On this episode of “Authentically Successful,” we hear from Mitali Saxena, the CEO of Fashom, an AI-powered clothing brand based on body shape designed for busy moms. She reflects on the challenges of rapidly changing markets, the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry, and her advocacy for body positivity, especially in women.  

During the podcast, Mitali candidly shares her diverse journey from engineering, to working at a software startup, to later founding Fashom. She even recounts the exact moment in New York City that caused her to start Fashom and also how the fashion industry has failed to represent the population it’s advertising to.  

Throughout the episode, she discusses the evolution of her business, her passion for promoting body positivity in the fashion industry, and the challenges and victories of entrepreneurship. She reflects on leadership mistakes, the misconceptions surrounding body image and health, and gives valuable advice for individuals seeking to enter the fashion industry. 

Tune in as Mitali Saxena shares her compelling story as a founder and offers advice for other entrepreneurs. 

Learn more about Mitali and Fashom.

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In this episode of "Authentically Successful," previous founder and entrepreneurship expert Joshua Ross shares his candid experience in starting and growing companies to now teaching students how to do it.  

From his early days at a healthcare startup to founding his own IT consulting business and navigating the challenges of multiple startups, Joshua offers valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship. Topics such as the importance of understanding the target market, the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, and how to pivot are discussed.  

Joshua also delves into his role as the current director of entrepreneurship at the University of Denver where he teaches students the ins and outs of business. He discusses the program and his commitment to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.  

Listen for insight into forming a company, working with partners, overcoming failures, and more. 

Learn more about Joshua Ross and the Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Denver.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

In this insightful episode, host Carol Schultz welcomes Gleb Budman, CEO of Backblaze, a cloud storage and data backup company that competes with industry giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.  

The two delve into the founding of Backblaze and the decision-making process behind taking the company public. Gleb shares how his company offers an alternative for those seeking to optimize and be more efficient with their spending. 

They also discuss venture funding and bootstrapping in business, challenging the common belief in Silicon Valley that venture funding is the only path for startups.  

The conversation then focuses on the journey Gleb and his co-founders took to this point and the way they built their team. He also shares key moments in Backblaze's history, including a crisis in 2011 when a flood in Thailand disrupted the availability of hard drives.  

Listen for a glimpse into the day-to-day life of an influential leader in tech and the inside scoop on his company.  

Learn more about Gleb Budman and Backblaze.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Welcome to another episode of Authentically Successful, where host Carol Schultz has a compelling conversation with the founder of McKie Consultants, Miranda McKie. 

In this episode, Miranda shares her journey of building her consulting firm, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, HR analytics, and inclusive product design.  

The two discuss the ongoing challenges of DEI in business, including varying struggles across different countries, media sensationalization, and the lesser-known aspects of DEI. The need for more control and certification of those hired in the DEI landscape was also mentioned.  

Miranda also dives into the challenges her clients face, the importance of evidence-based decision-making, and the complexities of selling services in the consulting industry. She also provides valuable insights into scaling a business, engaging with HR professionals, and the need for strategic buy-in from top executives.  

Tune in and don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave an honest review. 

Learn more about Miranda McKie and McKie Consultants.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

In our first episode of 2024, Carol is joined by longtime journalist and founder Jeff vonKaenel. He leads N&R Publications, an organization that utilizes professional journalists to help government and nonprofits tell their stories effectively, simplifying critical issues for impactful storytelling. 

They delve into Jeff's fascinating journey, starting with his grassroots advocacy and political coverage in Santa Barbara in 1973. He details what motivated him to choose a career in storytelling.  

From there, Jeff tells us how working with the Salvation Army catapulted the founding of N&R Publications. He also walks us through the organization's unique approach to storytelling and driving social change through words.  

Tune in to hear about the unique method of marketing N&R Publications has developed and how companies are utilizing it to affect change. Listeners will also get a glimpse into the complexities of journalism today.  

Learn more about Jeff vonKaenel and N&R Publications.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

"The real leader is the one who does whatever is needed to get that tower done, whether it's sitting there quietly folding something or directing the tower or getting the coffee. It doesn't matter,” Leif Cocks shares. “The real leader supplements whatever he's doing, whatever makes sense to the greater cause and fills in the gaps that is necessary for the team to achieve their goals." 

In today's episode, we are joined by a fellow author and founder Leif Cocks. He founded the world-renowned Orangutan Project, an international conservation charity.  

Through this engaging conversation, Leif shares his incredible journey from working at a zoo to becoming a founder and worldwide leader. He details the urgency of conserving the rainforest and species in this decade.  

From the dangers faced by rangers in Indonesia to the impact of the pandemic on fundraising, he provides valuable insights into the importance of collective action. On the topic of hiring, they discuss key strategies he uses in building his team. He also offers advice to leaders looking to get into conservation.  

Join us as we explore the vital work of the Orangutan Project and gain valuable lessons in leadership and environmental work. 

Learn more about Leif Cocks and the Orangutan Project.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

"People generally want to do the right thing, but it's hard to figure out what the right thing is when there's 12 different priorities and you can only afford to do three of them." - Mike Rowlands 

In today's episode, our host, Carol Schultz, sits down with Mike, president and CEO of Junxion, an international consultancy with a keen focus on sustainability and social impact.  

Mike discusses the evolving perceptions of work among millennials, the importance of a purposeful career, and how these ideas are reshaping the workforce. He also points out how businesses must react to the new generation seeking information about investments and critiquing companies' practices. 

We explore the importance of social responsibility and the complexities of building and growing a purpose-driven company. They dive into the three ways companies typically react to the climate crisis and how it affects consumers. Mike tells how businesses can better communicate about these topics.  

Tune in to the full episode to hear about the challenges that Junxion has faced and a rare question for our host.  

Learn more about Mike and Junxion, and follow him on Twitter.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

“I actually think that’s the case with a lot of women...you just get used to bad behavior and you normalize it.” - Gavriella Schuster 

This week, our host Carol Schultz sits down with a renowned figure in the tech industry, Gavriella Schuster. Now a solopreneur, Gavriella was formerly a longtime leader at Microsoft and continued into an extensive career in the tech industry.  

Throughout her time at Microsoft, Gavriella witnessed the challenges faced by women in executive roles but found support from a few female mentors. She details what it was like at Microsoft and what led her to become an advocate for women in the workplace. 

They also dive into Gavriella’s experience in joining a board as a woman, whether it be private equity or public, and the disparities women face on boards. 

The episode wraps up with a breakdown of microaggressions in the workplace and actions that allies can take to lead an inclusive environment.  

Be sure to tune in to this inspiring episode to learn more about Gavriella's journey and her commitment to driving diversity in the tech industry. 

Learn more about Gavriella Schuster.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

We are back! For the official return of Authentically Successful, Carol sits down with the CEO of ProcureAbility, Conrad Snover. His company leads the industry in supply-chain solutions.  

"I see so often in business... (businesses) don’t create a strategic plan, they don’t have operating principles, and they don’t use it as a road map and manage to it. That’s where people get in trouble,” Conrad says.  

Conrad shares a valuable framework that he and his team use to make hiring decisions based on revenue growth projections. He discusses how to avoid unnecessary hires and financial strain. 

They also delve into what “just-in-time" manufacturing is, and how Covid flipped the process upside-down. From building resilient supply chains to focusing on employee engagement, Conrad provides insight to help companies thrive in today's ever-changing landscape.  

But it's not just about business– we dive into the personal too. Find out how Conrad's passion for being a sponsored athlete helps him release energy and clear his mind, leading to better decision-making. So, grab your favorite beverage and join us as we enter the world of talent strategies and supply chain innovation.  

Learn more about Conrad Snover and ProcureAbility.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

On this episode of Authentically Successful, host Carol Schultz interviews Sudhir Bhojwani, co-founder and CEO of a procurement technology company named ORO Labs. 

Sudhir opens up about his journey as a software engineer and his first startup which opened the door to three more. He reflects on projects that failed and also shares successes, such as his company Vayulogic. 

The conversation shifts to the difference between working at a large “finance” focused company to being at a smaller “mission” focused company. They also discuss what Sudhir says is an emerging category of "reverse platform" or "procurement orchestration layer" in the space, which aims to improve user experience and provide companies with agility and control. He explains that there are several competitors in this space, each with slightly different approaches. 

Diversity is another crucial aspect discussed in this episode. Sudhir stresses the significance of investing in diversity and actively seeking out diverse ideas. He states that diversity extends beyond gender, incorporating religion and other aspects. The company is actively seeking to add executive members and individuals with diverse ideas to its team, with a goal of showcasing increased diversity within the company within six months.

Learn more about Sudhir Bhojwani and ORO Labs.

You can find more information on all our episodes at Vertical Elevation, and you can find Carol on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.