The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project

Many people at work just go through the motions because they have never been permitted to contribute in a meaningful way. But if they are given a chance to build an entrepreneurial movement, they can unlock so much more in their career journey. Gary Schoeniger is joined by Maria Racho , an intrapreneur, angel investor, and former organizational effectiveness leader at Allstate, who explores what h...

What if the future belongs not to those who follow directions, but to those who can think for themselves? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Don Wettrick — an educator, speaker, and founder of the Innovate Within movement. Long before "future-ready skills" became an educational buzzword, Don was building classrooms where students were given something rare: autonomy, purpose...

If life is not a dress rehearsal, then what will you do with it? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Nico Yeats Zeelie — an entrepreneurial mindset facilitator from South Africa who, after attending a faculty training workshop with ELI, took a simple framework back to his students and watched it change the way they saw themselves and what was possible. In this episode, Gary...

What happens when someone with slightly-above-average talent learns how to optimize their mind? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with Evan Bush — a professional goalkeeper in Major League Soccer who, at 39 years old, is still competing at the highest level. At 15, Evan discovered he could train his brain the same way he trained his body — through visualization, mindfulness, an...

In this episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, we sit down with Anita Shankar and Paul Spurzem from Johns Hopkins University to explore the root of human potential: agency.   Through their global work, Anita and Paul reveal how the simple ability to make decisions and take purposeful action is far from an abstract concept—it is the catalyst that determines whether we stay stuck or mo...

In a country grappling with high youth unemployment, what if the solution wasn't finding jobs, but building the capacity to create them? This is the mission of Linda Dhladhla from Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies in South Africa. In this conversation, we explore the powerful idea that unlocking human potential in South Africa requires a massive mindset shift. Linda's story—from his mother's si...

If nearly two out of three Americans say they have a business idea, why do so few ever act on it? That question sits at the heart of today’s conversation. Welcome to another episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, where we explore the hidden logic that enables ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Today I’m joined by Cameron Cushman , co-creator of 1 Million Cups — a simple W...

Why do students become less engaged the longer they are at school, which greatly diminishes their critical thinking skills? Tony Wagner , Senior Research Fellow at the Learning Policy Institute, is advocating for a complete education reform and vastly revamping the future of learning. He joins Gary Schoeniger to discuss how to reinvent learning approaches to make school less boring and disengaging...

If entrepreneurs are inspired, empowered, and genuinely love what they are doing, their efforts can lead to profound economic development. Gary Schoeniger speaks with his longtime friend Thom Ruhe , President and CEO of NC IDEA . Together, they discuss what it takes to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems – not just programs or funding pipelines, but cultures of agency, inclusion, and possibi...

Gary Schoeniger delves into the amazing life journey of Keith Johnson , whose authentic energy and resilient mindset led him to become part of Morgan Freeman’s blues band. He looks back to his childhood in Mississippi, his greatest rejection in HR, and how he fully embraced his musical talents. From singing gospel songs at his local church, forming a high school quartet, to bringing his unparallel...

A true entrepreneurial mindset is not just about earning a profit but also creating genuine human relationships and experiences. In this episode, we dive deep into the ecosystem of Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec) , one of the most entrepreneurial university systems in the world. Geraldina Silveyra León , a transformative leader at Tec, discusses how the university has embedded entrepreneurship into...

Here’s the thing that still puzzles me: We all know entrepreneurship drives innovation, creates jobs, and fuels economies. We know that. But, it's still not a core part of how we educate, how we train, how we think about the future of learning and work. Today’s guest is Jonathan Ortmans , who is, in my opinion, one of the loudest, clearest voices pushing to change that. As the founder of the Globa...

As technology, culture, and creativity reshape how we grow, the future of learning lies in moving beyond compliance to true curiosity and capability. Learning strategist Nick Briere shares how organizations can design experiences that do more than check boxes, empowering people to think, build, and innovate. Drawing from years of designing learning systems that balance human connection with measur...

Today’s conversation stuck with me long after we hit stop. My guest is Elan Gelfand , a 20-year-old college student and podcaster who caught my attention almost immediately because of his superpower – self-directed learning. From the moment we connected, I could tell he is not your typical college student. He is not waiting for other people to tell him what to learn and do in order to be successfu...

Dr. Matt Lee started out studying criminal homicide. But after his career took some unexpected yet fascinating turns, he found himself leading research at Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program. He joins Gary Schoeniger to reflect on how he made this career shift and is now pushing the boundaries of traditional academia. Dr. Lee unpacks the connection between entrepreneurship and human flourishing, e...

Entrepreneurship is not always about building and earning the biggest – sometimes, it is simply about getting started and doing consistent work. Gary Schoeniger sits down with Erik Pedersen , president and COO of Network Kansas , who shares how he builds statewide ecosystems centered on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. Together, they discuss what it takes to build these grassroots communities...

Today’s episode is a little different—and honestly, it’s one I’ve been looking forward to for a while. I’m joined by someone who really gets it. Not just the mechanics of leadership or the theory behind entrepreneurship—but the deeper stuff. The mindset. The attitude. The way of seeing the world that changes how we show up every day. Dr. Dan Walden is the superintendent and president of Victor Val...

Today I’m joined by John Dearie — founder and president of the Center for American Entrepreneurship , a nonpartisan policy and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. As the policy director at the Financial Services Forum, a CEO-led industry association, John had a front-row seat to the 2008 financial crisis. In the wake of that upheaval, he began to realize something critical: Washington’s trad...

Serial entrepreneur Doug Hardman went through a lot to achieve his current success. His story is all about ambition, resilience, and hard-earned humility, shaped by his determination to jump back from many failures. In this enlightening conversation, he looks back on the ups and downs of his career and life that taught him patience, commitment, and perseverance. Doug also talks about the importanc...

“Did you make this yourself?” was the question that inspired Kelsey Carter to turn her small hustles into an actual entrepreneurial venture. In this inspiring conversation with Gary Schoeniger, she shares her journey from selling candy, comics, and jewelry to building her soul food venture Carter’s Kitchen in her college dorm room. She talks about her mission to teach her community to eat healthie...

There is no single path to entrepreneurship success – one person may do it in the most traditional way, while others may take an even more unorthodox path. The latter proved to be true for Marshall Taulbert , who became a fashion designer in the most interesting way possible. He looks back on how he grew up mostly around entrepreneurs and how it taught him creativity, persistence, and resiliency....

Pain will always be a part of life. You will always find countless hurdles and roadblocks in your journey, and sometimes they will pull you down and hurt you. But you have to do everything in your power to not stay on the ground and get back up. Hakeem Croom ’s story embodies this mindset, which he explores in this conversation with Gary Schoeniger. Before becoming an educator, life coach, author,...

Hello and welcome to another episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, where I tease out the hidden logic that enables ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things through finding solutions.   In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Meena McCullough , a physical therapist who became an unlikely entrepreneur.   Frustrated by the limitations of the medical system, she found hers...

Welcome to another episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, where I tease out the hidden logic that enables ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.   In this episode, I’m speaking with Rick MacLennan, who happens to be the Chancellor of the Ventura County Community College System . Why am I interviewing a community college chancellor you might ask?  As I have often sai...

Today, I’m thrilled to speak with Kathy Boyd and Kim Goodwin , two inspiring leaders from the Orange County Department of Education, who have embraced this entrepreneurial mindset to make a real difference. We covered a lot in this conversation, and I was blown away by their energy and enthusiasm, as well as the innovative ways they’re using entrepreneurial thinking to improve the student experien...