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What if your company’s unsellable inventory could become a lifeline for nonprofits instead of ending up in a landfill? In this episode of Disruptive CEO Nation, host Allison K. Summers talks with Disney Petit, founder and CEO of LiquiDonate, a groundbreaking platform turning excess retail goods and customer returns into powerful tools for social impact. From building the tech to power smarter giving to literally digging through dumpsters to understand waste, Disney shares how she’s creating a new supply chain for good—and why reconnecting to your mission might be the most powerful business strategy of all.
Here are highlights:
-Turning Returns into Resources: LiquiDonate matches excess or returned retail inventory with schools and nonprofits in need, saving goods from landfills and cutting reverse logistics costs by 50%.
-Hands-On, Mission-Driven Leadership: Disney shares how she reconnects with purpose by making deliveries herself, ensuring she stays grounded in the impact of the work.
-Scalable Tech with a Social Impact: From Shopify integrations to a custom-built AI-powered donation platform, LiquiDonate makes giving easier than discarding for retailers and event organizers.
-Culture Over Convenience: Built as the “anti-Amazon,” LiquiDonate empowers nonprofits and educators to “shop” for free essential goods. They offer dignity, choice, and sustainability.
-Growth, Grit, and 11 Million Wins: With over 11 million items already diverted from landfills, Disney reflects on startup challenges, team building, and staying aligned with the mission during hard days.
About the guest:
Disney Petit is the Founder and CEO of LiquiDonate, a sustainable social impact software company that matches excess inventory from retailers, brands, and businesses with nonprofits and schools to help recover sunk logistics costs. LiquiDonate combines her years of experience working with tech companies reverse to implement social impact programs that leverage their existing business model and evolving technologies with her love for the work and people of nonprofits.
Prior to LiquiDonate Disney was employee 15 at Postmates. She built the customer service team from the ground up, launched new markets such as Seattle, New York, DC, and Chicago, co-built their sales team, adding a new stream of revenue for the company through the Postmates Partner program. Disney also created the Civic Labs team, Postmates' social responsibility arm.
Connect with Disney:
Website: https://www.liquidonate.com/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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What if your child could actually learn to manage money—not just play pretend with it?
Teaching kids about money has traditionally involved games, fake dollars, and hypothetical situations. But what if the key to lasting financial habits was giving them real financial experiences?
In this eye-opening episode, we talk to the CEO of Stockpile, a financial platform that helps kids and families learn to save, invest, and spend. Victor opens up about his founder journey, raising $45 million, the company’s mission-driven design, and how Stockpile empowers kids to make real investment choices while giving parents peace of mind. You’ll hear how Stockpile has built a platform that doesn’t just teach financial literacy; helps families live it, building lifelong confidence and smart money behaviors. This one’s a must-listen for parents, educators, and startup founders alike.
Here are highlights:
-Real Financial Literacy for Kids: Research shows kids learn best with real-world experience. Stockpile’s platform uses actual money to teach kids saving, investing, and budgeting in a meaningful, lasting way.
-Mission-Driven Design: Stockpile prioritizes saving and investing over spending, with features like "kids choose, parents approve" to foster smart habits and meaningful family money conversations.
-Lessons from the Founder’s Journey: Victor shares how his entrepreneurial upbringing and multiple startups led him to Stockpile, including the importance of aligning values, culture, and hiring practices.
-Adapting to Market Volatility: The platform encourages resilience and patience by letting kids make real investment choices and experience gains and losses, reinforcing the importance of long-term strategy.
-Team Culture and Leadership Values: Victor reveals how Stockpile builds a strong remote culture by hiring for fit, investing in internal development, and maintaining transparency and trust across a global team.
About the guest:
Victor Wang is CEO of Stockpile, an investing platform empowering the next generation of investors through hands-on learning. With over 25 years as a successful entrepreneur, Victor brings the leadership and passion needed to remove barriers in the financial industry and enable people to own their financial futures.
Victor’s belief that today's youth deserve the same opportunities he had when his father came to America with just $40 in his pocket inspired his vision of using Stockpile to make investing accessible for all and give children the power to shape their financial futures. With his background partnering with leading brands like Wells Fargo Bank, American Express, Nike, LEGO, Indian Motorcycle and Jamba Juice, Victor provides the strategic vision and innovation to advance Stockpile’s mission of driving financial inclusion.
Connect with Victor:
Website: https://www.stockpile.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorwangsf
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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What do you get when you cross a behavioral psychologist with significant experience in the business world? You get the insightful mind and wisdom of Richard Reid.
Richard knows that commanding attention and influence while leading through change is more difficult than ever. He shares that the mind and thought processes of an employee today have more dynamic needs than even a decade ago. This is why he wrote Charisma Unlocked: Science and Strategy behind Presence, Persuasion and Authentic Leadership.
We thoroughly enjoyed this conversation as we think any tip and wisdom that an executive leader can gain that will make their business run smoother. Any increase in profitability while elevating employee satisfaction is a win.
Here are highlights:
-Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness, particularly in managing stress and improving communication, is critical as the foundation for a leader that others are willing to follow.
-Charisma in Modern Leadership: Richard discusses the importance of charisma in leadership, emphasizing that it's about connecting with people as individuals and making them feel heard. He explains that modern leadership involves facilitating others, unlocking their potential, and aligning organizational goals with employees' hopes and fears.
-Psychological Safety in Organizations: The importance of creating an environment where people feel safe to express themselves, offer different ideas, and speak up when struggling was emphasized. Richard notes that many well-intentioned leaders struggle with authenticity and humility, often unintentionally sending mixed messages about psychological safety.
-Constructive Conversations: Allow people to bring fresh ideas, challenge prevailing thoughts constructively, and speak up when employees and projects are struggling. He advises leaders to set intentions before conversations, slow down interactions to create space for reflection, and focus on collaboration rather than talking at each other.
-Wellbeing and Mental Health Advocacy: Richard is a lifelong promoter of wellbeing and that CEO's need to make considerations for team members' mental health in the workplace. This care will better equip individuals to navigate and achieve goals and overcome business challenges.
About the guest:
Richard Reid is a highly experienced psychologist, coach, and wellbeing consultant with over 20 years of expertise. He is a former Chief People Officer at a global law firm specialising in Trauma, Resilience, and Psychological Safety. Richard has worked extensively with organisations such as the London Underground, the City of London Police, and the Witness Protection Program. He also runs an international practice providing therapy, coaching, and psychology services to entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and senior leaders.
As a charisma coach and trainer, Richard focuses on helping people achieve their full potential. His latest book, Charisma Unlocked, was published in March and is available on Amazon.
Connect with Richard:
Website: https://richard-reid.com/
Amazon, Buy Charisma Unlocked: https://amzn.to/42N2pF2
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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I love discovering founders who are using technology to democratize access to services that have traditionally been out of reach for many people. That's why I was so excited to speak with Alexander Harmsen, the founder and CEO of Global Predictions.
Alexander created PortfolioPilot, an AI-powered financial advisor that helps individuals take control of their financial lives without the high fees or intimidation factor of traditional firms.
What started as a personal side project has become a platform managing over $30 billion in assets all while helping simplify investing for the everyday person.
In our conversation, Alexander shares how he’s building not just a product, but a movement to empower everyday investors with real, personalized advice. Here are highlights of our conversation:
- From Side Project to $30 Billion Platform: Alexander built the first version of PortfolioPilot to manage his own finances after selling his previous startup. Today, the platform serves tens of thousands of users and continues to scale rapidly.
- Designed for Real People: Rather than expecting users to know what to ask, PortfolioPilot delivers a full written assessment based on inputs like income, age, assets, and risk tolerance. It helps people feel confident and in control of their financial future.
- AI Meets Fiduciary Responsibility: PortfolioPilot provides truly personalized, fiduciary-level financial guidance by asking the right questions and giving users clear, actionable monthly advice based on their actual financial picture.
- High Output, Lean Team: With a team of just 10 people working remotely around the world, Alexander attributes their efficiency to smart hiring, tight feedback loops, and extensive use of AI tools across development, marketing, and operations.
- The Future of Financial Advice: Alexander believes we’re entering an era where everyone will have AI-powered advisors in many areas of life. His goal is for PortfolioPilot to become the go-to financial advisor in your pocket, offering clarity, confidence, and convenience.
About the guest:
Alexander Harmsen, a tech entrepreneur passionate about AI, finance, and autonomy. He founded PortfolioPilot.com, an AI Financial Advisor with over $30 billion in assets on platform. Previously, he founded and sold Iris Automation, worked on NASA’s Mars Helicopter, and went through Y Combinator. He’s raised over $30M in venture capital and was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30.
Connect with Alexander:
Website Global Predictions: https://www.globalpredictions.com/
Website Portfolio Pilot: https://portfoliopilot.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderharmsen/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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A few years ago we had the pleasure of speaking with Jonathan Ogurchak about the success of his company STACK. Now we have invited him back to see how the business has progressed and learn about his new venture, Zeal Specialty Pharmacy. As a pharmacist, Jonathan observed significant inefficiencies and a need to modernize processes. This set him on a course to develop and deliver better technology that would ultimately improve patient care. Today, he is a recognized serial entrepreneur, a leader in technology, and a man whose latest endeavor is centered on the delivery of medication to individuals with rare diseases. Here are highlights of our conversation: -An Update on STACK: The business has expanded its product offerings including a new product called On Queue, an operations workflow platform to enhance the pharmacy patient journey and capture valuable data. They now have customers in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Dubai. -Healthcare Compliance: STACK software helps organizations manage compliance by providing easy access to regulations for different states and purposes and automating processes for accreditation, compliance, and training for pharmacies. -Zeal's Branding Strategy: Jonathan explained the origin of the company name "Zeal" as a play on the term "zebra" in the medical community, representing rare and orphan diseases. The zebra also represents an effort to connect with patient communities through tasteful and purposeful branding. -Advice for Founders: Finding a mentor and maintaining a network for personal and professional growth is critical for new founders. He shared his experiences as a business owner and entrepreneur, highlighting the need to foster a healthy balance between work and personal life. He shared the significance of family and prioritizing time with loved ones, as businesses and jobs can change but family remains constant. -Building Culture: Jonathan discussed the pharmacy's leadership development initiative, which includes a book club focused on customer service and growth. He mentioned the book "Unreasonable Hospitality" and the Disney Institute program. Jonathan also shared that he encourages team members to explore different industries for innovative ideas. About the guest:Jonathan Ogurchak, PharmD, CSP, CPHIMS, is a specialty pharmacy veteran, having served in numerous roles across pharmacies, associations, and education for the last 15 years. Currently, he is the CEO & Founder of STACK, a software firm with two commercially available platforms: its namesake, STACK, a pharmacy information management platform designed to curate and organize information necessary to run successful pharmacies, professional associations, and higher education institutions; and OnQueue, a workflow platform built to optimize the patient journey for pharmacies and clinics. He is also the CEO and co-founder of Zeal Specialty Pharmacy, an independent rare-disease pharmacy leveraging both the above technologies to create the best experiences possible for patients, prescribers, and pharma partners across the country. Jonathan is an adjunct faculty through Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh, precepts pharmacy students virtually at 25 schools of pharmacy nationwide, focused on specialty pharmacy programs and processes, and his specialty pharmacy textbook is in pre-publication. Connect with Jonathan:Website: https://www.managewithstack.com/Website: https://www.zealsp.com/ Connect with Allison:Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/ #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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We always say your best business partner can be in the most surprising places. Today, we discuss why holding a global mindset and helping new companies with their first funding boost, regardless of location, makes for a healthier business ecosystem.
Jenny Fielding, the co-founder and managing partner of Everywhere Ventures, is a big believer in the game-changing impact of global entrepreneurship. From her own journey as an accidental entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, she stresses the importance of backing founders in the early stages with key resources like mentorship, funding, and connections.
With investments spread across the world, Jenny pushes for a global perspective in entrepreneurship, urging entrepreneurs to embrace diverse cultures for resilience and adaptability. Her "everywhere mindset" highlights the potential of dynamic startup scenes globally, motivating entrepreneurs to broaden their horizons and expand their knowledge to thrive in an interconnected world.
These are the highlights of our conversation:
-Jenny’s global network of 500+ founders and operators helps source early-stage companies from all over the world. These founders act as her eyes and ears on the ground.
-Why she invests at the pre-seed stage and focuses more on the people than the ideas. She looks for visionary, resilient founders who are building for a future that doesn’t exist yet.
- Her new book, Venture Everywhere, follows the journey through 12 countries where Jenny interviewed founders who overcame major obstacles to build billion-dollar companies. It’s all about having a global, open-minded, resilient mindset.
-Jenny became a founder accidentally, starting her first company while still working full-time. Her second company failed, but that experience taught her valuable lessons she now uses to support other founders as a venture capitalist.
About the guest:
Jenny Fielding is one of the most active global pre-seed investors in the world, having invested in 300+ companies as the first money in. As the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures, Jenny has built a thriving community of 500+ founders and operators who help source, diligence, and invest in the next generation of startups across 3 core verticals: money, health, and work.
Prior to launching her own fund, Jenny spent 7.5 years as the Managing Director of Techstars where she invested in a portfolio of companies with a current market cap over $10B. Jenny is a 2x founder, a lawyer by training, and an adjunct professor at Columbia University and Cornell Tech.
Connect with Jenny:
Website: https://www.jennyfielding.com/
Website: https://everywhere.vc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyfielding/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/jefielding
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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What if you could look into a crystal ball and see exactly what your family’s long-term care needs will be in the future?
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Lily Vittayarukskul, the brilliant CEO and co-founder of Waterlily, an AI-powered platform that uses over 500 million data points to help families plan for the financial and emotional realities of aging. Lily is a World Economic Forum Top Innovator, a patented inventor, and someone who turned a heartbreaking personal experience into a mission-driven company that is disrupting the way we think about long-term care.
As someone with two parents in their 80s, this topic hits close to home for me—and I know it will for many of you too. We talked about everything from how she built Waterlily and earned the trust of major investors to the importance of planning so families aren’t torn apart in times of crisis.
These are the highlights of our conversation:
- Waterlily Predicts Long-Term Care Needs with AI: Waterlily uses over 500 million data points to help families predict their future long-term care needs based on lookalike families. It’s like looking into a data-driven future mirror.
-A Personal Family Crisis Sparked the Mission: Lily was only 16 when a long-term care event involving her aunt devastated her family emotionally and financially. That experience inspired her to shift from a career in aerospace to founding a company focused on preventing that same pain for others.
- Bold Pivot from B2C: Originally aimed at consumers, Waterlily pivoted to serve the financial services industry, empowering advisors to have better long-term care conversations with clients. This B2B strategy became the core of their scalable, subscription-based model.
- Built for Impact, Not Just Speed: Instead of rushing a product to market, Lily spent two years building a strong technical and data foundation before launching. That decision paid off with major partnerships, including Prudential and several Fortune 100 companies.
- Culture of Trust and Smart Scaling: Despite impressive growth, Lily keeps her team intentionally lean, leveraging large language models and automation to scale efficiently. She emphasizes trust and alignment with all at her company as the foundation for sustainable success.
About the guest:
Lily Vittayarukskul, Waterlily’s CEO and Co-Founder, started college at 14, and by 16, she was venturing into a career in aerospace engineering as an intern at NASA. However, that same year, her life took a dramatic turn when her Aunt, who raised her and was a cornerstone in her first-generation immigrant family, was diagnosed with terminal stage colon cancer. The ensuing financial and emotional devastation, exacerbated by their family's lack of preparedness, tore permanent rifts in her family, and compelled her to pivot her career from aerospace to a lifelong dedication to building solutions in healthcare.
Fueled by personal tragedy and a resolve to forge change, Lily graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in Genetics and Data Science and led product and engineering at multiple startups before founding Waterlily.
Connect with Lily:
Website: https://www.waterlily.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-vittayarukskul/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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In this episode, I am happy to introduce you to a great mind from my circle here in Chicago.
Lisa Guillot, a best-selling author and expert in personal branding, offers a transformative perspective on the significance of a clear vision framework for achieving success. With a rich background in design and branding, Lisa specializes in helping leaders craft vibrant and purposeful personal and professional brands. Her approach is encapsulated in her book, "Find Your Clear Vision," and the CLEAR methodology, which stands for Clear Concept, Legit and Long Lasting, Expanded Energy, Aspirational Success, and Rooted in Celebration.
By promoting self-awareness, authenticity, and intuition, Guillot's framework empowers individuals to align their values and goals, fostering sustainable engagement and passion in their personal and professional endeavors.
Lisa unleashes her high energy and insights in this conversation, touching on:
- Energizing Teams: A leader must invest in a team member's vision and development to build trust.
- Workplace Culture: Senior leaders need to understand that they are in charge of the 'cultural protection' of the workplace. Maintaining a fast-paced work schedule is challenging and unsustainable. A leader must have self-awareness and both give and receive feedback.
- Clear Vision Framework for Leadership: Crafting a clear concept for the vision ensures it is legit and long-lasting. The framework aims to help individuals identify their blind spots, develop self-awareness, and share their vision with their teams.
- Vision, Energy, and Aspirational Success: One must embrace a vision that excites and motivates them as it will be their guiding force over time. Leaders also need to build an "aspirational success" approach to their careers where they create new ideas and realities for the future and then build milestones to achieve them.
- Intuition, Self-Trust, and Celebration: Lisa discusses the importance of trusting oneself and making clear decisions. She suggests a simple coin-flip technique to help strengthen intuition and trust in decision-making. It is also important to have fun in work and life, and celebrate small wins regularly rather than waiting for big rewards at the end of long-term goals.
- Managing "Brilliant Jerks" in Teams: In terms of a healthy culture, Lisa emphasized the need to recognize and manage "brilliant jerks" or "brilliant assholes". Also discussed was how senior leaders can protect themselves from being perceived as such by seeking honest feedback from an external coach.
Connect with Lisa:
Website: bebrightlisa.com
Instagram: instagram.com/bebrightlisa
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisagguillot/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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From buying property while in his Harvard dorm to starting a business with his wife, Derrick has made it his life's mission to improve the process for and access to real estate investing.
Derrick Barker, the co-founder and CEO of Nectar, is at the forefront of transforming the real estate finance landscape through innovative technology solutions. Based in Atlanta, his company provides liquidity to commercial real estate owners with low-leverage, cash-flowing assets, enabling them to grow their portfolios and contribute to community development.
Derrick envisions a future where rapid property closings become the norm, empowering medium-sized real estate sponsors to create strong, balanced communities by enhancing their access to capital.
Here are the highlights of our conversation:
- Nectar stands out in the finance and real estate technology industry by providing liquidity to owners of commercial real estate, specifically focusing on low-leverage, cash-flowing assets to support strong real estate operators.
- Derrick envisions a future where commercial real estate deals can be closed in a week or less, with the ultimate goal of achieving one-day closings through technological advancements. Their vision is to be a tech-first company and in that, drive more efficiency than anyone else in the market.
- By empowering medium-sized real estate sponsors, Nectar aims to equip them with the necessary tools and resources to build thriving communities and meet the demands of the housing market, ultimately tipping the balance of power in their favor for a more robust and sustainable housing market.
- The company's commitment to sustainable business practices sets it apart in the market, offering high return, consistent cash-flowing investment products that mitigate risks associated with construction, lease-up, or refinance.
- With a vision to leverage technology and capital for the greater good, Nectar aims to empower developers and small to medium-sized companies to address the pressing issue of affordable housing.
- The success of Nectar is attributed to its well-structured team functionality, with key roles such as underwriting, product development, origination, and servicing playing crucial parts in the company's operations. While there is a core team based in Atlanta, Nectar also utilizes a distributed team for specific roles that do not require in-person presence. This structured approach enables Nectar to efficiently deliver its unique fast and flexible capital solutions to its customers and investors.
- As a leader and business owner, Derrick believes there is no better learning than experience, so take action and get it done.
About the guest:
Derrick Barker is the co-founder and CEO of Nectar. He started buying real estate from his dorm room at Harvard. After Harvard, he spent 3 years trading complex securities at Goldman Sachs while simultaneously building a 500+ unit real estate portfolio in his hometown of Atlanta. He left Goldman Sachs to focus on real estate full-time, eventually growing his portfolio to more than 4,700 units and $400 million in asset value.
Connect with Derrick:
Website: https://www.usenectar.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-barker-3b1590a/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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As the complexity and demands of technology continue to rise in our business lives, CEOs need to explore all available avenues of how to identify and attract top talent. This is where nearshoring comes in. Nearshoring is a valuable vehicle to augment existing teams, support rapid scaling, or bring new knowledge into an organization quickly.
To learn more about nearshoring we turned to Brian Samson, an entrepreneur who has lived and established multiple companies in Latin America. Because of this he holds unparalleled insight into leveraging untapped talent pools of highly educated individuals in Central and South America. Brian holds a passion for helping businesses thrive by introducing great talent to great companies but along the way we also learned he is a caring human who will always be found rooting for the Chicago Cubs.
Here are highlights of our conversation:
- Nearshore Defined: Moving jobs or tasks within the same time zone, as opposed to offshoring which involves moving across an ocean. The benefit of nearshoring is finding highly skilled talent regardless of the location that speaks English and works the same business day as the US.
- Challenging Latin America Misconceptions: The discussion focused on myth busting some perceptions of Latin America, particularly Mexico, based on media portrayals and personal experiences.
- Fostering Children: Brian shared his personal experience of becoming a foster family after hearing about the challenges faced by children in the foster care system. He punctuated the need for more good homes for the 440,000 children in the foster care system in the US, adding that less than 3% ever make it to college.
Brian Samson is a seasoned entrepreneur with a nine-year track record as the founder and CEO in the Nearshore (LATAM) industry. Having lived in Argentina and established multiple companies throughout Latin America that serve the U.S. market, Brian has an unparalleled insight into leveraging untapped talent pools. His journey includes raising $2 million as a founder, scaling his company to 80 team members, and achieving three successful exits. He has held significant roles such as Department Head at Lending Club during its pre-IPO phase, which IPO'd with a $10 billion valuation, and was part of the executive team at Sosh before its acquisition by Postmates and eventually Uber. Brian holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and leads as a General Partner at Hang10X Capital, making numerous investments in promising ventures.
Away from his professional endeavors, Brian's personal life is equally fulfilling. He and his wife are licensed foster parents and have adopted a baby girl from foster care, now raising two toddlers along with a Boston Terrier puppy in their Oahu home. A Chicago native and a staunch Cubs fan, Brian enjoys the island life, which includes the beautiful weather and vibrant community. With a passion that wakes him every day since 2015, Brian is committed to connecting exceptional talent across the Americas with hyper-growth companies in the U.S.
Connect with Brian:
Website: www.plugg.tech
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
X: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Sandra J. Horton is a well-known author and speaker who offers valuable insights and practical strategies for today's organizational challenges. As a systemic leadership sustainability strategist, she penned "Activate Success: Tips, Tools and Insights to be a Leaders in Your Niche," a book packed with 27 activators to help leaders excel in diverse situations.
Sandra's take on sustainable leadership highlights the importance of aligning values and being ready to address and adapt to rapid change. By promoting mindful, empathetic, and proactive leadership, she urges leaders to build resilience, support their teams effectively, and navigate change with clarity and ethical integrity.
Here are the highlights of our conversation:
- Leadership Requires Conscious Change Management: Sandra emphasizes that many leaders stand in a reactionary mode, making decisions under stress rather than responding thoughtfully. She advocates for leaders to raise their consciousness, pause, and assess their approach to change before reacting.
- Change Readiness: In our current environment, leaders must be prepared to navigate barriers and the moving complexities of business.
- Effective Communication in Change Management: One of the biggest reasons change initiatives fail is the lack of clear communication. Leaders must explain the ‘what and how’ of change and the ‘why’, ensuring alignment with team values and fostering trust.
-The Importance of Self-Awareness and Adaptability: Sandra highlights the need for leaders to understand their change tendencies. Some naturally embrace change, while others prefer stability. Leaders should be mindful of their emotional triggers and practice "pattern interruption" to control their responses.
-Creating Psychological Safety and Collaboration: Leaders should encourage curiosity, open dialogue, and co-creation in decision-making, ensuring alignment across different personality types and work styles.
- The Power of Sustainable Leadership: True leadership sustainability is about maintaining personal energy and resilience. Leaders must manage their emotional states, practice self-care, and create environments where teams can thrive without burnout.
About the guest:
Sandra J. Horton is a Systemic Leadership Sustainability Strategist, Executive Coach, and Speaker, dedicated to helping CEOs, executives, and senior leaders create sustainable, high-impact leadership models that prevent burnout, build resilient teams, and drive long-term organizational success.
As the Founder of Activate Success Edge and creator of the Activate Success Roadmap, Sandra provides executive coaching, consulting, and leadership workshops that empower leaders to navigate disruption, foster adaptability, and implement systemic change. With an MA in Leadership, certifications in Change Management (PROSCI) & Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i 2.0/360), and years of experience guiding executives through transformation, she equips leaders with the tools to lead with clarity, confidence, and long-term impact.
Connect with Sandra:
Website: www.activatesuccess.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-j-horton/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sandrajhorton
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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Imagine if, within 9 years of starting a company, you could grow to have 34 million people a month interacting on your platform. And that is the story you will hear today from Adrián Ridner.
Driven by a mission to provide life-changing and accessible education, Study.com is one of the largest online learning platforms for K-12 through college and beyond. With learners and educators representing more than 11,000 schools, Study.com is focused on supporting students, teachers, and the teacher pipeline. The platform also seeks to make college-level education accessible and friendly for the non-traditional student and help professionals prep for and ace licensing exams.
Here are the highlights of our conversation:
- The Personal Why: Hailing from Argentina, having lived in four countries, and learning three languages (Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, and the US), Adrián's experience of assimilating into the education systems has influenced his passion point around it. Adrián also highlighted the personal aspect of his journey, as he is the first in his family to graduate from college and has a brother with special needs who has been able to go farther than doctor's projections.
- Global Impact: Adrián revealed that he co-founded a company in October 2015, which has since grown to support 30+ million learners and educators a month. He is particularly proud of the university-level courses that span a variety of topics and can transfer to listed colleges. They project that these courses have saved students almost $475 million in tuition costs over the last five years.
- Accessible Education and Social Impact: Study.com is proud of its investment in social impact programs, including "Keys to the Classroom," which aims to increase the diversity in the teacher workforce and help aspiring educators become teachers. The program's success was attributed to the collaboration of all stakeholders involved.
- Study.com: Adrián's Journey and Success: Adrián and his co-founder built two other companies before study.com. He emphasized the importance of understanding the market, thinking strategically, and learning from your failures. Study.com was a 'bootstrap' venture that has paid off, as the business has enjoyed sustainable growth and profitability from the first year.
- Keeping Balanced as a CEO: Adrián spoke about his family, particularly his twins, and his passion for soccer. He also shared his interest in AI and its potential for personalized learning. He expressed his excitement about the opportunities AI presents while also acknowledging the potential risks it poses. He shared his recent readings on AI, including "Co-intelligence" and "The Coming Wave."
About the guest:
Adrián Ridner is co-founder and CEO of Study.com, an education platform supporting more than 34 million learners and educators a month across K12 curriculum, college courses and test preparation. As a Latino EdTech founder and first-generation college graduate, Adrián has spent the past two decades focused on making education accessible for under-supported learners.
Adrián has been committed to advancing personalized and engaging learning at scale for students of varying needs in the U.S. and across the world. Study.com's short video lessons and online courses help students achieve their educational goals and degrees needed to unlock economic opportunities.
Connect with Adrián:
Website: https://study.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianridner/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Consumers are spending more money than ever on health supplement products, and yet, most people are confused, frustrated, and unsure of what is truthful and what works. Enter Caroline Carralero, a founder on a mission to help solve the metabolic health crisis and bring clarity to this corner of self-care healthcare.
While Caroline started Daily Nouri out of her kitchen, she has built the business into an Omnichannel entity with a presence online and in retailers such as Walmart. Daily Nouri offers cutting-edge, scientifically-backed, affordable probiotics and other products aiming to provide genuine and impactful health and well-being solutions.
So how do you cut through an overcrowded, competitive market to be a stand-out brand? Well, that’s what we wanted to know.
Through our conversations, we touched on:
- How Caroline’s early experiences as an entrepreneur in college led her to have founded, advised, and invested in over 10 food, beverage, technology, and sustainable resource companies.
- Her passion around gut microbiome health and the connection to overall well-being, impacting immune function, brain health, hormone health, and metabolic health.
- The importance of clinical research, safety, traceability, and quality in product development to serve customers at different ages and stages of life.
- The focus on being an innovative brand, such as the capsule-in-capsule technology that survives the stomach acid more effectively, thus delivering more probiotics deeper into the gut.
- Building Daily Nouri with a commitment to boot strap until the first major contract was confirmed.
About the guest:
Caroline Carralero founded Daily Nouri with the belief that gut health is the cornerstone of overall well-being. Recognizing the need for more effective and accessible daily probiotics, she set out to create solutions that support individuals striving to maintain their health while managing the complexities of modern life.
Daily Nouri’s mission is to make the highest quality, clinically supported probiotic solutions available to all. After years of research and development, the company has introduced gut microbiome products designed for all ages and life stages. Today, Daily Nouri products can be found both online and on retail shelves nationwide. Whether on the coasts or in the heartland, customers can rely on Daily Nouri for premium probiotic solutions that support their health and wellness journey.
Connect with Caroline:
Website: https://dailynouri.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-carralero-66156645/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Have you ever thought about your communication fingerprints as a leader? Or the gap between what you say and what your teams hear? Well, we thought it would be interesting to talk with Oscar Trimboli, a renowned thought leader and expert on the transformative power of listening in effective leadership.
Drawing from his extensive background, including his tenure as marketing director for Microsoft Australia, Oscar has dedicated himself to decoding the behaviors of exceptional listeners. Oscar has authored much on this topic including his most recent book, How to Listen: Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication.
Oscar believes that true leadership lies in the ability to listen beyond surface-level dialogue, urging leaders to address systemic issues through thematic listening and the exploration of diverse perspectives. By providing tools such as the Listening Quiz, Oscar empowers leaders to evaluate and enhance their listening skills, underscoring that attentive listening can significantly elevate organizational success and leadership effectiveness.
Through our conversations, we touched on points such as:
- Active listening and deep listening are crucial skills for leaders, focusing on understanding what isn't said in conversations.
- Leaders can anticipate and navigate complex team challenges by actively listening and sensing emotions.
- Transformational leadership through listening involves uncovering systemic issues and sensing emotions beyond spoken words.
- The speed difference between speaking and listening can lead to distractions, emphasizing the importance of how things are said.
- Identifying the ‘Four Villains of Listening’, including dramatic, interrupter, lost, and shrewd barriers, hinder effective communications.
- Encouraging self-connection with listening abilities through an assessment can lead to improved communication and relationships.
About the guest:
Oscar Trimboli is a best-selling author, host of the Apple award-winning podcast Deep Listening, and a sought-after keynote speaker. Along with the Deep Listening Ambassador Community, he is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace. Through his work, Oscar has experienced first-hand the transformational impact leaders can have when they listen beyond words. He believes that when leadership teams focus their attention and listening, they will build organizations that create powerful legacies for the people they serve – today and, more importantly, for future generations.
Connect with Oscar:
Take the Listening Quiz: www.listeningquiz.com
Website: https://www.oscartrimboli.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscartrimboli/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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We know this has happened to you. You go to pick up a prescription and are floored by the price. Or even worse, you have had a loved one diagnosed with a rare disease only to find limited treatment options.
The pharmaceutical industry needs drastic change, and Dr. Jo Varshney is all in on making that happen. As Founder and CEO, VeriSIM Life, Jo leads a team of world-class scientists, machine learning engineers, and in silico simulation experts bringing clarity to drug development through computational sciences rather than the existing trial-and-error experimentation approach. However, intelligence and knowledge aside, Jo is a business leader on a mission and one of the most enjoyable founders I have had the pleasure of speaking with to date.
If you listen to this episode you will hear us touch on:
VeriSIM Life's Mission: The company uses "hybrid AI" to create simulations of human and animal biology to speed up drug development, producing a "translational index" that predicts clinical risks and mitigates them, akin to a credit score for drugs.
Team Dynamics: Jo emphasizes the importance of having a dedicated, collaborative, and ambitious team at VeriSIM Life. She explains finding the unique formula for building their culture and that she values employees who have a "chip on their shoulder" and want to prove themselves and drive the mission while avoiding "genius jerks" who lack humility and empathy.
AI and Biology: Jo discusses the hype surrounding AI and the need for realistic expectations. VeriSIM Life focuses on appreciating the complexity of biology and combining AI with mathematical and knowledge systems to improve accuracy and reduce biases. She shares how they identified a new drug for pulmonary hypertension and how with VeriSIM’s tools they greatly reduced costs and timelines.
Advice to New Founders: Jo differentiates between "missionary" and "mercenary" founders, advising them to stay passionate but separate themselves from the stories of rejection and challenges.
Continuous Learning: Jo recommends the book "Courage to be Disliked," which resonated with her deeply, reflecting her belief in the importance of being true to oneself and not being deterred by others' opinions.
About the guest:
Dr. Jo Varshney was born to a pharmacological pedigree in India. Being introduced to the world of drug development and research at a young age, and an ethic of competitive achievement, she developed a passion and understanding for science and technology much earlier than most.
Today, Varshney is the Founder and CEO of VeriSIM Life, and the inventor of VeriSIM Life’s BIOiSIM core technology. A virtual drug development engine that harnesses the power of traditional statistical modeling along with artificial intelligence and machine learning, BIOiSIM enables pharma and biotech professionals to bring more lifesaving and cost-efficient therapies to patients faster than ever before.
Over the past several years, Dr. Varshney has front-led numerous collaborative engagements with a host of pharmaceutical clients, government agencies, academic/medical institutes and industry innovators. She is a dynamic and celebrated leader and has received numerous accolades as well as delivered keynotes at several conferences.
Connect with Jo:
Website: www.verisimlife.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyotika-jo-varshney/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Leadership has always come with challenges and stress but today's business environment has escalated the pressures on CEOs far beyond where they were just a decade ago. In this episode, we talk with Andrea Petrone who has been recognized as one of the top 2% of executive coaches in the UK.
Andrea became a CEO at 35 making his mark in the energy industry. Over his career, Andrea has lived and worked in 7 different countries, gaining invaluable insights into leading international teams and organizations. Now, he is on a mission to help others be able to leave a legacy of remarkable achievements and remarkable good. But in his work, he hears all too often about the challenges facing CEOs today.
If you listen to this episode you will hear us touch on:
● Some of the forces and pressures affecting the CEO today, and why it weakens their position as a leader.
● How CEOs are given less time to make decisions and yet are expected to make faster impacts and turnarounds for the organizations that they serve.
● How CEOs can begin to lack confidence in their leadership and become unsure if they are the right decisions.
● That emotional regulation is always on guard which can impact the ability to be authentic and human.
● The worry about effectively mobilizing people and building a culture of performing because execution is always top of mind.
● Tips and considerations for CEOs and leaders to help protect themselves from becoming overcome by fear.
About the guest:
Andrea Petrone is a top-ranked performance and executive coach, facilitator, and speaker. Known as the "CEO Whisperer," Andrea partners with CEOs and their leadership teams to excel in high-stakes environments where the pressure to perform is relentless. With over 20 years of international C-suite experience in energy, industrial sectors, and consulting, Andrea has held leadership roles across six countries on three continents. His advisory work spans North America to the Middle East, supporting clients from Fortune 500 companies to emerging high-growth firms. Andrea is originally from Italy and has worked across the globe. He now centers his work out of London, UK. As a coach and the host of The World Class Leaders Show, Andrea helps corporate CEOs and executives unlock actionable strategies from top CEOs and industry leaders.
Connect with Andrea:
Website: https://www.andreapetrone.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone/
Do you want to establish authority and lead confidently from Day One as a CEO?
Grab your FREE copy of “10 Foolproof Ways New CEOs Establish Authority From Day One” here: https://10foolproofways.andreapetrone.com/
World Class Leaders podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@andreapetrone7527
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-world-class-leaders-show/id1588150545
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0rWvMSSUGtbeBUcLXytR9H
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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If ever an industry needs a bit of disruption, it’s the home equity loan or refinancing space. Well, we had the opportunity to sit down with Michael Gifford and hear how Splitero is revolutionizing how homeowners can access their home equity and feel more empowered when doing so.
This interview weaves insights into Michael’s founder’s journey and the mission behind Splitero to deliver a greater power of choice to homeowners in their time of need. (Audience note: please investigate options before selecting any financial service).
Key Highlights:
• When the Co-founder Equation is Good: Michael shares insights into the positive relationship with his co-founder, which has been fundamental to their success in building operations in 13 states with plans for nationwide expansion.
• Building the Right Team: Michael explains Splitero's thorough interview process and the importance of cultural fit. Multiple leaders interview candidates to ensure diverse perspectives and a strong cultural match.
• Go-to-Market Strategies: Why they are successfully growing business via direct-to-consumer marketing and partnerships with licensed mortgage brokers.
• Founder Lessons: Michael shared valuable tips and advice to fellow entrepreneurs such as staying focused and avoiding distractions that can derail progress.
• Recommended Reading: Michael recommends the book "The Anxious Generation," which explores the impact of social media and technology on society.
About the Guest:
Michael Gifford is the CEO and co-founder of Splitero and a career real estate expert who witnessed firsthand the lack of resources available to homeowners when they most need to access the value trapped in their home equity. Throughout his career in residential real estate, Michael has acquired and dispositioned over 1,000 homes throughout the West Coast and originated more than $242M of residential fix and flip loans (BPLs) for investors. Michael was fortunate to be part of the initial and founding teams at Kiavi (LendingHome) and Sundae. Michael is a member of YPO San Diego and an advocate for the entrepreneur community.
Connect with Michael:
Website: www.splitero.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldgifford
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
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So excited to bring back a favorite past guest of mine, Jeffrey Klubeck, a pillar of his industry.
Jeffrey is a well-known coach, consultant, and leadership expert, who is all about emphasizing the importance of soft skills for building strong leaders, teams, and organizations. Known for his book "The Integrity Game," Klubeck shares his wisdom on communication, emotional intelligence, and change management through tailored corporate programs and teaching gigs at his old stomping grounds. And now he has a new book co-authored with his high-school aged daughter on leadership wisdom we can all use.
He's big on authenticity in leadership, pointing out that while AI can streamline things, what really matters is genuine communication. According to Jeffrey, leadership is all about creating an environment where teams can shine, focusing on integrity and meaningful conversations to empower individuals and drive organizational success.
Here are the highlights of our discussion:
- Soft skills are essential for building strong leaders, teams, and organizations.
- Slowing down and being intentional as a leader helps build trust and create a positive ripple effect in the workplace.
- Authentic intelligence in leadership is crucial for maintaining genuine connections and communication.
- Creating the conditions for teams to achieve desired outcomes is more important than relying on power or grit for leadership.
- Being accountable for one's actions and understanding different perspectives fosters better relationships and personal growth.
- The Integrity Game is a unique approach to teaching integrity and leadership principles through storytelling, tailored to specific professions.
About the guest:
Jeffrey Klubeck, Author of The Integrity Game® which is evolving into a comprehensive soft skills development company. An upbeat and charismatic coach and consultant. He focuses on how to make businesses and entrepreneurs thrive while not losing a sense of what makes a company outstanding: leadership. Jeffrey is a successful author that has worked with small and big businesses.
Connect with Jeffrey:
Website: https://theintegritygame.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/getaklu/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Integrity-Game-Motivation-Accountability-Results/dp/1733086269
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Can everyone tell when you use AI to write copy to write ads?
Alex Persky-Stern, CEO of Waymark, is at the forefront of harnessing generative AI to transform video advertising for small businesses. He champions the idea that AI can significantly enhance the creative process, allowing for the production of high-quality video ads that small businesses might not have been able to achieve otherwise.
Under his leadership, Waymark is pioneering projects that push the boundaries of content production, showcasing the potential of AI to revolutionize creative storytelling and advertising strategies. Alex envisions a future where AI-driven creativity not only optimizes and automates content creation but also maintains the authentic human touch necessary for genuine audience engagement.
Here are the highlights of our discussion:
- AI technology is driving innovation in the creative field, particularly in video ad production for small businesses. By analyzing brand assets and language, companies like Waymark can create professional and engaging video ads while maintaining authenticity in AI-generated content.
- Teams like Waymark are utilizing AI technology to produce groundbreaking work, such as films like "The Frost," showcasing advancements in AI that enable the creation of innovative narratives. This highlights the potential of AI as a powerful tool in enhancing creative production and generating new opportunities within the industry.
- The future of marketing and advertising is set to be revolutionized by AI Trends and Creative Automation, focusing on creative optimization and automation. The emergence of GenAI is reshaping the landscape of creative technology, enabling platforms to optimize targeting and generate compelling content for businesses while emphasizing the importance of authenticity and human input in content creation for meaningful audience connections.
About the guest:
Alex Persky-Stern has been the CEO of Waymark since 2022. He leads the company’s efforts to leverage generative AI to make video production radically easy and available to everyone.
Under Persky-Stern, Waymark has partnered with media names like Paramount, The E.W. Scripps Company, FOX TV Stations, Spectrum Reach, Gray Television and more. Persky-Stern has also overseen Waymark’s International expansion through partnerships in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. During his leadership, the company has been featured in major publications as a leader in AI video, and was listed as one of the Fastest Growing Companies in the USA .
Connect with Alex:
Website: https://waymark.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waymarkmarketing/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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We love speaking with MedTech founders and so we were excited to have Matthias Hofmann, the co-founder and CEO of Eyebot join us to explain how his team is transforming the way we receive vision care.
Before this interview, we had no idea that 25% of US counties lack a practicing eye care provider. We also hadn’t thought about the increasing shortage of vision care providers or that our screen-obsessed society is generating a higher per capita need for corrective eye care. And for many, the cost of vision appointments and glasses are so expensive that they forgo this critical pillar of health care. Today, the Eyebot team is hoping to address the healthcare deserts in the U.S. and work with organizations like WHO and others, their technology can make a difference globally.
Here are the highlights of our discussion:
- Embrace Dynamism: Startups are incredibly dynamic. Project plans can quickly become obsolete, and flexibility is key to navigating this unpredictability. While the first vision care focused startup Matthias worked on had hurdles it could not overcome, that foundation led the way to take up the challenge again once the technology had advanced.
- Overcoming Barriers and Scaling: Eyebot addresses the doctor shortage problem by integrating technology into eyeglass retailers and online stores, expanding first in the New England area, California, and other U.S. states.
- Self-Serve Vision Centers: Eyebot's kiosks provide self-serve vision tests using infrared light, making it easy for anyone to check their eyes without prior knowledge or instructions.
- Immediate Results and Doctor Referrals: The vision tests take about 90 seconds and can detect over 30 different eye disorders. Once an individual completes the vision test, they use a well-tested framework for telemedicine to ensure compliance and effectiveness and to deliver prescriptions and analysis. While technology can enhance accessibility, routine comprehensive eye exams by human doctors remain crucial.
Matthias Hofmann is the Co-founder & CEO of Eyebot, an outcome-focused technology company where tech innovation meets vision care. Founded in 2021, Eyebot is on a mission to make eye care more accessible for everyone - at the touch of a button. What used to take days or weeks can now be accomplished in minutes. Eyebot has been backed by leading deep tech VCs and the U.S. government's National Science Foundation via the SBIR program and in 2024, raised $6M in a seed round to propel their expansion.
Matthias holds significant experience in new technology development, Medtech, startups, and securing capital through prior leadership roles such as Director & Product Development at Lumicell, Team Lead at Formlabs, R&D Lead at EyeNetra, and postdoc work at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Matthias attended Virginia Tech where he accentuated his engineering degree with a Ph.D. in philosophy.
Connect with Matthias
Website: https://www.eyebot.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mchofmann/
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO
#CEO #brand #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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