Podcasts about co founders

The Coromandel is well-regarded as one of New Zealand's top holiday hotspots, but it's got more to offer adrenaline junkies than it lets on. Adventure Racing Coromandel co-founder Andy Reid's been leading the charge in this development, having helped create the K2 bike race and the Kauri Run - among others. Reid's taken his findings and experiences and put them in a new book - Are You Trying to Kill Us? "We started with the adventure race and straightaway, we knew that we could only put these races on with the help of all our local volunteers - and so we thought that it was really important to put something back into the community." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ophelia Snyder, Co-Founder of 21Shares, joined me to discuss the company's Crypto ETF strategy and acquisition by FalconX at Chainlink SmartCon. Brought to you by

The Discipline Edge: How to Stay Focused & Lead with Purpose w Dr. Charles Thomas  Jr.Dr. Charles Thomas Jr. is the son of Mrs. Doris Thomas and Mr. Charles Thomas Sr. He is a #1 Amazon best-selling author, entrepreneur, and storyteller whose work explores the space between ambition, identity, leadership, and legacy. A former Division I student-athlete turned multi-award-winning Co-Founder and CEO, he led a high-growth company through challenges, breakthroughs, and a successful exit.His books, Scars, Exile, and Vindication, Breakthrough, Best Kept Secrets, and Forged From Fire, reflect this ongoing pursuit of purpose, perseverance, and excellence as a demonstration of human potential. Through every endeavor, Dr. Thomas blends discipline with vulnerability and success with soul.Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, he now lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and children. He believes the most important battles are fought within and that the greatest victories are becoming who we are meant to become. Whether in business, sports, or life, Dr. Thomas challenges himself and others to live fully and lead boldly.Links:https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Fire-Charles-Thomas-Jr/dp/B0FRB3DFPWhttps://www.instagram.com/cthomas_jr/Tags:Consistency,Daily Discipline,Desire,Entrepreneurial Mindset,Faith,High Performance,Leadership,Organizational Culture,Perseverance,Resilience,The Discipline Edge: How to Stay Focused & Lead with Purpose w Dr,Live Video Podcast Interview,Podcast,Interview,PodmatchSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

Ever wondered what happens when sales training expertise meets veteran transition needs? In this conversation with Michele McManamon, CEO and Co-Founder of Operation New Uniform, Cam and Otis explore how a single scholarship offer evolved into a national movement helping veterans build meaningful civilian careers."We're not teaching them how to interview, we're teaching them how to sell," Michele explains, sharing how ONU helps veterans translate their military experience into success beyond service. What began as one scholarship to her Sandler sales program has grown into an organization that's impacted over 700 servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses across 28 states.From expanding veterans' career perspectives to sharing stories of transformation, Michele offers valuable insights into the challenges of transition and the power of mindset. As Otis puts it, “Every time I stood up in front of the boss and said, ‘This is what I think we should do'… I was selling. And there ain't nobody teaching it.”More About Michele:Michele McManamon is the CEO and Co-Founder of Operation New Uniform (ONU), a nonprofit helping veterans and military families overcome unemployment and career transition challenges. ONU's curriculum, based on Sandler training, has reached over 700 graduates and impacted more than 2,400 lives. Michele's leadership has earned her multiple honors, including Woman Business Owner of the Year, Jacksonville's Top 25 Influential Women, and Veteran Community Champion of the Year.#LeadershipPodcast #VeteranSuccess #OperationNewUniform #MicheleMcManamon #TribeAndPurpose #CamAndOtis #MilitaryTransition #CareerReadiness #SalesTraining #VeteranEmpowerment #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDriven #ServiceToSuccess #10xYourTeamChapter Times and Titles:From Sandler to Service [00:00 - 05:00]Introduction to Michele McManamonThe origin story of Operation New UniformHow one scholarship evolved into a national organization"We're Teaching Them How to Sell" [05:01 - 15:00]The Sandler methodology applied to veteran transitionWhy interview skills aren't enoughTeaching veterans to articulate their valueOpening the Aperture [15:01 - 25:00]Helping veterans see beyond military roles"There's HR roles, there's IT..."Breaking down limiting beliefs about civilian careersThe Military-Sales Connection [25:01 - 35:00]Otis: "Every time I stood up in front of the boss... I was selling"How military experience translates to business skillsBuilding on existing strengths rather than starting overBuilding a National Impact [35:01 - 45:00]Expanding from Jacksonville to nationwideThe power of partnerships with other veteran organizationsSuccess stories and transformation examplesGetting Involved with ONU [45:01 - End]How veterans can apply for the programHow businesses can partner and hire ONU graduatesFinal thoughts and contact information (ONUvets.org)Connect with Michele McManamon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelemcmanamon/Website: ONUVets.org

I had a chance to sit down with Kindred Co-Founders, Justine Palefsky & Tasneem Amina, as they discussed how Kindred is redefining how we travel, live and belong. From the journey of a traveler to the seamless Kindred experience and advice to other women building businesses. Support this amazing brand on Instagram @livekindred & livekindred.com

Jennifer Yeh, Co-Founder & COO of Shoott, the women-led photography platform operating in 60+ U.S. cities joins Enterprise Radio. Listen to host Eric Dye… Read more The post From Career Break to COO: How Jennifer Yeh Built the Systems Behind a $10M Photography Startup appeared first on Top Entrepreneurs Podcast | Enterprise Podcast Network.

From IOUs to investment rounds: The brutal truth about raising funds in Africa - and why giving away 50% equity almost destroyed everything. In this raw and unfiltered episode of Konnected Minds, Francis pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities of building a business from absolute zero in Ghana. Starting with nothing but determination, he reveals how he wrote IOUs to co-founders he couldn't pay, got evicted by a landlady for "causing too much rubbish," and transformed a single themed donut order for Uber into their first investment round. The conversation exposes a fundamental truth most African entrepreneurs miss: investors aren't charity organizations looking to help you - they're multipliers seeking documented proof that their money will grow. Francis shares how most founders fail at fundraising because everything lives in their heads with zero documentation - no sales ledgers, no expense tracking, no evidence that invested capital will multiply. He opens up about the devastating cost of desperation, revealing how he gave away over 50% equity to his first investor, losing majority ownership while fighting to remain CEO of the company he built. "People change when money comes," he reflects, comparing it to getting married only to have your spouse forget you exist once they make money. Critical lessons revealed: • Why the fastest response time (minutes, not days) won them the Uber deal that changed everything • The IOU system that kept co-founders loyal when there was literally no money • How to think like an investor seeking multiplication, not a founder seeking help • Why "the economy is bad" is a lie - money just changed hands, it didn't disappear • The exact documentation framework that attracts investment vs endlessly chasing it • The painful reality of equity vs debt - and why he'd choose debt if starting over • Why working backwards from desired profit beats hoping for organic growth • The mentor advantage he didn't have - and why it cost him years of unnecessary grinding From selling phones at UTC Accra in secondary school to building multiple ventures, Francis demonstrates that raising funds isn't about crafting sob stories - it's about presenting data that shows clear paths to multiplication. He challenges the notion that there's no money in Ghana, revealing instead that there's "loose money" everywhere, desperately seeking documented opportunities to grow. The episode takes an unexpected turn as Francis discusses building business with his wife, emphasizing that communication and understanding trump everything else in partnership. He shares the painful decision to close a flashy shop after 11 months when data showed delivery donuts outsold everything else - proving that listening to market data beats emotional attachment to ideas. This isn't another generic fundraising tutorial - it's the unvarnished truth about what it takes to attract investment in African markets, including the mistakes that cost founders their companies, the systems that separate fundable businesses from eternal ideas, and why most Ghanaian businesses fail because they never listen to what the market is actually telling them. Host: Derrick Abaitey IG: https://www.instagram.com/derrick.abaitey YT: https://www.youtube.com/@DerrickAbaitey Join Konnected Academy: https://www.konnectedacademy.com/ Listen to the podcast on: Apple Podcast - http://tinyurl.com/4ttwbdxe Spotify - http://tinyurl.com/3he8hjfp Join this channel: /@konnectedminds FOLLOW ► https://linktr.ee/konnectedminds #Podcast #businesspodcast #AfricanPodcast

Today's show features: Brian Benstock, Vice President & General Manager of Paragon Honda and Paragon Acura David Boice, Founder & CEO of Team Velocity Sanjay Varnwal, Co-Founder & CEO of Spyne.ai Danny Zaslavsky, Co-Founder and President of VINCUE This episode is brought to you by: Stream Companies – A full-service, fully integrated, tech-enabled advertising agency that drives measurable results through performance marketing, creative and content development, and proprietary AdTech solutions. Our innovative platforms, including the Retail Ready platform and Integrated Marketing Cloud, empower brands to optimize performance and accelerate growth. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠https://www.streamcompanies.com/⁠⁠ VINCUE – The company behind the innovative VINCUE Vehicle Lifecycle Management platform, unifying and streamlining the inventory Plan, Buy, Manage, and Sell process for higher efficiency and more profit in every car. VINCUE is designed exclusivel to help dealers modernize operations, acquire the perfect inventory mix, and price and merchandise with precision. https://vincue.com Team Velocity - Team Velocity helps dealerships deliver faster, smarter, and more connected customer experiences through fully integrated platform technology. From websites and advertising to retention solutions and a native CDP, Team Velocity provides the tools dealerships need to succeed in every stage of the customer journey. Visit https://teamvelocitymarketing.com/ for more information or to request a demo. Spyne.ai – Meet Vini by Spyne — your dealership's AI-powered Conversational Agent. Vini answers every call and chat, engages customers instantly, and uncovers hidden revenue in your CRM and inventory. Every missed opportunity? Found and converted. Learn more at http://spyne.ai/vini-cdg CDG Circles – A modern peer group for auto dealers. Private dealer chats. Real insights — confidential, compliant, no travel required. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cdgcircles.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more. Car Dealership Guy is back with our second annual NADA Party—happening in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 5th. It's the hottest ticket at NADA 2026. Spots are limited and unfortunately we can't invite everyone —so RSVP today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://carguymedia.com/cdglive⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we hope to see you in Vegas! — Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG News ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://news.dealershipguy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG Jobs ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ CDG Recruiting ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ My Socials: X ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ➤⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠⁠⁠⁠ Everything else ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠dealershipguy.com

From $700 a Month to a $9B Giant: Building Life360 with Chris Hulls What happens when a founder ignores the “safe path,” bets on himself, and keeps going long after most people would've quit? In this episode of The Jess Larsen Show on Innovation & Leadership, Jess sits down with Chris Hulls — Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Life360, the world's largest family safety platform with 90+ million monthly active users and a public valuation approaching $9 billion. Chris's journey is anything but conventional. He went from growing up in a small farm town… to enlisting in the Air Force at 17… to almost becoming a dishwasher at the South Pole… to dropping out of Harvard Business School… to living in a friend's closet on $700/month while building the first version of Life360. But the real story is what came next: —a category-defining pivot from disaster response to family location sharing, —launching on Android before anyone believed teens would ever have smartphones, —surviving seven slow years before meaningful traction, —and ultimately building a platform that detects car crashes, dispatches tens of thousands of ambulances a year, and has become a “social network for families.” Chris and Jess go deep into what it actually takes to scale from zero to multi-billion-dollar market cap: the messy pivots, the lucky breaks, the conviction bets, why too much “data-driven thinking” kills innovation, and why founders must learn to hold two opposing truths at once — relentless belief and complete surrender to the chaos. This is a conversation for founders, leaders, and anyone who wants to understand the real psychology behind building something massive from scratch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. Grace Yum sits down with Parham Nabatian, Co-Founder of The DocSites, to break down what truly drives effective dental marketing today. Parham shares practical, experience-backed insights on building a strong online presence, avoiding common marketing pitfalls, staying visible in both Google and AI-driven search, and tracking what actually brings new patients into the practice.  Episode Highlights: Low-cost marketing strategies that deliver long-term results How a strong dental website builds patient trust Common website and marketing mistakes to avoid Tracking what's really working in your online marketing What makes The DocSites stand out in the dental marketing space Ready to thrive as a dentist and a mom? Join a supportive community of like-minded professionals at Mommy Dentists in Business. Whether you're looking to grow your practice, find balance, or connect with others who understand your journey, MDIB is here to help. Visit mommydibs.com to learn more and become a part of this empowering network today!

Better protection. Less waste. Could your instrument tip protectors really do both? On this special Beyond Clean and Power Supply Vendor Spotlight™ co-release episode, we're joined by Gabrielle Kelly and Kristi Schelhaas, Co-Founders of Raine Medical, to explore their S.A.F.E.R. approach to instrument protection. Learn how their PVC-free, recyclable tip protectors eliminate sticky residue, optimize ventilation, and feature anti-roll designs that will protect your surgical instrumentation through every stage of reprocessing. Through their commitment to performance and sustainability, discover how Raine Medical can help your SPD increase efficiency, protect instrument integrity, and stay compliant with evolving industry standards! Learn more about Raine Medical's eco-friendly protection solutions by visiting rainemedical.com. To request samples or explore product options, email info@rainemedical.com or connect with the team on LinkedIn.

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to have back on the show once again: MK ULTRA, satanic ritual abuse, and organized abuse survivor, overcomer and thriver, loving mother, published writer and author, content creator and podcaster, Physician and Radiologist turned activist, Founder of the Angel Coalition and Co-Founder of Women and Children First and the Babushka Brigade, Star Fort enthusiast, award winner of the University of Washington School of Medicine's prestigious Humanitarian Award, podcast regular, and one of my dearest friends: Dr. Juliette Engel In the dark heart of 1950s America, where the CIA's MK ULTRA program spun mind control, sexual torment, and satanic ritual abuse through hidden annexes, six-year-old Juliette Engel was sold by her OSS-CIA-NSA-linked father. Raped before him as he took payment and sneered, "This is what I raised you for," her innocence shattered in a crucible of torture meant to break her mind for evil ends. Yet a divine spark endured.As a teenager, barefoot and amnesic from trauma, she escaped. With unbreakable will, she earned her medical degree, built a thriving radiology practice in Seattle, and won acclaim for her compassion. In 1992, founding the Miramed Institute in Moscow to advance women's and children's rights, she uncovered state orphanages trafficking girls - triggering memories of her own "sex magic" abuse and igniting a lifelong war on the modern slave trade.From pain rose purpose. Her ground-breaking memoir Sparky: Surviving Sex Magic, sequel Angels Over Moscow, and thriller Moscow Traffic expose truth and organized crime. Anchored by her grandmother's Lord's Prayer and faith in Christianity's power against darkness, she launched Protect Our Children, rallying communities to fight U.S. child sex trafficking - the world's top consumer - through local action and transparency.Juliette's revelations extend to star forts - ancient, star-shaped bastions engineered with sacred geometry, harmonic acoustics, and telluric energy amplification. These structures, scattered across the United States, Russia, and worldwide, were not mere defenses but thought to be advanced energy nodes in a pre-reset global grid. And this fascinating topic is what we will be discussing today - the history and relevance of star forts and how they've intertwined into Juliette's life, memories, art and advocacy. This is a topic that has never been discussed in-depth on this podcast before and I'm very excited for Juliette to do a deep dive with us on this hidden history that is a piece to the puzzle and, unexpectedly, has ties directly related to mind control and advanced technology - things we hear about often in survivor testimonies. You'll want to stick around for this groundbreaking episode!RECOMMENDED READING: -Star Forts: http://www.starforts.com/-MK ULTRA Docs https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/dnsa-intelligence/2024-12-23/cia-behavior-control-experiments-focus-new-scholarlyCONNECT WITH JULIETTE: Website: https://julietteengel.com/CONNECT WITH EMMA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationpodcastofficialEMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.com OR standbysurvivors@protonmail.comMy Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: Support the show

In this episode Joseph has a great conversation with Oren Fan the Co-Founder and CEO of Pegasus Ticketing. Learn about how they help aquariums, zoos and other venues with ticketing solutions.Podcast music by www.bensound.comEpisode brought to you by www.vineyardsun.com

What happens when faith, marriage, and money align with purpose? On this episode of The CJ Moneyway Sh$w, CJ sits down with Lamar Tyler — CEO and Co-Founder of Tyler New Media and the mastermind behind Traffic Sales & Profit (TSP) — the movement helping tens of thousands of Black entrepreneurs scale their businesses to six and seven figures. Lamar's journey began with Black and Married with Kids, a groundbreaking digital platform that redefined how Black love and family were represented in media. From blogging to documentaries to multi-million-dollar businesses, Lamar and his wife Ronnie Tyler turned storytelling into strategy — and influence into impact. In this raw and insightful conversation, CJ and Lamar break down: How to build a profitable business rooted in purpose What it's like building legacy with your spouse The lessons behind Traffic Sales & Profit's community success Why entrepreneurship is less about perfection and more about progress: Lamar drops gems on what it really takes to go from influence to income: “We wasted time because we didn't know what to do — but through the process, we learned to build community and be profitable, not just popular.” And before closing, Lamar delivers one of the show's most powerful takeaways: “You already have what you need to get where you're going. Stop overthinking. Just get started.” This one's for every dreamer, builder, and believer ready to take action. Listen → https://pod.link/1707761906 Moneyway Merch → https://c.jmoneyway.com Brick-by-Brick Newsletter → https://substack.com/@cjmoneyway?r=3vvrmy&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@themoneywayshow8493 #TheCJMoneywaySh$w #LamarTyler #TrafficSalesAndProfit #FaithInBusiness #BlackEntrepreneurs #BrickByBrick #BleavNetwork #MarriageAndBusiness #PurposeToProfit Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode Jim Tate welcomes Matt Pavelle and Adam Oskowitz, co-founders of DoctronicAI. Doctronic is built around an AI-powered large language model, which was trained on clinical guidelines and designed by physicians. To stream our Station live 24/7 visit www.HealthcareNOWRadio.com or ask your Smart Device to “….Play Healthcare NOW Radio”. Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen

Better protection. Less waste. Could your instrument tip protectors really do both? On this special Beyond Clean and Power Supply Vendor Spotlight™ co-release episode, we're joined by Gabrielle Kelly and Kristi Schelhaas, Co-Founders of Raine Medical, to explore their S.A.F.E.R. approach to instrument protection. Learn how their PVC-free, recyclable tip protectors eliminate sticky residue, optimize ventilation, and feature anti-roll designs that will protect your surgical instrumentation through every stage of reprocessing. Through their commitment to performance and sustainability, discover how Raine Medical can help your SPD increase efficiency, protect instrument integrity, and stay compliant with evolving industry standards! Learn more about Raine Medical's eco-friendly protection solutions by visiting rainemedical.com. To request samples or explore product options, email info@rainemedical.com or connect with the team on LinkedIn.

Have you ever wondered how a hotel could bring people together and transform a city? In this episode, I talk with Shamim Ehsani, co-founder of Nairobi's Tribe Hotel, whose vision of “one planet, one tribe” turned hospitality into a living message of unity. Growing up in Kenya, Shamim learned that respect and connection cross every boundary—and he's built that belief into everything his team does. We explore how Tribe became a symbol of dignity and authentic service, how art and culture shaped its identity, and why true hospitality starts with valuing people as they are. Shamim's story reminds us that purpose-driven leadership can turn even a simple idea into something truly unstoppable. Highlights: 00:58 — Learn how early experiences in Nairobi shaped a lifelong passion for curiosity, courage, and connection. 02:35 — Discover what makes Nairobi one of the world's most extraordinary cities and why its character inspires unity. 06:55 — Hear how understanding your environment can shape how you design meaningful experiences. 08:06 — Explore how real-world learning can teach the mindset every entrepreneur needs to succeed. 12:56 — Find out why action, not perfection, builds confidence when you're starting something new. 15:27 — See how vision and perseverance can transform even small beginnings into lasting success. 21:12 — Learn the importance of staying bold when the world around you feels uncertain. 26:44 — Discover how one phrase became the foundation for a purpose-driven movement in hospitality. 33:44 — Understand why true hospitality begins with dignity and self-respect—for both guests and teams. 36:45 — Hear how empowering people to be authentic creates connection and loyalty that can't be scripted. 44:17 — Learn how investing in people builds confidence, culture, and trust across every interaction. 52:42 — See how storytelling and creativity turn ordinary moments into unforgettable experiences. About the Guest: Shamim Ehsani is Co-Founder, Director and Developer of Tribe Hotel, a family-owned and operated, 5-star luxury hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, that channels African authenticity and excellence. Shamim co-founded the hotel, located in the city's prestigious diplomatic district, and serves as its Creative Director, developing new concepts relating to F&B and service. He is also the hotel's Marketing Director, overseeing all branding and marketing efforts across the companies and outlets, including developing all of the brands. Shamim also plays a key role in a constellation of family enterprises that are centered on real estate development. A prolific and successful entrepreneur, he is also Co-Founder, Director and Developer of Trademark Hotel, Tribe Hotel's 4-star sister property; Director and Co-Founder of VMX Fitness, Nairobi's top fitness facility; Principal and Creative Director of Beeline, a luxury brand marketing agency; Director of Guardian Holdings, a holding/investment company; and Marketing Director of Village Market, East Africa's largest lifestyle and recreation complex. Shamim co-founded Tribe Hotel with his brother Hooman in 2008 to fulfill a need for a 5-star luxury hotel in Nairobi's upscale diplomatic district. The brothers listed the 20 things they did not like about hotels and set about to create their own that addressed them. The result is a higher standard in global hospitality, with the hotel distinguished as one of the most iconic properties in Africa. The hotel's guests include royalty, heads of state and countless celebrities. The property boasts 128 rooms, a 10,000-sq.-ft. spa and a heliport. Tribe Hotel broke away from the colonial style hotels that existed in the market and presents a space that supports the arts and is a better reflection of the wealth and dignity of Africa and the Kenyan people. They transformed the attitude of service from a subservient approach to one that is more egalitarian and congenial, with guests being “hosted” rather than “served.” The hotel boasts 900 African artworks and artifacts curated by Shamim's mother, Faranak, supports local Nairobi artisans and purveyors, while its acclaimed Jiko restaurant has elevated African cuisine to new heights. Ways to connect with Shamim**:** Instagram TRIBE HOTEL -

Send us a textHear about the latest dynamic developments in the therapeutic psychedelics sector in our latest WTR Healthcare Happenings x Small-Cap Spotlight crossover episode. Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair & Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at WTR, and Robert Sassoon, WTR's Senior Healthcare Analyst, discuss the October's fundraising activity surge; what has contributed to renewed investor confidence; comparisons with the hype-driven cycle of 2021; impact on valuations in the sector; and sustainability of the positive trend going into 2026.  

On this episode, I'm joined by Mac King, co-founder of Domaine, to talk about how agencies are navigating the next wave of commerce and AI.We catch up on what's changed since he was last on the podcast, including the merger that created Domaine, their move into the UK market, and how the agency is scaling internationally. Then we get into Domaine's AI Commerce Suite and what it reveals about how brands are starting to use AI both on-site and behind the scenes.We talk about how agencies can separate real innovation from AI marketing spin, what makes an AI-native tech stack, and how services businesses can balance experimentation with credibility.Finally, we explore how this connects to Factory's Internal and External AI framework, what each of us is seeing in the market, and where the biggest operational opportunities might appear next.If you're thinking about where AI actually fits inside a modern commerce organisation, this one's for you.This podcast is brought to you by Glara.ai - the Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) platform helping ecommerce brands grow through AI search visibility.

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us!The retail frontline sales staff is often an untapped, but highly valuable resource.  Everyone wants to know that they matter and can make a difference. So, how do retailers empower their store associates, their most critical customer-facing ambassadors? In an increasingly tech-driven business, new digital tools are designed to create lasting customer relationships that match loyalty with employee job satisfaction. This is especially powerful in small retail businesses where personal loyalty is the gateway to beating the competition. Join Leigh Sevin, co-founder of Endear, and Shelley as they discuss how modern CRM platforms transform data into authentic customer connection. They explore how AI in partnership with employees can enhance personal outreach and make a brand relevant and meaningful. They also discuss the future of personalization that pairs the message with the individual, informed by sales associates who know their customers best. Their conversation reveals how software, analytics and data can propel a retail business through the insights of its frontline sales ambassadors. Learn from this actionable discussion how tech empowers and inspires store associates to level up service, play a more positive strategic role, and find renewed purpose by using AI to make their jobs easier and strengthen their customer relationships. Special Guest: Leigh Sevin, Co-Founder of EndearFor more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com, where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

YeePay is a leading payment service provider that delivers payment solutions for enterprises across industries, including airline & travel, new retail, fintech, administration & education, and cross-border transactions.Prior to founding YeePay, Chen held various roles at Oracle, John Deere Health Care, and AT&T Bell Labs, and served as a director at the Silicon Valley enterprise SVC Wireless. He also co-founded NetVan, a nonprofit promoting internet adoption in traditional industries, and advised China Central Television's documentary The Internet Age, where he interviewed leaders such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Jerry Yang, Vint Cerf, and Kevin Kelly.In this episode, you will hear about: The entrepreneurial landscape in China in the early 2000s: challenges and opportunities of building a startup at that time.How YeePay evolved its business model as WeChat Pay and Alipay entered the market.Broader insights on Web3, cross-border transactions, globalization, and the growing role of AI in the future of the payment industry.

Welcome to "The Brand Called You"! In this episode, host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Mark Steiner, Co-Founder and CEO of GigSalad, to explore his unique journey from acting and talent management to building one of the leading online event marketplaces.Mark shares pivotal moments that shaped his career, discusses his gut-driven leadership style infused with compassion and emotional intelligence, and reveals how his adoption and later ADHD diagnosis shaped his empathetic approach to connection and leadership. Hear about GigSalad's founding story, its strategies for building trust in a fast-changing digital world, and the profound impact the platform has had on artists, entertainers, and event planners alike.Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative professional, or just fascinated by innovation in entertainment and events, this episode is packed with inspiration, deep insights, and practical wisdom.

In this episode, we bring you a thought-provoking discussion on agroecology. What do you know about agroecology? Is it just a passing trend, or is it here to stay? We have assembled a roundtable of CEOs and top experts to break down the concept. Joining us are: - Joachim Ewechu, Co-Founder & CEO of SHONA Group - Ivan Mandela, CFA, CEO & Co-Founder of SHONA Capital - Lucy Asiimwe, Programs Manager at AfriFood Founders, SHONA Group - Fabio Leippert, Co-Head of Policy & Advocacy at Biovision - Francis Shivonje, Country Coordinator at Biovision - Herbert Thuo, CEO & Founder of ANSA Africa We will start by exploring the fundamentals of agroecology and the components that make up an agroecological enterprise.

Certification is an essential part of good business practices, and in agroecology, it is even more crucial. It serves as your identifier, validating everything you say and do as an Agroecological Extension Expert (AEE). In this episode, we discuss certification and the importance of leveling the playing field between AEEs and other agricultural setups. Joachim Ewechu, Co-Founder & CEO of SHONA Group, Fabio Leippert, Co-Head of Policy & Advocacy at Biovision, and Herbert Thuo, CEO & Founder of ANSA Africa, delve deep to provide insightful answers. 

Peter Pinfold is Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Darabase, a London-based prop-tech platform pioneering “digital property rights” and augmented reality media networks. He leads commercial strategy and expansion into new markets, including recent growth into Canada. With a background in innovative digital media and technology, Peter is focused on helping advertisers, property owners and cities unlock value by layering digital experiences over physical space.Paula Chiocchi is the President and Founder of Outward Media, Inc. (OMI), a Los Angeles-based marketing firm specializing in high-quality, multi-channel B2B data and campaign execution.They are the sponsor of today's show.

Garrett Schumacher is Business Unit Director of Product Security at Velentium Medical and the co-founder and CTO of GeneInfoSec. Garrett discusses his journey from medical student to cybersecurity expert and educator, dedicating his career to securing medical devices. He shares insights on the intersection of cybersecurity and healthcare, highlighting the challenges of protecting genetic data. Garrett gives honest advice about navigating cybersecurity and data privacy concerns, how to be a good leader, and what medtech startups should consider as they design and develop their devices.    Guest links: https://velentiummedical.com/ | https://www.geneinfosec.com/  Charity supported: Save the Children Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com.  PRODUCTION CREDITS Host & Editor: Lindsey Dinneen Producer: Velentium Medical   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 068 - Garrett Schumacher [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Leading Difference Podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and today I am excited to introduce you to my guest, Garrett Schumacher. Garrett is the Business Unit Director of Product Security at Velentium Medical, where he has led the cybersecurity efforts on 200 plus medical device products and systems. He is the co-founder and CTO of GeneInfoSec, a startup focused on securing the world's most valuable and private data, our genetic information. In his work, Garrett has trained engineers, developers, manufacturers, healthcare delivery organizations, and laboratories across the globe in cybersecurity, and is an active member of several related industry working groups. He also teaches secure product development and medical device cybersecurity at the graduate level for the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of Computer Science as an adjunct professor in the little bit of time left in his days, Garrett is either rock climbing or spending time with family. Thank you so much for being here, Garrett. I'm so excited to speak with you today. [00:01:48] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. Thank you for having me. [00:01:49] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course. Well, I'd love, if you wouldn't mind, by starting out and sharing a little bit about yourself and your background and what led you to medtech. [00:01:59] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. So I guess my background, I mean, it started as I always thought I was gonna be a doctor. I did my undergrad in physiology, thought I was gonna do med school, the whole nine yards. And towards the end of my, let's say junior year, just started being like, "I don't think this is what I want to do." I always had a fascination with tech. I was really involved with a lot of the tech groups on campus at the University of Colorado Boulder, early days of Hack CU, one of the largest collegiate hackathons. And I really regretted not doing a computer science degree, but I was three quarters of the way done. So sometimes you just gotta finish it up, right? Get the degree, find out what's next. After that I went and did a master's in genetics. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do either yet, but hey, a master's degree is not a bad thing to do if you're unsure. And actually I was in a PhD program and dropped out early with a master's. Different story. But yeah. And then I started I helped the University of Colorado Boulder start their cybersecurity programs. So it was getting into the cyber world. I did a, I guess it was a bootcamp, at the University of Denver in cybersecurity. And so that all culminated in me always focusing on healthcare and cybersecurity together. And then COVID happened and that made the world change for a lot of people. And basically I was looking for a new job and I found Velentium, and I think that's where it really spoke to me, where I could do my love of medical and human health with cybersecurity and technology development. And so yeah, I think that's really how I got into it. I had been doing projects related to that before, but Velentium's where it really culminated and I found a place that let me do all the things I love, not just one or the other. [00:03:39] Lindsey Dinneen: That's awesome and such a wonderful gift. So can you share a little bit about what you do now and sort of your growth trajectory even throughout Velentium 'cause I know you've had quite an interesting and exciting career through the company as well. [00:03:56] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. Yeah. So I started out as a cybersecurity engineer, and just started helping internal projects, external projects with groups that were seeking FDA approval on a medical device and trying to navigate these kind of new cybersecurity requirements. That's where it started. And even since then I've been, so I teach a class at the University of Colorado Boulder on Medical Device Cybersecurity. We're going into our sixth year of that, seventh semester, starting here in the fall. And I also co-founded a startup in the genetic information security space. So, and we can talk about that later. And so I, yeah, talk about what I do. It's all of those things and, it's not, doesn't happen in 40 hours, I promise you that. But after working as a cyber engineer for about a year, I think I got promoted to like Senior Staff Cybersecurity Engineer. Then probably three years ago, I took over more of an operational leadership role within the unit, the team, where I was doing project management and overseeing the other engineers and still doing engineering work. Definitely decided project management is not for the faint of heart and apparently my heart's very faint. It's not for me. So anyways, and then fast forward to just here in like January, February, Velentium made some really awesome changes. They rebranded as Velentium Medical to make sure everyone knew we do medical. And then they created four business units so that they could really say, "Look, we have different core areas of our business. Each of them have their own different operational needs and what have you." So, I was promoted into Business Unit Director of Product Security. And so now we're a business unit. We're a business within a business trying to better serve our clients and implement the processes we need for our small scope of work compared to a large contract development and manufacturing organization. So just that's been my growth goal so far is, come in as an engineer, work my way up to the leadership roles while also still loving to be an educator and and still having my own startup space in the biotech side of the house. [00:05:58] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Excellent. Well, first of all, congratulations on all of that. That is very exciting and it's really fun to see that growth and that development. And I'm also so curious now, can we talk a little bit about your startup? So first of all, let's talk about that and then I wanna talk about the crossover between the two, if that's okay. So. [00:06:16] Garrett Schumacher: Absolutely. Yeah. So, well the name is GeneInfoSec, so it's just short for genetic information security. We're not trying to hide anything there. We focus on protecting the world's most sensitive data. At least that's our opinion is genetic information affects you. And the data you have today is not gonna be any different, for the most part, from the data that you have in, 10, 20, 40 years. But then even beyond that it's partially your children's data, your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and then even on the, in the inverse, all the way up to your great-great-grandparents, right? You share some, to an extent, some genetic makeup with them. And so it's this really interesting space where networked privacy is-- it's a very different form of networked privacy. It's not just that I upload a photo to LinkedIn and now I could be implicating someone else that's in the photo. It's, I share my info, and I'm also sharing info that belongs to my cousins in, in, in a sense. And so if you think of the Golden State Killer case in California, that was a really interesting one where the federal authorities had genetic information or samples from a cold case in the eighties. And they sequenced that. They uploaded it to a third party, an open public genetic database, and said, "Hey, here's my data. Who am I related to?" And through that they were able to triangulate like, "Okay here it is. This is the guy that did it" many years later. So, there's a case where it's, there could be positives. We want to use it to find that kind of information and protect people. But at the same time, that brings up a lot of privacy implications. And then you can go all the way to the extreme, the sci-fi of designer bio weapons, maybe tailored to certain persons or ethnicities or groups of people. So during grad school, a couple guys and I, we founded this startup, and that's what we focus on through a technology that really our founder, Dr. Sterling Sawaya, he invented, called molecular encryption. It's a way of encrypting molecules before we generate data from them so that the generated genetic data is already, quote unquote encrypted, or at least protected in some manner. So, so that's what we do. And yeah, I guess why we do it a bit. [00:08:27] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Wow. So, okay, so that brings up a really interesting question. I can guess the answer to this, but is there any safe way to-- this is a funny way to put it-- but recreationally to test your genetic data in the sense of the way that a lot of us would think about it in terms of, "Oh, I'd really love to learn more about my ancestors and things like that." But there are so many security concerns, like you've pointed out. So is there any quote unquote, safe way to do so at this time? [00:08:58] Garrett Schumacher: You know that-- it's a great question. There's been a lot of things going on in the news recently, like with, I'm sure people have heard of 23 & Me, and how they went bankrupt and now a company called Regeneron is buying them and all their assets for a lot of money, but not that much compared to what 23 & Me was worth a few years ago. So that brings up a lot of issues, right? 23 & Me still owns a lot of samples, like maybe around 10 million samples. And the sequencing they've been doing is very small. So if your genome's a whole book, they've been kind of flipping through the pages and picking specific letters, and that's the data they have. So that's not the most sensitive, it's not the full story. But if you have the samples, you can always generate the full book someday. And as that cost of full human genome sequencing decreases rapidly, someone's probably gonna want to do that someday. So, okay, so back to your question though, is there a safe way? What I would say is that I, I don't tell people not to do it. I would say if you have health reasons, concerns, and your doctor suggests a genetic test, a lot of those tests are also that similar, picking a few letters, a few known letters and trying to just read that for a very specific purpose. If your doctor and you come to the agreement that you should do that, you should just do that. However, I do not promote, and even to my family members, I highly don't recommend, using these services. I used to really love who's that group out of Utah? Ancestry.com. They used to be a great group. They were trying to sequence the world's DNA for understanding basically the family tree of everyone. Because anyways, they have interest in understanding who's related to who and how that relates to their religion. So they used to do it for internal purposes, keep it on pretty tight, secure. Well then, they sold to a venture capital group. So, it's really tough to say that there's these groups that there's a good place out there to do it. There are some companies that have security or privacy focused DNA sequencing services. But it's really odd, like you have to set up a cryptocurrency account, pay with cryptocurrency, set up a PO box so that you're not like actually shipping to and from your home. And then ultimately the price of it and how they're getting it to be cost effective is China's doing the sequencing. So you do all those privacy measures and your sample gets sent off to another country. And the FBI has disclosed that they know that when certain countries like that are doing the sequencing, whether you want them to do a little tiny test, like a COVID test or whatever it is, they're sequencing the whole thing. They're keeping the data. This is known, disclosed, not conjecture. So, yeah, so sorry-- long-winded answer of saying, I'm interested too, I wanna learn about this. I've got family members that have done it. But right now I recommend just thinking very carefully and critically about whether the immediate fun of it is worth the potential long-term impacts, and maybe if you're someone that's security or privacy conscious, maybe wait a few years because there are some things on the horizon that will make this a lot better. [00:12:02] Lindsey Dinneen: All right! Thank you for the honest answer. I really appreciate it. So, okay, I wanna go back to your work with Velentium specifically and talk about-- you've gotten to work with so many different clients over the years and you've seen so many different variations on a theme. And I'm curious, what are some of the common mistakes or pitfalls you might see a younger startup make when they are perhaps first designing their device, and cybersecurity is maybe not quite top of mind. So what are some of the things that you see that are challenges we can overcome? [00:12:41] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah I think one of the biggest challenges is that a lot of people aren't maybe aware yet of the scrutiny and the requirements that the FDA-- and not just FDA, but the European union's medical device regulations and the bodies over there that review submissions. And any, if you look across the board, pretty much almost every regulatory market has, very much in the last couple years, placed a lot of scrutiny on cybersecurity. So a lot of companies, especially smaller ones starting out in the space, may not be aware of this. And so then oftentimes they'll find out too late, they'll submit. They'll get feedback back, "Oh no, we have 90 days to respond and we didn't do cyber. We gotta do cyber now." And they don't know how to spell it yet, which is a joke. But there's that. And then there's also, or they'll get in just late at the game, "Hey, we're submitting in a month or three" and "Oh, we gotta do this thing retroactively." And so then therefore, we haven't been able to support someone through the full process, at the proper time, doing the right design things to inform the design during the design, not after. So I think that's probably the biggest mistake is not seeking that external support early and often. And if you're getting that, it shouldn't just be someone that can help you navigate the regulatory space. It shouldn't be someone that can just do the pen testing for you at the end. Really I think in that context, you need a partner that can do everything end to end. So that's what we've really tried to make our processes and our services geared towards is being that partner. And whether you have the bandwidth and you will do a lot of the documentation and work, but you just need someone to guide you, consult you, give you the materials to do so, or if you are truly looking for, no, we need to augment our own team and have you do a lot more of the work for us. That's great. We can do that. So, so that's, I think, the biggest challenge. And I think that the answer is just getting the right partner early and working with them often throughout that entire development, not at the end. [00:14:37] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. And I really appreciate that perspective. I think that there's a lot more awareness, it seems like even in the industry that, "Oh, cybersecurity is a thing now." But as you said, getting to partner with somebody who does know the ins and outs from the start and can really help guide you through is really critical. Now you do quite a bit of speaking and presenting. You're obviously still teaching a college class and all of those wonderful things. I'm curious how that has played into your career as well, and is that something that you will always want to do? You've got this educator side of you as well. [00:15:13] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah, I mean, I love it. I actually taught at a high school for one year between my master's program and my undergraduate, decided that that's not for me, but that teaching at those higher levels where people are really wanting to be in the room. So now I teach at the graduate level, half of the students will be older than me. And now everybody wants to be there and we can have very mature conversations and they even can challenge me with some really great questions that I'm not ready for, right? And I think the best way to learn is to teach. Absolutely. That's, yeah. I think a lot of people have said that. I completely agree. So I plan to always do that. I mean, I love, even with our internal engineers and external clients, like the idea of helping people understand something and humanizing it for 'em. That's really my big flag I'm waving right now is humanizing it. We don't have to use alphabet soups and crazy language. We can make it easy to understand and we can humanize it for the masses. So that's really what I'm trying to do, one of my big pushes. And so I don't foresee myself ever going away from that, I even do a lot of international training on the cyber biosecurity space where I go to all these countries and these biosafety laboratories and help biologists understand cybersecurity as a fundamental practice and how they can improve their personal security, their professional security. And to me that's the most rewarding thing. [00:16:36] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Oh my goodness. That's so cool. Thank you for sharing about that. So, as you are looking towards the future in the industry itself, but also I suppose your own career, what are some things that you're excited about? What are some trends that you see as being positive? I know that, recently, it's been a little bit challenging-- as a nice word-- for a lot of medical device companies and they're a little worried about funding and those kinds of things, and so, that's maybe a trend that's a little not as fun, but what are the things that are empowering and exciting to you as we move forward? [00:17:13] Garrett Schumacher: So not to make it about artificial intelligence or machine learning, 'cause everybody does. It's definitely, its hype curve. But that is actually one of the things that I think I'm most excited about, but also most scared about. We've seen a lot of companies with layoffs because they believe this artificial intelligence enables them to be more efficient and therefore they can do more with fewer people. And that saves money. And I understand that. I think that one of my big pushes right now is trying to help people understand that AI, at least right now, it's not taking over human jobs-- that it can instead augment, improve how we do those jobs. But people have to be ready for it. So even in, in my own space, like, making sure that our team and our people are ready for that. Because if you aren't getting into that space, if you aren't with the curve, then you're gonna fall behind. And yes, you could be replaced in that sense that someone has done it and so now they're doing it better than you. And so if you're not using these tools, these resources to, to improve your efficiency and to just maximize your capability-- like for example, my team, maybe I don't need to hire a person. Maybe we can build out things that enable us to, with the same amount of people, to better serve more clientele. So that's what I'm really trying to navigate. But it is scary thinking about that future and am I even gonna be ready and technically savvy enough to navigate that new future in the next year, in the next five, 10 years. And especially as someone who I've always had this, this goal of maybe someday, and I'm getting talked out of it very quickly, but maybe like being a Chief Information Security Officer at a large company or a Chief Product Security Officer, something like that. And yeah, quickly, I'm-- "Eh, we'll see." But it's those kind of things that, if we can navigate them correctly, may maybe that is something in my future. So that's, I think, one of my big fears and also passion projects right now. And then also, same on that funding vein-- with my startup, we're experiencing that as well. And we actually, we had a lot of funding potential pre COVID. And then even though our technology-- like in some ways COVID brought the need for our technology to the forefront of people's minds-- it also killed a lot of funding opportunity. And so yeah, I mean, navigating that space of how do you get funding and then does it come from venture capital backed or equity, private equity, and I've seen those worlds. I even advise startups. So I mean, that is also probably one of the biggest challenges I'm facing currently as well. [00:19:41] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yeah. It's gonna be really interesting to see how things evolve, and it's been fascinating to read the news and see even the headlines where it's like, the FDA is using AI to review submissions and all sorts of things, and you really do wonder how we'll move forward and time will tell, I suppose. [00:20:01] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. [00:20:02] Lindsey Dinneen: So you have stepped into quite a number of leadership roles fairly young in your career, if you don't mind me just saying so, and so I'm curious how you have navigated that growth for yourself. First of all, do you feel like you were a natural leader or were those skills things you developed along the way? And secondly, what advice might you have for younger leaders? [00:20:27] Garrett Schumacher: Great questions. Yeah, definitely nothing is natural about it. I think for anyone, I mean, it's nothing that you just do and you're just like, "Yep, I'm a leader. That's easy." So it definitely something, just like all aspects of work and maturity, is you have to work on it. But I think how I got there was-- and someone told me a couple tips early in my career, I suppose-- and it was a couple are: find a mentor, and as the mentee you have to put in the effort. If you set up meetings and they're not there, whatever, like they're busy, and you are asking them to give their time for you. So, find mentors and then be a good mentee, meet up with them. I had several people that were critical in my early career. One was Bunky Davis and she was amazing. She was no longer with us, but her and I grabbed coffee every single month. She had navigated biotech startups for like 50 years, was also just a phenomenal cyclist, Olympian, like just amazing. And we'd meet up every month for coffee without missing. And we did that for several years. And, and I had another mentor from the University of Colorado Boulder, Lloyd Thrall, who came from the Department of Defense, and just a spectacular, stellar guy, and we would go meet up all the time. And so learning from these people I think I saw-- well, there's that. And then everybody has their bosses and their horror stories from work, whether that's a high school job or professional later on. And so you see the ways that people can be, you don't want to be. And so that, that makes it easy. But without having those mentors, yeah, I don't know if I would've exposed myself to the good ways, right, and the better ways, and be challenged. So that was really critical was finding a good mentor and then being a good mentee. And then I think the other thing is interacting with people and just listening, active listening. So going to the professional shows and meeting people, listening to them, reading a lot of great books out there on how to be a leader, and you don't take all that exactly word for word, but there are golden little nuggets that you can just pick up out of all those things. So, no, definitely something that I have actively worked on and still am trying to work on. And then I'm constantly trying to listen and being that, have that open door policy for my people too. Because if I hire really smart people, I want them to do the thinking and therefore I need to listen. [00:22:44] Lindsey Dinneen: There you go. I love it. All right, so. You've had a really interesting and exciting career so far, and you're obviously very passionate about medtech and cybersecurity and biotech and all those things, and I'm wondering if along the way there are any moments that really stand out to you as affirming, "Wow, I am in the right place at the right time." [00:23:09] Garrett Schumacher: Yeah. Yeah. One was we had a really special project where and I won't give any names away, but basically my stepmother has an implant inside of her and it's it's not life sustaining, but it's one that you want working just so that your body's working normally, and so that you're not, not embarrassed. You can go into public spaces and be a normal person, right? And whether it's pain management, incontinence, those kind of things. So she had this implant and it was, she had one that came from the leading provider of that at the time. And it, the battery life, right, is supposed to last like 10 or 15 years, and it seemed like pretty much seven or eight was all she was getting out of it. And after decades of having far more surgeries than she needed, all the way up to the very last device she got in her-- it failed within the first year, I think-- so it was like, okay, time to pivot. And we found this new company and they've become a huge leader in the space, recently acquired by another one of the big leaders in medtech in general. And we were hired to do the security work for that project. And the only reason that I actually found out-- because my stepmother was literally like in the process of getting this new device inside of her-- I was at that client's facility doing a pen testing and security testing engagement and some consulting and just visiting them. And I FaceTimed my family in the break room and there was a sign behind me and they're like, "Oh my gosh. We're literally, we just got that implanted in your stepmother like, a couple weeks ago. It's working great. She's so happy with it. It's smaller, it works better, all these things." And it's like, "Wow." So I got to lead the security effort and what they're actually doing is adding remote programming capabilities so a doctor can, over the phone, be improving that therapy for you. But that leads to a lot of cybersecurity implications, right? That kind of connectivity. And so I gotta lead the security work on that for something that is in a near and dear, your family member. And it's those kind of things where it's not, you're not just helping patients. It's, I'm helping someone that I care very deeply about. And it hits home differently when it's not just, "Oh, I want this device to be secure. I want them to get FDA clearance. I want whatever." It's, "No, I need now, I need for my own family member for it to be the best." And it's not that project got special scrutiny from us-- we bring that to every project-- but it helps to have the actual experience of one of those projects. [00:25:33] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. And to have that real-- well, you were mentioning it-- not just patients that I kept thinking, "Yeah. Not just patients, people," and the idea of it's sometimes probably necessary honestly, to have a little bit of separation from a clinical point of, "I'm helping all of these patients, and that's a really good thing." But then if you could take a step back and go, "And these patients are human beings that rely on what I'm doing for safety and for security and for this lifesaving, life enhancing device." That's-- what a gift to get to experience something like that. [00:26:04] Garrett Schumacher: It is, it's especially like, if you work in the diabetes-- we've had several projects with insulin pumps-- and insulin's a drug that is, highly toxic if given in the wrong dosage. 99% of the world population would die if it's in the wrong dosage if it's too high. And the only reason the other 1% exist is 'cause they're insulin intolerant. They just, they don't respond to insulin and that's why they have their own type of diabetic issues. And I've got several cousins, a brother-in-law, that also use that stuff every day, rely on those kind of technologies. So, yeah, just it's a little bit more special when it's when you get to do that. But we try to do that for everyone. We try to think of everyone's that person that we're trying to help. [00:26:42] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. All right. Well, this has been so great, but pivoting the conversation a little bit, just for fun. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars to teach a masterclass on anything you want. What would you choose to teach and why? [00:26:59] Garrett Schumacher: Ooh. Well, yeah, first of all, a million dollars for-- I feel like I, I'd have to go with something like that I know deeply, very deeply on. But okay, if I wanna have some fun here, I would say rock climbing, because rock climbing is my other big passion. It's the one thing that takes me away from a computer screen typically. And so if you're paying me a million dollars to teach rock climbing, A, these people really wanna learn how to be good rock climbers, so they're gonna be very engaged. And B, that's going to mean that I can go now actually make money on something that has only ever been a passion for me. So, that would be fun. That would be awesome. [00:27:33] Lindsey Dinneen: Awesome. [00:27:33] Garrett Schumacher: If you're offering, Lindsey, I'll accept. [00:27:35] Lindsey Dinneen: Okay, deal, right? Yeah. I'm gonna have to earn my first million first, and then I'll let you know. [00:27:40] Garrett Schumacher: I'll wait. [00:27:41] Lindsey Dinneen: Okay, fair? Fair enough. What got you into rock climbing? [00:27:45] Garrett Schumacher: Oh man. Well, so my mother was, I grew up in like a small farming town in the northeast corner of Colorado. There's not a mountain for, until you get to Denver area, right? In the summers, she worked at the local college, and in the summers she ran the ropes course and they had a giant rock wall. So, I mean, as a 10-year-old, I'm just hanging out there. I didn't know that there was routes or certain ways or techniques. I just, who can get up the fastest, right? But that was always fun. That was my summers. I always, and I was, shoot, I was always told I was a monkey. I was always on stuff climbing something. I've had my share of injuries from it, trust me. And then in college, it just was natural. I went to CU Boulder, as I've probably already said, and a lot of outdoor climbing opportunities. A lot of, they, they built a new gym there inside the school. And so that then it became this thing where, oh, I can actually-- as you move away from high school sports, basketball and American football and those things, you miss that. You can miss some competitiveness and some team-based things. So now I had another active thing that I could-- and I, again, I wasn't so formal in technique or things like that-- so now I could work with people, socialize and work on that technique in something that I was able to do at that level, instead of, I'm not gonna go beat myself up playing football again. So, yeah, I think that's where it came from. And then it's just been my big hobby ever since. And I mean, now I have a bunch of friends down in Austin, Texas, and we go on a big climbing trip once a year, and I see them once a year. It's fun. So it's like expanded my friend group and it keeps me sane. [00:29:14] Lindsey Dinneen: Huh. Excellent. Yes. That's wonderful. All right. How do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:29:22] Garrett Schumacher: Oh, that's a good one. How do you humbly answer that? When part of the answer I would wanna say is humble, but that's something I always try to work on, is I just wanna be a good guy. I want people to remember that, he was kind, considerate-- would do something at the drop of a hat for you without expecting anything in return-- just kind, generous. And I think a family guy would be a big one. My, my friends and family first and foremost. And maybe second to that, hardworking. Yeah. [00:29:46] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. I love that. All right. And final question. What is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:29:55] Garrett Schumacher: Oh, my wife. I wake up to her every day and that's she's the best part about everything. So yeah, she's my favorite person, and I'm lucky enough to, when I'm not traveling, wake up next to her and see her at night, and that's the best part. [00:30:08] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. What a wonderful thing. Well, this has been a fantastic conversation, Garrett. I'm so thankful for your time today. Thank you for sharing some of your stories, some of your advice. And I just honestly wish you the most continued success as you work to change lives for a better world. [00:30:26] Garrett Schumacher: Thank you. Thank you, Lindsey, for having me. This was my first podcast ever. So it went great. Yeah, it was fine. [00:30:32] Lindsey Dinneen: Awesome. You rocked it. Good job. That's wonderful. All right, well, celebrating that and celebrating all your future successes to come. We are so honored to be making a donation on your behalf as a thank you for your time today to Save the Children, which works to end the cycle of poverty by ensuring communities have the resources to provide children with a healthy, educational, and safe environment. So thank you so much for choosing that charity to support, and thank you so much for being here and thank you for doing what you do. [00:31:05] Garrett Schumacher: Thank you. [00:31:07] Lindsey Dinneen: Excellent, and thank you also to our listeners for tuning in, and if you're feeling as inspired as I am, I'd love it if you'd share this episode with a colleague or two and we'll catch you next time. [00:31:19] Dan Purvis: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium Medical. Velentium Medical is a full service CDMO, serving medtech clients worldwide to securely design, manufacture, and test class two and class three medical devices. Velentium Medical's four units include research and development-- pairing electronic and mechanical design, embedded firmware, mobile app development, and cloud systems with the human factor studies and systems engineering necessary to streamline medical device regulatory approval; contract manufacturing-- building medical products at the prototype, clinical, and commercial levels in the US, as well as in low cost regions in 1345 certified and FDA registered Class VII clean rooms; cybersecurity-- generating the 12 cybersecurity design artifacts required for FDA submission; and automated test systems, assuring that every device produced is exactly the same as the device that was approved. Visit VelentiumMedical.com to explore how we can work together to change lives for a better world.

Regular exercise pays off financially - cutting medical costs, reducing daily spending - and boosting your energy, health, and overall quality of life. Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins Rob Hart on the WBBM Noon Business Hour to explain…

Lative, the AI sales planning platform for sales and go-to-market teams, has announced it has raised $7.5 million in funding to boost product development and expand its go-to-market. The round, co-led by Act Venture Capital and Senovo VC, has also been backed by Elkstone, Enterprise Ireland, WestWave Capital, Handshake Ventures and Shuttle. Among customers utilising the platform already for more precise sales planning are Seismic, Intercom, Aiven, Avalara and Version 1. Lative helps companies understand their sales data and invest resources where they'll have the greatest impact. Instead of juggling multiple sheets, models and disconnected tools, Lative unifies the sales planning process in one cloud-based platform by connecting top-down targets and quota plans with bottom-up sales productivity and capacity. Teams can model and simulate future org designs to have the most effective sales team for achieving revenue goals, adjust plans in real time, and gain clear visibility into sales productivity and efficiency through AI Insights. This allows them to make smarter hiring and investment decisions based on data rather than assumptions, identify risks and opportunities before they impact revenue, and track execution with confidence. Lative was launched in 2022 by industry veterans Werner Schmidt and Laura Tortosa Sancho, bringing together over 32 years of senior operations experience from Sage, Citrix, and Deloitte. They recognised a common pain point: manual, fragmented sales planning that lacks real-time visibility and tracking execution. Frustrated by high-performing teams wasting time on outdated spreadsheets and models, Werner and Laura created Lative to deliver real-time sales intelligence and automated planning with AI. For end users, this means smarter planning, instant insights, and the ability to make faster, better decisions with customers seeing up to 24% increases in sales productivity across segments. "We saw the same issue over and over again, in every company we worked in - sales planning was slow, manual, and stuck in spreadsheets," said Werner Schmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of Lative. "We built Lative to change that, and to give sales teams real-time visibility and confidence so every decision is informed, not guessed in this critical activity for go to market organisations. Every sales organisation needs to plan and track execution, and it's mainly done in spreadsheets today. Now there's a better way." The sales performance management market, valued at over $2.3 billion in 2023, is projected to exceed $7 billion by 2030, showing the demand for solutions that automate and optimise sales execution. In just 15 months, Lative has achieved 10x growth, a clear sign of the demand for such a product. The company was recently ranked second to Salesforce on G2's Sales Planning Grid. Lative has also forged strategic integration partnerships with data platform leaders Salesforce, HubSpot, and Snowflake to enable seamless data sharing for revenue teams. "Lative is driving a paradigm shift to sales planning and optimisation teams that is long overdue. By helping teams identify what's working and what isn't in real-time, problems are identified before they become too large to manage," said Dr. Alexander Buchberger, Partner at Senovo. "RevOps leaders love Lative when they see it. New AI Consumption models now need better tooling to manage complexity. Lative helps industry leaders like Seismic, Intercom and Version 1 see true sales productivity and capacity in real-time to deliver efficient growth. Werner, Laura, and their team are defining a new category with an exciting AI roadmap." said Andrew O'Neill, Principal at Act. "Lative allows us to see our productive sales capacity in real-time which is fundamental to how we scale the business and invest in the right areas to accelerate growth." said Mathieu Cognac, Vice President of Revenue Operations at Seismic. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are...

En esta tertulia, tenemos como invitado especial a Carlos Sotelo, fundador de Silence, la empresa pionera en la fabricación de microcoches eléctricos en Barcelona. A lo largo de esta conversación, Carlos nos comparte su experiencia en la creación de Silence, su visión sobre el futuro de la movilidad eléctrica y los desafíos de producir vehículos sostenibles en Europa.Hablamos sobre el impacto de los microcoches en la ciudad, el acuerdo con Nissan para fabricar el S04, y cómo las regulaciones y ayudas gubernamentales, como el Plan MOVES, están dando forma a esta industria emergente. Además, exploramos el contraste entre el mercado europeo y el chino en el sector de vehículos eléctricos, y cómo las grandes potencias están liderando la innovación.El episodio también aborda el futuro del trabajo en la era de la automatización y los robots, el rol de los cofounders versus los solo founders, y cómo encontrar equilibrio y propósito tras vender una empresa. Como parte del debate, Carlos y otros emprendedores comparten sus experiencias y consejos sobre la creación de startups y el crecimiento personal tras un exit.index00:00:00 Intro00:01:00 Presentación de Silence00:08:00 Categoría de vehículo, regulación y ayudas00:13:00 Negocio de motos eléctricas y origen de la idea00:20:00 China vs Europa00:30:00 Retos de crear un coche en Europa00:46:00 Futuro del trabajo, robots y vida del founder tras vender01:13:00 Casos de otros founders01:26:00 IA, producto y organización interna01:42:00 Cofounders vs solo founders01:59:00 Pitch02:06:00 Últimas preguntasSigue a los "tertulianos" en Twitter:• Bernat Farrero: @bernatfarrero• Jordi Romero: @jordiromero• César Migueláñez: @heycesrSOBRE ITNIG

Throwback ThursdayThe iconic energy continues this week as Bunnie sits down with Karen Gravano — former Mob Wives star, best-selling author, and Co-Founder of The Body Depot Spa. Karen holds nothing back as she opens up about growing up as the daughter of notorious mobster Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, her complicated dynamic with costar Drita D'Avanzo, and all the drama that unfolded both on and off camera. She also reflects on how her father's high-profile past shaped her life, the impact on her family, and how she pushed through it all with relentless hustle and a passion for prison-reform advocacy.Watch Full Episodes & More:YouTubeKaren: IG | The Body DepotSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if your customers could talk directly to your brand, without scaling your your customer service teams to a 1:1 capacity? This episode is brought to you by Krisp.ai, the all-in-one voice AI that makes every conversation sound professional. With industry-leading noise cancellation, real-time accent conversion, accurate transcription, and smart call summaries, Krisp helps teams and individuals stay clear and productive. Trusted worldwide and powering over 75 billion minutes of conversations each month, Krisp is the easiest way to elevate every call. Try it free at krisp.ai. Agility sometimes requires fundamentally rethinking the core business assumptions around how we fund growth, build teams, and create value.Today, we're going to talk about the strategic decisions that underpin the AI revolution. It's not just about the technology itself, but about the crucial choices leaders make around how to finance innovation, how to structure teams, and how to stay ahead of the curve on what's actually possible versus what's just hype. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Arto Minasyan, Co-Founder & President at Krisp.ai. About Arto Minasyan Arto Minasyan is a visionary entrepreneur and co-founder of Krisp.ai and 10Web, two successful VC-backed startups that collectively raised $28 million and achieved profitability. He leads teams of around 300 professionals across both companies, driving innovation and operational excellence. Under his guidance, Krisp was honored as one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2020, while 10Web's AI Website Builder has powered over one million websites. Arto frequently shares insights on balancing venture capital with bootstrapping, advancing AI voice technology, and building diverse global tech teams beyond Silicon Valley. Arto Minasyan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artominasyan/ Resources Krisp.ai: https://www.krisp.ai This episode is brought to you by Krisp.ai, the all-in-one voice AI that makes every conversation sound professional. With industry-leading noise cancellation, real-time accent conversion, accurate transcription, and smart call summaries, Krisp helps teams and individuals stay clear and productive. Trusted worldwide and powering over 75 billion minutes of conversations each month, Krisp is the easiest way to elevate every call. Try it free at krisp.ai. Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Stephen Brittain, co-founder of InsurTech Gateway, a pioneering venture builder focused on bringing early-stage startups into the heart of the insurance world – a regulated industry that typically moves at glacial speed. Over the past decade, Stephen has helped launch and scale ventures inside one of the most regulated, risk-averse business sectors on the planet: the insurance space. He has been the spark for innovation inside large insurance corporates and the strategic partner for founders who wanted to navigate the labyrinth of regulation, procurement and distribution at scale. In other words: he has been solving the archetypal “how to innovate inside a large enterprise” question while keeping the spirit of a startup alive. KEY TAKEAWAYS I was a product /service designer, and I found myself – through building bigger and bigger products – coming up against risk, and I saw risk as a constraint. I knew that if I could only understand risk better that I might be able to do bigger and bolder and better projects. That's how I outgrew product design and moved into insurance. InsurTech Gateway's original intention was to find amazing founders and fast-track them into market with enough creative energy to survive, adapt and evolve in an environment where your first idea had to be your fixed idea. Today we give founders greater agility to learn and evolve, because no one ever knows what to do when they first start, it's a learning journey. The upside, the enthusiasm, the opportunity framing of entrepreneurialism and venturing gets everybody started, rallies people together. But, an a bad day, the downside view is actually the long-term sustainability of any new category. VCs and insurers have never sat round the table together. BEST MOMENTS  ‘The opportunity was not to make insurance sexy, it was to look at the secret powers of insurance to create mutual models to work at scale, to unlock lending and put trust into ecosystems that didn't exist before.'  ‘One of the biggest challenges in InsurTech is; to get a successful outcome from something that looked great on day 1 but didn't evolve into the opportunity.' ‘Pattern recognition has never been higher and the cost to entry and experimentation has never been lower. We recognise what works and what doesn't much better, but can we validate it with an insurer and get them onside? I think we still need to work out the connectivity.' ‘If you can work with innovators, and you understand risk, and you can help unlock that innovation, you can make it sustainable.' ABOUT THE GUESTS Stephen Brittain is the Co-Founder of InsurTech Gateway, the world's first authorised venture builder and fund focused on insurtech. A true pioneer at the intersection of innovation, investment, and impact, Stephen has spent the past decade turning bold ideas into scalable ventures that redefine how insurance and technology collide. 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/

Boris Sofman is the CEO and Co-Founder of Bedrock Robotics, a company turning existing construction equipment into fully autonomous fleets through same-day hardware upfits. With over $80 million in funding from Eclipse, 8VC, NVIDIA Ventures, and former Waymo CEO John Krafcik, Bedrock is tackling a major bottleneck in the global economy: a massive construction labor shortage just as demand for data centers, clean energy projects, housing, and manufacturing is skyrocketing. In this episode, Boris shares how his experience building autonomous vehicles at Waymo inspired him to apply similar AI and machine learning approaches to heavy equipment. He explains why full autonomy matters in construction, what it unlocks for efficiency and safety, and how Bedrock plans to accelerate infrastructure and industrial development through robotic automation.Episode recorded on Sept 30, 2025 (Published on Nov 13, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [02:45] Boris's background in robotics and autonomous vehicles[04:50] Learnings from Waymo applied to construction[10:09] Boris's predictions for autonomous vehicles in the future[18:44] Why he left Waymo to start Bedrock Robotics[22:59] Choosing construction as the first market for autonomy[25:26] How Bedrock upfits machines without permanent modifications[26:25] Why excavators are the first target use case[28:20] Training AI to navigate changing job site environments[30:54] Skipping teleoperation and going straight to autonomy[35:52] Bedrock's GTM focus on heavy industrial sectors[40:46] How to work with traditional industries effectively[43:55] How autonomy solves labor shortages and safety challenges Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

342: Lessons That Shape Great Nonprofit Leaders (Garrett Cathcart)SUMMARYSpecial thanks to TowneBank for bringing these conversations to life and for their ongoing support of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership.  Learn more about how they can help you at TowneBank.com/NonprofitBanking.What does it take to build something from the ground up - and lead it with purpose, humility, and vision? In episode 342 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Garrett Cathcart shares the lessons he's learned in creating and scaling organizations that strengthen communities and unite people across divides. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of +More Perfect Union, a veteran-led nonprofit rebuilding civic and social trust through connection, service, and engagement, Garrett explores the power of starting from zero, leading volunteers with accountability, and measuring impact through both empathy and data.ABOUT GARRETTGarrett Cathcart is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of +More Perfect Union, a veteran-led movement to strengthen communities and heal the divides in our country through meaningful connections built on service, civic engagement, and leadership development. He also co-founded 550 Capital Partners, a venture firm investing in early-stage startups led by military veterans. Previously, Garrett served as the founding Executive Director of Mission Roll Call and as Southeast Regional Director of Team Red, White & Blue. A U.S. Army Cavalry officer for nine years, Garrett is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, where he served in multiple combat leadership roles and earned three Bronze Stars and the Meritorious Service Medal. He continues to serve as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves and teaches leadership and military science at Georgia Tech. A graduate of West Point and Emory University's Goizueta Business School, he is a Truman National Security Fellow and a George W. Bush Veteran Leadership Scholar.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESIt Worked for Me by Colin PowellLearn more about +More Perfect UnionExplore our Mastermind Program, now accepting applications for 2026!

Download our “Tell a Better Story, Win Better Clients” E-book at https://working-towards.com/What if finding a home in a new country was as easy as booking a hotel? Jan Hase, Co-Founder and CEO of Wunderflats (https://wunderflats.com/en), joins me to share how his company is transforming the future of mid-term housing by removing the stress, friction, and uncertainty that expats, professionals, and even refugees face when relocating.With a background in computer science and a decade building Wunderflats from the ground up, Jan reveals what it takes to build a trusted real estate marketplace that works across borders, supports both landlords and tenants, and scales without losing the human touch. We also explore his unique co-founder relationship, mission-driven leadership, and the emotional realities of growing a startup that helps people feel at home anywhere in the world.

Avi Moskowitz, the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of PrettyDamnQuick (PDQ), adds his page to the Marketing Playbook. Hear how to find your co-founder, the characteristics you need as a startup founder, how to have patience & execute, what Avi learned from his parents as Holocaust survivors, and his fascinating journey with BeerBazaar. Connect with Avi at PrettyDamnQuick.com and on LinkedIn

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Usman Saleem, Co-Founder & CEO of Khazanay, Pakistan's biggest used sneaker and thrift brand.Usman shares his journey from losing his father at an early age, working graphic design jobs for just ₨8,000 a month, to building one of Pakistan's most disruptive retail startups.We talk about:How Khazanay sold its first pair of shoesMeeting Sam Altman at Y CombinatorHow they refurbish branded sneakersTapping into leftover clothing Khazanay's scale & GrowthLong-term growth, Islamic finance, and Pakistan's 2050 outlookSocials:TBT's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT's TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamil⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT's Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TBT Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Muzamil's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Usman's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhdusmansaleem/Special thanks to Kickstart for providing us with the studio space.You can find out more about them at: ⁠⁠https://kickstart.pk/⁠⁠Credits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

WMAL GUEST: STEPHEN MOORE (Former Trump Economic Advisor & Co-Founder, Committee to Unleash Prosperity) WEBSITE: CommitteeToUnleashProsperity.com SOCIAL MEDIA: X.com/StephenMoore Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow Podcasts on Apple, Audible and Spotify Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Website: WMAL.com/OConnor-Company Episode: Thursday, November 13, 2025 / 7 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Show NotesAs artificial intelligence begins generating music from vast datasets of human art, a fundamental question emerges: who truly owns the sound of AI? This episode of Music Evolves brings together a law student and former musician Chandler Lawn, music industry executive and professor Drew Thurlow, Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder of Global Citizen, and intellectual property attorney Puya Partow-Navid, alongside hosts Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli, to examine how AI is reshaping authorship, licensing, and the meaning of originality.The panel explores how AI democratizes creation while exposing deep ethical and economic gaps. Lawn raises the issue of whether artists whose works trained AI models deserve compensation, asking if innovation can be ethical when built on uncompensated labor. Thurlow highlights how, despite fears of automation, generative AI music accounts for less than 1% of streaming royalties—suggesting opportunity, not replacement.Sheldrick connects the conversation to a broader global context, describing how music's economic potential could drive sustainable development if nations modernize copyright frameworks. He views this shift as a rare chance to position creative industries as engines for jobs and growth.Partow-Navid grounds the discussion in legal precedent, pointing to landmark cases—from Two Live Crew to George R. R. Martin—as markers of how courts may interpret fair use, causality, and global jurisdiction in AI-driven creation.Together, the guests agree that the debate extends beyond legality. It's about the emotional authenticity that makes music human. As Chandler notes, “We connect through imperfection.” Marco adds that live performance may ultimately anchor value in a world saturated by digital replication.This conversation captures the tension—and promise—of a future where music, technology, and law must learn to play in harmony.GuestsChandler Lawn, AI Innovation and Law Fellow at The University of Texas School of Law | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandlerlawn/Drew Thurlow, Adjunct Professor at Berklee College of Music | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewthurlow/Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact and Government Affairs Officer at Global Citizen | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sheldrick-30364051/Puya Partow-Navid, Partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/puyapartow/Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder, ITSPmagazine and Studio C60 | Website: https://www.marcociappelli.comHostSean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine, Studio C60, and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/ResourcesLegal Publication: You Can't Alway Get What You Want: A Survey of AI-related Copyright Considerations for the Music Industry published in Vol. 32, No. 3 of the Texas State Bar Entertainment and Sports Law Journal.BOOK: Machine Music: How AI Is Transforming Music's Next Act by Drew Thurlow: https://www.routledge.com/Machine-Music-How-AI-is-Transforming-Musics-Next-Act/Thurlow/p/book/9781032425242BOOK: From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing and Implementing Change in a Divided World by Michael Sheldrick: https://www.fromideastoimpact.com/AI and Copyright Blogs:https://www.gadgetsgigabytesandgoodwill.com/category/ai/https://www.gadgetsgigabytesandgoodwill.com/2025/11/dr-thaler-is-right-in-part/https://www.gadgetsgigabytesandgoodwill.com/2025/07/californias-ai-law-has-set-rules-for-generative-ai-are-you-ready/https://www.gadgetsgigabytesandgoodwill.com/2025/06/copyright-office-firings-spark-constitutional-concerns-amid-ai-policy-tensions/Newsletter (Article, Video, Podcast): The Human Touch in a Synthetic Age: Why AI-Created Music Raises More Than Just Eyebrows: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/human-touch-synthetic-age-why-ai-created-music-raises-martin-cissp-s9m7e/Article — Universal and Sony Music partner with new platform to detect AI music copyright theft using ‘groundbreaking neural fingerprinting' technology: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-and-sony-music-partner-with-new-platform-to-detect-ai-music-copyright-theft-using-groundbreaking-neural-fingerprinting-technology/Article: When Virtual Reality Is A Commodity, Will True Reality Come At A Premium: https://sean-martin.medium.com/when-virtual-reality-is-a-commodity-will-true-reality-come-at-a-premium-4a97bccb4d72Global Citizen: https://www.globalcitizen.org/Gallo Music (Gallo Records, South Africa): https://www.gallo.co.za/Global Citizen Festival: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/festival/Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith (Shepard Fairey / “Hope” poster context): https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/598/21-869/case.pdfGeorge R. R. Martin / Authors Guild v. OpenAI (current AI training lawsuit): https://authorsguild.org/news/ag-and-authors-file-class-action-suit-against-openai/Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. (2 Live Crew “Pretty Woman”): https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/510/569/Vanilla Ice / “Under Pressure” Sampling Case: https://blogs.law.gwu.edu/mcir/case/queen-david-bowie-v-vanilla-ice/MIDiA Research — AI in Music Reports: https://www.midiaresearch.com/reports/ai-and-the-future-of-music-the-future-is-already-hereMerlin (Global Independent Rights Organization): https://www.merlinnetwork.org/Instagram Reel re: Spotify Terms: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOrgbUNCYj_/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your security team never missed a single alert and actually had time to think strategically? In this episode, Ahmed Achchak, CEO and Co-Founder of Qevlar AI, reveals how autonomous SOCs are reshaping security operations worldwide. From tackling alert fatigue to empowering analysts with intelligent AI-driven investigations, Ahmed shares the inside story of building a system that can act on threats faster than any human alone. Learn how Qevlar's innovative approach is giving organizations clarity, control, and measurable ROI while freeing security teams to focus on what truly matters. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Founding Qevlar AI by chance 03:30 - Inefficiency of current SOCs 05:00 - Augmenting analysts, not replacing them 08:00 - AI investigating alerts at scale 11:30 - How autonomous agents handle phishing 14:30 - Why tackling all alerts maximizes ROI 17:30 - Graph technology as investigation backbone 25:00 - Limitations and randomness of LLMs 30:30 - Advice for testing AI in SOCs Links Connect with our guest Ahmed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-achchak-872554109/   Check out Qevlar's website: https://www.qevlar.com/   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/    

On this week's episode of This Is Quick, Erin and Sara Foster, the sisters behind Favorite Daughter and the hit Netflix show "Nobody Wants This", share how they make tough decisions as partners, why brutal honesty can be both a strength and a challenge, and what they really think about office romance. To get more leadership insights like these in your inbox, subscribe to the free This Is Working newsletter.

In this episode of This New Way, Aydin chats with Scott Knowles, the co-founder of Mello, a digital process manager designed to automate human-centric workflows. Scott shares how he reentered software development after a six-year hiatus — not through online courses or bootcamps, but through ChatGPT. With AI as his co-pilot, he rebuilt his coding skills, created software from scratch, and automated complex systems like cold outreach engines and data pipelines — all for free or nearly free. The episode is a hands-on masterclass in learning, building, and automating with AI.Timestamps00:00 - Intro0:29 – 1:12 — Introduction: Scott's background in computer engineering and management consulting2:00 – 4:18 — Founding and selling an OKR software company; early startup experience4:23 – 5:06 — What Mello is: a “digital process manager” that connects humans the way Zapier connects software5:36 – 7:00 — Returning to coding after six years thanks to ChatGPT7:42 – 8:15 — How ChatGPT helped him relearn code “like slang you forgot”9:03 – 10:13 — Learning new skills: how to ask the right questions as a beginner10:41 – 11:27 — Using ChatGPT to scope and plan projects instead of asking for instant results13:00 – 14:03 — The importance of high-level questioning before diving into code15:06 – 16:21 — When to stop and ask, “Is there a simpler way?” instead of getting lost in rabbit holes17:05 – 18:07 — The “three tries rule” for debugging with ChatGPT18:26 – 18:50 — Sometimes the fix is on Reddit: mixing AI and human answers22:01 – 27:21 — Demo: Scott's TikTok “routine scraper” app built entirely with ChatGPT-generated code27:33 – 28:14 — How the scraper uses OCR, captions, and transcripts to build structured data28:58 – 30:06 — Using ChatGPT as a code generator — no manual coding required30:49 – 32:10 — Introduction to N8N: self-hosted automation for free cold outreach33:01 – 36:33 — Step-by-step breakdown of Scott's automated email system using N8N and Google Sheets38:32 – 39:09 — Building high-quality prompts for personalized emails40:00 – 42:06 — How N8N automations replace tools like Clay and Smartlead42:33 – 43:09 — Watching the automation run in real time43:39 – 44:14 — Human-in-the-loop safety: drafts before sending46:02 – 47:05 — Scott on the future of AI and human collaboration47:17 – 48:31 — Aydin on “vibe coding” and how LLMs democratize software creation48:55 – 49:13 — Closing thoughts: start small, get quick wins, build momentumTools & Technologies MentionedChatGPT — Used as a real-time coding tutor and co-developer to build entire applications.Mello — Scott's product; a digital process manager that automates human-to-human workflows.Zapier / N8N — Workflow automation tools; N8N is self-hostable and used in Scott's cold outreach automation.Supabase — Open-source database used to store and serve data for the TikTok scraper app.Playwright — Browser automation library for scraping TikTok videos.VS Code + CodeX Plugin — Integrated code editing environment that connects directly to ChatGPT for automated coding.Fellow — AI meeting assistant that summarizes meetings, tracks action items, and integrates with other tools.OpenAI API — Powers many of the automation and text-cleaning features within Scott's projects.Subscribe at⁠ thisnewway.com⁠ to get the step-by-step playbooks, tools, and workflows.

In this episode of the AgCulture Podcast, Dr. Anastasia Volkova, CEO and Co-Founder of Regrow Ag, shares her vision for building agricultural resilience through technology and regenerative practices. She discusses the evolution of MRV systems, the role of AI in scaling sustainable farming, and how collaboration across supply chains drives change. Explore how resilience is redefining agriculture's future. Listen now on all major platforms!Meet the guest: Dr. Anastasia Volkova, Ph.D., is the CEO and Co-Founder of Regrow Ag, a company pioneering data-driven tools to support global agricultural resilience. With a background in aerospace engineering and extensive work in AI and sustainability, she has been recognized by BBC, TIME, and UBS as a global visionary.What you will learn: (00:00) Introduction(03:02) Agricultural connection(08:08) Founding Regrow Ag(10:20) Funding and MRV systems(14:24) Global adoption shift(17:36) Defining resilience(32:25) Closing thoughtsDiscover the world of agriculture with the "Ag Culture Podcast". This podcast will be a gateway for those passionate about agriculture to explore its global perspectives and innovative practices.Join Paul as he shares his experiences in the agricultural industry, his travels and encounters with important figures around the world.Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Subscribe at http://www.agculturepodcast.com and keep an eye out for future episodes, bringing insights and stories from the vibrant world of agriculture.

If your best front desk team member quit tomorrow, how fast would your new patient numbers start to drop? In this episode, host Emmet Scott sits down with Miles Beckett, CEO and Co Founder of Flossy, to unpack the real story of a high volume practice that lost over half its new patient flow when one team member walked out. Miles shares what happens when calls slip to voicemail, why booking rates collapse in seconds, and how practices using Fiona are adding 50 plus new patients a month by removing hidden friction and giving patients what they actually want. It is simple, uncomfortable, and exactly what growth minded owners need to hear.  

Send us a textTune in to the latest WTR Small-Cap Spotlight Flashcast! Join Tim Gerdeman, Vice Chair & Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at WTR, and Peter Gastreich, Senior Energy Transition and Sustainability Analyst, as they discuss Ocean Power Technologies (OPTT) including: 1) how OPT evolved from wave energy solutions to integrated maritime domain awareness, combining renewble power, vehicles, and AI-driven software; 2) key markets like defense, offshore energy, climate research, and the emerging blue economy in the U.S. and internationally; 3) OPT's proprietary tech, partnerships, and certifications and how these set it apart with its government and industry clients; 4)  how OPT is managing growth amidst challenges like regulatory uncertainty, lengthy sales cycles, and rising competition; and 5) OPT's surging backlog and pipeline positioning the company for strong future execution under its experienced leadership. 

“The only way you're going to be able to grow wealth and get ahead is to start to do that today.” —Lacy GarciaMoney stress does not get quieter, it compounds— late bills, confusing advice, and life changes make it louder. But this does not mean you failed; it means you need a clearer map. Small, practical moves paid consistently will change your life more than one sweeping overhaul.Lacy Garcia turned a difficult personal money moment into Willow, a wealth-tech platform that matches people with financial advisors trained to work with women and next gen investors. Her core insight is simple: make finance nonjudgmental, break it into baby steps, and get the human help that fits your life.Check this episode and get practical tips on tiny daily money moves, how Willow matches you with the right financial advisors, the basics of wealthtech, side-hustle and small-business money tips, and concrete next steps for divorce, career gaps, parenting and retirement planning.Connect with Heather: WebsiteLinkedInInstagramFacebook YouTubeEpisode Highlights:02:02 Meet Lacy and More About Willow09:52 Financial Education and Mistakes20:17 Willow's Services and Matchmaking Process31:13 The Need for Better Financial Education37:30 Transitioning to Financial Independence44:47 The Importance of Financial Awareness and Where to Get HelpResources:

The painful truth is that sometimes, your hosting skills—or lack thereof—are the very thing holding back your podcast growth. You might be doing all the right things with podcast production, but if your delivery isn't connecting, your audience engagement suffers, and your potential for podcast monetization remains low. In this episode of Podcasting Unlocked, we speak with Vince Quinn about what it truly means to be a strategic, engaging host. Taking cues from the world of radio, Vince shares actionable tips on how to improve your on-air presence, manage your technical setup, and leverage your voice for greater business alignment and strategic growth—especially if you're thinking about adding live shows to your format. This week, episode 244 of Podcasting Unlocked is about strategic podcast growth with live shows! Vince Quinn is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of SBX Productions, where he helps businesses start podcasts and use them to power their marketing. He's also helps podcasters unlock their hosting potential.In this episode of Podcasting Unlocked, Vince Quinn is sharing the importance of carrying yourself with confidence when recording and actionable steps you can take right now to incorporate live streams into your podcast rotation. Vince and I also chat about the following: Overcome Overpreparation: Stop relying on a rigid script! Excessive overpreparation can stifle genuine conversation. Focus instead on high-level strategy to allow for better audience interaction and flow.The Power of Live Shows: Incorporate live streaming into your show. Live shows create immediate, high-value audience engagement and can be easily content repurposed into multiple assets.Master Your Technical Setup: For any live shows, ensure your technical setup is flawless. Check your microphone and connection before you go live to maintain a professional standard.Host Like a Strategist: View your hosting skills as a direct tool for business alignment. Every segment, interview, and solo should lead back to your core offer and podcast monetization goals.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on turning your podcast listeners into leads and to hear even more about the points outlined above. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Podcasting Unlocked at https://galatimedia.com/podcasting-unlocked/ CONNECT WITH VINCE QUINN:LinkedInInstagramIt's Not Just Talking podcastWebsiteCONNECT WITH ALESIA GALATI:InstagramLinkedInWork with Galati Media! Work with Alesia 1:1Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.

How not to forget what actually matters. Soren Gordhamer is the host of Wisdom 2.0, a conference about mindfulness and compassion in the modern age. He's also a Co-Founder and General Partner of Wisdom Ventures, which invests in companies creating a more just and compassionate world. His new book is called THE ESSENTIAL: Discovering What Really Matters in an Age of Distraction.   In this episode we talk about: What Soren means by "the essential" The current and future impact of AI on the economy, our mental health, and society at large  What Soren thinks the world looks like in 5, 10, 15 years from now Useful strategies for managing technology with an iota of balance and wisdom How to get familiar with the unseen stories that run your life—so that they Don't have so much power over you The number one question for our time, per Soren   Whether or not we humans are actually going to do this "essential" work before it's too late Whether the people designing these systems have the best interest of the species at heart Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel   Tickets are now on sale for a special live taping of the 10% Happier Podcast with guest Pete Holmes! Join us on November 18th in NYC for this benefit show, with all proceeds supporting the New York Insight Meditation Center. Grab your tickets here!   Tickets are now available for an intimate live event with Dan on November 23rd as part of the Troutbeck Luminary Series. Join the conversation, participate in a guided meditation, and ask your questions during the Q&A. Click here to buy your ticket! To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris Thank you to our sponsors:  AT&T: Staying connected matters. That's why AT&T has connectivity you can depend on, or they will proactively make it right. Visit att.com/guarantee for details. NOCD: Head over to nocd.com and book a free 15‑minute call with their team, to learn more and start getting help with OCD.