The First Customer

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Jacob Kleinman Phillips, CEO of Touchpoint Design. Jacob grew up in Delaware County. He reflected on his upbringing in a family of entrepreneurs, where his parents ran businesses ranging from general contracting to a sweet chocolate factory named Sweet Dreams. Growing up in this environment, Jacob absorbed the essence of entrepreneurship, blending p...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Kirsten Bronkovic, co-founder of EmpathED. Kirsten grew up in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and shared how she was kind of enterprising even as a young kid where she even held an art sale. Her entrepreneurial spirit was evident even at a young age. Later, she enrolled in a program at the University of Pittsburgh that took her around the world via ship, lan...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview a good friend, Ben Albert, the CEO and founder of Balbert Marketing. Ben was born and raised in Rochester, New York, and emphasized that he never saw himself as an entrepreneur, initially pursuing a more conventional career path. However, his passion for music and involvement in the local music scene paved the way for his transition into entrepreneu...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Pete Mauro, owner of DT Cubed. Born in the Philadelphia area but raised in South Jersey, Pete found himself at a crossroads between government work and pursuing personal happiness. He embarked on his career as a civil servant for the Navy, eventually becoming a GS 14 at a young age. However, the demands of his role in Washington, D.C., led him to pr...

In this episode, I  was lucky enough to interview Jennifer Crompton, President and founder of Something Creative, LLC. Growing up in South Jersey, Jen shares her upbringing and how her family's entrepreneurial background influenced her path.  This path became evident during her time as a grad assistant at Rowan University when her mentor pushed her to take on a challenging marketing project....

In this special episode, I was lucky enough to interview two of the best co-founders,  Ivan Barajas Vargas and Renan Ugalde of MuukTest. MuukTest is a front-end testing automation platform that offers innovative solutions for software testing. Ivan shares his roots growing up in Mexico, emphasizing how his family's entrepreneurial endeavors, particularly their grocery stores, instilled an ear...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tanya Isa, founder of KitSF.   Tanya recounts her extraordinary journey from leaving Ukraine to becoming the CEO of a thriving business in San Francisco. She highlights her ambitious nature from an early age, recalling her first small business venture selling newspapers at the age of 12. Tanya's entrepreneurial spirit eventually led her to laun...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Behdad Jamshidi, founder of CJAM Marketing. Behdad walked us through his remarkable journey from a humble immigrant upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Behdad's parents' immigrant experience instilled in him a sense of determination and entrepreneurship even at a young age. His path wasn't a straight line; he initially p...

In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview Brandon Barnum,  CEO of HOA.com. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Brandon shares his inspirational journey from a humble upbringing to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Growing up in a financially challenged environment, he was always drawn to the idea of financial success. Despite early challenges and limited resources, he worked...

In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview  Jon Brown, one of the masterminds behind Interlaced.io. Jon shares his journey from growing up in a small town in Southern Maine to his involvement in the IT services industry. His career path took him through various experiences, from working as a graphic designer to teaching English overseas. It was during his time as an IT support sp...

In this week's episode, I was lucky enough to interview Cathy Nesbitt, the CEO and founder of Cathy's Crawly Composters. Cathy went from being a city dweller to an eco-entrepreneur in a small town. She recognized a significant environmental problem when the landfill for the greater Toronto area closed in 2002 so she came up with an innovative solution: indoor composting with worms. Despi...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Keith Scandone, CEO and co-founder of O3 World. Keith grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia in Bucks County to pursue a career in acting in Los Angeles. His journey to entrepreneurship wasn't typical, and he emphasized the value of resilience and thinking outside the box. During his time in Los Angeles, he explored various roles and it was thr...

Boy oh boy, I could not stress enough how special this guest is. In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Federico Toledo, the co-founder, and CEO of Abstracta, AKA the QA Doctor. Federico is from Uruguay and shares how his upbringing in a close-knit community near the capital city played a pivotal role in his growth. He emphasizes the value of Uruguay's free university education, whi...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Mark Phinick, President and CEO of Let's Make It Rain. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Mark's path was set in motion when he relocated to Chicago in 1984. With a background in computer science and a unique perspective on technology, Mark found his niche in the world of sales, helping small companies grow into successful ventures. Mark's...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview the great Mike Kaeding, CEO of Norhart, a real estate development company that specializes in designing, building, and renting apartments while prioritizing affordability in housing. Mike's childhood was closely tied to the company, with his parents founding it in Minnesota. However, when life took an unexpected turn, Mike was thrust into the C...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Chris Anderson, founder of Elevate Media Group. Chris's story is unique among entrepreneurs; he didn't have the typical childhood lemonade stand or early business ventures. Instead, he grew up in a small Indiana town and developed a desire to live a different life, which eventually evolved into entrepreneurship. When life took unexpected t...

In this episode. I was lucky enough to interview the fantastic Nicole Lipkin, CEO and founder of HeyKiddo. Nicole's early experience not only influenced her work ethic but also instilled resilience and problem-solving skills, as her parents encouraged her to learn from failures when she and her brother were given the opportunity to start a toy-selling business. Fast forward to today, Nicole i...

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Robert Indries, CEO and Founder of Robert Indries Holdings. Robert shared a profound personal story that catalyzed a significant shift in his business approach. He recounted the pivotal moment when facing financial hardship which served as a powerful wake-up call to transform his business practices.   This pivotal decision marked the beginning of hi...

This week I was lucky enough to interview a very cool and articulate guy named Roy Osing. Roy is the author of the book "Be Different or Be Dead". One of the highlights of Roy's illustrious career was driving a company to billion-dollar annual sales. Roy documented his journey in a book - not the ordinary how-to textbook type - but instead, focused on the unique strategies he employ...

This episode's so special that we're releasing it early! Patrick Faga, CEO and Founder of FirstWork is a really incredible young entrepreneur. He created an app-based educational platform designed to enhance learners develop their verbal skills at an early stage. Patrick was born and raised in Washington DC. And even when studying,  grew to wonder how people's brains impact their be...

In this week's new episode, I had the chance to interview the fantastic Darleen Priday, CEO and Founder of DP Consults, a business consulting and service focused on giving confidence to the clients in order for them to sell the business effectively. What sets Darleen apart is her unique approach to business development, which has not only proven wildly successful for her but has also transfor...

Boy oh boy are you all in for a treat this week! I got to spend some quality time with Alex Sanfilippo, the brilliant founder and CEO of PodPros, a software company meticulously crafted for independent podcasters -- myself included!  PodPros offers various solutions like PodMatch, PodcastSOP, Podcast Lottery, PodAwards, and Best Podcasts -- all of which are designed to improve every podcaster&apos...

John Cecilian Jr., CEO and Founder of Cecilian Partners, radiates pure entrepreneurial energy. A people-first business owner  born in Chicago, John worked his way across a ton of big brands like Micahel Kors, QuikSilver, Under Armour, Clutch, and Vineyard Vines. He learned what it means to deliver value and bring new technology to existing markets. With a passion for customer experience transforma...

What a great time it was getting to know the great Bryan Farris, the CEO and Founder of Goldfish Code! A full-fledged California boy from the Bay Area, Bryan was constantly hearing of the success of the growing tech industry.  He cut his teeth as a software engineer before founding Goldfish Code with his vision for next-generation technology and digital transformation. With an extreme focus on use...

In this week's episode, I had the chance to interview the visionary financial maestro, Bruce Weinstein, who wears the dual hats of CEO and Founder of Weinstein Wealth Insurance Solutions and the dynamic host of the renowned "Ask the Planman" podcast. As an orchestrator of financial harmony, Bruce helps guide people through the labyrinth of wealth management and insurance solutions....