School for Startups Radio

May 8, 2023 – Greatest Hits! Pixar’s Levy, Astronaut Jemison and Super Speaker Hal Elrod

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.
 
Lawrence Levy, former CFO of Pixar, talks about working with Steve Jobs and taking Pixar public after the success of Toy Story.
 
Astronaut Mae Jemison talks about her experiences as NASA's first African American woman to travel into space.
 
Super Speaker Hal Elrod - You know its going to be great!

May 5, 2023 - FranklinCovey’s Curtis Bateman and Publishing Co. Owner Morgan MacDonald

Curtis Bateman - Vice-President of FranklinCovey and one of the Authors of Change: How to Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity
Leaders like to proclaim a change and then go back to whatever they wereworking on. That leaves there are people floundering, trying to figure outwhat in the world. Leaders need to move from monologue to dialoguewhere they stay engaged with the change.
Curtis Bateman is FranklinCovey’s vice president of international direct offices. With over twenty-five years of experience in the training industry, Curtis is an internationally recognized presenter, content developer, change consultant, business leader, and coach. His passion for enabling organizations “at change” resulted in the co-creation of transformative, industry-leading solutions, including Change Element, Leaders@Change, Managing Millennials, Millennials@Work, and the Change Practitioner. Formerly the president and CEO at Red Tree Leadership, Curtis managed the world-class brand Who Moved My Cheese? and created a practical approach to help individuals and leaders succeed in an ever-complex world of change in the workplace. Curtis joined FranklinCovey as a senior change consultant and co-practice leader. In 2016, Curtis became managing director of the U.K. and Ireland, in 2018 was asked to assume additional management responsibilities in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and in 2019 took on additional responsibility for China, Japan, and Australia. Franklin Covey is the world leader in helping organizations achieve results that require collective behavior change. They have built a Change Model that demystifies the uncertainty of change and creates the opportunity to realize greater results, personal growth, and even innovation.  With over 25 years experience in the training industry, Curtis Bateman is an internationally recognized presenter, content developer, change consultant, business, leader, and coach. His passion for enabling organizations "at change" was established early on, resulting in him co-creating a number of transformative, industry-leading solutions, such as Change Element, Leaders@Change, Managing Millennials, Millennials@Work, and the Change Practitioner. Curtis's career has taken him all over the world, engaging in high-impact work with global accounts such as Disney, Etisalat in UAE, and Bloomberg, to today overseeing the success of Franklin Covey’s entire international division. This experience across continents is invaluable to his ability to connect with individuals, informing a thoughtful, intentional, and inclusive approach to deliver that empowers others to bring their best, whatever their geography or industry.
 
Morgan Gist MacDonald - Founder of Paper Raven Books and Author of Start Writing Your Book Today: A step-by-step plan to write your nonfiction book, from first draft to finished manuscript
Publishing a book is just a process, we documented that process, andtook some clients through as Guinea pigs. We did a handful in 2015and now we do between 50 and 60 books a year.
Morgan Gist MacDonald, the founder of Paper Raven Books and the author of Start Writing Your Book Today: A step-by-step plan to write your nonfiction book, from first draft to finished manuscript, empowers her clients by guiding them through the writing and publishing process from start to finish. Morgan began her career in academia, as a Sociologist, but soon found the entrepreneurial pull to take her skills as a researcher, writer, teacher, and leader into building a publishing company, from the ground up. With more than 15 years of experience in writing, editing, and publishing books, Morgan leads the Paper Raven Books team in developing the best practices for publishing successfully in the modern, digital age. Morgan draws from her personal experience in academia during her doctoral studies in sociology as she was helping others with the writing process of their thesis, articles and other academic publications. Having gained deep insights into the writing process, she wrote her own book - which in turn helped dozens of her clients to embrace their creative visions, harness their messages, and shape it all into an impactful book to grow their businesses and careers as published authors.

May 4, 2023 - Never Give Up! Jay Sidhu and 4th Generation Julie Charlestein

Jay Sidhu -  CEO of Customers Bancorp and Author of Never Ever, Ever Give Up: An Inspiring True Story about Leadership, Commitment, Resiliency, Happiness and Making Your Dreams Come True 
You will always have unforeseen issues. You will always have unforeseenchallenges. If you are persistent and take the appropriate actions, pivot asneeded, you will succeed. Never ever give up!
Jay Sidhu serves as Chief Executive Officer of Customers Bancorp, Inc., and Executive Chairman of Customers Bank. Under Jay’s management, Customers Bank grew from a $250 million troubled bank to over $20 billion in assets in approximately ten years. Prior to joining Customers Bank, he served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. There, he grew the organization from an Initial Public Offering of $12 million into the 17th largest banking institution in the country with a market cap of $12 billion at his retirement. Sidhu has received numerous recognitions in the industry, including Financial World's CEO of the Year, Turnaround Entrepreneur of the Year, and was named the Large Business Leader of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. He has spoken at YPO Universities in Dubai and Hong Kong about Authentic Leadership and has also been a speaker at conferences around the world including Singapore, London, Sydney, Prague, Dubai, and all over the US. Sidhu earned a Master of Business Administration from Wilkes University and graduated from the Harvard Business School’s Leadership Course for CEO’s.
 
Julie Charlestein - CEO of Premier Dental Products US and Author of How to Lead Your Family Business: Excelling Through Unexpected Crises, Choices, and Challenges
Concerning the work life balance question, you cannot be great atboth at the same time. There are days when I am an amazing motherand days when I am killing it at work. But they are not often the same day!
Julie Charlestein is a Philadelphia-based business leader and healthcare innovator who serves as the CEO of Premier Dental, a global provider of inspired solutions for daily dentistry. Leading a century-old business as the company’s fourth-generation chief executive, Julie is recognized within the dental industry and beyond as a champion of creative healthcare solutions to meet the evolving needs of today’s patients. She was voted one of The Top 25 Most Influential Women in Dentistry by Dental Products Report and recognized as one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s “Most Admired CEOs.” Julie was awarded the Silver Stevie Award as Female Executive of the Year, and honored with the Gold Award by the Best in Biz Awards as Executive of the Year, and nominated as one of IFAH’s Top 100 Healthcare Leaders. The Wall Street Journal featured her perspective in the WSJ-Pro AI cover story “AI Helps Medical Device Makers Punch Above Their Weight.” She currently serves on the Board of Overseers for The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, the Dean's Advisory Council of Temple University Dental School, and the Board of ASDOH (Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health). She has previously served on the Dean's Advisory Board of the School of Dental Medicine at Harvard University. Julie has served as the Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Dental Trade Alliance, and is a member of The Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). Julie holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a master's degree from Temple University.

May 3, 2023 - The Franchise Player Tarji Carter and Social Bee Jason Lebaw

Tarji Carter - Founder & President of The Franchise Player
Tarji Carter is the Founder and President of The Franchise Player, a revolutionary initiative aimed at expanding the number of African franchises across the country. The Franchise Player provides education, resources, and opportunities to aspiring franchisees and small business owners, with a focus on increasing franchise ownership and wealth across the African American community. With more than a decade of experience in franchise sales and development, Tarji has helped hundreds of small business operators realize their dream of owning a franchise while expanding the footprint of some of the world's most popular brands, including Cinnabon, Carvel, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin, Wingstop, Edible Arrangements, Fuddruckers, Bojangles', and more. Through her work with The Franchise Player, Tarji is pushing for African entrepreneurs to operate high-performing restaurants while helping companies grow their brands and build wealth in the African community.
 
Jason LaBaw - Founder & CEO of Social Bee & Bonsai Media Group
Jason LaBaw is an experienced entrepreneur and digital marketing professional with over 13 years of experience as the owner and operator of Bonsai Media Group, serving top brands such as Samsung, Amazon, Supra Boats, and CTG. bringing 18+ years of industry experience and strategic leadership. He holds an in Web Management & Web Development and is certified in AdWords, Google Analytics, and Umbraco development. Jason’s in-depth knowledge of digital marketing communications combined with his technical experience as a certified web developer, make him uniquely capable of driving both technology-focused and marketing-focused solutions. He is the Founder and CEO of Social Bee, a travel AR app that combines elements of Pokemon Go and Trip Advisor to enhance the travel experience. Jason is also a leader in developing in-person digital experiences (IPDEs), including 3D product configurators, AR apps, and branded scavenger hunts, for clients worldwide. He provides valuable insights and strategies for brands seeking to become metaverse ready. Based in Seattle, Jason regularly speaks at the University of Washington and Western Washington University on a variety of topics, including Web Development & Design, Usability Enhancements, Conversion Rate Optimization, Search Engine Optimization (both paid and organic), and Social Media.

May 1, 2023 - Good Charcoal Ben Jablonski and NYT Best Selling Raymond Arroyo

Ben Jablonski - CEO and Co-Founder of The Good Charcoal Company
Ben Jablonski is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Good Charcoal Company. He is responsible for making sure the company’s vision is realized to make Good Charcoal, Good for the environment, and Good for the community. Ben combines over a decade of retail experience with a passion for agriculture and community service. Prior to co-founding The Good Charcoal Company, Jablonski worked as a product design engineer for several companies, including Procter & Gamble and Reebok. During his time in the industry, he became increasingly concerned about the negative impact that traditional charcoal production methods were having on the environment. This concern led Jablonski to begin experimenting with alternative production methods, which ultimately led to the development of The Good Charcoal Company's flagship product, the Naked Charcoal Briquette. This product is made using sustainably sourced wood, and does not contain any of the harmful chemicals or additives that are often found in traditional charcoal products. Under Jablonski's leadership, The Good Charcoal Company has quickly gained a reputation as a leader in sustainable charcoal production. The company's products are now available in stores across the United States, and have been featured in a number of publications, including Forbes and Fast Company. Jablonski is a passionate advocate for sustainable business practices and environmental stewardship. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Master's degree in Product Design from Stanford University.
As we continue to move certain interviews to our new host platform, we are pleased to present Raymond Arroyo today!

April 28, 2023 - Online Apparel Sales Brian Wong and Purposeful Growth Mark Mears

Brian Wong - Co-Founder of NORMANS Apparel
Brian is one of the two Co-Founders of Green Work Apparel, the parent company of multiple online fashion brands, including NORMANS, which has recently launched in North America. What's interesting about Brian and his business partner is that they are running this venture while still accelerating their corporate jobs. They also function in a fully remote operating model, their business was incorporated in early 2021, and the last time they met in person was in 2019. Brian previously held the position of Consulting Manager in data and analytics at a top global consulting firm, and is currently working as a Senior Product Manager for one of the top traveling tech companies. In terms of credentials, Brian has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto. He has earned two Master's Degrees from Queen's University (an MBA and a Master Of Management Analytics) and also holds a CPA. Brian obtained all of these qualifications within five years.
 
Mark A. Mears - Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC and Author of The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder
Mark A. Mears is a #1 Best Selling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and visionary business leader. He has a significant track record of building shareholder value—driving innovation and profitable growth among world-class, high-profile brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBCUniversal, and The Cheesecake Factory. Today, Mark serves as Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC—a consulting firm inspiring individuals, teams, and organizations to find purpose in fulfilling their true growth potential while making a positive, lasting difference in the world. Mark has just released his new book titled, The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder. He plans to amplify his thesis with related speaking, consulting, and eLearning platforms. Mark is also a member of the Senior Leader Network within Conscious Capitalism, Inc., a global organization whose mission he shares: Elevating Humanity Through Business.

April 27, 2023 - Bubble 3.0 David Hay and 2 Hour Design Sprints Teresa Cain

David Hay - Co-Chief Investment Officer & Partner at Evergreen Gavekal
I would emphasize real assets, things that central banks can't print.I particularly love oil as an investment, which is very out of favor right now. I think the shortages are going to get more and more acute.
David Hay is the Co-Chief Investment Officer & Partner at Evergreen Gavekal and the host/author of the Haymaker newsletter.  David has been helping clients build their financial legacies for more than 40 years and has also helped build Evergreen Gavekal into a business that has nearly $4 billion in client assets under management.  He is an expert on the financial markets and can often shed light on overlooked segments of the economy.  He issued advance warnings about the late 1990s tech bubble, the early 2000s housing bubble and, most recently, what he believed to be history’s biggest financial bubble that hit a climax in 2021. David Hay acquired the majority interest in Evergreen Gavekal (at the time, Evergreen Capital Management) in 2002. He continues to serve his long-time clients and acts as Co-Chief Investment Officer with special emphasis in macroeconomic research. David has been employed in the securities industry since 1979 when he joined Dean Witter Reynolds, now Morgan Stanley. He rose to the position of Senior Vice President in 1983. In 1985 he was the youngest member to be elected to Dean Witter’s elite Chairman’s Council. David and his team joined Smith Barney in 1990 and were instrumental in establishing the Portfolio Advisory Program. Fulfilling the positions of Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager and Director, David also served on the Smith Barney Directors Advisory Group, gaining valuable experience in merger integration and client service enhancement. In 2022, David released his highly anticipated book, Bubble 3.0:  Who blew it and how to protect yourself when it blows apart. The book explores why he believes the financial markets are headed toward a third iteration of past market rotations. Accordingly, he believes there are a number of investment areas/asset classes poised to benefit from what he has begun referring to as “The New World Disorder”.  
 
Teresa Cain - Director of Trevipay and Author of Solving Problems in 2 Hours: How to Brainstorm and Create Solutions with Two Hour Design Sprints
Figma Fig Jam is an online collaborative whiteboard tool for onlinebrainstorming. There is a free template there called two hour designsprint by Teresa Kane for you to utilize.
Teresa Cain is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and technology executive with over 15 years of overseeing global product and user experience teams. Teresa has diverse experience leading product management, product design, research, strategy, and innovation for digital solutions and as a consultant for startup technology firms. Teresa is the Director of Product, UX, and Design at TreviPay, where she drives vision, strategy, and UX for multiple FinTech products and teams. She is the Founder of Lucid Startup Consulting where she coaches startups and serves as an advisor for Central Exchange, a women’s nonprofit, and DevStride, a project and portfolio management solution. Teresa is the instructor of the highest-rated and bestseller course for design sprints on Udemy, 2-Hour Design Sprints: Learn how to solve problems and design products in just 2 hours vs. 5 days using Figma FigJam. Her book Solving Problems in 2 Hours: How to Brainstorm and Create Solutions with Two-Hour Design Sprints was released in April 2023 and has been awarded Best Seller and #1 New Release in Business Technology Innovation, Strategic Management, and Market Research Business books. Teresa regularly speaks at conferences on design thinking, customer experience, and product innovation. Teresa received a prestigious Emerging Scholar Award in 2023 from the International Conference on Design Principles and Practices including presenting her research "Putting Into Practice Evolving Design Thinking Methods at Technology Firms: The Evolution To 2-Hour Design Sprints.” She was also a 2022 Women in IT Summit & Award Series Finalist for Advocate of the Year.

April 26, 2023 - Cyber Defense Labs’ Robert Anderson Jr and Simon Sinek Replay

Robert 'Bob' Anderson Jr. - Chief Executive Officer of Cyber Defense Labs
Robert Anderson, Jr. is a national security expert, author, and business leader dedicated to helping companies reduce business risk by ensuring their cybersecurity investments are properly aligned to their business priorities. He previously spent more than 20 years serving in the FBI, where he combatted violent crime and drug operations, served on the elite Hostage Rescue Team, and led critical national security operations involving cybersecurity, counterintelligence, economic espionage, and critical incident response. Ultimately, Anderson rose to become Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, (the number three) overseeing more than 20,000 employees along with all FBI criminal and cyber investigations worldwide, international operations, critical incident response, and victim assistance.

April 24, 2023 - Crowdsourced Recruiting Chad Bean and $300 Million Sale Michael Buckwald

Chad Bean - CEO of Ignite Recruitment
We are the first company in the industry that lets people recruit onthe go. On top of that, we let non recruiters recruit. So we let the generalmarket be Privy to the advantages and profit of the recruitment sector.We are monetizing referrals.
Chad Bean is a highly accomplished recruitment professional with over a decade of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, Chad has held a number of senior management positions at some of the world's top companies, where he has established a reputation for his exceptional leadership skills, strategic thinking, and innovative approach to recruitment. In his current role as the owner and manager of Ignite Recruitment, Chad is leading a company that is truly changing the game in the recruitment industry. Ignite Recruitment is a crowdsourced referral platform that is designed to connect top talent with the best job opportunities, all through the power of referrals. Ignite’s platform is giving individuals the opportunity to make money just by utilizing their personal networks. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative approach, Ignite Recruitment is quickly becoming the go-to platform for job seekers and recruiters alike.
 
Michael Buckwald - Chief Executive Officer of Torch Sensors 
The end goal is to either have governments buy torch sensors or requirethey be installed as in the case of the indoor smoke detector.
Michael Buckwald is the Chief Executive Officer of Torch. It is Buckwald’s second IoT sensor product and company. While CEO of hand-tracking sensor company Leap Motion, Buckwald led the startup to a $300 million valuation and acquisition. Across the U.S., Leap Motion products were sold in over 1,000 Best Buy stores. Buckwald has been recognized for his entrepreneurship expertise in the Fast Company Most Creative People in Business and the Forbes 30 Under 30 – Technology lists. For half a decade, Micheal has faced the challenge of building a hardware device for fire detection. By tapping into his leadership, fundraising, and recruiting expertise, Michael has been a keystone element in Torch's Business.

April 21, 2023 – Outdoor Channel TV Star Daniel Vitalis and Discovering Purpose Del H. Smith

Daniel Vitalis - Founder of the nutrition company Surthrival.com, TV Star on Outdoor Channel show WildFed     
Daniel Vitalis is the host of WildFed on Outdoor Channel. For ten years he lectured around North America and abroad, offering workshops that helped others lead healthier, more nature-integrated lives. A successful entrepreneur, he founded the nutrition company Surthrival.com in 2008. Most recently, he hosted the popular podcast ReWild Yourself. He’s a Registered Maine Guide, writer, public speaker, interviewer, and lifestyle pioneer who’s especially interested in helping people reconnect with wildness, both inside and outside of themselves. After learning to hunt, fish, and forage as an adult, Daniel created WildFed to inspire others to start a wild-food journey of their own. Headquartered in the Lakes Region of Maine, he lives with his beautiful wife Avani and their Plott Hound Ellie. Connect with him at Wild-Fed.com, as well as on Instagram @danielvitalis and Facebook.
 
Del H. Smith - Author of Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining The Club 
Del H. Smith is the author of an inspiring book, Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining The Club. He has devoted two decades of research into discovering the purpose of life. His research includes the study of philosophy and participation in religious retreats. His work is fueled by the extensive reading of books by Atheists, spiritualists, and religious apologists. His personal pursuit of life's purpose ran the gambit from Atheist to unfulfilled convert to fervent Christian. His journey involved a critical examination of The Club, the multi-denominational Christian Church. Smith has developed a video channel, entitled the Meaning of Life Video Series, as well as a blog. Smith is the developer of an experiential learning methodology that applies one's unique life experience to their reason-based thinking. He retired as an international marketing consultant. His clients included IBM, Microsoft, Dell Computers, Hewlett Packard, and many other global companies. He has developed financial and sales process methodologies that have been adopted in over a dozen countries. Upon retirement, he directed his business experience to the development of reason-based thought processes in pursuit of establishing one's life purpose. His family includes his three children, their late mother, his three grandchildren and his wife, Marcelle. He lives in Markham, Ontario, Canada.