School for Startups Radio

May 24, 2023 – Democratizing Philanthropy Wendy H. Steele and Movie Songwriter and Solar Guru Bryan Gentry

Wendy H. Steele - Founder and CEO of Impact100 and Author of Invitation to Impact: Lighting the Path to Community Transformation 
There are ways to explore and really understand where your contributions goand how much of that dollar goes to the nonprofit’s mission. Transparency andwider access to information is always a good thing.
Wendy H. Steele - Founder and CEO of Impact100 and Author of Invitation to Impact: Lighting the Path to Community Transformation, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting and empowering women to create a transformational impact in their communities. Since launching Impact100 in 2001, Wendy has dedicated her life to encouraging women to see themselves as both activists and philanthropists, bringing them together in order to unite their efforts, support one another, and enrich their communities as a team. What began as a grassroots effort in Cincinnati has today collectively granted more than $123 million to worthy nonprofits across more than 65 local chapters and four countries. The importance of giving back with the intent to leave the world a little better than she found it was instilled in her from a young age, leading her to see that all of us have something important to give. Wendy believes that, in giving to others, we gain in incalculable ways, and we can encourage others to do the same. Wendy's debut book, Invitation to Impact: Lighting the Path to Community Transformation (MFF Publishing, April 18, 2023), shares her personal journey building one of today’s most powerful grassroots organizations and invites women to become part of the solution by impacting their very own communities. Part business book, part memoir, Invitation to Impact provides insights for catalyzing meaningful change by giving women a seat at the table and a chance to join the movement—or spark one within themselves. In recognition of her work with Impact100, Wendy was selected by Forbes for the 2021 50 over 50 Impact list recognizing women changing communities through social entrepreneurship, law, advocacy, and education. She was also featured as a guest speaker on TEDxBocaRaton in 2014 where she discussed what contagious generosity means and why we should all get involved. In 2020, Wendy was named a Distinguished Honoree of the Jones Prize in Philanthropy from the Institute of Private Investors, and she was also awarded the 2014 Jefferson Award for Public Service for her work with Impact100. She has been featured in several books, including The Transformative Power of Women’s Philanthropy; Women, Wealth and Giving; Women’s Giving Circles; and The Right Sisters – Modern Women Inventors. Wendy lives by the motto “Not I, but we.” She believes that, in order to create a vibrant community, we must understand the community first. For Wendy, the most rewarding part of leading Impact100 is visiting local chapters to celebrate triumphs, big and small, and encouraging more than 30,000 women to make a difference. 
 
Bryan Gentry - CEO of SunTap Power and the Author of  21 Hacks To Sell More Deals
If you are going to sell something, anything, in my case solar, you haveto act as if you are selling to your mom. That is the only way you are goingto be 100% real with your customer. You’re not going to lie to your mom!
Bryan Gentry - CEO of SunTap Power and the Author of 21 Hacks To Sell More Deals. Bryan Gentry is an American entrepreneur, music producer, songwriter, and author. Born in Independence, Kansas, he has become a recognizable face in the entertainment industry, with a growing list of credits to his name. Gentry began his career in 2009, making music appearances in a number of TV shows and films. He quickly proved himself to be a versatile performer with Acting as well, with a range of abilities that allowed him to take on a variety of roles. In the years since, he has continued to hone his craft and develop his talents, becoming a sought-after talent in the industry. One of Gentry’s most notable credits for music production to date was in the Bravo TV series ” The Real Housewives of Miami,” where he co-wrote the intro theme music entitled ” Feel The Rush” by Adriana De Moura. In addition to his successful career in the entertainment industry, Bryan Gentry is also a business expert with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the solar industry. As the founder and CEO of SunTap Power, a solar consulting agency based in Tucson, Arizona, Gentry has made it his mission to help both residential and commercial customers save money on their energy bills while also promoting sustainable energy practices.

May 22, 2023 – Media Trainer Susan Harrow and Family Wealth over Generations Steve Braverman

Susan Harrow - CEO of Harrow Communications Inc.
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Susan Harrow - CEO of Harrow Communications Inc. Susan Harrow, a renowned media coach, has been the driving force behind Harrow Communications Inc., a San Francisco-based media training and marketing firm, for the past 32 years. Serving a diverse clientele, ranging from CEOs to everyday parents, reality TV contestants to rock stars, Susan specializes in media coaching and developing marketing strategies for a wide range of individuals. Her expertise extends to Fortune 500 CEOs, start-ups, influential speakers, bestselling authors, and successful entrepreneurs who possess a genuine passion, charisma, and compassion for their work. In addition to her impressive portfolio, Susan has collaborated with various professionals in unique fields. Her clients have included competitors on popular shows like The Food Network's The Next Iron Chef, award-winning documentary filmmakers, advocates against racism, unconventional publishers, and individuals with extraordinary occupations, such as The Ganja Guru, a Jesuit priest, an actor from the film "The Secret," and an Ayurvedic chef. With clients spanning from San Francisco to Singapore, Susan stays connected with them through virtual platforms like Zoom. When it comes to selecting future clients, Susan seeks socially conscious, boldly opinionated, or delightfully entertaining individuals and organizations from San Francisco, Silicon Valley, New York, and beyond. She admires those who are dedicated to making a positive impact on the world and values innovators and multi-talented individuals who are committed to addressing pressing global issues. Susan's current aspiration is to work with visionary clients who appreciate innovation, style, and sustainable green living, as these values contribute to the advancement of both people and the planet. Susan's expertise in media coaching has led her clients to prominent appearances on numerous national and syndicated shows, such as CBS' 60 Minutes, Oprah, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Fox News, Bill O'Reilly, The Food Network, Extra!, New Attitudes, E! The Entertainment Channel, Bloomberg Radio Network, Net Cafe, The Lifetime Channel, Howard Stern, CNN, C-SPAN, PBS, and more. They have also been featured on shows like Larry King Live, Maury Povich, National Public Radio's All Things Considered, Good Morning America, and CBS This Morning. Susan's comprehensive media training has enabled her clients to gain exposure through esteemed publications, podcasts, panels, and radio and television shows throughout the United States. Notable media outlets that have reviewed and interviewed her clients include TIME, WIRED, USA Today, People magazine, O Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Inc., The New York Times, Forbes, Inc., and various women's magazines like Vogue, Bazaar, Self, Mademoiselle, Vanity Fair, Redbook, and Seventeen.
 
Steve Braverman - Co-Chairman of Pathstone and Author of  Your Time With The Baton: Winning the Relay Race of Family Wealth Stewardship
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Steve Braverman is a co-founder, former co-CEO, and now co-Chairman of Pathstone, an advisory firm providing advice to help clients create, manage, and preserve wealth across generations. His book, Your Time with the Baton – Winning the Relay Race of Family Wealth Stewardship (Advantage, March 7, 2023), shares how to embrace the opportunity of wealth management and transfer. Learn more at yourbatontime.com. The most productive family conversations about wealth management and transfer take into consideration what the wealth means, why the grantors want to pass on the money, and what those who receive it want to do with it. If wealth is imparted without a plan, without a vision, and without taking into account the inheritors’ passions, it does a disservice to the grantors, the inheritors, the family, and ultimately to society.

May 19, 2023 – Need vs. Want Paul Vigario and Growing Law Firms John Hinson

Paul Vigario - President of SurfCT
Paul Vigario is the President of SurfCT the international dental information technology firm that he founded as an ambitious college senior. Under Vigario’s direction, the company has grown from dozens of clients in the Northeast to several thousand around the globe. Mr. Vigario has recently been appointed Chief Executive Officer of DSD Global, an international company based in Manhattan, with offices around the world, that has redefined what is possible in the dental industry. Mr. Vigario has brought to this company a new vision centered around eight core pillars designed to be client-centric to empower doctors to grow at every level. Mr. Vigario is widely considered a pioneer and leader in the field of dental information technology. For nearly 15 years, he has been at the forefront of technology development, helping thousands of doctors, practices and dental companies automate and grow exponentially. Mr. Vigario realizes that health care digitization will continue its fast-paced growth, so he continually offers exciting new ways to provide modern, reliable, innovative, informative, and quality technology care for dentists, their patients, and businesses - making his clients future ready. Through higher education, intensive training and countless hours of on-the-job experience, Mr. Vigario has molded himself into an expert in complete digital workflow systems, digital strategies, practice automation, and practice growth technologies. He has also cleverly hired some of the finest information technology engineers and experts in the industry and has empowered them to use their skills in the exciting dental technology field. In 2016, he was selected to be on the elite worldwide DSD Clinical Team; he immediately made a dramatic impact on the business. The Board took notice, and just six months later, unanimously named Mr. Vigario CEO of this prestigious global company, which was founded by the world renown Dr. Christian Coachman. Mr. Vigario is an industry leader in the areas of digital workflow, digital strategies, dental imaging, cloud technology, dental software, ergonomics, integration, system process, and the delivery and support of healthcare networks and technology. Even as the field has expanded, SurfCT has maintained its renowned reputation as the leading Dental IT company with its holistic approach to complete technology office design where Everything Is Connected™.
 
John Hinson - Editorial Director of Spotlight Branding
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John Hinson is the Editorial Director for Spotlight Branding, a content marketing company that specializes in helping solo/small firms generate more referrals and stay top-of-mind with their audience. He has spent nearly a decade working with legal and financial professionals to grow their firms without the frustration and hassle of appeasing the search engine gods. At the core of John’s work is a passion for education. Whether he’s a guest on a podcast, writing an article, speaking at a conference, or running a workshop, John aims to equip his audience with new tools and perspectives to help them succeed. He is known for being able to efficiently pack a ton of information into his presentations while remaining engaging and injecting a little humor along the way. When he isn’t marketing, he’s writing…A LOT. He has published 24 books over the last 10 years, most of which deal with lesser-known historical events and people from all over the world. He is also part of the autism spectrum disorder community and hopes to educate others on the neurodiversity world and the special abilities we all have. John is a well-known figure in the industry, and he wears multiple hats, including being the host of two popular podcasts: Law Firm Marketing Minute and Center Stage. These podcasts cover a wide range of topics that are of interest to professionals in the legal field and beyond. One of the most popular topics discussed on these podcasts is legal marketing data and trends. John leverages the insights provided by Spotlight Branding's Legal Marketing Trends Report to shed light on how lawyers approach their marketing strategies and manage their firms. By delving into this data, listeners gain valuable insights into what their competitors are doing and how to tackle the common challenges faced by law firms. Another intriguing topic John covers is the truth about search engine optimization (SEO). He challenges the prevailing belief that SEO is the ultimate solution for internet marketing success. Instead, he encourages listeners to critically analyze the effectiveness of SEO and offers alternative strategies that deserve their attention. With the legal industry becoming increasingly competitive and commoditized, it's crucial for law firms to stand out in a crowded marketplace. John provides guidance on how to craft compelling marketing messages that establish strong connections with the target audience. He also addresses the barriers and stigmas associated with the legal profession, helping law firms differentiate themselves from their competitors. In addition to hosting podcasts, John has an extensive history of speaking engagements. He has shared his expertise at various events such as the Mecklenburg Bar Association Annual Review, Dade County Bar Association gatherings, Podfest, the Dementia-Focused Practice Summit, and the Law Firm Growth Summit.
 
 

May 17, 2023 - Ama la Vida Nicole Wood and PR Event Opportunity Vikram Rajan

Nicole Wood - CEO & Co-Founder of Ama La Vida
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[caption id="attachment_54940" align="alignright" width="150"] Nicole Wood[/caption]
Nicole Wood - CEO & Co-Founder of Ama La Vida, is on a mission to create an environment where the team thrives and clients feel empowered. She views her role as a cultivator rather than a commander, investing in coaches' education and valuing client feedback as gospel. Nicole's primary goal is to help clients design careers that bring fulfillment and success, putting an end to the dread of Mondays. She is passionate about making work meaningful, thrilling, and financially rewarding as the traditional clock-in, clock-out culture evolves. With a background in management consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nicole brings a fresh perspective to the coaching industry, emphasizing rigor, process, and results. At Ama La Vida, working with a coach goes beyond feeling inspired during sessions—it's about making lasting changes in clients' lives even after the sessions end. Recognized as a thought leader, Nicole has been featured in renowned publications like Fortune, Bustle, Monster.com, and Yahoo. She focuses on crafting rewarding careers and fostering a company culture that encourages innovation and individuality. Nicole's determination to help clients love their lives is equally matched by her commitment to creating a phenomenal workplace for ALV staff and coaches. As the driving force behind Ama La Vida, Nicole is leading the organization to be the first coaching company providing a platform for coaches to focus on coaching and amplifying their impact, rather than getting bogged down in business administration. This innovative business model has resulted in rapid growth among their highly skilled and certified coaching team. Nicole firmly believes that this approach will revolutionize coaching, making it affordable and accessible to all who desire it. On a personal level, Nicole hails from Philadelphia but has made Chicago her home after marrying a tall, corn-fed Midwesterner. Alongside her husband, she shares the company of three adorable little dogs. Although she has embraced the Chicago lifestyle, Nicole's East-coast edge remains evident. Known for her humor, adventurous spirit, and wild ideas, she dreams big, laughs heartily, and deeply cares about the work she does. And according to Nicole, every meeting becomes more creative with a glass of champagne! Cheers to Nicole's passion, dedication, and commitment to empowering others through Ama La Vida.
[social_icons type='circle_social' icon='fa-linkedin' use_custom_size='yes' size='fa-lg' custom_size='' link='https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolewoodalv/' target='_blank' icon_color='' icon_hover_color='' background_color='' background_hover_color='' background_color_transparency='' border_width='' border_color='' border_hover_color='' icon_margin='' /]Vikram Rajan 
Vikram Rajan has presented on behalf of every major Bar Association in the Greater New York City area. His marketing column premiered in the AICPA’s CPA Insider publication in Fall 2009 and became the most popular column in July 2010.
Vikram Rajan has presented in front of many networking groups & organizations:American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) •

May 16, 2023 - Containing Big Tech Tom Kemp and Growing a Law Firm James Grant

Tom Kemp - Managing Director of Kemp Au Ventures and Author of Containing Big Tech: How to Protect Our Civil Rights, Economy, and Democracy
If you are a non profitable, series B that is only growing 30%, you're goingto have a difficult time raising that series C round. That's where the freakingout is happening in Silicon Valley.
Tom Kemp is the Managing Director of Kemp Au Ventures. He is a Silicon Valley–based CEO, entrepreneur, and investor. He is the author of "Containing Big Tech: How to Protect Our Civil Rights, Economy, and Democracy" (Fast Company Press, August 22, 2023). Tom was the founder and CEO of Centrify (renamed Delinea in 2022), a leading cybersecurity cloud provider that amassed over two thousand enterprise customers, including over 60 percent of the Fortune 50. For his leadership, Tom was named by Ernst & Young as a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in Northern California. Tom is also an active Silicon Valley angel investor, with seed investments in over a dozen tech start-ups. In addition, Tom has served as a technology policy advisor for political campaigns and advocacy groups, including leading the campaign marketing efforts in 2020 to pass California Proposition 24―the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)―and co-drafting bills such as the California Delete Act of 2023. Tom writes extensively on technology policy on his blog (tomkemp.ai) and has been interviewed by the Guardian, Politico, the Washington Post, CNBC, Fox News, and others. Tom holds a bachelor of science degree in computer science and in history from the University of Michigan.
 
James Grant - Co-founder of Georgia Trial Attorneys at Kirchen & Grant
James Grant and his partner started their law firm, Georgia Trial Attorneys at Kirchen & Grant, with zero clients, no plan, and no business experience. They faked it ‘til they made it to learn what works to run a successful law firm… and what doesn’t. James and his partner now run a highly successful law firm and have 21 staff working for them, including 6 other attorneys. Grant and his team have helped thousands of families across the southeast recover physically and financially – to the tune of millions upon millions of dollars each year. In addition to running his own successful law firm, James Grant also is seen as an expert in his field and is called upon to help in personal injury cases for other law firms when litigation is needed to come to a fair settlement with the insurance companies. He also helps other law firms to build successful businesses by offering coaching from his first hand experience. James has insight to share for any lawyers or aspiring lawyers, entrepreneurs and business owners, and anyone who might find themselves in an accident one day and not know what to do! James M. Grant is an aggressive and experienced litigator focused on empowering the injured against the greed of the insurance companies. Mr. Grant specifically focuses his talents on auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, trucking accidents, and wrongful deaths. Mr. Grant has extensive trial experience in the many different courtrooms across the State. As the firm’s lead trial attorney, Mr. Grant is well-equipped to serve his clients throughout Georgia. Following his graduation from law school, Mr. Grant began his career as an Assistant Solicitor-General with the Gwinnett County Solicitor-General’s Office and the Municipal Court of Suwanee. Mr. Grant gains valuable trial experience advocating for the rights of the State of Georgia and those victimized by criminal defendants. Notably, during his tenure with Gwinnett County, Mr. Grant successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Georgia in the case of Castillo-Solis v. State. Following his years of service as a prosecutor, Mr. Grant accepted a position as an Associate Attorney with a boutique personal injury law firm. After consistently proving himself as a top-tier litigator and client advocate, he was promoted as a Senior Associate Attorney. Now as a founding partner of Georgia Trial Attorneys at Kirchen & Grant, LLC, Mr. Grant represents and counsels each client and prospective client as a highly trained and hyper-aggressive attorney. Mr. Grant’s trial experience as a civil litigator as well as a prosecutor is instrumental to his success in the courtroom. Further, his varied experiences make him ideally suited to represent individuals who have been wronged and unfairly taken advantage of by greedy insurance companies—helping to level the playing field for his clients. Mr. Grant lives in Roswell with his wife, son, and daughter – all 4 are very active and involved in the local community.

May 15, 2023 – Seeing the How Allen P. Adamson and NDAok James Weir

Allen Adamson - Co-Founder at Metaforce and Author of Seeing the How: Transforming What People Do, Not Buy, To Gain Market Advantage
Most of the startups are not inventing a better mouse trap. They weren't comingin and saying, “Look at this new product that I invented.” They were looking at theway people live and asking can we change how we do things.
Allen P. Adamson is the Co-Founder at Metaforce and Author of Seeing the How: Transforming What People Do, Not Buy, To Gain Market Advantage. A noted expert in all disciplines of branding. He has worked with a broad spectrum of consumer and B2B businesses in industries from packaged goods to hospitality, and technology to healthcare. His previous books, including BrandSimple and, most recently, Shift Ahead, are used as textbooks in higher education business programs nationwide. After holding senior management positions at Ogilvy & Mather and DMB&B, Adamson joined Landor Associates, a full-spectrum brand consultancy, and eventually rose to chairman. Under his leadership, the company partnered with global brands including Accenture, GE, Johnson & Johnson, FedEx, HBO, Marriott, MetLife, P&G, Sony, and Verizon. Additionally, he guided non-profit organizations such as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. For the past several years, he has been an adjunct professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, where he also serves as the brand expert-in-residence at the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship. A sought-after industry commentator, Adamson has appeared on ABC News, NBC’s Today, CNBC’s Squawk Box and Closing Bell, and Fox Business Network, and is often quoted in publications including The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Advertising Age, and Forbes. He is the co-founder and managing partner of a disruptive marketing and brand consultancy that takes a multidisciplinary, channel-agnostic approach to driving growth.
 
James Weir - Founder and CEO of ndaOK
You shouldn't be signing in NDAs. If I could convince the world that NDAsare silly and a waste of time I would. But, I can't. The only thing I can do ismake the process easier and less painful for the people that have to do it.
James Weir is the Founder and CEO of ndaOK. James' resume includes legal services, technology, and professional services. After having reviewed thousands of NDAs throughout his career, he became frustrated with the issues he was experiencing, which led him to the creation of ndaOK. ndaOK is the first of its kind – the only AI-enabled solution for processing NDAs. Built using OpenAi’s GPT-3, ndaOK eliminates the hassle and makes it easier to send, review, approve, execute, and track NDAs. James Weir has a decade of experience in the legal and technology industries. From 2005 to 2010, He had worked as an Associate at Clifford Chance US LLP and then as an Assistant Attorney General at the Office of the New York State Attorney General. In 2011, they joined Bernstein Liebhard LLP as an Associate. In 2017, He became the Chief Operating Officer of Smarter Sorting. In 2018, he joined ClearBlade, Inc. as the Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, in 2021, he founded and became the CEO of ndaOK, the world's first end-to-end automated solution for processing nondisclosure agreements. ndaOK's artificial intelligence-enabled platform is the only automated end-to-end solution for processing NDAs. James Weir attended Salisbury School from 1994 to 1998. James Weir - then went on to Duke University, where he earned a BA in Political Science from 1998 to 2002. After that, he attended Georgetown University Law Center, where he earned a Juris Doctor in Law from 2003 to 2006. James Weir - is also certified as an Attorney with the State Bar of Texas and the New York State Unified Court System.

May 12, 2023 – Greatest Hits! Millions Sold Brendan Kane and Millionaire Mindset Sarah Fallaw

Our 10-year-long hosting platform went out of business at the end of 2022. So, tons of great content needs to be moved to our new platform. Here are some of the great interviews from the SFSR archives.Brendan Kane – Managing Partner at Hook Point  and the Author of "One Million Followers: How I Built a Massive Social Following in 30 Days"
Brendan Kane has quite a list of accomplishments. Part of sixteen movies grossing more than $685 million dollars, he built an advertising technology for MTV that monetized social networks, created an app that takes a Facebook profile a turns it into a website in a minute, and co-founded AskAGuru.fm for the world’s top self-help authors and motivational speakers. His tech was used by MGM, Sony, Yahoo, and MTV. Brendan’s company Site Canvas built tools for celebrity clients like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Xzibit, Charles Barkley, football player Michael Strahan, and Holly Madison. And, he consulted for the NHL and NFL Players Association to bolster their digital offerings. Can’t wait to hear his story.
 
Dr. Sarah Fallaw – President of DataPoints and Author of The Next Millionaire Next Door 
Thomas J. Stanley was an author, lecturer, and researcher who started studying the affluent in 1973. His books on the wealthy spent more than 170 weeks combined on the New York Times’ Best Sellers list. His work has been cited in the national media, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, Time, Money Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, and USA Today. His work on “millionaires next door” changed the way the wealthy are perceived. His daughter, Sarah Stanley Fallaw, Ph.D. is president of DataPoints, a company that provides assessments based on the research data of her father. Dr.  Fallaw, provides data-backed insights into what it takes to become the millionaire next door today.

May 11, 2023 - Greatest Hits! Siri’s Lon Safko and Speaker Susan Fennema

Our 10-year-long hosting platform went out of business at the end of 2022. So, tons of great content needs to be moved to our new platform. Here are some of the great interviews from the SFSR archives.Lon Safko – Best Selling Author & CEO at Innovative Thinking and Author of The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success
Lon Safko is the bestselling author of “The Social Media Bible” which hit #1 on Amazon, and “The Fusion Marketing Bible” which hit #3 on Amazon. He is an acclaimed international keynote speaker and the host of the PBS Television Special “Social Media & You… Communicating In A Digital World.” According to Steve Jobs, Lon created the “First Computer To Save A Human Life!” Lon has 3 patents and has 18 inventions. More than 30,000 of his personal records are part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution!  Lon was the recipient of the Westinghouse Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was twice nominated for the Inc. Magazine and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.Susan Fennema – Founder of Beyond the Chaos
Susan Fennema is the Chaos Eradicating Officer (CEO) of Beyond the Chaos, a consultancy helping small business owners with about 25 or less employees to simplify their operations and manage their projects so they can grow their businesses and get their lives back. She is also the author of “3 Ways to Control Chaos in Your Small Business.” When not making multi-course dinners, she enjoys Texas A&M football games and Blackhawks hockey.

May 10, 2023 – Greatest Hits! Cisco’s John Chambers and The Lean Entrepreneur Brant Cooper

Our 10-year-long hosting platform went out of business at the end of 2022. So, tons of great content needs to be moved to our new platform. Here are some of the great interviews from the SFSR archives.John Chambers - Former Executive Chairman of Cisco and now the CEO of JC2 Ventures
John Chambers is the founder and CEO of JC2 Ventures. In his role, Chambers focuses on helping disruptive startups from around the world build and scale, while also promoting the broader development of startup nations and a startup world. He invests in companies across categories and geographies that are leading market transitions, such as ASAPP, Aspire Food Group, Balbix, Bloom Energy, Cloudleaf, Dedrone, IoTium, Lucideus, OpenGov, Pensando, Pindrop, Privoro, Quantum Metric, Rubrik, SparkCognition, Sprinklr, and Uniphore. He serves on the Board of Directors for Bloom Energy, OpenGov, Pindrop, Sprinklr, and Uniphore. Prior to founding JC2 Ventures in January 2018, Chambers served as CEO, Chairman and Executive Chairman at Cisco Systems. During his 25+ years at Cisco, he helped grow the company from $70 million when he joined in 1991, to $1.2 billion when he became CEO in 1995, to $47 billion when he stepped down as CEO in 2015. As Executive Chairman, a position Chambers held until December 2017, he led the Board of Directors and provided counsel to the CEO and leadership team on strategy, digital transformation and strategic partnerships. John also spearheaded the creation and development of Cisco’s country digitization program, where he partnered with government leaders across the world to harness the power of technology to create economic opportunities. Chambers resides in California with his wife of more than 40 years. He enjoys fishing, swimming, and spending time with his two children, as well as his two grandchildren.Brant Cooper - Founder of Moves the Needle and one of the Authors of "The Lean Entrepreneur: How Visionaries Create Products, Innovate with New Ventures, and Disrupt Markets"
Brant Cooper is The New York Times bestselling author of The Lean Entrepreneur and CEO and founder of Moves the Needle. He is a trusted adviser to startups and large enterprises around the world. With more than 25 years of expertise in changing industrial age mindset into digital age opportunity, he blends agile, human-centered design, and lean methodologies to ignite entrepreneurial action from the front lines to the C-suite. As a sought-after keynote speaker, startup mentor, and executive advisor, he travels the globe sharing his vision for reimagining 21st century organizations. Bringing agility, digital transformation, and a focus on creating value for customers, he helps leaders navigate the uncertainty brought on by increased complexity and endless disruption.

May 9, 2023 - Greatest Hits! Thought Leader Brian Tracy and Broke to IPO Lisa Nichols

Our 10-year-long hosting platform went out of business at the end of 2022. So, tons of great content needs to be moved to our new platform. Here are some of the great interviews from the SFSR archives.Brian Tracy - Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International
Brian Tracy is the Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of individuals and organizations. Brian Tracy has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 5,000,000 people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the US, Canada and 70 other countries worldwide. As a Keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year. He has studied, researched, written and spoken for 30 years in the fields of economics, history, business, philosophy and psychology. He is the top selling author of over 70 books that have been translated into dozens of languages. He has written and produced more than 300 audio and video learning programs, including the worldwide, best-selling Psychology of Achievement, which has been translated into more than 28 languages. He speaks to corporate and public audiences on the subjects of Personal and Professional Development, including the executives and staff of many of America's largest corporations. His exciting talks and seminars on Leadership, Selling, Self-Esteem, Goals, Strategy, Creativity and Success Psychology bring about immediate changes and long-term results. Prior to founding his company, Brian Tracy International, Brian was the Chief Operating Officer of a $265 million dollar development company. He has had successful careers in sales and marketing, investments, real estate development and syndication, importation, distribution and management consulting. He has conducted high level consulting assignments with several billion-dollar plus corporations in strategic planning and organizational development. He has traveled and worked in over 107 countries on six continents, and speaks four languages. Brian is happily married and has four children. He is active in community and national affairs, and is the President of three companies headquartered in Solana Beach, California.
Lisa Nichols - Founder and CEO of Motivating the Masses
Lisa Nichols is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Motivating the Masses, Inc., Lisa has developed workshops and programs that have transformed the lives of countless men and women, and altered the trajectory of businesses throughout the country and across the world. Lisa Nichols is one of the world’s most-requested motivational speakers, as well as a media personality and corporate CEO whose global platform has reached nearly 80 million people. From a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur, Lisa’s courage and determination has inspired fans worldwide and helped countless audiences breakthrough, to discover their own untapped talents and infinite potential. Lisa is also a best-selling author of six books, and her 7th book ABUNDANCE NOW, was published in 2016 by HarperCollins. In ABUNDANCE NOW, Lisa continues her journey with her fans, providing a clear and practical blueprint for personal success, drawn directly from the life experiences of its beloved author. ABUNDANCE NOW is the follow-up to Lisa’s New York Times Best Seller, NO MATTER WHAT. Lisa’s extraordinary story of transforming her own life from public assistance for her family to leading a multi-million dollar enterprise is the inspiration behind her bold mission to teach others that it is possible to do the same. Today, fans worldwide revere Lisa for her mastery of teaching people how to accomplish unfathomable goals and tap their limitless potential. A noted media personality who has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, The Dr. Phil Show, The Steve Harvey Show, and Extra – just to name a few, is also celebrated for the impact she has on the lives of teens. Through Lisa’s non-profit foundation Motivating the Teen Spirit, she has touched the lives of over 270,000 teens, prevented over 3,800 teen suicides, supported 2,500 dropouts in returning to school, and has helped thousands reunite with families. Among the prestigious awards and honors bestowed upon Lisa for her extensive work are the Humanitarian Award from the country of South Africa, The Ambassador Award, and the LEGO Foundation‘s Heart of Learning Award. The City of Henderson, Nevada named November 20th as Motivating the Teen Spirit Day; the City of San Diego named April 25th Motivating the Masses Day, and the City of Houston, Texas named May 9th as Lisa Nichols Day for her dedication to service, philanthropy and healing. Lisa lives, plays and works in the greater San Diego, California area and on stages around the world, working alongside her world-class team committed to Motivating the Masses.