Create Your Life Series

CYLS 005: Climbing the Startup Ladder with CEO of FreeAtm & Itell.io Eric N. Fondren

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Episode Summary

In this episode of Create Your Life Series, the host, Kevin Y Brown, in conversation with Eric N. Fondren, talks about all things startups, creating a successful path as a new entrepreneur, and finding your support system through it all. The episode is packed with advice on how you can pivot and redefine your parameters of success while building your business.

Check out the episode to ignite your journey of entrepreneurship.

 

Kevin Y Brown

 

Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.

Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…

 

Eric Fondren

Eric Fondren is a mixed bag of skills that includes both hard and soft skills. After obtaining his computer science degree from Morehouse College, Eric spent 3 years on Wall Street learning why it's difficult for large companies to innovate. While working full-time, Eric also went on to obtain his Master's degree in professional counseling.

After his stint on Wall Street, Eric tried his hand at a number of ventures, including web design, relationship coaching, among other things. All of this experience showed him his true path, which was to build a technology company.

Today, as CEO of ITELLIO (originally branded as FreeATM), Eric has built a large-scale ad network that aggregates 9,000 digital screens into a central buying platform. 

 

Insights From the Episode

  • When you know your ‘why’, everything else falls into place easily
  • Nothing beats a good support system and a resilient mindset
  • Always plan for the worst and work for the best
  • Never give up on learning and adapting

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    Quotes From the Show

    • “I was always born to be an entrepreneur, it just all happened by circumstance that fell into the FreeATM bandwagon and I’ve been gung-ho and loyal ever since” - Eric N Fonderen, Create Your Life Series, #005
    • “I learned a bit more about entrepreneurship. I learnt a great deal about networking, and I found out that not only did I have a voice in terms of helping other people obtain their dreams, but I also realized this is absolutely what I need to do with my life” - Eric N Fonderen, Create Your Life Series, #005
    • “It sounds like you really got into what motivated you and what it was that the lifestyle that you wanted, and basically defining what success was for you, which was not bringing your work home with you if it wasn’t going to enrich your personal life” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #005
    • “I realized I was taking my life in my own hands when I left Deutsche Bank. Now, my advice to anyone making this transition, taking up this transition, is to save up 6-12 months’ worth of rent and expenses for that journey because it takes a long time for you to establish yourself and figure out what you want to do and/or make a profit in order to sustain your lifestyle” - Eric N Fonderen, Create Your Life Series, #005
    • “You have to be flexible with how this journey of life creation is going to manifest. It’s never going to be exactly how you think it’s going to look. You have to have an idea of success, but be flexible in terms of how it colors itself in” - Eric N Fonderen, Create Your Life Series, #005
    • “It’s not about solving the problem. It’s just about showing that you have a secure and protective mirror that can be vulnerable and open and honest” - Eric N Fonderen, Create Your Life Series, #005

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      Favourite Quote

      • “This too shall pass” - Abraham Lincoln

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        Kevin Y. Brown 

        Website: Kevin Y Brown

        Instagram: kevinybrown

        Twitter: kevinybrown

        Facebook: kevinybrown

         

        Eric N. Fondren 

        Website: www.itellio.com

        Email: [email protected]

        LinkedIn: Eric Fondren



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        This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com).

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        Create Your Life SeriesBy Kevin Y. Brown
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