Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do

Episode 657 is all about now and the future. Much has changed in business in the past two years, but what are the trends for 2021 and beyond? Joel Block from Bullseye Capital talks about what he sees happening now and into the future.   Bullseye Capital is the nation’s preeminent real estate syndication training provider, helping real estate brokers, other real estate professionals and investors acquire the skills to pool resources so that they can build wealth by controlling growing portfolios of real property. Brokers also learn to earn more commissions by working with investment groups that are acquiring properties with pooled funds. All programs include professional support and dramatic networking opportunities from the interaction between our participants. Their “Syndication and Hedge Fund Symposium” gives you great detail on how to “Harness the Power of group investing” to create maximum wealth by strategically partnering and optimizing deal strategies for investing in Commercial Real Estate in today’s

Episode 656 is a conversation with Bob Liscouski. He has had a very interesting career from being a cop, to an early employee at the Department of Homeland Security, to the CEO of a company in the quantum computing space. We talk about his journey, the power of surrounding yourself with good people, and how to get things done. This is a great conversation! About Bob Liscouski Bob Liscouski has served as president, CEO, and chairman of QCI since February 2018, bringing to the company more than 35 years of executive experience at public and private companies, and federal agencies. He has extensive experience developing critical programs for protecting national security interests and essential infrastructure, as well as in crisis management, organizational development, and strategic planning. Bob's public sector experience includes time in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of State, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, and served on the Intelligence ScienceBoard supporting the CI

Ep 655 is a conversation with LinkedIn expert Sandra Long. In this interview Thom Singer and Sandra share their experiences with using LinkedIn, and why it is an important tool for everyone in business.  About Sandra Long    Sandra Long is a global LinkedIn expert, consultant, author, and speaker. She is known for her book, speaking, and TEDx talk. Her best-selling book is LinkedIn for Personal Branding; The Ultimate Guide.  Sandra presented the first-ever TEDx talk about LinkedIn in 2019. The 11-minute speech is called “LinkedIn Community: A Super-Power Hiding in Plain Sight” and is available on YouTube. She is a professional member of the National Speakers Association.   Sandra and her company Post Road Consulting focus 100% on LinkedIn education and thought leadership. Their clients include sales teams, corporate C-Level executives, HR teams, universities, job seekers, and business owners. https://www.thomsinger.com/podcast/sandra-long Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, "Making Waves at C-Level" host Thom Singer was the host for the San Diego Angel Conference. This angel funding competition featured several amazing companies (many of which have now been guests on this podcast). This interview (Episode 654) is with the founder of Advocat Technologies, Pradnya Desh. Advocat won the $200,000 prize at this event. About Advocat Technologies Advocat Technologies is AI ENABLED LEGAL RESEARCH AND DRAFTING FOR ATTORNEYS. It is Conversation-driven to save hours of your time. At Advocat Technologies, they are inspired by lawyers who work hard to protect their clients, and make the world a better place. They believe that the legal services market in the US is broken—limiting access to a select few and pricing others out of the market or for others forcing them to limit their consumption of legal services to save costs. Advocat Technologies aims to change that using the power of artificial intelligence. About Pradnya Desh  Pradnya Desh is the founder and CEO at Ad

Ep 653 is another visit to the cannabis industry and the world of packaging. In this case, beautiful wooden boxes for the display of different flavor profiles.  Terps Perps' company mission is to optimize the cannabis shopper experience by simplifying the consumer education process.  With six more states legalizing cannabis for commercial use since 4/20 last year, interest in cannabis culture across the United States is at an all-time high. However, barriers to entry for new consumers remain steep. Novice cannabis users must navigate a burdensome shopping environment that practically requires a glossary to understand: you have your types (indica, sativa, hybrid), cannabinoids (THC, CBD), new products (budder, shatter, bho, etc.), and of course, you have your terpenes. That’s why Austin Wood, CEO of Humboldt County startup the Terp Perps , developed the “Canna Compass,” a chart that helps cannabis consumers break down terpene flavor profiles into transparent and reliable categories. A former tech startup ent

Episode 652 of “Making Waves at C-Level” is co-produced in partnership with the Austin Technology Council, the largest tech industry organization in Central Texas. ATC empowers members through insights, resources, and connections so their members can succeed and thrive. This episode is an in-depth interview with Patrick Emmons, founder and CEO of DragonSpears, a consulting firm for software excellence. He wants to empower clients to become great SaaS-level software organizations. Patrick is all about partnering with clients to hit strategic initiatives. Check out this conversation about entrepreneurship, influence building, and how the city of Austin is an awesome place to start or expand a business. Based in Chicago, Patrick and his team have gotten involved with the Austin Technology Council and the local tech community as they grow their company.   About Patrick Emmons If you can’t appreciate a good sports analogy, movie quote, or military reference, you may not want to work with him, but if you value

Episode 651 is a chat with Tamsen Webster. On this podcast Thom Singer interviews her about her new book "Find Your Red Thread". This is very important for anyone who has a message they need to be understood by others (ummmm, that is all of us). About Tamsen Webster Tamsen Webster has spent the last twenty years helping experts drive action from their ideas. Part message strategist, part storyteller, part English-to-English translator, her work focuses on how to find and build the stories partners, investors, clients, and customers will tell themselves—and others. Tamsen honed her expertise through work in and for major companies and organizations like Johnson & Johnson, Harvard Medical School, and Intel, as well as with startups that represent the next wave of innovation in life science, biotech, climate tech, fintech, and pharma. She’s a professional advisor at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and a mentor for the Harvard Innovation Labs. She’s also served for over eight years as executiv

Mindset and overcoming the things that are blocking you is key to success and fulfillment. In this episode Thom talks to mindset coach Malorie Nicole about ways to find your own path to health consciousness.   About Malorie Nicole Malorie Nicole helps entrepreneurs and executives create mental clarity, fulfillment and growth in their lives. She is the host of a #1 Forbes rated podcast and spends her days dedicated to helping others remove the mental barriers they don’t realize are blocking them. She believes in using business for good, and that entrepreneurs can solve the problems of the world.    Malorie knows and has personally seen the silent suffering stigma in the high performing and entrepreneurial world. She knows the power of the brain and the relationship between past experiences and every day business and life problems and how they are deeply connected. Her passion is to help people heal the barriers that are preventing them from experiencing life and business in the most rewarding and enriching

How are you doing during the past year of the pandemic when it comes to mental health?  How are your employees? Do you really know? Just asking may not get you real answers. Episode 649 is a conversation with Shannon Andress, who shares her story about the struggles she faced over the last year and her journey to recovery.   This episode matters, as many people have had a rough year. Shannon does not hold back. And the we talked about how her employer did know how bad it was, even though her boss did reach out to check in. For you and your team, you should listen to this episode. Disclaimer: Neither Shannon nor Thom are mental health experts. We fully recommend that you talk to a professional if you are struggling with your own issues.  About Shannon Andress Shannon Andress is the host and creator of the podcast “You Got This! – The Journey”. After suffering from her own experience with anxiety and depression, Shannon has become an advocate for mental health awareness and helping others to find ways that

In episode 648 of "Making Waves at C-Level" Thom chats with a repeat guest on the show, Mike Smerklo. Together they discuss trends before and after the pandemic and how business leaders can "Make Waves" in the new environment. They also talk about Mike's new book, "Mr. Monkey and Me".  About Mike SmerkloMike Smerklo is an experienced entrepreneur, investor and business leader driven by the desire to turn ideas into reality.  Having bought and scaled a small business into a publicly traded company worth nearly a billion dollars in value, he has a deep understanding of the hard work, dedication and grit that truly powers successful entrepreneurship.Today, as the co-founder and managing director of Next Coast Ventures, Smerklo is a champion for a new generation of entrepreneurs building disruptive companies in big markets. His new book, Mr. Monkey and Me (Scribe Media, Nov. 17, 2020), is a “real talk” guide for entrepreneurs who want to cut through the noise to  cultivate a mindset that supports greatness. Smerk

We often celebrate the 40 under 40 entrepreneurs in every community, but how often do you see anyone praising the 70 over 70 business leaders who are making things happen in the world of business. Paul Tasner's TED Talk on "How I Became an Entrepreneur at 66" is a must watch TED Talk (TED, not TEDx). Paul Tasner is the co-founder and CEO of PulpWorks, and his story about career and entrepreneurship is one that everyone should hear. Thom Singer ran across his TED Talk online and immediately knew he had to interview Paul on the "Making Waves at C-Level Podcast". About Paul Tasner and PulpWorks PulpWorks is the capstone in a 40-year career in supply chain management for Paul. Earlier, he held leadership positions in procurement, manufacturing, and logistics in ventures ranging from start-up to Fortune 100. Included among them are: The Clorox Company (consumer packaged goods), California Closet Company (home furnishings), Method Products (consumer packaged goods), Hepagen (vaccines), OM2 (supply chain consulta

Episode 646 is an interview with three young entrepreneurs. Thom met the founders of Hempress Hygienics when he was the Master of Ceremonies for the 2021 San Diego Angel Conference. While this company did not win the cash prize in the angel funding competition, they are huge winners in the world of launching a start up. These women are onto something and everyone should hear their story. Marilyn Austin, Halli Briscoe, and McKenna Avery are smart, determined, and doing work they love.  This interview is the first time Thom has talked about feminine hygiene products (including tampons, pads, and liners) on this podcast. This company makes their products from Hemp, so they are 100% biodegradable. This company is "making waves" and changing an entire industry.   About Hempress Hygienics  Hempress Hygienics is an innovative feminine hygiene brand with the mission to provide products that are good for women's bodies AND the environment, and we do this through utilizing the power of hemp fiber. Our 100% hemp tamp

Ever wondered about franchising your business or buying a franchise? Jon Ostenson joins the conversation on "Making Waves at C-Level" on episode 645.  Jon Ostenson is a consultant, investor, author, and international speaker specializing in the area of non-food franchising. He draws on his experience as both the President of an Inc. 500 franchise system and as a multi-brand franchisee in serving clients across these capacities. Jon serves as CEO of FranBridge Consulting where he helps clients understand all aspects of non-food franchising in the process of introducing them to opportunities from the over 300 high growth brands that he represents. Additionally, Jon oversees FranBridge Capital where he and his partners own 17 territories across 5 property service franchises. Jon is the author of 'The Franchise Path' and is a frequent contributor and thought leader for publications on the topic of franchising and franchise investments. Prior to FranBridge, Jon was the President of ShelfGenie, a national franch

On episode 644 of "Making Waves at C-Level" Thom sits down for a candid talk with Shari Fitzpatrick, the founder of Shari's Berries. She tells her story of turning her love of Strawberries into a $50mm brand, how she lost the company (and got nothing), became resilient, became a motivational speaker, and how she launched a new company (Berried in Chocolate).  Her story is one for everyone, as it talks about how to make a life instead of just making a living.   About Shari Fitzpatrick SHARI FITZPATRICK is the creator of the world’s famous line of gourmet-dipped strawberries, the renowned Shari’s Berries. Shari’s love affair with strawberries began as a little girl with a strawberry patch that her Father planted for her each summer. They quickly became her favorite fruit. Later while working as a mortgage broker in Los Angeles she began making potential clients handmade chocolate dipped strawberries. The incredible popularity of these memorable edible gifts soon outpaced the success of her original career. I

Episode 643 of "Making Waves at C-Level" is a deep dive to the world of charging stations for electric vehicles. ChargeNet is a San Diego startup that is making waves in the world of how and where you can charge your car. Tosh Dutt is the co-founder and CEO of the company that recently was a finalist in the San Diego Angel Conference.   While there is still only a small percentage of people who have electric cars, the numbers are growing fast and in the next decade we all may be looking for places to charge up. Right now planning a trip means thinking ahead about getting power, but every corner in the city and every offramp on the freeway has fast food franchises. What if you could pull in, and get a fast-charge in ten minutes while eating your burger or chicken nuggets? That make your life easy, and that is the goal of Tosh Dutt and the team at ChargeNet. One of the coolest things about this podcast is finding companies and entrepreneurs who are really "making waves" and shaking up industries. This company

Episode 642 is a conversation with a tech entrepreneur who is "making waves" in the world of associations. Julie Sciullo of Association Analytics shares her journey to being CEO of the company, and how she has grown the business in the last three years. About Julie Sciullo Julie has 15 years’ experience successfully driving finance, strategy, sales and corporate development. She is an industry thought leader who infuses innovation into data analytics through technology implementation, product and service management, talent and team development, and continuous improvement to business processes. Julie is passionate about interpreting the story in the data to drive decisions and facilitate success. Her belief in the power of data analytics drove her to the helm of Association Analytics. She holds an M.B.A. in Finance and Organizational Leadership from Duquesne University and a B.S.B.A. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Pittsburgh.   About Association Analytics Association Analytics is an innova

n this episode of "Making Waves at C-Level" Thom Singer talks with his two "mentees" about the power of good mentorship. Jake Pusch and Nicodemus Abowd joined Thom at SXSW in 2019 on a panel about this same topic. How can a mentor help you succeed. How do you find a mentor. Why be a mentor? All of this is covered in a friendly and fun way. Many companies have "Mentor" programs, but few seem to be more than just an attempt at matching people up to build the mentee / mentor relationship. But when a real mentor comes along, it changes the game forever for the mentee.   This is a complex issue that is valuable for individuals and companies to better help their people find ongoing success. https://thomsinger.com/podcast/good-mentorship Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About David Horsager David Horsager is bestselling author of The Trust Edge and CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute. With clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to professional sports teams and global governments, David has taken the platform across the United States and on 6 continents. He invented The Enterprise Trust Index™ and leads the charge in the nation’s foremost trust study—The Trust Outlook™. His next book, Trusted Leader, is being released March 30, 2021.   Without trust, leaders and organizations fail. Even good leaders and organizations face a crisis of trust. Surface-level problems are consuming a massive amount of resources by distracting you from the root issue. About The Trust Edge Leadership Institute  Trust Edge Leadership Institute is a Minnesota-based company that helps global leaders and organizations build trust. Since 1999, Trust Edge Leadership Institute has pioneered trust development through research, speaking, consulting, and training on trust and its proven impact on

Barri Grant is the Chief Grief Officer ™ at The Memory Circle. In this episode we talk about grief in the workplace and how companies help employees who are dealing with trauma. That is more important than most people know, as most employees will face some sort of loss in their lifetime.   Since her mom, Ellen Jane, died suddenly in the summer of 1993 of a brain aneurism, Barri Grant has believed that grief stories and loss need a better place to live in modern society. Her work as an author, public relations executive and editor has made the art of visual storytelling a centerpiece of her life and work for decades.  The Memory Circle was born from a desire to make the grief cycle a shared experience. a place to tell your tale because it reinforces that your loss matters. Grant helps facilitate peer to peer events that explore ways to remember and reflect on the lives of loved ones through intuition, dreams, writing and movement as individuals navigate the long arc of loss.  She has combined work as a yo

Thom Singer sits down with Minter Dial in this episode of "Making Waves at C-Level". He has an eclectic background and is a "Shit-Stirrer" and storyteller. He has worked in and around the C-Suite for a long time, and is very candid as he talks about his journey in business.  About Minter Dial Minter Dial is an international professional and energetic speaker and a multiple award-winning author, specialized in leadership, branding and transformation. An agent of change, he's a three-time entrepreneur who has exercised twelve different métiers and changed country fifteen times. Minter's core career stint of 16 years was spent as a top executive at L’Oréal, where he was a member of the worldwide Executive Committee for the Professional Products Division. He’s author of the award-winning WWII story, The Last Ring Home (documentary film and biographical book, 2016) as well as two prizewinning business books, Futureproof (2017) and Heartificial Empathy (2019). His next book on leadership, You Lead, How being yo