Entrepreneurial Thinkers with Rob Ryan

As we remodel and rebrand our podcast this month, we're bringing some fun outside shows, created by our guest alumni, into your feed. In this special episode, Rob is interviewed by Jeffrey Potvin from the Open People's Network in Toronto, Canada. Jeffrey, a past guest on episode 71 of Mentors Today, turns the tables by hosting Rob on his show, "Impact Investing by the Supporters Fund....

In this episode, Rob and Courtney explore the similarities between traditional “entrepreneurs” and the entrepreneurial life of a successful Singer/Songwriter. Courtney’s musical journey began as a child in her Church and musical theater in school, in New Orleans area where she grew up, then exploded during her years in Nashville, America’s heart of Country music. She put in the work, studying Musi...

Join Rob in this special Year End Review episode in which he highlights the milestone of our 100th Episode and looks eagerly forward into 2024, an exciting year to come which will see a rebranding and strengthening of the show that you’ve come to love. Rob shares our gratitude for you, our Audience, for the incredible community of Guests who’ve humbly shared their inspiring stories and business an...

“One young woman of color can affect change in 5 generations of her family by deciding to go through our program.” In this energizing episode, Rob is joined by Loretta Williams Gurnell—an educator, former professional basketball player and Founder behind the SUPERGirls SHINE Foundation, a Houston, Texas based STEM mentorship program for young women of color. You’ll want to hear about her vision fo...

Rob is joined by the remarkably energetic Mica Le John, an entrepreneurial thinker at the intersection of identity, culture and technology. The conversation dives immediately into how we gain and share knowledge around Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality and Ability lenses with young people. Mica proudly continues a global multicultural legacy of incredibly strong women in their family, and brings a le...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Jean Michel Habineza, Founder/CEO of iDebate Rwanda, who is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and peace-building through meaningful dialogue. His motivation and life experience was shaped by the infamous Rwandan Genocide which unfolded during his childhood. Jean Michel's impactful journey proves that not all entrepreneurs have to build billion dollar...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Cristian Lara, an unintentional entrepreneur, with no resources and now a dynamic young leader in the field of sustainability and recycling in Chile, now Mexico and across Latin America. His “aha” moment hit while playing a match of futbol with friends at university one night, and began his rise to prominence. His inspiring story emerges from his unconventional or...

Every once in a while we believe we need to slow down, sit with friends, and have long, wide ranging conversations. This episode with Rob and Jessica O'Leary, is that cross generational conversation; we discuss politics, parents, science, immigration, the last 100 years and the next 50 years of innovation as a species. Rob shares advice and perspective shaped by Jessica’s own heartfelt stories...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Sofia Haq, an aspiring millennial Investor, and a true Southern Californian whose life is a unique tapestry of multicultural experiences. Born to a Pakistani father, from Lahore, and Mexican mother, from Leon, who met in Downtown LA, Sofia is a proud 1st Gen advocate for those whose voices need to be heard. She is the Founder and CEO of Muslim Women Professionals...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Ali Jamal, one of the most plugged-in young seed stage investors in Latin America’s entrepreneurial economy! He is a seasoned corporate guy turned investor, built upon his upbringing in small-town Minnesota, to his studies at Stanford and then working at some of the world’s fastest growing companies around the world. His story is a classic one of self discovery, f...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Kennith Burks, CEO/Founder at CarKenny, an aspiring builder in the world of mobility and ai based telematics software. Kennith’s entrepreneurial story takes us from hustling at the Corner Store in Newark, New Jersey as a kid, where he watched too many friends go to jail for stealing cars, to Corporate roles at Bridgestone, Hyundai, then his MBA at Pepperdine Unive...

In this episode, Rob is joined by the force of nature that is Trish Halamandaris, a name synonymous with innovation, strategy, and success here in Los Angeles. She’s true Angeleno and Proud Californian! The two talk about her passion for Los Angeles, for UCLA and for life and curiosity! As the Director of the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson School of Management, Trish has been instrumental in...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Christian Narvaez, Managing Partner at Rayo Capital, a dynamic investor and community leader in the web3 world. We delve into a wide range of topics, including the profound impact of mentorship on his life, and how he’s now mentoring others in the growing Latino Web3 community and how that representation will shape the future. We explore Rayo Capital's mission...

In this episode, Rob is joined by a remarkable woman, Elianne Rodriguez. Elianne is a serial entrepreneur dedicated to a life’s work of empowering and educating entrepreneurs from under-served communities! She makes a fascinating connection between her deep passion for Los Angeles’ two professional soccer clubs, Angel City FC of the NWSL and LAFC, one of the City’s two MLS franchises. She predicts...

In this unique episode, Rob is joined by multi-talented, multi-hyphenate, Natasha Chandel . In this captivating interview, the two delve into a wide range of topics including exploring the surprising similarities between the entrepreneurial industry and Hollywood/entertainment industry, shedding light on how lessons from one world can apply to the other. Natasha shares her captivating career journ...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Andrea Orrego, Founder of Atelier. She’s a third-generation architect turned tech entrepreneur hailing from Lima, Peru, now living with her family in Colorado, whose journey in architecture and entrepreneurship has not only crafted inspiring spaces but also redefined the notion of an entrepreneurial life and personal resilience. She’s an advocate and strong voice...

In this episode, Rob is joined by his friend, the remarkably talented Juliana Garaizar , a true trailblazer in the world of venture capital and sustainable innovation. The two enjoy a wide ranging, personal conversation which dives into the topics which Juliana feels most compelled by everyday - Climate innovation, the fundamental value of multi-culturalism and more broadly the importance of Diver...

In this episode, Rob is joined by a dynamic new venture investor, Michael Shor, hailing from Miami, Florida. Michael is SHOR Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund with a unique penchant for backing "ruthlessly iterative founders." In this captivating conversation, Michael delves into his unique investing philosophy, shedding light on his preference for disruptive ideas over conven...

In this episode, Rob is joined by the dynamic and high energy Shirin Salmenia, CEO of PlayWerks. Shirin is an indefatigable example of knowing what your dreams are and then being relentlessly single minded in pursuit of them. Her early career found her working on some of the most iconic toy brands in American history. Shirin is more than just a successful entrepreneur, she’s an anchor of the Los A...

In this really special behind the scenes episode, Rob is joined for two incredible conversations by the powerful Mexican women who have shaped this show for you over the last 3+ years. Rob says goodbye to his friend, and our (now former) co-host, Ileana Jaime Felix, as we announce her departure from the show, after helping give birth to it in the midst of the Pandemic Summer of 2020. She’s on to b...

In this special episode, Rob is joined for an impromptu conversation, by a guest who needs no introduction: the one and only Sergio Borromei aka Maxolydian aka the Cowboy Coder. We get together in this informal conversation between Los Angeles, a City globally renowned for it’s creativity, and Maxolydian’s recording studio on his Ranch outside Santiago, Chile. We celebrate a big announcemnt in his...

In this special end of our Summer Break Series episode, Rob updates us on some of his own summer fun, shares a sneek peak into the future of MentorsToday in 2023-24, and recaps and adds his own takes on the three Summer Break series episodes we just reshared on the critical topics of: Storytelling, Venture Capital, and Mental Health. Rob explores the power of storytelling and why it’s essential fo...

It’s summertime 2023, and just like you and your family are taking some holiday time off to travel, lay by the pool or hangout at the beach, we’ve decided to give our team a short Summer Break too. But since we know you’re still listening, we thought we’d re-share three terrific episodes in July, on the 3 hottest topics which Rob gets asked about most often in our work at GrowthHax. Storytelling,...

It’s summertime 2023, and just like you and your family are taking some holiday time off to travel, lay by the pool or hangout at the beach, we’ve decided to give our team a short Summer Break for the next few weeks too. But since we know you’re still listening, we thought we’d re-share three terrific episodes in July, on the 3 hottest topics which Rob gets asked about most often in our work at Gr...

It’s summertime 2023, and just like you and your family are taking some holiday time off to travel, lay by the pool or hangout at the beach, we’ve decided to give our team a short Summer Break for the next few weeks too. But since we know you’re still listening, we thought we’d re-share three terrific episodes in July, on the 3 hottest topics which Rob gets asked about most often in our work at Gr...