Capital Class

On this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sits down with Svetlana Elgart, the founder, and CEO of Rainbow Chef's Academy. Svetlana passionately shares how Rainbow Chefs Academy fosters literacy, math, history, and science through the art of cooking. Get ready to explore the hidden layers of knowledge that sizzle within every dish, enriching young minds with practical skills and essential wisdom.

Timestamps

1:17 - Importance of teaching kids how to take care of themselves and cook healthy meals

2:45 - Teaching kids life skills and making healthy choices in their diets

3:30 - Cooking incorporates literacy, math, science, and history

4:10 - American society's fast-paced lifestyle and its impact on health

9:08 - Hands-on component of the program where students make their own food

9:45 - Alignment of the program with educational standards

11:10 - Transition from in-person classes to a SaaS platform

13:33 - Success during the pandemic and delivery of food and backpacks

20:15 - Engagement level and understanding of students in cooking

23:00 - Starting the company to address the lack of healthy eating and nutrition education

27:10 - Challenges faced in starting the business and lack of awareness about nutrition

29:00 - Influence of immigrant background on persistence and determination

31:17 - Reflection on immigrant experiences and struggles

34:40 - Comparing daily struggles in Ukraine to live in the US

Connect with Svetlana Elgart

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlanaelgart/

Website: https://rainbowchefsacademy.com/

Produced by Old Soul

On this episode of Capital Class, we welcome Ryan Whittemore, an experienced venture capitalist. Whittemore shares their successful journey in the industry, breaking down the challenges and strategies they used to achieve their goals. They discuss the importance of developing a clear financial forecast, how to create a well-prepared deck for investors, and the process of finding solid businesses with long-term growth potential. Whittemore also talks about the sustainability of the venture capital market, how to handle feedback, and the importance of treating people right.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the successful path to becoming a venture capitalist.

Timestamps:

[00:03:02] Florida's tech scene thrives despite setbacks.

[00:06:47] Venture capital funding depends on strategy and diligence.

[00:10:12] Investors need to know what they're doing.

[00:13:18] Investments based on solid businesses, not fads.

[00:17:35] More deals mean better investment choices.

[00:21:34] Sleepless deal-driven nights, family struggles.

[00:26:27] Be prepared with a clear pitch deck.

[00:31:02] Feedback and persistence lead to success.

[00:35:44] Venture investment is challenging due to equity balance.

[00:41:57] Forecast revenue scenarios impress investors, be credible.

[00:46:03] Persistence pays off in the venture capital industry.

[00:51:42] Treating people right for successful investment business.

[00:54:41] Meeting Florida Funders, Tampa, Silicon Valley, progress.

[00:58:56] Intellectual and diverse with challenging ideas.

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Learn more about Strategos Group: https://www.strategosgroup.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategos-group-public-affairs/

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PODCASTS

🎧 Capital Class with Adam Giery: https://www.strategosgroup.com/podcast

🎧 On the Clock with Todd Dallas Lamb: https://www.strategosgroup.com/podcast-on-the-clock

🎧 Swimming Upstream with Tom Luna: https://swimming-upstream.captivate.fm/listen

🎧 On Balance with Dr. Rod Berger: https://www.strategosgroup.com/podcast-on-balance

Produced by Old Soul

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#educationmanagement #educationleadership #education

In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sits down with Mohannad Arbaji, Founder and CEO of ChalkTalk, to discuss a journey that shaped the development of teacher-led and humanized personalized learning for students throughout the world.

Arbaji discusses his early beginnings as an international student that embraced a love for education as a vehicle of opportunity. He expands on entrepreneurial shifts that opened his eyes to the ultimate importance of finding tech solutions that provide teachers with the resources and support necessary to advance learning.

According to Arbaji, building education technology that listens to educators with actionable steps far outweighs promises of disruptive revolutionary change. Instead of asking teachers to spend hours training on technology, the most effective tech tools function behind the scenes, augmenting instruction for continuous student learning.

Listen to learn about the development of ChalkTalk, funding strategies, and lessons learned along the way, where passion for student learning and increased engagement act as an undercurrent of entrepreneurial growth.

What You Will Discover:

• 00:00 Episode Begins

• 02:50 Arbaji shares his coming to America story, plus the backstory of how ChalkTalk was founded.

• 08:10 How his Jordanian culture, love for education, and immigration inspired his drive.

• 13:07 Why building what people needed worked instead of disrupting or changing.

• 19:50 The importance of building technology that people need to solve their problems.

• 22:08 How ChalkTalk impacts students with confidence and motivation that tech doesn’t offer.

• 24:27 The exceptional qualities that make teachers great in connecting with students.

• 28:03 The features ChalkTalk is using to make life easier for teachers and reduce burnout.

• 30:37 ChalkTalk’s fundraising journey to bring in the right investors that add value and credibility.

• 35:48 The importance of driving for progress and staying in alignment with investors.

• 38:58 Top ways to measure a tech company's tangible and intangible progress.

• 42:46 How Arbaji relaxes to balance the pressure of work and life.

• 47:34 The fast-forward questions with Arbaji.

Connect with Mohannad Arbaji

• Websites: https://chalktalk.com/ & https://www.mohannadarbaji.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohannadarbaji/

Produced by Old Soul

The Impact of Innovative Technologies on Education

In this episode of Capital Class, we are joined by Scott Kinney, Chief Executive Officer at Discovery Education. Scott is a thought leader and influential voice in the education sector, dedicated to supporting the success of every student and teacher. His commitment is demonstrated in three decades of steadfast work and experience in the fields of professional learning and educational technology.

Scott shares the efforts behind building a business based on value and impact, including how Discovery Education accelerated growth during and after the pandemic. In addition, he explores the early days of the internet in education and the evolving environment that is better leveraging and implementing the growth of technology.

Listen in to also learn how technology is making a difference in the classroom by providing teachers with impactful digital tools that integrate and enhance learning objectives.

What You Will Discover:

• 00:00 Episode Begins

• 02:03 Scott’s journey as an educator and his love for the role of technology in education.

• 04:23 How Discovery started as a video-on-demand service in the early days of the internet.

• 07:16 How the early days of the internet looked like in the education sector.

• 09:20 How the education system is looking to leverage the growing technology.

• 13:37 How Discovery innovates and experiments with new technology.

• 16:16 The specifics that Discovery looks at when going for an acquisition.

• 20:58 The importance of developing a culture of “swing and miss” to innovate.

• 25:17 The top qualities Scott looks for in talent acquisition.

• 30:13 Why Discovery Education detached from Discovery Channel and the lessons they took.

• 35:53 The importance of staying on the path to making the biggest impact possible.

• 38:26 How momentum & the pandemic accelerated growth.

• 41:36 How technology is providing teachers with impactful digital tools that make a difference.

• 46:11 Scott on how he spends his time away from his business to refuel.

• 52:11 Four Fast-forward questions with Scott.

Connect with Scott

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-kinney-2587053/

Produced by Old Soul

In this episode of Capital Class, we have Saif Ishoof, startup entrepreneur and founder of Lab22c. Saif is a speaker and believer in authentic partnerships. He serves as a thought partner to companies, founders, funders, and institutions looking to grow and scale their impact and reach in Miami’s innovation ecosystem.

Learn about Lab22c!

Saif explains the evolution of the internet from Web 1.0, which only enabled us to read, then Web 2.0, which enabled us to read and write, and now Web 3.0, which allows us to read, write, own, and decentralize data. He also explains how an educator can create a business model by combining some freelance economy elements and decentralized internet blockchain technologies.

Listen in to learn the importance of expanding your sense of learning and finding balance to be a successful leader in your field.

What You Will Discover:

• 00:00 Episode Begins

• 03:04 The evolution of the internet from the web’s earliest version (1.0) to the now web (3.0).

• 07:19 The power of the read, write, own, and decentralization of data web for content creators.

• 12:07 Combining some Web 3.0 and freelance economy elements to create a viable business model.

• 18:56 The future of the decentralized web and the role we can play as stakeholders.

• 24:16 The disruption of technology and the possibilities that exist for humankind.

• 31:59 His professional and entrepreneurial journey plus admiration for institutional systems.

• 42:20 How to allow ourselves to expand our sense of learning than striving to be right.

• 47:25 Saif’s passion for supporting founders to bring the vision and promise of their technologies to life.

• 51:27 How family, balance, and community help him recharge and be the best at work.

• 59:08 Rapid fire questions for Saif.

Connect with Saif:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saifishoof/

Produced by Old Soul

In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sat down with educator-turned-entrepreneur Anarupa Ganguly. They discuss how her experience with Teach for India inspired the thought process that led her to start her company Prisms.

Anurupa's entry point to education began as a physics and math teacher in the Boston Public Schools. For 10+ years since then, Anurupa has led STEM curriculum and teacher preparation across the largest educational systems in the US including the NYC DOE, Boston Public Schools, and Success Academy Charter Schools. 

Through her experience as a district and charter administrator, she found that she did not have the learning tools to deliver the outcomes her leaders and teachers were accountable for, and the personal sense-making journeys that students deserve while developing foundational mathematical reasoning & proficiencies.

She was awarded a National Science Foundation SBIR grant to build a scalable learning platform that actualizes pedagogies that we know work best but weren't possible until recent advances in IVR and AI technologies.

Her mission is to rapidly improve student performance and engagement in the mathematical sciences while crafting the instructor aids and training required to operationalize innovative technologies in the classroom. Anurupa holds a BS & M.Eng in electrical engineering from MIT and an EdM in Curriculum & Teaching from Boston University.

Listen in to learn how to reconnect with yourself and define your work-life balance as opposed to following the standard definition of it.  

What You Will Discover:

·     00:00 Episode Begins

·     02:28 Anurupa describes her journey from Teach for America to Teach for India.

·     04:36 How culture and resources differentiate America’s education system from India’s.  

·     07:26 The importance of categorically defining the scope of a teacher’s job.

·     10:23 How to change the narrative and give teachers the pathway to improving their practices.

·     19:10 The genesis of Prisms plus building a spatial learning environment for mathematics.

·     24:29 What it entails to teach kids to solve real-life problems with mathematical models.

·     28:29 How Prisms VR is prioritizing objective-driven learning through real-world situations.

·     32:14 The investment and market challenge Prisms experienced when entering the market.

·     37:45 Anurupa on how she reconnects with herself away from her founder role.

·     41:27 How to listen to yourself and define what work-life balance means to you.

·     46:14 Rapid fire questions for Anurupa. 

Connect with Anurupa:

·      Website: https://www.prismsvr.com/

·      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anurupa-ganguly-92790379/

Produced by Old Soul

In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sat down with Johanna Mikkola, an entrepreneur who risked jail time and deportation to realize her dream. Johanna’s story of founding a coding school in an obscure corner of Miami to advising the White House on the future of computer coding is a compelling lesson in determination and persistence.

Johanna is the co-founder of Brain Station (formerly Wyncode Academy), and she helps hundreds of non-coders each year learn how to code and product-design in just 10 weeks. She shows students how to build web applications and teaches the valuable business and leadership skills necessary to be successful as web developers.

Learn more about Brain Station here!

Produced by Old Soul

In this episode of Capital Class, Adam Giery sat down with entrepreneur Samyr Qureshi, co-founder and CEO of Knack, an innovative online tutoring platform that matches college students with tutors in relevant subjects. 

Learn from this insightful conversation as Samyr discusses scaling a once highly localized, one-on-one service into a profitable, growing business model. Don’t miss it Tuesday, June 21! 

Learn more about Knack here!

Produced by Old Soul

Season #2, Episode #4: Christiane Maertens, Founder, DoGoodery

In today's episode, Adam sat down with Christiane Maertens. Read her bio below:

Christiane Maertens has a palpable love for life. For over 15 years, Christiane (Kris-tee-on-ah Mair-tens) has built values-driven brands that create positive social impact on a global scale.

Christiane is the founder of DoGoodery, a social impact agency for change makers where doing good is about making this world a tangibly better place for all. They work with bold leaders who go beyond their everyday stories and live into their legendary purpose.

Maertens helped lead the design of the first corporate social responsibility portfolio for The Walt Disney Company. Her global marketing and education initiatives engaged 2,000 schools, 75,000 students and mobilized millions of viewers to take social actions around the world.

In the nonprofit sector, Maertens served as the Deputy Director of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). She built a professional team that leads the largest and most diverse environmental education network in the world, including 60,000 educators and 56 affiliate organizations in more than 30 countries.

As a storyteller for our times, Maertens delivers truth with her trademark moxie and optimism. She was named a National Geographic Explorer for her original podcast Imagine If. This series inspires young leaders to find resilience in responding to the climate crisis. Within two months, this popular podcast had attracted over 4,000 subscribers. She also traveled all over North America to capture stories of young engineers with breakthrough solutions to humanity’s biggest challenges.

Christiane is an outdoor adventurer, horseback rider, overly enthusiastic to get on an airplane, always thinking about her next meal, and loves building community. She was born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents from El Salvador and Germany.

Learn more about Christiane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiane-a-maertens-6bb2b74/

Read more about the work of DoGoodery: https://dogoodery.com/our-work/

Produced by Old Soul

Season #2, Episode #3: Lauren Brill Castle, CEO & Founder, Sweet Loren's Inc. 

In today's episode, Adam sat down with Loren Brill Castle. 

Sweet Loren’s, Inc. is a clean food company that is redefining what it means to be delicious, better-for-you, and convenient. Sweet Loren's offers irresistible cookie dough made from non-GMO, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free ingredients—free of compromise, full of joy! All products are safe-to-eat raw, with pre-portioned packaging as well as tubs of creamy edible cookie dough. The company is presently working on innovation to launch in 2022 and beyond.

Sweet Loren's cookie dough can be found in the refrigerated dough section in over 12,000 supermarkets in North America. Sweet Loren's ships nationally direct to consumer from sweetlorens.com. Sweet Loren's also offers convenience and foodservice options working with fast casual restaurants, coffee shops, universities, military, and much more. 

After beating cancer in her early twenties, Loren Brill Castle made it her mission to eliminate processed foods from her diet. When she couldn’t find great-tasting cookies made from clean ingredients, she set out to make her own - and it led her to create Sweet Loren's. Sweet Loren's mission and purpose is built on well-being and making clean food accessible to more.

Among its accomplishments, Sweet Loren's has ranked on the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies 3 years in a row, including #114 in 2019. Some of Loren’s accolades include: Ted talk on "The Survivor in All of Us", picked as Marie Claire’s Top Entrepreneur, and Inc.'s Female Founders 100. Loren has been featured live on NBC, The Rachael Ray Show, and in many other national publications and podcasts. This proves that clean food and well-being is the future, and that the story of Loren creating Sweet Loren's really resonates with today's consumer. Loren is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a BA in Communication. She is a certified Hatha Yoga Instructor, attended the New School for the Master Class in Cooking, and attended the Natural Gourmet Institute. Loren was born and raised in NYC, and now lives in Los Angeles, California, truly living the healthy lifestyle. 

Learn more about Loren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-brill-castle-56887121/

Read more about the Sweet Loren's story: https://sweetlorens.com/our-story/

Produced by Old Soul