Coffee with a T-bird hosted by Alex Rozenfeld

In this episode of Coffee with a T-Bird , I sit down with Manuel Coelho—entrepreneur, Thunderbird alum, and founder of Speedbird Aero—to talk about what it really takes to build something from the ground up. We get into his journey from Brazil to the U.S., how he went from telemedicine to launching a drone logistics company, and what it’s like to actually deploy drone delivery in real cities like...

In this episode of Coffee with T-Bird , Alex Rozenfeld sits down with Marc Sondheimer , an Academy Award–winning producer known for his work at Pixar on films like The Incredibles , WALL-E , Finding Dory , and the Oscar-winning short Piper . Marc shares the story behind Piper —a short animated film that was shut down three separate times before it was finally completed—and what it really takes to...

In this episode of Coffee with a T-Bird , Alex Rozenfeld interviews Blaine Yates , Thunderbird alum, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Xlear(Clear) , the xylitol-based nasal and oral health company. Blaine shares how Xlear grew from a startup idea into a nationally distributed brand, the challenges of scaling sales and educating consumers, and how his Thunderbird Executive MBA helped shape his leade...

In this episode, Alex Rozenfeld sits down with Ilya Vinogradsky , the Co-Founder and Chief Solutions Officer of Astound Digital . Ilya shares his "ultimate Silicon Valley story"—immigrating from the Soviet Union at 14, teaching himself to code on paper, and eventually transforming a scrappy startup into a global digital commerce leader servicing brands like L'Oreal, Crocs, and Adida...

In this engaging conversation, Maria Laine shares her journey from her unique upbringing in Finland and Sweden to her successful career at Boeing. She reflects on a truly meaningful day at Thunderbird—standing at the podium as keynote speaker while her daughter crossed the stage as a graduate. Maria discusses the importance of mentorship, cultural insights, and the skills needed for success in the...

In this insightful episode, Alex Rozenfeld sits down with Ekaterina Solovova, Head of EBRD in Albania, to explore her remarkable journey from post-Soviet Russia to leading economic development across emerging markets. With over 20 years of experience in development finance, Ekaterina shares how her early exposure to international institutions, a pivotal scholarship to Thunderbird School of Global...

In this special episode, Alex Rozenfeld sits down with Ambassador Larry André, a veteran of more than 33 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. From his beginnings as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal to serving as U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Djibouti, and Mauritania, Ambassador shares what diplomacy really looks like day to day: building trust, leading teams under pressure, and pushing progress forw...

In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Bo Lee, an entrepreneur who has navigated the complexities of Wall Street and ventured into the promising realm of clean energy. Bo shares his strategic insights and experiences, offering a candid look at the challenges and triumphs of building a business in the renewable energy sector. Join us for a conversation that delves into the intricacie...

In this episode we sit down with Dennis Diokno, founder and CEO of FirstMed, to unpack a 30-year journey of building trusted healthcare for expats across Europe. From launching a single clinic in Budapest to expanding into Rome, Milan, and beyond, Dennis shares lessons on perseverance, customer care, scaling with culture, and knowing when to focus. The conversation also explores the power of the T...

In this engaging conversation, I spoke with May Busch, a former COO of Morgan Stanley Europe and author of the book 'Visible' . We discussed May's journey from a challenging corporate career to becoming an entrepreneur and author, emphasizing the importance of visibility, relationships, and integrity in career advancement. May shared formative experiences from her upbringing, insigh...

In this episode, we speak with Jim Groo — a Thunderbird alumnus whose international journey is anything but conventional. From frying chicken in Connecticut to launching Ray-Bans in post-communist Europe and leading AI-driven MarTech out of Switzerland, Jim shares how embracing uncertainty opened doors across 50+ markets and six countries. With stories ranging from eating a questionable fish in Eg...

In this episode, I spoke with fintech entrepreneur Sanghita Dey , co-founder and CEO of Solus Finance , a company making crypto derivatives more accessible through gamified, social trading. A Forbes 40 Under 40 honoree and former founder of YourMocha (acquired), Sanghita shares her journey from a small town in India to becoming a global fintech leader. She opens up about growing up with limited ac...

In this conversation, Michael Johnston shares his fascinating journey from strategy consulting and private equity to becoming a hospitality entrepreneur. He discusses his early travels, the impact of his Peace Corps experience in Ukraine, and the challenges of navigating the Ukrainian economy while working in private equity. Michael also delves into the founding of Aspen Company, his vision for lu...

Eduardo Donnelly spent nearly a decade helping build Uber in Latin America—from launching Uber Eats and scaling it 7×, to leading operations across 18 markets and overseeing half of the company’s global trips. But at the height of his career, he made a surprising decision: he stepped away. In this episode, Eduardo shares the story behind that choice, the lessons he learned from a failed startup, a...

In this conversation, Joe O'Dowd discusses his transformative gift to establish the O'Dowd Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ocean Diplomacy and Leadership at Thunderbird. He explains the significance of ocean diplomacy, the blue economy, and the importance of addressing environmental issues. Joe shares insights from his career in international business, his experiences living in Medellin, Colo...

In this conversation, Maria Botta shares her unique journey from a multicultural childhood as the daughter of Cuban refugees to a successful career in film, television, and startup advising. She discusses the challenges of adapting to different cultures and languages, the lessons learned from her experiences in TV and film production, and her transition to helping entrepreneurs find clarity and su...

In this conversation, Bill Goodwin shares his extensive experience in leadership and business transformation, discussing his journey from a young worker in various jobs to becoming a CEO and eventually a leadership coach. He emphasizes the importance of operational speed, understanding customer dynamics, and building a strong company culture. Bill also reflects on his experiences with Walmart duri...

In this conversation, Carter Looney shares his extensive experience as an entrepreneur, discussing his journey from a successful exit in 2010 to his current focus on helping businesses grow through mergers and acquisitions. He emphasizes the importance of building a company that can operate independently of its founder, the significance of hiring the right people, and the lessons learned throughou...

When Laura Libman left a successful aerospace career, she didn’t plan to start a nonprofit. But a summer of field research in rural Mexico after graduating from Thunderbird changed everything. In this episode, she shares the incredible and inspiring story of how the Tia Foundation was born—from horseback surveys and homegrown health worker training to empowering women like Juana, who used her trai...

Join us as we delve into the fascinating global marketing journey of Shawn Gallegly, a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience. From driving growth for iconic brands like Coca-Cola and Carlsberg to his adventures in Lagos and beyond, Shawn shares captivating stories and insights. Discover how his curiosity and strategic vision have shaped his career, and learn about the lessons he's...

Rabie Zahri didn’t speak a word of English when he arrived in the U.S. at 18. Fast forward to today — he's the CEO and co-founder of Positon, an  AI platform transforming the M&A lifecycle from deal origination to post-close integration. In this episode, we dive into Rabie’s founder journey — from Casablanca to corporate development at Hewlett Packard, to building an AI-native startup bac...

In this conversation, Marco Molinari shares his extensive experience in global business, highlighting his successful marketing campaigns at Goodyear, including a notable celebrity endorsement with Wayne Gretzky. He reflects on his upbringing in Sweden, his education at Thunderbird, and the lessons learned throughout his career, particularly at Goodyear and HNI Corporation. Marco emphasizes the imp...

In this conversation, Suzanne Martens , founder of Adesse New York, shares her journey from a childhood in Pennsylvania to becoming a leader in the clean beauty industry. She discusses her entrepreneurial spirit, the challenges of starting her own business, and the innovative use of AI in product development. Suzanne emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and the role of cultura...

What happens when a childhood dream, a vintage convertible, and a tight-knit Indian family collide? You get the incredible journey of Daman Thakore —a businessman, tennis champ, and explorer at heart—who drove 13,000 kilometers from Ahmedabad to London in a 73-year-old car named Lalpari (Red Angel), alongside his father, wife, and daughter. In this inspiring conversation, Daman shares the origin o...

In this episode, Aquiles Gatas shares his incredible path from growing up in poverty in Venezuela to leading marketing at PepsiCo and managing billion-dollar investments at Koch Industries. He talks about his transition into entrepreneurship, launching ventures like Eco Wash and Centrum, and his latest company BizzMD , which helps small businesses thrive through remote CEO consulting. Aquiles also...