The Shades of Entrepreneurship™

Have you ever wondered why certain products end up in the right place at the right time—or how businesses seem to appear exactly where you need them? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Brooke Chapman, Executive Director of ThreeBy3 and 9Boxes™, to explore the art and science of strategic marketing and placement. Brooke shares insider insights into how...

How do you turn ambition into measurable success? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Midori Verity, CEO of Fuel to Fire, an entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience helping professionals unlock their potential through accountability groups and coaching. Midori shares strategies for finding your zone of genius, building consistent habits, and ampli...

What does it take to scale a business and succeed in the world of startups? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Brad Feld, Co-Founder of Foundry Group and a pioneer in early-stage investing since 1987. Brad shares his decades of experience providing capital, mentorship, and strategic guidance to startups and high-growth companies. From venture capital t...

How do you network effectively in business and entertainment? Tim Tortora, Hollywood CFO and author, shares actionable strategies for building meaningful connections that propel careers forward. From navigating Hollywood finance to leveraging informative interviews, Tim has mastered the art of networking while managing complex financial operations. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship...

Have you ever struggled with making a cold call or delivering the perfect sales pitch? Jeremy Miner, Chairman of 7th Level Global Sales Training, has turned selling into a science. Using behavioral psychology and human-centered strategies, Jeremy has become a top 50 earner among over 100 million sales professionals worldwide. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores...

Have you ever wished there was a single platform to unify communities and streamline engagement? Patrick Woods, Co-Creator of Orbit Model, is revolutionizing how organizations and civic leaders connect, collaborate, and measure impact. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores talks with Patrick about building a platform that fosters community engagement while providi...

Have you ever wondered how design can transform an empty space into a visual experience? Savina Monet, a freelance graphic designer and collage artist, creates dynamic visuals for the cannabis industry, from print materials to digital content. Her work brings creativity, personality, and branding to life on walls, screens, and more. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel...

Have you ever thought about turning a blank wall into a masterpiece? Casillas Oliver, a mural artist, brings this vision to life by transforming entire buildings into canvases that capture “the modern and fleeting daily life.” From Mexico to the United States, Casillas merges nature, geography, humanity, and mysticism in every piece. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel...

Are you a traveler or someone who appreciates different cultural approaches to sustainability? Pallavi Pande, Founder of DTOCS®, brings her passion for eco-friendly living from India to the United States with innovative, sustainable dishware solutions designed to reduce environmental impact while enhancing everyday life. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits...

Have you ever bought a home only to discover it requires more maintenance than a two-year-old? And just like a toddler, overlooking even the smallest things can lead to big problems down the line. That’s exactly why Daniel Felt, Founder and CEO of Kura Home, built a home maintenance company that homeowners can trust—and a franchise model that’s scaling from state to state. In this episode of The S...

Ever struggle to keep your kids engaged—whether at home, in the car, or on the go? A & J Books is here to help families stay creative, calm, and organized through thoughtfully designed activity books and journals. What started as a passion project between two sisters has transformed into a self-publishing venture focused on empowering both children and parents. In this episode of The Shades of...

“Build it and they will come.” That’s the vision driving Cristian Vargas, Founder and Creative Director of Juntos PDX, as he prepares to showcase the depth and diversity of the Hispanic community. With Hispanic Heritage Month on the horizon, Cristian is building more than an event—he’s building a platform for culture, creativity, and community unity. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneursh...

Scaling a business isn’t just about growing fast—it’s about growing intentionally . In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Gabriela Pulido, Founder of Scalto, a firm dedicated to helping entrepreneurs design truly scalable companies from the inside out. With expertise in brand strategy, client experience design, and growth architecture, Gabriela focu...

Have you ever dreamed of growing a company so successfully that it gets acquired by a larger brand—not once, but twice? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Waseem Daher, Co-Founder of Pilot, an entrepreneur who has mastered the art of building, scaling, and selling startups alongside his two MIT classmates. Now on his third venture, Waseem is helping bu...

Have you ever read the story of an entrepreneur who started with nothing and rose to build something remarkable? Many of those stories come from immigrant families whose resilience and creativity shape the backbone of our economy. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Nai Zhao, Founder of Charcuterie Me, whose entrepreneurial journey embodies determinatio...

Everything tastes better with a little salt — and for this entrepreneur, that simple truth sparked a business. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Becca Christiansen, Co-Founder of Portland Salt Co, a company turning handcrafted seasoning into a fast-growing brand. From her career at Microsoft to experimenting with micro-sized, flavor-packed salts, Becc...

Ever wished you could start the life race with a head start? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Nathaniel Pitchon-Getzels, Founder of Getzels Group, a real estate business focused on helping clients build generational wealth. Nathaniel shares his journey from school teacher to Calabasas-based realtor, offering insights into the real estate industry, we...

Ever felt out of place or like you didn’t belong? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Adam Lippin, CEO and Founder of HearMe, an innovative app dedicated to improving emotional wellness. Adam shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, exploring ventures ranging from hot wings to cuddling, and how these diverse experiences shaped his mission to help pe...

How do you turn nostalgia into a thriving business? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Caroline Rodrigues, Owner of Merci Milo, a toy shop dedicated to tradition, childhood memories, and inspiring play. Caroline shares her journey from Los Angeles to Portland, turning personal inspirations into a business that connects families to meaningful, timeless...

What does it take to turn a passion for food into a thriving restaurant business? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Mary Hatz and Rodrigo Huerta, Owners of Comida Kin, to discuss their journey of building a restaurant brand rooted in flavor, culture, and community. Mary and Rodrigo share insights on navigating the challenges of the restaurant industry...

How can mastering public speaking and marketing elevate your entrepreneurial journey? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Mark Drager, Owner of Phanta Media, a creative design studio, to discuss the intersection of public speaking, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Mark shares his personal journey of overcoming fear of public speaking, building a design...

What does it take to combine renewable energy with cutting-edge technology? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes John Belizaire, CEO of Soluna Computing, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, renewable energy, and cryptocurrency mining. John shares his journey of building Soluna, a company leveraging sustainable energy to power crypto mining o...

How can confidence and charisma transform your entrepreneurial journey? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Fred Joyal, author of Superbold: From Under-Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days, to share strategies for developing boldness and public speaking skills. Fred dives into actionable insights on marketing, advertising, and self-presentation that entr...

What does it take to turn a passion for wine into a thriving business? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Jacob Gray, Owner of Chosen Family Wines, to discuss his journey of leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurship in the wine industry. Jacob shares how he turned big-screen dreams, golf passions, and a close-knit “chosen family” of friends into a b...

Can your smartphone become your most powerful business tool? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Lu-el Fantroy, Founder and Creative Director of Help Humans, a creative design studio where 98% of content is produced entirely on an iPhone. Lu-el shares his journey of leveraging mobile technology to build a thriving creative business, exploring how innova...