Podcasts about COO

In this Fan Favorite episode of the Second in Command Podcast, Cameron Herold sits down with Sarah Jones Simmer, former COO of Bumble, to explore how the company scaled from an empowering dating app into a billion-dollar global social platform redefining connection and kindness online.Sarah shares her journey from investment management to leading one of the fastest-growing social networking brands in the world. She opens up about working alongside visionary founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, expanding into markets like India, building culture-first teams, and reimagining leadership through empathy and purpose.From balancing motherhood and executive leadership to driving global expansion and shaping company culture, Sarah's story offers an inspiring look at what it means to lead with both strength and softness.About the GuestSarah Jones Simmer is a seasoned business leader and former Chief Operating Officer of Bumble, where she helped scale the brand to over 50 million users worldwide. With a background in investment and strategy consulting, Sarah has built her career around mission-driven leadership, global expansion, and empowering women in business.

For episode 616 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Michael Stroev, CEO & Co-founder of Venga. Venga is the next go-to crypto app in Europe with the mission of making innovative blockchain technologies accessible to the masses, empowering people to effortlessly discover, invest in, and navigate the world of Web3. Before joining Venga, he was the COO & CPO at Nebeus, a cryptocurrency app he built and grew from zero to tens of millions of Euros in yearly transaction volumes. Michael has over 10 years of experience in product, marketing, operational leadership, including over 6 years in crypto and Web 3.0, while also being an ex-founder. As a strategic leader, he is experienced in formulating and executing business strategies, building cross-functional teams, and driving projects from concept to customer acquisition with a focus on profit maximization and company growth. ⏳ Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction(0:55) Who is Michael Stroev?(3:21) What is Venga?(5:33) Functionality of Venga(10:04) UI/UX(14:32) Educational resources(15:32) App features for users(19:08) Compliance(21:14) MiCA Regulation in Europe(23:03) Crypto in 2025(32:45) Venga website & socials

When clarity meets compassion, leadership becomes legacy. Jason Cass sits down with Jason Sanders, COO and Senior Vice President at IPFS, for an Executive Session that uncovers how a people-first mindset can shape an entire organization. From starting in the mailroom to building one of the industry's most respected leadership programs, Jason shares how structure, service, and culture drive both his success and IPFS's future. Key Topics: Jason's rise from the mailroom to COO at IPFS and what he learned at every level The creation of IPFS's Leadership Development Program and its impact on culture Why clarity and transparency are essential traits of great leadership How mentorship shaped his philosophy that “clarity is kindness” The role of rhythm, discipline, and family in sustaining leadership energy Giving back through community service and serving on the Children's Mercy Hospital board The vision for a more agile, future-ready IPFS that's more than just premium finance Reach out to: Jason Sanders Jason Cass Visit Website: IPFS Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

Tas Hasan, Managing Partner & COO, and Nelson Pereira, Director of Insurance Investor Partnerships at Deerpath Capital, share their perspective on the growing role of lower and middle market direct lending in insurance portfolios. With decades of experience and a long-standing focus on this segment, they explain why it's gaining traction among insurers seeking yield, diversification, and capital efficiency.   They break down the structural advantages of sponsor-backed lending, including stronger covenants, conservative leverage, and more lender-friendly deal terms. The discussion also explores how regulatory developments, such as NAIC guidance and capital treatment, are influencing insurer allocation decisions.   For insurance investors evaluating private credit strategies, this conversation offers valuable insight into manager selection, deal flow dynamics, and the key factors that set experienced lenders apart in today's market.

Today's episode of the Punk CX podcast is a three-part episode featuring conversations I had with Vinod Muthukrishnan, the VP & COO for the Webex Customer Experience Business Unit at Cisco, Chang Chang, a Senior Director of Product for Cloud CX Solutions at Cisco and a Cisco Webex customer - Patrick Cornish, a Senior Network Engineer specialising in collaboration Architecture and Engineering at BancFirst, while at WebexOne recently in San Diego. We talk about their highlights from the event, what stood out for them from the slew of announcements and their views about some of the big challenges that organisations are facing in trying to improve their customer service and experience, particularly when it comes to harnessing the potential that new AI-powered innovations offer. This interview follows on from my recent interview – The State of Customer Engagement – Interview with Chris Koehler of Twilio – and is number 558 in the series of interviews with authors and business leaders who are doing great things, providing valuable insights, helping businesses innovate and delivering great service and experience to both their customers and their employees.

Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Eduardo Langrafe, COO at NETCON Americas about "Telecommunications and Grid Reliability ". Scott Mackenzie hosts the Industrial Talk podcast, featuring industry professionals like Eduardo from Netcon Americas. Eduardo, a computer engineer with 25 years in telecommunications, discusses Netcon's solutions for utilities, including turnkey ICT services and BSS/OSS operations support systems. He highlights the evolution from TDM to IP networks and the importance of telecommunications for grid reliability and corporate communications. Eduardo also explains Netcon's digital twin technology, which integrates data from various systems to simulate network performance and improve efficiency. He predicts a future with increased AI integration and larger capacity circuits. Action Items [ ] Reach out to Eduardo Langrafe on LinkedIn to discuss Netcon's solutions further. Outline Introduction and Welcome to Industrial Talk Podcast The podcast is sponsored by Siemens, focusing on smart infrastructure and grid software, encouraging listeners to visit siemens.com for more information.Scott MacKenzie mentions the event location, Distribute Tech in Dallas, Texas, and introduces the guest, Eduardo, from Netcon. Eduardo's Background and Role at Netcon Eduardo introduces himself as a computer engineer with an MBA in strategic IT management, working in the telecommunications industry for over 25 years.He is the Operations Director at Netcon Americas, based out of Miami, providing solutions in telecommunications for utilities.Eduardo shares his experience in various areas of telecommunications, including submarine cables and the evolution from TDM systems to IP-based networks.Scott MacKenzie acknowledges the significant changes Eduardo has witnessed in the telecommunications industry over the years. Netcon's Business Units and Solutions Eduardo explains Netcon's two major business units: ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and BSS/OSS (Business Support Systems).The ICT unit provides turnkey solutions for utilities, representing multiple industry vendors and handling installation, commissioning, testing, training, and technical support.The BSS/OSS unit represents software to manage telecommunications inventory and support the network lifecycle from planning to operations and maintenance.Scott MacKenzie inquires about Netcon's role in the utility space and how they fit into the evolving demands of the market. Network Evolution and Utility Communications Eduardo discusses the evolution of telecommunications systems from TDM-based systems to IP networks and the transformation of legacy systems.Netcon supports utilities in improving their communication systems, including teleprotection and corporate communications between administrative buildings and substations.Video monitoring systems are also evolving to assist operations remotely, reducing the need for field crews.Scott MacKenzie shares an example of using telecommunications for communication between substations, highlighting its importance in utility operations. Data Collection and Digital Twin Solutions Eduardo explains Netcon's solutions for data collection, including GIS-based software for mapping and documenting cable routes, splicing points, and substations.The software manages both passive assets (cables, splice cans, racks) and active network elements (switches, routers, multiplexers).Netcon's digital twin approach creates a live view of the network, integrating data from various systems like CRM and...

In this nonprofit spotlight, we interview Jordan Johnson, COO of the Christian Cultural Center of Atlanta. They discuss the importance of alignment and transparency in nonprofit organizations, the challenges of growth, and the role of a COO in fostering interdepartmental connectivity.Jordan shares insights from his experience with the Veritas Schools and his consulting firm, Alfred Nguyen, emphasizing the need for clear messaging and brand strategy in the nonprofit sector. The conversation highlights the significance of hospitality in creating a welcoming environment for community members and donors.Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

On his first day in investment banking, Clayton Kossl was “thrown right into the cauldron.” With few senior professionals in the small aerospace and defense group, junior bankers like him were expected to face company owners directly. “You had to understand the businesses inside and out,” he tells us. The experience forced him to blend analytical depth with the interpersonal agility needed to earn trust in every room.That mix of skills—numbers and nuance—became a through line in Kossl's career. At ZocDoc, he joined a Strategic Finance team that partnered closely with the CEO and CFO, taking ownership of decisions that rippled across the fast-growing health-tech firm. The role taught him that financial modeling and relationship-building could coexist—and that influence often came from understanding how leaders think, not just how spreadsheets add up.Later, when Kossl joined Paintzen as one of roughly a dozen employees, those lessons proved vital. He rebuilt systems from scratch, partnered daily with the CEO and COO, and touched nearly every function of the business. “Someone had to do it,” he recalls. His ability to translate operational chaos into financial clarity helped guide Paintzen through its expansion and eventual sale to PPG Industries.Across these chapters, Kossl's story reveals a consistent pattern: using strategy to tell better stories. Whether advising founders or steering finance in ad-tech today, he views storytelling not as spin, but as structure—the way finance can make complexity understandable and transformation achievable.

Anne Coghlan, co-founder and COO of Scope3, on why cutting carbon in ad tech isn't just about saving the planet; it's about eliminating inefficiency and financial waste at the same time. Plus: Using AI to automate and optimize digital media buying at the impression level.

Nirav and Megha Tolia are co-founding directors of the William Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership in SMU's Cox School of Business. Nirav is the CEO of Nextdoor and Megha is the president and COO of Shondaland. The couple reflect on building community networks in entrepreneurship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Presented by Desiree Chappell and Sol Aronson with their guests, Mary Dale Peterson, Executive VP and COO, Driscoll Children's Health System, serving as chair of the ASA's Workforce Summits, chair of the Ad Hoc Taskforce on Physician Workforce and chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Anesthesia Workforce Research and a member of the ASA Charitable Foundation's board of directors, and Thomas Miller, Director of Analytics and Research Services (ARS) and the Center for Anesthesia Workforce Studies (CAWS). The conversation covers topics such as the increasing supply of anesthesiology professionals, the impact of COVID-19, and the growing demand for non-operating room anesthesia services. Dr. Peterson shares insights from her experience managing pediatric anesthesiology and suggests innovative solutions for workforce management. The panel also addresses the challenges of maintaining efficient operations amidst changing practice patterns and the importance of adapting to the new workforce's needs and preferences. More on the ASA's CAWS here: https://www.asahq.org/research-and-publications/center-for-anesthesia-workforce-studies As we mention Mary has appeared previously on TopMedTalk here: https://topmedtalk.libsyn.com/the-asas-immediate-past-president-topmedtalk-at-the-asa

Make your product irresistible, and everything else will follow.That's the philosophy of Grant Lee, co-founder and CEO of Gamma, an AI design platform with an 'anti-PowerPoint approach', used by over 50M people.This week on Grit, he also shares why enduring businesses aren't one person shows, and how their deliberate hiring process shapes and strengthens company culture.Connect with Grant LeeXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

In this week's episode of the Rich Habits Podcast, Robert Croak and Austin Hankwitz sit down with Stephen Sikes, the COO of Public to discuss their newest product launch -- direct indexing!---

This is a re-release of episode 88 on Filling the Storehouse Podcast, which is one of the top twenty most-listened-to episodes to date. Today we talk with Michael Euperio who is the Chief Operating Officer at Redeem Investments. As COO, Michael oversees all aspects of day-to-day operations at the company, including acquisitions, asset management, investor relations, and fund operations. We talk with Michael about his transition from his time in the military, to his initial investment in real estate and the lessons he's learned about partnerships and moving away from a W2 job.

Kevin chats with Alon Peleg, COO of aiOla, about how voice AI is transforming warehouse operations. AiOla is a voice AI lab that develops technology to convert unstructured spoken data into structured, actionable insights for industries such as logistics, aviation, and manufacturing. Instead of relying on keyboards, tablets, or outdated paper processes, workers can now interact naturally with systems in their own language. The conversation highlights why voice AI is advancing beyond legacy picking tools, how it handles accents, jargon, and noisy environments, and why it's accelerating adoption across the supply chain. As Peleg explains, aiOla's vision is for “1 billion frontline employees [to] stop typing or using pens and paper and [start] doing what they're used to do. It's speaking to the machines.”Get better visibility with Surgere. Get your free ID Label sample right here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Have you ever wondered if there's a way to earn six figures while working just 8-10 hours per week for each client? In this episode, I sit down with Raquel Castillo, a fractional COO who's redefining what a successful career can look like in 2025.Raquel shares her inspiring journey from being a full-time COO at a manufacturing company (where she loved her job!) to discovering the world of fractional work—and how her very first fractional client replaced her entire full-time income. We dive into what fractional work actually means, why it exploded in popularity after COVID, and how she now picks up her kids at 3pm while doing meaningful strategic work.Learn the difference between fractional executives and professionals, how to pitch companies that are hiring full-time roles, and why going fractional gives you more control than you think. Whether you're curious about this career path or feeling stuck in the traditional full-time grind, this conversation will open your eyes to new possibilities.Get full show notes and more information here: Have you ever wondered if there's a way to earn six figures while working just 8-10 hours per week for each client? In this episode, I sit down with Raquel Castillo, a fractional COO who's redefining what a successful career can look like in 2025.Raquel shares her inspiring journey from being a full-time COO at a manufacturing company (where she loved her job!) to discovering the world of fractional work—and how her very first fractional client replaced her entire full-time income. We dive into what fractional work actually means, why it exploded in popularity after COVID, and how she now picks up her kids at 3pm while doing meaningful strategic work.Learn the difference between fractional executives and professionals, how to pitch companies that are hiring full-time roles, and why going fractional gives you more control than you think. Whether you're curious about this career path or feeling stuck in the traditional full-time grind, this conversation will open your eyes to new possibilities.Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.nataliefishertraining.com/episode-254Assessment: https://theonlineintegrator.com/fractional-assessmentRaquel's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theonlineintegrator/

Stacey Ray is no ordinary travel advisor. After decades in the health care industry and the loss of her husband, she made a bold career pivot — launching a business designed for women like herself: curious, solo female travelers over 45 who want to see the world and make lasting friendships along the way. Thus, Sisterhood Travels was born. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Ray shares her inspiring career journey, the challenges she’s faced and how she turned those experiences into a thriving community of travelers. The conversation also touches on the importance of succession planning — her daughter, Sami, now serves as Sisterhood’s COO — as well as the nuances of group travel and Ray’s advice for new-to-industry advisors. This episode is sponsored by Europe Express. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Sisterhood Travels Email Ray: stacey.ray@sisterhoodtravels.com Ray's business phone: 910-742-5324 Ray's podcast: Life. Reimagined. with Stacey Ray ABOUT YOUR HOST Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. ABOUT THE SHOW TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

INTELLIGEMSIntelligems brings A/B testing to business decisions beyond copy and design. Test your pricing, shipping charges, free shipping thresholds, offers, SaaS tools, and more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/42DcmFl. Get 20% off the first 3 months with code FARIS20.FERMATCreate funnels the same way you create ads with FERMAT by visiting ⁠⁠https://fermatcommerce.com/af//Patrick Coddou is my business partner & COO at AJF Growth. He previously built, operated, and in 2022 exited Supply, a men's grooming business he co-founded with his wife. Follow him on X at https://x.com/soundslikecanoe.//Most brands don't have a creative problem—they have a process problem. In this episode, Andrew and AJF Growth COO Patrick Kadu break down how to operationalize creative so it consistently drives profit. We cover why the message is the asset, how to build a database of messages per brand, and how to bolt on a “hook library” that accelerates iteration without bloating your stack.We also dig into Sora 2 (AI video) as a practical tool for 3–5 second hooks—where it works, where it fails, and how to deploy it without derailing your team. You'll hear how we separate Explore vs. Expand in paid social, resist tool proliferation, and turn ideas into a repeatable process clients can trust. If you care about speed, clarity, and profitable growth (not just flashy toolS) then this is your operator's guide.What you'll learn:- A message-first framework that scales creative and protects margins- How to stand up a “hook library” and plug it into weekly cadences- When AI video (Sora 2) is ROI-positive for paid hooks—and when it isn't- The agency principle: performance + trust beats everything//CHAPTER TITLES:00:01:58 - Open AI & Sora 200:09:05 - Using AI For Content Creation For Your Brand00:16:19 - Does Your Marketing Clients Want You To Do This?00:19:54 - Ad Inspiration & Using Other User Content00:22:50 - Explore & Expand00:28:39 - Process Oriented Attack For Creatives00:35:00 - Writing a Hook Strategy00:39:04 - Will Meta Dox My Ad? 00:43:23 - Repeatable Process & Implementation00:54:22 - 2 Key Aspects For Good Client Relationships//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X/WEEKLY UPLOADS!//ADMISSIONGet the best media buying training on the Internet + a free coaching call with Common Thread Collective's media buyers when you sign up for ADmission here: ⁠⁠https://www.youradmission.co/andrew-faris-podcast⁠//FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris ⁠Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: ⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

WhoAlan Henceroth, President and Chief Operating Officer of Arapahoe Basin, Colorado – Al runs the best ski area-specific executive blog in America – check it out:Recorded onMay 19, 2025About Arapahoe BasinClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Alterra Mountain Company, which also owns:Pass access* Ikon Pass: unlimited* Ikon Base Pass: unlimited access from opening day to Friday, Dec. 19, then five total days with no blackouts from Dec. 20 until closing day 2026Base elevation* 10,520 feet at bottom of Steep Gullies* 10,780 feet at main baseSummit elevation* 13,204 feet at top of Lenawee Mountain on East Wall* 12,478 feet at top of Lazy J Tow (connector between Lenawee Express six-pack and Zuma quad)Vertical drop* 1,695 feet lift-served – top of Lazy J Tow to main base* 1,955 feet lift-served, with hike back up to lifts – top of Lazy J Tow to bottom of Steep Gullies* 2,424 feet hike-to – top of Lenawee Mountain to Main BaseSkiable Acres: 1,428Average annual snowfall:* Claimed: 350 inches* Bestsnow.net: 308 inchesTrail count: 147 – approximate terrain breakdown: 24% double-black, 49% black, 20% intermediate, 7% beginnerLift count: 9 (1 six-pack, 1 high-speed quad, 3 fixed-grip quads, 1 double, 2 carpets, 1 ropetow)Why I interviewed himWe can generally splice U.S. ski centers into two categories: ski resort and ski area. I'll often use these terms interchangeably to avoid repetition, but they describe two very different things. The main distinction: ski areas rise directly from parking lots edged by a handful of bunched utilitarian structures, while ski resorts push parking lots into the next zipcode to accommodate slopeside lodging and commerce.There are a lot more ski areas than ski resorts, and a handful of the latter present like the former, with accommodations slightly off-hill (Sun Valley) or anchored in a near-enough town (Bachelor). But mostly the distinction is clear, with the defining question being this: is this a mountain that people will travel around the world to ski, or one they won't travel more than an hour to ski?Arapahoe Basin occupies a strange middle. Nothing in the mountain's statistical profile suggests that it should be anything other than a Summit County locals hang. It is the 16th-largest ski area in Colorado by skiable acres, the 18th-tallest by lift-served vertical drop, and the eighth-snowiest by average annual snowfall. The mountain runs just six chairlifts and only two detachables. Beginner terrain is limited. A-Basin has no base area lodging, and in fact not much of a base area at all. Altitude, already an issue for the Colorado ski tourist, is amplified here, where the lifts spin from nearly 11,000 feet. A-Basin should, like Bridger Bowl in Montana (upstream from Big Sky) or Red River in New Mexico (across the mountain from Taos) or Sunlight in Colorado (parked between Aspen and I-70), be mostly unknown beside its heralded big-name neighbors (Keystone, Breck, Copper).And it sort of is, but also sort of isn't. Like tiny (826-acre) Aspen Mountain, A-Basin transcends its statistical profile. Skiers know it, seek it, travel for it, cross it off their lists like a snowy Eiffel Tower. Unlike Aspen, A-Basin has no posse of support mountains, no grided downtown spilling off the lifts, no Kleenex-level brand that stands in for skiing among non-skiers. And yet Vail tried buying the bump in 1997, and Alterra finally did in 2024. Meanwhile, nearby Loveland, bigger, taller, snowier, higher, easier to access with its trip-off-the-interstate parking lots, is still ignored by tourists and conglomerates alike.Weird. What explains A-Basin's pull? Onetime and future Storm guest Jackson Hogen offers, in his Snowbird Secrets book, an anthropomorphic explanation for that Utah powder dump's aura: As it turns out, everyone has a story for how they came to discover Snowbird, but no one knows the reason. Some have the vanity to think they picked the place, but the wisest know the place picked them.That is the secret that Snowbird has slipped into our subconscious; deep down, we know we were summoned here. We just have to be reminded of it to remember, an echo of the Platonic notion that all knowledge is remembrance. In the modern world we are so divorced from our natural selves that you would think we'd have lost the power to hear a mountain call us. And indeed we have, but such is the enormous reach of this place that it can still stir the last seed within us that connects us to the energy that surrounds us every day yet we do not see. The resonance of that tiny, vibrating seed is what brings us here, to this extraordinary place, to stand in the heart of the energy flow.Yeah I don't know, Man. We're drifting into horoscope territory here. But I also can't explain why we all like to do This Dumb Thing so much that we'll wrap our whole lives around it. So if there is some universe force, what Hogen calls “vibrations” from Hidden Peak's quartz, drawing skiers to Snowbird, could there also be some proton-kryptonite-laserbeam s**t sucking us all toward A-Basin? If there's a better explanation, I haven't found it.What we talked aboutThe Beach; keeping A-Basin's whole ski footprint open into May; Alterra buys the bump – “we really liked the way Alterra was doing things… and letting the resorts retain their identity”; the legacy of former owner Dream; how hardcore, no-frills ski area A-Basin fits into an Alterra portfolio that includes high-end resorts such as Deer Valley and Steamboat; “you'd be surprised how many people from out of state ski here too”; Ikon as Colorado sampler pack (or not); local reaction to Alterra's purchase – “I think it's fair that there was anxiety”; balancing the wild ski cycle of over-the-top peak days and soft periods; parking reservations; going unlimited on the full Ikon Pass and how parking reservations play in – “we spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about it”; the huge price difference between Epic and Ikon and how that factors into the access calculus; why A-Basin still sells a single-mountain season pass; whether reciprocal partnerships with Monarch and Silverton will remain in place; “I've been amazed at how few things I've been told to do” by Alterra; A-Basin's dirt-cheap early-season pass; why early season is “a more competitive time” than it used to be; why A-Basin left Mountain Collective; Justice Department anti-trust concerns around Alterra's A-Basin purchase – “it never was clear to me what the concerns were”; breaking down A-Basin's latest U.S. Forest Service masterplan – “everything in there, we hope to do”; a parking lot pulse gondola and why that makes sense over shuttles; why A-Basin plans a two-lift system of beginner machines; why should A-Basin care about beginner terrain?; is beginner development is related to Ikon Pass membership?; what it means that the MDP designs for 700 more skiers per day; assessing the Lenawee Express sixer three seasons in; why A-Basin sold the old Lenawee lift to independent Sunlight, Colorado; A-Basin's patrol unionizing; and 100 percent renewable energy.What I got wrong* I said that A-Basin was the only mountain that had been caught up in antitrust issues, but that's inaccurate: when S-K-I and LBO Enterprises merged into American Skiing Company in 1996, the U.S. Justice Department compelled the combined company to sell Cranmore and Waterville Valley, both in New Hampshire. Waterville Valley remains independent. Cranmore stayed independent for a while, and has since 2010 been owned by Fairbank Group, which also owns Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts and operates Bromley, Vermont.* I said that A-Basin's $259 early-season pass, good for unlimited access from opening day through Dec. 25, “was like one day at Vail,” which is sort of true and sort of not. Vail Mountain's day-of lift ticket will hit $230 from Nov. 14 to Dec. 11, then increase to $307 or $335 every day through Christmas. All Resorts Epic Day passes, which would get skiers on the hill for any of those dates, currently sell for between $106 and $128 per day. Unlimited access to Vail Mountain for that full early-season period would require a full Epic Pass, currently priced at $1,121.* This doesn't contradict anything we discussed, but it's worth noting some parking reservations changes that A-Basin implemented following our conversation. Reservations will now be required on weekends only, and from Jan. 3 to May 3, a reduction from 48 dates last winter to 36 for this season. The mountain will also allow skiers to hold four reservations at once, doubling last year's limit of two.Why now was a good time for this interviewOne of the most striking attributes of modern lift-served skiing is how radically different each ski area is. Panic over corporate hegemony power-stamping each child mountain into snowy McDonald's clones rarely survives past the parking lot. Underscoring the point is neighboring ski areas, all over America, that despite the mutually intelligible languages of trail ratings and patrol uniforms and lift and snowgun furniture, and despite sharing weather patterns and geologic origins and local skier pools, feel whole-cut from different eras, cultures, and imaginations. The gates between Alta and Snowbird present like connector doors between adjoining hotel rooms but actualize as cross-dimensional Mario warpzones. The 2.4-mile gondola strung between the Alpine Meadows and Olympic sides of Palisades Tahoe may as well connect a baseball stadium with an opera house. Crossing the half mile or so between the summits of Sterling at Smugglers' Notch and Spruce Peak at Stowe is a journey of 15 minutes and five decades. And Arapahoe Basin, elder brother of next-door Keystone, resembles its larger neighbor like a bat resembles a giraffe: both mammals, but of entirely different sorts. Same with Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, Vermont; Sugar Bowl, Donner Ski Ranch, and Boreal, California; Park City and Deer Valley, Utah; Killington and Pico, Vermont; Highlands and Nub's Nob, Michigan; Canaan Valley and Timberline and Nordic-hybrid White Grass, West Virginia; Aspen's four Colorado ski areas; the three ski areas sprawling across Mt. Hood's south flank; and Alpental and its clump of Snoqualmie sisters across the Washington interstate. Proximity does not equal sameness.One of The Storm's preoccupations is with why this is so. For all their call-to-nature appeal, ski areas are profoundly human creations, more city park than wildlife preserve. They are sculpted, managed, manicured. Even the wildest-feeling among them – Mount Bohemia, Silverton, Mad River Glen – are obsessively tended to, ragged by design.A-Basin pulls an even neater trick: a brand curated for rugged appeal, scaffolded by brand-new high-speed lifts and a self-described “luxurious European-style bistro.” That the Alterra Mountain Company-owned, megapass pioneer floating in the busiest ski county in the busiest ski state in America managed to retain its rowdy rap even as the onetime fleet of bar-free double chairs toppled into the recycling bin is a triumph of branding.But also a triumph of heart. A-Basin as Colorado's Alta or Taos or Palisades is a title easily ceded to Telluride or Aspen Highlands, similarly tilted high-alpiners. But here it is, right beside buffed-out Keystone, a misunderstood mountain with its own wild side but a fair-enough rap as an approachable landing zone for first-time Rocky Mountain explorers westbound out of New York or Ohio. Why are A-Basin and Keystone so different? The blunt drama of A-Basin's hike-in terrain helps, but it's more enforcer than explainer. The real difference, I believe, is grounded in the conductor orchestrating this mad dance.Since Henceroth sat down in the COO chair 20 years ago, Keystone has had nine president-general manager equivalents. A-Basin was already 61 years old in 2005, giving it a nice branding headstart on younger Keystone, born in 1970. But both had spent nearly two decades, from 1978 to 1997, co-owned by a dogfood conglomerate that often marketed them as one resort, and the pair stayed glued together on a multimountain pass for a couple of decades afterward.Henceroth, with support and guidance from the real-estate giant that owned A-Basin in the Ralston-Purina-to-Alterra interim, had a series of choices to make. A-Basin had only recently installed snowmaking. There was no lift access to Zuma Bowl, no Beavers. The lift system consisted of three double chairs and two triples. Did this aesthetic minimalism and pseudo-independence define A-Basin? Or did the mountain, shaped by the generations of leaders before Henceroth, hold some intangible energy and pull, that thing we recognize as atmosphere, culture, vibe? Would The Legend lose its duct-taped edge if it:* Expanded 400 mostly low-angle acres into Zuma Bowl (2007)* Joined Vail Resorts' Epic Pass (2009)* Installed the mountain's first high-speed lift (Black Mountain Express in 2010)* Expand 339 additional acres into the Beavers (2018), and service that terrain with an atypical-for-Colorado 1,501-vertical-foot fixed-grip lift* Exit the Epic Pass following the 2018-19 ski season* Immediately join Mountain Collective and Ikon as a multimountain replacement (2019)* Ditch a 21-year-old triple chair for the mountain's first high-speed six-pack (2022)* Sell to Alterra Mountain Company (2024)* Require paid parking reservations on high-volume days (2024)* Go unlimited on the Ikon Pass and exit Mountain Collective (2025)* Release an updated USFS masterplan that focuses largely on the novice ski experience (2025)That's a lot of change. A skier booted through time from Y2K to October 2025 would examine that list and conclude that Rad Basin had been tamed. But ski a dozen laps and they'd say well not really. Those multimillion upgrades were leashed by something priceless, something human, something that kept them from defining what the mountain is. There's some indecipherable alchemy here, a thing maybe not quite as durable as the mountain itself, but rooted deeper than the lift towers strung along it. It takes a skilled chemist to cook this recipe, and while they'll never reveal every secret, you can visit the restaurant as many times as you'd like.Why you should ski Arapahoe BasinWe could do a million but here are nine:1) $: Two months of early-season skiing costs roughly the same as A-Basin's neighbors charge for a single day. A-Basin's $259 fall pass is unlimited from opening day through Dec. 25, cheaper than a Dec. 20 day-of lift ticket at Breck ($281), Vail ($335), Beaver Creek ($335), or Copper ($274), and not much more than Keystone ($243). 2) Pali: When A-Basin tore down the 1,329-vertical-foot, 3,520-foot-long Pallavicini double chair, a 1978 Yan, in 2020, they replaced it with a 1,325-vertical-foot, 3,512-foot-long Leitner-Poma double chair. It's one of just a handful of new doubles installed in America over the past decade, underscoring a rare-in-modern-skiing commitment to atmosphere, experience, and snow preservation over uphill capacity. 3) The newest lift fleet in the West: The oldest of A-Basin's six chairlifts, Zuma, arrived brand-new in 2007.4) Wall-to-wall: when I flew into Colorado for a May 2025 wind-down, five ski areas remained open. Despite solid snowpack, Copper, Breck, and Winter Park all spun a handful of lifts on a constrained footprint. But A-Basin and Loveland still ran every lift, even over the Monday-to-Thursday timeframe of my visit.5) The East Wall: It's like this whole extra ski area. Not my deal as even skiing downhill at 12,500 feet hurts, but some of you like this s**t:6) May pow: I mean yeah I did kinda just get lucky but damn these were some of the best turns I found all year (skiing with A-Basin Communications Manager Shayna Silverman):7) The Beach: the best ski area tailgate in North America (sorry, no pet dragons allowed - don't shoot the messenger):8) The Beavers: Just glades and glades and glades (a little crunchy on this run, but better higher up and the following day):9) It's a ski area first: In a county of ski resorts, A-Basin is a parking-lots-at-the-bottom-and-not-much-else ski area. It's spare, sparse, high, steep, and largely exposed. Skiers are better at self-selecting than we suppose, meaning the ability level of the average A-Basin skier is more Cottonwoods than Connecticut. That impacts your day in everything from how the liftlines flow to how the bumps form to how many zigzaggers you have to dodge on the down.Podcast NotesOn the dates of my visit We reference my last A-Basin visit quite a bit – for context, I skied there May 6 and 7, 2025. Both nice late-season pow days.On A-Basin's long seasonsIt's surprisingly difficult to find accurate open and close date information for most ski areas, especially before 2010 or so, but here's what I could cobble together for A-Basin - please let me know if you have a more extensive list, or if any of this is wrong:On A-Basin's ownership timelineArapahoe Basin probably gets too much credit for being some rugged indie. Ralston-Purina, then-owners of Keystone, purchased A-Basin in 1978, then added Breckenridge to the group in 1993 before selling the whole picnic basket to Vail in 1997. The U.S. Justice Department wouldn't let the Eagle County operator have all three, so Vail flipped Arapahoe to a Canadian real estate empire, then called Dundee, some months later. That company, which at some point re-named itself Dream, pumped a zillion dollars into the mountain before handing it off to Alterra last year.On A-Basin leaving Epic PassA-Basin self-ejected from Epic Pass in 2019, just after Vail maxed out Colorado by purchasing Crested Butte and before they fully invaded the East with the Peak Resorts purchase. Arapahoe Basin promptly joined Mountain Collective and Ikon, swapping unlimited-access on four varieties of Epic Pass for limited-days products. Henceroth and I talked this one out during our 2022 pod, and it's a fascinating case study in building a better business by decreasing volume.On the price difference between Ikon and Epic with A-Basin accessConcerns about A-Basin hurdling back toward the overcrowded Epic days by switching to Ikon's unlimited tier tend to overlook this crucial distinction: Vail sold a 2018-19 version of the Epic Pass that included unlimited access to Keystone and A-Basin for an early-bird rate of $349. The full 2025-26 Ikon Pass debuted at nearly four times that, retailing for $1,329, and just ramped up to $1,519.On Alterra mountains with their own season passesWhile all Alterra-owned ski areas (with the exception of Deer Valley), are unlimited on the full Ikon Pass and nine are unlimited with no blackouts on Ikon Base, seven of those sell their own unlimited season pass that costs less than Base. The sole unlimited season pass for Crystal, Mammoth, Palisades Tahoe, Steamboat, Stratton, and Sugarbush is a full Ikon Pass, and the least-expensive unlimited season pass for Solitude is the Ikon Base. Deer Valley leads the nation with its $4,100 unlimited season pass. See the Alterra chart at the top of this article for current season pass prices to all of the company's mountains.On A-Basin and Schweitzer pass partnershipsAlterra has been pretty good about permitting its owned ski areas to retain historic reciprocal partners on their single-mountain season passes. For A-Basin, this means three no-blackout days at Monarch and two unguided days at Silverton. Up at Schweitzer, passholders get three midweek days each at Whitewater, Mt. Hood Meadows, Castle Mountain, Loveland, and Whitefish. None of these ski areas are on Ikon Pass, and the benefit is only stapled to A-Basin- or Schweitzer-specific season passes.On the Mountain Collective eventI talk about Mountain Collective as skiing's most exclusive country club. Nothing better demonstrates that characterization than this podcast I recorded at the event last fall, when in around 90 minutes I had conversations with the top leaders of Boyne Resorts, Snowbird, Aspen, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Snowbasin, Grand Targhee, and many more.On Mountain Collective and Ikon overlapThe Mountain Collective-Ikon overlap is kinda nutso:On Pennsylvania skiingIn regards to the U.S. Justice Department grilling Alterra on its A-Basin acquisition, it's still pretty stupid that the agency allowed Vail Resorts to purchase eight of the 19 public chairlift-served ski areas in Pennsylvania without a whisper of protest. These eight ski areas almost certainly account for more than half of all skier visits in a state that typically ranks sixth nationally for attendance. Last winter, the state's 2.6 million skier visits accounted for more days than vaunted ski states New Hampshire (2.4 million), Washington (2.3), Montana (2.2), Idaho (2.1). or Oregon (2.0). Only New York (3.4), Vermont (4.2), Utah (6.5), California (6.6), and Colorado (13.9) racked up more.On A-Basin's USFS masterplanNothing on the scale of Zuma or Beavers inbound, but the proposed changes would tap novice terrain that has always existed but never offered a good access point for beginners:On pulse gondolasA-Basin's proposed pulse gondola, should it be built, would be just the sixth such lift in America, joining machines at Taos, Northstar, Steamboat, Park City, and Snowmass. Loon plans to build a pulse gondola in 2026.On mid-mountain beginner centersBig bad ski resorts have attempted to amp up family appeal in recent years with gondola-serviced mid-mountain beginner centers, which open gentle, previously hard-to-access terrain to beginners. This was the purpose of mid-stations off Jackson Hole's Sweetwater Gondola and Big Sky's new-for-this-year Explorer Gondola. A-Basin's gondy (not the parking lot pulse gondola, but the one terminating at Sawmill Flats in the masterplan image above), would provide up and down lift access allowing greenies to lap the new detach quad above it.The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

What happens when artificial intelligence meets the everyday heroes of local government? That's the question driving my conversation with Justin Dennis, co-founder and COO of Urban SDK, a geospatial AI company helping more than 250 North American cities make faster, safer, and smarter decisions. Justin shares how a Smart Cities Challenge from the U.S. Department of Transportation inspired him to co-found Urban SDK in 2018, and why he believes the future of public safety depends on replacing manual data collection with real-time intelligence. From traffic fatalities to hurricane recovery, he explains how the company's HALO platform gives local leaders and emergency responders the insights they need to act before crises escalate. In a single platform, they can identify dangerous road zones, predict high-risk intersections, coordinate clean-up operations, and rebuild infrastructure based on data rather than guesswork. We also explore how AI is quietly reshaping government operations, from disaster management to traffic enforcement. Justin discusses the challenges of introducing cutting-edge technology into systems that still rely on spreadsheets and siloed workflows. Yet his optimism is clear. He believes governments are beginning to embrace AI not as a buzzword but as a practical tool to save time, resources, and lives. As one Florida community recently reported a 40 percent drop in traffic fatalities, the impact is already measurable. Urban SDK's story is about technology meeting public service with purpose. So as we enter another year of rapid AI progress, how can data-driven insights continue to empower local leaders to protect citizens and improve quality of life? And what could your city achieve if every decision were powered by real-time intelligence? Share your thoughts after the episode.

A economia digital requer que plataformas de mobilidade, pagamentos, superapps, varejo, cidades, etc operem em tempo real com alto desempenho e segurança. Redes de alta performance são fundamentais para garantir tais operações escaláveis e eficientes em diversos setores de negócios, especialmente com o aumento das demandas de processamento impulsionadas por inteligência artificial. É crucial que essas redes cumpram rígidos padrões de funcionamento ponta a ponta, já que isso vem moldando a competitividade futura do mercado. O Start Eldorado desta semana mostra a terceira parte do debate gravado em mais um evento da série 'Conexões', realizado na Japan House, e que reuniu executivos que discutiram a relevância das redes para o desenvolvimento de produtos e serviços inteligentes, essenciais para a economia moderna. O painel contou com a participação de Carlo Gonçalves, founder e COO da Greenpass e VP da Abepam (Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Pagamento Automático para Mobilidade); Daniel Elidio, vice-presidente de Tecnologia da Fiserv no Brasil; Renier Souza, CTO da Cisco Brasil; e Roberto Murakami, vice‑presidente de Redes e Telecom da NEC América Latina. Com apresentação de Daniel Gonzales, o Start vai ao ar às 21h, na Rádio Eldorado FM 107,3 (para toda Grande SP), site, apps, canais digitais e assistentes de voz.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this THINK Business Mini Business Course, Jon Dowskin and James O'Brien, Co-Founder, COO, Ducky discuss how Ducky.ai can help your business. Get valuable, expert insight you can put into practice today! Watch the full episode Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/ Website: https://jondwoskin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/ Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!   Connect with James O'Brien: Website: www.ducky.ai X: https://x.com/Jnpobrien LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnpobrien/                                       *E – explicit language may be used in this podcast.

In this episode of The Distribution, host Brandon Sedloff sits down with Carlos Rodriguez Jr., president and COO of Driftwood Capital, to discuss the evolution of one of the most vertically integrated hospitality investment platforms in the U.S. Carlos shares his family's multigenerational journey from Costa Rica's first Holiday Inn to today's expansive network of hotels and funds, highlighting Driftwood's strategic shift from private capital syndication to institutional-scale investing. He explains how data, technology, and an operationally driven mindset have become key differentiators in hospitality investing, and how Driftwood's GP fund model and lending platform have positioned the company for long-term growth in an evolving market. They discuss: The origin and structure of Driftwood's GP fund and its role in scaling the business How operational data informs investment decisions across acquisitions, lending, and development The role of AI and Project Domino in transforming Driftwood's efficiency and decision-making Carlos's approach to leading organizational change and building team-wide adoption of new technology Why private credit presents a unique opportunity in today's hospitality landscape Links: Driftwood Capital - https://driftwoodcapital.com/ Carlos on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-rodriguez-jr-210a4521/ Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/ Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/ Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:01) - Carlos' career and background (00:05:56) - Scaling Driftwood Capital (00:14:09) - Operational philosophy and strategies (00:19:31) - Leveraging technology and AI in hospitality (00:24:18) - Capital side challenges and data connectivity (00:26:14) - Importance of data organization (00:28:15) - Technology journey and team formation (00:30:26) - AI integration and employee adaptation (00:35:24) - AI's impact on the hospitality industry (00:38:59) - Investment opportunities in hospitality (00:43:26) - Private credit in hospitality (00:45:38) - Conclusion and contact information

Welcome back to Franchise Fridays on the Unemployable Podcast with Jeff Dudan — where we break down the mindset, systems, and leadership that make franchise owners succeed. Today's guest is Michael O'Driscoll, President of Franchising and COO at Homefront Brands, with 38 years of experience leading franchise systems across four continents. From building his career in Australia's largest residential construction franchise to launching global brands in transportation, banking, and home services, Michael has helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs succeed in franchising. In this episode, Jeff and Michael discuss: What truly separates good franchise owners from great ones The biggest misconceptions about franchising The mindset shift required for first-year success Why accountability and leadership matter more than ever How AI and robotics are transforming home service franchises The future of franchising and what investors need to know This episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring and existing franchise owners — from resilient leadership to community engagement to long-term wealth creation.  FREE COPY of Jeff's Book DISCERNMENTFind out more About Jeff Dudan www.jeffdudan.com

Matt, Chief Strategy Officer at Cerby, discusses how the autonomous AI agents create a demand for a fresh approach to identity security and shares practical insights on navigating these new challenges.Join the Defender Fridays community, live every Friday, to discuss the dynamic world of information security in a collaborative space with seasoned professionals.Matt has spent 20+ years at the intersection of cybersecurity, strategy, and company building. His career began in the trenches as a practitioner and architect, grew into CISO and CSO roles, and today he helps scale Cerby as Chief Strategy Officer.At Cerby, Matt has been part of the journey from pre-launch through significant enterprise adoption, serving first as Founding Advisor, then Chief Trust Officer, COO, and now CSO. Each role reflected a different stage of building the company: establishing trust and market credibility, creating the operations foundation, and shaping long-term strategy and growth.Before Cerby, as part of the early RedLock team, Matt helped scale Prisma Cloud (formerly RedLock) from $4M to $500M+ ARR after Palo Alto Networks' $235M acquisition. That experience taught him how to scale security businesses from the ground up while staying connected to practitioner needs.Matt believes the best security leaders shouldn't have to choose between protecting and growing the business; his work is helping organizations achieve both.Support our show by sharing your favorite episodes with a friend, subscribe, give us a rating or leave a comment on your podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by LimaCharlie, maker of the SecOps Cloud Platform, infrastruture for SecOps where everything is built API first. Scale with confidence as your business grows. Start today for free at limacharlie.io.

Welcome back to Franchise Fridays on the Unemployable Podcast with Jeff Dudan — where we break down the mindset, systems, and leadership that make franchise owners succeed. Today's guest is Michael O'Driscoll, President of Franchising and COO at Homefront Brands, with 38 years of experience leading franchise systems across four continents. From building his career in Australia's largest residential construction franchise to launching global brands in transportation, banking, and home services, Michael has helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs succeed in franchising. In this episode, Jeff and Michael discuss: What truly separates good franchise owners from great ones The biggest misconceptions about franchising The mindset shift required for first-year success Why accountability and leadership matter more than ever How AI and robotics are transforming home service franchises The future of franchising and what investors need to know This episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring and existing franchise owners — from resilient leadership to community engagement to long-term wealth creation.  FREE COPY of Jeff's Book DISCERNMENTFind out more About Jeff Dudan www.jeffdudan.com

Ann shares how reading the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill in 1979 was a pivotal moment that set her on a path of personal and professional growth. Her credentials are long and impressive. Above all, she has an abiding personal commitment to serve.Summary of the PodcastIntroductionsThe meeting begins with casual introductions and small talk between the three participants - Graham, Kevin, and Ann. They discuss Ann's background, her impressive construction career, and her work in personal development coaching.Ann's journey and the power of goal-settingAnn shares how reading the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill in 1979 was a pivotal moment that set her on a path of personal and professional growth. She explains her approach of helping clients get clear on their financial goals, create a plan of action, and hold themselves accountable through mastermind groups.The 100-day mindset and continuous improvementThe group discusses the "Next 100 Days" concept that Kevin and Graham use, focusing on setting achievable short-term goals rather than just long-term visions. Ann emphasizes the importance of an ongoing journey of growth and improvement, rather than just aiming for a final destination.Retirement, purpose, and leaving a lasting legacyThe group explores Ann's perspective on retirement, which for her means having the freedom to do what she wants, when she wants. She shares her vision of continuing to serve and impact lives well into her 90s, guided by a strong sense of purpose and mission.Ann's mission to support Black women in constructionAnn shares her passion for creating opportunities and representation for Black women in the male-dominated construction industry. She discusses founding the National Association for Black Women in Construction to provide a supportive community and open doors for the next generation.Recap and final thoughtsKevin and Graham reflect on the key insights from the conversation, emphasizing the importance of having a clear dream or vision, and challenging listeners to identify their own dreams. They express admiration for Ann's work and the positive impact she is making.The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham ArrowsmithGraham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. He's the founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, where he introduces AI Agents that you can talk to, that increase engagement, dwell time, leads and conversions. Now, Graham is offering Answer Engine Optimisation that gets you ready to be found by LLM search.Kevin ApplebyKevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on

We map the data, policy, and funding failures that created the women's health gap and lay out a California-led plan to fix it with research built for women, agile AI governance, and voter-backed capital. The goal: better outcomes, lower costs, and a template to repair healthcare at large.• two percent venture funding and underpowered trials• AI amplifying bias without sex-specific datasets• misdiagnosis, adverse drug reactions, and cost burden• why subgroup analysis must be mandated• ballot initiatives as a research funding engine• learning from California's stem cell model• WHIC's scope: basic science to real‑world translation• agile governance for AI and data privacy• workforce constraints versus knowledge deficits• value‑based care's attribution math problem• women's health as a system-wide blueprint• tangible moonshot: closing the measured gapIf anyone is out there is interested in becoming the part of future healthcare for women in California, we welcome your input. We welcome your views, your time, and your treasure to be part of this campaign that's going to change the course of history for women's health in California, if not the United States.  Please reach out to Bhairavi or Rick on LinkedinThe numbers are brutal: women receive a fraction of research attention, a sliver of venture funding, and face later diagnoses with higher adverse drug reactions—then AI threatens to accelerate the bias baked into that history. We take this on head‑first with Bhairavi Parikh, a serial medtech founder behind the proposed Women's Health Institute of California (WHIC), and Rick Arney, co-author of California's landmark privacy laws and a strategist who knows how to turn public will into policy.We unpack why clinical trials still fail to power for sex differences, how underrepresentation turns into misdiagnosis and higher costs, and what it will take to build datasets and decision tools that actually work for women. From agile AI governance to rigorous privacy protections, we explore how to enable research without sacrificing trust, and why California's ballot initiative model—proven in the state's stem cell program—offers a practical way to fund the missing science and speed real-world translation. Bhairavi Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhairavi-parikh-9732071/Founder of the Women's Health Institute of California (WHIC), a proposed statewide research initiative which we'll be discussing in depth today.  She is also the Founder and CEO of Clarity Health Alliance.  Previously Bhairavi served as COO at Health Rhythms and Wildflower Health. As a serial founder, Bhairavi has built multiple med tech companies, including CellScape and Apieron, collectively raising over $75 millionRichard Arney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-arney-3a23731a/A recognized authority on privacy, having co-authored the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). Rick previously served as BlackRock's Global Head of Alternatives Distribution and led BlackRock's hedge fund product strategy and served as Head of Investment Strategy for the Global Market Strategies Group, which managed BlackRock's largest ($10B AUM) hedge fund.  Website: https://www.position2.com/podcast/Rajiv Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivparikh/Sandeep Parikh: https://www.instagram.com/sandeepparikh/Email us with any feedback for the show: sparkofages.podcast@position2.com

What does it take to help build one of the most influential e-commerce companies in the world?In this Fan Favorite episode, Cameron Herold sits down with Harley Finkelstein, President and COO of Shopify, to revisit one of the most downloaded and talked-about conversations in the show's history.Harley shares his journey from law school student to serial entrepreneur to becoming the operational powerhouse behind Shopify's global rise. He opens up about working alongside founder Tobias Lütke, building the company's culture from the inside out, and leading through rapid growth and constant reinvention.Whether you're scaling a startup or steering a billion-dollar brand, Harley's insights on leadership, culture, and staying grounded in the middle of explosive success will challenge and inspire you.About the GuestHarley Finkelstein is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Shopify, where he's played a pivotal role in scaling the company from startup to a global leader in e-commerce. A serial entrepreneur and public speaker, Harley is also on the board of C100, an advisor to major venture funds, and a familiar face as a dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den.

GLP-1s have been called everything from miracle drugs to dangerous shortcuts. Becca McCarthy is here to set the record straight. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with the co-founder of Evolv, a biotech-driven supplement brand that mimics the effects of GLP-1s without requiring a prescription. With a background in health and fitness, Becca saw a gap in the wellness market for those who didn't qualify for pharmaceutical weight loss but still needed support. She discusses how Evolv was built using molecular biology and AI modeling, and why this product has been transforming how women relate to food, weight, and energy. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Becca McCarthy, Co-Founder, President, and COO at Evolv (02:12) Using AI to design a novel weight loss peptide (05:06) Hormonal imbalances that block weight loss for women (09:59) Understanding GLP-1 in simple terms (13:05) Resetting your relationship with food through satiety (18:15) How to talk to your kids about nutrition (20:18) How Evolv is different from supplements and drugs (24:38) The double pressure of being a founder and mom (29:22) Why biohacking isn't for everyone (34:12) Evolv's proprietary tech and future products (39:44) Challenging the stigma around aesthetic weight loss If you'd like to learn more about Evolv, visit their website: https://evolvlife.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny and Katie are joined by Rose Wang, COO of BlueSky, the decentralised social network born out of Twitter, to discuss how it's rewriting the rules of social media, why it's turning down ad money, and whether an open, user-curated model can rival the giants. And they look at OpenAI's six gigawatt chip deal with AMD, the growing warnings of an AI bubble and Donald Trump's TikTok return.Image: The Times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing? Guest Chris Newbold is not only the COO of ALPS Insurance – a leader in malpractice insurance for solo and small legal practices – he's also a recognized driver in the nationwide movement to ensure well-being in the legal profession.  Over the past decade, there's been a focus on mental health, stress, and substance abuse in the profession. Meeting deadlines, satisfying clients, and the sometimes-confrontational nature of the job can take a toll, especially on lawyers in small practices or rural area where support can be lacking.  Newbold shares insights from ALPS' recent report, “The State of the Solo: Positive Trends in Solo Attorney Well-Being,” which he helped deliver. The study made a special effort to include small and rural practices. A healthy lawyer is a good lawyer, Newbold says. Taking care of yourself helps you better serve your clients.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com   Topics: Attorneys in solo or small firms are uniquely susceptible to the effects of stress. It's a hard job. But the right tech, paired with a mindful approach and managed workload, can reduce that stress. Taking care of yourself ultimately benefits your clients. Practicing in a solo or small firm or in rural areas can have its benefits, and surveys show those attorneys are finding job satisfaction and taking time off when needed. But there are also unique stresses and the potential to feel alone or overburdened. Workload and cash flow are among the biggest stressors facing attorneys. Stress can lead to mistakes (and malpractice), so be mindful of where you are and how much you can handle. If you own your own practice, don't let your practice own you.   Resources: “The State of the Solo: Positive Trends in Solo Attorney Well-Being,” ALPS Insurance “The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change”  Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network, The Digital Age podcast, “The Insurance Industry Studies the Future of Law Practice”  Mental Health Resources, American Bar Association Law Student Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, ABA ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2025

How do you get real team buy-in?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I talk with Jana Reed, COO of Nonprofit Finance Fund. Jana brings years of experience as a systems-level leader—previously serving as COO of iMentor, co-founder of Ascend Learning, and Chief of Schools at Citizens of the World Charter Schools.   Jana walks us through how her leadership has evolved—from focusing on modeling hard work to now prioritizing shared values, clear communication, and co-creation with her team.   We discuss: The importance of frameworks like operating agreements and shared values to set expectations and build culture Why asking for help is a strength, not a weakness How transparency in vision and strategy builds alignment and trust What co-creation really takes—and why involving your team early leads to stronger outcomes This episode is for leaders who want to move from top-down decision-making to more inclusive, sustainable leadership practices. Thank you, Jana, for sharing your advice!   Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-112-inclusive-leadership-with-jana-reed-coo-of-nonprofit-finance-fund  

On this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Rich DiPaolo is joined by Mark Curtis, chairman of the board, and Dan Petrelle, CEO, of Splash Express Car Wash. Together, they share insights on leadership transitions, private equity partnerships, growth strategies and creating a winning work environment in the competitive Northeast carwash market. Petrelle discusses his transition from COO to CEO after more than two decades in operations, while Curtis outlines his evolving role as chairman. The pair also reflect on their new partnership with AEA Investors, exploring how majority backing from AEA will fuel Splash's strategy for growth and expansion. The conversation highlights Splash's continued expansion across Long Island and the Northeast, including a mix of new builds and acquisitions. Curtis and Petrelle provide perspective on the current landscape for M&A opportunities in the region, and what sets their approach apart. Beyond growth, the two leaders emphasize culture and community. Splash has been recognized as a Top Workplace in Connecticut for 10 consecutive years, and they share how they maintain that award-winning culture with more than 70 locations and 1,000 employees. Petrelle and Curtis also highlight Splash's strong community engagement — from raising $8,500 at a recent Fayetteville grand opening for Clear Path for Veterans to more than $3 million raised historically for local causes. Looking ahead, both leaders outline what success will mean for Splash Express Car Wash in 2026 and beyond, with a focus on sustainable growth, strong employee bonds and community connections.

Franchisees first is more than a leadership philosophy—it's a measurable strategy that has driven real results across one of North America's leading franchise systems. For Steve White, President and COO of PuroClean, this approach has become the foundation for building a high-performance brand with strong franchisee alignment and sustainable growth. With over 35 years of experience in the franchise sector, White has held senior leadership roles at brands like Domino's Pizza and Allegra Network. Since taking the helm at PuroClean in 2013, he has led the company through a period of extraordinary growth. PuroClean has more than doubled its number of franchise locations and achieved significant increases in system-wide sales and profitability. The common thread across all of this progress is a consistent focus on putting franchisees first. This mindset is embedded into the way the organization operates. Franchisees are treated as strategic partners, not just operators. Their input is actively sought out and turned into actionable change. From onboarding and training to marketing support and technology implementation, the goal is to equip every owner with the tools and support they need to succeed in their local markets. Listening is a key component of this approach. Through structured feedback channels like system-wide surveys and franchise advisory councils, leadership is able to understand what's working, identify pain points, and make data-driven decisions that benefit the network as a whole. This level of responsiveness helps strengthen trust and contributes to higher franchisee satisfaction and retention. While many brands talk about culture, PuroClean has built its growth strategy around it. The franchisees first model reinforces accountability, improves communication, and increases performance across the system. That alignment between leadership and operators helps drive efficiency, consistency, and customer satisfaction. Technology also plays a role. With documentation and compliance being critical in the property restoration space, PuroClean is investing in AI and operational tools to reduce manual workloads and improve accuracy. These innovations are implemented with franchisees in mind, allowing them to focus more on service delivery and customer relationships. What makes this approach particularly impactful is that it scales. Whether supporting a brand-new franchisee or a multi-unit operator, the same principles apply. The company provides individualized guidance to help each location grow based on its unique goals and local conditions. That flexibility has helped PuroClean build a network that performs consistently across regions and continues to expand in both new and established markets. Steve White's background as a U.S. Army Captain and his leadership within the International Franchise Association further reinforce the values behind the franchisees first model. His involvement in veteran initiatives, industry advocacy, and franchise education speaks to a broader commitment to service, ethics, and impact. That credibility has helped position PuroClean not just as a successful brand, but as a respected voice in the franchise community. PuroClean's national presence, rooted in South Florida and operating in over 500 locations across North America, demonstrates the geographic scalability of this model. Franchisees are thriving in large metro areas and regional markets alike, supported by systems that are both adaptable and proven. Franchisees first is not a slogan—it's a strategic operating model that produces results. By aligning leadership, field support, and individual owner goals, PuroClean has built a franchise system that delivers consistent growth while staying grounded in purpose. For other franchise brands looking to improve performance and network engagement, this case illustrates the power of putting people at the center of the business. As the industry continues to evolve, models that prioritize franchisee success will be best positioned to grow, innovate, and lead. Watch the full episode on YouTube. About Steve White Steve White is the President and Chief Operating Officer of PuroClean, a leading property restoration franchise with over 500 locations across North America. With more than 35 years of experience in the franchise industry, Steve has held executive leadership roles at Domino's Pizza, Allegra Network, and Signs Now. Since joining PuroClean in 2013, he has led the brand through significant growth in both scale and profitability by focusing on franchisee success and operational excellence. A former U.S. Army Captain, Steve brings a disciplined, service-driven approach to leadership. He serves on the Executive Committee of the International Franchise Association's Board of Directors, is the current Chair of the IFA Foundation's Board of Trustees, and is a past Chair of the VetFran Committee. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the Gold International Business Award for Lifetime Achievement in Consumer Services and South Florida Business & Wealth Magazine's Apogee Award for distinguished C-suite leadership. Steve is a recognized advocate for franchise education, veteran entrepreneurship, and franchise system development. His leadership continues to shape the future of franchising through a consistent focus on accountability, innovation, and putting franchisees first. Learn more at PuroClean.com About Ford Saeks Ford Saeks is a Business Growth Accelerator with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations drive revenue, expand market share, and create innovative customer experiences. As the President and CEO of Prime Concepts Group, Inc., he has generated over one billion dollars in sales for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500s. An award-winning entrepreneur and strategic marketing expert, Ford has founded over ten companies, authored five books, and holds three U.S. patents. His deep expertise spans branding, digital marketing, sales optimization, and AI prompt engineering. He is widely recognized for helping businesses attract loyal customers, boost brand visibility, and leverage emerging technologies for real-world results. Ford recently shared the stage at the “Unleash AI for Business Summit,” where he demonstrated how tools like ChatGPT are transforming operations, marketing, and customer engagement. Learn more at ProfitRichResults.com and watch his TV show at Fordify.tv

We’ve hit the big 1-0, baby! And we’ve gone full circle (and slightly off the rails). Over the past few weeks, we’ve been rewinding through the years, bringing you our Best Of specials circa 2015. And now, we’ve gone COMPLETE inception with a ‘Best of Best Of’ special. Yep, you heard that right. Ten years, 300+ episodes, and countless bad jokes, Mae’s back behind the mic, joined by Shaun, her partner, our COO, and head of all things punny. Together, they take turns picking their favourite tracks from across Maed in India history - breaking a few rules, trying (and failing) to be funny, and getting very sentimental along the way. Also known in-house as BOBO (because it’s adorbs). It’s big. It’s loud. It’s emotional. It's our own block party down the road. 10 years on and still going strong. WARNING: Please know the songs picked were very arbitrary and very dependent on our mood, work load, life drama, and bodily functions that day. Any other day and we might have picked a completely different bunch. OKChaloBye. Song List: The Koniac Net - Crawling (04:55 - 08:07) Jose Neil Gomes - Tree Outside (09:08 - 14:33) Vernon Noronha - Come Back Jack (15:43 - 21:09) Uday Benegal - Looking for the Mahatma (22:42 - 27:28) Chabuk - Pyaar (28:07 - 31:47) Ladies Compartment - Mountain Song (34:45 - 37:40) Shan Vincent De Paul - Die Iconic (40:22 - 42:10) JBABE - Punch Me in My Third Eye (44:49 - 46:27) Sampriti - Xathor (49:36 - 55:31) Blackstratblues - Random Improv At Sunset (57:59 - 01:01:10) Come be our friend: Instagram @maedinindia Twitter @maedinindia CREDITS: Host: Mae & Shaun Instagram: @maemariyam Twitter: @maebemaebe Producer: Shaun Fanthome and Meghna Gulati Sound Edited & Mastered by: Kartik Kulkarni Artwork: Alika Gupta

Justin Lopas, COO of Base Power, talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about the company's recent $1B funding round and how they are addressing rising energy demands from AI data centers. We also talk with The Information's Sara Germano about AI's impact on sports, and also get into the future of fintech with Sheel Mohnot, a Co-Founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures. Lastly, we get into Trump's evolving relationship with big tech with our D.C. correspondent Sylvia Varnham O'Regan.Articles discussed on this episode:https://www.theinformation.com/articles/can-microsoft-resist-trumps-call-execs-firing-tech-bends-willTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation4080/?sub_confirmation=1- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing? Guest Chris Newbold is not only the COO of ALPS Insurance – a leader in malpractice insurance for solo and small legal practices – he's also a recognized driver in the nationwide movement to ensure well-being in the legal profession.  Over the past decade, there's been a focus on mental health, stress, and substance abuse in the profession. Meeting deadlines, satisfying clients, and the sometimes-confrontational nature of the job can take a toll, especially on lawyers in small practices or rural area where support can be lacking.  Newbold shares insights from ALPS' recent report, “The State of the Solo: Positive Trends in Solo Attorney Well-Being,” which he helped deliver. The study made a special effort to include small and rural practices. A healthy lawyer is a good lawyer, Newbold says. Taking care of yourself helps you better serve your clients.  Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com   Topics: Attorneys in solo or small firms are uniquely susceptible to the effects of stress. It's a hard job. But the right tech, paired with a mindful approach and managed workload, can reduce that stress. Taking care of yourself ultimately benefits your clients. Practicing in a solo or small firm or in rural areas can have its benefits, and surveys show those attorneys are finding job satisfaction and taking time off when needed. But there are also unique stresses and the potential to feel alone or overburdened. Workload and cash flow are among the biggest stressors facing attorneys. Stress can lead to mistakes (and malpractice), so be mindful of where you are and how much you can handle. If you own your own practice, don't let your practice own you.   Resources: “The State of the Solo: Positive Trends in Solo Attorney Well-Being,” ALPS Insurance “The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change”  Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network, The Digital Age podcast, “The Insurance Industry Studies the Future of Law Practice”  Mental Health Resources, American Bar Association Law Student Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, ABA ABA Techshow 2026 Clio Cloud Conference 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In der heutigen Episode des Kassenzone und Energiezone Podcasts spreche ich mit Wolfgang Kirsch, dem CEO der Shelly Group, einem Unternehmen, das sich auf innovative Smart Home-Lösungen spezialisiert hat. Shelly bietet eine breite Palette smarter Schalter und Zwischenstecker, die sich ideal für die Automatisierung von Haustechnik eignen. Ich schildere meine persönliche Erfahrung mit den Produkten, die ich als Heimwerker bereits intensiv genutzt habe, und bin begeistert von den Möglichkeiten, die Shelly bietet. Wolfgang, der früher COO bei MediaMarkt war, erklärt, wie Shelly es geschafft hat, sich in einem hart umkämpften Markt durchzusetzen und mit großen internationalen Anbietern zu konkurrieren. Beeindruckend ist, dass die Firma, die 2018 gegründet wurde, bereits 150 Millionen Euro Umsatz jährlich erwirtschaftet und rasch wächst. Wir diskutieren die Wachstumsmärkte und Strategien von Shelly, die nicht nur in Europa, sondern auch in aufstrebenden Märkten international expandieren. Besonders spannend sind die technologischen Aspekte der Produkte. Wolfgang spricht über die Vielseitigkeit von Shelly, die Kunden die Freiheit lässt, die Geräte sowohl über die eigene App als auch in Verbindung mit anderen Smart Home-Systemen und Plattformen zu nutzen. Diese Kundenfreundlichkeit unterscheidet Shelly von vielen anderen Anbietern, die ihre Nutzer oft in eine bestimmte App drängen. Zudem bietet die Marke eine Vielzahl an Geräten an, die sich mittlerweile über 120 Produkte erstreckt. Ein zentrales Thema der Diskussion sind die Herausforderungen und Chancen im Vertrieb. Wolfgang erläutert, dass Shelly seine Produkte zunächst im Do-It-Yourself-Bereich angeboten hat und mittlerweile auch Elektriker und Fachleute anspricht. Wir sprechen über die Bedeutung von Kundenbefragungen, um herauszufinden, wer tatsächlich die Produkte benötigt und verwendet, und welche Rolle Fachmärkte wie Hornbach und Online-Plattformen wie Amazon in ihrer Strategie spielen. Wolfgang gibt außerdem interessante Einblicke in den bulgarischen Startup-Markt und erklärt, warum das Unternehmen dort einen Standort gewählt hat. Die Verfügbarkeit von talentierten Entwicklern und kostengünstigen Ressourcen spielt eine entscheidende Rolle im Wachstum von Shelly. Zudem erklärt er die Herausforderungen der Produktionsverlagerung nach China und wie Shelly trotz günstiger Konkurrenz durch chinesische Anbieter hochwertige Produkte anbieten kann, die sich durch einen hohen Funktionsumfang auszeichnen. Partner in der Folge: https://linktr.ee/kassenzone Community: https://kassenzone.de/discord Feedback zum Podcast? Mail an alex@kassenzone.de Disclaimer: https://www.kassenzone.de/disclaimer/ Kassenzone” wird vermarktet von Podstars by OMR. Du möchtest in “Kassenzone” werben? Dann https://podstars.de/kontakt/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes_kassenzone Alexander Graf: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergraf/ https://twitter.com/supergraf Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KassenzoneDe/ Blog: https://www.kassenzone.de/ E-Commerce Buch 2019: https://amzn.eu/d/5Adc1ZH Plattformbuch 2024: https://amzn.eu/d/1tAk82E

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Bobbie Shrivastav, co-founder and CEO of Solvrays about building AI-driven workflows that aim to eliminate 70% of manual back office work with governance, auditability, and with human-in-the-loop controls directly built in. They also talk about what makes vertical AI for insurance defensible and measurable, compressing sales and implementation cycles without cutting corners on risk, change management, and how to augment teams as talent retires while new talent ramps up. KEY TAKEAWAYS When the work comes into an organisation, not everything is digital. Things are still mailed, the first help we provide is extracting the information from those manual sources and place it with the right person in their case management system. That alone eliminates 5-7 touch points. When an agent sends an email we're able to get a new business application, we're able to extract the information, we understand that this is a new business applications, and we can take that data and integrate it into the new business solution. Before, someone would have checked an email, gone to the new business application and keyed that in so work could move in. We've eliminated that complex new business touch point. 74% of our industry is still tackling legacy. Customers don't care if you're still using mainframes, they shouldn't feel a difference. We're using agentic AI as a connector to legacy systems, we're also doing database to database connectors, and for newer systems we're using APIs. We eliminate a dependency factor and empowered IT to work with new technologies, so they're not dependent on us. But the business and IT partnership with any project, whether it's our solution or another, is the key to success. BEST MOMENTS ‘We want to be a ray of hope for the operations staff for back office.' ‘What makes us superior, from an industry point of view, is that we've innovated in this space for the last 10 years, we understand operations intimately.' ‘Once a signature is signed, our goal is to do one workflow in two weeks, not months or years, weeks.' ‘Where I've seen most anxiety in business and IT is in implementation, it can drain your team. Our goal is: If we can build our orchestration layer the right way you don't have to be so tense.' ABOUT THE GUESTS Bobbie Shrivastav is founder and managing principal of Solvrays. Previously, she was co-founder and CEO of Docsmore, where she introduced an interactive, workflow-driven document management solution to optimize operations. She then co-founded Benekiva, where, as COO, she spearheaded initiatives to improve efficiency and customer engagement in life insurance. She co-hosts the Insurance Sync podcast with Laurel Jordan, where they explore industry trends and innovations. She is co-author of the book series "Momentum: Makers and Builders" with Renu Ann Joseph. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Managing Partner of Alchemy Crew a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world working with over 30 corporate insurers, accelerated over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook  TikTok Email Website This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Leading a new company doesn't start with a strategy—it starts with trust. At The Lodging Conference, I spoke with Ben Perelmuter, President & CEO of Remington Hospitality, about how he's shaping the company's culture, building his leadership team, and staying focused on what matters most: property performance. Here's what stood out:

On this episode of DGTL Voices, Ed interviews Susan Mullaney, COO of Blue Shield of California. They discuss Susan's journey in healthcare, the importance of collaboration between payers and providers, and the need for innovation in the industry. Susan shares her insights on leadership, personal growth, and the significance of empathy in healthcare. The conversation emphasizes the importance of teamwork, trust, and a shared vision for the future of healthcare.

Most people would assume that raising capital for a celebrity-backed business would be a cakewalk, but Thai Randolph knew that was far from the truth. Securing $100 million in investment for Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Productions required more than just a famous name; it took proving real value, building trust, and navigating rejection. Her success led to one of the largest private-equity rounds ever led by a Black woman in the U.S. In this episode, Thai joins Ilana to share the lessons she's learned throughout her career, from her time at Sony, Facebook, and Lionsgate. She also opens up about her personal struggles with fertility while building a successful career and the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership style. Thai Randolph is an award-winning entrepreneur and marketer, and the former CEO of Hartbeat, where she led the company's growth and secured a $100M investment, one of the largest private-equity rounds led by a Black woman in the U.S. In this episode, Ilana and Thai discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:51) How Thai's Small-Town Roots Shaped Her Path (04:58) Pivoting from Marketing Missiles to Storytelling (09:36) Breaking into Big Tech: From Sony to Facebook (14:14) Balancing Fertility Struggles and Career Moves (22:11) Joining Lionsgate and Meeting Kevin Hart (26:34) Challenges of Carving Out a New Business (28:20) Raising $100M for Hartbeat Against All Odds (32:40) Transitioning to CEO and Leadership Lessons (37:49) Balancing Work, Life, and Avoiding Burnout (41:57) Redefining Your Identity Beyond the Job Title (49:28) Thai's Next Big Ventures and Future Plans Thai Randolph is an entrepreneur and marketer, and the former CEO of Hartbeat, where she led the company's growth and secured a $100M investment, one of the largest private-equity rounds led by a Black woman in the U.S. As President and COO of Laugh Out Loud, she oversees the strategy and operations for Kevin Hart's comedy network. Thai has driven digital transformation at companies like Facebook and Sony, and provided media strategy for top brands like Verizon, Dell, and more. Connect with Thai:  Thai's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thairandolph Thai's Instagram: instagram.com/thairandolph Resources Mentioned: Thai's Podcast, The Suga: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-suga/id1502324399  LOL Network: youtube.com/@lolnetwork  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training 

Barbara Burgess is an author, mother, executive, who's embraced the beautiful messiness of life. She founded Corluma (cor = heart, luma = light), a Chicago-based consulting firm, wrote and performed a one-woman show "The Extraordinary Experience of Being Ordinary" and most recently wrote her first book, Enough: Finding Peace in a World of Distractions, Hustle, and Expectations.Known for her humor, vulnerability, and practical wisdom, Barbara shares simple shifts to help people remember they are enough and have enough. Her ego is kept in healthy check by two teenage children and career adventures that included selling candy bars for Nestle Foods, launching Grainger into internet commerce, a brief marketing stint at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and most recently overseeing operations, marketing, and finances as the COO of a non-profit. Like all of us, Barbara says, she's still figuring it out.SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:Website: www.corluma.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barbaraburgess1Book: www.beenough.comMore about Liz:Work- https://www.raisethevibewithliz.com/Radio Show- https://www.voiceofvashon.org/raise-the-vibePodcast- https://www.buzzsprout.com/958816Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/raisethevibewithlizInstagram- https://www.instagram.com/raisethevibewithliz/*** Support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/958816/supportSupport the show

Synopsis: Few biotechs can pull off what Syndax Pharmaceuticals has achieved — two first-in-class oncology drug launches, built entirely through strategic in-licensing and disciplined execution. In this episode, host Alok Tayi sits down with Michael Metzger, Chief Executive Officer of Syndax, to explore how the company identified breakthrough assets, advanced them through development, and successfully commercialized them within a span of just a few years. Metzger unpacks Syndax's distinctive model — leveraging external innovation, rapid clinical validation, and precision in go-to-market strategy — to create measurable patient and shareholder value. From the first menin inhibitor approved in acute leukemia to a novel CSF1R antibody reshaping GVHD and fibrosis care, Syndax's portfolio embodies science that scales. The conversation offers an insider's perspective on risk management, deal-making, data-driven decision-making, and why speed to market has become the new differentiator in biotech. A must-listen for investors, executives, and founders navigating the complexities of growth in a capital-intensive industry. Biography: Michael A. Metzger is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with extensive leadership experience in company building, operations, and strategic transactions across the life sciences industry. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Syndax Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded oncology company, a role he assumed in 2022. Prior to this, Michael served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Syndax from 2015 and has been a member of the company's Board of Directors since 2019. Previously, Michael held leadership roles at Regado Biosciences, Inc, where he served as President and CEO and guided the company through a successful merger with Tobira Therapeutics. He also served as Executive Vice President and COO at Mersana Therapeutics, Inc., where he oversaw key strategic initiatives in ADC development for oncology. Earlier in his career, Michael held senior roles in business development and M&A at Forest Laboratories, LLC, contributing to its transformation ahead of its acquisition by Allergan plc. He also held leadership positions at Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., and was a Managing Director at MESA Partners, Inc., a healthcare-focused venture capital firm. Michael has served on several public and private company boards, including CTI BioPharma Corp., acquired by SOBI AB in 2023, and continues to be active in guiding innovative biotech organizations. Michael holds a B.A. from George Washington University and a M.B.A. in Finance from the NYU Stern School of Business.

What really separates a COO who keeps the lights on from one who drives exponential growth?In this episode, Cameron sits down with Imad Jbara, COO of L2 Infinite Insurance and former COO of WoJo Media, who transformed a company's client retention from 20% to 80% in just six months. Together, they unpack how COOs can build trust, fire with confidence, elevate leaders, and use systems to scale companies without chaos.From the painful lessons of firing too aggressively to the wisdom of patient onboarding and leveraging AI, Imad shares the unfiltered truth about what it really takes to succeed as a second in command.If you're tired of firefighting and want proven systems to grow your company with less chaos, you can't afford to skip this episode. Listen now for exclusive insights you won't hear anywhere else.About the GuestImad Jbara is the COO of L2 Infinite Insurance and former COO of WoJo Media, where he helped transform client retention and scale revenues dramatically. He's trained some of the largest sales teams in the world and worked alongside icons like Tony Robbins, Grant Cardone, and Alex Hormozi. Imad is known for building systems, empowering leaders, and creating the cultural foundations that allow companies to thrive.

What shapes a leader who has spent decades at the highest levels of business? Jason sits down with Frank Friedman, CEO & President at IPFS, for an Executive Session that blends personal stories with industry insight. From mentors who made a difference to premium financing, payments innovation, and the future of insurance tech, this conversation highlights the human side of leadership. Key Topics: Early career mistakes that shaped Frank's leadership style The mentors who stood behind him during pivotal moments Lessons from decades at Deloitte and a global COO role The pace of technology change, from the dot-com bubble to AI How IPFS and AndDone are innovating payments and financing Why consolidation and automation will define the next decade Frank's perspective on AI's impact on jobs and efficiency The books and history that inspire Frank's worldview A defining 9/11 experience that reshaped Frank's perspective on unity Reach out to: Frank Friedman Jason Cass Visit Website: IPFS Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

The single biggest need in our industry is housing—globally, worldwide. But what if the solution to this massive crisis could be built faster, smarter, and still be beautiful?Join host Corwyn J. Melette as he dives deep into the world of industrialized construction with special guest Rommel Sulit, Founding Principal and COO of Forge Craft Architecture and Design. Rommel is a 25-year veteran who's spent half his career pushing the boundaries of modular architecture to prove that quality and affordability can, and should, go hand-in-hand. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in real estate, community development, or the future of housing!Key Takeaways:Attainable Housing at Every Level (0:06) — Why the housing gap isn't just a low-income issue, but a challenge affecting every socioeconomic group.Beyond the Stigma (9:20) — Clearing up misconceptions between modular housing, HUD homes, and container builds.Speed + Scale (13:01) — Modular builds entire apartment complexes in months instead of years.Case Study: San Marcos Project (14:44) — How a 143-unit, 245-bed student housing complex came together in just four months.Designing Within Constraints (18:01) — How architects use modular systems to unlock creativity, efficiency, and beauty in attainable housing.Modular isn't just about building homes faster; it's about building smarter. We're not just solving today's challenges—we're building legacies that last.Reference Mentioned:Cheatham Street Flats (Student Housing)Stella Domo (Modular Home Concept)Connect with Rommel:Website: https://forgexcraft.com/firm/team/rommel-sulit/Email Address: rommel@forgexcraft.comConnect with Corwyn:Contact Number: 843-619-3005Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/exitstrategiesradioshow/⁠FB Page:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/exitstrategiessc/⁠Youtube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxoSuynJd5c4qQ_eDXLJaZA⁠Website:⁠ https://www.exitstrategiesradioshow.com⁠Linkedin:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmelette/⁠If Harrison Langley showed us how to build attainable housing one backyard at a time, Rommel Sulit reveals how modular design is reshaping entire communities. Don't miss this powerful continuation of our attainable housing series.Shoutout to our Sponsor: Country Boy HomesDo you remember your grandma's front porch? You know that spot where stories were told, kisses were stolen, and sweet tea was always being sipped. Now imagine giving your family a place to make those same memories, but in a brand new, energy-efficient, and home that was built just for you. At Country Boy Homes, we help folks just like you find that forever feeling.Whether it's your first home, your next home, or your, we're done with rent forever, like,  seriously home, we specialize in affordable, durable, manufactured, and modular homes, the kind that make room for muddy boots, big dreams, and second helpings. Come see what coming home really feels like. Call 843-574-8979 today.

Scaling a business globally comes down to leaders who align teams and drive them forward together.Snowflake serves over 12,000 customers, and early executives Chris Degnan and Denise Persson share how they scaled the company while keeping the unlikely pairing of sales and marketing perfectly aligned through hypergrowth.They join Joubin Mirzadegan to share insights from their new book, Make It Snow, revealing how they built Snowflake's ‘go-to-market engine' and fostered a customer-first culture across every function.Guests: Chris Degnan, former CRO and advisor to the CEO at Snowflake, and Denise Persson, CMO at Snowflake.Connect with Chris Degnan LinkedIn​Connect with Denise PerssonLinkedIn​Connect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins:https://www.kleinerperkins.com/