Entrepreneurial Thinkers with Rob Ryan

Do you know what a Family Office is? What do family offices, blockchain, and Hollywood investors have in common? Robert Mowry joins Rob on this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers to discuss the dynamic intersection of venture capital, technology, and LA’s uniquely diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem. The two discuss inequities in funding for women and under-supported founders and emerging VC’s, explore new technologies like Ai, Blockchain and Crypto, and discuss how athletes and entertainers are reshaping the startup investment markets. Robert is a deeply experienced Investor, Family Officer operator, teacher, Community Leader and regular media contributor on these topics and more. He shares stories of his Southern California upbringing, his deep relationship networks that span the State of California from South to North and how his life crosses over between the startup, entertainment and professional athletic worlds. This episode is packed with insights for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Feel free to follow and engage with ROBERT here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

As we close out 2024—a year of growth, challenges, and opportunities—we’re sharing this special holiday episode as our heartfelt gift to you.

From the wisdom of our incredible guests to personal stories and actionable insights, we explore four essential themes for all entrepreneurial thinkers no matter where you are in your business, career or life journey:

✨ Community: The people who support and inspire us.

🎯 Purpose: Finding your “why” and pursuing it intentionally.

🤝 Relationships: Building partnerships, friendships, and trust.

🧠 Curiosity & Creativity: Staying open-minded, learning, and innovating.

We’ve also curated some highlights from our other weekly show, Stoppage Time with Uncle Rob and shared Rob’s Top 5 Book recommendations from his reading list, to fuel your growth in 2025.

Thank you for being part of our community. Your support means everything. Wishing you love, peace, and inspiration this season and beyond. 🌟

Feel free to follow and engage with ROB RYAN here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

Do you want to be more of an entrepreneurial thinker? Do you love learning from experienced leaders? Are you someone who works in the entrepreneurial industry and want to learn how to grow your local community?

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob sits down with Andy Wilson, the (recently departed) Executive Director of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, and one of Los Angeles’ longest tenured, most respected business and community leaders, to discuss how entrepreneurial thinking can be a game-changer for industries, communities, and economies. He shares insights from his 30+ years of experience across both the public and private sectors and looks forward toward his next professional challenge. They unpack the importance of optimism, collaboration, and diversity in building sustainable ecosystems that empower entrepreneurs. They explore the challenges of consensus-building in politics, the roles of universities and government in fostering innovation, and actionable strategies for creating meaningful professional networks. If you’re ready to learn how to be a world class entrepreneurial thinker, while driving progress in your career or community, don’t miss this insightful conversation!

Feel free to follow and engage with ANDY here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

What would you choose- Life saving drugs that would extend your life, but leave your family overwhelmed with debt, or death? Is anyone obsessed with enabling a world where life saving drugs and therapies are readily, affordably accessible to everyone who needs them? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob Ryan sits down with DJ White, founder and CEO of Cytodyme, a San Diego based software company, to unpack the inefficiencies in the biotech and Pharma industries, and the transformative potential of automation in the industry, to lower costs and create better patient outcomes! DJ shares his personal journey as a once aspiring “real life Indiana Jones” historian-turned- gene therapy researcher to biotech industry entrepreneur, and how his path today was fueled by a tragic personal loss. DJ shares powerful insights into innovating in an industry that touches nearly all our lives at some point. Discover how he's reshaping the path from lab to patient, the promise of virtual biotech, and lessons every entrepreneur can take to heart.

Feel free to follow and engage with DJ here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

Do Mexican VC’s have to chase “unicorns” to be successful, like their US peers? What industries are ripe for reinvention in Mexico and Latin America? Are you an institutional investor seeking greater returns on better valued deal flow? This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Rob and Alejandro Gonzalez, Managing Partner at Redwood Ventures and Santatera Capital talk about playing the Venture Capital game, their way! Ale, a long time friend and former client of Rob’s prior company, sit down to discuss their newly announced, ground-breaking strategic partnership with SeedStars, as well as their firms growth, their vision for the coming Latino opportunity in North America, and the evolution of Mexico’s startup ecosystem through it’s pandemic hyper-acceleration and great reset. They discuss the impact of cultural heritage on emerging markets, and the bold strategies shaping the future of VC in their view. Across their multiple Funds affiliated with Redwood, Alejandro explores investments in everything from food innovation, CPG, Sports, technology and services investments in the US and Latin America. This episode explores untapped opportunities, investor insights, and a few great success stories you can’t miss!

Feel free to follow and engage with ALEJANDRO here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

Do you want to know how the most progressive modern investors think? Do you worry about the cultural barriers preventing more diverse entrepreneurs from success? Do you want to know how to pursue your own highest potential?

Rob sits down with his friend Qiana Patterson; Venture Investor, Advisor, Educator, Yoga Practitioner, Mentor and Problem Solver, to discuss her life philosophies shaped by her considerable life experiences. It’s an inspiring journey from teacher to technology to investment and to whatever comes next in her pursuit of her best potential. Together, they explore the power of creative capital, the role of women in finance, and how amplifying underrepresented voices can reshape communities. From Los Angeles' vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem to actionable strategies for inclusivity, this conversation is packed with insights on turning challenges into opportunities for lasting impact.

Feel free to follow and engage with QIANA here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

Have you ever stopped to observe “how you feel” when you’re outside? Do you consider yourself a City Person or an Outdoorsy type? Have you ever met an entrepreneur who is turning the outdoors into an experiential education business? If you listen to this- you will meet one of the best!

In this episode, Rob enjoys a really thought-provoking conversation with Yvonne Leow, Founder and CEO of Bewilder, an Outdoor Education company, built by this former journalist turned Outdoors innovator. She poetically leads us to a better understanding of the evolving relationship between city living and nature as well as the importance of designing intentionally diverse and more accessible programming. From breaking down misconceptions about outdoor activities to addressing the cultural shifts impacting our connection to nature, they explore how to engage families, students, foster inclusivity, and embrace personal responsibility in the outdoor space. Yvonne’s 0-100mph journey from self defined city girl from Seattle, to outdoor advocate, offers personal inspiration and practical steps for reconnecting with the world beyond our screens. Treat yourself to this conversation- maybe while outside on a walk or hike.

Feel free to follow and engage with YVONNE here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

Are local independent pharmacies better than Big Corporate pharmacies? Have you ever thought about the amount of medications that go to waste every night at your pharmacy? Do you know how your prescription drugs make it to you? Or how your pharmacists make money? Or how your pharmacist is an entrepreneur! In the United States’ terribly fragmented, complicated healthcare system, pharmacies are often “the place” where we consumers meet our healthcare, so Rob and Amantha Bagdon, founder of RXPost, try to help you understand how it works and why they matter in your life and local economy.

She is on a mission to revolutionize pharmacy management through RxPost, and thus create better healthcare outcomes for patients, and better businesses for the entrepreneurial pharmacist owners. She shares the challenges pharmacies face, the crucial role of technology in healthcare’s future via companies like RxPost, and her own amazing journey from pharmacy technician to CEO/Founder of a startup. From inventory innovations to calls for transparency, this conversation uncovers the urgent need for reform and the irreplaceable role of community pharmacies as community health hubs and our personalized healthcare.

Feel free to follow and engage with Amantha here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

Can you be a successful entrepreneur alone? Do you want to learn how the greatest founders in the world leverage their communities? In this episode, Rob is joined by his LA neighbor, Justin Gordon, Founder at Village Lane and Just Go Grind. The two talk about the importance of entrepreneurial experimentation, of his own creativity and about “Community”, the buzzy tech industry word, that everyone loves to talk about. He highlights the rapidly shifting landscape of entrepreneurship and how community and storytelling are reshaping the way founders and investors build and grow their businesses and their brands. In this conversation Justin shows himself to be a true entrepreneurial thinker, in how he makes decisions about his own career path, as well as his journey through Venture Capital and now Media. Discover practical strategies for creating supportive networks and navigating today’s entrepreneurial ecosystem that you can apply to your work right after listening.

Feel free to follow and engage with JUSTIN here:

Join Just Go Grind Podcast:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.

Do you believe one person can make a difference? Do you understand what the “New Majority” economy or “Care Economy” are? Do you think we need more equitable economies and communities? Rob gets really fired up by this conversation with the unstoppable force that is Erika Lucas, a long time Economic Development leader, Investor and founder of Stitch Crew, Vest and Vest/Her from her great state of Oklahoma. They unpack the politics and policy of how our current economic inequities were created by systems and institutions over the last 45 years, and explore how Private Capital Investment and Venture capital done differently can drive real change for women and “new majority” entrepreneurs aross the country. From peer networks to policy reform, Erika shares her own inspiring story, and what it really takes to create lasting, inclusive economic growth and offers practical steps for entrepreneurs to leverage the power of their voice and their communities.

Feel free to follow and engage with ERIKA here:

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.

As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.

¡Cheers y gracias!,

Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.