School for Startups Radio

July 21, 2025 – Medical Transport Marsha Marseille and Goal Induced Blindness Sébastien Page

Marsha Marseille – Founder of Cross Care Transport
Her extensive experience as a Program Manager, working closely with elderly communities and coordinating their transitions from skilled care to private living, revealed the pressing challenges in medical transportation. She realized, the medical transport industry needed transformation. This revelation gave birth to Cross Care Transport, where every journey is designed with care. Marsha Marseille latest project, Cross Care Transport, is shaking up the medical transportation industry with a high-end, client-centered approach aimed at improving access to home care for seniors and individuals with limited mobility. Inspired by her work in project management at Maple Community Care Services, Marsha saw firsthand how inadequate transport was compromising care — and decided to build a solution from the ground up. But Marsha isn’t new to innovation. She’s also the founder of: Akúlix, a luxury athleisure brand redefining how ambition looks and feels, Genius Gold Investments, a real estate flipping and wholesaling company, Becoming Black Excellence, a podcast and blog dedicated to empowering aspiring entrepreneurs, and Steam Foods, a café and ghost kitchen concept serving fresh, inspired eats. Her story is one of hustle-meets-heart: brand ambassador for major names like LG and Pepsi, educator at Tesla, and now a multi-time founder with ventures that blend community care, fashion, food, and financial literacy.Sébastien Page – Head of Global Multi-Asset and Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and Author of The Psychology of Leadership: Timeless principles to improve your management of individuals, teams… and yourself!
Sébastien Page has more than two decades of leadership experience. As an author, he believes breakthroughs often happen when experts venture outside their field. That is why, in “The Psychology of Leadership,” he went beyond finance and economics to study research in psychology. He is currently Head of Global Multi-Asset and Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price. Sébastien is also a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Portfolio Management and the Financial Analysts Journal, and the Board of Directors of the Institute for Quantitative Research in Finance (Q Group). He regularly appears in the media, including Bloomberg TV and CNBC, and was recently named amongst the 15 Top Voices in Finance by LinkedIn. Page has written two finance books: Beyond Diversification: What Every Investor Needs to Know, and the co-authored Factor Investing and Asset Allocation, and he has won six annual research-paper awards: two from The Financial Analysts Journal and four from The Journal of Portfolio Management.

July 18, 2025 – AI Auto Entrepreneur Josh Parsons and Outgrow Alex Goldfayn

Josh Parsons – CEO of Click-ins
Josh Parsons is an experienced technology executive in the automotive space. He scaled his last business from zero to $60 million in annual revenue within six years, leading to a $425 million exit in 2020. He is currently the CEO of Click-Ins, an industry-leading AI company revolutionizing the vehicle inspection process. Click-Ins specializes in artificial intelligence–driven vehicle inspection solutions that automate damage detection and assessment using images captured from standard mobile devices. This innovation removes the need for specialized equipment or trained personnel, making inspections more accessible, efficient, and consistent. At the heart of Click-Ins’ platform is its proprietary Visual Intelligence AI technology, which combines advanced computer vision, deep learning, photogrammetry, and 3D modeling to accurately identify and analyze vehicle damage. Leveraging synthetic data for training, the company’s AI models are pre-trained and ready for deployment without the need for additional real-world data collection or manual calibration. Click-Ins serves a broad spectrum of the automotive industry, including insurance companies seeking more accurate and fraud-resistant damage assessments, car rental and sharing services aiming to streamline vehicle check-in and check-out, and dealerships and auto auctions looking to enhance transparency with detailed condition reports. Under Josh’s leadership, Click-Ins is redefining how the automotive sector approaches inspection and documentation through scalable, AI-powered innovation.Alex Goldfayn – founder of Outgrow LLC, CEO of The Revenue Growth Consultancy, and Author of Outgrow: How to Expand Market Share and Outsell Your Competition 
Alex Goldfayn is the CEO of The Revenue Growth Consultancy, one of the largest and most successful solo consulting practices in the country. His firm helps clients grow their sales by 15 to 30 percent annually through simple, actionable strategies that generate predictable results. As a three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Alex’s most recent books—Pick Up The Phone & Sell (2021), 5-Minute Selling (2020), and Selling Boldly (2018)—have all received wide acclaim. His 2015 title, The Revenue Growth Habit, was named Sales Book of the Year by 800-CEO-Read, while his earlier work, Evangelist Marketing, was published in 2012. Alex is also one of the most sought-after sales speakers in the world, represented by the Washington Speakers Bureau. He is known for motivating sales teams, executives, managers, and business owners to take straightforward actions that lead to substantial growth. His core philosophy centers on shifting mindset—from fear to confidence, from selling to helping—and encouraging behaviors like proactively calling customers and prospects even when nothing is wrong. These simple shifts consistently lead to dramatic increases in revenue. He works with select manufacturers and distributors that are leaders in their industries and are typically multi-generational family businesses operating in mature markets such as plumbing, HVAC, lumber, chemicals, steel, and packaging. Most of his clients have experienced stagnant growth before working with him, and nearly all go on to achieve rapid results—often growing sales by 15 to 30 percent annually. Some clients see increases of up to 50 percent in new sales, and many salespeople double or triple their personal performance using Alex’s strategies. Alex has successfully implemented revenue growth programs for top American manufacturers such as Milwaukee Valve, Idaho Forest Group, Steel Warehouse, SSW Advanced Technologies, Dwyer Instruments, Artistic Carton, NCP Coatings, and Techo-Bloc. His client list also includes leading wholesale distributors like Dakota Supply Company, Coburn Supply, First Supply, Brainerd Chemical, Mid-City Supply, and East Coast Lumber. Additionally, he has worked with prominent B2B organizations including IMEG (a top five U.S. construction engineering firm), Air Force One (a leading commercial HVAC contractor), Halderman Real Estate, TrainingPros, and MD7, a global mobile technology services provider. Alex lives in the Chicago area with his wife, Lisa, and their 12-year-old twins. It’s immediately clear to anyone who knows them that Lisa—who raises the kids and feeds Alex – works far harder than he does.

July 17, 2025 – $2.5 Billion Sale Jeff Webb and Problem Solver w Radical Generosity Mark Young

Jeff Webb – Founder of Varsity Spirit & President of International Cheer Union
Jeff Webb, a highly accomplished entrepreneur, author, and CEO, was born and raised in Shelby County, Tennessee. He is widely recognized for founding Varsity Brands and serving as its CEO until 2018, later acting as chairman until 2020. Webb launched Varsity Spirit in 1974, which evolved into a global leader in cheerleading and dance education. Today, he continues to shape the sport as the founder and president of the International Cheer Union (ICU), the recognized worldwide governing body for cheerleading. Under his leadership, the ICU has grown to represent over 7.4 million athletes globally. In addition to his impact on cheerleading, Webb is the senior news editor and co-publisher of Human Events, a Washington, D.C.-based political news and analysis platform. He played a pivotal role in acquiring The Post Millennial for the publication in 2022. Academically, Webb holds a degree in political science and government from the University of Oklahoma, where he was an active campus leader and cheerleader. His early involvement with the National Cheerleaders Association set the foundation for his career. Webb has also served as chairman of Herff Jones and has remained active in charitable efforts, including long-standing support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Special Olympics, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Outside of his professional and philanthropic pursuits, Webb enjoys sailing, conservation, duck hunting, and unicycling. He is the author of the best-selling book American Restoration: How to Unchain the Great Middle Class, and continues to advocate for the potential of America’s middle class. Residing in Memphis with his Labrador Retriever, Webb remains deeply connected to his Tennessee roots while maintaining a prominent presence on the national and international stage.Mark Young – Chief Executive Officer at Ryze Agency and Author of Radical Generosity: Living a Life Defined by Impact
Mark Young is a serial entrepreneur, educator, and the CEO of Ryze Agency, a Fort Lauderdale-based marketing and advertising firm that helps entrepreneurs elevate their brands. With a career that defies a linear path, Mark is a collector of experiences—constantly seeking, learning, and challenging the status quo. His life philosophy? “Do everything.” From launching tech startups to reverse-engineering complex business strategies, Mark thrives on solving problems and sharing his knowledge with others. With multiple graduate degrees across disciplines (including a MENSA membership acquired on a dare), his greatest passion lies not in accolades, but in teaching, mentoring, and empowering those around him. Above all, Mark believes in the power of people. Whether in business, mentorship, or global adventures, he values the connections he makes, always leading with generosity and integrity. As he often says, “People matter. Do the right thing, regardless of the cost. It’ll come back to you. I promise.”

July 16, 2025 – AI Cheating Detector Max Spero and Noble Gold Founder Collin Plume

Max Spero – Co-founder & CEO of Pangram Labs
Max is a seasoned machine learning engineer. He most recently worked on autonomous vehicles at Nuro, leading their active learning effort. He has a long history of deploying successful machine learning products at Google, Two Sigma, and Yelp. Max holds a B.S. in theoretical computer science and an M.S. in artificial intelligence from Stanford University. In addition to his passion for building, he is also an active member of the Magic: the Gathering cube community.Collin Plume – Founder of Noble Gold Investments, My Digital Money, Featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Entrepreneur
Collin Plume is a precious metals industry expert and serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in alternative asset investing. He founded Noble Gold Investments, a leading precious metals IRA brokerage, and My Digital Money, a cryptocurrency IRA platform. A father of three, Plume’s family values shape his business approach as he helps clients build and preserve wealth through strategic diversification into precious metals, real estate, and digital currencies. He combines traditional investment vehicles with alternative assets for balanced portfolio protection and growth.

July 15, 2025 – Better Sound Machine Josh Bronfman and Environmental Entrepreneur Wayne Elliott

Josh Bronfman – Founder of Sleep with Dreamer
Josh Bronfman had a problem. It was the middle of the night and the sound machine he and his wife used to soothe their baby to sleep suddenly stopped working. No one was going to get any sleep that night if he didn’t fix the plastic disaster. But it required batteries and a screwdriver to replace them. But this was easier said than done. They had just moved into a new rental home, and everything was still packed in boxes. Determined not to spend another night like that, Josh went on a mission to find a suitable sound machine replacement. What he discovered was most of them were pretty much all the same – as in, cheaply made, prone to breaking, and limited in other ways. In the end, this nightmare moment spawned a desire to create The Dreamer, which launched in January 2025 – a state-of-the-art sound machine which incorporates smart technology while also staying budget-wise.
Wayne 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.

July 14, 2025 – Fix the Systems Doug Hall and OFFLINE Howard Lewis

Doug Hall – Inventor, Author, Speaker, Trainer & Bourbon Maker
Doug Hall is a pioneering inventor, innovation researcher, and bestselling author dedicated to empowering people with the skills and confidence to create and act on breakthrough ideas. With a career spanning over 40 years, Doug has helped companies like Disney, Nike, Procter & Gamble, AT&T, and American Express transform their approach to innovation. His expertise blends the Art of Innovation—honed through hands-on experience with over 2,000 companies—with the Science of Innovation, applying the systems thinking mindset of Dr. W. Edwards Deming to accelerate employee engagement and drive disruptive breakthroughs. In recognition of his groundbreaking work, Doug has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Maine and the University of Prince Edward Island. Doug’s latest research explores the Psychology of Innovation, uncovering ways to help adults overcome fear, capability gaps, and self-doubt when generating ideas. He is also focused on engaging frontline employees and managers in everyday innovation, addressing the staggering 50% loss in value that disruptive innovations often suffer during development and commercialization. His latest book, PROACTIVE Problem Solving, co-developed with Maggie Nichols and the Eureka! Ranch team, provides a proven system for helping employees and managers eliminate inefficiencies and generate smarter ways of working. In addition, Doug’s passion for innovation extends to Brain Brew Distillery, where he and Joe Girgash created award-winning bourbon and whiskey brands, including Dexter Bourbon—recognized among the world’s top 12 bourbons. Beyond his writing and research, Doug has captivated audiences as the author of eight books on innovation and courage, including Jump Start Your Business Brain, named one of the 100 Best Business Books of All Time. He has starred in two network television series (ABC’s American Inventor and W Network’s Backyard Inventor), hosted a nationally syndicated radio show (Brain Brew Radio), and performed his one-man play, North Pole Tenderfoot, chronicling his adventure recreating Admiral Peary’s last dash to the North Pole. In his free time, Doug enjoys open-fire cooking, 1800s whiskey cocktails, sailing, and playing the bagpipes. He and his wife of 49 years split their time between Cincinnati, Ohio; Springbrook, Prince Edward Island; and Aruba.Howard Lewis – Founder of OFFLINE and Author of Leave Your Phone at the Door: The Joy of OFFLINE
Howard Lewis, cultured, creative and curious, brings a multifarious box of tricks to the table. Over many years, he sent investment reports for private circulation that touched upon issues such as infrastructure, demographics and the vagaries of markets. He broadened his horizons by reflecting too upon aspects of the art market and life in general but, more importantly, started sending articles to friends, clients and associates on subjects that they were interested in or which he felt they should be aware of. The response to this was overwhelmingly positive and led to the genesis of OFFLINE. The fundamental premise behind it was that in a wired world people needed more than ever to engage in physical interaction with one another. The articles were mere props but they reinforced the fact that the simple acts of talking, laughing, eating, thinking. OFFLINE is designed to be the antithesis of everything online but also recognises that veering off road and then back on it is both valuable and necessary. It aims to challenge and provoke, question and answer, stimulate and amuse, nurture and nourish in a delightful and congenial setting. As to slightly more prosaic matters, Howard is passionate about art, books, football, travel, wit and wonder and is extremely partial to custard doughnuts (with sprinkly sugar for the purists among you). He is a member of MCC, Savile Club, London Library and a long term season ticket holder at Arsenal FC, true purveyors of the beautiful game.

July 11, 2025 – Side Hustle Nation Nick Loper and Mindfulness Expert Pankaj Singh

Nick Loper – Chief Side Hustler at Side Hustle Nation
Nick Loper is the founder and Chief Side Hustler at Side Hustle Nation™, a leading platform dedicated to helping people build income streams outside of their day jobs. A lifelong entrepreneur, Nick’s journey began with humble ventures like selling candy at Boy Scout camp and painting houses during college at the University of Washington. After graduating, he followed the traditional path by landing a corporate job, but continued to grow his business during nights and weekends — a strategy he now champions for aspiring entrepreneurs. Nick launched Side Hustle Nation to promote the power of focused effort — or hustle — as a way to take control of one’s life, without falling into the trap of burnout. Inspired by the mantra of one of his old baseball coaches — “Hustle never slumps” — he believes hustle is the one part of your game you can always control. Through his site, Nick shares practical insights, personal wins and failures, and actionable lessons from hundreds of fellow side hustlers. Whether you’re aiming to make extra money, pay off debt, learn new skills, or escape the 9-to-5 grind, Nick is passionate about helping others achieve their goals through entrepreneurship.Pankaj “Sing” Singh – Mindful Leadership Guide and Strategist | Keynote Speaker | #1 International Bestselling Author | NRI Awards Winner 2023 
Pankaj Singh—”Sing”— is a visionary leader who’s spent over 20 years revolutionizing businesses and building high-performance teams. As a former C-suite executive, he’s driven double-digit growth, streamlined operations, and transformed organizations worldwide. But his real power comes from something unexpected: Mindfulness. Raised in an affluent family in India, Sing mastered classical music by age 13 but was restless. At 14, he was sent to train under a lama, where he first discovered the profound impact of mindfulness. Fast forward to 2020, His passion for mindful leadership was ignited during a high-pressure ransomware crisis early in his career. Faced with the overwhelming stress of guiding his team through uncharted territory, he turned to mindfulness to anchor himself. That pivotal experience revealed the transformative power of presence, empathy, and emotional intelligence in leadership—and it inspired his life’s mission to share these tools with others. Today, Sing is an advocate for redefining leadership in a fast-paced world. His signature framework, The Ascendancy Action™ System and Mindful Leadership Mastery Compass equip leaders to transcend stress, foster resilience, and cultivate authenticity. Whether inspiring audiences through keynote speeches, mentoring teams, or crafting leadership roadmaps, Sing’s vision is clear: to empower leaders to transform challenges into opportunities and lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

July 10, 2025 – Q10, #1 NYT Author Jim Murphy and Advanced Growth Strategies Michael Walsh

Jim Murphy – Performance Coach at Inner Excellence
Jim Murphy is a Performance Coach (mental skills) to the best professional athletes and leaders in the world. Jim played professional baseball in the Chicago Cubs organization, coached with the Texas Rangers as well as in the Olympic Games. For his Masters Degree in Coaching Science, he interviewed 39 MLB GM’s, field managers and coaches on how to build a championship team. Jim has coached some of the world’s best golfers including world champions, FedEx Cup champions and world #1’s. The majority of Jim’s clients in every sport, individuals or team, have the best year of their careers in their first year working with Jim (or best in the previous five years). In addition to coaching professional athletes and executives, Jim leads Inner Excellence offsite retreats at beautiful locations around the world. Jim is the president of the Inner Excellence Freedom Project whose mission is to build communities to alleviate spiritual and physical poverty around the world. Jim’s latest book Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life (Revised Edition) was released May 1, 2020.Michael Walsh – President of Walsh Business Growth Institute and Author of Freedom by Design: The Established Business Owner’s Guide to Grow, Make an Impact, and Find the Joy Again
Michael Walsh is a seasoned business consultant and entrepreneur with an extensive background in business growth strategies and leadership development. He founded the Walsh Business Growth Institute in 1995, establishing it as an international consulting firm dedicated to empowering business owners across North America and Europe to achieve their growth objectives. With a clear mission to help individuals harness the potential of their businesses, Walsh understands that growth isn’t just about numbers; it’s about creating pathways to greater profit and enhanced personal and professional freedom. At the Walsh Business Growth Institute, Michael has guided numerous companies through significant growth milestones, whether they’re scaling from $20 million to $50 million in sales or breaking through the $2 million revenue mark. His strategic approach focuses on using business as a tool for personal achievement, ensuring that his clients reach their desired outcomes through tailored consulting and support. Michael Walsh’s educational foundation is rooted in business and economics, having pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Business from Asia Pacific International University. This advanced degree complements his earlier academic accomplishments, including a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Economics from the prestigious University of Toronto – New College. His educational background has equipped him with both theoretical knowledge and practical insights applicable in the fast-paced business world. With his extensive expertise in business growth, Michael has become a sought-after resource for companies looking to refine their corporate culture, develop effective managerial skills, and implement sound business growth strategies. His specialties in sales, marketing, hiring practices, advanced finance, and leadership development have positioned him as a thought leader in the industry. Throughout his career, Michael has achieved remarkable success in helping businesses elevate their performance and achieve sustainable growth. His commitment to fostering effective management practices has not only contributed to the success of his clients but has also allowed him to build a reputable consulting firm that stands out in the competitive landscape of business consulting. In addition to his role as President of the Walsh Business Growth Institute, he has served as a mentor and advisor to numerous entrepreneurs, enabling them to navigate the challenges of scaling their businesses successfully. As a thought leader, Michael Walsh is dedicated to sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience. His professional network is invaluable, and he actively engages with peers and aspiring business owners alike, encouraging them to connect with him on platforms like LinkedIn and by direct email. Michael’s vision for continuous learning, exploration, and growth is evident in every aspect of his work, inspiring those around him to pursue their business aspirations vigorously.

July 9, 2025 – Former Kleiner Perkins VC Dave Whorton and Reclaim Sobriety Ken Cox

Dave Whorton – Founder of Tugboat Institute, Former Kleiner Perkins VC and Author of Another Way: Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last
Dave Whorton is an experienced tech investor and founder who spent twenty years of his career at the highest levels of Silicon Valley venture capital and tech startups. At the preeminent tech venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, he worked directly with chairman John Doerr for several years. He cofounded four companies, including Good Technology. In 2013 he founded the Tugboat Institute to connect, support, and inspire purpose-driven leaders of Evergreen businesses—those built to adapt and grow profitably for one hundred years and more. He considers Evergreen company leaders and their businesses to represent capitalism at its best. Dave is passionate about purpose-driven companies that prioritize long-term shared success and people-first values and practices. At sixteen, Dave began his first job at Hewlett-Packard, working alongside manufacturing line workers at three divisions over four summers. It wasn’t until later in his career that he would come to realize the profound influence of HP’s founders and their “HP Way,” which sparked his dedication to serving businesses like early HP. Early in his career he founded four companies including Good Technology and Drugstore.com and worked for stints at top venture capital and private equity firms, KPCB, TPG, and Interwest. During this time, he witnessed the VC industry pivot from a proven forty-year playbook of managing risk with staged, reasonable financing to something much more aggressive: Get-big-fast, which later evolved into growth-at-all-costs. The lack of any profit discipline and manic pressure to grow didn’t feel right to him after being on the other side of it with Good, but he didn’t perceive an alternative… yet, that is. A pivotal conversation opened his eyes to a different kind of founder – seasoned entrepreneurs who were building profitable, innovative, people-first businesses that were designed to last beyond their lifetimes as independent, thriving businesses with no plans for an exit or IPO. Dave set off on a journey of interviewing a number of these entrepreneurs, and later included non-founder CEOs —eventually over 300. He found that these companies were often underappreciated and underserved. In 2013, Dave founded the Tugboat Institute to support and connect these leaders, coining the term “Evergreen companies” to describe these businesses. Since that time, members and friends have urged Dave to write a book about discovering an important alternative to Silicon Valley’s model—namely, Evergreen companies. After five years working with his co-author Bo Burlingham, Dave captured his learning journey and the key principles of Evergreen companies in his book, Another Way: Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last. Dave’s hope is that Another Way greatly increases awareness of Evergreen companies and their incredible importance to our communities and society—and inspires new founders to build their own Evergreen companies that endure for generations. Dave has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford. Dave enjoys spending time between innovative Silicon Valley and mindful Sun Valley, Idaho.Ken Cox – Co-Founder of Hostirian.com, Colocation and Web Hosting, Founder of InLink.com and Author of Reclaim Sobriety: 12 Rounds of Sobriety 
Ken Cox is an entrepreneur, author, and lifelong advocate for resilience. As the President of Rivercity Internet Group LLC and the Owner of BOX STL, Ken has spent decades helping businesses and individuals push beyond their perceived limits. His mission has always been about providing the infrastructure—both technical and personal—to empower others to grow. But Ken’s journey hasn’t always been smooth. He knows firsthand the struggles of addiction and the battle to reclaim one’s life. His personal experiences with sobriety have not only shaped his life but inspired his latest work, Reclaim Sobriety: 12 Rounds to Sobriety, where he shares his hard-earned lessons to help others navigate their own battles with substance abuse. The book recently hit #1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Substance Abuse, reaching a new audience that Ken is especially passionate about supporting. Ken is also the host of the Clicks and Bricks podcast, where he connects with entrepreneurs and thought leaders to explore the challenges and victories that come with building businesses and making an impact. He is deeply committed to fostering community and believes in the transformative power of sharing our stories. When he’s not building businesses or writing, you can find Ken coaching at BOX STL, where he helps young fighters learn the discipline, focus, and resilience that the sport of boxing provides. He firmly believes that boxing saved his life, and through it, he finds immense joy in mentoring the next generation. Ken is a proud father of two, and his passion for helping others extends to his family. He speaks openly about his experiences as the father of a neurodivergent son, an experience that has led him to embrace a life filled with patience, empathy, and gratitude. Above all, Ken Cox is someone who believes that our greatest strength lies in our willingness to face our struggles head-on, to keep imagining and believing in the possibility of a better future, and to help others do the same. His work—in business, in writing, and in coaching—is dedicated to empowering individuals to reclaim their lives and realize their potential.

July 7, 2025 – Building a Personal Brand Ben Heath, IBM’s Salima Lin and Gun Safety Josh Horowitz

Ben Heath – Paid Ads Expert | $150M+ in Managed Ad Spend
Ben Heath is one of the biggest names in the digital advertising industry, with the world’s largest Meta ads-focused YouTube channel and more than a million followers across his socials. Starting more than a decade ago, Ben has built one of the most sought-after social advertising agencies, with over 150 million dollars managed in ad spend, a 50+ person team, and thousands of clients all over the world. On weekends, Ben likes to enjoy his free time with his family, wife and two kids, dog and playing some football (soccer).Salima Lin – Managing Partner, Strategy, M&A, Transformation, and Thought Leadership at IBM Consulting
Salima Lin has more than 25 years of management consulting and leadership experience in developing and executing business and operating strategies, driving transformation, developing new business models and operationalizing process improvement. During her career, she has advised numerous Fortune 500 companies, primarily in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, diagnostics, medical devices, managed care, and healthcare delivery. Her experience spans strategy development in the Americas, with strategy and transformation across industries and domains for IBM’s consulting business globally. She has a master’s degree in health policy and administration from Harvard, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and biology from Simon Fraser University.Joshua Horwitz – Dana Feitler Distinguished Professor of the Practice in Gun Violence Prevention and Advocacy; Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Joshua Horwitz, JD, is the Dana Feitler professor of the practice in gun violence prevention and advocacy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. He works to reduce gun violence by utilizing public health research and health equity analysis to build advocacy campaigns that meet critical opportunities in the policy development process. With over 30 years of experience, Horwitz is a key leader in firearm policy development and education. He and a small group of colleagues developed the extreme risk protection order (ERPO) policy, which is now law in 21 states and the District of Columbia. As a result, he is now the principal investigator of the national Johns Hopkins ERPO Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University, a Department of Justice-funded training and technical assistance hub that provides support to states implementing extreme risk protection orders. Horwitz has also developed many policy translation reports, including the newly released “Alcohol Misuse and Gun Violence: An Evidence-Based Approach for State Policy” and the original report from the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy, “Guns, Public Health, and Mental Illness: An Evidence-Based Approach,” which identified ERPOs as a needed policy tool. He has also testified before numerous state legislatures and the US Congress. Horwitz is the co-author of Guns, Democracy and the Insurrectionist Idea, published by the University of Michigan Press in 2009. He received his BA from the University of Michigan in 1985 and his JD from The George Washington University in 1988.