The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas.

Welcome to another episode of "The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas." In this episode, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Michael Barbarita, the founder of a specialized fractional CFO firm dedicated to helping small and medium-sized companies achieve rapid growth. Michael Barbarita is not your typical CFO. While many fractional CFOs focus prim...

In this special reissue from the archives, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman dive into the world of venture capital and legal strategy for startups. This episode features a powerful conversation with Rich Honen , the venture capital and technology practice team leader at Phillips Lytle. This interview was originally released on April 27, 2020, and remains a cornerstone for anyone looking to bui...

In this episode of "The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas," hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Gorm Tuxen, a remarkable entrepreneur whose journey began when he moved from Denmark to the United States to start a furniture distribution business. Today, Gorm leads several successful global companies specializing in high-level security an...

Welcome back to The Unconventional Path , where we explore the unique stories of entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. In this special reissue from our archives, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Dave Kruczlincki , the retired CEO of Glens Falls Hospital. Dave shares a masterclass in navigating the complex world of healthcare leadership, reflecting on a career that spanned...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman dive deep into a powerful yet often overlooked strategy for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs): fractional communications. While many entrepreneurs are familiar with the concept of a fractional CFO or HR firm, the idea of a fractional Chief Communications Officer...

Welcome back to another episode of The Unconventional Path. In this special reissue from our archives, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman dive deep into the inspiring story of an entrepreneur who turned a passion for crafting into a global e-commerce success. Our guest today is Nicole Snow, the visionary founder of Darn Good Yarn. While many might assume the company is strictly about selling yar...

Welcome to The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas . In this episode, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with a truly deep thinker: Tom Chi . As a founding member of Google X , Tom has spent his career at the intersection of high-stakes technology and profound creative philosophy. When asked the common social question, "What do you do?", Tom...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Deborah Clary , a renowned leadership strategist, executive coach, and author of The Curiosity Curve . Deborah shares her profound insights into how curiosity—often dismissed as a childhood trait—is actually a critical state that drives organizational performance and engagement. Deborah’s journey into t...

Welcome to another episode of The Unconventional Path , where we explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and real-world impact. In this episode, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Dustin Talacko , a dedicated paramedic and firefighter who is bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to the world of emergency services. Dustin’s journey is a powerful example of how passio...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with New York Times best-selling author and innovation expert Brant Cooper . As the CEO and founder of Moves the Needle , Brant has spent over 25 years helping startups and large enterprises navigate the shift from Industrial Age mindsets to Digital Age oppo...

Welcome to another episode of The Unconventional Path , where we explore extraordinary stories of entrepreneurship and innovation. In this episode, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Mark Fox , a serial entrepreneur whose career journey is as fascinating as it is diverse. Mark Fox isn't your average business owner; he is a former NASA rocket scientist and aerospace engineer who...

Welcome to another episode of The Unconventional Path, where hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman explore the unique journeys of entrepreneurs and innovators. In this episode, we sit down with Kat Koppett, the founder of Koppett and the Mopco Improv Theatre. Kat has successfully merged her background in theatre with organizational development, creating a unique business model that helps leaders an...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Vi Wickham , the founder of Wizard of Ads Online , to discuss how small to medium-sized businesses can navigate the complex world of digital marketing. Vai is not only a digital marketing expert and web developer but also a five-time Colorado state fiddling champion, bringing a unique, creative perspect...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman dive into the world of career reinvention and the entrepreneurial spirit with guest Mark Compeau. Originally released in May 2020, this classic reissue is paired with a recent conversation to provide a comprehensive roadmap for anyone looking to launch a new chapter i...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Tony Marinello , a retired New York State Trooper who turned a "retirement vacation" into a high-stakes, life-saving aviation venture. When Tony bought a small cargo airline to the Bahamas, he never expected to found the region's first-ever dedicated helicopter air ambulance service. +4 While living in...

In this reissue episode of The Unconventional Path , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman explore the powerful impact of niche marketing within massive global industries. They are joined by Tyler Ornstein, the visionary founder of Tyler’s Coffee, who shares his remarkable journey of launching a business at just 15 years old. Tyler’s Coffee holds a unique position as the creator of the world’s firs...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Dave Munson , the founder of Saddleback Leather Company . If you have ever wondered how to build a business that prioritizes legacy over quick profits, this conversation is for you. Dave shares his "non-traditional" approach to entrepreneurship, shifting from his roots as a youth pastor to cre...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman dive into the fascinating world of American manufacturing and historical preservation with RT Custer, the visionary founder of Vortic Watch Company . If you’ve ever wondered why the world’s most famous watches come from Switzerland or Japan, this conversation explores how one entrepreneur decided to bring the craft ba...

In this episode of The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with Laure Mandin, the founder of the product launch agency Graphos. Laure is also the author of the insightful new book, I Need That , which explores the high-stakes world of product marketing and the science behind successful product introductions. +4 Laun...

Are you throwing away half of your advertising budget? In this episode of The Unconventional Path , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with serial entrepreneur Jeff Greenfield to discuss the evolving landscape of digital marketing and how businesses can maximize their marketing spend. Jeff Greenfield is the founder of Provalytics, a company dedicated to helping brands understand their m...

Can a tiny legume save the world? In this episode of The Unconventional Path , hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman dive into a fascinating conversation with Kathryn Cook , the visionary co-founder of NuCicer , an innovative ag-tech and food technology company. +4 Kathryn is on a mission to unlock the full potential of the chickpea, moving it beyond just hummus and salads to become a staple crop t...

In this podcast episode, Bela Musits delves into the inspiring journey of Luka Yancopoulos, the visionary founder of Grapevine. Luka's story begins in the midst of the global COVID-19 lockdown, where he recognized a pressing need in the healthcare industry. Driven by his passion for innovation and a desire to make a positive impact, Luka embarked on an entrepreneurial endeavor from the confines of...

In this podcast episode, Bela Musits interviews David Steele.  He is the CEO & founder of One Wealth Advisors, an independent RIA firm handling over $1B in assets, who also is a prolific restaurateur, having opened 6 restaurants in 6 years in the competitive Bay Area. And that's just the start - he's also a philanthropist, artist, yoga studio owner, and more.  David’s management style is focus...

In this podcast episode, Bela Musits interviews Eran Mizrahi.  He is the co-founder of Ingredient Brothers.  Eran is a specialist in global raw, natural & specialty ingredient sourcing (former COO of nuts.com .   We had a great conversation about supply chain challenges in today's world and the many lessons he has learned about running and managing a 100% remote organization. The episode i...

In this podcast episode, Bela Musits interviews Joe Connelly, a former New York City paramedic who wrote the book "Bringing Out the Dead." The book was later adapted into a movie starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Martin Scorsese. Joe has since moved to a small town in upstate New York and became president of the local rescue squad. The conversation focuses on Joe's experience tra...