What makes a successful entrepreneur? It’s certainly not just about spotting opportunities. The entrepreneurial journey is full of tensions that must be managed. The most successful master the balance between vision and execution, short-term demands and long-term goals, opportunities and distractions. ENTREPRENEURISM unpacks what separates great entrepreneurs from the rest, mining the entrepreneurial journey for practical insights. Hosted by CEO coach Scott Pollack, this podcast brings you candid conversations, bold ideas, and actionable strategies from entrepreneurs who have built thriving ventures. Ready to unlock your full potential? This is the show for you.

Host Scott Pollack interviews Xavier Naville, who recounts his journey from finance expert to unintentional CEO of a Chinese food-supply venture. From wrestling with imposter syndrome to forging trusted relationships with local team members, Xavier details his struggles scaling a business to $150 million in revenue. He shares lessons about staying resilient under pressure, asking for help when you don’t have all the answers, and investing in a clear company vision that sets the stage for collaborative decision-making and sustained growth. He further highlights how creating an empowering culture and embracing small, strategic steps can ultimately lead to big wins.

[2:26] – Introduction to Xavier

• Scott introduces guest Xavier Naville, highlighting his journey from Paris to Shanghai and founding Creative Food Group, which grew to supply major restaurant chains in China.
• Xavier’s entrepreneurial path is captured in his book, The Lettuce Diaries: How a Frenchman Found Gold Growing Vegetables in China.

[3:49] – Becoming an ‘Accidental CEO’

• Xavier explains how he found himself thrust into a CEO role at age 27 with no prior leadership experience or training.
• He discusses his imposter syndrome and how projecting overconfidence initially caused more problems than solutions.

[5:42] – Greatest Personal Struggle: Confronting Imposter Syndrome

• Xavier details how his inclination toward rapid, “top-down” decisions and reliance on financial analysis led to disengaged teams.
• Near-bankruptcy forced him to change tactics, ask for help, and empower local Chinese managers.

[7:02] – Cultural Shifts and Team Engagement

• How a critical lunch meeting with a potential key hire led to a game-changing decision on supplier contracts.
• Realizing that consulting team members strengthened trust and uncovered more effective solutions in the Chinese market.

[11:04] – Finding the Right People & the Importance of Trust

• How giving a capable team member decision-making authority not only solved immediate problems but boosted morale and loyalty.

[15:42] – The “Refuse to Fail” Mindset

• Xavier shares his ultimate “superpower”: staying the course through adversity.
• Emphasizes that talent plus sheer persistence helped turn the business from near collapse into a thriving enterprise.

[18:56] – Navigating Growth Tensions & Culture Clashes

• Hiring executives from large multinational companies brought in conflicting values and management styles.
• Highlights the need for clear behavior expectations and culture fit, not just high-profile résumés.

[23:24] – Vision and Strategy

• The power of crafting a shared vision that guides daily decisions.
• Why it’s essential to involve the entire leadership team in long-term goal setting, then continually revisit and reinforce it.

[26:23] – Quick Fire (Entrepreneur Hacks)

• Must-Read Book #1: Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni
• Must-Read Book #2: Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine
• Morning Routine: Wakes at 5 a.m., enjoys an espresso, and visualizes the day’s goals.
• Favorite Tool: ChatGPT, used as an “idea helper,” albeit with caution for potential inaccuracies.
• Daily Habit for Grounding: Structured exercise regimen coordinated via the TrainingPeaks app.
• Best Business Advice: Focus on what you can control, rather than events you cannot.

[32:26] – Final Lessons & ‘The Road Not Taken’

• Xavier stresses the value of starting small and proving concepts before investing heavily.
• Cautions entrepreneurs against letting the excitement of big funding overshadow the need for agile experimentation.

Mentioned Books & Tools

• The Lettuce Diaries by Xavier Naville
• Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni
• Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine
• ChatGPT (AI assistant)
• TrainingPeaks (fitness and workout planning APP)

Host Scott Pollack interviews Yoan Rigart-Lenisa, a “parallel entrepreneur” who owns multiple businesses, from a digital transformation agency to trading companies to Thai restaurants. Yoan details how he and his brother identify new opportunities, empower specialist teams, and adapt to market changes—whether it’s shifting consumer habits or external pressures like COVID. A dedicated early riser, Yoan also talks about how time-blocking in his calendar and adopting structured operating systems, such as EOS, help him stay organized. Yoan illustrates how calculated risk-taking, strong partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to continuous learning can boost entrepreneurial success.

• [01:55] – Setting the Stage
  • Scott introduces Yoan, praising his parallel approach to entrepreneurship.
  • Yoan offers a quick backstory on his first venture: exporting electric bicycles.

• [03:13] – From Bicycles to New Frontiers
  • Outlining how spotting market gaps led Yoan to expand into different products and industries.
  • Emphasizes seizing opportunity when it appears.

• [05:51] – F&B Success and Pitfalls
  • Launching Urban Thai, eventually pivoting to Urban Tuk Tuk for delivery.
  • Navigating evolving platforms (Sherpas, Meituan, Ele.me) and grappling with the impacts of COVID.

• [08:25] – Evaluating Opportunities
  • Balancing market research and intuition to decide which ventures to pursue.
  • Relying on collaboration with his brother, father, and trusted GM.

• [10:03] – Timing, Luck, and Humility
  • Location can be everything; sometimes even great planning isn’t enough.
  • Why every entrepreneur should stay open-minded and ready to pivot.

• [12:40] – Taming the Calendar
  • Yoan’s greatest struggle is time management, solved by meticulously scheduling tasks.

• [14:51] – Letting Experts Thrive
  • Stepping back from day-to-day operations by trusting specialists (e.g., chefs, developers).
  • Building a culture of autonomy and problem-solving.

• [18:16] – Coaching and Leadership
  • Yoan’s basketball coach background informs his supportive management style.
  • Listening to individual team members to help them grow beyond their comfort zone.

• [20:19] – Quick Fire (Entrepreneur Hacks)
  1. 1. Recommended Books (Guest’s Picks):Traction (EOS) by Gino Wickman
     2. The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday
  • Morning Routine: Wakes at 5:05 a.m. to work uninterrupted and possibly hit the gym.
  • Crucial Tool: A digital calendar for meticulously planning his day.
  • Daily Decompression: Short prayer at night to clear his mind.
  • Best Business Advice: “Sell, sell, sell” — it’s simpler to handle capacity issues than a lack of revenue.

• [27:45] – Embracing EOS from the Start
  • Yoan wishes he’d integrated EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) earlier for transparency, shared goals, and solid KPIs.
  • Open-book management helps everyone understand costs, margins, and growth targets.

• [31:45] – Wisdom for New Entrepreneurs
  • Surround yourself with peers, mentors, or a group like EO or EO Accelerator, because entrepreneurship can be isolating.
  • Don’t let failures knock you down—treat them as learning moments.

• [34:48] – Closing Remarks
  • Scott thanks Yoan for the interview, highlighting how parallel entrepreneurship can inspire diverse leaders.
  • Listeners are encouraged to subscribe, leave feedback, and share the show.

In this episode, Scott Pollack interviews Jacob Rothman, co-founder and co-CEO of Velong Enterprises, who has spent two decades building Velong into a 5,000-employee global operation that manufactures consumer goods for top retailers worldwide. Jacob shares how he and his partner Iven Chen have expanded manufacturing operations from a single town in China to include several facilities in Cambodia and India, overcoming cultural gaps, supply-chain hurdles, and unforeseen global events. He speaks candidly about the challenges and doubts that come with moving 20 years of knowledge, relationships, and equipment across borders. Listeners will learn the importance of perseverance, partnerships built on mutual respect, and staying flexible in a rapidly changing global landscape.

[00:00] Teaser

• Jacob introduces the pivotal challenge of shifting manufacturing outside of China.
• He notes both the exciting growth opportunities and the lingering doubt around relocating a 20-year-old supply chain.

[00:46–02:09] Intro

[02:09] Meet Jacob Rothman

• Scott highlights Velong’s substantial footprint: 5,000 employees and operations spanning China, Cambodia, and India.
• Jacob traces his early path in his family’s broom-and-brush business in California, followed by sourcing trips to China that evolved into a permanent venture.

[06:37] Founding Velong Enterprises

• Jacob and Ivan Chen capitalize on the transition from traditional trading companies to more self-sufficient Chinese factories.
• Their co-CEO structure prioritizes teamwork and respect over formal job titles.

[10:49] Personal Struggles & Culture Shifts

• Jacob emphasizes the importance of seeing Ivan as a genuine equal, moving beyond the “customer-vendor” relationship.
• Mutual respect, openness, and a shared vision prevent major co-founder conflicts.

[13:04] Defining Moment: Supply Chain Diversification

• Tariffs and geopolitical changes prompt the expansion to Cambodia and India.
• Jacob compares China’s robust, on-demand supply chain to the “lunar landing” reality of building factories in developing regions.

[17:41] Cambodia & India Realities

• Limited local suppliers and distinct cultural dynamics require more training and careful oversight.
• Jacob views these expansions as both a test of Velong’s resilience and its greatest growth catalyst.

[21:02] Quick Fire (Entrepreneur Hacks)

1. One Book Every Entrepreneur Should Read:
2. Good Strategy/Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt
3. Morning Success Habit: Daily exercise initiated during COVID.
4. Essential Tool: Apple Notes for continuous list-making and organization.
5. Grounding Practice: Vipassana meditation for mindfulness and humility.
6. Top Advice Received: “Keep going” and “know your numbers.”

[25:20] If Starting Over

• Jacob stresses creating a culture that cuts through borders and biases.
• He attributes Velong’s global achievements to fostering true equality among team members.

[27:30] Parting Thoughts

• Jacob reflects on “living his best life,” leading a company that impacts thousands of employees and their families.
• Scott wraps up the conversation, encouraging listeners to subscribe and share.

[28:21] Outro

Scott Pollack hosts serial entrepreneur Gabrielle Chou, who has successfully built and sold three businesses—each one within a five-year window. Gabrielle explains the power of aligning your company’s strategy with the interests of three key stakeholders: customers, investors, and potential acquirers. She discusses lessons learned from scaling too fast, the importance of generating revenue early on, and how she navigated personal challenges and pivots in pursuit of lasting success. Listeners will also hear about her insights on balancing authenticity in leadership with the need to manage team morale and investor demands. Whether you’re a new founder or a seasoned CEO, Gabrielle’s story offers powerful insights into entrepreneurship done with discipline, vision, and heart.

• Gabrielle briefly shares her remarkable achievement of building and exiting three companies, each in a five-year cycle.

• Scott welcomes Gabrielle, describing her background as a “true serial entrepreneur” with three exits.

• Gabrielle recounts abruptly leaving a consulting job and needing immediate income, leading her to entrepreneurship.
• Discusses landing a proof of concept with L’Oréal and raising venture capital in the U.S.

• Gabrielle explains her “superpower”: building businesses with clear value propositions not only for customers but also for investors and potential acquirers.
• Shares how she factored acquisition strategies into each venture from the start.

• Delves into the challenges of pitching VCs, especially when you’re an unfamiliar face in Silicon Valley.
• Discusses Y Combinator’s role in legitimizing her third company when prior investor pitches had failed.

• Gabrielle recounts burning through $2 million of early funding and having to cut from 60 employees down to 11.
• Highlights how vulnerability and honesty with her team helped rebuild trust and refocus on revenue generation.

• Explains why her second, consumer-focused business model was not the right long-term fit.
• Shares personal challenges, including a family tragedy, which influenced the pause before founding her third venture.

• How Allure Systems provided virtual try-on tech for fashion e-commerce.
• Balancing a disruptive product roadmap with real-world revenue demands.

1. Book Recommendation:
   • The Lean Startup by Eric Ries https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898
   • Value Proposition Design by Alexander Osterwalder https://www.amazon.com/Value-Proposition-Design-Customers-Strategyzer/dp/1118968050
2. Morning Ritual: Coffee and family time.
3. Can’t-Live-Without App: ChatGPT by OpenAI.
4. Daily Grounding Habit: Breathing exercises.
5. Best Business Advice: “Generate revenue” to confirm product-market fit.

• Gabrielle underscores how revenue proves market demand and sets the stage for a smoother exit.
• Scott teases a future discussion on generative AI’s impact on entrepreneurship.

• Scott thanks Gabrielle and invites listeners to stay tuned for upcoming guest interviews.
• Encourages subscribing, sharing, and leaving feedback for the Entrepreneurism podcast.

Host Scott Pollack interviews David Holvoet, a Belgian entrepreneur who has spent nearly three decades building a unique constellation of businesses across the wood products and construction industries. With $50M in annual revenue and operations across Europe and Asia, David has mastered the art of scaling by keeping things small—each business is run by a focused, autonomous team of just 10 to 15 people.

David shares his journey from launching a student consultancy to navigating crises in the lumber trade, building a global supply chain, and structuring a group of companies that thrive without centralized control. Along the way, he offers insights into how to foster deep trust, give leaders real ownership, and stay resilient when things go sideways. This episode is packed with entrepreneurial lessons on building lean, staying nimble, and creating structure that unlocks freedom—for both you and your teams.

[00:00] Teaser

David explains his core philosophy: Focus is essential for business—but he delegates that focus to small, autonomous teams so he can remain creatively unfocused.

[00:46–02:09] Intro

[02:09] Meet David Holvoet

Belgian entrepreneur, nearly 30 years in China. David runs a portfolio of four companies in wood products and construction, operating across Europe and Asia with $50M in combined revenue.

[03:02] Entrepreneurial Origins

David dodges a final paper in university by starting a China-based student consultancy. His first client: a Belgian wood veneer company—an experience that kickstarted his trading career.

[06:16] The Rise—and Fall—of a Young Trader

David’s early success in raw lumber trading crashes after a European storm floods the market. The lesson: never have all your eggs in one basket.

[08:54] Learning from Mistakes

Shifting from imports to exports, David launches a plywood business—learning the hard way about product quality. His commitment to resilience keeps the business alive and growing.

[10:42] Why He’ll Never Manufacture Again

After a failed attempt at owning a flooring plant, David draws a hard line: outsource manufacturing, but invest in hard-to-copy IP like fire-rated door licenses.

[13:14] Building a Constellation of Focused Teams

Each of David’s businesses has 10–15 people and runs independently with its own GM. The structure allows laser focus in the business—and strategic freedom for David.

[16:46] Invisible Ownership, Visible Leadership

David puts his GMs front and center—outsiders often assume they’re the business owners. This increases accountability, loyalty, and agility.

[20:25] Cross-Pollinating Ideas

Managing multiple businesses allows David to share lessons across functions and geographies, turning traditional business models into competitive advantages.

[22:29] Biggest Personal Struggle: Trust

After several betrayals, David still chooses to trust—but now addresses red flags with radical candor and quick confrontation.

[25:48] A Lesson in Transparency

A misstep in compensation transparency taught David the importance of managing ego and being more direct with his leadership team.

[27:55] Quick Fire (Entrepreneur Hacks)

• 📚 One Book Every Entrepreneur Should Read: How to Make Big Money in Your Own Small Business by Jeffrey J. Fox
• Also mentions The Lean Startup and Blue Ocean Strategy.
• ⏰ Morning Habit: Rocket-launch wakeup method: "3-2-1 Go!" + early morning exercise.
• 🛠️ Essential Tool: His calendar. It drives the entire cadence of his life and business operations.
• 🧘‍♂️ Grounding Practice: Evening dog walks with his wife Kristien—a daily ritual to reconnect and rebalance.
• 💡 Best Advice Received:
  • “To multiply in business, you must first learn to divide.”
  • “Never waste a good crisis.” He shares how EU anti-dumping regulations actually elevated his company’s brand.

[39:26] Outro

In this episode, Fred Crosetto traces his journey from a scrappy American kid in Asia to chairman of the AMMEX Group, a growing $300M conglomerate. Fred explains how early pivoting during the AIDS crisis, relentless direct-sales hustle, and spin-outs in China and the Philippines unlocked tremendous growth. You’ll learn why ruthless prioritization beats “shiny object syndrome,” and how to empower next-generation leadership teams. He closes with rapid-fire takes on his favorite books, daily routines, and his mantra: “Start—and never give up.”

Show Notes

[00:00] Teaser

Fred explains why he could’ve sold at any time—but chose to “evolve out” and keep running AMMEX Group.

[00:48] Intro

Scott welcomes Fred Crosetto, founder & chairman of AMMEX Group.

[02:03] Episode Framing

Why focus, delegation, and resilience define entrepreneurial success.

[02:11] Meet Fred Crosetto

Seattle native, UW alum, founded AMMEX in 1988—$300M+ revenue across North America, China & SE Asia.

[03:38] Entrepreneurial Origins

At 22, Fred reads Megatrends by John Naisbitt and moves to Taiwan.

[04:45] Early Crisis & Turnaround

A disastrous launch amid the AIDS awakening teaches pivoting and perseverance.

[06:16] First $1 M Milestone

Block-and-tackle selling: cold calls, mailings, and personal hustle.

[07:05] Core Philosophy

“Make your strengths productive and your weaknesses irrelevant.”

[08:24] Scaling Beyond Solo Founder

Building a finance, tech & ops A-team around his sales superpower.

[11:09] Embracing Uncertainty

Cycling through seven banks in 12 years; volatility as fertile ground.

[14:34] Meeting Verne Harnish

Early mentorship from Verne Harnish, Mastering Business Dynamics, leads to implementing the Scaling Up framework.

[15:11] Focus & Prioritization

The five-priority habit: why saying “no” drives exponential wins.

[19:46] Platform Moment

Shared-services spin-outs in China & the Philippines; empowering independent GMs.

[22:44] Evolve Out

Identifying, empowering, then stepping aside for next-gen leaders.

[27:01] Future Spin-Out: AI Services

Leveraging in-house AI experiments into a standalone business.

[29:34] Leadership Transition Lessons

Ensuring clarity, candor, and autonomy when new leaders take the reins.

[31:36] Quick Fire (Entrepreneur Hacks)

• [31:52] Scott: “What’s one book every entrepreneur should read?”
• Fred: “AI Driven Leadership by Jeff Woods”—plus classics like Scaling Up, Good to Great, Great by Choice, Shoe Dog, and The AI Factor.
• [33:14] Scott: “What’s one thing you do every morning?”
• Fred: “No ritual—just get up and go.”
• [33:43] Scott: “What’s one tool you can’t live without?”
• Fred: “My iPhone—I panic if I leave it behind.”
• [34:53] Scott: “What’s a daily grounding habit?”
• Fred: “Evening dog walks with my wife, Kristien—a moment to disconnect and reflect.”
• [35:28] Scott: “What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?”
• Fred: “Make your strengths productive and your weaknesses irrelevant.”
• [37:32] Scott: “If you could restart AMMEX from scratch, which lesson would you bring?”
• Fred: “Start—and never give up. Plans always take twice as long and cost twice as much, but persistence wins.”

[38:17] Final Lesson

Persistence through chaos: expect plans to take twice as long and cost twice as much.

[39:48] Outro

Scott wraps with upcoming guests and a reminder: entrepreneurship is disciplined action.

Shout Outs (People)

🔹 Verne Harnish – Mentor and Scaling Up architect who reshaped Fred’s focus practice

🔹 EO Forum peers (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) – For the candid exit-plan roasting that sparked Fred’s platform epiphany

Books Mentioned

• Megatrends by John Naisbitt

• AI Driven Leadership by Jeff Woods

• The AI Factor by Astra Saxinas

• Scaling Up by Verne Harnish

• Good to Great by Jim Collins

• Great by Choice by Jim Collins

• Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Arthur Hayes, co-founder and original CEO of BitMEX, joins Scott to discuss how he transformed a belief in crypto into the world’s first crypto derivatives unicorn. He didn't set out to disrupt financial systems—he just wanted to build the trading platform he wished existed. In this candid conversation, Arthur opens up about his early crypto convictions, why product-market fit was non-negotiable, and the painful cost of hiring the wrong people. As BitMEX scaled from 13 to 300 people in three years while growing the top line 350X, he navigated regulatory headwinds, media storms, and the challenge of keeping culture intact in a high-risk, high-reward industry.

• [00:00] Cold open: Arthur’s #1 lesson—hire better people.
• [00:34] Show intro and guest welcome.
• [02:17] Arthur’s entrepreneurial origin story—jumping into crypto after losing his job.
• [04:05] From trading derivatives to building a platform: the BitMEX birth story.
• [05:08] Confidence and conviction when funding was scarce.
• [07:10] Product-market fit: why charging from day one mattered.
• [08:29] Pivoting to meet customer demand: offering 100x leverage.
• [11:11] Founder struggles—why HR was Arthur’s biggest pain point.
• [14:43] Overhiring, overpaying, and dealing with toxic culture.
• [16:25] Navigating the regulatory gray zones in crypto.
• [18:41] Staying focused through uncertainty.
• [19:06] Quick Fire Hacks:
  • Book every entrepreneur should read: Who by Geoff Smart (Amazon)
  • Daily habit: Exercise
  • Can’t-live-without app: TradingView (Link)
  • Best advice: Focus on the supply (liquidity)
• [21:02] One key lesson: Be more selective in hiring.
• [22:16] Advice to new founders: Don’t build a business just to please your VC.
• [23:03] Show outro.