The Founder Spirit

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Andres Ruzo, a serial entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of LinkAmerica, shares his inspiring journey from Peru to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the U.S.A purpose-driven entrepreneur and changemaker, he discusses the challenges he faced, his entrepreneurial spirit, and the importance of faith and adaptability. Emphasizing the significance of education, lov...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman of the World Economic Forum, recounts his visionary journey of building a unique platform for global dialogue and collaboration. From early life experiences to influential figures, the Professor highlights the  essential elements of leadership (soul, brain, heart, muscles and nerves) as we enter the Intelligen...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Jaideep Bansal, CEO of GHE Impact Ventures, shares his journey of bringing clean energy and sustainable development to over half a million people across the remotest communities in India. He discusses his formative experiences growing up and the importance of following your passion and purpose. Jaideep also talks about the challenges they faced in the early d...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Rhett Butler, founder of Mongabay, a leading nonprofit media organization dedicated to environmental journalism, shares his inspiring journey from a nature-loving child to establishing a global news platform that highlights vital conservation and environmental issues often overlooked by mainstream media. Rhett discusses the challenges and triumphs of building...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Dr. Krithi Karanth, CEO and Chief Conservation Scientist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies, shares the challenges of wildlife conservation in India and the importance of balancing human needs with conservation efforts. Reflecting on her upbringing and the passive absorption of purpose in a conservationist family, Krithi emphasizes the need for cultural...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Tom Crowther, a leading ecologist and founder of Crowther Lab and Restor, explores the vital role of biodiversity and the interconnectedness of the natural world. Reflecting on his early experiences, Tom underscores the importance of recognizing the complexity of ecosystems in tackling environmental challenges and our responsibility in reversing biodiversity...

After over two decades of working in entrepreneurship and finance, our host, Jennifer Wu, found herself in an utterly different line of work than she had previously imagined. In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Jennifer reflects on at the end of her second season as a podcaster and discusses the growth and evolution of her show.  She also shares her struggle with the inner critic, her expe...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, the trailblazing Atossa Soltani, Founder and Board President of Amazon Watch, shares her journey of becoming a leading voice in protecting the Amazon rainforest and defending the rights of its indigenous population. She discusses her formative experiences witnessing the Iranian Revolution, and also talks about her aha moment when the Gaia Hypothesis real...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, David Obura, a coral reef ecologist and Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa, shares the importance of preserving biodiversity, protecting coastlines and supporting local communities. He discusses the challenges of restoring coral reefs and the need to address climate change. David identifies over-consumption as the main driver of carbon emissions, an...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Fabiola Gianotti, the first female Director General of CERN, shares her journey and the importance of fundamental research in addressing global challenges and advancing society. She discusses her decision to pursue science as a career, the discovery of the Higgs boson and its significance in explaining the origin of mass. With only 5% of the universe currentl...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Patrick Odier, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Geneva-based global private bank Lombard Odier Group, and Building Bridges, as well as the President of Swiss Sustainable Finance, highlights the role of financial services in transitioning to a sustainable economy. He explains how private sectors can become a force for good, and emphasizes the need for...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, the methodical Benjamin von Wong, a world-class multi-disciplinary artist and climate activist, shares his journey from a mining engineer to a renowned photographer. Upon discovering his passion for photography as a hobby, Benjamin quickly gained widespread recognition with an underwater shipwreck shoot in Bali. Despite commercial success, he experienced...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, the  courageous Karen Tse, a human rights lawyer, an ordained minister, and Founder and CEO of the global non-profit, International Bridges to Justice, shares her journey from being a public defender to building legal systems around the world to end torture as an investigative tool. She highlights the importance of recognizing the inherent worth and...

The following episode was recorded during the 2023 Villars Symposium held by the Villars Institute, where we recorded several short interviews over a period of three days. The Founder Spirit Podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health. Join us in this episode of The Fou...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, the genuine Tracey Chang, a former TV journalist turned entrepreneur and lifestyle blogger, shares her journey starting with her unexpected win as Miss New York, and insights on becoming a successful TV journalist, building a personal brand and the meaning of her work as an online influencer. Tracey emphasizes the importance of authenticity and self-love in t...

The following episode was recorded during the 2023 Villars Symposium held by the Villars Institute, where we recorded several short interviews over a period of three days. The Founder Spirit Podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health. Join us in this episode of The Fou...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we interview the unconventional Jaeson Ma, serial entrepreneur, hip-hop artist, and venture capitalist in the media, entertainment and technology industry. Growing up in the Bay Area, he reflects on his tumultuous adolescence and run-in’s with the law, recounting the pivotal moment that changed his life trajectory. Merging his deep spirituality with a pa...

The following episode was recorded during the 2023 Villars Symposium held by the Villars Institute, where we recorded several short interviews over a period of three days. The Founder Spirit Podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health. Join us in this episode of The Fou...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we talk to Desh Deshpande, a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist. An Indian emigrant best known for founding Cascade Communications and Sycamore Networks and a pioneering figure in the early days of the Internet, Desh emphasizes the importance of building a winning startup culture and reflects on the challenges and lessons learned along the way. Recognizin...

The following episode was recorded during the 2023 Villars Symposium held by the Villars Institute, where we recorded several short interviews over a period of three days. The Founder Spirit Podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health. In this episode of The Founder Spi...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we meet Zainab Salbi, an Iraqi-American women's rights activist making significant strides in humanitarian work and accelerating women-led initiatives for climate actions at Daughters for Earth. Growing up during the Iran-Iraq War, Zainab stresses the importance of recognizing women's experiences during times of conflict and highlights her mother's influ...

The following episode was recorded during the 2023 Villars Symposium held by the Villars Institute, where we recorded several short interviews over a period of three days. The Founder Spirit Podcast is proud to be a partner of the Villars Institute, a nonprofit foundation focused on accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy and restoring planetary health. In this episode of The Founder Spi...

In this episode of The Founder Spirit, we talk to Ahmad Joudeh, a dancer and choreographer who overcame immense obstacles. His life story is a true testament to the power of art and the human spirit. Born in Syria as a stateless refugee, he faced opposition from family and received death threats for pursuing his passion as a ballet dancer. With help from the Dutch National Ballet, he moved to Amst...

Bill Shufelt, Founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing Company, left his job as a hedge fund trader to pursue a more meaningful venture with positive societal impact, even when no one in the industry saw the market potential. In this episode of The Founder Spirit podcast, Bill shares his enthusiasm of brewing fulfillment in revolutionizing the non-alcoholic beer segment and his journey of building...

In a world where many chase perfection and accumulate material possessions,  "less is more" shows how inner peace can make the world better, reminding us that real riches are inside us. In this episode of The Founder Spirit, Venerable Monk Burin, the Executive Director of the global NGO The Middle Way Meditation Institute, discusses his journey of becoming a monk and how he realized that fina...