The First Buck

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Vince McSweeney, Chief Creative Officer at McCann Central, a global marketing leader with an impressive track record across national and international brands. Vince shares insights on building authentic brands that resonate with audiences, drawing from his unique journey from chef to creative director. He emphasizes the importance...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Samantha Roady, CEO of Simply Business' U.S. operations, a leading digital insurance marketplace for small businesses. With nearly 25 years of C-suite experience, Samantha shares insights on scaling complex businesses, building brand-driven strategies, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. She discusses the importance...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews John Simon, an entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of the Greenlight Fund, an organization dedicated to addressing economic mobility challenges by scaling innovative nonprofits across the U.S. In this episode, John shares insights from his diverse experiences in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, emphasizing the importance...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Gary Izunwa, Co-founder and CEO of Tangent, an employee referral platform designed to make job referrals accessible to everyone, not just the well-connected. In this episode, Gary shares his insights on social mobility, leveraging networks, and overcoming challenges as an entrepreneur. He emphasizes the importance of building mean...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Eric Kessler, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Arabella Advisors, where he led the firm's growth into a leader in the philanthropic sector, advising on billions of dollars in resources annually. Eric shares how he transitioned from public service to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of having a mission-driven approa...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Richard Bynum, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at PNC Financial Services Group, where he leads initiatives on community development, diversity, and PNC's $88 billion Community Benefits Plan. Bynum discusses building a culture of service, the importance of diversity, and how entrepreneurs can leverage mentorship and resource...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Sharmadean Reid MBE, Founder and CEO of The Stack World, discusses her journey from launching WAH Nails to creating a platform that powers women's networks and communities. She shares insights on achieving gender equity through community building, the importance of innovation, and supporting women in business. Sharmadean's dedicat...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Amanda Jenkins, Chief Impact Officer at 10x Banking, where she leads the 10x Impact Agenda focused on people, community, and the planet. Amanda shares her journey from the Lloyd's insurance market to senior roles in New York law firms and her passion for tackling inequality. The episode emphasizes the importance of building relati...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Dr. Mahsa Vazin, founder of PawCo, a plant-based dog food company with a mission of making the world a greener place, one meal at a time. Dr. Vazin, with a PhD in nanoscience and experience at Impossible Foods, shares her entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and community support. She discusses the grow...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Dax Hansen, a partner at Perkins Coie, a leading international law firm, emphasizes the significance of having a clear vision, the necessity of mentorship, and the critical role of networking and relationship building in achieving business success. The episode concludes with Dax emphasizing that passion fuels perseverance, but suc...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Sekou Kaalund, Executive Vice President and Head of Branch and Small Business banking for US Bank, where he oversees the organization's 2,200+ branches across 26 states. emphasizes the significance of having a clear vision, the necessity of mentorship, and the critical role of networking and relationship building in achieving busi...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Seth Godin , a renowned entrepreneur and bestselling author. Seth shares his journey from early ventures, like selling ice cream sandwiches, to becoming a marketing guru. He discusses the difference between actual and perceived risk, the importance of genuine value, and the power of small, manageable risks. Seth emphasizes learnin...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Check Warner, an early stage VC and one of the founding partners of Ada Ventures. Check shares her journey from her early jobs in telesales and advertising to her pivotal switch to venture capital. She discusses the importance of taking risks, the value of sales skills and the significance of diversity in venture capital. She also...

Stephen Bediako is a social entrepreneur, innovator, impact investor and design expert. They talk about Stephen's journey from selling household goods door-to-door in East London at 13 to starting the Social Innovation Partnership. He emphasizes the importance of education, family support, and the shift in social impact measurement towards integrating profitability and social responsibility. Steph...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Anne Boden, founder and former CEO of Starling Bank. Boden shares her journey as an entrepreneur and offers insights and advice for early-stage entrepreneurs. She discusses her first job at Lloyd's Bank, the importance of perseverance and taking risks, and the challenges she faced in starting her own bank. Boden also talks about h...

Nic interviews Lisa Jacobs, the CEO of Funding Circle. Lisa discusses her journey as an entrepreneur and offers insights into the world of small business lending. She shares her experiences of earning her first money through odd jobs and building websites, and how those early experiences shaped her interest in small businesses. She also talks about her time in management consulting and the valuabl...

Nic interviews Clif Marriott, Marriott, co-head of the TMT group at Goldman Sachs International and a Board Member at Sky's the Limit. Clif shares his experiences and insights on entrepreneurship and building successful teams. He also discusses his early entrepreneurial ventures, such as selling lemons and working as a paperboy, and how these experiences ultimately shaped his career. Here's a glim...

In this podcast episode, Nic interviews Raena Saddler, the director of Product for Youth Wellbeing and Equity at Meta (formerly Facebook), where she leads teams to focus on making Meta's products more equitable and inclusive and supporting teams to create a positive, safe and an age appropriate experience online. Prior to this role, she was VP of product and managing director at Cheryl Sandberg's...

Nic Cary interviews Michael Sharff, the global head of Communications at PA Consulting. They discuss Michael's journey from working in a pet store to his current role in global communications. Michael shares his experiences and offers advice for young adults and entrepreneurs. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks, being open to new opportunities, and constantly learning and adapting. He al...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Gabriele Barbera, head of Global Sales for Hewlett-Packard (HP). Gabriele shares his journey from starting his own business as a teenager to working for Accenture and eventually joining HP. He emphasizes the importance of sales skills and mentality, highlighting the need to understand and prioritize the needs of customers. Gabriel...

In this episode of the First Buck podcast, host Nic Cary interviews Mohamed Junaid, "Jay", co-founder of Supersight, a company that uses large language models to analyze crypto and finance data. Jay shares his journey as an entrepreneur, starting with his first venture in e-commerce and his experience working at JP Morgan and Deloitte. He emphasizes the importance of saving money, finding smart pe...

Jeff Lynn is the Co-founder and Chairman of Seedrs, a company that connects investors with growth-focused European startups. He began his entrepreneurial journey with Seedrs 15 years ago and, prior to that, had a career as a corporate lawyer.  Jeff is also the Co-founder of Startup Coalition, a nonprofit that pushes for policies that support UK tech startups.  Business Insider  recognized him as o...

Juanita Gonzalez-Uribe is an Associate Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a world-leading university dedicated to educating students in the social sciences. Juanita's research focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, and private equity. Her literature has been published in academic journals, including  The Review of Financial Studies  and  The Journal of Finan...

Michelle Parsons is a Product Executive in Residence at Product School, the global leader in product training with a growing community of 2 million product professionals. Michelle has leveraged her 15 years in the industry to develop product management certification programs to help product creators achieve their career goals. As a product leader knowledgeable in search, discovery, and personaliza...

Seth Levine is the Co-founder of Foundry Group, a venture capitalist agency focused on making early-stage technology investments, participating in select growth rounds, and identifying and supporting the next generation of venture fund managers. Seth is an active participant in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, serving as a board member and advisor for multiple global venture funds, including...