia and his passion for creating YouTube videos since childhood. He details the evolution of TDAY Sports, highlighting its six different channels covering various sports and serving as a Gen Z sports network. Justin delves into the changing landscape of content consum...
Dec 26, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 91
In this episode, I was extremely lucky to interview John Trevisani, currently a Software Engineering Manager at Ask Media Group but also a multi-talented individual with interests ranging from being a pilot, author, entrepreneur, and musician! John grew up as one of five children and shared its impact on fostering his entrepreneurial spirit. John delves into his experience starting a business that addressed the inconvenience of booking golf tee times, his foray into the tech world, and the chall...
Dec 22, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 90
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Justin Furniss, CEO and founder of SecureCoders. Justin grew up in South Jersey, sharing anecdotes about growing up near a rodeo and his initial hesitations about entering the entrepreneurial world. After college, Justin's perspective shifted, and he delved into building software, and creating a product called Groundwork. Justin also discusses the turning point when he realized he could pursue entrepreneurship and the challenges he faced whil...
Dec 20, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 89
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Dave Albin, Founder of Firewalk Productions, LLC. Dave shares his incredible life journey. Born to a single mom in Hollywood, California, Dave's early years were marked by the mysterious departure of his biological father. Facing financial struggles, his mother made the difficult decision to put him up for adoption, leading him to a loving family in Long Beach, California. Despite a seemingly idyllic childhood, Dave's life took a dark tu...
Dec 18, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 88
In this episode, I was very lucky to interview the fantastic Manoj Sinha, Co-founder of BISIL and my flight instructor! Manoj reflects on his entrepreneurial journey that began in 1990. Starting with a background in engineering and an MBA from a top-tier school, Manoj worked in esteemed companies like ITC Limited before founding BISIL. Despite the challenging initial timing of the Gulf War, Manoj emphasizes the cyclical nature of business and recounts the various booms and busts he navigated, in...
Dec 15, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 87
