Karis (Hortin) Bell, this season’s host, and Austin Brooks, Executive Director of the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship, kick off season two of the Fearless Founders podcast by revisiting the series’ mission, its inception, and the impact it's having on young people across the nation. Hear more about Karis’ story, how CEO impacted her own life's trajectory, and what our listeners have to look forward to in the season ahead!

Follow Austin Brooks on LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/vanaustin/

Learn More About Karis' Work on Her Website, Instagram or TikTok: 
Website: https://www.socialssimplified.com
Personal Instagram: @Karisbell_
Personal TikTok: Karisbellofficial 
Business Instagram: Socials.simplified
Business TikTok: Socialssimplified 

Mark your calendars! Season 2 of the Fearless Founders podcast drops next week on Tuesday, August 7th.   

Fearless Founders podcast is an audio adaptation of a live experience hosted for CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) Program participants across the nation each year. A part of the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship’s ever-present mission to develop the next generation of thought leaders and innovators, this series was born out of a passion to share valuable life stories with high school entrepreneurs from across the country.  

Now, we want to share these conversations with YOU! 

In this podcast, you’ll hear a collection of special conversations with highly, successful visionary leaders that touch on how they got to where they are, the failures they overcame, and what they learned along the way. 

To learn more about the CEO Program, visit DiscoverCEO.com.

In her conversations with high-level businesses and organizations all over the world, Kristen Hadeed talks a lot about giving yourself - and others - permission to fail. But recently, she's also been passionate about what it means to give yourself permission to pivot - which is exactly what she did in her business over the past year. In this conversation, Kristen and Alexis dig into what Kristen learned through this transition and what it looks like to treat others with courage, vulnerability, and compassion even in a leadership position - even in times of change. They unpack what it means to challenge the definition of success to create your own - even when it means failing big and messing up -  and explore what this looks like, why it's important, and how to move forward.

Connect with Kristen on Facebook/Instagram @KristenHadeed and learn more about her work at KristenHadeed.com. 

In this special role-reversal episode, we have the unique opportunity to hear from Fearless Founder host herself, Alexis Teichmiller.  Expect candid conversation about how CEO helped prepare Alexis to build her own business at a young age, the challenges she overcame, and how the entrepreneurial mindset, in general, has supported her in both her entrepreneurial and intrapraneurial undertakings. In one of the fan-favorite conversations from this season, Alexis inspires listeners, through the stories that she shares, to explore where the entrepreneurial journey can take them.

Connect with Alexis on Instagram/Facebook @AlexisTeichmiller and read more about her and her coaching business at www.AlexisTeichmiller.com. 

What’s the best social media platform for entrepreneurs today? In this episode, hear the perspective of Wilber You, CEO of Youtech, on that and more. He and Alexis discuss what it means to fail and why it is an important part of learning. No stranger to failure himself, Wilbur is a proponent of NOT letting your shortcomings dictate your success. Expect to hear his insight into building a team and a process around your business, as well as why the fear of being different will only hold you back from wanting - and getting - more out of life.

You can connect with Wilbur on LinkedIn or read more about his business at www.Youtech.com. 

In 2008, Maya Elios was a freshman in college and designing Myspace pages for $35 a piece. By 2016, she was earning $10k a month. From there, she continued to build a wildly successful business as a personal brand strategist, coach, and consultant. Maya began her business early, so she understands how to struggle to be taken seriously when you're young. In this episode, we explore Maya's entrepreneurial journey and what it looks like to be open to the possibilities of what your business can be. Expect insight into what she has learned about overcoming and pushing through failures as well as the importance of developing the mission and vision for your life. 

Follow Maya’s entrepreneurial journey on Instagram/ Facebook @MayaElious and read more about her company on Instagram/Facebook @BuiltToImpact and www.builttoimpact.com.

In 2015, Cathryn Lavery launched a Kickstarter to crowdfund her first BestSelf journal. Just two years later, the company had grown to 8 million. In this refreshingly open and honest conversation, Cathryn and Alexis explore what that journey was like for Cathryn and her company. They touch on how important it is to set clear goals as well as a strategy to achieve them and share tips for pivoting in life and business. Expect also to hear insight into overcoming challenges when you're feeling stuck and Cathryn’s advice on one of the best ways to level up your skills.

Explore Cathryn’s company on Instagram/Facebook @bestselfco and www.bestselfco.com and follow her on Instagram/Facebook @Cathryn.Lavery. 

In this energetic and inspiring conversation, Sarah and Alexis talk through the key differences between owning a brick-and-mortar business and an online business. Come ready to hear Sarah's expert insight around the importance of building strong relationships in business, as well as the role that photography and visual content play in growing an audience. 

You can follow Sarah on Instagram @Sarah.Petty, Facebook @sarahpettyphotographystudio, and her website www.sarahpetty.com. 

In this episode, entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling author, Rory Vaden, and host Alexis Teichmiller discuss work ethic and how it plays a role in success. Stories will be shared as they unpack the topic of discipline and what it looks like in life and business. Be prepared, as well, for insight into Rory's expert perspective on attitude - what it is and the impact it has on the decisions you make. 

Follow Rory on Instagram/Facebook @RoryVaden and www.RoryVaden.com. 

When asked about his success, Brandon Wynn, Olympic Champion and Entrepreneur, always stressed that his mindset was the biggest factor in all of it. In this episode, Alexis and Brandon dig into what it means to build mental strength and how it can help navigate life, business, and personal challenges. Expect to hear personal stories about how to use failure as a tool to learn and grow, approaching the world with an abundance mindset versus a scarcity mindset, and how your dreams evolve and develop over time. 

Follow Brandon’s entrepreneurial journey @brandonwynngym on Instagram.