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•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 68•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 67•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 65•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 64•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast What a great time it was getting to know the great Bryan Farris, the CEO and Founder of Goldfish Code! A full-fledged California boy from the Bay Area, Bryan was constantly hearing of the success of the growing tech industry. He cut his teeth as a software engineer before founding Goldfish Code with his vision for next-generation technology and digital transformation. With an extreme focus on user experience, Bryan and his team use a patented approach to delivering digital products that aren’t j...
Sep 13, 2023•29 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's episode, I had the chance to interview the visionary financial maestro, Bruce Weinstein, who wears the dual hats of CEO and Founder of Weinstein Wealth Insurance Solutions and the dynamic host of the renowned "Ask the Planman" podcast. As an orchestrator of financial harmony, Bruce helps guide people through the labyrinth of wealth management and insurance solutions. Bruce's podcast, "Ask the Planman," serves as a beacon of knowledge in a sea of finan...
Sep 11, 2023•51 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Tim Dodd is an enterprise cloud sales extraordinaire and mastermind behind JTD Group. Growing up in Delaware, Tim's story is one of relentless ambition and a passion for helping businesses flourish. His roots at the University of Delaware laid the foundation for his career, but it was his first gig as a sales rep that ignited the spark within him. Tim discovered his knack for transforming small enterprises into thriving giants, a skill that would later define his path to success. Fast forwa...
Sep 08, 2023•21 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Ring the bell! In this episode of The First Customer podcast, I was lucky enough to interview the Zen master himself, Scott Berman. Scott has been an NBA statistician for the Philadelphia 76ers for 35 years. He’s also the co-founder of The Panther Group — a cannabis merchant bank and advisory firm that focuses on venture funding and has a track record of successful exits in technology, healthcare, software, data, and ad tech. Hop on I-95 and head down to the Wells Fargo Center for an informative...
Sep 06, 2023•26 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast A very special episode today with my pal, Jon Mercer, the president and co-founder of Startup Bucks. It's an organization that helps startups in and beyond Bucks County, Pennsylvania. One of my favorite local folks with a smile that lights up any room -- Jon has a background in IT informatics which landed him a job at Johnson & Johnson, and from there, ignited his passion for supporting and connecting the startup ecosystem. Jon turned his focus toward venture funding and economic develo...
Aug 31, 2023•40 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast For this week's episode, I was lucky enough to sit down with a digital nomad -- Chris Roche, CEO of Catalyst Consulting. He shared some really great insights on digital marketing and entrepreneurship. Chris shared how he started his career in digital marketing and what inspired him to start his own company. He also talks about the key challenges he faced while he built his agency and how he overcame them. Make sure to tune in to this episode and get the biggest takeaway from this very inspi...
Aug 29, 2023•34 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the The First Customer podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jake Henry, the CEO and founder of Lectra, a wearables company that aims to revolutionize health care. Jake shared his personal story of how his mom’s osteoarthritis and his own hip problems inspired him to create a brand that focuses on prevention rather than treatment. He also tackled how luck and persistence paved the way to his success and how important it is to love what you do so that it wouldn’t feel lik...
Aug 24, 2023•24 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Brenden Kumarasamy is the incredibly likable and impressively passionate CEO and founder of MasterTalk. He grew up in Montreal, Canada and initially wasn't interested in building a business but rather just looked for the fastest way to make money and became an accountant. From making videos in his mom's basement, Brenden's life changed when he met his leadership coach, who introduced him to the world of entrepreneurship and personal development. He realized that he had a passion a...
Aug 22, 2023•29 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast 
