ENTREPRENEURISM – Details, episodes & analysis

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ENTREPRENEURISM

Scott Pollack

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/11d. Total Eps: 8

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.

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Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - entrepreneurship
11/06/2025
#87

Spotify

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https://scaleup.com/
2 shares
https://www.eonetwork.org/

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 69%

Publication history

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Latest published episodes

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Introducing ENTREPRENEURISM 🎙️

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 • Duration 01:35

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Refuse to Fail: Lessons in Resilience and Leadership with Xavier Naville

Thursday, March 27, 2025 • Duration 34:05

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)

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The Art of Parallel Entrepreneurship with Yoan Rigart-Lenisa

Thursday, March 27, 2025 • Duration 36:20

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.

Show Notes

[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.

Building A "Factory Without Borders" with Jacob Rothman

Monday, April 7, 2025 • Duration 28:44

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.

Show Notes

[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.

Startup to Exit in 5 Years, then Repeat 2 More Times with Gabrielle Chou

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 • Duration 39:15

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.

Show Notes with Timestamps

[00:00–00:26] Teaser

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

[00:27–01:58] Show Intro[01:59] Start of Main Episode

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

[02:03–02:34] Gabrielle’s Early Days & First Venture

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.

[02:34–07:08] The Power of Aligning Stakeholder Interests

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.

[07:08–09:45] Raising Capital & Early Struggles

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.

[09:45–14:05] Learning from Mistakes & Scaling Back

Gabrielle recounts burning through $2 million of early funding and having to cut from 60 employees down to 11.

[14:05–20:32] Transitioning from Second to Third Venture[20:32–30:00] The Third Startup’s AI Vision[30:00–37:03] Quick Fire (Entrepreneur Hacks)[37:03–38:51] Final Insights & Wrap-Up[38:51–End] Show Outro

Divide to Multiply: Building a Large Constellation of Small Autonomous Businesses with David Holvoet

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 • Duration 40:01

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.

Show Notes

[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

Getting Out of the Way: From Hands-On Founder CEO to Non-Exec Chairman with Fred Crosetto

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 • Duration 40:26

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.

From Trading Desk to Crypto Unicorn: Arthur Hayes on Building BitMEX

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 • Duration 23:38

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.

⏱️ Timestamped Show Notes

[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.