Class E Podcast

In this first episode of the Class E Podcast's new series, Paladin Pivots, we talk to Ginger Rothrock, '00, Senior Director at HG Ventures. She shares her take on what investors are looking for in the next generation of startups. Why it's important to be able to tell your story, show creativity, and take big risks in innovation. Guest: Ginger Rothrock Host: Mary Sturgill Producer: Rachel Page    ...

In this special leadership episode, we ask business leaders for their thoughts on leadership. In this last Class E Podcast episode of the season and 2020, listen and be inspired as our guests describe the qualities that make a great leader, the qualities they strive to live up to, especially in times of crisis such as the current COVID-19 Pandemic. Host: Mary Sturgill Guests: Zach Johnson, Ginger...

In this episode of the Class E Podcast, we talk with marketing expert, Matt Bowersox who is a member of the Furman family and is not only tasked with promoting the University's masters' programs, but he has enrolled in one of them. He introduces us to the three Design Thinking strategies that you should implement in your business and your life. Plus, hear his advice on how to best engage your audi...

The mission to educate and nourish curiosity was the catalyst for Furman University Professor, Brittany Arsiniega to create Enrichment Hills, a sustainable farm where students and adults can come learn and play. That non-profit also led to her second entrepreneurial venture, Lover Farms (coming soon). Hear her story on this episode of the Class E Podcast. Visit Enrichment Hills - https://www.enric...

In this episode, we speak to our first Communication Studies Alumnus (on the podcast) Chad Bennett '03, founder of Populus Brands. He shares his story about how he created a career and a company when he didn't get the job he wanted. Instead, he used it as an opportunity to learn which lead him to a discovery.  He tells us how he saw a gap that could be filled by being a matchmaker between entertai...

Kirby Mitchell joins the podcast to share his experiences as an attorney working directly with Furman and Prisma Health to solve patient problems in one of the country's few Medical-Legal Partnerships. Kirby also explains how the healthcare industry has innovated and adapted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest: Kirby Mitchell Host: Mary Sturgill Producer: Harris Wellborn

In this episode, we talk to a Furman alumna, Amy Moore. She speaks about her work in the science research field, and how science inherently lends itself to innovative and out-of-the-box thinking. Plus she talks about how she helps researchers find funding for their projects. Guest: Amy Moore Host: Mary Sturgill Producer: Rachel Page

Today on the Class E Podcast we are joined by the president of Metropolitan Properties and 2003 Furman alumni Zach Johnson. Zach shares how his love of reading as an English major led him to rediscover himself as an entrepreneur, as well as his advice for small business owners and entrepreneurs, especially during the time of COVID-19. Host: Mary Sturgill Guest: Zach Johnson Producers: Rachel Paige...

Furman Innovation's newest entrepreneur in residence, Harold Hughes joins us to share his story. He is the founder and CEO of Bandwagon, a data analytics company focused on sporting events and experience creators. In this episode, Harold talks about disruption, servant leadership, and building companies and products through mutual collaboration. Host: Mary Sturgill Producers: Rachel Page and Harri...

In this episode, we talk to Sali Christeson, the founder of Argent, a company that not only is on a mission to upgrade the office dress code but start a movement that allows for self-expression, versatility, and power. Sali shares the story of how she built her company and how they pivoted during COVID 19 to propel the mission forward during the pandemic.    

One of the most common mistakes that entrepreneurs make in the early stages of starting their own company is choosing to work with the wrong people. In this episode, founder of Coastal Corrugated Jim Bozard shares the biggest mistake he made when he started his own business, as well as other advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

If you are a start-up and need to scale your business, you want to get a yes from investors, right?  But it's hard to raise money, especially in this economy.  In this episode Managing Director of Venture South, Matt Dunbar outlines you need to do to get that Yes .  Plus, the mistakes people make that are certain to get them a N o . 

In this episode, serial social entrepreneur and former member of the US national kayaking team, Jonathan Shanin shares how he developed programs, non-profits, and businesses that make a social impact. Why he says being your authentic self and having social-emotional intelligence is more important than anything else. He explains how his competitive nature led him to be one of the first online marke...

Why terrible ideas can succeed if they are executed well according to entrepreneur Mark Metz in his conversation with The Lakeside Chat host, Derek Pedersen. He shares his philosophy for any entrepreneur and why a fearless approach, is your key to success.  Mark Metz has created and sold four companies and is currently the founder of Relutech. 

In this episode, Furman Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneur in Residence, Derek Pedersen talks with Jon Scott, founder of ScopeStack, an early-stage software platform that helps companies scale the work they perform faster and efficiently. They talk about how to streamline your company's processes and find scalable solutions to problems. Jon explains how he started his company and who yo...

Libby Phillips of Phillips Family Office shares what they look for when investing in companies. She discusses how you can get your company in the place for investment or to exit.  She also talks about how impact investing has driven her decision-making process as a venture capitalist. Often pitches fail and Libby tells us why they do and what successful pitches look like. Plus, she shares the advi...

In this episode, Furman Trustee and Tech Lawyer with Morris, Manning, and Martin, John Yates, talks with hosts Anthony Herrera and Mary Sturgill about how you can expand your connections,  and attract investors.  He explains the steps technology start-ups need to take, and the mistakes they often make when pitching to investors. This conversation is full of incredible information for anyone who wa...

In this episode, host Mary Sturgill talks with Professor, Ross McClain who is the head of the Art Department at Furman University.  Ross explains how he created synergy to reimagine what the art department could be.  As a branding expert, he explains the first thing you need to do to create your brand and he gives listeners 10 things they can do right now to become more creative and innovative.  ...

In this episode, Furman Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneur in Residence, Derek Pedersen, shares the pitfalls most new entrepreneurs make and how you can avoid them.  He also outlines what Furman Innovation is doing to help great ideas come to light. 

This is the second part of the two-part episode in which we talk to Professor Meghan Slining about what she and her sister learned while creating an App that allows for Pediatric Cancer families to connect with one another.  Meghan shares the things they didn't know and the power of saying Yes.  

In this episode of a two-part show, host, Mary Sturgill talks with Furman University Professor, Meghan Slining who, with her sister has created a non-profit called Sweet Tea Cancer Connections and an App that helps cancer families find each other.  This is part one of how cancer touched her family but also helped her find her passion to help others.  Here is the link to the Sweet Tea website.  htt...

In this Episode of the Class E Podcast, Furman University Professor, Meghan Slining shares the family tragedy that leads to the creation of the App CoHeals and a non-profit aimed at helping help cancer families connect.  The conversation takes us through how they rallied the troops to build the App, even when they had never done anything like this before.  Meghan shares the lessons they learned al...

In this episode of the Class E Podcast, we continue our conversation with the founders of Blue Inc. Strategies, Kenneth Fields and Johannes Mutzke.  In Part 2, we talk about partnerships, scaling and innovation in small and large companies, the importance of failure and how you can attend a Design Thinking "Experience" here at Furman University hosted by Furman Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  Th...

In the first of this two-part episode, the founders of Blue Inc Strategies, Kenneth Fields and Johannes Mutzke talk about their experience in innovation working within a large corporation and how they created their own company to lead small and large organizations alike into a customer-centric way of thinking. 

In this premiere episode, our host, Mary Sturgill, talks with the Director of Furman Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Anthony Herrera, about the exciting programs Furman Innovation has created, as well as, the partnership and the launch of the Class E Podcast.  The Class E Podcast is brought to you through a partnership between Furman Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Communication Studies D...