School for Startups Radio

August 26, 2024 – Tech Econ Dev for Cities Julie Huls and Business on the Edge Emily Block

Julie Huls – Founder and CEO of Waymaker Group
Julie Huls is the founder and CEO of Waymaker Group, a full-service technology-based economic development (TBED) firm focused on jumpstarting innovation ecosystems in emerging cities. Julie has a nuanced understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing the recently designated Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) as they aim to transform into globally competitive centers within a decade. Before starting Waymaker Group, Julie served as President and CEO of the Austin Technology Council, an association that represents 300 Central Texas technology companies and their executives and $29 billion in annual regional economic impact. She’s also served as the CEO of the DoSeum, a STEM foundation for kids 0-12, President and Founder of TalkMedia a public relations agency, and in executive functions for real estate ventures nationwide.Dr. Emily S. Block – Professor at the University of Alberta School of Business and Business on the Edge: How to Turn a Profit and Improve Lives in the World’s Toughest Places
Dr. Emily S. Block is the George M. Cormie Chair of Management at the University of Alberta School of Business. A former consultant for Accenture, Block now teaches negotiations and decision-making and runs the university’s Business on the Frontlines program. I’m reaching out about (Basic Books; on sale: 7/16/24) by business professors Viva Ona Bartkus and Emily Block which is based on their groundbreaking Business on the Frontlines MBA course, founded at the University of Notre Dame and named one of the “10 most innovative courses in the US” by Forbes. In this new book, they show how doing business in the world’s frontline regions—areas stuck in cycles of violence and extreme poverty—can provide the foundations for peace and prosperity and expand opportunities for communities and corporations alike. BUSINESS ON THE EDGE establishes the enormous growth potential of frontline regions (which represent $20 trillion in economic activity) and draws on their 15 years of real-world experience running business projects some of the most challenging environments around the world.

August 23, 2024 – Time-Tested Leadership Willie Pietersen and Squirrel’s Tech Radar Douglas Squirrel

Willie Pietersen – MultiBillion Dollar Brand CEO, Columbia B-School Professor and Author of Leadership—The Inside Story: Time-Tested Prescriptions for Those Who Seek To Lead 
Everything we do as leaders has got symbolic fallout. We need to be veryintentional about our behaviors so that others can respond accordingly.  
Willie Pietersen was raised in South Africa and received a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. After practicing law, he embarked on an international business career. Over a period of twenty years, he served as the CEO of multibillion-dollar businesses such as Lever Brothers Foods Division, Seagram USA, Tropicana and Sterling Winthrop’s Consumer Health Group. In 1998, Willie was named Professor of the Practice of Management at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He specializes in strategy and the leadership of change, and his methods and ideas, especially Strategic Learning, are widely applied within Columbia’s executive education programs, and also in numerous corporations. He has served as a teacher and advisor to many global companies, including Aviva, Bausch & Lomb, Boeing, Chubb Corp., Deloitte, DePuy, Electrolux, Ericsson, ExxonMobil, Henry Schein, Inc., Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Novartis, Salt River Project, SAP, UGI, United Nations Federal Credit Union and also the Girl Scouts of the USA.Douglas Squirrel – Founder of Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter douglassquirrel and squirrelsquardron. 
You should be practicing your own conversations. If we did that, we couldmake an awful lot more money out of our technology people.
Douglas Squirrel has been coding for forty years and has led software teams for twenty. He uses the power of conversations to create dramatic productivity gains in technology organizations of all sizes. His experience includes growing software teams as a CTO in startups from fintech to biotech to music, and everything in between; consulting on product improvement at over 200 organizations in the UK, US, Australia, Africa, and Europe; and coaching a wide variety of leaders in improving their conversations, aligning to business goals, and creating productive conflict. He lives in Frogholt, England, in a timber-framed cottage built in the year 1450. He is the author of Squirrel’s Tech Radar, Decoding Tech Talk, and Agile Conversations: Transform Your Conversations, Transform Your Culture, co-authored with Jeffrey Fredrick.

August 22, 2024 – IBM at US Open Kristi Kolski, She Rises Up Maureen Tusty and Strauss Naturals Wayne Elliott

Kristi Kolski – Program Director for IBM Sports & Entertainment
Kristi Kolski is the Program Director for IBM Sports & Entertainment, where she leads marketing strategy and campaign development for US Open Tennis, Pebble Beach Golf, GRAMMY Awards, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and Mercedes-Benz Stadium partnerships. With more than 15 years B2B marketing experience, Kristi is passionate about the intersection of sports, entertainment and technology to enhance the fan experience, drive client engagement and grow IBM business opportunities. Previously, Kristi was the Global Marketing Lead for IBM Research, where she developed the brand strategy and identity for the IBM Watson computer that successfully competed and won on Jeopardy! in 2011. Her prior roles include advertising, social media and experiential marketing. Originally from Miami, Florida, Kristi received her BA from the University of Notre Dame and her MBA from New York University Stern School of BusinessMaureen (Mo) Tusty – Co-Owner and Creative Director and Film Director for Sky Films Inc. and Director of She Rises Up 
Maureen (Mo) Castle Tusty is co-owner and the primary creative director and film director for Sky Films Inc., producing documentary films that inform, uplift and inspire. She was co-filmmaker with her husband/partner, James Tusty, on The Singing Revolution, which was released theatrically in over 100 North American markets.  The New York Times declared the film a coveted “Critic’s Choice” and wrote “Imagine the scene in Casablanca in which the French patrons sing La Marseillaise in defiance of the Germans, then multiply its power by a factor of thousands, and you’ve only begun to imagine the force of The Singing Revolution.”  The Singing Revolution told the little-known story of how the country of Estonia played a critical role in the collapse of the Soviet Union by using singing as a weapon of resistance. Subsequent documentaries include India Awakes, To Breathe As One, Sweden: Lessons for America, Trailblazers: The New Zealand Story, and Corporate Welfare: Where’s the Outrage? Maureen has specialized in international productions throughout her career, taking her to over 50 countries around the world.  It’s that experience that allows her to direct compelling films that take place in many remote corners of the world; sharing stories and voices that might not otherwise be heard. Her most recent project is She Rises Up, a feature documentary that follows the remarkable journeys of three women who are working to lift their communities out of poverty through the local businesses they are fighting to maintain; coming to theaters this summer. Follow their journey at SheRisesUpFilm.comWayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.

August 21, 2024 – Rockin’ the Kremlin David Junk and Fastest Growing Media Buyer Josy Amann

David Junk – First CEO of Universal Music and Author of Rockin’ the Kremlin: My Incredible True Story of Gangsters, Oligarchs, and Pop Stars in Putin’s Russia
The biggest challenge for us at Universal was that the Russian mafiacontrolled 90% of the music business in Russia. They produced millionsof counterfeit compact discs and DVD’s and the money they wouldmake from selling counterfeits would fund terrorism.
David Junk was one of the first idealistic young Americans to move to Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union, to live, work and build a cultural bridge between former superpower enemies. He eventually became the first CEO of Universal Music, based in Moscow. For a decade, he promoted international artists in Russia, including such huge names as Elton John, U2, Sting, and Bon Jovi. He introduced hip-hop music to Russian youth. David also discovered and signed multiple Russian artists to Universal, including t.A.T.u, who would become the biggest-selling Russian act in music industry history. David also did some things that no other music executive in the United States has ever done. Music piracy in Russia was rampant, and the market for cheap, counterfeit compact discs was so pervasive that it threatened the legitimate Russian music industry’s ability to gain a foothold. So on behalf of Universal’s stable of artists and the Russian music industry, he participated in law enforcement raids of pirate factories and testified in court against the criminal gangs who operated them. David has been extensively interviewed about this subject on television, radio, and print and wrote an editorial about it that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. He also wrote about it for the American Chamber of Commerce and submitted written testimony to the US Congress on the topic of piracy and intellectual property rights in Russia. David is an authority on this topic because of his deep understanding of Russia. He lived and worked there for fifteen years, and raised a family in Moscow. In addition to starting the record label in Moscow, David opened the first showroom in Russia for the iconic American brand Gibson Guitars. David has extensive knowledge of Russian-Ukrainian relations, having opened the first Universal Music office in Kyiv and having developed music reality shows for Ukrainian TV.
Josy Amann – Co founder and Managing Partner of Media Matters Worldwide 
We have not seen the same inflation in media prices that you see in thegrocery store. We do not feel like we are managing higher costs, and Ithink costs in general have come down. Costs for a TV spot had to comedown with the diversification of the audience and viewership. Prices havecome down over time but stabilized.
Josy Amann is a savvy strategist and inspirational leader who has spent over 20 years as a trusted advisor to established global marketers and dynamic challenger brands. With co-founding partner Taji Zaminasil, Josy leads Media Matters Worldwide (MMWW), one of the fastest-growing independent media agencies in the U.S. Josy and Taji’s philosophy is that a holistic view of media helps clients bridge the gap between traditional and digital media, supporting the story with analytics. With a 90% employee retention rate, MMWW works with some of the largest companies in the B2B and B2C landscape, such as Alteryx, Chime, Hitachi, Mountain Hardwear, Poly, Proactiv, SAP, Shipt, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Designed as an agile agency ready to take on clients’ most complex challenges, Josy and Taji founded the company in 2005 to be “office free.” Free of tough commutes and long agency hours, the experienced team brings their independent spirit and limitless curiosity to every client engagement. Before founding MMWW, Josy began her career at the large holding company agencies (McCann, Lowe, Y&R, Carat), working on large brands like Sun Microsystems, Oral-B, Eddie Bauer, Turning Leaf Wines, and Microsoft.

August 20, 2024 – Quick 10 Suzanne Sarsfield Scarano and Environmental Entrepreneur Wayne Elliott

uzanne Sarsfield Scarano – Founder and CEO of Forethought Marketing
Question 5: Best way to get your first real customer is?
Do it for the passion, not the profit!
Suzanne Sarsfield Scarano’s journey is a testament to visionary entrepreneurship and innovative business practices. She founded Forethought Marketing in 2009 with a bold mission to redefine traditional marketing. Her approach has not only set new industry standards but also demonstrated how authenticity and strategic alignment can drive success. Suzanne’s Forethought MAGIC (Marketing Alignment Goal Implementing Collaboration) sessions have transformed how businesses align their C-Suite teams, fostering cohesive and effective leadership. Suzanne’s engaging storytelling and practical advice will captivate your listeners and provide them with tangible strategies to implement in their own businesses. Her passion for creating value and connection makes her an ideal guest for your podcast.Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Everything connects between us and nature. Everything connects notonly in our bodies, but in nature. There is a reason for everything. Asan environmentalist, that idea closed the loop for me.
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.

August 19, 2024 - Voltcore Vlad Batkhin and Miami Restauranteur Brian Parenteau

Vlad Batkhin – Founder and CEO of Voltcore – Green Efficient Heating
At Voltcore, we fight climate change by economizing energy and CO2emissions in heating applications. Heating is responsible for about 40percent of CO2 emissions, so it is essential to reduce it. Households areresponsible for about half of CO2 emissions related to heating.
Vlad Batkhin is the Founder and CEO of Voltcore, an innovative climate-tech start-up based in Luxembourg. Vlad Batkhin has over 15 years of expertise in business development and executing complex new-tech capital projects in the chemical industry, Vlad is a pioneering force in green technology. At Voltcore, we have developed and implemented revolutionary heated polymer filament technology, which significantly reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Having been born to mathematician and physicist parents, Vlad admits his path is similar. With a background in petrochemical companies, he saw the potential in polymer nanocomposites. He decided he wanted to focus on them to help reduce the ecological footprint in the heating industry. The synthetic, ultra-thin polymer wire the company produces offers a vast range of possibilities, for use in EV batteries to smart home technologies and more. With EVs, for instance, Batkhin says the material can help protect lithium batteries from discharging. “You need to charge the battery in the proper temperature conditions, otherwise it’ll degrade very quickly,” he explains. “And if you dive deeper, 40-60% of CO2 emissions related to EV manufacturing is related to batteries.” Because the wire can be made lightweight and flexible, it’s also possible to weave it into fabrics, making outdoor and athleticwear companies, for instance, potential clients. But for now, Batkhin’s primary focus is on heating, particularly in industry. The company claims the material can reduce energy consumption by two to eight times, thereby setting a new standard for eco-friendly heating solutions. Certification, however, “takes some time”. Additionally, Batkhin explains, Voltcore is in the process of applying for patents along its entire value chain, though sifting through and analysing existing patents can be time-consuming and costly. With the seed money Voltcore has received, Batkhin hopes to have a pilot plant set up in Foetz by end-2024, which he admits is ambitious. The plant would serve two objectives. “First, we need to reach proper TRL [technology readiness level] to go with the first-of-a-kind, scaled plant. And second, I believe we will learn lots of things about scaling and also use the plant for some R&D objectives.” He hopes that the first sales will start this year as well. And, if all goes to plan, he envisions that by Q3 2025, there will be a new round of fundraising to scale up and increase production volumes based on lessons learned from the pilot plant.Brian Parenteau – 4 Restaurant Brand Visionary behind Bar Tulio’s – Bootstrapping a Restaurant Brand
I was working in the hospitality industry as a manager and a bartender.I was pooling my resources and saving a lot of money, living well belowmy means. On my first concept, I gathered together four partners plusmyself and we pitched in and we took out a tiny loan and that propelled us.
Brian Parenteau is an accomplished entrepreneur and visionary leader who continues to redefine the landscape of the restaurant and hospitality industry in South Florida. With a remarkably creative new business development spirit, Brian consistently achieves success through his innovative approach and strong leadership skills, His journey in the hospitality industry began over two decades ago as a bar back in a South Beach nightclub. From there, he quickly rose through the ranks to become a bartender, discovering a hidden passion within that lasted for years, as he continued to excel in the role. However, after feeling burnt out from working late nights and weekends, Brian took a break to become a licensed mortgage broker. Though successful, he realized that the desk-bound corporate life was not fulfilling his true calling. Ready to reenter the hospitality industry, Brian went out on his own, opening a banquet hall, offering freelance bartending and party planning services for special events. This experience reignited his love for the hospitality field but left him yearning for a deeper sense of purpose, which led him to his next long-term position, as head bartender at Big City Tavern on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale. It was during this nine-year transformative period at Big City Tavern that Brian met his current business partner, Doulas Herbst, and truly honed his industry skills. Brian attributes the long experience to being instrumental in refining his abilities and allowing him to gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of running a successful bar. His dedication and adaptability allowed him to scale the ladder of success until he opened the doors of his own establishment, DrYnk Bar & Lounge, a few years later, in Wilton Manors. Aside from DrYnk Bar & Lounge, Brian is the founder and owner of three other restaurant and bar concepts including: Tulio’s Tacos & Tequila Bar, and Patio Bar & Pizza – both located in Fort Lauderdale; and he has recently added a new venture, Bar Tulio’s, in Miami’s Wynwood district. Under his leadership, each concept has emerged as a top destination known for exceptional service, innovative cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere. Aside from his success as a restaurateur, Brian has been recognized for his exceptional leadership and business acumen. His insights and expertise have been featured in prestigious publications such as Forbes People and The CIO Today, where he has been celebrated as a driving force behind the success of his ventures. With an insatiable passion for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the hospitality realm, Brian Parenteau continues to redefine the industry, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and palates of patrons around the world.

August 16, 2024 - Corporate Due Diligence & Investigations Cynthia Hetherington and Corporate Real Estate Expert Joe Brady

Cynthia Hetherington – Founder of The Hetherington Group  and Author of Osint: The Authoritative Guide to Due Diligence
You have control of the digital footprint you put out there. We provide digitalvulnerability assessments with us finding everything about you. We build adossier that tells everything about you. You should know everything that wefind. But we also start connecting you with your behavior and profile and whatyou are reading out there. We know you go to Pilates on Tuesday and yourkids are at which school. We know you’re going on vacation next week. Weknow where you just were. We know the conditions of your car. We knowwhat your house looks like including inside.
Cynthia Hetherington, MLS, MSM, CFE, CII, OSC is the Founder and CEO of Hetherington Group, a consulting, publishing, managed services, and training firm that leads in due diligence, corporate intelligence, and cyber investigations. Throughout her career, she has assisted clients on thousands of cases using online open sources and databases as well as executing boots-on-the-ground operations. She provides specialized training for investigative professionals through the OSINT Academy, and has authored many industry-leading books on conducting cyber investigations, including her latest, OSINT: The Authoritative Guide to Due Diligence: Essential Resources for Critical Business Intelligence, 3rd Edition.Joe Brady – Corporate Real Estate Expert and Author of Work Shop: The consumer-driven transformation of Commercial Real Estate
The office is not dead. But the use of the office must change. In orderfor a leader to assemble people in a physical office, there needs to bepurposeful presence, not passive attendance. On site, or in office, needsto be the new off site.
Joe Brady is an international corporate real estate expert who had a front-row seat to the evolution of retail, from brick and mortar to omnichannel, and is now seeing the same forces at play in office real estate. He has led real estate for Walgreens and scaled The Instant Group across the Americas while writing, speaking, and advising on the impact of accelerating technology, changing consumer behavior, and implications for consumer real estate. As the former CEO-Americas of The Instant Group and former head of real estate for Walgreens, Brady understands the intricacies of accelerating technology driving changing consumer behavior which ultimately impacts real estate. Former CEO – Americas, Real Estate, The Instant Group, New York, United States Joe Brady is a highly experienced, C-Level professional in the commercial real estate industry. Brady focuses on the intersection of accelerating technology, change in consumer behavior and the built environment. Joe Brady served as the CEO – Americas for The Instant Group, leading the company’s growth through the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent Future of Work period in both North and South America. Instant is the global leading platform for flexible office space with consulting and development disciplines. Prior to The Instant Group, Brady was the head of real estate for Walgreens, managing a vast 150 million square feet portfolio with an annual budget exceeding $4 billion. This role gave him in-depth experience in managing high-volume retail environments and implementing strategies for efficiency and growth. Earlier in his career, Brady held senior positions at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), one of the world’s leading professional services firms specializing in real estate and investment management. He was also a founder and partner of The Standard Group, a company that was later acquired by JLL in 2008. Over his 35-year career, Brady has become a thought leader in the real estate industry. He is a prolific writer and speaker, often sharing his insights on the Future of Work and its implications for communities and retail. Brady serves as a Global Trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and CoreNet, reflecting his commitment to sharing knowledge and shaping the future of the real estate sector.

August 15, 2024 - Directional Investing James Pinkerton and Environmental Entrepreneur Wayne Elliott

James Pinkerton – Former White House Advisor for 2 Presidents and Author of The Secret of Directional Investing: Making Money Amidst the Red-Blue Rumble
The trend is your friend. The direction is your friend. So, if you can figureout the direction of a market, you will do better. Within that, you can dividedirection into two categories, those directions that can be spotted and thosethat can be shaped. An example of a direction that can be spotted is the redblue rumble. The other category is trends that can be shaped. The UnitedStates decided it wanted railroads in the 19th century and so the countryplaced policies that led to the construction of 215,000 miles of railroad. Itwas a good time to be in the railroad business.
Jim Pinkerton worked in the Domestic Policy Office at the White House under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and in their 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992 presidential campaigns. In 2008, he served as a senior adviser to Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign. From 1996–2016, he was a Contributor to the Fox News Channel. From 1993–2007, he wrote a twice-a-week column for Newsday, covering everything from presidential elections to the Iraq War. Pinkerton writes regularly for Breitbart, The American Conservative, and The Daily Caller and has written for publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, The Los Angeles Times, The National Interest, USA Today, National Review, The New Republic, Foreign Affairs, Fortune, The Huffington Post, US News & World Report, The Washington Examiner, The Guardian, and The Jerusalem Post.Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
We have recycled about 200 ships or between a half a milliontons and 3/4 of a million tons of metal. The biggest ship thatwe broke was10,000 tons, a lake freighter.
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.

August 14, 2024 - Gritty In Pink (Female Upwork) Shira Yevin and Construction Technology Chris Callen

Shira Yevin – Punk Musician and Founder of Gritty in Pink and INPINK Marketplace 
Women make 50% less on digital platforms like Fiverr and it is becausethey are underpricing their services. There is a confidence gap when itcomes to women pricing their services, maybe not having that network.We are developing an AI powered pay scale that we are excited about.We are trying to use technology to close some of these gaps.
Shira Yevin’s innovative startup, Gritty In Pink, and its INPINK Marketplace would make for a compelling interview that aligns perfectly with your focus on transformative business ventures. Shira is a true maverick in the music industry, burst onto the scene by commandeering the Vans Warped Tour in a vibrant pink RV, a daring act of protest against the industry’s gender imbalance. This audacious move led to the birth of the Shiragirl Stage, which spotlighted over 300 female-led bands, including Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Paramore. It earned a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Warped Tour exhibit. Today, Gritty In Pink stands as a formidable force for gender equity, with INPINK at its heart—a groundbreaking marketplace that has empowered over 3,300 artists and facilitated transactions exceeding $300,000 to date. Strategic alliances with Live Nation Women and TuneCore have further amplified these impressive figures. With a $1 million seed fund on the verge of closing, INPINK is poised to become a transformative force across industries, offering a blueprint for intersectional equity and representation. 
Chris Callen – Founder of PLOT – Construction Technology 
Let the market tell you what they want and for them to tell you what theywant, they have to see it. They have to at least touch it and say, ‘I needmore of this’ and ‘I don’t necessarily care about this.’
Born into a construction family – both of his parents were full-time employees of a concrete contractor – Chris Callen took a different career path: technology. After he completed his studies in Business Information Systems, he worked for a brief time in corporate technology. He then went back home to lead the same construction firm where his parents worked. While pursuing the available software for construction teams, Chris founded Grit Virtual, his first startup. Although Grit was a powerful technology, it struggled to gain adoption. Licking his wounds, Chris joined another construction technology startup before finally deciding to branch out on his own again. With Koch Brothers backing, he established another company: PLOT, Procurement and Logistics Optimization Tools. Launched in mid-2022, PLOT currently works with more than 20 leading general contractors across the nation. Chris loves to connect with contractors who have problems that are solvable with software. He also enjoys sharing his ‘failure lessons’ with anyone looking to start a software company.

August 12, 2024 - Smartest Woman on Wall Street Patricia Chadwick and Michigan Digital Brian Town

Patricia Chadwick – Former Global Partner at Invesco and Author of Breaking Glass: Tales from the Witch of Wall Street 
Once I had that first job on Wall Street as a receptionist, all my mentorswere men. They had a huge, beneficial impact on my career. For me,mentoring is such an important role to play. Not everyone will be a goodmentor, but there is no such thing as a bad mentor. They are not a mentorat all. The chemistry has to be right and when that happens you can benefit hugely.
Patricia Chadwick was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1948. She received her BA in Economics from Boston University and had a successful 30-year career in the investment business, culminating as a Global Partner at Invesco. Today, she sits on a number of corporate boards and blogs on economic, social, and political issues. Her pro-bono activities include mentoring young women in high school and college and providing strategic planning advice to not-for-profit organizations. In 2016, she co-founded Anchor Health Initiative, a healthcare company devoted to the needs of the LGBTQ community in Connecticut, and serves as the firm’s pro-bono CEO. She is the author of a previous memoir, Little Sister. A mother to twins, a daughter and a son, she lives in Connecticut with her husband John.Brian Town – Founder and CEO of Michigan Creative – First Sales from Other Incubator Participants 
We had clients in the first month. We had some good luck moving into anincubator, so we were surrounded by other companies that were in the sameboat and we sold to them.
Brian Town is an author, speaker, educator, and the founder of Michigan Creative, an award-winning branding and marketing agency specializing in web development, video, branding, and social media marketing, designed to help businesses systemize their lead generation and scale their profits. Brian works with dozens of clients as a fractional CMO, helping them scale without building out an entire marketing department so that they can stay focused on their areas of expertise and serve their clients and customers.