CapLander

What does it really take to turn a side hustle into a thriving consumer company? Lindsay Droz, Co-Founder at L'AVANT Collective, joins Jody and Morgan to share the story behind building a premium, plant-based home cleaning product company from the ground up. From bootstrapping the business while working full-time careers to scaling a brand with a cult-following, Lindsay shares an honest and insightful look at the entrepreneurial journey.

The conversation also covers what happens behind the scenes. Lindsay opens up about her recent ovarian cancer diagnosis and how it reshaped her perspective on health and work-life balance. It's an inspiring conversation about resilience, intentional leadership, and creating a life that's just as meaningful as the business you're building. 

What really goes into executive compensation at one of the world's largest financial institutions? John Trentacoste shares his journey from advising corporate boards to leading executive compensation initiatives at Goldman Sachs, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how incentive plans, equity, and carried interest shape leadership decisions.

But this conversation goes beyond spreadsheets. John explains why emotional intelligence often matters as much as technical expertise, how professionals should approach salary negotiations, why long-term thinking beats short-term wins, and what separates great leaders from simply well-paid ones.

The discussion also explores the challenges of transitioning between careers, navigating life between jobs, raising resilient children, balancing ambition with happiness, and why the best strategies (both in business and in your personal life) are built around purpose rather than paychecks.

What does it really mean to be an entrepreneur in today's economy?

In this episode, Jody and Morgan explore how entrepreneurship has evolved—from side hustles and online businesses to venture-backed startups—and why more people than ever are looking beyond the traditional 9-to-5. They discuss the mindset successful founders share, the realities of raising venture capital, how equity and founder dilution actually work, and why understanding ownership can be just as important as building a great product.

Whether you're launching your first company, considering raising outside capital, or simply curious about how startups create wealth, this conversation breaks down the concepts in plain English. Along the way, Jody and Morgan share practical insights from advising founders for more than 30 years, including why resilience, adaptability, and negotiating for the right equity can have a lasting impact on your future.

What separates good CEOs from truly exceptional ones?

Executive coach and CEO advisor Julie Jackle has spent 17 years helping founders and executives navigate the toughest stages of growth—from building their first leadership team to leading billion-dollar public companies. In this episode, she shares the leadership habits that consistently separate successful CEOs from those who get stuck.

Julie discusses why giving clear feedback is one of the hardest—and most important—skills a leader can develop, how executive coaching helps leaders uncover their blind spots, and why today's business environment demands curiosity, adaptability, and continuous learning more than ever before.

Jody and Morgan also explore executive compensation negotiations, the psychology behind asking for what you're worth, differences in how men and women often approach leadership and negotiation, and practical advice for founders navigating today's more challenging fundraising environment.

What do startup equity, social media influencers, luxury brands, and handwritten thank-you notes have in common? More than you might think.

Jody and Morgan begin by unpacking the latest conversation around QSBS trust stacking and why founders need to ensure they're earning the right equity before they start planning how to preserve wealth. From there, they explore why entrepreneurs like Bethenny Frankel and Dave Portnoy have built such loyal audiences—not because everyone agrees with them, but because they've built reputations for authenticity.

The conversation expands into founder-led marketing, the brands that have stood the test of time, and why credibility is becoming even more valuable in an AI-driven world. Along the way, they discuss the difference between products people buy and people they trust, ending with a thoughtful conversation about parenting, manners, and the timeless values that never go out of style.

Whether you're building a company, a personal brand, or a legacy, this episode explores why trust remains the foundation of lasting success.

Irish-born entrepreneur Margaret O’Leary joins CapLander to share the story behind the knitwear company that bears her name. From arriving in San Francisco with a deep knowledge of sweaters to growing a beloved retail brand with 14 stores, Margaret reflects on entrepreneurship, fashion, motherhood, and staying true to her vision.

Jody and Morgan discuss the evolution of retail, the balance between brick-and-mortar and e-commerce, why quality clothing still matters, and how Margaret resisted the pressure to raise outside capital in favor of steady, independent growth. They also explore current fashion trends, the changing consumer landscape, and the lessons Margaret has learned from decades in business.

Plus, Margaret shares her love of hiking, her thoughts on work-life balance, and what might be next for the Margaret O’Leary brand.

Shop Margaret O'Leary

Troy Alexander's life changed forever after a college fight landed him in prison. What could have become the defining mistake of his life instead became the foundation for everything that followed.

In this episode, Troy shares how two years of incarceration taught him resilience, discipline, and the power of mindset. He opens up about rebuilding his life from scratch, breaking into the worlds of fashion, luxury brands, and media, and ultimately launching T363 Skin—an AI-powered wellness platform for men inspired by the last three digits of his prison number.

Jody and Morgan explore the lessons Troy learned about networking, personal reinvention, fundraising, men's health, and why your biggest setback doesn't have to determine your future.

Check out T363 SKIN

In this episode of CapLander, Morgan and Jody discuss the realities of entering today’s competitive job market—and why some of the simplest professional habits still make the biggest difference.

From showing up on time and learning from demanding mentors to networking in unexpected places and pursuing opportunities in the startup world, they explore the mindset that helps young professionals stand out. The conversation covers the value of curiosity, resilience, office culture, startup equity, and why being uncomfortable is often a sign that growth is happening.

Morgan also shares reflections from the final weeks of pregnancy, offering a candid perspective on uncertainty, preparation, and embracing challenges that can’t be fully controlled.

Venture capital has evolved from a cottage industry into a global ecosystem—and the next generation of investors is reshaping what comes next. Chris Harvey, founder of Harvey Esquire, joins Jody and Morgan to discuss the rise of emerging fund managers, why firms like Andreessen Horowitz changed the venture landscape, and how AI is influencing everything from investment decisions to firm operations. Chris also shares his journey from launching a law practice during uncertain times to building a thriving venture-focused firm, offering lessons on resilience, career risk, and the power of betting on yourself.

This week on CapLander, Jody and Morgan sit down with EO Products co-founder and co-CEO Susan Griffin-Black to talk about building one of the original natural personal care brands decades before “clean beauty” became mainstream. From launching EO in Marin County in 1995 to creating the massively successful Everyone line, Susan shares how intuition, authenticity, and long-term thinking helped grow the company into a nationally recognized brand found everywhere from Whole Foods to Target.

The conversation dives into entrepreneurship, surviving the chaos of COVID demand spikes, navigating business alongside an ex-spouse and co-parent, and why human instinct still matters in the age of AI. Susan also reflects on leadership, aging, mentorship, motherhood, and the evolving balance between ambition and family life.

Along the way, Jody and Morgan unpack everything from marriage and personal growth to “gentle hazing,” pizza ovens, black boots, and the challenge of staying grounded while the world races toward automation. It’s a candid, funny, and surprisingly personal conversation about business, reinvention, and what actually lasts.