Explore every episode of the podcast From Start-Up to Grown-Up
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #78: Jake Schwartz, Co-Founder and former CEO of General Assembly—Navigating startup chaos, what a startup and the Beatles have in common, and the wisdom of looking back on the journey | 22 Oct 2024 | 01:13:13 | |
Jake Schwartz is a serial entrepreneur, investor and advisor. Until 2020, Jake Schwartz served at CEO of General Assembly (GA), the global leader in education and career transformation, which he co-founded in 2011. He grew GA to over 1,000 employees on five continents. In 2018, GA was acquired by The Adecco Group. Jake Schwartz co-founded and serves as Chair of Brave Health, a mission-driven company focused on expanding access to high-quality, affordable care for mental health and addiction. Jake Schwartz was named E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014 and one of Crain’s “40 under 40” in 2015. Jake holds a BA from Yale and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former CFA Charterholder. That the end was clear at the beginning and the founders held an unwavering gaze. We often think launching a successful company requires:
That's one way to do it! But what if there's another approach? What if building a successful startup isn't about following a strict formula, but about embracing serendipity and intuition? Jake Schwartz, Co-Founder and former CEO of General Assembly, didn't have a conventional playbook. Looking back a decade later, he felt like they were forming a band. Just get together, start creating, figuring things out as you go. What I took away from this discussion: Passion > perfect plan. Flexibility > rigidity early on. Evolution > clear vision. By following their intuition and leaning into serendipity, Jake and his co-founders discovered a unique formula for success. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #77: Jake Kloberdanz, One Hope Winery Co-founder — Building “Girl Scout Cookies” for adults, building community, and scaling philanthropy | 08 Oct 2024 | 01:22:00 | |
Jake Kloberdanz is the founder of ONEHOPE, a pioneering wine brand with a mission to create a positive social impact. Under his leadership, ONEHOPE has donated tens of millions of dollars to over 40,000 non-profits and grown from zero to producing over one million bottles per year. The company boasts a world-class vineyard in Napa Valley and has garnered more than 30 wines with 90+ point ratings. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies by Inc. Magazine, ONEHOPE has raised over $100 million in funding. Jake has been honored as a "Top 40 Under 40" by Wine Enthusiast and a "Top 30 Under 30" by Forbes. He serves on the boards of 8VC and After the Fire, and is a sought-after speaker, having presented at the UN Global Summit, TED, and leading universities like Stanford and MIT. A graduate of UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and a two-time national rugby champion, Jake is an advocate for "Cause-centric Commerce," integrating purpose into business models. From selling wines out of a U-Haul to building a company that’s donated over $10 million to meaningful causes, Jake's story is nothing short of inspiring. Jake talks about his original idea to create “Girl Scout Cookies for adults” and how that evolved over time. He also talks about his evolution as a leader as the company overcame turbulence, how he learned the importance of clarity and how he developed his frameworks for communication. Learn more about One Hope Winery | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #68, Gina Bianchini, Co-Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks — The secret to building communities, managing self-worth as a CEO, and why humor is a leadership superpower | 04 Jun 2024 | 01:06:30 | |
Gina Bianchini is the CEO & founder of Mighty Networks, a digital business platform that powers what it calls people magic. People magic is advanced technology and AI that connects the most relevant and interesting people to each other in the context of community, courses, events, and paid memberships.She’s also the author of the 2022 Wall Street Journal best selling book, Purpose: Design a Community & Change Your Life. Mighty is trusted by brands from TED to Tony Robbins, Mindbody, LAUNCH by Mel Robbins, Esther Perel, Matthew Hussey, Jim Kwik, BODi, Gym Launch, and Fortune. Gina Bianchini is the visionary Co-Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, and my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up. Gina’s life has been devoted to building communities, and in this episode she describes the important nuances you can use to build your own communities as well as simply improve your relationships. Gina also shares what she’s learned on her journey as an entrepreneur and a leader. Learn more about Mighty Networks | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #67, Gary Vaynerchuk, Serial Entrepreneur and Chairman of VaynerX — The importance of kind candor, how to get over your insecurity, and why you need to embrace social media | 21 May 2024 | 00:29:36 | |
Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as "GaryVee," is a serial entrepreneur, the Chairman of VaynerX, and 5x New York Times Best Selling Author. He is a leading global mind on what's next in culture, relevance, and the internet. Gary possesses an uncanny ability to recognize trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact consumer behavior. He is one of the most forward-thinkers in business. Gary's approach sits at the intersection of business and culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. That’s one of the wisdom bombs from my latest guest on From Start-up to Grown-up, the legendary Gary Vaynerchuk- Chairman of Vayner X and the author of his brand new book, Day Trading Attention. Here are a few more of the many great takeaways Gary offered during our discussion: “Chasing the short-term is the number one strategy that makes people fail.” “Entrepreneurship is a constant game of losing with occasional wins.” “There’s nothing that happens on earth that doesn’t start with attention.” Learn more about his new book, Day Trading Attention | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #66, Mary-Catherine Lader, COO of Uniswap Labs — How you know you're ready to take on more risk, why you should create anti-values, and the importance of community | 07 May 2024 | 01:05:14 | |
Mary-Catherine Lader is the Chief Operating Officer of Uniswap Labs. She previously was a Managing Director at BlackRock, and Chief Operating Officer of the firm’s Digital Wealth business and head of its climate tech business, Aladdin Sustainability. She began her career as an investment analyst with Goldman Sachs’ Special Situations Group and served on the staff of the World Economic Forum’s Davos gatherings for a decade. ➡️ The Uniswap Approach: How they balance the drive for building public infrastructure with the demands of running an equity-focused business, all while maintaining a hands-off approach to the governance community. ➡️ Cultivating Company Culture: Rituals, Transparency, and Empowerment. Learn how Uniswap Labs is fostering a learning-rich environment and driving employee engagement through university sessions and regular updates. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #65, Gregory Galant, Co-Founder and CEO of Muck Rack — Pros and cons of bootstrapping, building a scrappy culture, the importance of building a network | 23 Apr 2024 | 01:20:23 | |
Gregory Galant is the co-founder and CEO of Muck Rack, a platform enabling PR teams to work together to find the right journalists for their stories, send customized pitches, build meaningful relationships with the media, monitor news and quantify their impact. It’s used by thousands of organizations, including Taco Bell, Pfizer, Golin, International Committee of the Red Cross, Knight Foundation, Kauffman Foundation and Penguin Random House. Muck Rack is also the solution of choice for journalists, who use Muck Rack’s free, automatically updated portfolios to showcase their work and provide information about what stories they’re looking for. Greg is also the co-creator and executive producer of The Shorty Awards, which honor the best of social media. After being rejected by countless secret societies, Greg secured membership in Twitter and Instagram's exclusive first name club -- follow him at @gregory on both platforms. Listen to our conversation to learn all about: ➡️ Co-founder dynamics: The power of complementary skills and the dangers of too much similarity. ➡️ Hiring: How to know when it’s time to hire someone and what to look for when you’re running lean. ➡️ Managing challenges: How to handle the stress that comes with building a startup - or doing anything challenging. Learn more about Greg's company Muck Rack | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #64, Kristi Herold, Founder and CEO of JAM — Pivoting during a crisis, leading through playfulness, and creating joy in the workplace | 09 Apr 2024 | 00:56:54 | |
Kristi Herold is the CEO of JAM, a global business connecting people through play, and one of the largest recreational sports leagues in the world. Since 2020, JAM has produced 3,500+ corporate team-building events in over 30 countries. Kristi consults and speaks on how to move a culture from surviving to thriving. Her bestselling book, "It Pays to PLAY," is a rich resource to help organizations playfully connect with their teams and improve retention, engagement, and overall workplace culture. Here are three takeaways from our talk: - Pivot with Purpose When faced with adversity, like the 18-month revenue hit from the pandemic, Jam Group's shift to virtual events and culture consulting didn't just salvage the business. It highlighted how play can create bridges and bolster morale even in the toughest times. - Create Joy at Work Kristi’s entrepreneurial wisdom reminds us that injecting playfulness into the workplace—be it through music sessions, sports teams, or creative meetings—can significantly uplift employee engagement and translate into happier customers and improved profitability. - Lessons in Leadership Embracing vulnerability, from owning up to mistakes to combating imposter syndrome, Kristi's approach underscores the power of radical candor and the significance of building social connections within teams for a stronger and more resilient organization. Learn more about Kristi | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #63, Matt Abrahams, Author and Lecturer at Stanford University — Embracing vulnerability in leadership, the art of feedback, and how to personalize your pitch | 26 Mar 2024 | 01:05:46 | |
If you've ever found yourself stumbling over words in a high-stakes presentation or wondering how to turn a dinner party into a deeper connection, this is the conversation you need to hear. Plus, for all the leaders out there, we have expert insights on managing emotional reactions to feedback and fostering a culture of open dialogue for transformative organizational growth. Prepare to enrich your entrepreneurial toolkit and communicate with confidence, empathy, and a little bit of small talk finesse. Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his teaching students around the world. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #62, Sal Di Stefano, Co-Founder of Mind Pump Media — How authenticity drives growth, how you know you have the right cofounders, why being right is not the goal, and how physical strength drives your leadership | 12 Mar 2024 | 01:26:29 | |
Get pumped for this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up! I sat down with Sal Di Stefano, the co-founder of Mind Pump Media. You’ll learn how he and his co-founders propelled a fitness podcast into a multifaceted business empire. I loved his perspective on embracing the journey, how authenticity drives growth, and the importance of NOT being right. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #61, Rob Ryan, Co-Founder of Ascend Communications — Embracing a bootstrap mentality, picking the right spouse, and handling the mental and physical toll of entrepreneurship | 24 Feb 2024 | 01:11:35 | |
My guest for the latest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up is Rob Ryan, Co-Founder of Ascend Communication. Ascend was acquired by Lucent Technologies in 1999 by Lucent Technologies. Rob is a fount of knowledge about entrepreneurship and courageous leadership. He’s also a great story teller and a hoot! Check out this clip for a sneak peek into our talk where Rob talks about something important for your company’s long term success: profits. As an early internet pioneer, Rob Ryan served as principal architect in developing the V.32 Modem. He also developed the ethernet blue book standards for the first ethernet chips used in server farms as well as establishing the first decentralized network while working at DECNET. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #60, David Meltzer, Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and Peter Goldstein, Entrepreneur and author of The Entrepreneur's IPO — The surprising way money impacts your life, the three forms of ignorant arrogance, and how to prepare to take your company publi | 13 Feb 2024 | 00:32:58 | |
This new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up features a dynamic tag team of David Meltzer, the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and Peter Goldstein, entrepreneur and the author of “The Entrepreneur’s IPO”! You’ll hear about David’s complete rebirth in his life and career journey as he shares the surprising ways that money impacts your life, and Peter shares solid gold advice about how you can prepare to take your company public. David Meltzer is the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and a legendary sports executive. He formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. He is one of the world's top Entrepreneurs, Investors and Business coaches. David has been recognized by Variety Magazine as their Sports Humanitarian of the Year and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #59, Jim McKelvey, Co-Founder of Block (formerly Square)— Building a team of missionaries, what true innovation takes, and the importance of timing | 30 Jan 2024 | 01:08:51 | |
How do you find your new idea? Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #76: Susan McPherson, Founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies — Investing in dormant ties, networking superpowers, and converting nerves into strength | 24 Sep 2024 | 00:41:19 | |
Susan McPherson is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. As the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on brands and social impact, she brings over 30 years of experience in marketing, PR, and sustainability communications. Susan is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting and a sought-after speaker at major events like the Massachusetts Conference for Women and Techonomy. She has contributed to outlets like Harvard Business Review and Fast Company and has appeared in NPR, CNN, and USA Today. Susan invests in and advises women-led startups and is involved in several boards and advisory groups, including The 19th News and Just Capital. Susan shares her insights on the significance of rekindling dormant ties, the benefits of dormant connections, and the importance of proactive outreach in networking. Susan started her company at the bold age of 48, reaching out to a staggering 500 people in her network, demonstrating the power of asking for help and the value in promoting others. She's full of practical tips - including hosting your own events collaboratively and keeping the conversation focused on what others need. We'll also hear about her smart approach to follow-up after events, employing the "ten touches rule" to keep her contacts engaged. Prepare to be inspired as Susan discusses her entrepreneurial journey, overcoming personal and professional low points, and the joy she finds in team growth and recognition. Stay tuned as we learn that it's never too late to start, it’s okay to be afraid of failure, and that, at times, success is serendipitous – often resulting from seeds we plant long before they bear fruit. Learn more about Susan | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #58, Josh Reeves, CEO and Co-Founder of Gusto — Upholding the platinum rule, taking control of your attention, and a framework for hiring people who are in love with your problem | 02 Jan 2024 | 01:11:17 | |
If you’re looking for inspiration to upgrade your leadership for 2024, you’ll want to listen to my conversation with Josh Reeves, CEO and Co-Founder of Gusto on the newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up. These are just three topics from our talk that are fantastic guides to follow into the new year: ➡️ The key to hire the right people for your company ➡️ The one rule that will help you manage everyone. ➡️ The most important meeting to add to your calendar (hint: it’s with yourself.) Josh Reeves is the CEO and co-founder of Gusto, a startup on a mission to create a world where work empowers a better life. By making the most complicated business tasks simple and personal, Gusto is reimagining payroll, benefits and HR for modern companies. Gusto has offices in San Francisco and Denver, and its investors include Google Capital, General Catalyst, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and the founders of Instagram, Stripe, Nest, PayPal, Yelp, Box and Eventbrite, among others. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #57, Jon Beckstrand, CEO of MasterControl — Developing a leadership code, how to look forward to hard conversations, and ways to repurpose stress | 19 Dec 2023 | 01:15:27 | |
Does your company have an employee bill of rights? Jon Beckstrand put one together for his team as CEO of MasterControl. That’s just one of the strategies that Jon has used at MasterControl to grow the company and successfully execute a pivot. We talked about his leadership philosophy, his tools for learning, and how he’s come to embrace having difficult conversations. Listen to the rest of it for helpful strategies you can use right now to become a better leader. Jon Beckstrand is responsible for the overall direction and vision of MasterControl. Since his leadership began in 2002, MasterControl has enjoyed robust growth, introduced an array of new solutions, continued the company's push for innovation, and advanced its position as a leading provider of quality management software and services for regulated companies. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #56, Bob Muglia, Former CEO of Snowflake — Having a values-based vs. performance-based company, rooting out dysfunction, and getting fired by Steve Balmer twice | 05 Dec 2023 | 01:08:35 | |
What is the real impact of one bad apple on your team? What’s it like to work directly with Bill Gates? What’s your playbook for coming in as CEO of a promising company - like Snowflake - and taking them from 0 revenue to $100M in 5 years? On this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Bob Muglia, the former CEO of Snowflake and author of The Datapreneurs: The Promise of AI and the Creators Building Our Future, answers all of these and more. You’ll learn about his time at Microsoft, including getting fired by Steve Ballmer not just once, but twice, the good and bad lessons he learned from Microsoft in how to lead people. You’ll hear his exact playbook when he came into Snowflake, a company with 0 revenue. And you’ll learn key leadership lessons like how he builds a values-based company and how he holds people accountable without making them feel bad. Bob Muglia is a data technology investor and business executive, former CEO of Snowflake and past President of Microsoft's Server and Tools Division. As a leader, Bob focuses on how innovation and ethical values can merge to shape the Data Economy's future in the era of AI. He serves as a board director for emerging companies that seek to maximize the power of data to help solve some of the world's most challenging problems. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #55, Jerry Colonna, Author and Executive Coach — the distinction between vulnerability and honesty, the power of radical self-inquiry, and why you need to heal core wounds to be a great leader | 21 Nov 2023 | 01:07:15 | |
Not all feedback is created equal. Giving positive feedback offers far more benefits than simply showing gratitude for someone’s work. It also helps as a vital step to personal self-discovery and self-inquiry. This is a central theme of Jerry Colonna’s brand new book, Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong. Jerry joins me on the newest episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up to discuss the process of radical self-inquiry, why it’s essential for you to do if you want to grow, and the difference between honesty and vulnerability. Jerry helps people lead with humanity and equanimity. His unique blend of Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial know-how has made him a sought-after coach and leader, working with some of the largest firms in the country. In his work as a coach, he draws on his experience in Venture Capital (VC) as Co-founder of Flatiron Partners, one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs. Later, he was a partner with J.P. Morgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase. As a partner with J.P. Morgan Chase, Jerry launched the Financial Recovery Fund with The Partnership for the City of New York, a $10 million-plus program aimed at creating grants for small businesses impacted by the attacks on the World Trade Center. Along with a strong commitment to the nonprofit sector, Jerry is the author of two books: REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up and REUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong. Reboot was met with critical acclaim, stirring up a big question in the hearts and minds of people: “How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?” Jerry’s second book, Reunion, builds on this question, asking us what benefit we get from the conditions we say we don’t want. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #54, Jim Kwik, Brain Coach and Author — How to find your dominant question, what we can learn from trauma, and the framework to move your vision forward | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:52:12 | |
We often ask each other “What’s your why?” Go a step deeper and ask: “What’s your dominant question?” Jim Kwik is a brain coach and the author of the #1 WSJ bestseller, “Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life.” One of the many fascinating things we discuss is the idea of the dominant question - why it’s so important and useful if you want to do big things in this world. Listen to this brand new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up to hear all about the most important question to ask yourself, a process to make sure you move your vision forward, the simple methodology you can use to move your vision forward. This November, Jim is unveiling an expanded edition of his New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, "Limitless - Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, Unlock Your Exceptional Life." Since its debut in 2020, "Limitless" has emerged as a touchstone in the field, garnering praise from global thought leaders and luminaries. The book has equipped countless readers with tools for unparalleled productivity, personal transformation, and professional triumph – including the future of work, brain nutrition, brain types, and how AI will impact our daily lives. This new edition is tailored for those keen on staying ahead in our fast-changing world. Recognized globally for his expertise in brain empowerment and renowned as the world's #1 brain coach, Jim’s influence is vast. Through Kwik Learning, present in 195 countries, he's revolutionizing global learning methods. From students and tech mavens to CEOs, from Hollywood celebrities to professional athletes, Jim's teachings resonate with a diverse audience. Industry giants like Google, Virgin, Nike, SpaceX and 20th Century Fox, along with institutions like Harvard and the United Nations, have embraced his methodologies. His collaborations with entities such as the U.S. Air Force and the Cleveland Clinic further highlight the extensive scope of his influence. Jim is also behind the phenomenal success of the podcast "Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik." His podcast boasts millions of listeners and more than 60 million downloads, and is a testament to his ability to connect and inspire. Learn more about Jim here — Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #53, Gareb Shamus, Founder of ACE Comic Con— Going from passion to product, how to keep yourself in the game, and why inclusion fosters new businesses | 24 Oct 2023 | 01:18:36 | |
Gareb Shamus is a visionary in the Superhero and character-based franchise worlds. Throughout the last 30 years, he’s made a tremendous impact on geek and nerd culture and formed relationships with an unrivaled collection of artists, writers, toy developers, game designers, and celebrities. Gareb founded Comic Con as we know it today, producing 180 events with millions of tickets sold, reaching billions of people worldwide. He is also the founder of Wizard, ToyFare, and Anime Insider magazines with over 100 million issues sold in 75 countries His most recent endeavor, ACE Universe, achieved instant success having produced seven events over two years with the most popular Superhero celebrities that were live-streamed to massive global audiences. This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up is a highlight reel of Gareb Shamus, a superhero visionary, who championed inclusion in his business by focusing on a niche market. You will learn about perseverance, how to take the fuel of your passions and harness it into a product, and how inclusion drives profits. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #52, Joe Landolina, Co-Founder and CEO of Cresilon— Starting a company in his dorm room, finding the right investors; and the importance of transparent communication | 10 Oct 2023 | 01:13:16 | |
At 17 years old, inventor and entrepreneur Joe Landolina invented a medical breakthrough that is transforming at-home and in-patient wound care. Landolina conceived an adhesive hemostatic gel composed of plant-based polymers that could adhere to a wound site and simultaneously support the natural clotting process. Landolina's research background is in biocompatible polymers; in 2013, he was selected as a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar in recognition of his outstanding potential in scientific research. In 2014, Landolina was named a TED Global Fellow and has since traveled around the world representing Cresilon. Landolina is also a former Innovation Consultant at his alma mater, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and on the board of eLab NYC, which supports the development of NYC as the new world leader in life sciences entrepreneurship. Joe Landolina is a force of nature! He was doing chemistry experiments as a teenager, and ended up starting his company, Cresilon, at 17-years old. We talked about his back story and how he learned management and leadership skills, as well as plenty of ups and downs along the way. We also talk about where he got his first clean room (hint: you can buy one too) and what happened when he tried an experiment on his cousin. https://www.cresilon.com/ Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #51, Joel Jackson, Co-Founder and President of Lifeforce — Working with celebrity founders, taking in feedback without getting defensive, and frameworks for learning from experience | 25 Sep 2023 | 01:14:11 | |
Joel Jackson is co-founder and President of Lifeforce, the first clinically integrated health optimization platform. He is a Canadian entrepreneur and executive who has led technology organizations across healthcare, consumer goods, and wellness. Most recently, Joel was CTO of Upgrade Labs, a personal optimization and recovery company based in Santa Monica, California. Prior to Upgrade Labs, Joel led the engineering team for The Honest Company, a direct-to-consumer company focused on improving the health and sustainability of baby products. Joel Jackson, Co-Founder and President of Lifeforce, has worked with figures like Jessica Alba, Dave Asprey, the biohacker and founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and his new venture Lifeforce was co-founded with self-help guru, Tony Robbins. Joel shared so many valuable insights in this conversation, including what it was like to have to shut down his first startup, how he’s able to handle big personalities, and his process to deliver blame-free debriefs on projects. We also talk about how he’s learned to take in feedback without getting defensive - a valuable skill for all of us. https://www.mylifeforce.com/ Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #50, Jerry Neumann and Elizabeth Zalman, Authors of Founder Vs. Investor — Learn to love fundraising, handle board dynamics, and how to speak VC | 11 Sep 2023 | 01:15:07 | |
Liz is an infrastructure and information security expert. She is a two-time founder / CEO of venture-backed companies, building the first to a successful exit and the second to a multi-hundred-million-dollar business. Elizabeth has raised more than $100 million in venture capital from the most renowned investors in the world, and is a frequent speaker and guest at industry events and tech podcasts. Jerry Neumann has been an investor and early-stage advisor to groundbreaking technology companies for more than 25 years. He has been called one of New York’s “50 Most Important VCs” by Business Insider. Jerry also teaches innovation and entrepreneurship at Columbia University. This episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up has lots to celebrate, as my guests Jerry Neumann and Elizabeth Zalman launch their brand new book, Founder Vs. Investor, and this is also the 50th episode of the show!! I couldn’t have asked for better guests for this milestone, who shared a wealth of knowledge for startups and founders about how to actually love fundraising, what you can do to better manage the dynamics of a mercurial board room, and get a walkthrough from Jerry about how to speak VC! Find out more about Jerry and Elizabeth | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #49, Joe Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Loom — Why it’s essential to track your time; how to get better at fundraising; getting your head right to make good decisions; and how to decide to keep building your company, even if it means sleeping on a mattress | 28 Aug 2023 | 01:13:08 | |
Joe Thomas is the CEO and co-founder of Loom, the video communication platform for async work. Joe leads Loom in its mission to empower effective communication, wherever work happens. Prior to Loom, Joe served as Director of Product at MyLife.com and Director of Operations at MediaPass. He also co-founded Redesign Agency while in college at Indiana University. In this great discussion, Joe and I go deep in what it’s like to tinker with a concept over and over until you finally get it right. We discuss what he learned in his many “at bats” at fundraising, how and why he tracks his time, and the value that his meditation practice has brought to him as a CEO and as a human. This new episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up has so many pearls of wisdom from Joe - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
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| #75: Jeff Shiner, CEO of 1Password — Earning the right to lead, how to thrive while bootstrapping your company, and how to hire senior executives | 10 Sep 2024 | 01:09:48 | |
Jeff Shiner is the CEO of 1Password, a leader in human centric security and privacy. Since joining in 2012, Jeff has grown the company from 20 people to a 900-employee global organization with a $6.8 billion valuation. Today, 1Password enables over 100,000 businesses and millions of individuals to navigate the digital world without fear or friction when logging in – and in less time. The company has been recognized on the Forbes Cloud 100 list and Quartz’s Best Companies for Remote Workers. Prior to joining 1Password, Jeff held leadership roles at IBM Canada and Rosetta and has a demonstrated history of growing technology companies. Jeff also currently serves on the Board of Directors of GenomOncology, a company that provides the healthcare community with data-driven insights to improve cancer care. This episode is particularly valuable for first-time founders, as Jeff covers how to mitigate the lonely job as a founder by making smart hires, what you can do to cultivate a strong team through reflective hiring practices, and the activities that can ground you and give perspective. This is such a powerful and practical episode that will bolster all founders and leaders with resolve! Learn more about 1Password | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #48, Vishal Sunak, Founder and CEO of LinkSquares — Decision-making frameworks, the most potent management technique, how to build a fierce network from scratch | 14 Aug 2023 | 00:46:10 | |
Vishal Sunak is the founder and CEO of LinkSquares, the trusted legal technology partner for over 1,000 in-house teams, including Wayfair, ProPharma, TIME, The Boston Celtics, and Commvault. LinkSquares’ market-leading, AI-powered contract lifecycle management and legal task management solutions surface business intelligence with speed, accuracy, and scale. Vishal is widely recognized as a thought leader in the legal technology space, where he has worked tirelessly to improve outcomes for legal teams, while elevating their visibility within the enterprise. He talks me through his process for decision-making, how he learned about his business he knew nothing about at the beginning, and why and how you can rely on your network to thrive if you build it the right way. Find out more about Vishal and LinkSquares | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #47, Randy Komisar, Entrepreneur and Investor — Lessons learned from a professional gambler, the role of luck your career, and the key decisions that drive the quality of your life | 31 Jul 2023 | 01:09:46 | |
Randy Komisar is an entrepreneur and investor at Kleiner Perkins. Previously, he was a co-founder of Claris Corp., served as CEO for LucasArts Entertainment and Crystal Dynamics, and acted as “virtual CEO” for such companies as WebTV and GlobalGiving. Randy also served as CFO of GO Corp. and as senior counsel for Apple Computer, following a private practice in technology law. Randy is a founding director of TiVo and serves on the Roadtrip Nation Advisory Board and Orrick’s Women’s Leadership Board. He is the author of the best-selling book,The Monk and the Riddle, as well as several articles on leadership and entrepreneurship. He is also the co-author of Straight Talk for Startups, the insider best practices for entrepreneurial success, Getting to Plan B, on managing innovation, and I F**king Love that Company, on building consumer brands. This conversation with Randy Komisar is just spectacular! We dive right into how he turned his interview with Neil Young from disaster to success, why growing up with a professional gambler sharpened his communication skills, the way that luck factors into your career, and the way to maximize your chances of serendipity coming your way. You’ll learn pearl after pearl of wisdom from Randy in our conversation, including a crucial question he asks as an investor to any entrepreneur to assess what they’re made of. Randy’s such a great storyteller, and this discussion is not to be missed! Find out more about Randy and Kleiner Perkins | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #46: Anouck Gotlib, Cofounder and CEO of Belgian Boys — Building a company when you’re a creative, dealing with your cofounder when he’s also your spouse, and the power of a walk out song | 17 Jul 2023 | 00:57:25 | |
Anouck Gotlib, the Cofounder and CEO of Belgian Boys - a sweet snack company out of Brooklyn, NY, - started her career in fashion. With no business background, she ended up cofounding Belgian Boys with her husband and did a whole bunch of learning by doing. In this episode of From Start-up to Grown-up, hear about her fascinating journey, her very fresh approach on mundane things like the company handbook, and how her mission to spark moments of happiness gets brought to life. Anouck also talks about how her work with her coach has helped her, and why she has a walk on song. Find out more about Belgian Boys | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #45: Carolyn Rodz, Cofounder and CEO of Hello Alice — How to transform setbacks into learning, the best question to ask future employees, and how to build a strong cofounder relationship | 03 Jul 2023 | 01:07:49 | |
An investment banker turned three-time award-winning Latina entrepreneur from Bolivia, Carolyn serves as the Cofounder and CEO of Hello Alice (helloalice.com), a smart technology that helps business owners find the right path to start and grow their companies. Carolyn is a long-time advocate for underestimated founders and believes technology-driven data will prove the business case for inclusion. During her time at Hello Alice, Carolyn was recognized as a "17 Women to Watch," by Inc. Magazine, and selected by Mayor Turner of Houston to co-chair the Women and Minority Small Business Task Force in 2019. This episode is a masterclass on entrepreneurship! Learn why it’s not a good idea to compare yourself to others, who you need to look for to bring on your team, how to handle being on the ropes financially, and the questions you should be asking as a founder. Find out more about Hello Alice | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #44: Lauren Bush Lauren, Founder and CEO of FEED — Building a business while making an impact, when not to take advice, learning to be direct, and how public service shaped her leadership | 12 Jun 2023 | 01:03:59 | |
Lauren Bush Lauren is the founder and CEO of FEED, the impact-driven lifestyle brand, making products that help feed the children of the world. A native of Texas, Lauren attended Princeton University where she majored in Anthropology. As a sophomore, Lauren had the opportunity to travel with the UN World FOOD Programme. While visiting regions across Central America, Asia, and Africa, Lauren witnessed firsthand the realities of poverty and hunger that people are facing all over the world. Using this experience as an inspiration, Lauren found FEED as a tangible way for her peers to make an impact in fighting childhood hunger. If you believe in your mission like Lauren Bush Lauren, the CEO of Feed does, don’t take no for an answer. Learn how she combined her passions with a way to make an impact on the world, how she learned exactly who she needed on her team, and the mistakes made and lessons learned throughout the hiring process. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast! Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #43: Seth Godin, Author and Marketing Strategist — showing up for yourself, creating conditions for your best work, and how to deal with massive rejection | 30 May 2023 | 00:48:57 | |
Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!). By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world. In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both. Imagine a world where people work where they are respected, where the work - not the employee - is thoughtfully criticized, and where managers create the conditions for employees to do the best work of their lives. Seth Godin does a deep dive on all of these and so much more in our conversation, sharing concepts from his brand new book The Song of Significance that reimagines what work and leadership can be. Find out more about Seth | Website If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast! Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #42: Matt Biilmann, Co-Founder and CEO of Netlify — career pivoting, marketing for mass adoption, and growing company culture remotely | 15 May 2023 | 01:07:03 | |
Matt Biilmann is the Co-Founder and CEO of Netlify. He was trained to be a musician and music journalist, but early into his career, he pivoted to programming. Among his creations was a content management system that helped web design agencies to build websites. The idea evolved into Netlify, which he launched with childhood friend Chris Bach in 2014. Netlify helped pioneer the movement to decouple front-end web development from back-end server management. Mattel, Unilever, and Verizon have all used Netlify to launch websites. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast! Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #41: Alex Zaccaria, Co-Founder and CEO of Linktree — finding a need in the market, when to take venture money, preparing for board meetings, and the value of conferences | 01 May 2023 | 00:46:34 | |
Alex Zaccaria is the Co-Founder and CEO at Linktree, the link-in-bio category creator which enables creators, brands, artists, publishers, agencies, and businesses of all sizes to curate an online ecosystem, engage with their audience, and monetize their passions. Find out more about Linktree | Website If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast! Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #40: Peter Attia, MD, Founder of Early Medical — improving your lifespan and healthspan, the centenarian decathlon, and the process of making major life changes | 17 Apr 2023 | 00:44:01 | |
Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan. He is the host of The Drive, one of the most popular podcasts covering the topics of health and medicine. Dr. Attia received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine and trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery, where he was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including resident of the year. He spent two years at the National Institutes of Health as a surgical oncology fellow at the National Cancer Institute, where his research focused on immune-based therapies for melanoma. Find out more about Peter Attia | Website If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast! Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #39: Alex Lieberman, Cofounder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew — Mental health for founders, having a framework for decision-making, and deciding when it's time to leave your job to start a company | 03 Apr 2023 | 01:16:03 | |
Alex Lieberman is the Cofounder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, a media brand that empowers modern business leaders with need-to-know content that is engaging and timely. Since its founding in 2015, Morning Brew has provided millions of users with the most important news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast! Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #74: Seth Godin, Author and Marketing Strategist — showing up for yourself, creating conditions for your best work, and how to deal with massive rejection (Repost) | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:48:57 | |
Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!). By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world. In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both. Imagine a world where people work where they are respected, where the work - not the employee - is thoughtfully criticized, and where managers create the conditions for employees to do the best work of their lives. Seth Godin does a deep dive on all of these and so much more in our conversation, sharing concepts from his brand new book The Song of Significance that reimagines what work and leadership can be. Find out more about Seth | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #38: Matthew Scullion, Cofounder and CEO of Matillion — Creating the right company culture, how to know your pivot is working, micro confidence vs. macro confidence, and the biggest obstacle in building a company | 20 Mar 2023 | 00:44:40 | |
Matthew is the Cofounder and CEO of Matillion. He cofounded his first startup at age 18. Before starting Matillion in 2011, Matthew worked in commercial IT and software development for 15 years at a number of British and European systems integrators. A native of Altrincham, England, near Manchester, Matthew now spends half his time in the United States – primarily in Denver (Matillion’s U.S. headquarters), Seattle, New York, and in the Bay Area, at the beating heart of the enterprise software industry. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon | |||
| #37: Robert Glazer, Founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners — the importance of values and purpose, how to build your team's capacity, and why you should start your ideas even if they aren't ready | 06 Mar 2023 | 00:55:44 | |
Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of global partner marketing agency, Acceleration Partners. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of BrandCycle. A serial entrepreneur, Bob has a passion for helping individuals and organizations build their capacity to elevate. Key highlights:
Notable Quotes
Resources Mentioned
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| #36: Hubert Palan, Founder and CEO of Productboard — the challenges of scaling leadership, tactics for fundraising, and finding a work/life balance | 22 Feb 2023 | 00:49:47 | |
Hubert is the founder and CEO of Productboard.com, a platform for strategic product design and management headquartered in San Francisco, California. Prior to Productboard, Hubert was the Vice President of Product Management at GoodData, where he managed GoodData’s disruptive platform business, built the whole front-end product management and UX team from the ground up, and established and embodied modern principles of user experience design. Hubert also once worked in management consulting as well as trained 20 national park managers in Vietnam on marketing and strategy.
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| #35: Padma Warrior, Founder and CEO of Fable — The reverse journey of grown-up to start-up, what to unlearn to become a founder, how to get your initial hires onboard, and rituals that build culture | 04 Feb 2023 | 01:05:47 | |
Padmasree Warrior is the Founder, President and CEO of Fable, a mobile-first company that brings stories to everyone, anywhere. Previously, Padma was the Chief Executive Officer of NIO U.S., Chief Development Officer and Board Member of NIO Inc., a manufacturer of smart, electric, and autonomous vehicles. In this role, she scaled the company from start-up to a successful IPO NYSE:NIO in 3 years. Our conversation was truly fascinating! We discuss her reverse journey from grown-up to start-up, what she had to unlearn from a large corporation to become a start-up founder, how you can get your initial hires onboard, and the rituals that build a strong company culture. To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter.
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| #34: Nick Sonnenberg, Founder and CEO of Leverage — Bootstrapping your business; risk and how to build confidence; how to make your business more efficient, and how to come up for air | 24 Jan 2023 | 00:57:20 | |
Nick Sonnenberg is the Founder and CEO of Leverage, a business efficiency consultant, Inc. columnist, and author of the book, Come Up For Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning in Work. As a serial entrepreneur with a passion for productivity and a background in data science, Nick’s mission is to create companies that disrupt the way people work by leveraging the power of remote teams, digital tools, and automation. Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!
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| #33: Chip Conley, Founder at Modern Elder Academy — Using regret as fuel; how and why founders need to shift their identities; how to manage people older than you; and his favorite interview question | 05 Jan 2023 | 01:13:58 | |
Chip is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), where a new roadmap for midlife is offered at a beautiful oceanfront campus in Baja California Sur, Mexico, and forthcoming campuses in Santa Fe, NM. His five books have made him a leading authority at the intersection of psychology and business. Key highlights in the episode Know our guest; Chip Conley (00:30) The identity cleanse and why it is important (03:19) Chip’s near-death experience and how it made him shift his identity when he sold his company (07:30) The Anatomy of a transition; Three stages of transition (14:48) How Chip became a mentor and an intern to Airbnb Co-Founder&CEO Brian Chesky (18:46) Using regret as raw material for the future (19:45) How insights from Airbnb led him to start the Modern Elder Academy (21:55) Ways of scaling your company’s culture & soul as the company grows (26:46) Culture fit vs. Culture add approach to hiring (28:48) His favorite interview questions (31:20) Why Chip has developed a strong personal brand and how it has served him (37:55) His advice to new founders about having a personal brand (41:06) What Chip teaches his mentees (46:37) What he has learned from his mentees (51:10) How to manage people older than you. And how to operate in an environment where your boss is younger than you (56:18) Ways through which founders can find the truth in their companies (1:01:30) The adjustments Chip has made in his leadership style and the feedback he received (1:04:13) What Chip wishes he had known earlier on his entrepreneurship journey (1:08:11) His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (1:09:41) Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share! Resources Mentioned
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| #32: Julia Boorstin, Senior Media and Tech Correspondent CNBC — The confidence dial, empathy as a strategic skill, and why playing sports makes for better leaders | 14 Dec 2022 | 00:40:42 | |
Julia Boorstin is CNBC’s Senior Media & Tech correspondent based at the network’s Los Angeles bureau, where she reports and conducts CEO interviews across CNBC programming, and plays a key role on CNBC’s bicoastal tech-focused program TechCheck, delivering reporting, analysis, and interviews around streaming, social, and the convergence of media and technology. She is also the author of When Women Lead. In 2013, she created and launched the CNBC Disruptor 50, an annual list she oversees, highlighting the private companies transforming the economy and challenging companies in established industries. Additionally, she reported a documentary on the future of television for the network, “Stay Tuned...The Future of TV” and helped launch CNBC’s “Closing the Gap” initiative, covering the people and companies closing gender gaps, and leads CNBC’s coverage of studies on this topic. Before joining CNBC, Boorstin was a writer and reporter at Fortune magazine, as well as a contributor to “Street Life,” a live market wrap-up segment on CNN Headline News. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #31: Mid-Day Squares - Creating fans and not customers, building a company as a family, and the power of social media | 05 Dec 2022 | 01:01:24 | |
Lezlie Karls, Co-founder, and CEO started MID-DAY SQUARES with her husband Nick Saltarelli, and brother Jake Karls. After being rejected by every major grocery store buyer, she persuaded her husband to leave his tech startup and help her sell online direct to consumers. Together, they wanted to bring delicious tasting, clean, high-protein afternoon snacks to people on the daily life grind. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #30: Rob Kramer of PurposeLab — Building resilience, an unconventional career path, and working with the Kardashians | 28 Nov 2022 | 00:58:07 | |
Rob Co-Founded PurposeLab with Andrew Skinner back in 2009 from a simple idea: build technology and invest in companies driven by impact and purpose. They partner with like-minded founders with domain expertise who love to create impact, and who need a tech partner that can ideate, design, and build beautiful consumer and enterprise software products. PurposeLab has evolved into a product development and venture studio that invests in brilliant entrepreneurs striving to disrupt the status quo. Rob is also the Co-host of the Hell & Wellness Podcast with Matt Ruby. We discuss how to bounce back from incredibly challenging circumstances, the process of experimenting vs. sticking it out, and Rob's working with the Kardashian family. To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #29: Dan Zavorotny, Nutrisense | 08 Nov 2022 | 01:15:36 | |
Dan Zavorotny is a healthcare technology entrepreneur whose latest venture, NutriSense, involves CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring) technology as a tool for preventative health, weight management, and increased physical performance. His team has helped tens of thousands of individuals, ranging from type II diabetics to world record-setting athletes by optimizing their health and wellness with a data-driven approach. Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Dan worked as a global healthcare consultant at KPMG and has had the privilege of traveling to over 100 countries. We discuss establishing trust as co-founders, the culture shift going from a large corporation to a startup, and his process of teaching himself marketing. I feel that his approach applies globally to any skill you are trying to teach yourself - this is gold!! To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #73: David Savage, Group Technology Evangelist at Nash Squared and host of TechTalks podcast — How to become an "intrapreneur," the importance of consistent behavior over vanity metrics, and how to learn to trust yourself | 13 Aug 2024 | 01:01:20 | |
David is Nash Squared's Group Technology Evangelist. He crafts podcasts, hosts video debates, speaks, moderates conferences, and chairs keynote stages. He's a passionate advocate for technology, dissecting its challenges and opportunities. In addition to learning about trusting yourself, you’ll also hear from David how to become an “intrapreneur,” the importance of establishing consistent behavior, and how that applies to strengthening our personal branding. Learn more about David and Tech Talks | Website Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #28: Melissa Daimler, Udemy | 19 Oct 2022 | 01:02:43 | |
Melissa Daimler helps leaders design, operationalize, and scale their culture. She currently serves as the Chief Learning Officer for Udemy, where she develops learning strategies for both customers and employees. Melissa brings over two decades of experience across Learning and Development, Talent Management, and Organizational Development. Prior to Udemy, Melissa created and built Learning, Organizational, and Talent Development functions for Adobe, Twitter, and WeWork. To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #27: - Andy Karsner, X (a division of Alphabet) | 29 Sep 2022 | 00:44:09 | |
Andy Karsner is a true renaissance man! His entrepreneurial leadership has been associated with both venture capital and private equity portfolios throughout the past decade. With responsibilities in guidance and holdings for some of the most successful technology startups, from solar energy to biotech, Karsner is currently a senior strategist at X, the moonshot factory, where he brings an entrepreneurial focus to economic competitiveness, global security, and environmental sustainability. He was the Managing Partner at Emerson Collective where he founded and led Elemental, an environmental practice. He has also served in the US Department of Energy as the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. A board member at Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT) and Exxon Mobil ( NYSE: XOM) To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #26: Maëlle Gavet, Techstars | 14 Sep 2022 | 01:00:25 | |
Maëlle Gavet is the CEO of the global investment business Techstars, focused on supporting entrepreneurs, and is one of the most well-known startup accelerators around the world. One of the tech industry’s brightest stars, Maëlle has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40, one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, and was fifth among Time magazine’s List of the Top 25 ‘Female Techpreneurs’. She has spoken regularly at the leading technology industry events and her writing has appeared in Wired, the Harvard Business Review, the World Economic Forum, Fast Company, and Fortune magazine. To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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| #25: Larry Gadea, Envoy | 29 Aug 2022 | 00:42:33 | |
Larry Gadea is the Founder and CEO of Envoy, a workplace platform that helps companies welcome visitors, keep employees safe, book desks and conference rooms, and manage deliveries in over 16,000 locations around the globe. Larry started his career as a software engineer at 17, having been recruited by Google out of high school. He later joined Twitter as one of the early people driving its ability to scale. Wanting to build a similar global company, in 2013 Larry went on to build the initial website and app for what eventually became Envoy. To stay up to date on future episodes and learn more from Alisa, sign up for her newsletter. Connect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on
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