How'd it Happen?

Xiao Wang is the Co-Founder and CEO of Boundless, a Seattle, Washington based startup that is democratizing the immigration process offering an inexpensive, and highly successful, online platform for marriage green cards and US citizenship.  He has an undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and earned his MBA at Harvard University.  Before starting Boundless, Xiao worked… Conti...

Kelly Fitzsimmons is the Founder and CEO of several technology focused companies and currently the co-founder of Custom Reality Services, a firm that tells stories and creates amazing experiences using Transformative Applied Virtual Reality.  She is also the author of “Lost in Startuplandia – Wayfinding for the Weary Entrepreneur” a book in which she details the… Continue reading ➞ Kelly Fitzsimmo...

I share a story about a lapse in my leadership that resulted in me reacting to a situation in a way that was beneath me. It almost doesn’t make sense for me to say I’m glad it happened, because I wish it hadn’t. But if it hadn’t happened, I might still be searching for the… Continue reading ➞ Randy Shows Me the Way – Episode 59.5 The post Randy Shows Me the Way – Episode 59.5 first appeared on Mik...

Mark Shapiro is the President and CEO of the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center of Milwaukee.  Mark attended Indiana University before exploring a career in restaurant management with Ed Debevic’s where a chance encounter with a couple of entrepreneurs he was serving led him to become a freight broker, moving truckload shipments of… Continue reading ➞ Mark Shapiro, CEO, Courageou...

Jill Young is the Founder and CEO of TractionFirst LLC, a Texas based Certified EOS Implementation Firm.  Jill is also a keynote speaker, a two time author – her latest book is called “In Courage – How Entrepreneur’s and Their Leadership Teams Can Experience Less Pain in Growth Mode” – and an energized, dynamic leader.  Jill grew… Continue reading ➞ Jill Young, CEO, Guiding and Challenging Leaders...

On the football field when I was a kid and a teenager, I was fast.  Not the fastest, but in the top 10%, I’d say.  One of a few hares amongst many other tortoises.   Those days are long gone and, these days, I’m definitely the reverse, a tortoise settled into the comfort of a slow and steady… Continue reading ➞ Slowing Down to Grow Up – Episode 57.5 The post Slowing Down to Grow Up – Episode 57.5...

Brad Zepecki is the Founder and CEO of Octavian Technology Group, a Milwaukee based technology consulting firm that provides strength to its clients with fractional CIO and AI Datascience expertise. He’s a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh with a Management Information Systems and Marketing degree.  Brad began his career as a software engineer and… Continue reading ➞ Brad Zepecki,...

If there is one thing that has pushed and propelled me to move forward in the direction I’ve needed over the years, it’s been my curiosity. It’s been natural for me to wonder, investigate, ask questions, and seek answers. To ask “Why?” I’ve always wanted to know more than I knew. To figure out things… Continue reading ➞ The Pain of Dormant Curiosity – Episode 56.5 The post The Pain of Dormant Curi...

This is part 2 with Peg Ann, a former Co-Owner of the Empire Level Corporation, the CEO of Life Moves, LLC, a mogul on the TV Show “Project Pitch It” and an incredibly generous Philanthropist. In part 2, Mike and Peg talk about her tumultuous and triumphant journey after becoming Co-Owner of the Empire Level… Continue reading ➞ Peg Ann, CEO, Redemption from Feeling like a Cracked Tile – Episode 56...

A business needs discipline to be successful. There’s no question about that. Without the discipline to stick to a plan, identify and replicate the things that work and stay on task in a world that seems to be designed to blow you off course, a business can seem like a tail wagging the dog, kind… Continue reading ➞ The Power of Idea Discipline – Episode 55.5 The post The Power of Idea Discipline –...

Peg Ann is a former Co-Owner of the Empire Level Corporation, the CEO of Life Moves, LLC, a mogul on the TV Show “Project Pitch It” and an incredibly generous Philanthropist.  Growing up with modest means, Peg started working early and held a multitude of jobs before graduating from high school.  After having her first child,… Continue reading ➞ Peg Ann, CEO, Drawing Strength from the Gifts of Dys...

I never expect to fail. I’m afraid of being seen as a screw up, or at least I used to be. Which is crazy, because I’ve failed so many times that you might think I would go into everything I do expecting to fail – because the odds of it happening are so lopsided. I’ve… Continue reading ➞ Who Wants to Fail – Episode 54.5 The post Who Wants to Fail – Episode 54.5 first appeared on Mike Malatesta . To...

Andrew Rush is a Vice President with Carpedia International, a Toronto based Management Consulting firm who’s proven tools and methods help clients align their organizations to deliver consistent, predictable results.  He’s a graduate of Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.   Andrew began his career with Carpedia after meeting Mark Holland, who was working at the… Continue readin...

This is a story about responsibility that I call, “It’s My Fault.” “My assistant really dropped the ball on me this time.” “My drivers can’t follow simple directions.” “Our sales guys are useless.” “Our people are too dumb to understand a 401k plan.” “We’re pissing money away and nobody seems to give a damn about… Continue reading ➞ It’s My Fault – Episode 53.5 The post It’s My Fault – Episode 53....

Nicholas Bayerle is the founder and CEO of The Billion Dollar Body, an organization that helps businessmen achieve health and wealth.  Nicholas is also the author of a new book called The Modern Day Businessman – subtitle “Success Without Sacrifice”, the host of the BDB Podcast and the leader of the Billion Dollar Brotherhood Facebook Group.  … Continue reading ➞ Nicholas Bayerle, CEO of Billion D...

“My Future is my property.” – Wow, that one landed on me like a ton of bricks. I didn’t come up with it. It was presented to me while I was a participant in the strategic coach program. One of the best programs I’ve ever found for helping entrepreneurs raise the level of their game.… Continue reading ➞ My Future is My Property – Episode 52.5 The post My Future is My Property – Episode 52.5 first a...

Brian Adam is the President and CEO of Olympus Group, a large custom printing company and the maker of the world’s greatest mascot costumes.  A UW Madison Business School graduate and former Bucky Badger mascot, Brian acquired the business from his father in 2005, after which he proceeded to transform and expand it, making 3 acquisitions… Continue reading ➞ Brian Adam, CEO of the World’s Greatest...

Tom Shannon is the founder and CEO of Brightstar Wisconsin (HL), a one of a kind non-profit created as a unique entity to fill the early-stage funding void by providing charitable foundations, corporations and wealthy individuals with a vehicle to help fund job creation— through capital donation!  Tom graduated with a Finance degree from The University… Continue reading ➞ Tom Shannon, Mastermind O...

Tim O’Connor is a Managing Director at Sandler O’Neill, an independent, full-service investment banking firm. He’s also Mike’s oldest and best friend, a friendship that started in elementary school at St. Denis School in Havertown PA.  Tim graduated from the University of Delaware and started his career in the corporate world as an accountant.  He quickly rose through… Continue reading ➞ Tim O’Con...

Amy Falluca is the founder and CEO of Bravent, a human resources consulting and recruiting firm she started in 2017.  Amy graduated with a degree in Human Resources from the Business School at University of Wisconsin – Madison, a school she got into after first being wait listed – a development she did not take lying… Continue reading ➞ Amy Fallucca, The Path of a Superstar Recruiter and HR Consul...

Craig Weber is the CEO of The Weber Consulting Group, a company that helps companies build successful teams that perform when the pressure is on.  His first book, “Conversational Capacity” was a best seller and his newest book, “Influence in Action” will be published by McGraw Hill this fall. Craig is also a highly rated Vistage speaker and… Continue reading ➞ Craig Weber, Why Top Performers Maste...

Kent Lorenz is the retired Chairman & CEO of Acieta, LLC, a division of Matsui Corporation, a Japan based global conglomerate.  He’s also an investor, key-note speaker and highly sought-after Board Member.  Kent’s business career started in the fledgling Milwaukee office of Ellison Technologies, a company that grew to $650M in sales and 650 employees, and were… Continue reading ➞ Kent Lorenz,...

Phil Nadel is the Founder and Managing Director of Forefront Ventures, one of the largest start-up investment syndicates on AngelList.  He is also a star on the Gimlet Podcast ‘The Pitch’, (Also listen to “The Pitch” on Spotify). Phil is a graduate of Saint Andrew’s School and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the… Continue reading ➞ Phil Nadel, Venture Capitalist on the Entrep...

Denise Thomas, is the Founder and CEO of The Effective Communication Coach.  She was recently recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as a 2019 Woman of Influence in the Entrepreneur category. Denise graduated from Cardinal Stritch University with a degree in Management before setting off on a career in corporate America where she quickly moved up the… Continue reading ➞ Denise Thomas, CEO Tr...

Noah Rickun is the President of Sales and Marketing at ETE Reman, a leading, family owned, automobile transmission remanufacturer.  Noah graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where, in addition to getting his degree, he became an entrepreneur as well, creating a market for used musical instruments that he sourced through a newspaper ad and then sold… Continue reading ➞ Noah Rickun, Fe...