School for Startups Radio

December 1, 2023 - Packages with Bryan Davis and Grace Publishing Michelle Vandepas

Bryan Davis – CEO at Package, Inc. 
We are allowing the public to own a stake in the future of luggagetracking and travel security. Investors will get equity in the company.
Byran Davis is CEO of Package, Inc., a whole ecosystem for packages and luggage, really anything that moves.  Over 76,000 bags are mishandled every day by airlines adding up to over 28 million bags per year, about 5% of which are never found, costing airlines and travelers hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. Package, Inc. is building a comprehensive solution with LuggageCam, the luggage logistics, tracking and security system that turns any bag into a smart bag and enables airlines and travelers to track, monitor and secure every piece of luggage in real-time at all times throughout their travels. To allow the public to take part in the company’s journey and growth, Package, Inc. today announced the launch of a WeFunder campaign. Full details on the campaign are at: Invest in Package Inc.: The Future of Shipping, Transportation and Travel Security | Wefunder, Home of the Community RoundMichelle Vandepas – Co-Founder of GracePoint Publishing and TheAuthorPath.com
Most people that read nonfiction books by the book in multiple formats.If they like the book, they will buy other ways to consume it. They will buythe hardback and then the audio.
Michelle Vandepas is an author, speaker, and coach and is also co-founder of GracePoint Publishing, innovators in collaborative, partnership publishing. Michelle Vandepas is the nation’s leading expert for entrepreneurs, personal development experts, and quantum healers who want to share what they’ve learned with the world by becoming an author. She is the co-founder of GracePoint Matrix and GracePoint Publishing, the gold standard in concierge publishing. She is also an esteemed TEDx speaker and TEDx Speaker Coach. She is a book coach and publisher to many esteemed thought leaders, and works with Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield clients to write and publish their books. Michelle has worked with thousands of authors over the past 20 years. As a serial entrepreneur and multiple bestselling author herself, she understands the strategy, messaging, and creative juice needed to build a platform. She is a visionary marketer who combines creativity with smart business sense to unleash the power of her clients. Michelle has been featured in numerous media outlets speaking about her passion for ‘purpose and profit’. Ask about her pivotal role in the movie ‘Our Souls at Night’. She lives in Colorado with her family, two dogs and 40 goldfish.

November 29, 2023 - Trucking King Cedrick Leggett and Managing Risk K. Scott Griffith

Cedrick Leggett – Founder of Cedrick Leggett Trucking Consulting   
Trucking as an industry has had tough times in the last two or threeyears. The bubble burst. During COVID the rates were high And peoplepanicked and we added too many truckers that did not know what they were doing.
Cedrick Leggett is a 7 figure business owner, known as The “Trucking King” – and has been building trucking businesses for over a decade. He owns Cedrick Legget Trucking Consulting which has an “Automated Trucking Business” offer that’s been taking off like a rocket ship. He’s got all kinds of other investments, and has even had to start over from square one about a decade ago. Cedrick’s journey in the trucking industry began with nothing more than a dream and an unwavering work ethic. Recognizing the power of partnership, he united with his brother, and together they purchased their first truck, laying the foundation of what would soon become an industry-leading business. Like many, Cedrick started from the bottom, proving that success in the trucking industry is achievable with determination and perseverance. Over the years, his business flourished, growing from a single truck to a fleet of 20. His acumen for automation and strategic planning led to the establishment of a robust trucking company, consistently delivering top-tier services. Cedrick’s journey is a testament to his dedication and command over the intricacies of the trucking industry. To date, his clients have generated over 50 million dollars in revenue, and he’s just getting started.K. Scott Griffith – Founder and Managing Partner of SG Collaborative Solutions and Author of The Leader’s Guide to Managing Risk: A Proven Method to Build Resilience and Reliability
Understand risk. Be risk intelligent. Don’t always try to minimize risk,try to manage it. There are certain risks in life worth taking.
K. Scott Griffith is the author of The Leader’s Guide to Managing Risk: A Proven Method to Build Resilience and Reliability and the founder and managing partner of SG Collaborative Solutions, LLC, an enterprise risk management firm specializing in reliable performance in high-consequence industries and organizations. Also, Scott Griffith gained his reputation for world-class collaborative skills through success in working with high-consequence industries across the globe. He initially came to prominence in the field of aviation, and is widely recognized as the father of the airline industry’s Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP). In 1997, he received the Admiral Luis de Florez Award from the Flight Safety Foundation for his outstanding contribution to aviation safety. The Flight Safety Foundation cited this commendation: “Captain Griffith recognized that a more systematic approach, involving a high degree of employee-regulator-employer cooperation, was needed to fully identify, understand, and resolve potential safety problems and risks in airline operations. As the culmination of his many years of service on behalf of aviation safety, he designed and originated the Airline Safety Action Partnership program at American Airlines, which has now become an aviation industry standard.” In 2000, United States Surgeon General David Satcher invited Scott to advise a Department of Health and Human Services committee on Blood Safety and Availability. From there, Scott applied his unique approach to focus on improving outcomes across multiple values in healthcare organizations, collaborating with hundreds of hospitals across the country. Throughout his career, Scott has worked closely with government regulators in several industry sectors, and has led performance improvement implementations at numerous large healthcare systems, airlines, railroads, energy companies, and joint state and national collaborative projects. His experience brings insight into how the collaborative model supports a wide range of values and objectives, from patient safety and clinical outcomes to privacy, compassion, fiscal responsibility, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence. He has worked extensively with management, labor, and government officials and is widely recognized for his ability to help organizations achieve consensus results in support of common goals. In addition, Scott has 25 years of experience at American Airlines, first as an international captain, then as the managing director of Corporate Safety and Quality Evaluations. In recognition of his contributions to worldwide aviation safety, Scott has received numerous awards and citations from both government agencies and the private sector. Scott holds a MS in Physics from Texas A&M University and a BA in English and Physics from Texas Christian University. His master’s thesis contributed to the research and commercial development of the airborne windshear LIDAR project under grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

November 27, 2023 - Very Strategy Rich Horwath and Legal Psychedelics Benjamin Lightburn

Rich Horwath – Founder of Strategy Skills and Author of Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence
As a good entrepreneur when it comes to setting strategy, don’t lockyourself in an office, don’t put yourself on an island, bring in andcollaborate with your counterparts on what they are seeing and whateveryone thinks is going to be the best decision. As the entrepreneur,you make the final decision but you really want to get the input andbuy in from the people that work with you.
Rich Horwath is the founder and CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute where he serves leadership teams as a strategy workshop facilitator, strategic executive coach, and keynote speaker. His mission is to help executive teams think, plan, and act strategically to set direction, create advantage, and achieve their goals. Rich is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today national bestselling author of eight books, and his work has been featured in publications including Fast Company, Forbes, and the Harvard Business Review. He has been described by Chief Executive Magazine as “the world’s foremost expert on strategic thinking.” As a former chief strategy officer and professor of strategy at the graduate level, he is able to bring a practical, real-world approach based in strong foundational principles to help executives develop their strategic capabilities. Rich has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX TV to share his perspectives on current business strategy issues. In addition to his work facilitating strategy workshops for leadership teams and providing executive coaching services and strategic counsel, he is a highly sought-after keynote speaker for groups ranging from 10 to 10,000. Rich has helped more than a quarter million leaders around the world develop their strategic capabilities in pursuit of his vision to teach the world to be strategic. Rich served as a professor of management at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, where he was consistently ranked a top strategy professor by students. He earned an MBA with Distinction from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University and has completed postgraduate courses in strategy at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College. He resides in Barrington, Illinois.Benjamin Lightburn – CEO and Co-Founder of Filament Health
We are trying to have experiences that are sanctioned by medicalbodies, that are approved by the FDA.
Benjamin Lightburn is a successful entrepreneur who is currently leading the development of the first-ever safe, botanical pharmaceutical psychedelic drugs to help better treat millions of people suffering from mental health issues globally, particularly, patients battling substance use disorders. His business, Filament Health, recently became the first psychedelic drug discovery and development company to receive FDA approval to conduct a natural psychedelic clinical trial, which they’re presently performing in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco. Their trial is the first to directly administer psilocin and psilocybin extracted from mushrooms as opposed to lab-created synthetic substances. One of the only psychedelic drug developers currently generating revenue, Filament’s development platform enables it to license its intellectual property, as well as out-license its lead drug candidate, PEX010, to commercial partners. The company’s drug candidates are also currently being studied in 15 clinical trials in North America and Europe via the company’s network of academic and research institutions. Ben recently led Filament Health through a business combination agreement – the forthcoming merger is scheduled for Q4 of this year and will yield a new company valuation of USD $210M as well as a Nasdaq uplisting. The company anticipates that this will accelerate its drug development program, which includes planned Phase II trials of its botanical psilocybin for Methamphetamine Use Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder. Before founding Filament, Benjamin was the CEO of Mazza Innovation, which focused on the commercialization of a phytochemical extraction technology called the PhytoClean Method™. Under his leadership, Mazza raised $10M+ in angel and venture capital and $2M+ in non-dilutive financing from local and international investors, recorded three successive years of triple-digit revenue growth (with two years of +$1M growth), grew from 8 to 28 employees, and formed partnerships with leading multinationals such as BASF and Givaudan before being sold to Sensient Technologies for $26M in 2018. In 2021, Benjamin was named one of Business in Vancouver’s Forty Under 40.

NOVEMBER 23, 2023 – ENTREPRENEURIAL THANKSGIVING SHOW!

50 Reasons You Should Be ThankfulYou Are an Entrepreneur!  
Today, instead of a normal show, we are rerunning our popular show listing the top 50 Reasons to Be Thankful to Be an Entrepreneur! Happy Thanksgiving! 
Give thanks!

November 22, 2023 - Midwest VC Nathaniel Harding and Becoming More Dianna Kokoszka

Nathaniel Harding – Managing Partner at Cortado Ventures
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Nathaniel Harding
Nathaniel Harding is the CEO and Managing Partner at Cortado Ventures. Nathaniel is an expert in tech, innovation, and venture capital. A distinguished Kauffman Fellow, World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, and Most Admired CEO, his $120M asset-managing venture capital firm showcases strategic brilliance. He can share how to discover the untapped potential and growth opportunities in overlooked sectors. His extensive experience as an entrepreneur, technologist, and visionary makes him a captivating guest for any podcast seeking insightful discussions. Nathaniel has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and celebrated as a Most Admired CEO in Oklahoma. Under his guidance, Cortado Ventures has grown to manage a substantial $120M in assets, a testament to his strategic acumen and ability to foster success. Nathaniel’s entrepreneurial prowess is accentuated by his involvement in a remarkable $120M sale of a midcontinent resource play, showcasing his adeptness in strategic planning, financial modeling, and harnessing the potential of expansive datasets. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Nathaniel’s broad spectrum of experiences and unwavering community dedication underscore his commitment to effecting positive change. A former Air Force Captain and Afghanistan veteran, his devotion to service and collaborative efforts remains evident. Additionally, his global market prowess becomes evident through a successful Beijing-based joint venture with major Chinese entities, demonstrating his proficiency in international business landscapes.Dianna Kokoszka – CEO of KW MAPS and Author of Becoming More: You Can’t Get to Better Until You Get to Different 
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Dianna Kokoszka
Dianna Kokoszka is an Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker, Author and Mentor. As an award-winning business leader, she has established herself as a prominent figure in the business world, developing many leaders during her longevity. Dedicating 13 years as CEO of KW MAPS Coaching and Training at Keller Williams Realty International, she played a pivotal role in propelling the company to become the largest and most profitable coaching enterprise in the real estate industry! As innovator, creator and author of the KW BOLD Experience and Coaching Skills Camp she helped lead the company to be recognized as the number one training company in the world. She is a board member of Growing Leaders, a John Maxwell Leadership Foundation Organization and captures every opportunity to journey alongside EQUIP Leadership Inc. a non-profit dedicated to instilling values in individuals, transforming nations. Dianna is a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programing (NLP), a founding member of the John Maxwell Team of Certified Coaches, (IMC) and actively participating in the Strategic Coach training program. As a lifelong learner, she has followed and been mentored by John C. Maxwell since the mid-1990s. Her greatest passions revolve around developing leaders and encouraging individuals to recognize and harness their innate potential. Amongst her impressive achievements, Dianna’s most cherished titles are wife, mother, and grandmother. Her genuine concern for the welfare of others serves as the driving force behind all her endeavors, fueling her unwavering commitment to add value to others.

November 21, 2023 - 4 Doc Founded Nutraceutical Co Brenden Dougherty and Urban Sandbox Danna Okuyama

Brenden Dougherty – CEO/COO of MDbio
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Brenden Dougherty is the CEO/COO of MDbio – The Doctors Brand. The company was founded by four doctors to bring pharma-level testing to the nutraceutical market. The company was created to treat the most common conditions seen in patient care – sleeplessness, stress/anxiety, and chronic aches and pain. Recently, MDbio’s hero product, MDsleep, was clinically proven in the largest onshore, randomized, placebo-controlled sleep study in history and demonstrated to improve sleep quality, decrease feelings of stress, decrease feelings of anxiety, and improve overall well-being. Brenden Dougherty, a visionary leader in the nutraceutical industry, has spent the past 10 years refining and developing business concepts in traditional and emerging markets. His early professional background in finance for UBS and PPM America instilled a strong analytical background and understanding of business modeling and growth strategies. In 2014, he combined his passion for cultural travel and business acumen into his own concept, OneGlobe Citizen, a Chicago-based tech/media platform that predated Airbnb in connecting travelers with cultural activities and local favorites. By 2016, the market had shifted, so Brenden applied his successful growth strategies to early-stage businesses needing strong visionary and operational leadership. He saw a gap where companies were scaling through outdated advertising and solely seeking capital rather than strategic partnerships to expand exponentially while requiring less capital to launch. This concept, venture development, took off with the rise of fractional leadership services. His strategic growth ideas and interpersonal leadership catalyzed many clients at his consultancy, Team Shift, founded in 2016. This ultimately led him to the nutraceutical space, where he currently leads MDbio – The Doctors Brand. MDbio is a groundbreaking pharmaceutical alternative company redefining supplements with clinically-backed plant medicines. When Brenden first met the founding physicians, including Dr. Babak Larian, Department Chair of head, neck and throat surgeries at Cedars Sinai, he knew MDbio converged his passion for developing meaningful companies with a culture prioritizing patient outcomes. In 2012, Dr. Larian performed invasive tumor removal surgeries at Cedars Sinai. He noticed older patients statistically likely to struggle with recovery were actually faring better than younger, healthier ones undergoing identical procedures. Further analysis revealed patients using plant medicines, often cannabis, had superior outcomes – faster healing, less inflammation, and greater emotional stability. Plant-based medications erased weeks from recovery after traumatic healthcare events. This represented a paradigm shift combining pharmaceuticals with milder yet effective plants. Inspired, Brenden foresaw incredible benefits if consumers had plant-based medicines approved by healthcare professionals. The challenge was formulating effective, scientifically validated medications. With over 99% of supplements untested and under 1% demonstrating statistical significance, this was no small undertaking. For over 3 years, MDbio, under Brenden’s leadership, partnered with experts to develop sophisticated internal clinical research to test formulations on chronically ill patients with sleeplessness, stress and pain. With patient outcomes guiding them, MDbio refined products that garnered life-changing results. This was only the first step toward statistically significant clinical results at scale. In partnership with a leading clinical research organization, MDbio began unbiased clinical testing of their sleep aid MDsleep in 2022. With the largest-ever non-melatonin cohort (620 participants), MDsleep proved not just statistically significant but groundbreaking for clinically effective sleep, stress, anxiety and well-being. Achieving this first-ever clinically proven hemp sleep aid took four years, but for Brenden, it’s just the beginning. With two more products awaiting 2024 outcomes, MDbio is poised to lead clinically proven nutraceuticals that will transform health. Brenden’s drive stems from his purpose – creating joy for consumers relying on hope during tough times.Danna Okuyama – Founder of Urban Sandbox
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Danna Okuyama is the Founder of Urban Sandbox, the modern-day pen pal app and safe space for students that parents can trust. Students can connect, share, and grow with other like-minded peers from around the world and learn from qualified educators within the app, while parents have full access to their child’s platform to easily supervise activity and ensure safety. She represents the pinnacle of self-taught success and a role model for any aspiring AAPI entrepreneur. Having lived on four continents and coming from the competitive world of finance, Danna knew the sort of challenges and stigma children can face. When her own son entered school, she saw that he was struggling to make the right friends, and online forums and screentime left many concerns for safety. Her solution? She quit her job and launched Urban Sandbox. Born out of her passion for fostering diverse connections and learning experiences for her son and his peers, Urban Sandbox stands as the modern-day pen pal platform for children worldwide, offering a secure space parents can trust. In her role as CEO, Danna envisions Urban Sandbox as more than just a digital platform—it’s a global community where children can discover, share, and grow together. The platform, announced on October 25, 2023, prioritizes safety, allowing students to connect with like-minded peers, learn from accredited educators, access educational resources, and showcase their own achievements. Danna’s mission extends beyond traditional education, aiming for children to not only learn from global educators but also from each other. Recognizing the inevitability of screen time in the evolving digital world, Urban Sandbox optimizes this time for young individuals. By combining the social interactivity that students love with an emphasis on academic interests, teacher-approved content, and cyber safety, the platform helps build smarter technology habits. Through this innovative platform, Danna Okuyama and her team at Urban Sandbox are redefining the way children learn, share, and grow in the digital age, providing a secure space for global citizens to connect and thrive.

November 20, 2023 - Blue Angel Pilot Scott Kartvedt and Coaches’ Coach Catherine B. Roy

Scott Kartvedt – Author of Full Throttle: From the Blue Angels to Hollywood Stunt Pilot
If you accept responsibility for some shortcoming that you have had, I amactually going to believe in you more and you will gain credibility with me.
Scott Kartvedt was the Navy’s first Commanding Officer of the only F-35C Stealth Strike Fighter Squadron in the US inventory, Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO ONE, based in Eglin AFB, Florida. He also commanded a F/A-18 Hornet squadron during two combat deployments to Afghanistan in Support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. While leading the 250 Sailors of VFA-83, the unit was awarded the 2009 Commander Naval Air Forces Aviation Battle Efficiency Award, the CAPT Michael J. Estocin Award as the Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron of the year, and the 2010 CNO Safety Award. In 1999 Scott was selected as a member of the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, stationed in Pensacola, FL, where he was the #7 VIP pilot and Narrator for the 2000 show season. Scott has served during five combat deployments and flown 91 combat missions in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (3 tours) and ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan (2 tours), as well as the 1996 TAIWANESE CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS. He has accumulated over 6,300 flight hours, and 658 carrier arrested landings on 11 aircraft carriers. His personal awards include the 2009 American Legion Aviation Valor Award, Bronze Star for combat leadership, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, and 5 Strike/Flight Air Medals. Scott is a graduate of Pepperdine University, the US Navy and Marine Corp School of Aviation Safety, Air Command and Staff College, and the Joint Forces Staff College and is currently enrolled in the University of Denver’s Executive MBA program. Scott is currently a professional pilot and on the Board of Directors for the Blue Angel Foundation. He is an instructor and evaluator for United Airlines in Denver, Colorado, the number 5 pilot for the Patriot Jet Team, the only civilian jet demonstration team in North America, and was a stunt pilot in TOPGUN Maverick.Catherine B. Roy – Coaches’ Coach
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Catherine B. Roy is an internationally recognized business and personal growth coach, bestselling author, podcaster, and keynote speaker with the mission to help you do what you love, empowered by your own freedom. Catherine specializes in helping Coaches, Consultants, Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, and Companies to grow their businesses online. Catherine enjoys the distinction of being an official Forbes Coaches Council member, MENSA member (IQ>156), also officially certificated by the Goldman Sachs 10 000 Women Program, and has received many thought leadership awards, 4 years in a row. Catherine is the author of LHM Business Coaching, LHM Personal Growth Coaching, and eLearning platform LHM Academia where you can find LinkedIn Decoded eBook, the LHM 963 Business Accelerator Program, and the LHM LinkedIn Business Accelerator Program. Her latest book, Live from Your Heart and Mind, is an international Bestseller, and she is also the founder of the LHM System, a holistic approach to personal and professional growth that emphasizes love, happiness, and mindfulness. She has clients in 30 countries and her work has been featured by Forbes, Goldman Sachs, TEDx, Microsoft, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and others. Her most popular work went viral and reached 1.2M people in less than 10 hours and her social media counts for over 100K followers while a Google search shows more than 40 million results for her name.

November 17, 2023 - Stress Killer Anna Gudmundson and Non-Food Franchising Jon Ostenson

Anna Gudmundson – CEO at Sensate – ‘Best Innovations of 2022’ by Time Magazine
We cannot and should not avoid a stressful situation. Sometimeswe need to have very challenging conversations. We should alsostretch ourselves professionally. The question is how are we dealingwith it. How are we able to both have the stressful moment andthen reconnect and reset the systems. The recovery is extremelyimportant. Over time we hope to increase stress resiliency. 
Anna Gudmundson is CEO of getSensate.com. Anna has been a senior tech business leader in the international high-growth scene for 15+ years. Her present-day focus is on transformational technologies which impact the world in a significant, positive way while also having strong commercial viability. As CEO of Sensate, a consumer stress-management technology company, she is tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time: stress and mental health. Apart from a passion for technology business, Anna has a huge curiosity for personal growth and the human potential – both in what she produces and how she leads. Anna leads Sensate to mobilize cutting edge science and technology, informed by wisdom drawn from old traditions and practices, to bring greater calm and consciousness to our current, overstressed world. Sensate is in ‘Best Innovations of 2022’ by Time Magazine. Anna Gudmundson, a seasoned professional in the tech industry, has cultivated a career marked by diverse roles at VP/C-level, including positions as CEO and CPO. With a trajectory spanning both consulting and permanent roles, Gudmundson has recently honed her focus on health, fitness, and wellbeing tech, along with a keen interest in data/AI. Despite encountering initial challenges in securing programming positions in the early 2000s, Gudmundson swiftly transitioned into management roles, excelling at Lucent-Technologies due to her surprising blend of technical knowledge, people skills, negotiation prowess, and organizational acumen. Her journey in the emerging mobile industry led to delivering systems and services for major players such as Vodafone, Metro PCS, and T-Mobile. Gudmundson’s unique perspective as a first-generation immigrant from war-torn Bosnia, combined with her early hardships, instilled in her a profound understanding of financial stability and independence. Embracing macro trends and shifts, she continually gravitates towards innovative endeavors. Gudmundson’s commitment to fostering diversity in STEM fields is evident, having had no preconceived notions about certain people excelling in specific subjects. She underscores the importance of role models, especially for young individuals aspiring to break into the tech industry. Currently steering a tech startup, Gudmundson acknowledges the challenges, emphasizing the need to manage energy in the fast-paced and demanding startup environment. Her organizational approach reflects a commitment to remote work, a flat team structure, and a focus on purpose, with mindfulness practices incorporated into meetings. Motivated to facilitate change in traditional hierarchical structures, Gudmundson believes in deeply involving the team in organizational processes for enhanced motivation and skill development. Beyond her professional achievements, Gudmundson takes pride in personal growth and the positive impact her team has made through a crowdfunding campaign, enabling broader participation in their company’s growth. Her startup, focused on providing stress relief and well-being through innovative technology, aims to serve a global audience facing stress-related challenges. Looking ahead, Gudmundson envisions an exciting period of reinvention, with plans to expand product offerings, conduct research, and reach a wider global audience. Her mission is rooted in bringing stress resilience and well-being to millions globally, leveraging cutting-edge technology developed over five years of dedicated work.Jon Ostenson – CEO of FranBridge Consulting and Author of Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership
It’s easier to get into Harvard than to purchase a Chick-fil-A franchise.
Jon Ostenson is the CEO of FranBridge Consulting and Author of Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership. Jon Ostenson is a top 1% national franchise broker, investor, author, and international speaker specializing in the area he has coined as ‘Non-Food Franchising’. Having served as the President of an Inc. 500 franchise system and now as a multi-brand franchisee, himself, Jon is uniquely positioned to educate others on franchising and franchise selection. Jon serves as CEO of FranBridge Consulting and has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and investors explore business ownership and investment opportunities. Jon is the author of the book “Non-Food Franchising’’ and is a frequent contributor and thought leader for publications on the topic of franchising and franchise investments. Prior to FranBridge, Jon was the President of ShelfGenie, a national franchise system with 200+ locations. Prior to FranBridge, Jon was the President of ShelfGenie, a national franchise system with 200 locations. Before he had his start in franchising with ShelfGenie, Jon spent 15 years in the corporate world, most recently as the Vice President of Sales for Carter’s Inc., responsible for over $350M in annual sales. Jon began his career as a Consultant with Accenture, often working Internationally on behalf of clients. Jon serves on the Board of the Entrepreneurs Organization and is active in supporting charitable organizations such as Growing Leaders and Hope International. Jon has BBA and MBA degrees from the University of Georgia and lives in Atlanta where he and his wife, Jenny, have 3 children and are very active in the community.

November 15, 2023 - Texas Industrial VC Malcolm Peace and Financial Ed for Kids Maya Corbic

Malcolm Peace – President of Tsetserra Growth Partners     
Life is a two out of three match. You can lose the first set and you can stillwin. Be prepared to endure and sometimes you might have to pivot, but eventhough you’ve lost the first set, doesn’t mean you were doing it incorrectly.It may not have been the right time for you to win.
Malcolm Peace is president of Tsetserra Growth Partners (pronounced sit-Sarah), an investment firm in Texas that works with well-established businesses that have owners just about to retire who still want to see their businesses thrive. They identify profitable small businesses with revenues from $3.5 million to $12 million in stable industries, such as food & beverage, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics & distribution, and more. Malcolm and his team help rewrite the operating playbook of a company while maintaining the owner’s culture with a strong succession plan. Malcolm has a B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.Maya Corbic – CPA and Author of From Piggy Banks to Stocks: The Ultimate Guide for a Young Investor 
We need to be careful not to get ourselves in debt for a degree thatis not going to provide us with a living.
Maya Corbic is a mother and a seasoned CPA with a rich background as a CFO, tax accountant, and auditor. Maya Corbic, an influential figure in the realm of financial education, has spent the past 11 years positively impacting the lives of thousands of parents by guiding them in raising financially savvy children. Boasting an impressive Instagram platform, @teach.kids.money, with a substantial following of over 128,000, Corbic continues to inspire a growing audience on a daily basis. Her commitment to empowering young minds with financial wisdom and fostering excitement for investing is exemplified by her latest venture—an authored children’s book titled “From Piggy Banks to Stocks: The Ultimate Guide for a Young Investor,” slated for launch on November 1st. This book stands as a testament to the crucial financial guidance often lacking in formative years. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Corbic’s personal journey adds a layer of resilience and determination. As a first-generation immigrant from war-torn Bosnia, she arrived in a new country with minimal resources, facing adversity head-on. Having experienced financial hardships and overcome them, Corbic developed a profound understanding of financial stability and independence. By the age of 32, she and her husband achieved mortgage freedom and successfully paid off $60,000 in student loans and other debts. Corbic firmly believes in the potential of every child to become a financially independent adult, given the right tools and knowledge. Her mission is to share effective methods with parents, enabling them to instill financial acumen in their children and set them on a path to long-term financial success.

November 13, 2023 - Teaching ChatGPT Shanif Dhanani and Aluminum Update Nadia Steinzor

Shanif Dhanani – Founder of Locusive 
Wherever your data lives, we will be able to plug it into AI.From websites, web files, google drives, outlook are someof the earliest integrations we have done.
Shanif Dhanani is a ChatGPT consultant with a background in software development and data science. He helps businesses understand and build systems that connect their internal and proprietary systems to ChatGPT, enabling internal employees, customers, and other stakeholders to reap the benefits of using large language models on their own data. Shanif has built machine learning, analytics, and software systems at large companies like Twitter and Booz Allen, smaller startups like Apteo, where he was the founder, and TapCommerce, which was one of the world’s first mobile advertising platforms. Shanif’s journey from software to data science and now the forefront of AI showcases a unique perspective that simplifies AI to its core – math uncovering patterns. His wisdom on entrepreneurship, his vision, risk tolerance, optimism, and ability to see the bigger picture, provides valuable lessons for aspiring business leaders. He encourages us to embrace AI and use it to its fullest potential as it has the potential to transform industries and societies.Nadia Steinzor – Environmental Policy Analyst and Investigative Research Consultant – Environmental Integrity Project
Right now, the biggest projections for growing demand foraluminum are coming from the electrical vehicle market.Because aluminum is so lightweight, it can offset the weightof the batteries needed.
Nadia Steinzor is a collaborative environmental professional 25 years of experience dedicated to investigating issues, promoting solutions, raising awareness, and instigating change. Her expertise spans a spectrum of environmental concerns, policies, and regulations, allowing her to produce impactful reports, outreach materials, comments, and testimony. Steinzor’s focus revolves around the oil and gas industry, land and wildlife conservation, and the pressing matter of climate change. Notably, her work has been utilized and cited by legislators, regulators, local and state organizations, as well as the media. Adept at delving into extensive information sources, including scientific papers, legislation, pollution data, and public records, Steinzor excels in uncovering connections and assembling complex puzzles. She transforms her findings into compelling, well-written materials and presentations, showcasing a knack for managing projects with intricate moving pieces and tight timelines. Equally comfortable working independently or as part of a collaborative team, Steinzor is driven by a commitment to environmental protection and a desire for accountability in the face of wrongdoing. Despite the challenges presented by the loss of wild spaces, air and water contamination, and the escalating impacts of climate change, Steinzor draws inspiration from the resilience of human and non-human communities and the relentless determination of environmental advocates.
A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), “The Aluminum Paradox: Vital for Clean Energy, but also a Major Source of Greenhouse Gases, Air and Water Pollution,” details the impacts of the “mining-to-metal” production chain and identifies opportunities for the U.S. industry to reduce climate emissions and clean up its act as it becomes part of a more sustainable economy. “The aluminum products we all use are shiny and light—but the impacts of their production on communities and the environment are anything but,” said Nadia Steinzor, a policy and research analyst with EIP and lead author of the report. The Environmental Integrity Project is a 501 (c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog organization that advocates for effective enforcement of environmental laws. Comprised of former EPA enforcement attorneys, public interest lawyers, analysts, investigators, and community organizers, EIP has three goals: To illustrate through objective facts and figures how the failure to enforce or implement environmental laws increases pollution and harms public health; To hold federal and state agencies, as well as individual corporations, accountable for failing to enforce or comply with environmental laws; and To help local communities obtain the protections of environmental laws.