The Edge Of Excellence Podcast

In today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Steve Tchejeyan, President of Island, an enterprise browser maker. During the conversation, Matt and Steve explore the challenges and lessons learned from navigating high-pressure environments, where success hinges on adaptability and forward-thinking. Steve shares personal experiences of realizing the importance of maintaining moment...

In today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, guest host Sean Phelps is joined by Eric Rose, a former Procter & Gamble executive, now the founder and CEO of Sprints Running Apparel. During the conversation, Eric shares the evolution of his entrepreneurial journey, balancing the demands of a high-profile corporate career with the drive to build a personal brand from the ground up. Navigating th...

In today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Grayson Bierling, a former member of the College Works program. During the conversation, Grayson shares his journey of returning to a familiar industry with a fresh perspective, embracing the challenges of learning the trade from the ground up. Rather than taking shortcuts, he immerses himself in the intricacies of operations, regulat...

In today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Ellen Pais, Executive Director of Pretend City Children's Museum. During the conversation, Matt and Ellen discuss bold, unconventional approaches to solving community challenges, highlighting the power of creativity and collaboration. Ellen shares insights into how innovative thinking can drive real change, bringing people together in...

In today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Bobby Bourguignon, an alumnus of the College Works program. During the conversation, Bobby shares how they navigated the early stages of his career, experimenting with different paths before finding one that sparked genuine excitement. The discussion explores the importance of passion in professional growth, while also acknowledging t...

In today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Matt Hickman, a video content creator. You'll hear Matt's compelling journey of discovery, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit. Faced with a crossroads in life, he embraced a bold challenge — venturing into the unknown with nothing but raw determination and an eagerness to learn. His story unfolds through moments of uncertainty, re...

In today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Hirad Emadi, co-founder and President of Innovative Construction Solutions. During this engaging conversation, Matt explores the journey of a successful entrepreneur who transitioned from a stable career to launching a thriving business. Hirad highlights the importance of identifying gaps in the market and consistently adding value, w...

In today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Brad Baldridge, certified financial planner, college funding consultant, and chief podcaster at Taming the High Cost of College. Matt and Brad explore the multifaceted process of preparing for an important milestone that affects many families—paying for college. They discuss various strategies and options available to navigate this co...

In this episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Darton Case, owner and CEO of Dart Appraisal Services. They discuss the challenges and triumphs faced in building a lasting business. Darton offers insights on having a long-term vision, emphasizing how critical it is for entrepreneurs to diversify and not rely too heavily on a single client or market.  You'll discover the evolution...

In this episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Ryan Coon, entrepreneur and former CEO / co-owner of Avail. Ryan outlines some of the invaluable lessons learned from his early career experiences. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships and networking, particularly how connections made during internships and college can lead to unexpected opportunities later in life. You...

In this episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Madi McSwain, an insurance agent with Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Madi shares her unique journey and the strategies she has employed to achieve success in her professional life. She emphasizes the importance of relationship-building, strategic planning, and maintaining a customer-focused approach. You'll discover the challenges Madi e...

In this engaging episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by David Renberg, a successful entrepreneur who started his own real estate brokerage at a remarkably young age. Throughout the conversation, David reflects on his journey, offering insights and advice based on his experiences. He shares key moments of growth and realization, touching on topics like work-life balance, team building...

In this engaging episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Mason Lindsay, a promising young entrepreneur, exploring the journey of career discovery and personal growth. Mason reflects on the pressures and misconceptions surrounding the need to determine a lifelong career path early on, contrasting it with the more realistic approach of exploring various opportunities. You'll discover in...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Grace Jones as they discuss her professional journey and the significance of internships and diverse work experiences in shaping her career. She reflects on how college internships, particularly those that allowed her to run her own business, provided her with the freedom and guidance to explore and succeed in the business world. Grac...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Sishir Reddy, CEO and co-founder of Episource, as he shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing the challenges and pivotal moments that shaped his career. Initially inspired by his father's suggestion to explore medical billing, Sishir set out to establish a medical billing outsourcing business in India. With his father's practice...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Jeff Gunhus, a seasoned entrepreneur, to discuss the concept of excellence and business leadership. Jeff defines excellence as a deliberate choice to pursue the best version of oneself across all life's endeavors, stressing the importance of being both content and driven. Throughout their conversation, Jeff shares insights from his jo...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by guest Kory Finley, as they focus on Kory's journey to personal and professional excellence. The discussion opens with Kory sharing his definition of excellence as the consistent effort to perform at one's best every day, regardless of the circumstances. Kory narrates his life story, from being a multi-sport athlete in high school to e...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Sean Phelps, as they explore the concept of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of gaining practical experiences outside traditional educational pathways. Sean reflects on his journey, highlighting his involvement with College Works, where he developed essential business skills by managing teams and projects while still in co...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by entrepreneur Steve Kearley, from Benson Kearley Insurance as they discuss the elements of success, the entrepreneurial mindset, and personal growth through business endeavors. Steve shares his journey from selling designer jeans out of his high school locker to becoming a prominent figure in the insurance industry. He emphasizes the s...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by Brett Apel as he shares his journey from a college student to becoming an entrepreneur and business executive. Bret emphasizes the importance of hard work, continuous learning, and pushing boundaries to achieve success. He discusses his initial uncertainty about his career path and how his experience with College Works Painting opened...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by John Bruckner, a consultant and advisor with a unique blend of legal and financial expertise. John shares his journey from being a finance major to becoming an influential figure in the legal consulting world, emphasizing the importance of being open to opportunities and seeking mentorship. He recounts his decision to pursue law schoo...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt encourages listeners to engage in the process of brainstorming goals, emphasizing the importance of setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) goals as a fundamental approach to achieving personal aspirations. He illustrates how such goals can transform everyday objectives into actionable plans, offering the example of...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is joined by entrepreneur Gavin Lantzy, CEO of SaaviHome, a company specializing in home technology installation and now venturing into franchising. Gavin discusses the importance of accountability and discipline in achieving business goals, emphasizing a culture of determination where goals are pursued ‘hell or high water.’ He shares his journey...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt shares insightful strategies for navigating the college job search, emphasizing the importance of preparation and strategic application. He begins by advising against starting with the most anticipated interviews, suggesting instead to conduct several "burner interviews" for practice. He underscores the hard work required in job hunting, highlight...

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt is by Lisa Merage, the newly named Governor of Portland Thorns FC as she discusses her journey and the underlying beliefs that have guided her career path. She emphasizes the concept of stewardship rather than ownership, reflecting on how her past experiences in various fields have culminated in her current position, where she aims to make a signi...