School for Startups Radio

June 30, 2025 - E&Y Winner & IPO Quang Pham and Thought Leadership Expert Rhea Wessel

Quang Pham – Founder and CEO of Cadrenal Therapeutics and Author of Underdog Nation: Zero In On Effort And Results For Success
Quang Pham – Founder and CEO of Cadrenal Therapeutics and Author of Underdog Nation: Zero In On Effort And Results For Success. Quang X. Pham is a biotech executive, war veteran, author, speaker and community leader with a remarkable journey shaped by resilience, service, and entrepreneurship. He made history as the first Vietnamese American to earn naval aviator’s wings in the Marine Corps and lead an initial public offering (IPO) on Nasdaq. His inspiring American underdog journey, told in first person, is unlike any other. Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, Quang and his family fled as refugees when he was 10, while his father, a Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilot, remained and was imprisoned for more than a decade. After earning a degree from UCLA, Quang served seven years on active duty, flying CH-46 helicopters in the Persian Gulf War, Somalia and in the Reserves. Following his military career, Quang transitioned into business, founding multiple pharmaceutical companies. In 2000, he launched MyDrugRep.com (which became Lathian Systems), an innovative online platform for physician marketing engagements, which was later acquired. In 2015, he founded Espero Pharmaceuticals and Jacksonville Pharmaceuticals. His leadership and entrepreneurial success earned him the Florida EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2018. Today Quang serves as Chairman and CEO, Cadrenal Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CVKD). Quang is also the author of the award-winning father-son memoir, A Sense of Duty: Our Journey from Vietnam (Penguin Random House, 2005). Committed to giving back, Quang has served on the boards of private companies, veteran charities and educational organizations. He lives Florida with his family, continuing to lead and inspire.Rhea Wessel – Writer and Founder at the The Institute for Thought Leadership and Author of Write Like a Thought Leader: How to Find a Constant Stream of Story Ideas to Position Yourself As the Go-To Expert in Your Niche
Rhea Wessel is an American writer and thought-leadership strategist who helps people grow their business by creating and publishing thought leadership. She advises and trains on ideation, messaging, AI writing and how to find and articulate your best ideas. As a journalist, she wrote thousands of stories on hundreds of topics and was published in outlets like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and BBC. As a writer for companies, she has penned and edited thousands more stories across 30 industries. Rhea founded and leads The Institute for Thought Leadership, a B2B training and consulting company that helps clients take their ideas to scale with thought-leadership publishing, research and programs. She is a columnist for Forbes.com about thought leadership in organizations.

June 27, 2025 – Rare Metals Entrepreneur Louis O’Connor and Author of 48 Books Dr. Judith Briles

Louis O’Conner – Founder of Strategic Metals Invest 
China has weaponized these rare earths economically… and withinthree to four to six months, you would see factories shutting down.
Louis O’Connor, Founder and Principal of Strategic Metals Invest, the only global supplier that enables private investors to directly own Strategic Metals—including Technology Metals, Rare Earth Metals, Green Metals, and Rare Earth Elements. With over 30 years of experience and clients in 70+ countries, Louis is at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry that’s making global headlines. China’s recent export bans on gallium and germanium, as well as geopolitical discussions on rare earths—such as Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine repay U.S. aid with critical minerals—are fueling intense competition for these essential resources. Yet, most investors remain unaware of how to access this high-value asset class. Louis is a sought-after expert in this space, having been featured on CNBC, Cashflow Ninja, and more. His insights reveal how strategic metals offer a unique hedge against inflation, a smart diversification strategy, and a crucial role in the global economy.Dr. Judith Briles – Publishing Consultant & Book Marketing Expert-Author Advocate-Speaker-known as The Book Shepherd-Founder of Authors’ Hall of Fame-Podcast Host- Author of 48 books
When you finish writing your book, you are no longer theChief Writing Officer—you become the Chief Marketing Officer.
Dr. Judith Briles, known as The Book Shepherd, is the author of 48 books and a trusted mentor to authors worldwide, helping them create and publish books they never regret. She leads a vibrant online community through her Publishing with The Book Shepherd Facebook group, where she shares daily insights and invites aspiring and established authors to ask questions, post updates, and share their “aha” moments. Her latest release in the publishing series is The Author’s Walk: Finding Your Voice to Create Publishing Success—a valuable guide for both aspiring authors and those looking to rediscover their creative spark. In the realm of fiction, Judith debuted her first novel in 2023 with The Secret Journey, co-authored with Brian Barnes. It is the first installment of a historical fiction trilogy, followed by The Secret Hamlet in 2024 and The Secret Rise, set to release in May 2025. Judith’s powerful memoir, When God Says NO: Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present, was released in 2021 and has since earned 15 national book awards, including Best Cover. Expanding her repertoire, she became a cookbook author in 2025 with Cooking with Judith—a collection of easy-peasy recipes designed for WOWlicious eating. Her books have been published in 17 countries and have generated over $500,000 in combined book sales and speaking fees. She has personally earned over 55 national book awards, with each of her books in the past decade achieving #1 New Release status and topping various category charts. Authors she has guided have collectively won over 500 book awards, a testament to her impact and expertise in the publishing world.

June 25, 2025 – Incredible Environmental Entrepreneur Dr. Steve Mayfield and Famous Screenwriter Turns Author Michael Lucker

Dr. Stephen Mayfield – CEO of Algenesis Materials and Former Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology at UCSD – CEO of Blue View Footwear
If not us, who? If not now, when? If we’re not the onesthinking about these problems, who’s going to?
Dr. Stephen Mayfield is the founder and CEO of Algenesis Materials, a company on a mission to reduce plastic pollution on the planet.  Steve was previously a Distinguished Professor of Biology and the Director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology, at the University of California, San Diego. His research career focuses on the molecular genetics of green algae, and on the production of bio-products using algae as a production platform, especially bio-polymers.  Steve received BS degrees in Biochemistry and Plant Biology from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from UC Berkeley.  Following a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Geneva Switzerland he returned to California as an assistant professor at the Scripps Research Institute where he remained for 22 years becoming the Dean of Biology before joining UC San Diego in 2009.  In addition to running his research group and university research centers, Steve also founded Rincon Pharmaceutical in 2005, Sapphire Energy in 2007, Triton Health and Nutrition in 2013, and Algenesis Materials in 2016.Michael Lucker – Founder of ScreenwriterSchool and Author of Rule One
I wanted doctors to know what it was like to be in our shoes whenwe come to them in pain, and I was hoping that this book wouldremind them of the number one rule of health care — which is,of course, the Hippocratic Oath: do no harm.
Michael Lucker is a writer, director and producer with twenty years experience creating film, television, animation and digital media. He began his career writing and directing television commercials and working in production on series and specials for ABC, NBC, CBS and HBO. He was an assistant to Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment on feature films Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, Arachnophobia, Joe Vs. The Volcano, Always, Back To The Future II & III and Jurassic Park. He went onto serve in creative affairs at Hollywood Pictures where he worked on such movies as Crimson Tide, Terminal Velocity, Taking Care of Business and Straight Talk. Michael then embarked on a career as a screenwriter, helping pen more than twenty feature screenplays for Paramount, Disney, DreamWorks, Fox and Universal, including Vampire In Brooklyn, Home On The Range, Good Intentions and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002 as best animated feature. He also served as screenwriter on the animated sequels to Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, Emperor’s New Groove and 101 Dalmatians. He recently launched his own production company, Lucky Dog Filmworks, which now serves as his home for creating film, television and commercial content. A renowned instructor in screenwriting, Michael has lectured at Georgia State University, Morehouse College, Clark University, Savannah College of Art & Design, Art Institute of Atlanta, The Creative Circus, University of South Florida, Boston University and various writing organizations throughout the south. He presently serves as screenwriter mentor to the Atlanta Film Festival, founder of Screenwriter School, advisor to Emory Continuing Education’s Certificate of Screenwriting Program and professor of screenwriting in the esteemed Creative Writing Program at Emory University.

June 23, 2025 – Move to Millions Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon and Wikipedia Strategist Joshua Leach

Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon – CEO at Incredible One Enterprises & Author of Move to Millions: The Proven Framework to Become a Million Dollar CEO with Grace & Ease Instead of Hustle & Grind
Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon is an unstoppable force in business and personal growth, with an extraordinary story. Fifteen years ago, she was bankrupt. Today, she has built an 8-figure empire, helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses with ease. She is living proof that adversity can fuel success — equipped with powerful strategies and a track record that includes features in Forbes, TEDx, NBC, Fox News, and The Oprah Magazine, to name a few. Dr. Darnyelle is more than just a business expert — she’s an award-winning Inc. 5000 CEO, disruptor, innovator, and prolific thought leader whose insights inspire immediate action. As the iconic and incomparable CEO of Incredible One Enterprises, LLC, a multi-million-dollar coaching and consulting brand, she is best known for transforming the lives of her clients and live event attendees. She equips entrepreneurs to build businesses that serve them both financially and spiritually. In fact, over the last 10 years, her clients have generated more than $500 million in sales and over $365 million in revenue using her proven strategies. Through her award-winning Move to Millions® Method, Darnyelle helps business owners grow from six-figure years to six-figure quarters, months, weeks — and ultimately, six-figure days — all while deepening their connection to God and strengthening their faith. She is a 7-time best-selling author, the creator of five powerful business systems, and the host of The MOVE to Millions Podcast with Dr. Darnyelle J. Harmon. In 2023, she unveiled the book she was born to write: Move to Millions®.Joshua Leach – Wikipedia Strategist at Beutler Ink
Joshua Leach is a Wikipedia Strategist at Beutler Ink, where he guides clients through the complexities of creating Wikipedia articles and updating existing ones. He is the co-author of WikiWise, Beutler Ink’s newsletter about all things Wikipedia. An award-winning journalist, he holds a master’s degree in the craft and brings that rigor to each project he works on. One of the world’s biggest nerds, when Josh isn’t writing Wikipedia articles for pay, he’s probably doing it for fun. As a volunteer, he has written two of Wikipedia’s Featured articles and edited thousands more. When he’s not editing the world’s largest encyclopedia, Josh can be found covering high school sports as a freelance journalist or writing campaigns and scenarios for Monster of the Week and other tabletop roleplaying games.

SFS Minute 729: Lead Magnet

The things you need to do to start a new business and this week we are focusing on a marketing project that you need to start. Surprisingly soon.
I believe email marketing is one of the most effective strategies available. These are people who have visited your website and made the decision to follow what you're doing — which means they’re already interested and engaged. As a result, this group typically has a high retention rate and a strong likelihood of making a purchase. To take advantage of this, we need to start capturing email addresses. The best way to do that is by offering something of value in return — what's commonly known as a lead magnet. This could be a white paper, an eBook, or another useful resource that encourages visitors to subscribe.

June 20, 2025 – Data Entrepreneur Sylvain Josserand and Sales Revolution Ingrid Maynard

Sylvain Josserand – Co-founder at Parseur
Sylvain Josserand is a seasoned technology expert and co-founder of Parseur, which transforms data processing by enabling companies worldwide to streamline workflows and prioritize their core business objectives. Sylvain blends technical innovation with entrepreneurial vision, backed by more than two decades of experience in software development, cloud solutions, and strategic leadership. Parseur is a tool for setting up an automated processing chain for your data. Companies around the world have been able to get rid of their thankless, low-value-added tasks by entrusting them to Parseur, to concentrate on the core of their business.Ingrid Maynard – Founder of The Sales Doctor and Author of The Sales Revolution: Helping leaders unlock the future of sales
Ingrid Maynard is the founder of The Sales Doctor, with over 25 years of experience helping businesses transform their sales performance. She has worked with iconic Australian and New Zealand brands, equipping their teams with the tools and strategies needed to excel in competitive markets. Ingrid is a dynamic speaker featured on platforms like Sky Business and Ticker News, and her insights have been published in outlets such as CEO World, the Daily Telegraph, and the Herald Sun. Her approach focuses on driving customer-centric, commercially savvy cultures that create lasting success for businesses. She has worked with iconic Australian and New Zealand brands, equipping their teams with the tools and strategies needed to excel in competitive markets. Ingrid is a dynamic speaker and sought-after media commentator, regularly asked to contribute to leading publications. Her approach focuses on driving customer-centric, commercially savvy cultures that create lasting success for businesses. The Sales Revolution is her first book.

June 18, 2025 – Reframe App to Drink Less Vedant Pradeep and First Female VP’s 8 Tips for Females in Tech Dagnija “Daggie” Lacis

Vedant Pradeep – CEO/Co-Founder of Reframe App
Vedant Pradeep is the CEO and Co-Founder of Reframe, an app designed to help people become the best versions of themselves. Reframe is a neuroscience-based habit change program focused on helping individuals transform their relationship with alcohol—whether that means cutting back or choosing complete abstinence. At its core, Reframe recognizes that there’s no single “right” way to drink less. The journey toward a healthier relationship with alcohol is deeply personal and unique to each individual. Reframe equips users with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions about alcohol, empowering them to lead lives—whether with or without alcohol—that feel fulfilling and aligned with their goals. Developed in collaboration with leading experts from Emory and Harvard Universities, as well as our in-house scientific team and hundreds of industry specialists, Reframe offers the most effective alcohol reduction program available today. We believe in science, not stigma. Research, not rules. And everything we do is designed to help you thrive.Dagnija “Daggie” Lacis – First Female Vice President at Burroughs Corporation and Author of The Wall Falls, a Woman Rises, a Memoir: How a U.S. Tech Entrepreneur Broke the Glass Ceiling and Helped Modernize Latvia
In 1950, at age seven, Dagnija Lacis came to America with her parents as a refugee from Communist-ruled Latvia. How did it happen that the Prime Minister of newly freed Latvia would invite Dagnija back to her homeland in 1990 as the first official visitor from the West? THE WALL FALLS, A WOMAN RISES, A Memoir: How a U. S. Tech Entrepreneur Broke the Glass Ceiling and Helped Modernize Latvia  is the story of this trailblazer, Dagnija Lacis: The first woman programmer at the Burroughs Corporation, the second-largest IT company in the world at the time. The first female line vice president at Burroughs Corporation was in 1984 when most men did not want or expect a woman as their boss. A refugee who fled Latvia in her mother’s arms in 1944 as the Communists took over and went on to become a leading IT executive. In 1990, she returned to her homeland at the request of the newly freed country’s prime minister. She brought with her technology experts, systems, and training that helped prepare Latvia for early acceptance into NATO and the EU following its independence. The entrepreneur who launched an international technology company in 1991 was one of the first to employ remote workers—several years before the World Wide Web was available. A woman on the front lines, experiencing THREE major world events Dagnija Lacis shares her insights and strategic thinking as she recounts her journey of breaking through the glass ceilings in the male-dominated IT industry. She tells how she introduced the most advanced IT systems to her newly liberated homeland, Latvia, enabling the country to engage in business with the West. Her memoir features over 150 photographs and illustrates how Dagnija and her team utilized strategy, intelligence, energy, expertise, and passion to modernize Latvia’s technology. Additionally, it details her experience launching her own international IT company in 1991. Dagnija (also known as “Daggie”) was only a year old in 1944 when her parents fled their beloved Latvia, driven by fear of being sent to Siberia by the advancing Russian Communist forces. After spending five years in a displaced persons camp in Germany, her family was offered a home in Indianapolis, Indiana, sponsored by a local Lutheran congregation. Though she started school without knowing a word of English, young Daggie quickly caught up to her peers and stood out for her proficiency with numbers. In 1960, long before there were girls in STEM, she won a scholarship to Butler University, where she studied math and chemistry. Later that year, on her birthday—April 13, 1960—she became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. Upon graduating cum laude from Butler in June of 1964, Dagnija crashed her first glass ceiling: she began her career in computers as the first woman programmer at the Burroughs Corporation, then the second-largest IT company worldwide. After nearly 20 years of holding her own with “the boys” (at a time in corporate America when many men didn’t want or respect women as bosses), Daggie broke a second glass ceiling: she became the company’s first woman line VP. Dagnija had only returned to Latvia once, in 1978, when she traveled with her husband, Andris, and his elderly father, who wanted to see his sisters one last time. She was distressed by the poor state of Latvia’s business communications. Would Latvia remain battered and backward after decades of Communist rule? A year after the Berlin Wall fell, the newly elected prime minister and foreign minister invited Dagnija back to Latvia, the beloved homeland she had fled as a child, with a mission: to bring modern technology to the foreign ministry. This marked the beginning of Dagnija’s efforts to modernize Latvia, enabling it to establish connections and do business with the West. In THE WALL FALLS, A WOMAN RISES, Dagnija recalls the hurdles launching her own international technology company, Baltic Technology Group, in 1991—which, at 81 years old, this entrepreneur continues to participate in running today. Dagnija’s message was and is: “Stick to your goals. When confronted with obstacles, don’t give up. Find another path forward!” In her memoir, Dagnija Lacis also reveals: What it was like to be on the front lines living through THREE major world events: the women’s movement, women’s involvement in programming and IT management, and the transition from communism to capitalism. Her challenges and opportunities as the first female programmer at Burroughs Corp in 1964. How she navigated and gained traction and responsibilities in a male-dominated industry long before the women’s movement. The efforts and accomplishments that led to her being named Burrough’s first woman line VP in 1984. The strategies, challenges, and triumphs behind modernizing Latvia after the fall of the Berlin Wall. What it was like to be the only female among males during the 1970s and 1980s as she was promoted from one position to another—technical manager, branch sales manager, marketing director, and vice president—and the difficulties that sometimes arose from that experience. The challenges and solutions as Dagnija created one of the first companies with REMOTE employees in the late nineties. The author also offers behind-the-scenes accounts of her extraordinary achievement in demonstrating to Latvia how a Western country operates, which played a significant role in Latvia gaining acceptance into the EU and NATO as quickly as it did after gaining independence.

June 16, 2025 – Digital Disruption Leadership Mike Peterson and AI SEO Jordan Whelan

Mike Peterson – Founder & Managing Partner of Apex Consulting Partners and Author of Leading in the Age of Digital Disruption: Building Resilient, High-Performing Teams in a Rapidly Changing World
Mike Peterson, author of LEADING IN THE AGE OF DIGITAL DISRUPTION, is the founder and managing partner of Apex Consulting Partners LLC. With nearly two decades of experience in HR and IT, he has held global positions at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Zogenix Inc., UCB, and Structure Therapeutics. Mike is a meticulous and versatile professional known for notable leadership capabilities, reliability, and dedication to high-quality work standards. Mike has a focus and interest in enhancing workforce performance and workflow efficiency within HR & IT-related roles and responsibilities across North America, Europe, and Asia. Mike possesses broad HR and IT experience with a proven track record in organizational change, workforce data analytics, and acquisition integration. His professional career includes being the Head of HR & IT at two global pharmaceutical companies and has practiced HR & IT in over 17 different countries around the world.Jordan Whelan – Founder & President of Grey Smoke Media
Jordan Whelan is the founder of Grey Smoke Media. With a background as a TV and radio producer and a publicist, he has managed over $3 billion in class action claims communications. He spent a decade mastering media buying (managing over $50 million in spend) and digital marketing, achieving the proverbial 10,000 hours of practice. Under his leadership, Grey Smoke Media helped Diamond and Diamond Lawyers grow from a small practice to Canada’s top injury and real estate law firm. Before rebranding Grey Smoke Media as a legal marketing agency, Whelan worked with publicly traded pharmaceutical companies, The Pan Am Games, Brookfield Asset Management, Intact financial corporation and crypto powerhouses such as Coinsquare. Whelan’s insights have appeared in over 100 international outlets, including The New York Post and Forbes. In his personal time, he is an accomplished Singer-Songwriter with over 3 million streams on Spotify. Uniquely, Whelan provides metaphysics based business coaching that blends mindset mastery, wealth expansion and energetic alignment to help his clients unlock their highest potential.

June 13, 2025 – Electric RVs Toby Kraus and Metal.Men CEO Will Henshall

Toby Kraus, Co-Founder and CEO, Lightship
Toby Kraus is the Co-founder and CEO of Lightship. He has devoted his career to advancing the electrification of vehicles—big and small—from the Tesla Model S to commercial vehicles like trucks and school buses. In co-founding Lightship, Toby was inspired to push electrification into a new segment and to reach demographics that haven’t previously been served by the electrification movement. Prior to co-founding Lightship, Toby spent five years at Tesla, where he held several roles, including leading Tesla’s finance team and overseeing product management for the Model S. In 2016, he brought his passion for vehicle electrification to Proterra, where he led the Proterra Powered business unit, responsible for deploying the company’s heavy-duty electric vehicle technology to a wide range of commercial vehicles. He also led Proterra’s finance and strategy team as the company scaled from initial customer deployments to over 100 customers across the U.S. and Canada. Toby began his career in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Economics from Duke University. His mission is to help create a more environmentally conscious world—so that his son and daughter can one day road trip through the Rocky Mountains and backpack the same trails he grew up loving.Will Henshall – CEO of METAL MEN
As the CEO of METAL MEN, Will Henshall hosts a group of heart-centered men from many diverse backgrounds who connect, support, and grow together. With over 30 years of experience as a creative entrepreneur, Will has a passion for building a global community of leaders who share a vision of positive impact and transformation. His background spans music/songwriting, software, and photography. He co-founded and fronted the UK pop soul band Londonbeat, which had two US #1 hits in the early 90s. He also co-invented and sold the Rocket Network technology, which networked audio recording studios and became part of Avid’s ProTools. Additionally, he ran a professional photography company in Los Angeles, specializing in people and food. Currently, he also run Focus At Will Labs, a neuroscience-based music technology company that delivers productivity on demand tools for working, studying, and reading. He leveraged his expertise in music, software, and neuroscience to create innovative solutions that enhance focus and attention span. Brotherhood, inspiration, adventure, making a difference! METAL MEN are from many different professional backgrounds including media, entertainment, technology, music, the arts, science, medicine, industry, law, manufacturing, robotics, space, and finance. Members live in 300 cities in 70 countries. Their core values are integrity, intelligence, authenticity, resilience, and kindness. They’re accountable to each other, which makes us better husbands, fathers, boyfriends, workmates, business partners and citizens.

June 11, 2025 – Disruptors Dr. Imamu Tomlinson and Kickstarter CPTO Mahesh Guruswamy

Dr. Imamu Tomlinson -CEO of Vituity and Author of Less Than One Percent: How Disruptors Defy the Odds
As an award winning CEO of a multi-billion dollar healthcare company, Dr. Imamu Tomlinson MD, MBA knows all about what it takes to succeed against all odds. With his unique narrative and analytic bent, he highlights how often times we misjudge the qualities necessary to succeed. Tomlinson’s passion is to inspire others to exceed their own expectations. Dr. Tomlinson is CEO of Vituity, a physician-owned and led multispecialty healthcare partnership. Vituity has a network of 6,000 clinicians who provide care at more than 690 practice locations. Prior to joining Vituity, Dr. Tomlinson was the Chief of Staff for the Adventist Health Central Valley Network, where he continues to practice as an emergency physician. He holds a medical degree from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA in Health Care Management from California Coast University.Mahesh Guruswamy – CPTO of Kickstarter and Author of How to Deliver Bad News and Get Away with It: A Manager’s Guide
Mahesh Guruswamy is a seasoned product development executive who has been in the software development space for over twenty years and has managed teams of varying sizes for over a decade. He is currently the chief product and technology officer at Kickstarter. Before that, he ran product development teams at Mosaic, Kajabi, and Smartsheet. Mahesh caught the writing bug from his favorite author, Stephen King. He started out writing short stories and eventually discovered that long-form writing was a great medium to share information with product development teams, resulting in his book How to Deliver Bad News and Get Away with It: A Manager’s Guide Greenleaf Book Group (January 14, 2025). Mahesh is passionate about mentoring others, especially folks who are interested in becoming a people manager and newer managers who are just getting going.