The Shades of Entrepreneurship™

Have you ever wished you could turn discarded items into something amazing? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Vanessa Gillis, Owner of Bunnymilkshake Concoctions, who shares her journey of creating unique, upcycled home products from items that others might throw away. Vanessa discusses how creativity, resourcefulness, and sustainability can turn ever...

How can public speaking skills shape your entrepreneurial journey? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Frank "Paco" Whatley, Owner of Classic Men Barbershop, who shares how his passion for singing and communication inspired him to create a thriving barbershop business. Frank dives into lessons learned from combining artistry, entrepreneurship,...

Do you want to make smarter financial decisions for your business or personal life? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Melissa Houston, CPA, a Certified Public Accountant and contributor to Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine, to share her insights on financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Melissa discusses essential accounting strategies, budgeting tip...

Ever looked at product labels and wondered what’s really inside? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Reeba Daniel, Founder of R&ARIE, a business dedicated to creating natural, herb-based products while promoting sustainable living and self-sufficiency. Reeba shares her journey navigating the challenges of product legality, growing food at home, and...

Have you ever wondered how new products make it onto grocery store shelves? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Jake Newcomb, Owner of NEWKS Hot Sauce, who shares his journey from selling bottles at local farmers’ markets to building a growing food brand. Jake provides insights into launching a food product, finding your first customers, scaling product...

Ever wondered how to manage multiple business projects without losing track? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Shannon Nelson, Owner of Classy Sassy Digital Marketing, a digital marketer building her business with an eye on the future. Shannon shares her journey of starting a marketing company, implementing customer relationship management (CRM) tools...

Do you even twerk? Whether you do or not, in this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Nisi Harrel, Creator of Twerk N Fab, a business built around dance, self-expression, and empowerment. Nisi shares her journey of turning a passion for dance into a thriving business, addressing cultural norms around self-image, confidence, and creativity. This episode highligh...

Have you ever felt like a fraud or doubted your place in the entrepreneurial world? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Lia Dugal, Founder of Cafe Girl Thriving Artists LLC, a pivoting entrepreneur with a flair for creativity and theatrics. Lia shares her journey of navigating imposter syndrome, pivoting her business strategies, and building a thriving...

Is there a right way to be an entrepreneur? While there’s no single path, experimentation, networking, and community building are key. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Azure Attoe, Owner of Gallery Go Go, an innovative art studio designed to foster collaboration and provide artists with a community showcase. Azure shares how she built a space where c...

How do great ideas come to life? Often, the key lies in observing your customers and listening to their needs. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Pat Cheung, CEO and Founder of PodInbox, a serial entrepreneur who has mastered turning insights into innovative products. Pat shares his journey of launching PodInbox, the importance of customer input in pro...

Have you ever looked back on your past and cringed at the things you once did? In this special self-narrated episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores shares his own story — from his beginnings as an indigenous migrant worker to becoming a podcast host, entrepreneur, and founder of Creatively Insane. Gabriel takes listeners through the lessons, challenges, and pivotal moments...

Do you find yourself more entertained by Super Bowl commercials than the game itself? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Russ Bowen, Owner of Against The Grain Media, a creative entrepreneur turning video production into an art form with big aspirations. From commercial shoots to video editing and storytelling, Russ shares his journey of building a med...

Have you ever felt the urge to make a difference — not someday, but today ? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Kamelah Adams, Founder of Mimi’s Fresh Tees, a mission-driven apparel brand sparking hard but necessary conversations about social justice through bold, creative design. Kamelah shares how her personal experiences, advocacy, and passion for eq...

How do you transform everyday meals into mouthwatering visual stories that captivate thousands? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Jordan Curtis, digital marketer and creator of @HotEatsCoolFeets, to explore the creative process behind turning simple food photos into striking, scroll-stopping art. Jordan shares how his passion for photography evo...

Have you ever dreamed of quitting your day job and building something entirely your own? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Jess Columbo, Owner of Tiller, who did exactly that — and hasn’t looked back since. From public sector roles to leading initiatives in healthcare, tech, and regulated industries, Jess has built a career as a marketing and communic...

The loss of a loved one can feel impossible to navigate — but through compassion, community, and purpose, healing can begin. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Kat Miller, creator of Fox Boxes, a mission-driven organization providing love-filled support boxes to families with babies in hospitals. Inspired by profound personal loss, Kat turned her grief...

Have you ever wanted to capture light in a bottle and share it with the world? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes M. Martinez, Owner of M. Martinez Photo's, a Portland-based photographer building her name and brand through creativity, skill, and entrepreneurship. From balancing family, life, and art to creating a photography business that stands ou...

You’ve probably heard the word hustler —but what does it really look like in the world of entrepreneurship? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with an entrepreneur who has truly lived the hustle from every angle: Jackie Mans, Owner of Brow Betty. Jackie’s journey is anything but traditional. From loan sharking (yes, really), to real estate, to discove...

Do you hate paying taxes? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes a commercial real estate investor with ambitions as big as Blackstone: Bob Thomas, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Peak Asset Management. Bob breaks down the power of real estate investing, asset-building, and strategic tax planning—especially the advantages withi...

Have you ever wanted to explore a new skill, hobby, or craft—just to see where it might lead? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes an entrepreneur who turned curiosity into craftsmanship: Lee Hedgmon, Owner of The Barreled Bee. Lee brings a unique blend of experimentation, tradition, and creativity to the world of home-brew, mead making, and honey-based...

Curious about what it takes to build and scale a business in one of the fastest-growing and most highly regulated industries in the world? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with serial entrepreneur and Chief Technology Officer of Unrivaled, Colin Landforce. Colin brings years of hands-on experience navigating the evolving cannabis industry—from legal...

What would you ask if you had the chance to sit down with a business mind like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, or Warren Buffett? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores welcomes Carl Gould, Founder of 7 Stage Advisors—a globally recognized business coach who has helped thousands of entrepreneurs scale, stabilize, and strengthen their businesses. Carl shares his insights on...

How do you turn a passion for food into a thriving small business while reshaping the dining experience? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Donovyn Collins and Mikey Williams, Owners of Black Seed Burger Cult, to discuss their journey of building a customer-focused restaurant that celebrates individuality and innovation. Donovyn and Mikey share i...

How do you turn a creative idea into a functional app while navigating intellectual property challenges? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with David Straub, Founder of 4Sight Model, to explore his journey creating an app designed to help people manage their thoughts and ideas. David shares insights on app development, entrepreneurship, and the compl...

How do you leverage collaboration and communication to build a successful business and community impact? In this episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship™, host Gabriel Flores sits down with Dan Bruton, Founder of Agate Communications and PDX Forum, to explore his journey as an entrepreneur and podcaster shaping Oregon’s business community. Dan shares insights on collaboration, community engageme...