Don Friedman has spent the last 13 years creating and producing “first-of-its-kind”, buyside investor-focused finance conferences, webinars and roadshows as well as running a conference company.

Don founded Joint Venture Events Group in May 2014 by creating a unique conference format which immediately catapulted the firm to the top of investment professionals’ “must-attend” events list with “best-in-breed” programs such as Investing in Liquid Alternatives and Investing in MLPs.

Don is a lifelong “Wildcat” having received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Arizona. Don is also an avid runner, with three marathons to his credit and has skydived once. He and his wife and two daughters live in Milton, GA.

Mission: In mall, ran into is freshman year college roommate who shared with Don an opportunity to create events for the financial industry. With a background in finance and day-trading, Don jumped aboard, learned quickly and has never looked back.

Mindset: Having an open mind to new opportunities, Don was excited to take on a challenge that allowed him to created something from scratch and see it through to its finish.  In his experience follow up skills, a true passion for the job, and differentiation have been critical to his success. His advice for other entrepreneurs... be willing to accept rejection.

Marketing: Having the right partnerships has been a critical piece of bringing awareness and credibility to Don's business since its launch. When it comes to maximizing the opportunity to get your message out there, how can you leverage partnerships to bring value and new momentum for all?

Momentum: I loved hearing Don tell the story of the momentum gained from the 1st event his company coordinated. It wasn't until the end of the event when all of the sponsors, participants and attendees shared their positive feedback from their experience that he knew he'd gotten it right. You have to put yourself out there in order to know if you are on the right track.

Masterminds: Don views his community as the industry as whole. With this perspective, he stays aware of the needs and trends within his industry. In tune with the need for more female leadership in the financial advisor industry, Don is partnering with organizations that champion this mission as well as doing his part to feature more women speakers and panelists at events. Check out one of his upcoming conferences, Invest in Women: A Conference About Women In Wealth Management.

Mastermind Challenge: I love Don's perspective on viewing his role within the industry as a whole. Take a step back and view the big picture of YOUR industry. What are the trends? What are the needs? How can you bring value by filling in the gaps? We're all in this together! Share your photos with the hashtag #mastermindchallenge