School for Startups Radio

April 2, 2025 – World Series of Poker Winner David Daneshgar and Third Culture Leader Muraly Srinarayanathas

David Daneshgar – 2008 World Series of Poker Winner and Founder of Whippy
David Daneshgar is the co-founder and CEO of Whippy, an AI-driven SaaS platform transforming how businesses communicate. Whippy’s smart voice and text agents help companies across recruiting, medical, and other industries streamline operations and engage clients more effectively. Before Whippy, David co-founded BloomNation, a SaaS platform that has driven over $1 billion in revenue for local florists. Recognized for his strategic thinking and innovative approach, David’s entrepreneurial journey includes winning the 2008 World Series of Poker, funding his first business venture. His unique path—from poker champion to tech entrepreneur—has been featured in Forbes and Bloomberg.Muraly Srinarayanathas – Founder & Publisher of 3 magazine and Author of Between Borders, Beyond Boundaries: Strategies for Authentic Business Engagement in an Interconnected World
Muraly Srinarayanathas is author of Between Borders, Beyond Boundaries: Strategies for Authentic Business Engagement in an Interconnected World, and is a global strategist and serial entrepreneur. He is co-founder and executive chairman of 369 Global, a conglomerate involved in skills training and workforce development, media and communications, and global market facilitation. He also founded 3 Magazine, a luxury lifestyle and business publication that focuses on celebrating Canada’s growing and diverse population. Srinarayanathas has more than 25 years of experience working in international markets across North America, Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

March 31, 2025 – Corporate Photographer Lesle Lane and Discover Your Superpower Carina Marshall

Lesle Lane – Corporate Photographer and Owner of Studio 13
Lesle Lane is a third-generation photographer with more than 3 decades of personal experience in the industry. She serves on the Alumni Board at her alma mater, Butler University, and earned her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan. Lesle has raised a couple of children into adults and loves being “Bam” to her grandkids. She and her husband live in Noblesville and enjoy days on the lake boating with their two fur babies.Carina Marshall – Vibrational Transformation Coach and Author of Discover & Use Your Greatest Superpower: Metaphysics, Spirituality, & Bubble Gum
Carina Marshall is a vibrational transformation coach, passionate about serving others on the deepest level through “vibrational living “ — upgrading unconscious habits, updating limiting beliefs, and reframing those perspectives essential for a prosperous business, happy relationships, conscious parenting, and living a fulfilling life. She has 20+ years of corporate experience and is currently also an entrepreneur. She attributes her big-picture perspective to her life experience, her regular meditation, and being a certified Master Life Coach (MLC), Life & Spiritual Mentor (LSM), and meditation teacher, coaching people for over twenty years. As a coach, Carina customizes vibrational tools to empower individuals to achieve personal and professional goals. With her master’s education, training, and passion for service, Carina offers an intuitive and integrated approach to helping people fulfill their dreams. She believes the world is in transition, and so are each one of us —and a new world needs a new you, a new us. When asked what her biggest challenge is, she quips, “My biggest challenge has always been to remember Who I Am and how much inner power each of us truly have.” Carina has lived and worked around the world and resides in Los Angeles with her soul mate Craig (a 35-year yoga monk & co-founder of The Mindful University) and their cat Sita, who is her “Zen teacher.” She believes that every sector of our society can be the next portal for uplifting human consciousness and creating our own heaven on earth.

March 28, 2025 – Virtual CFO Dustin Williamson and 17 Movies Produced Jen Gatien

Dustin Williamson – Managing Director of VCFO
Dustin Williamson, a seasoned CFO, strategic advisor, and the Houston Managing Director of vcfo, a professional services firm known for pioneering the “Virtual CFO” concept. With decades of experience in financial strategy, operational efficiency, and business transformation, Dustin has been on every side of the M&A table. He’s seen first-hand how the biggest wins aren’t always the deals that close – but the ones that don’t. Today, Dustin will share the biggest red flags that signal a deal should be reconsidered, the hidden costs of integration struggles, and why the discipline to say “no” is just as powerful as the strategy to say “yes.” He’ll also give us a look inside the deals that taught him the most – both the ones that went through and the ones that didn’t. Get ready for a candid, no-nonsense conversation about what it really takes to make smarter, more strategic M&A decisions.
Jen Gatien – Producer / Productrice at Pixcom Inc
Jen Gatien is a filmmaker based in New York City. She has produced 17 feature films with both award-winning and emerging directors. Jen’s work includes a documentary about the iconic Chelsea Hotel which premiered as Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was directed by Abel Ferrara and stars Milos Forman, Grace Jones, Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper. Other works include Hounddog starring Dakota Fanning and Robin Wright, Holy Rollers starring Jesse Eisenberg, and For Ellen starring Paul Dano, all of which premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival. Kiss of the Damned, directed by Xan Cassavetes, premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Alongside Spike Lee, Jen also produced Evolution of a Criminal for PBS, a documentary directed by Darius Clark Monroe on the bank robbery he committed as a teenager and reconciling his past as an adult. Other films include Furlough starring Tessa Thompson, Whoopi Goldberg and Anna Paquin, and Midnight Sun starring Bella Thorne. She currently is developing her fourth project with Academy Award winning actress Melissa Leo as she finishes post-production on her directorial debut for Neon. Her scripted series Limelight will be directed by Emily Mortimer. Since 2012, Jen has served as a board member of the Lower East Side Girls Club as well as a volunteer for Pupstarz Dog Rescue and the Mercer Houston Dog Run. She is a certified artist by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and a graduate of Columbia University.

March 26, 2025 – Safe for Commerce Dr. Dale Copeland and Lean-Agile Dilemma Katie Tamblin

Dr. Dale Copeland – Professor of International Relations at UVA and Author of A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China
Dr. Dale Copeland is Professor of International Relations at the Department of Politics, University of Virginia. He is author of three books: A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China (Princeton UP 2024); Economic Interdependence and War (Princeton UP 2015); and The Origins of Major War (Cornell UP 2000). His new book was called the “An Economist Biggest Book of the Year.”Katie Tamblin – Founder of Ecodove – Author of The Lean-Agile Dilemma: Product Management Inside a Chunky Corporate
Katie Tamblin is the author of “The Lean-Agile Dilemma: Product Management Inside a Chunky Corporate.” She is an advisor to businesses and private equity investors in North America and Europe. She has deep experience managing data and software development. Katie has previously served as Chief Product Officer and Board Member at Alcumus, a market-leading global business providing software-led risk management solutions through its Planet Mark, ISOQAR, SafeContractor, and CHAS brands. Katie was also Chief Product Officer at Achilles Information Limited, where her team was instrumental in developing Achilles’ approach to measuring sustainability in supply chains.

March 24, 2025 – Miami Links Men’s Jewelry Daniel Trujillo and Crowsnest Consulting TJ Slattery

Daniel Trujillo – Founder of Miami Links
Daniel Trujillo is the founder of Miami Links, a US Marine Veteran owned and operated store. He grew up in Miami in a first-generation Cuban family, where traditions centered around Cuban link chains. Families came together for special occasions giving each other gifts, often Cuban style jewelry in gold and silver. After serving time in the Marines, Daniel returned to Miami to reconnect to his roots. He began building a jewelry brand that honored the iconic style and diverse culture of Miami, including the influence of the local Cuban heritage.TJ Slattery – Founder & Owner of Crowsnest Consulting
TJ is a lifetime entrepreneur, small business owner, and strategic advisor with an insatiable desire to help other small business owners scale their enterprise and gain freedom in their professional and personal lives. With 20 years operating in the world of small business and entrepreneurship, TJ leverages his boots-on-the-ground experience and tenure as a business advisor to partner with small business owners and propel their business to the next level. A Denverite with midwestern roots and a passion for music, gardening, house-projects, travel, skiing, and spoiling his dog Bella, TJ has a deep appreciation for keeping a balance between running a successful business and pursuing the things in life that make us happy. TJ earned his bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Business Management from Miami University of Ohio and his MBA from the University of Denver. Gathering more experiences along the way, TJ has worked in multitude of industries. From owning and operating a pedicab service in Vail, CO and a handyman service in Denver, CO, to becoming a partner in a facilities management firm in London, UK and starting Zuni Street Brewing in Denver, CO.

March 21, 2025 – OKRs with Allan Kelly and Joe Ranieri

Joe Ranieri – Founder of Sleepy Vibes
Joe Ranieri is a passionate entrepreneur dedicated to improving health and wellness through innovative solutions. As the founder of Sleepy Vibes, Joe has reimagined the sleep supplement industry by focusing on natural, science-backed ingredients and creating products that prioritize safety, effectiveness, and overall well-being. With a commitment to solving real problems and helping people lead healthier lives, Joe combines his vision, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit to make a lasting impact in the wellness space.Allan Kelly – Keynote Speaker, Founder of Software Strategy, & Author of Succeeding with OKRs in Agile: How to create & deliver objectives & key results for teams
Allan Kelly helps teams and companies become more effective and productive. Using modern management techniques – like agile, OKRs and product thinking – he boosts effectiveness and connects product strategy to delivery. He has written multiple books including the best selling “Succeeding with OKRs in Agile” plus “The Art of Agile Product Ownership” and “Business Patterns for Software Developers”. Allan has advised, trained and coached teams at many small innovative companies as well as bigger, better known, companies such as Reed-Elsevier, Virgin Atlantic and the Swift payments network. Allan’s latest book, “Succeeding with OKRs in Agile: How to create & deliver objectives & key results for teams,” [Published by Software Strategy Ltd. On September 9, 2023 and price at $9.99 for ebook and $16.46 in Paperback] is a groundbreaking resource that aligns seamlessly with your audience’s interests. Allan’s book provides valuable insights into the world of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in an agile environment. With a focus on aligning teams, working seamlessly, and efficiently achieving goals, Allan draws from decades of hands-on experience, offering practical advice, real-world examples, and a unique perspective on the application of OKRs. Allan is a seasoned expert in software development, dedicated to enhancing the organizational and individual experiences of software professionals. His wealth of experience, spanning seven books, including “Xanpan” and “Continuous Digital,” makes him a sought-after authority in the industry.

March 19, 2025 – Embrace Change Markus Neukom and RedRover Lori Turner-Wilson and After Crushing Losses Dawn Sanders

Markus Neukom – Change & Management Leadership Coach
Markus Neukom has dedicated over 20 years to helping high achievers, including CEOs and entrepreneurs, unlock their full leadership potential. His career began with work across various industries, which eventually evolved into a focused mission to support tech entrepreneurs, board members, and venture capitalists in driving leadership excellence and innovation. Despite not starting in the tech world, Neukom’s clients have consistently valued his outsider’s perspective. As one of his early tech clients remarked, “The best solutions come from those who can look beyond the conventional.” This reflects Neukom’s approach—a strategic, visionary method for addressing leadership challenges that require fresh thinking. Whether guiding startup founders through rapid growth or supporting VCs in managing portfolio companies, Neukom tailors his coaching to address each client’s unique goals and leadership needs. His customized approach emphasizes practical tools, strategies, and mindset development to help businesses scale, inspire teams, and foster innovation. Drawing from diverse coaching techniques such as inquiry-based coaching and positive psychology, Neukom aims to help clients recalibrate their mindset, improve communication, and build high-performance leadership behaviors. Neukom has worked with CEOs facing imposter syndrome, helping them build confidence and achieve work-life balance. He has also empowered entrepreneurs to make bold decisions that have transformed their businesses. These principles are especially relevant to tech leaders navigating today’s fast-paced business landscape. Central to Neukom’s philosophy is his belief in the power of relationships, recognizing that human connection is vital in business. He also emphasizes “response-ability”—the mindful ability to choose how one responds to challenges with clarity, intention, and purpose. Outside of his coaching work, Neukom enjoys exploring the outdoors, discovering new hiking trails, and spending time with family and friends, which helps him maintain balance in both life and leadership.Lori Turner-Wilson – CEO/Founder of RedRover Company
Lori Turner-Wilson isn’t just at the helm of RedRover Sales & Marketing Strategy as its CEO and co-founder; she’s a trailblazer in the field, reshaping the landscape of business marketing. With a storied career spanning over three decades, Lori has been pivotal in crafting and delivering marketing strategies that yield measurable and substantial results. Her leadership has propelled RedRover to a distinguished position as one of just two full-service B2B marketing firms in the US with the courage to offer a true ROI guarantee to its clients, earning the firm the moniker: “The Results-Guaranteed Agency.” Lori’s seminal work — her latest book, “The B2B Marketing RevolutionTM: A Battle Plan for Guaranteed Outcomes” — encapsulates her philosophy and the revolutionary approach that has disrupted conventional marketing wisdom and is shaking up the industry. Since founding RedRover in 2006, she has dedicated herself to refining a methodology that leverages in-depth market research to forge marketing strategies that are not only effective and efficient but also ensure predictable outcomes. This methodology, known as the 12 Battles™ Framework, has been the cornerstone for countless companies, providing them with a powerful arsenal for success. Lori is driven by a profound commitment to bolster mid-market companies, devising marketing strategies that provide these firms with the necessary tools and insights to effectively compete with much larger enterprises. Her efforts are aimed at closing the strategic and resource divide that often places smaller companies at a disadvantage, ensuring they too can realize strong returns on their marketing investments. Her insights stem from an intimate understanding of the challenges CEOs and business owners face, inspired by her father’s legacy and coupled with two decades working with hundreds of clients as the driving force behind RedRover. Her formative experiences at TCBY Enterprises, First Horizon National, and Hilton Hotel Corporation sparked a realization that changed her professional trajectory. In these roles she had the opportunity to hire some of the top 10 ad agencies in the country, only to find out they lacked the desire to take accountability for metrics that actually matter — such as incremental gross profit. Dragging these agencies into peak performance was agonizing. Lori imagined an agency that cared as much about the bottom line as she did, one that could move nimbly and effect the growth trajectory of a company rapidly and efficiently by building strategy on a backbone of comprehensive market research. It dawned on her that she should build what she couldn’t find and raise the bar in the industry that she loved along the way. And in 2006, RedRover Sales & Marketing Strategy was born — an agency that continues to disrupt the traditional, obsolete marketing-agency model. RedRover’s unwavering commitment to these principles has not only changed the growth trajectory of countless companies but it has also garnered numerous accolades, including being named one of the “Top 10 Companies to Watch” by the Chamber and one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Business Journal. Lori has also been recognized as an “Executive of the Year” and by her peers in the Vistage CEO network as the recipient of the annual “Vistage CEO Impact Award” for her contributions to other Vistage peers and her work to leverage Vistage principles to grow RedRover. “The B2B Marketing RevolutionTM: A Battle Plan for Guaranteed Outcomes” is Lori’s third book in the field of marketing. She penned Amazon best seller “W.O.O.F. – Why Ordinary Organizations Fail” in 2016 and served as a contributing ghostwriter in 2008 on yet another best seller “The Complete Idiot’s Guide© to Guerrilla Marketing.” Lori’s dedication to RedRover is more than just business—it’s a personal crusade to elevate mid-market companies, allowing them to assert their rightful place in the market. With the recent national expansion of RedRover, her strategic insights are now igniting market potential across a broader canvas, championing profitability from coast to coast. Her leadership, inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial journey, is now setting a new standard for marketing success on a national scale.Dawn Sanders – Author of When Your World Ends: God’s Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life
Dawn Sanders is a writer, Bible teacher, overachiever, overcomer, chocolate and sweets enthusiast, and devoted follower of Jesus. She started her blog to engage in conversations about navigating life’s challenges, struggles, and obstacles without allowing those experiences to define one’s identity. Through her platform, she shares tips, ideas, and resources to help others create lives that honor God and bring personal fulfillment. Sanders’ journey has been marked by significant personal loss, including a divorce and, more recently, the passing of her second husband, Reggie. As a newlywed, Sanders was building her dream life with Reggie while actively serving in their home church, First Baptist Church of Glenarden International, and through a ministry they co-founded called A Cord of Blue. This ministry provided biblical and practical guidance for individuals transitioning from singleness to marriage. Their lives were dedicated to helping others navigate courtship, dating, and engagement until tragedy struck—Reggie suffered a fatal heart attack while jogging. The sudden loss brought Sanders’ life to a standstill. However, with time, she transitioned from the pain of that ending to the beginning of a new journey. Along the way, she discovered a hidden treasure—God’s process for creating new beginnings. Immersing herself in Scripture, Sanders uncovered divine insights that now guide her work. Drawing from her unique perspective, authenticity, and courage, she now helps readers and followers who are starting over from scratch or embarking on new paths in life. Writing has always been Sanders’ calling, though her journey as a writer has not been without challenges. The grief following Reggie’s passing temporarily dimmed her passion for writing. However, in the summer of 2020, during the COVID-19 shutdown, that passion reignited. Sanders embraced that period as a wilderness experience—one that prepared her for a renewed writing journey. Now, through this new beginning, she continues to rewrite her story—one meaningful chapter at a time.

March 17, 2025 - Comcast Business Tracy Pitcher, American Entrepreneurship John Dearie and Grappling Bob Kaplan

Tracy Pitcher – Senior Vice President of Central Division at Comcast Business
Tracy Pitcher is the Senior Vice President of Comcast Business for the company’s Central Division. In this role, Tracy spearheads innovation and implements strategies to enhance commercial business sales and operations across Comcast’s largest division, which spans 12 states and serves 1 million customers. She is responsible for delivering exceptional customer experiences, financial performance, and growth targets. Tracy leads a team of industry- leading professionals dedicated to providing solutions for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large corporations. Previously, Tracy served as the Senior Vice President of Comcast Business for the Northeast Division, overseeing operations in 14 states from Maine to Virginia, including the District of Columbia. Before her tenure in the Northeast Division, Tracy was the Senior Vice President of Comcast Cable’s Greater Boston Region. She managed day-to-day operations for both the residential and commercial sides of the business across all departments and every stage of the customer journey, serving more than 300 communities and 2 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. Under her leadership, Comcast was repeatedly recognized by the Boston Business Journal with its prestigious “Best Places to Work” award. Tracy has also held the role of Senior Vice President of Operations for Comcast Business, where she led organizational effectiveness initiatives across the company. Prior to joining Comcast in 2009, Tracy held leadership positions at Charter Communications, AT&T Broadband, Time Warner Cable, and Thomson Consumer Electronics. Tracy earned her Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University and graduated from the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, the Harvard Business School Cable Executive Management Program, the Wharton Women’s Executive Leadership Program, and the Stanford Business School Executive Leadership Program. She has received multi-year recognition in CableFax’s “Most Powerful Women in Cable” issue and was profiled as one of six “Women Who Mean Business” in the Boston Business Journal, in addition to many other accolades and awards.John Dearie – Founder & President of Center for American Entrepreneurship
John Dearie is the founder and President of the Center for American Entrepreneurship. He is the former Acting CEO of the Financial Services Forum, a financial and economic policy organization comprised of the chief executive officers of the largest financial institutions with operations in the United States. From 2001 to 2015, he was the Forum’s Executive Vice President for Policy, coordinating the group’s policy agenda, which included: financial supervision reform, the competitiveness of U.S. capital markets, free and fair trade, comprehensive tax reform, debt and deficit reduction, and accelerating economic growth and job creation. Prior to joining the Forum, John spent nine years at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York where he held positions in the Banking Studies, Foreign Exchange, and Policy & Analysis areas. He was appointed an Officer of the Bank in 1996. He is the co-author of Where the Jobs Are: Entrepreneurship and the Soul of the American Economy (Wiley, 2013), which was called “one of the great economics books of the past few years” by the American Enterprise Institute. His writing has also appeared in the The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Hill, Politico, American Banker, USA Today, and China’s Caijing Magazine.Bob Kaplan – Author of GRAPPLING: Leaders Striving To Improve
Bob Kaplan is the author of GRAPPLING: Leaders Striving To Improve, a series of short stories that bring executive coaching to life. The book is based on his decades of experience consulting to CEOs, founders, and other senior leaders. He is founder and president of his own leadership-consulting firm, Kaplan DeVries. He invented and patented a 360 survey, the Leadership Versatility Index, a unique way of assessing leaders. He and his colleagues also take a unique approach to delivering feedback,emphasizing positive feedback as a chance to boost the leader’s confidence. His last book was Fear Your Strengths: What You’re Best Could Be Your Biggest Problem.

March 14, 2025 – Looped App Dr. Sam Patel, Drones for Girls Dr. La’Quata Sumter & Scarlett Howery and Gun Safety Silvia Villareal

Dr. Sam Patel – Co-Founder of Looped
Sam Patel is an Experienced Serial Entrepreneur with a demonstrated history in the healthcare industry. As an undergraduate alum from Purdue University and carrying both a Doctor of Medicine and Master in Business Administration degrees, Sam has a unique background in understanding how to optimize medical/aesthetic practices and patient care while allowing his businesses to thrive and generate high profit. As an owner of multiple practices, Sam not only has the understanding of business development in healthcare from the ground up, but also the expertise to sustain a successful business well after it is established. Sam is the Founder of LIV Wellness Lounge, an ultra-luxury medical spa with two locations specialized in aesthetics, body, skin, and wellness. Additionally, Sam is a CoFounder of Onyx Medical Partners which develops innovative solutions in medical education creating first to market Live Virtual Clinical Rotations for medical students both domestic and international for over a dozen universities. What if patient education was as engaging as TikTok? That’s the vision behind Looped, the groundbreaking app from Astra Culture founder Sam Patel, an app that turns clinic instructions into bite-sized, video-driven content tailored for today’s mobile-first audience. With patients spending over 4.5 hours a day on their devices, Looped taps into existing habits to improve compliance and build trust. Its intuitive, swipe-friendly interface ensures that critical medical guidance is as accessible and engaging as the videos patients already scroll through daily. With a soft launch in Q1, Looped will bring increased patient satisfaction, better adherence to treatment plans, and higher retention rates. By combining social media’s ease with healthcare’s rigor, Looped will redefine how clinics communicate with patients in 2025.Dr. La’Quata Sumter – CEO of STEAM Thru Drones
Dr. La’Quata Sumter is a technology enthusiast and educator passionate about teaching about technology, drones, coding, web development, and engineering. Hailing from the small town of Red Top, SC, and now residing in Southwest Georgia, as a STEM/STEAM philanthropist, she is dedicated to encouraging careers and education in these fields for the next generation. With over 15 years of experience in teaching technology, she is the CEO and Founder of Focusing On Me, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization with a brand that focuses on supporting organizations in their goals for STEM excellence. The STEAM thru Drones mission concentrates on designing and delivering educational programs that cater to various audiences, from students to professionals. The program covers drone operation, safety, regulations, and aerial technology advancements, focusing on teaching students about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics using drone technology. Dr. Sumter has obtained numerous technical certifications and obtained Part 107 as well. She is the author of three children’s books, one focusing on her as a computer engineer and the other being an introduction to drone technology. Her Dronology book can supplement her online Introduction to Drone Technology course. Dr. Sumter has conducted drone and engineering summer camps and shows all over the USA. Partnering with schools such as Albany State University and organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and GearUP Doughtery.Scarlett Howery – Vice-President of Workforce Solutions at DeVry University
Scarlett Howery leads the strategic development and implementation of innovative programs and partnerships that bridge the gap between education and employment for adult learners. With an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, she leverages her expertise in building and maintaining relationships with employers, government agencies, and community organizations to create customized solutions that meet their workforce needs and enhance their talent pipeline. Howery has been a part of DeVry and Keller nearly 20 years, starting from admissions and progressing to campus operations and university partnerships. Throughout her career, her focus has been on providing exceptional student care and support, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence, and driving operational excellence and efficiency. As a first-generation college graduate, Howery is a passionate advocate for students who face unique challenges and barriers in pursuing higher education. Her participation in organizations that include the National Black MBA Association as a mentor and Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. where she serves as Vice President of the Greer, South Carolina Chapter demonstrate her commitment to her community and future leaders. Where are the women?  That’s the question asked by a recent DeVry University report seeking to understand the gender gap in AI Skills training and proficiency. Despite the obvious pervasiveness of AI in the workplace, women trail men in almost every area – being less likely to claim proficiency or to even see its value as a tool. However, the AI gap identified in the report merely represents a larger chasm. While women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, they hold only about 28% of computer and mathematical occupations. Overall, only 35% of STEM employees in the U.S. are women. With career opportunities in STEM projected to outpace most sectors over the coming decade, STEM educators are working hard to close the gap and fill these new positions with as many women as possible – and they’re aiming to get girls’ attention as early as middle school. For over 90 years, DeVry University has been preparing students to pursue careers in technology and is part of a nationwide initiative to develop a new generation of female tech professionals. You are invited to join two passionate educators as they discuss some exciting programs – one of which introduces 5th – 8th-grade girls to STEM and careers in tech by building curiosity through hands-on experiences and hearing from other women in the STEM/tech fields. Dr. La’Quata Sumter is an experienced teacher, children’s author and STEM/STEAM Philanthropist who leads drone and engineering camps throughout the country, and Scarlett Howery is the Vice President of Public Workforce Solutions at DeVry University.Silvia Villarreal – Director of Research Translation at Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Silvia Villarreal is the director of research translation at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Gun Violence Solutions. She aims to bridge the gap between research and policy by translating research into evidence-based reports. Villareal is also the managing director for the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy where she coordinates a group of experts to craft gun violence policy solutions from a public health perspective. She has led development of several reports on firearm policy, including “Racial Equity Impact Assessment Framework for Gun Violence Prevention” and “Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: An Evidence Based Approach for State Policy.”

March 12, 2025 – Create the Future Rick Williams and 80/20 CEO Bill Canady

Rick Williams – Founder and Managing Director of Williams Advisory Partners and Author of Create the Future: Powerful Decision-Making Tools for Your Company and Yourself
Rick Williams serves on the board of directors of technology companies usually in the B to B space. He has been board chair for a medical device company—Point Care Technology—with worldwide sales and served as COO and board member of a med therapy company with operations in the US and India. He is on the board of an exciting med tech company—Amorphex Therapeutics—with a drug delivery technology that will replace eye drops for the long-term treatment of glaucoma and other eye diseases. He was also on the board of an early-stage fin-tech company—FairWay Financial US—that promises to dramatically improve the market efficiency of the sale of first issue municipal bonds and other securities. Previously he was board chair of what is now named the Growth Capital Corporation—a Massachusetts-based quasi-public bank and VC firm. Rick was a founding Partner of the Newport, LLC, board advisory practice in New England. For ten years, he was a management consultant with the global consulting firm Arthur D. Little, Inc. based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At ADL, Rick lead client assignments on business strategy and acquisitions and directed large cases on the economic and strategic impact of government policy and regulations on process industries such as chemicals and oil and gas and on innovation broadly. After ADL, Rick founded and was President of The Equity Company, an award-winning multifamily real estate investment and development company. He was elected President of the Harvard Business School Association of Boston. Rick started his career with Itek Corp. developing space and defense related photo & electro/optical systems and published peer-reviewed research on optical system performance. He is a physics graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.Bill Canady – 2x Billion in Sales CEO and Author of From Panic to Profit: Uncover Value, Boost Revenue, and Grow Your Business with the 80/20 Principle
Bill Canady has over 30 years of experience as a global business executive in a variety of industries and markets focused on industrial and consumer products and services. As a leader, he concentrates on aligning with key stakeholders to set a clear and compelling vision that will rally an organization to drive growth, control cost, and increase profitability. One of the keys to his success is he develops strong leaders and management teams and establishes deep relationships. His experience encompasses global public, private, and sponsor owned companies. Bill is the CEO of both OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products (AEP). OTC is an industrial distribution company located in Columbus, OH, that has $1 billion in sales with 1,900+ employees and over 60 sales/distribution offices in 40 states. During his tenure, OTC has grown revenues by more than 43% and earnings over 78%. AEP is a leading supplier of non-discretionary, mission- critical, aftermarket replacement parts for a wide variety of motorized vehicles and equipment headquartered in Blaine, MN, and has $1.5 billion in sales with 3600+ employees and sell in over 50 countries. During his career, Bill has been responsible for leading several organizations through their most important challenges and opportunities, often in complicated regulatory, investor, and media environments. He discovered a passion and knack for the art and science of business. Taking the tools and techniques that he developed growing multibillion dollar companies, he created the Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS) and set out to help owners and operators around the world profitably grow their companies. PGOS is a time-tested set of simple tools and process that fosters a common culture creating value for all stakeholders: customers, employees, suppliers, and shareholders. PGOS shows how to increase the productivity of assets, increase profits, and make better decisions at every level of a business. Bill graduated summa cum laude from Elmhurst University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and received his MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. He is a veteran of the United States Navy.