Delphine's Circle

In this episode we are so blessed to be speaking with an Uber talent, in perhaps the most impactful business fields today, the cutting edge of AI, crypto, and all things tech. A towering figure in the head hunting industry, Steven Skinner is humble when speaking about his contributions and accomplishments as only a true gentleman could be. From knowing the who's who, and having the rolodex to match any top 100 C-suit list in the world, when Mr.Skinner calls you're switching jobs!

 We are so pleased to learn about this elusive and exciting world, so listen close to gain some insider intel on the coming waves of technology, what to look out for, and how to stay ahead of the curve in this ever changing world.

Steven Skinner, Founder of Millennium Solutions, is a 25 year veteran credited for helping build the most progressive Hi-Tech companies in the United States and around the globe. Venture Capitalists in Silicon Valley have relied on Mr. Skinner and Millennium Solutions for their most vital C Suite and Executive searches to ensure proper execution and long term success. Skinner's work has helped launch over 140 technology IPO's listed on the NYSE and NASDAQ which contributed over $7.1 trillion in market capitalization. As a supplement to hunting game-changing talent, Mr. Skinner had provided equity investments within specific Artificial Intelligence companies headquartered in the US, Romania, and Germany. Notable hits include - Amazon, Oracle, SAP, Salesforce, i2 Technologies, Metreo, Certus, OpenPages, Conversica, Coursera, Corio, USinternetworking, Agilera, Sabrix, Whoknows, Orchestria, LinkedIn, Deliv, Google, Facebook, SNAP, Vendavo, Boomerang Commerce, Tesla, Savi, Matrix, Zendesk, Currency, MessageOne, Dell, Nutanix, PSS Systems, Looker, Snowflake, MuleSoft, Slack, Vertex, Workboard, DruidAI, Bryter, and UiPath.
 
Today, Skinner is called on by top Venture Capitalist for his proven go-to-market strategies and headhunting expertise. His passion is helping companies to achieve billion dollar valuations by his strategic directions and unmatched recruiting services. Skinner's most recent success is building the North American Sales program for UiPath. Skinner delivered over 200 hires including the top producers in Sales, Partner & Alliance, and Strategic program(s) which have resulted in over $300 million in ARR since 2016. Currently Steven Skinner is working behind the scenes to help launch new start-ups in the AI, Data Mining, and the No Code space. Millennium Solutions has offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Menlo Park, California. Steven Skinner can be reached at [email protected] and 404-786-2007

In this episode we make the trip over to the ever lovely Joni Rogers Kante's stunning OC estate to talk knowing your goal, walking in faith, and watching the birth of an empire! As the self made Founder, CEO and Chairwoman of the makeup direct marketing company SeneGence, Joni explains how she set out to liberate and financially empower women through providing the tool as well as, more importantly, a wonderful product for women to harness, embody, and further empower their friends neighbors and everyone in their reaching in the process transforming themselves into self made moguls of their own. A true saint and powerhouse in equal measure, Joni Rogers Kante is someone to take notes from, and maybe perhaps a bit of her magic dust will touch your life as well! We can all hope so!

While juggling the responsibilities of single motherhood, Joni Rogers-Kante developed a business plan and set out to make her dream of an innovative cosmetics company a reality. In 1999, she founded SeneGence®, and the company has since become a globally recognized leader in the industry. To Joni, the commitment to high-quality products that bring value to consumers and their communities is just as important as a flourishing business.
After Joni learned that cosmetic companies consistently use the same ingredients in different products that tout “unique” claims, she knew SeneGence had to stand out from the rest. She set off across the globe with a team of scientists and botanists to find exceptional ingredients for SeneGence’s product formulations.
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Today, these ingredients are used to help produce the amazing results SeneGence SkinCare and Cosmetics are known for. SeneGence products are on the cutting edge of technology with original, patented, and proprietary formulations that really work! 
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In 1999, Joni partnered with an award-winning scientist to develop a patented, never-before-seen liquid lip color: LipSense®. Better than any lipstick or lip stain available, LipSense quickly skyrocketed in popularity for its long-lasting ability. With a simple three coat application, LipSense delivers gorgeous color that stays on for up to 18 hours. And that was just the beginning of a long line of products that really work! Joni also wanted to offer one of the most lucrative compensation plans in the industry, designed for women who are serious about building their career from home. This business model of earning additional income by selling products that really work took off!
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Today, the SeneGence line of anti-aging skin care and long-lasting cosmetics includes over 300 products, sold by tens of thousands of Independent Distributors across the globe. SeneGence has core operations in the USA, Canada, Australia, Mexico, and Hong Kong, with products available in many other territories across the globe. 
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Joni currently serves on the Direct Selling Association’s (DSA) Board of Directors. In 2018, she received Direct Selling News’ Bravo Award and the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award by the Orange County Business Journal. Joni is an active member of the Orange and Creek County communities and is also the author of Million Dollar Lips. In June 2020, Joni was installed as a Board Member of the Direct Selling Education Foundation.

 And stay tuned until the end where we interview some of Joni's top brass who rightfully sing her and SeneGence’s praises, you'll hear it first hand how their experience with this wonderful woman has forever changed their lives. Thank you for watching

This episode with Joel Cooper Co-founder of iconic surf brand Gotcha and  Co-owner and CEO of Lost International covers so much ground! A story of how two friends (Joel & pro surfer  Michael Tomson) had a vision about an action sports lifestyle brand, before the explosion of the sport, then carried that vision through the decades to remain a unique top tier voice in a now super massive industry. Joel is a stick to your guns authentic cultural leader with stories to tell and lessons about outperforming corporate giants and all the while keeping your cool.

After graduating as a CPA in Durban, South Africa, Mr. Cooper went to work with his father who owned a clothing factory. He started in the cutting room and made his way through each department, learning the manufacturing process from start to finish. In 1997 his best friend and professional surfer, Michael Tomson, approached him with the idea to start a surf company. At that stage, Ocean Pacific were the giants that owned the market that had been built both in the USA and throughout the world. The market needed something new. They saw this as an opportunity. Joel had the production capabilities to produce the goods through his father’s factory, and Michael, being a world-famous surfer, were able to create Gotcha which was launched in South Africa in 1978. Their dream was always to come to the U.S. which they did one year later, moving the headquarters to Laguna Beach in November 1979. The rest is now history.
 
Gotcha grew to a $200 million dollar company which they eventually sold many years later. Having no desire to exit the industry, Joel joined his two partners Matt Biolis and Mike Reola, who had just started the brand LOST and needed both finance and experience, both of which he could provide. Together they formed Lost International which manufactures and sells clothing, surfboards, snowboards, skateboards, and related accessories. This was like restarting his career, which he has done now for the past 20 plus years. Matt, Mike and Joel are still partners, and together they continue to chase their dreams.

Joel Cooper has been involved in the surf industry for over 40 years and has not lost the passion and drive that motivated him since he was first introduced into the industry by lifelong friend and partner Michael Tomson.

We are so pleased to offer up this interview with the always fantastic Chef Joe Youkhan!
After being aquatinted with Joe though private events, I've learned quite a bit about his 
fascinating career, and many accomplishments in the culinary field. Always one to bring 
best to the table, his humble demeanor hides a treasure trove of talent and passion.
Hope that you enjoy this episode with the famed Champion of Chopped and Firemasters!

Chef Joe Youkhan is a seasoned culinary artist and crowned champion of Chopped, the popular high-stakes cooking competition show of the Food Network. With outstanding culinary expertise and precision, Chef Joe brings a unique personal touch to delicious global cuisine. Comfort food meets fine dining in his mouth-watering creations, offering guests a truly extraordinary epicurean experience ignited by his passion and love for food.

Tapping into his natural instincts and roots in a food-centric family, Chef Joe switched gears from his successful career with motorcycles to follow his passion for food. He joined the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel culinary team. Chef Joe left the Ritz-Carlton as the Executive Chef of the Special Events/Catering Division to serve as the Executive Chef at Chat Noir in Costa Mesa before his appointment to Corporate Executive Chef, responsible for multiple locations. Chef Joe founded Chef Joe's Tasting Spoon in 2010, operating the first Italian gourmet food truck in Orange County, until selling the concept in 2018.


In 2014, Chef Joe partnered with his mates to open Aussie Pie Kitchen, where the traditional Aussie Pie was been re-imagined into remarkable savory pies in a variety of flavors and paired with gourmet sides. Aussie Pie Kitchen had two locations in Santa Monica and Inglewood (near LAX).


Currently, Chef Joe is the Co-owner of SmörBurgers with 2 locations - 4th Street Market Place, and Irvine Trade Food Hall. In 2020, Chef Joe partnered with Western Hospitality Catering to provide a fresh innovative dining experience to all. Chef Joe oversees all culinary operations and is engaged in catering, menu development, and restaurant concepting. He is also the National Culinary Director of Western Golf + Hospitality.

Chef Joe is available for consulting on both new and existing restaurant concepts. In addition, he conducts personalized, fun, and interactive cooking classes for your family, group of friends or corporate team.

Chef Joe pulls from his exposure to a variety of cuisines, his extensive catering background and his incredible palette to create magnificent and memorable cuisine. He loves to share his passion for food with his guests.

​ Tune in to learn what mindset it takes to rise to the top and to shine under pressure!

Welcome to our second edition of Round Table Talks! Were I will be speaking simultaneously in an open setting with close friends. A new and casual insight into the lifestyle and mindsets of the OC. Where we'll be talking  everything from light hearted daily life, to deep spiritual insights, and anything else that sparks our fancy! 

We are delighted to continue this new journey with such stunning and brilliant women, as

Salme Klaus - Owner, Nutrition Consultant at Heal with Food
Kasia Michaels - Founder, Fashion Stylist at Kasia Michaels Style
Candice (Phi Phi) Gibson - Commercial Real Estate Broker (and sometimes Songstress)

Stay tuned as we roll out more of this social and spontaneous modality of Delphine's Circle!!

A new edition to our line up here at Delphine's Circle, our first Highlight Compilation!! 

We would like to celebrate some of our incredible guest that I've interviewed, and give a chance for viewers to discover the hidden gems in our vaults. We are so blessed to have had such a stellar line up so far and we look forward to sharing with you our upcoming interviews.

Grab some popcorn we hope you enjoy!!

Wonder-kind Shaheen Sadeghi has been on my radar, as a stellar visionary for quite some time! After years of seeing the amazing effect and impact that his developments have had culturally on the elevation of entire city profiles, I am honored to talk with him in person! The depth of Shaeen's insight into the subconscious needs, desires, and direction of the public before they know it has proven its self again and again. And watching his success over the years has been akin to watching a fantastic magician at work. 

I am so pleased to present the inspiration for this podcast and amazing gentleman, Retail Visionary, Founder, President and CEO, LAB Holding Shaheen Sadeghi.

Following a successful career in the fashion industry including Executive VP Corp, Gotcha Sportswear and President of surfing giant Quiksilver, Shaheen has taken his expertise to the unconventional place of niche retailing and community development. His initial project, the LAB Anti-Mall, nearly 30 years "young",  continues to garner international acclaim.

In 2002 Shaheen established the first "green" retail center, the CAMP, including the innovative  anchor eco product store, SEED People's Market. Shaheen established the SoBeCa Arts District in Costa Mesa in 2002. Other projects include the restoration of  the historic Casino San Clemente, the revitalization of downtown Anaheim including the renewal of Center St. Promenade, and the creation of the Packing District Community which includes the Packing House, the Packard Building, Farmers Park, the Make Project and Modern Times Leisure Town all in Anaheim. Projects under development include San Marcos, Garden Grove, Long Beach, and Costa Mesa among the current 46 developed projects the company owns and operates.

Awards: Mayor’s Hall of Fame Award from Costa Mesa, Developer of the Year, Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Gold Nugget award 5 times for PCBC Project of the Year and international recognition by the BBC, NY Times, London Financial Times, USA Today, Boston Globe, NPR, and The Wall Street Journal, who called Shaheen “retail royalty”. Shaheen is a frequent speaker at TED.

Shaheen holds a BA degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York and the Executive Finance program from Harvard University, Cambridge Massachusetts.

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What a treat it is to have Scott Palazzo on In the Circle! A true go your own way, follow your heart and strike gold tale, Scott has done just that and has forever altered, enriched,
and elevated the meaning of what a California wine can be. Bringing his first hand French wine making expertise matched with a spectacular palate, Palazzo wines bring a new dimension of old world sophistication spoken in the key of California, Scott is a gift to the culinary world, and to wine drinkers everywhere. We are so pleased to share with you this exploration in conversation with this unique soul. 

 Scott came to the wine world with a vision formed by both his Italian heritage and his artistic sensibility. Raised in an Italian household, Scott grew up with wine as a backdrop for life’s everyday events, meals, and celebrations.

An artist at heart... and a rolling stone by nature... his path to becoming one of the top winemakers in Napa Valley took many twists and turns. At age 19, a 3-month trip abroad to Europe evolved into a much longer extended stay, and landed Scott in France. With his guitar on his back, Scott wandered into the small winemaking village of Saint Émilion (on the Right Bank of Bordeaux’s Gironde river) and quickly fell in love with the people, the land, and most of all, the wines. This experience shaped his palate and served as inspiration for the establishment of Palazzo Wine 20+ years later.

In 2003, after establishing a successful career as a Grammy Nominated Music Video & Television Director / Producer, Scott began exploring California’s wine regions with a new creative undertaking in mind... producing a beautifully refined, terroir-driven wine like those he had discovered and enjoyed while living in Saint Émilion, France. His search led him to the Carneros Appellation in Napa Valley, where the similarities between the rolling hills of this South-of-Napa Appellation and those of Saint Émilion convinced him that this was the right location to create his wine. The cool, maritime climate and shallow clay soils of Carneros were ideal for achieving his goal to produce a wine with wonderful layers of rich fruit, balanced by elegant acidity ... like those he’d grown to love while living & working in Bordeaux.

Sourcing fruit from some of the most celebrated hillside vineyards in Carneros, Palazzo has realized his dream of producing world-class wines, by combining new world fruit with an old-world sensibility in the cellar. Scott Palazzo’s wines have been accepted and embraced by some of the
wine world’s most respected and influential restaurants, sommeliers, and critics from all over the United States.

The French Laundry, Gary Danko, Michael Mina, Per Se, Daniel, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Spago, Ago, Bouchon, Drago, Redd, Press, Mastro’s Steakhouse, Emeril’s, Valintino’s are just a few of the country’s prestigious restaurants who have offered Palazzo Wine on their wine lists!

Welcome to our second edition of Round Table Talks! Were I will be speaking simultaneously in an open setting with close friends. A new and casual insight into the lifestyle and mindsets of the OC. Where we'll be talking  everything from light hearted daily life, to deep spiritual insights, and anything else that sparks our fancy! 

We are delighted to continue this new journey with such stunning and brilliant women, as
Tracy Glass - lux real estate agent,
 Esther Reyna - technology expert,
 and Pamela Gregory - spiritual therapist !

Stay tuned as we roll out more of this social and spontaneous modality of Delphine's Circle!!

Very excited to share this new episode with Renaissance man Mike Schroeder! 
From revolutionizing the holistic medical practice coast to coast, to viewing the world from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, to collecting a world class hand curated cellar of exquisite wines, is there any box left unchecked for this Renaissance mystery man? Tune in and find out the inter-workings of a true, carve your own path and do it in style kind of guy.. 007..
I mean Mike Schroeder!! 

Mike Schroeder is a graduate of USC, receiving his undergraduate degree in history in 1979 and in law in 1982. Mike's formal involvement in politics started even before he transferred to USC.  He ran for student body president at Cal-State Fullerton at the end of his freshman year and was the first freshman ever elected to that position in the Cal-State system.  It is somewhat unusual that everything he has done in politics has been as an unpaid volunteer.
 
His day job is working in alternative healthcare.  He runs a company that provides malpractice insurance and other services to acupuncturists, naturopaths, chiropractors, and other alternative healthcare providers. He has extensive experience in presidential and statewide elections. He co-chaired several presidential campaigns in California, including Bush 41 in 1988 and 1992,  Bob Dole in 1996, and Bush 43 in 2000.  He was also the State Co-Chair and Political Director for Senator Ted Cruz during Senator Cruz’s 2016 Presidential race.
 
Mr. Schroeder has also served as political director of numerous California statewide campaigns.  He served as a political director for Steve Poizner, a Republican, who was the California State Insurance Commissioner, in his campaign for Governor in 2010.  He was the campaign chairman for Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, for each of his campaigns since 1998.
 
Mr. Schroeder has also served as Chairman of the California Republican Party and a Vice-Chairman of the Republican National Committee.  He is the only living Republican Party Chairman who has never endorsed or voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Take a listen to this wonderful talk with a new and dear friend of mine and see your horizons expand, as your inspiration leaps forth hearing the possibilities that arise when leaning into the wind, and making life make time and space for the once in a lifetime experiences that we all deep down desire to dearly! Get out and make it happen!