School for Startups Radio

January 24, 2024 - Alta Consulting Andrew Hayes and Post Vision Products Amanda Glover

Andrew Hayes – Founder and Head of Lifestyle at Alta Coaching
If you never feel like you have time to exercise and eat healthy, how areyou also going to have time for a coach on top of it? We take care of thatfor you with our process. You do your exercise on your own time, you logthe data on your own time and then we look at it and provide feedback every day.
Andrew Hayes is the Founder and Head of Lifestyle at Alta Coaching, a distinguished authority in holistic habit coaching. With a certified background in personal training, Andrew’s journey into the realm of fitness was a transformative experience that reshaped his approach to health and well-being. Over the course of his 15-year career, Andrew has worked with industry giants such as Apple, Peloton, and Headspace. His journey has led him to establish Alta Coaching, a lifestyle and nutrition program that reflects his dedication to personal growth and well-being. Since its launch earlier this year, Alta Coaching has experienced remarkable success, with a 217% surge in quarterly revenue from Q1 to Q3 and a staggering 918% increase in monthly revenue from January to September 2023. Setting Alta apart in the competitive landscape of health and nutrition programs is its innovative approach to holistic well-being. Offering users unlimited access to personalized REAL LIFE coaching and support, Alta tailors workout and nutrition plans based on individual body types, dietary preferences, and lifestyles. This unique approach has resulted in a remarkable 1,333% increase in clients from January to October 2023, with 57% of clients coming through referrals from other satisfied members. Andrew’s extensive experience in the technology sector, coupled with his deep understanding of the evolving needs of health-conscious consumers, enabled him to develop Alta’s personalized health and fitness solutions, addressing a gap he identified in the crowded market. Would you be interested in engaging in a conversation with Andrew about the disruptive innovations behind Alta and the future of individualized well-being? Additionally, I can arrange a complimentary membership to Alta Coaching for you to experience the program firsthand, guided by their certified nutritionists and trainers. Andrew’s personal journey into fitness began later in life, eschewing traditional athletic pursuits for a desk job in New York City post-college. Recognizing the detrimental impact of a sedentary lifestyle, he committed three hours a week to exercise, sparking a profound transformation in every aspect of his life. Now a devoted husband and father, Andrew believes that self-care is synonymous with family care. Having navigated the challenges of balancing health, career, and family responsibilities, he is determined to empower others to prioritize their well-being, demonstrating that with the right guidance, achieving balance is not only possible but transformative. Andrew is available to speak on a range of topics, including personal training, corrective exercise/injury prevention, exercise for adults 50+, resistance training/strength training, group fitness/HIIT/boutique fitness classes, fitness for new parents, parenting/fatherhood, finding balance, and productivity in the workplace. His profound conviction in the transformative impact of coaching reflects his mission to inspire others to lead fulfilling lives through prioritizing their health and well-being.Amanda Jane (Glover) Daley – Founder of Startup Success Blueprint
Data becomes the support to find answers to questions like what are thedifferent markets? Who are the people that could buy this product? Howdo you know the size of the markets? I focus on helping startups find thedata to prioritize decisions that will help them grow more quickly.
Amanda’s approach to business coaching is all about helping CEOs and their teams succeed. Her coaching process is tailored to each client’s unique needs and challenges, resulting in measurable growth and positive outcomes. She is passionate about the idea “Beyond the Product: The Power of Vision in Business.” With 20 years of experience in marketing and product management, Amanda has worked in both B2B and B2C businesses across a wide variety of industries, including consumer electronics, appliances, furniture, and service-based organizations. As part of her career in product management, Amanda has scaled twelve businesses for mid-sized organizations, increasing sales by more than 30% through strategic market expansion and new product development. With strong successes in corporate vision and strategy, and product positioning, Amanda has a unique understanding of how to create simple, actionable plans to scale businesses, along with vision and strategy development that sets companies apart from key competitors. She has also had success in launching several “blue ocean” products, with first-to-market introductions earning over $10M in sales, and has worked with growing companies to establish new departments. Amanda is passionate about working with companies ready to scale by establishing proven practices for efficient and sustainable growth. She also coaches the next wave of companies that look to change the face of leadership in corporate environments, by helping organizations define the type of talent they really need to attract and retain top-quality leadership. As a business coach, Amanda believes in the power of clarity and simplicity. Her coaching style emphasizes creating actionable plans that drive growth while maintaining balance and avoiding burnout.

January 22, 2024 - Paying Gamers to Play Daniel Todd and MindStudio AI Builder Dmitry Shapiro

Daniel Todd – CEO and Founder of Influence Mobile – Paying Gamers to Play
There is an incredible amount of money spent in games. More moneyis spent in mobile games than in all movies, all concerts and all live sportscombined. It’s about $100 billion a year.
Daniel Todd is the CEO and Founder of Influence Mobile. He is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in mobile advertising, digital marketing, and business strategy. As the CEO of Influence Mobile, Daniel has a track record of creating positive work environments that have earned his company numerous “Best Places to Work” awards. Influence Mobile, is a company that builds products that reward people for everyday activities, so everyone can live a Rewarded Life™. With two companies that have been placed on the Inc. 5000 list and recognition from publications such as Puget Sound Business Journal, Daniel has proven his ability to lead companies to success. As a monthly contributor to Inc.com and Entrepreneur.com, Daniel is a recognized thought leader in the fields of entrepreneurship, marketing, and business growth. With his expertise in culture, leadership, team building, entrepreneurship, and remote work, Daniel would be an excellent fit as a guest on podcasts with an audience of CEOs and founders. Furthermore, his experience as a mentor and adviser to dozens of startups through the Disney Accelerator and TechStars programs, along with his previous role as co-founder of online media company Zango, has equipped him with a unique perspective and set of skills that would make him an invaluable guest on any podcast.Dmitry Shapiro – Founder of YouAi and MindStudio – AI Marketplace for Business and Life – Former Group Product Manager at Google and Former CTO at MySpace
We build AI apps or AI powered apps or we call them AIs.
Dmitry Shapiro is a serial entrepreneur who has raised $140M+ for three companies, including creator economy powerhouse Koji and Metaverse Studio, used by tens of thousands of educators to create augmented reality experiences for their students. His latest company is YouAi, which is considered one of the top emerging AI marketplaces, with 1000+ AI apps and 10K+ users. They have AIs for EVERYTHING, including building and running a business, content creation, marketing, project planning and SEO, allowing you to make any aspect of your life easier. YouAi is also behind MindStudio, a revolutionary no-code tool that enables anyone to quickly build and launch AI apps. Many entrepreneurs are using the tool to create powerful AIs, which they can sell on YouAi or embed into current business applications. Dmitry has 20+ years of experience in the tech industry and previously served as Group Product Manager at Google and CTO at MySpace.

January 19, 2024 - Thrift Books Ken Goldstein and Team Building Justin Follin

Ken Goldstein – CEO of Thrift Books – Largest Used Book Store Online and Author of Endless Encores: Repeating Success through People, Products, and Profits
What bothers me are unfinished products. I don’t like the idea of a minimumviable product that you’re going to just dump on your customers and let themsuffer with. I know that it has worked for an awful lot of entrepreneurs, I knowthat it is a buzzword that people care about, but going back to my Disneyexperience and Broderbund games when we were building Carmen San Diegoand Mist, it’s all about the details. It’s about getting it right. Not being at 90%or 95% but being at 100%.
Ken Goldstein has enjoyed an extensive career in senior management roles driving innovation in technology, media, entertainment, and e-commerce. He is currently chairman and chief executive officer of ThriftBooks Global, the largest online seller of used books in the world. He is also board chair of The Good Men Project, an expansive content site offering perspectives on social issues in the 21st century. Ken writes the popular business blog CorporateIntel.us and is the author of three novels set in the business world, all published by The Story Plant: This Is Rage (2013); Endless Encores (2015); and From Nothing (2018). Ken served as chairman and CEO of SHOP.COM, a pioneering e-commerce marketplace that created the patented OneCart platform, later acquired by Market America. Previously he was executive VP and managing director of Disney Online, the business unit of the Walt Disney Internet Group that produced the leading entertainment web destination for kids and families. Key achievements developed by his teams at Disney included the first massively multiplayer online game for kids, Toontown, as well as Movies.com, Family.com, and the syndicated broadband service Disney Connection. Prior to Disney, Ken was VP of entertainment at Broderbund Software and founding general manager of the company’s Red Orb Entertainment division. Before the formation of Red Orb, he was responsible for all aspects of development on Broderbund’s acclaimed Carmen Sandiego series. He also worked as a designer/producer at Philips Interactive Media and Cinemaware Corporation, and for several years as a screenwriter and television executive. Ken is active in children’s welfare issues and has served on the boards of Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, and Full Circle Programs. He and his wife Shelley, who teaches English as a Second Language, live in Southern California. He received his BA from Yale University.Justin Follin – Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BLUECASE and Author of Be a Better Team by Friday: A Playbook for High-Performance Business Leaders 
Many meetings are not doing what they are intended to do. Whether you’rehaving one meeting a quarter or one meeting a week, have the basic buildingblocks for what makes a great meeting. Do you have an agenda for themeeting? Is there a clear stated purpose for the meeting? Are the peoplein the meeting clear why they are there?
Justin Follin is a lifelong student and teacher of what brings out the best in people, and a trusted advisor to CEOs and leaders in fast growth business sectors. As the co-founder and managing partner of BLUECASE Strategic Partners, Justin has successfully coached top leaders in fast-growing companies ranging from $50 Million and $2 Billion in annual revenue, and led hundreds of Executives, Directors, and Managers through cross-functional leadership development. Throughout his career, he’s coached public and private CEO’s, business leaders, TEDx presenters, poker players, musicians, academic professors and athletes to perform at optimal levels. Justin graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a degree in Philosophy focusing on business and morality. He currently resides in Austin, Texas, where he plays music in his free time, does yoga, and beats the heat as often as he can at Barton Springs pool.

January 17, 2024 - Leadership Conversation Rose Fass and Battle Buddies Shannon Walker

Rose Fass – Founder and Chairwoman of fassforward and Author of THE LEADERSHIP CONVERSATION – Make bold change, one conversation at a time 
Our job today is to consider the conversations we are having. With ourselvesand with others. Leadership happens in the conversation. It doesn’t happenin spreadsheets or over a PowerPoint review. It happens in the conversationaround that review.
Rose Fass, the former Chief Transformation Officer of Xerox, is a trailblazer who reshaped the leadership landscape. She masterminded a groundbreaking shift at Xerox, steering it from merely a “Copier Company” to an innovative “Document Solutions Company.” Her transformative leadership not only revolutionized Xerox but also set new standards for global business management. Today, as the founder and CEO of fassforward Consulting Group, an esteemed Inc. 500/5000 awardee, Fass channels her expertise to mentor leaders in Fortune 500 companies. Her unique approach redefines leadership, inspiring leaders to adapt, connect, and thrive in our ever-changing world. Fass also makes aware of impactful “leadership conversations” designed to instill urgency and clarity within their workforce. “Despite technological advancements, AI, and remote work opportunities, a leadership gap persists. To bridge it, inspiration must drive action, culture defines the approach, strategy charts the course, and execution validates efforts. Achieving alignment among these elements is pivotal.”  You and your listeners would find her to be a rich resource. She’s incredibly engaging to converse with. Based on a recent session I had with Rose, here is a quick idea of some of the topics you could discuss with her. I do not doubt that she’d be able to pivot to any other leadership-related topic as well; The Secrets to Timeless Leadership    Unravel the mysteries of enduring leadership. Gain insights from decades of experience, understanding how leadership transcends age and technological advancements like AI and evolves with time. How and Why Accountability Bridges Today’s Leadership Gap    Dive into the often-neglected aspects of leadership. Explore the pivotal role of accountability in uniting organizational facets, ensuring a harmonious and effective trajectory. Genuine Connections Essential for Team Dynamics   Explore the core of authentic relationships within teams. Understand the profound impact of genuine connections on performance, backed by real-world examples. The Kinds of Direct Communications Transform Underperforming Teams   Investigate strategies for team transformation. Learn about the power of direct communication and clear expectations in revitalizing underperforming teams effectively. How Leadership Conversations Shape Futures   Explore the art of influential leadership dialogues. Understand how these conversations reshape perspectives, ignite action, and engage clients in transformative processes.Shannon Walker – CEO & Founder of Northwest Battle Buddies     
Our service dogs are there for our veteransin the midnight hour when no one else is.
Shannon Walker is CEO & Founder of Northwest Battle Buddies, a nonprofit providing service dogs to combat veterans with PTSD. Inspired by her father, a veteran, Shannon’s passion for supporting veterans runs deep. In 1997, Shannon established Mans Best Friend – Dog Training, impacting both dogs and owners positively. Recognizing the importance of service dogs, she trained Police K9 units for seven local departments starting in 2002. As an expert, Shannon delivers TEDx talks like “PTSD and Service Dogs: Beneath The Surface,” shedding light on their profound impact. She’s a sought-after speaker on nationally-syndicated News Radio Stations. Shannon has been the Executive Director of ASDPMV since 2023, serving since 2017. She has contributed through the Standards Committee and Members Committee since 2019. She’s also an active member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP).

January 15, 2024 - America's Most Impactful Co. Dante White and Internet Con Cory Doctorow

Dante White – Founder of Oppuous
Manifestation without perspiration stays in your imagination. You can’tjust think it, you have to get out there and do it. Hard work is part of thegame, don’t believe the BS of the four-hour work week!
Dante White has been making waves in the tech industry, gaining recognition as one of the 30 Best Leaders to Watch by “The Silicon Review.” His company, Oppuous, has been named one of “America’s Most Impactful Privately Held Companies for 2023” by DotCom Magazine, securing the prestigious title of “2023 Impact Company of the Year.” Also, this late summer he beat out 50,000 businesses nationwide to join the world's largest reality show on entrepreneurship, The Blox. Oppuous was born out of Dante’s vision to revolutionize the way business owners, both small and large, access and manage their technology solutions. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, Dante recognized the frustrations of purchasing software, hardware, and tech support services from multiple providers, juggling numerous contracts, and even ending up with the wrong solutions. That’s where Oppuous comes in. Think of it as a one-stop marketplace, similar to Amazon, but exclusively tailored for business tech solutions. From software to hardware and everything in between, Oppuous brings it all together, simplifying the complex process of acquiring and managing technology. But Oppuous offers more than just convenience. With a team of nationwide engineering and cloud specialists, they provide invaluable advice and guidance along the way. Their expertise ensures that business owners make informed decisions that align with their unique needs, saving them on average 15% on solutions and hundreds of hours every year. What sets Oppuous apart is their unwavering commitment to giving back to the community. For Dante and his team, it’s about creating opportunities for others. Every project undertaken by Oppuous contributes to supporting veteran, women, and minority businesses, as well as accelerator programs aimed at fostering generational wealth and growth within our communities. Because at Oppuous, they believe that an opportunity for you is an opportunity for us.Cory Doctorow – NYT Best Selling Author of The Bezzle: A Martin Hench Novel (The Martin Hench Novels) and The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation
If you take the top result on Amazon search, you will on averagepay 30% more than you would for the best result.
Cory Doctorow is a regular contributor to the Guardian, Locus, and many other publications. He is a special consultant to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an MIT Media Lab Research Associate, and a visiting professor of Computer Science at the Open University. His award-winning novel Little Brother and its sequel Homeland were New York Times bestsellers. His novella collection Radicalized was a CBC Best Fiction of 2019 selection. In his book, “The Lost Cause,” Tor Books (November 14, 2023) Doctorow takes us thirty years into the future, where we witness the progress made in mitigating climate change. However, he also delves into the challenges faced by those who are resistant to change and explores the generational gap in understanding the urgency of this issue. The book addresses the concerns of the older generation who may struggle to let go of outdated beliefs about climate change. His insights can shed light on how young Americans, a generation from now, view climate change as an overwhelming fact of life and boldly tackle it head-on–he talks about cities being relocated due to rising sea levels and the massive clean-energy projects that have become the norm. With his vivid descriptions of the future, Doctorow paints a picture of a world where disaster relief and flood mitigation are crucial skills taught to millions each year.

January 12, 2024 - Government Working w Business Arun Gupta and Australia’s Domain John Foong

Arun Gupta – Venture Capitalist, Lecturer at Stanford University for “Valley Meets Mission,” and Adjunct Entrepreneurship Professor and Senior Advisor to Provost at Georgetown University and Author of Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Society
Arun Gupta is a venture capitalist, Lecturer at Stanford University for “Valley Meets Mission”, and Adjunct Entrepreneurship Professor and Senior Advisor to the Provost at Georgetown University. He is the CEO of NobleReach Foundation, which is focused on catalyzing and inspiring a renewed spirit of national service through innovation. NobleReach is scaling infrastructure to build pathways connecting top technology talent and innovation networks with the government and providing the scaffolding to support their success. Arun is active in the emerging technology, entrepreneurship, public policy, and venture finance communities. He is passionate about inspiring students to pursue mission-oriented entrepreneurial careers and has committed to contributing ALL his proceeds from book sales to the NobleReach Foundation. At Stanford University, Arun serves on the Stanford in Washington (SIW) Advisory Board, and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Advisory Council, and is a Faculty Lecturer teaching ” Valley Meets Mission: Purposeful Entrepreneurship with Government” at Stanford in Washington. The class highlights his venture capital and academic experience building successful mission-oriented ventures at the intersection of government, mission, technology, and entrepreneurship. At Georgetown University, Arun serves on the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, and Tech & Society Steering Committee, and teaches Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital at McDonough School of Business. He was awarded the Entrepreneurial Faculty Teaching Excellence Award and the Peter W. Gonzalez Jr. Award for Excellence in Faculty Teaching. As a Partner at Columbia Capital, Arun’s investment career spanned eighteen years including initiating the firm’s Cybersecurity and Government technology investments with a focus on emerging tech-enabled services and infrastructure companies in National Security, AI, and SaaS/Cloud infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining Columbia Capital in 2000, Arun was at Carlyle Venture Partners focused on software investments. Prior to Carlyle, Arun held positions in Arthur D. Little’s telecom and technology consulting practice and shared responsibility for establishing ADL’s management consulting operations in Mumbai 1995-98. Arun received a B.S. degree with Distinction in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. degree in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University (’91). He received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School (’95). Arun has lived in the Washington DC metropolitan area for over 40 years and has been actively involved in local community organizations focusing on coaching youth sports, inner-city educational programs, and food insecurity programs for vulnerable communities. Arun has been happily married for 27+ years and has three wonderful children.John Foong – Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Domain, one of Australasia’s leading real estate marketplaces
John Foong is passionate about Real Estate in Australia and Agents building their business “Australian coming home to be back in Sydney with family.” John has experience working for some of the largest companies in the world, including Google and Uber, where he oversaw record revenue growth (e.g., boosting Google Cloud’s channel revenue into the billions as global lead). Growing up in Australia, he graduated with an MBA and Masters in Education from Stanford and then spent 17 years working in the UK, US, and Africa. In 2014, he became one of the youngest Directors globally at Google. Now back in Australia, he serves as the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Domain, one of Australasia’s leading real estate marketplaces. Every month, one-third of Australia’s population use Domain to learn about, buy, rent, or sell property, generating some $400M in revenue. Most reputable real estate brands in Australia also use their platform to market their properties. As CRO, John is responsible for Domain’s revenue. He leads a 500-person sales and customer team and is in charge of expanding Domain’s marketplace portfolio, which includes Residential, Commercial, Developer, Agent Solutions, Corporate Sales and Go-to-Market, Sales Operations, and Customer Experience. He has P&L responsibility for ensuring Domain has the right technological products and direction. John’s career as a senior sales executive spans more than 15 years, and he has established a global reputation as someone who constantly leads his team to success. He is one of Australia’s real estate luminaries and a sought-after speaker, ranked by the leading industry journal as #36 in the Top Industry Influencer list of 2022.

January 11, 2027 - Japanese Manufacturing Entrepreneur Yushiro Kato, Sales & Strategy Raj Datta, and Corporate Trainer Dr. Andy Dunn

Yushiro Kato – Founder of CADDi – CAD Manufacturing Startup
Yushiro Kato is a kind of wunderkind in Japan. And now, he’s building an empire here in the states. At 32, he’s the head of CADDi, a company that has excelled in helping companies outsource the manufacturing of challenging parts. The business works with hundreds of factories worldwide to streamline operations using the Kaizen approach and then splits profits with those factories as CADDi customers increase demand. (Forbes 30 Under 30, Forbes Top 10 Japanese Entrepreneurs of 2023, and their company made a Top 10 story of 2023 in the Chicago Business Journal). Now, CADDi has created CADDi Drawer, an AI-enabled tool to help engineers and manufacturers streamline production. Fresh on the heels of a nearly $90-million Series C round a few months ago, this company, with a U.S. HQ in Chicago, is making waves with a platform that promises to increase efficiency by 80% during the procurement process through its proprietary image analysis algorithm, automatic drawing analysis and link purchase history. As both a manufacturer and now a SaaS product provider, Yushiro has a wide view of the startup world and how manufacturers are looking at the problems they face amid digital transformation.Raj Datta – IBM Vice-President, ISV & Technology Partnerships
Raj Datta leads strategy and sales in the IBM Ecosystem through partnerships with companies globally. He was previously the CEO of oak9, a cloud security company, and prior to founding the company worked at IBM for over 18 years. Datta’s team is focused on delivering exponential revenue growth across IBM’s software portfolio, with a key focus on A.I. (IBM watsonx) and Hybrid Cloud (RedHat OpenShift).Dr. Andy Dunn – Corporate Trainer at Dale Carnegie
Dr. Andy Dunn joined Dale Carnegie in 2022 as a corporate trainer. He brings with him diverse experience in areas including public school teaching, diversity, and corporate training. He completed his Ph.D. in Exceptional Learning. Dale Carnegie is his “dream job” because it offers him an effective and time-proven structure and encourages him to “make it his own.” Dale Carnegie’s principles remind him to “Give honest, sincere appreciation.” That can go a long way in developing and maintaining the best relationships. When not facilitating training with Dale Carnegie, he can usually be found in his garden, at the ball field, or writing music at the piano. If not there, he is likely on a Gulf Coast beach or in (or around) Lake Tahoe.

January 10, 2024 - AirBnB for Offices Howard Chang and Synthetic Media Dr. Jill Schiefelbein

Howard Chang – Founder of the Turn Lab and Just Boardrooms 
The problem with most entrepreneurs is that they fall in love with theirsolution. What you really need to do is fall in love with the problem. Byshifting the mentality, you end up producing things that are more viableand more interesting to the marketplace.
Howard Chang is a serial entrepreneur and visionary leader. He founded theturnlab, a Toronto-based marketing and tech firm. With a storied career spanning over two decades, he transitioned from a renowned ad agency CEO to create a groundbreaking agency model. Beginning his entrepreneurial journey at just 20, Howard navigated both early success and bankruptcy by 29, displaying remarkable resilience. His ventures have spanned diverse sectors such as retail, sports marketing, and technology. Today, Howard drives theturnlab’s innovative consultancy, embodying sustainability and social responsibility, as evident in their carbon-neutral operations and B Corp certification. As a cancer survivor, devoted family man, and adventurous spirit, Howard’s diverse experiences infuse his expertise in sustainability, marketing, digital transformation, and branding. Just Boardrooms aims to the the AirBNB of professional meeting spaces.Dr. Jill Schiefelbein – Chief Experience Officer and a Partner at Render – Digital Clones of You
Synthetic media is media produced through different types of artificialintelligence and machine learning and it produces something that is unique.
Dr. Jill Schiefelbein thrives at the intersections of communication, education, and technology. University faculty-turned-entrepreneur, she’s an award-winning business owner, author, and recovering academic. She taught business communication at Arizona State University for 11 years, analyzed terrorist documents to provide counter-terrorism messaging strategies to the military, and was a pioneer in the digital education space. Now, Jill is a leading researcher in the space of synthetic media, particularly around using hyper-realistic avatars to communicate. She’s the Chief Experience Officer and a Partner at Render, a start-up specializing in creating digital likeness solutions and providing integrated generative AI services. Her latest book, Dynamic Communication: 27 Strategies to Grow, Lead, and Manage Your Business, is in bookstores around the country. Her next book, Effective Business Communication for Dummies, will be released in 2024.

January 8, 2024 - International HR Pablo Miller and Learned Excellence Alan Eagle

Pablo Miller – CEO and founder of Remoti
All startups make the same mistake: they build an HR team too slowand they only build an HR team when there are problems.
Pablo Miller is a passionate and visionary entrepreneur with over nine years of experience in the staffing and recruiting industry, specializing in Digital and remote hiring for the modern workforce. As the CEO and founder of Remoti, he leads a global team of experts who help tech companies hire and retain the best talent regardless of location. His mission is to democratize job opportunities and remuneration based on character and technical expertise, not geography. Remoti is an end-to-end platform helping companies in the search, hiring and retention of talent. As an expert in the industry, Pablo has witnessed the growing evolution of the term Employee Experience (EX) and the huge role it’s playing in employee satisfaction and talent retention.Alan Eagle – Co-Author of Learned Excellence: Mental Disciplines for Leading and Winning from the World’s Top Performers
What separates the good from the great, the top performers fromeverybody else, is their mental approach, their mental discipline.Anybody can improve their game through their mental disciplines.  
Alan Eagle is an author and executive communications consultant, helping leaders and companies shape their stories and communicate with clarity. Alan is an author and executive communications consultant, helping leaders and companies shape their stories and communicate with clarity. He spent 16 years as a Managing Director at Google, partnering with executives to communicate the company’s story to clients, partners, employees, and the public. He served as the lead speechwriter for CEO Eric Schmidt and several other executives, including Jonathan Rosenberg, Marissa Mayer, and Susan Wojcicki, and managed the company’s sales evangelist team and primary client and partner center. He frequently led conversations with client and partner executives, covering innovation, culture, and strategy. Alan is the best-selling co-author of the books How Google Works, Trillion Dollar Coach, and Learned Excellence (Feb 2024), and the author, all by himself, of seven letters-to-the-editor published in Sports Illustrated. He has consulted with numerous companies, helping them develop strategic communications materials, including thought leadership papers, sales pitches, keynote speeches, and investor presentations.

January 5, 2024 - WordPress Support Peter Guirguis and Midstage Growth Roland Siebelink

Peter Guirguis – Founder of SwiftPress Support 
40% of the world’s websites are built on WordPress.That is 800 million websites worldwide. That is testimonyto the great ecosystem that is built around WordPress.
Peter Guirguis is the Founder of SwiftPress Support. He is a seasoned digital expert and is the dynamic force behind SwiftPress Support, a game-changing venture offering unparalleled technical support to WordPress website owners. With a rich history as the founder of Grace Digital Solutions, Peter has a proven track record in crafting exceptional websites for a diverse clientele, from businesses to personal brands. His commitment to excellence is evident in his ability to communicate intricate technical details to non-tech-savvy clients, ensuring they achieve their digital goals. Now, with SwiftPress Support, he’s expanding his horizons to offer SEO, Google Ads, landing page design, and comprehensive care plans including web hosting. A recognized figure in the digital space, Peter has been honored multiple times by the Wells Fargo Leaders Club. When he’s not revolutionizing the digital landscape, he’s actively engaging with his community, sharing insights, and building connections.Roland Siebelink – Founder of Midstage Institute 
The three things I always look for are is there a problem, is therea technology, and is there a market willing to pay for it.
Roland Siebelink is a 3-time tech founder with a profound understanding of the challenges inherent in scaling a business. Recognizing that this journey can be arduous and complex, Roland is dedicated to helping founders get through it in one piece. With a deep understanding of the challenges that come with scaling a business, Roland is dedicated to helping founders navigate this complex journey, offering guidance and support to ensure their success. Focused on guiding burgeoning startups, Roland specializes in propelling them from product-market-fit to product-market dominance. He recognizes that this transformation demands increased planning, innovation, unwavering effort, and steadfast commitment. With a track record of elevating three companies to unicorn status, Roland’s mission encompasses the transformation of creators into leaders of thriving enterprises. His expertise not only aids in crafting exceptionally performant leadership teams but also in nurturing individuals to become architects of exceptional companies. Roland specializes in guiding startups from product-market-fit to product-market dominance, emphasizing the need for careful planning, innovation, and unwavering commitment. He is passionate about transforming creators into leaders of thriving enterprises and building exceptionally strong leadership teams.