What do you do when your visa is about to expire and your firm won’t sponsor you? If you’re Allan Rooney—you start your own law firm.

In this episode of Authority Architects, we sit down with Allan Rooney, founder of Rooney Law, to unpack a story that blends tenacity, risk, and a whole lot of hustle. From cold-calling his way into law school in Texas, to navigating post-9/11 job loss, to launching a boutique cross-border firm with just a few hundred grand in the bank—Allan’s journey is anything but conventional.

He shares:

- The bold move that let him stay in the U.S. legally

- Why boutique firms are winning business from Big Law

- Legal blind spots that crush startups before they scale

- How his firm grew from an immigration workaround to a trusted legal brand

Allan also talks candidly about imposter syndrome, founder culture, and what it really takes to build trust and deliver value in a hyper-competitive industry.

This episode is a must-listen for creatives, marketers, and founders building brands from the ground up.

Real stories. Real strategies. From the Emmy-winning team at 7 Wonders.

After six months of podcasting, we’re turning the lens on ourselves. In this episode, Stephen and Michael share what they've learned producing their own show, why In Focus no longer fits, and what the new title Authority Architects means for the future. From evolving audience insights to broadening conversations beyond video, we’re opening up new pathways for authentic brand building. Plus, hear about what’s next on Spotify, LinkedIn, YouTube—and our brand-new channels on TikTok and Instagram.

What do you do when your visa is about to expire and your firm won’t sponsor you? If you’re Allan Rooney—you start your own law firm.

In this episode of Authority Architects, we sit down with Allan Rooney, founder of Rooney Law, to unpack a story that blends tenacity, risk, and a whole lot of hustle. From cold-calling his way into law school in Texas, to navigating post-9/11 job loss, to launching a boutique cross-border firm with just a few hundred grand in the bank—Allan’s journey is anything but conventional.

He shares:

• The bold move that let him stay in the U.S. legally

• Why boutique firms are winning business from Big Law

• Legal blind spots that crush startups before they scale

• How his firm grew from an immigration workaround to a trusted legal brand

Allan also talks candidly about imposter syndrome, founder culture, and what it really takes to build trust and deliver value in a hyper-competitive industry.

This episode is a must-listen for creatives, marketers, and founders building brands from the ground up.

Real stories. Real strategies. From the Emmy-winning team at 7 Wonders.

Join us for the 18th episode of In Focus by 7 Wonders as we welcome Vanessa Chan: entrepreneur, former Chief Commercialization Officer for the U.S. Department of Energy, and Vice Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Penn Engineering.

Vanessa shares her remarkable path from MIT PhD to McKinsey partner to government disruptor, and how she’s helping the next generation move groundbreaking technologies from lab to market. We dive into the power of storytelling, lessons from clean energy commercialization, and why hope, not fear, should lead innovation.

Whether you're an aspiring founder, policy maker, or just someone passionate about solving real-world problems, this episode is packed with wisdom on building, communicating, and scaling ideas that matter.

Let’s bring innovation to life. Together.

#InFocus #Storytelling #CleanEnergy #Entrepreneurship #TechCommercialization #VanessaChan

Join us for Episode 17 of In Focus by 7 Wonders as we welcome Ernie Migali, Owner of Migali Industries!

Ernie takes us through the remarkable 70-year legacy of this family-owned refrigeration company—from a horse carriage garage in Philly to cutting-edge manufacturing for scientific and commercial clients across the globe.

We dive into how Migali has evolved with global shifts in trade and technology, embraced sustainable innovation, and stayed competitive through storytelling, relationships, and brand consistency. Whether you're in manufacturing, marketing, or entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with lessons on adapting, scaling, and staying true to your roots.

Let’s explore the power of legacy, innovation, and brand storytelling.

#InFocus #BrandStorytelling #ManufacturingInnovation #MigaliIndustries

Join us for Episode 15 of In Focus by 7 Wonders as we welcome Chase Buckner, Director of Product Marketing at HighLevel!

Chase shares his journey from running a successful marketing agency to helping scale HighLevel into a global SaaS powerhouse. We dive into the power of storytelling in marketing, how automation is revolutionizing lead conversion, and why speed-to-response is the key to business growth.

Learn practical strategies for agencies to differentiate themselves, engage their audience, and turn customers into brand evangelists. Whether you're a marketer, entrepreneur, or agency owner, this episode is packed with insights to elevate your business.

Let’s explore the future of marketing together.

#InFocus #MarketingAutomation #BrandStorytelling #HighLevel

Join us for Episode 14 of In Focus by 7 Wonders as we welcome Rob Bullough, VP of Global Brand and Creative at Epidemic Sound!

Rob shares his incredible journey from working with brands like EA and Formula 1 to helping build one of the world’s most trusted music platforms for creators. We dive into how Epidemic Sound is reshaping music licensing, championing artists, and empowering creators through storytelling, innovation, and authenticity.

Discover how brands can use music to deepen emotional connections, why authentic storytelling matters more than ever, and how Epidemic is leading the way in blending technology, creativity, and community.

Let’s reimagine how sound and storytelling come together.

#InFocus #Storytelling #MusicInnovation #EpidemicSound

Join us for Episode 13 of In Focus by 7 Wonders as we welcome Josh Nelson, founder of Seven Figure Agency and Plumbing & HVAC SEO!

Josh shares how he built two multi-seven-figure businesses by mastering storytelling, niching down, and creating consistent, high-impact content. From landing clients and building authority to scaling through systems and team leadership, Josh breaks down the exact roadmap agency owners need to hit—and exceed—the seven-figure mark.

Packed with practical tips on branding, podcasting, and the power of client success stories, this episode is a must-watch for agency owners and entrepreneurs ready to level up.

🚀 Let’s grow smarter and tell better stories together.

#InFocus #AgencyGrowth #Storytelling #SevenFigureAgency #MarketingStrategy

In this episode of In Focus by 7 Wonders, we go behind the scenes of our recent campaign with Shamir Insight—a global lens manufacturer known for their night-driving lenses.

We’re joined by the marketing team at Shamir, along with Nick and Daniel from our 7 Wonders LA crew, to break down the creative and strategic decisions that brought the spot to life. From building emotional resonance to highlighting the product’s value proposition, we explore what it takes to make technical products feel personal and meaningful.

We also dive into how virtual production—using an LED sound stage and AI-generated environments—gave us the flexibility to recreate multiple locations without ever leaving set, and how this approach impressed the Shamir team as a true problem-solving feat.

Whether you’re a brand marketer or a creative director, this episode is packed with insights on choosing the right partners, understanding your audience, and using storytelling to drive real connection.

#InFocus #BrandStorytelling #MarketingInnovation #ShamirLenses

Join us for Episode 11 of In Focus by 7 Wonders as we welcome Michael Welts, CMO of Wasabi Technologies!

Michael shares how Wasabi disrupted the cloud storage market, taking on industry giants by prioritizing brand-building and storytelling. Learn how a bold name, category creation, and strategic partnerships helped Wasabi scale into a multi-billion-dollar company.

Discover insights on branding, marketing innovation, and why creative storytelling is key to standing out in a crowded market. Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with takeaways to help you grow your brand.

🚀 Let’s rethink marketing and storytelling together.

#InFocus #BrandBuilding #MarketingInnovation #WasabiTechnologies