The First Customer

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Mike Powrie, CEO and Founder of CloudWave. Mike delves into the genesis and evolution of CloudWave as a disruptive force in the contact center industry. Mike's background in IT, particularly in unified communication, laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial journey. CloudWave was born out of frustration with the antiquated and inefficient sy...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Adrian Knight, CEO and Founder of Spectacular Group. Adrian delves into his journey as an acquisition entrepreneur and his unique approach to business. A World Champion participant in the Spartan games, Adrian shares his experiences and insights into building successful ventures. Adrian's entrepreneurial journey began at a young age when he sta...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Bob Moore, CEO and co-founder of Crossbeam, a leading company in the partnership intelligence space. Bob shares his journey, emphasizing his passion for solving the challenges of partnership growth, which led to the inception of Crossbeam. He delves into the essence of Crossbeam, portraying it as a data-centric solution that revolutionizes partnersh...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview The Jasmin Alić, Founder of Hey Jay, and also a  LinkedIn aficionado.  Jasmin dives deep into his journey, starting with his childhood in war-torn Bosnia. Despite the adversity, Jasmin found solace in American hip-hop, which sparked his love for English and writing. Initially aspiring to be a rapper, Jasmin's career took a turn towards educatio...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Luis Castaneda, co-founder and CTO of Capablanca.  Luis dives into his journey from growing up during the emergence of the internet to his current role in the tech space. Luis shares how his early experiences with DIY computing in a culture of innovation laid the foundation for his career in technology. He discusses the ever-evolving landscape of te...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Kelley Thornton, CEO and Founder of Tiege Hanley. Kelley's inspiration for Tiege Hanley stems from his personal experience and observation of the skincare market's untapped potential in the United States. Initially, he sought to cater to older demographics like himself but found unexpected success among younger consumers due to strategic d...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Lamees Butt, SVP of Zoovu. Lamees delved into her journey from a humble upbringing in East London to her current role in the tech industry. Growing up in East London instilled in Lamees a hunger for success and a drive to think outside the box. Despite facing challenges, she pursued her passion for entrepreneurship, starting with a personal shopping...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Brian Childress, Founder and Fractional CTO of Summit Labs. Brian shares his journey from growing up in Virginia to founding Summit Labs, inspired by his grandfather's entrepreneurial spirit as a custom home builder. Despite lacking initial tech interest, Brian discovered his passion for software development in graduate school and founded Summi...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Ron Gidron, the CEO and founder of xtype, a platform engineering solution for ServiceNow customers. Ron shares insights from his background growing up on a farm in Israel to becoming an entrepreneur in the tech industry. Despite his humble beginnings, Ron's journey led him to work with companies like Mercury Interactive before venturing into en...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Barbara Spitzer, CEO and founder of Two Rivers Partners, LLC. Barbara grew up as an army brat and moving frequently, Barbara developed resilience and anxiety, which later shaped her career as a consultant. Despite her anxiety, Barbara adopted a mantra of perseverance and preparation, which helped her excel in client meetings and presentations. After...

In this episode., I was lucky enough to interview Laura-Beth Trucks, the CEO of LB Trucks Coaching. Laura-Beth shares her journey from Alabama to Colorado, where she worked in nonprofit leadership development, to eventually founding her coaching business. After completing her master's degree in clinical mental health, she realized her passion for coaching and decided to start LB Trucks Coachi...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Gregory Shepard,  CEO and co-founder of BOSS Startup Science. Gregory shares his journey, highlighting his challenges growing up with autism, dyslexia, and other conditions in a tough environment. Despite adversities, he recalls his entrepreneurial spirit emerging early, from selling Rubik's cubes to catching and selling rattlesnakes for profit...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview the fantastic Dai Manuel, Chief Transformation Officer at DaiManuel.com. Dai discussed his upbringing in Ontario with two entrepreneurial parents and how their work ethic influenced him. He recounted his journey from personal training to selling fitness equipment, highlighting the transition to performance-based pay structures and his success in sal...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Caden Braly, CEO and Founder of Innovative Risk. Caden discusses his upbringing in Prosper, Texas, surrounded by a community of entrepreneurs, including his father and grandfather, who instilled a strong entrepreneurial spirit in him. Despite initially being hesitant about entering the insurance industry due to witnessing the stresses his father fac...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Patric Shannon, Founder of LeadSnap. Patric delves into his origins in a small town in Dayton, Ohio, and his unexpected foray into professional poker and subsequent transition to entrepreneurship. Patric  shares about his early career as a tax accountant and his serendipitous discovery of online poker, which ultimately led him to pursue a career as...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Krish Ramineni, CEO and Co-founder of Fireflies.ai. Krish dives into his entrepreneurial journey from Silicon Valley to founding one of the most innovative AI platforms. Krish shares how his upbringing in a family of entrepreneurs fueled his passion for technology and startups, leading him from UPenn to Microsoft and eventually to co-founding Firefl...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Susan Coelius Keplinger, CEO of Force of Nature. Susan shares insights from her journey as a marketing titan and entrepreneur. Growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, Susan's path led her to chase the internet dream in San Francisco after college. She co-founded Triggit, an ad tech company, with her brother Zach, learning valuable lessons in entrepr...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Oshri Cohen, founder of Red Corner. Oshri delves into his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of his consulting practice as a fractional CTO. Oshri reflects on his upbringing, shaped by early experiences of independence and resilience due to facing racism. From launching his first business at 13 to establishing a custom development shop in his...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Steve Kilberg, CMO of SKRP Media LLC. Steve dives into his journey as an entrepreneur and his role in helping businesses grow and sell their assets. Steve shares how his upbringing in Detroit, with a father encouraging independence, shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. Despite initially working for others, Steve's desire for autonomy led him to v...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Fahvyon Jimenez, Founder and Principal of Jimenez Strategy & Analytics, Fahvyon grew up with a father who was a business owner, and he got inspired by the idea that the best way to accomplish things is through entrepreneurship. Drawing from his experiences and skills in data science and ethnography, Jimenez Strategy & Analytics focuses on he...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Scott Anderson, founder of Doubledare Executive Coaching, Consulting, and Search. Scott shares his early entrepreneurial endeavors, from starting a shoeshine business at a young age to launching an advertising agency and eventually transitioning to executive coaching. Scott delves into the significance of location-based niches and the power of focus...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Sean Boyce, founder of Nxt Step Consulting. Sean reflects on his roots in Philadelphia, the impact of his education and network on his entrepreneurial spirit, and the lessons learned from his early attempts at business. Sean talks about his first business, an endeavor aimed at solving issues in the recruiting industry, and the pivotal lessons he gai...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Edward DuCoin, founder and partner of Orpical. Edward grew up in South Jersey and his early experiences with financial struggles and observing his family's challenges fueled his entrepreneurial spirit. Starting with a ski tours business at 13, he eventually founded a teleservices company that grew to over 1,500 employees. Orpical, initially a w...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Roy Vella, Managing Director and Founder of Vella Ventures Ltd.  Roy delves into his upbringing in Brooklyn and its influence on his entrepreneurial journey. Roy reflects on his formative years, emphasizing the cultural impact of being from Brooklyn and the street-savvy and hustling mentality ingrained in him. Roy's family background highlights...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Marc Adler, the Fractional Chief Technology Officer of CTO as a Service. Marc reveals his roots in Queens, New York, and his unique exposure to the world of stockbroking through his father's career, setting the stage for his journey into the tech industry. Marc reminisces about his early days in tech, starting as one of the first Windows develo...