Entrepreneurial Thinkers with Rob Ryan

Do you ever think about the people who make the clothes you wear? Would you pay more, for better quality clothing that is made by better paid people? In this episode, Rob visits with a true South Central Los Angeles Hometown Hero, Guadalupe Tlatenchi, Founder and CEO of GTLA Apparel and the brand Loopé. They explore the history, opportunities and challenges of Los Angeles' garment and fashion industry. Guadalupe shares her unique insights into the realities faced by garment workers, the rise of sustainable practices, and her own amazing entrepreneurial journey as a young woman growing up here in LA—offering insights for those looking to build meaningful, ethical brands in a fast-paced, ever changing industry.

Feel free to follow and engage with GUADALUPE 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.

Can non-salespeople become good salespeople? Can you succeed in growing your business without being good at selling? In this episode, Rob Ryan chats with Chris Stock, CEO of SalesMD, about how ethical sales practices are reshaping the nearly $20 billion a year medical wellness industry. They also discuss his early career at IBM, and how some historic sales best practices are just as applicable today. From big corporate sales, to traveling the world coaching big global brands and now to helping small businesses thrive in the MedSpa and Wellness industry, Chris dives into the importance of building relationships, overcoming sales challenges, and improving lead conversion rates for his clients. Tune in to share in Chris’s wisdom and his practical tips and career advice that every aspiring salesperson or entrepreneur can use.

Feel free to follow and engage with CHRIS 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.

How do you build non-traditional entrepreneurial communities? How do you make an impact in your community, regardless of your resources? Isn’t it a good idea for us to invest in more small businesses and less traditional entrepreneurs?

In this episode, Rob sits down with Marie Rocha, founder of Realist Ventures, from Stamford, Connecticut. Marie is a beacon for anyone trying to build an entrepreneurial economy in a secondary market, anywhere in the world. Her leadership in supporting under-supported entrepreneurs has gained her a national reputation and following. Marie helps us uncover the power of mentorship in her community-building, empathy, and the importance of leveraging real life data in supporting underrepresented founders everywhere. From the challenges in Connecticut’s entrepreneurial landscape, in the shadows of New York City, to the opportunities ahead, Marie shares her insights on applying her own entrepreneurial thinking to create more equitable opportunities through collaboration, mentorship, and customer connection.

Feel free to follow and engage with MARIE 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.

Can investing in our Oceans save our Planet? Have you ever heard of the Blue Economy? Do you know how much of the carbon we create or heat we create, gets absorbed by the ocean? Have you ever seen the “Colossal Squid”?- because our guest is on a lifelong mission to find it and film it in it’s natural environment. The ocean covers 70% of the planet, but very little of our historic innovations in energy or technology comes from our Oceans. Matt Mulrennan, Director of Investments at the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and it’s sister Fund, Seabird Ventures joins Rob to go deep into the emerging field of ocean investing and how sustainable solutions are shaping the blue economy alongside our fast growing “Green Economy.”

Matt teaches a masterclass on some incredible data and history, of mammals, other ocean species, the importance of the ocean in our climate crisis, the massive value of the Ocean in our economy, and his own career arc from Expeditionary researcher to Ocean-Blue Economy investor. He tells a few stories of adventurous expeditions he’s led in marine preservation across some of the earths most remote places, such as Antarctica, while educating us on the ocean's role in climate regulation and food production. He teaches us that the ocean’s impact on our lives and our economies is massive, yet it's just beginning to be explored as an investment frontier. Discover the collaborative efforts driving this new economy and why Los Angeles, California may be its next hub.

Feel free to follow and engage with MATT 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 ever think about how your cup of coffee makes it into your hands? Can you imagine getting your product idea into the biggest retailers in the world? Or building a new product business in a market with 10’s of thousands of competitors? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Gefen Skolnick, founder of Couplet Coffee from here in Los Angeles, California, reveals how she’s rewriting the rules of the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) world with boldness, inclusivity, and authenticity. From navigating the challenges of scaling a brand, to staying true to its roots, Gefen shares the realities of building a coffee empire and offers invaluable advice for entrepreneurs ready to blaze their own trail. Don’t miss this deep dive into diversity, creativity, reinvention, and what it takes to succeed in a really competitive industry.

Feel free to follow and engage with GEFEN 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.

Can Venture Investment into more diverse founders, in more diverse neighborhoods yield better ROI? Can a Venture Firm become “the” community resource for entrepreneurs in a City? In this episode, Rob and Miki Reynolds sit down to explore and answer these questions! Miki is an incomparable Los Angeles entrepreneurial thinker, and now Head of Programs at Slauson & Co, which is a dynamic young and very intentionally inclusive venture firm based in LA. These two friends explore the urgent need for diversity in the startup world and how the industry continues to evolve. Miki highlights how important “the Company We Keep” is to the founder journey. From breaking barriers for underrepresented founders to reimagining venture capital, Miki shares actionable insights on building a more inclusive ecosystem. Plus, don’t miss the big, exciting announcement of Slauson & Co’s latest Fund and the return of their expanded accelerator, Family & Friends program!

Feel free to follow and engage with MIKI 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.

Yes, we can… but the how, and how you fit in, will surprise you! Can conversations between people who disagree, shift the tide for our human survival on earth? In this episode, Rob sits down with Asher Jay, founder and CEO of Henoscene, to passionately explore the urgent and complex challenges of climate change and species extinction, including our human species. They discuss the realities of our lack of transparency socially, our own insecurities and our instinctive desire to only look out for our own narrow interests, even at the expense of our ability to survive. They dive into the critical role of personal responsibility, and the ethical use of technology in tackling these issues. Asher shares her belief in the power of open dialogue and simple actions to inspire collective change. Tune in for a really compelling discussion on hope, responsibility, and the interconnectedness of our world.

Feel free to follow and engage with ASHER 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 wondered if you or your company needs a “Chief of Staff?” Are you curious about what a great Chief of Staff really is? Melanie Jones, the CEO of the ArlanWasHere Company and Founder of “Elevation, Chief of Staff Training”, joins Rob to dive into her own curiosity and willingness to ask more questions, which has led her evolution as an “entrepreneurial thinker” throughout her career. She shares why she’s so motivated by aligned leadership, Diversity, Representation and different folks seeing themselves in leadership! Melanie shares stories of the amazing business she has helped Arlan Hamilton to build in the last few years, and very specifically teaches us about the evolving role of the chief of staff, emphasizing the importance of clarity and diversity of thought in business leadership. Plus, hear how her groundbreaking certification program is setting a new standard for aspiring operators.

Feel free to follow and engage with MELANIE 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.

How well would you do, if you got off a plane, in a Country you’d never been, with some cash in your pocket, no cultural context and no friends? Could you build a million dollar business in those conditions? Carol Shih, a Proud Taiwanese-Australian-American and successful founder of Qode Space, did exactly this! Carol is a literal “Amazing Woman in E-Commerce” award winner, in a field dominated by white men.

This episodic conversation with Rob reveals her deeply experienced insights on Asian entrepreneurial and family culture in the US and specifically, in Los Angeles, as well as the “moment” that Asian culture and products are having in a changing American market. They also dive into her personal immigration journey as a Taiwanese woman, moving to Los Angeles for University at age 19, then learning how to become the resilient, self sufficient woman, entrepreneur and mom that she is today!

Carol parlayed her global experiences at Alibaba, eventually leading her to build Qode Space, and become part of the Brand Agency, Major Futures, and it’s new extension, “Major Asians”, a network community empowering Asian entrepreneurs and business people. The two discuss the power of storytelling, the art of saying yes, and the crucial role of self-awareness in leadership. Tune in for an insightful conversation on how to thrive in tech and beyond.

Feel free to follow and engage with CAROL 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.

This week, we're turning the tables on Rob, for a special episode. In the Opening you’ll hear Rob mention private links & “investors only”, but be assured you are now allowed full access to this special conversation, which was originally only privately recorded. Rob is interviewed by Will Stringer, our Lead Investor, to discuss how easy it is to invest in Rob and his new media production company. You can listen here to learn more, and when curious, you can click this easy link to learn even more detail and invest from as little to $100 USD to as much as suits you:

https://wefunder.com/robryan1

Will and Rob discuss why he’s building this media production business.

Why he is making the capital raise available to everyone in his community**.**

Why Will wrote the first check to invest into Rob and his vision.

What our initial media products are, how the business makes money, and how you get your invested monies returned plus share in future equity growth and upside for the long term and finally, how simple it is, for you to literally invest online, via our WeFunder campaign.

You can now invest alongside Rob, Will and everyone else into this exciting new media company and you’ll get a voice in shaping the next decade plus of great human entrepreneurial storytelling, in your community and beyond!

https://wefunder.com/robryan1

If you have more questions, or want to talk directly with either Rob or Will, you can reach out to them via email:

SPECIAL EPISODE 128 LEGAL DISCLAIMER:

We are 'testing the waters' to gauge investor interest in an offering under Regulation Crowdfunding. No money or other consideration is being solicited. If sent, it will not be accepted. No offer to buy securities will be accepted. No part of the purchase price will be received until a Form C is filed and only through Wefunder’s platform. Any indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.

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.