The Entrepreneur’s Studio

Developer Jonathan Dodson left his job as a corporate banker and followed his passion to revitalize Oklahoma City through urban infill and adaptive reuse of commercial property.  His development group, Pivot is committed to creating ethical community development that is the product of public interest and addresses a community need. In today’s episode, Jonathan shares his story about how he felt a...

Christina Tosi is a chef and the founder and CEO of Milk Bar, a unique bakery concept reinventing classics like cereal and birthday cake with plenty of imagination. Creativity is the spirit of Milk Bar and a throughline for everything Christina does, but it can be hard to run a business without some of the traditional, tried-and-true practices. In this episode, Christina takes a deep dive into her...

Nostalgia was a key driver of Christina Tosi’s vision for Milk Bar. As it turns out, the masses share her sentiments. Whether your plan is to make childhood memories the theme of your business or a single item on your menu, Christina feels everyone can benefit by touching customers on a personal level. Christina Tosi is the award-winning chef and founder of Milk Bar, a singular bakery concept that...

In part one of our conversation with philanthropist Charles Best, we discussed the 3 Innovations of Crowdfunding, Digital Marketplace and Cause Marketing. In today’s concluding segment, we take a deep dive into some of the processes behind those innovations.    We’ll find out what motivated Charles to choose the non-profit model, how he raised his operating Capital while still teaching high school...

Charles Best is the founder of DonorsChoose, a nonprofit organization that connects teachers in need of classroom resources with donors who want to help. Charles launched DonorsChoose in 2000 while teaching history at a Bronx high school. His efforts began as a local, independent passion project among peers but went on to be named one of the 50 most Innovative organizations in the world.  Today, h...

Showing up “on time” and “on brand” may look like an easy win from the outside, but underneath outward success is a long journey of perseverance and dedication.  In this episode, fashion icon Rebecca Minkoff shares how she secures out-of-the-box partnerships, handles imposter syndrome and critical feedback, and believes it’s important to define success on your own terms.  Key Points include: Separ...

Rebecca Minkoff is a fashion designer, podcast host, author and founder of The Female Founder Collective. Though she’s known far and wide for her namesake brand of clothing and accessories (including her uber-popular handbags), Rebecca’s entrepreneurial path was riddled with character-shaping challenges from the start.  In this episode, Rebecca shares the story of how her hard work, persistence an...

Rachel Cope is the founder and CEO of 84 Hospitality Group. She is known for her innovative restaurant concepts and contribution to Oklahoma City’s budding food scene. Her flagship restaurant, Empire Slice House is a popular, New York style pizzeria with multiple locations across Oklahoma.  In this episode, Rachel shares the creative beginnings of how Empire Slice House began and how the commitmen...

Danny Meyer is a restaurateur and the founder of Union Square Hospitality Group. His claim to fame includes Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Shake Shack and other iconic dining institutions.  In this episode, Danny shares with us about what he calls “Enlightened Hospitality” and the importance of how you make your customers feel. This is part 2 of our interview with Danny Meyer. You can Check o...

Danny Meyer is a restaurateur and the founder of Union Square Hospitality Group. His claim to fame includes Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Shake Shack and other iconic dining institutions.  In this episode, Danny guides us from his food-obsessed youth and how he almost missed the lifestyle and career of his dreams by not following his passion. His inspiring story highlights the importance of...

In Season 2 of the Entrepreneur’s Studio podcast, we are going to bring you stories and conversations from leading voices across industries to learn from their mistakes, draw inspiration from their wins, and most importantly, feel supported on a journey that can be a lonely one. Beginning Tuesday March 28th, we will release a new series of bi-weekly episodes featuring well-known entrepreneurs and...

Bailey Wilson is the founder and CEO of Bondi Bowls, a quickly growing brand and food truck franchise. Bailey started her business at the age of 24 and franchised at month 5. To date, Bondi Bowls has 17 trucks across 8 states, a storefront in downtown Edmond, OK, and 2 kiosks in Oklahoma sporting facilities. In this episode, Bailey shares about: Becoming a Brand on a mission  Passion as a Competit...

Aarón Sánchez is an award-winning chef, TV personality, author and philanthropist. He is chef/owner of Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, and a judge on FOX’s hit culinary competition series MasterChef and MasterChef Junior. In Part 2 of our conversation, Aaron shares: The journey from chef to television personality.  The importance of staying connected to your heritage Positive strategies for handlin...

Life Lessons From A Latino Chef  Aarón Sánchez is an award-winning chef, TV personality, author and philanthropist. He is chef/owner of Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, and a judge on FOX’s hit culinary competition series MasterChef and MasterChef Junior.   Key Points: The Artistry of The Restaurant Business The Importance of Mentorship - And Why You Need It.  Scaling Your Business with Co-packing ...

Magie Cook is an entrepreneur with purpose. Before becoming the motivational speaker and coach she is today, her journey looked very different.   After someone entered her into a local salsa contest, Magie overcame all odds to leave homelessness and a challenging childhood behind to become a successful salsa brand founder. With zero business education or experience, she used a positive mindset, re...

Laird Hamilton, a big wave surfing athlete and wellness entrepreneur, doesn’t consider himself to be a patient person by nature. But, as pointed out to him by a journalist, his vocation as a surfer was all about patience: waiting for the right weather and the perfect waves.  He believes practicing patience and wellness self-care — whether it’s meditation, good sleep  hygiene, nutrition or working...

Two-time Paralympian champion Kaleo Kanahele Maclay and her husband Matthew understand that the only limitations to life are the ones you put on yourself.    Flower and Flour opened at the height of the pandemic; it was risky, with a growing family and finances tight; Kaleo and Matthew share how they managed the pitfalls of a start-up, tips on how they balanced marriage and business success with t...

In a previous episode with Chris Voss, who worked for the FBI in the Crisis Negotiation Unit, he shares the framework for a successful negotiation that entrepreneurs like you can use.   Today, Chris shares in-depth lessons he’s learned throughout his decades-long career in law enforcement and hostage negotiation, giving practical advice that both individual business owners and business organizatio...

Jeff Sheldon doesn’t buy into common tropes about what it takes to create a successful business, including the idea that more is better. His 14 year venture, Ugmonk has taught him that staying true to your purpose is far more important than growth for the sake of growth itself. Jeff’s passion for simplicity and focus on the customer experience shows up in his products and also helps him keep Ugmon...

Tim Tebow, philanthropist and former NFL quarterback knows a thing or two about being a part of winning teams. He currently leads his team at the Tim Tebow Foundation using skills he’s learned from his favorite coaches and the game of life. As an entrepreneur, one of those skills he values highly is the ability to create and communicate a vision of success. In this episode, we’ll hear about the ti...

We all love good food. But successful restaurants don’t thrive on good food alone.  From the menu to the atmosphere to the location and price point, running a great restaurant takes a lot more consideration than what’s on the plate. Chef Kevin Lee, a curator of culinary excellence, is no stranger to the ins and outs of the restaurant business. He’s an expert at scaling his techniques from the kitc...

Amy Downs, author and motivational speaker, moved to Oklahoma City in her twenties feeling underwhelmed by her past and unmotivated for the future. She was working at the Federal Employees Credit Union that fateful day on April 19, 1995, when her world was literally turned upside down. She survived the Oklahoma City bombing that claimed the lives of 168 people. In the aftermath of that tragedy and...

Laird Hamilton, a big wave surfing athlete and wellness entrepreneur, is no stranger to danger and risk. Before he was a household name for breaking records, Laird took on many odd jobs (including modeling and acting) to fuel his true passion and vocation as a professional and competitive surfer and athlete.   He took on opportunities to further his career and build a personal brand. From a humble...

Mike Beckham didn’t set out to create the world’s best insulated drinkware brand. He didn’t daydream of launching a groundbreaking product. Instead, he wanted to create and lead a company with a culture that put generosity at the forefront. A nine-figure business with a product that’s become a household name in an already crowded market? That was just a bonus. Follow The Entrepreneur’s Studio so y...

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