Episode 70.  In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Eugene Polevoy, co-founder of Blue C Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in service-based businesses. 

Eugene shares his career journey from being an automotive mechanic to starting his own private equity fund. They discuss Eugene’s early days in investment banking at BMO, his extensive experience in private equity at ONCAP and Imperial Capital, and his strategic approach to investing in service-based businesses. 

Eugene highlights the importance of having a unique angle, leveraging digital marketing skills, and making data-driven decisions. He also talks about the challenges he faced and the factors that led him to establish his own firm.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• 01:11 Eugene's Current Role and Focus
• 03:25 Early Career and Background
• 07:05 Transition to Private Equity
• 11:16 Learning and Growing in Private Equity
• 14:49 Insights on Investment Banking
• 19:10 Developing Investment Strategies
• 22:52 Balancing Fund Mandates and Flexibility
• 25:38 Leveraging Digital Marketing in Business Growth
• 27:22 Transition from ONCAP and New Opportunities
• 27:53 Exploring the Auto Aftermarket and Housing Industries
• 30:46 Challenges and Decisions in Private Equity
• 33:15 Building Frontier and Entrepreneurial Ventures
• 38:55 Raising Capital and Investment Strategies
• 46:35 Finding Your Niche in Service-Based Industries
• 50:27 Conclusion and Contact Information

Episode 69. In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Matt McLean, founder of Uncle Matt's Organics. Celebrating its 25th year, Uncle Matt's is America's leading organic juice brand. 

Matt shares his family's deep roots in Florida's citrus farming, transitioning from conventional to organic agriculture, and the journey of building a national brand. The conversation explores topics such as selling the business to Dean Foods, buying it back after their bankruptcy, competing against industry giants like Coke and Pepsi, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Matt emphasizes the importance of leadership, sales skills, and financial literacy in building a successful business.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• 01:53 Matt McLean's Business Roots and Early Career
• 04:00 The Birth of Uncle Matt's Organics
• 06:38 Challenges and Successes in Organic Farming
• 12:44 Building and Scaling the Business
• 16:16 Selling and Reacquiring the Business
• 22:15 Navigating the Orange Juice Industry
• 22:57 Commitment to Organic Farming
• 24:09 Innovations in Juice Products
• 25:21 Challenges Competing with Giants
• 28:23 Expanding Product Lines
• 30:53 Lessons from Failures
• 33:53 Family Dynamics in Business
• 38:51 The Perfect Glass of Orange Juice
• 42:06 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• 43:33 Where to Find Uncle Matt's Products

Episode 68. In this episode of The Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Annie Bergevin, a fractional CFO and advisor for tech startups based in Montreal. 

As the founder of On Point Business Plans and a guest lecturer at Columbia Business School, Annie shares her career journey from investment banking at Credit Suisse and CIBC World Markets to entrepreneurship. The conversation dives into her role in helping startups raise capital from VCs, tips for creating the perfect pitch, and the importance of a solid financial foundation. 

Annie also discusses the evolving landscape of startup funding and educational changes for MBA students aspiring to enter the entrepreneurial world.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:16 Meet Annie Bergevin: Fractional CFO and Advisor
• 01:11 Annie's Role in Helping Startups
• 04:15 Annie's Career Journey
• 06:26 Starting On Point Business Plans
• 07:44 Navigating the VC Landscape
• 09:24 Raising Capital: Tips and Challenges
• 12:39 The Importance of Financial Organization
• 19:11 The Role of Personality in Entrepreneurship
• 21:17 The Current State of Venture Capital
• 33:22 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• 37:26 Annie's Future Goals and Final Thoughts
• 39:04 Conclusion and Farewell

Episode 67. In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Pat Brough, author of 'The Real Confident You'. Pat shares his intense story of battling anxiety and depression, culminating in a suicide attempt at 16. They discuss Pat's journey to recovery, the impact of social media, and his newly found confidence. 

Pat explains why he wrote his book, the importance of authenticity, and the challenges high school students face today. The conversation also touches on career fulfillment, gratitude, and how to find positivity in life. Finally, Pat offers advice to parents navigating their children's relationship with social media.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:17 Meet Pat Brough: Author and Survivor
• 00:27 Pat's Journey: From Rock Bottom to Recovery
• 08:14 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
• 13:42 Struggles with Identity and Authenticity
• 17:50 The High School Experience and Its Challenges
• 19:01 The Unseen Pressures of Modern Youth
• 19:58 Pat's Suicide Attempt: A Turning Point
• 21:23 Understanding the Struggles of Mental Health
• 22:11 Parental Reactions and Empathy
• 22:56 The Journey to Recovery
• 23:19 Overcoming Overstimulation
• 25:25 Building Self-Confidence
• 29:07 Finding Passion and Career Fulfillment
• 34:53 The Importance of Patience and Perspective
• 38:05 The Role of Gratitude and Positivity
• 42:34 Advice for Parents on Social Media
• 43:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 66.  In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Jenny Wu, founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, a company that produces emotional intelligence card games for both adults and children. Jenny, an expert in emotional intelligence with degrees from Harvard and UC Berkeley, and teaching experience at UC Irvine, shares insights from her varied career and personal life. The conversation spans topics such as the significance of emotional intelligence, balancing parenting and career, the role of university education today, and Jenny's journey from industry to academia. Additionally, they discuss the impact of parental expectations, the challenges women face in balancing motherhood and their careers, and tools for developing better emotional intelligence at any age.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• 00:59 Jenny Wu's Background and Career Journey
• 02:08 Mind Brain Emotion: The Human Skills Game
• 04:19 Inspiration Behind the Game
• 06:07 Early Career and Transition to Human Capital
• 16:01 Balancing Career and Parenthood
• 21:02 Understanding Emotional Intelligence
• 24:06 Learning Emotional Intelligence as an Adult
• 25:35 Recognizing and Addressing Blind Spots
• 26:10 Practical Examples of Emotional Intelligence
• 28:47 The Importance of Feeling Heard and Valued
• 31:32 Navigating Academic and Professional Growth
• 34:47 Launching a Business Through University Support
• 36:10 Improving Higher Education
• 39:47 Balancing Support and Independence in Parenting
• 41:54 The Role of Discomfort in Personal Growth
• 45:12 Final Thoughts and Resources

Episode 65.  In this Lifetime at Work podcast episode, Greg Martin interviews Bennett Maxwell, the founder and chairman of Dirty Dough, a booming gourmet cookie franchise. 

Bennett recounts his transformative journey from being a Mormon missionary in Mexico to excelling in door-to-door solar energy sales, eventually leading to the creation and rapid expansion of Dirty Dough. 

Listeners will gain insights into Bennett’s philosophies on living well, financial success, brand creation, and the profound impact of effective sales techniques. The discussion delves into the challenges and triumphs of building a scalable business in the food industry, raising substantial capital, and working with seasoned industry leaders. 

It highlights Bennett's strategic approaches to franchising, the importance of organizational structure, and the emotional and financial ramifications of success. The episode also provides practical advice on connecting with advisors and emphasizes the pursuit of joy and fulfillment in business and life, over merely chasing financial goals. 

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 
• 00:54 Bennett Maxwell's Early Life and Career Beginnings 
• 01:27 The Journey into Door-to-Door Sales 
• 03:26 Transition to the Solar Business 
• 07:38 Investing in Dirty Dough 
• 10:59 Challenges and Innovations in the Cookie Business 
• 12:36 Franchising and Business Growth 
• 16:50 Marketing Strategies and Owner Involvement 
• 18:25 Doubts and Financial Challenges 
• 21:44 Raising Capital and Leadership Changes 
• 23:08 Equity Deal and Acquisition 
• 25:12 Reflections on Money and Success 
• 26:57 The Illusion of Financial Goals 
• 32:58 Building a National Brand 
• 42:14 The Importance of Advisors 
• 46:32 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Episode 64.  How do you get your message into the press? Well, there’s a whole engine of people working hard to help, forming the public relations industry.

This episode features guest Zachary Bernard, the Founder and CEO of We Feature You. His company is a PR firm focused on building industry professionals as leaders and authorities in their space.

There’s something a lot of people don’t realize about public relations: It’s less about gaining exposure and more about what you do with the exposure you get. This episode covers the modern media and public relations world and how all of us can thrive and understand the industry for the better.

Key Takeaways and Discussion

• The breakthrough Zachary had a few years ago after talking to a friend.
• How he stumbled into the world of marketing.
• How to leverage the things you’re already good at (and what that could look like).
• What their typical clients look like and what their specific needs are.
• The best way to start building your own brand from the ground up.
• Different ways you can get featured in the media, and the benefits of each.
• How to make the most out of the coverage you get and why it matters.
• Why inside connections are so important in the public relations world.
• The role that AI content plays in PR—and what happens when it goes too far.
• The best types of publications to be featured in and why.
• How to figure out if a publication is legit or not (and filter your best opportunities).
• What Zachary brings to the PR industry that’s different and unique.

Episode 63.  There is a big engine of people behind the candidates in the world of politics. Exploring a campaign and election from the inside helps give insight into what’s happening and why.

Guest Matthew Krayton provides counsel to campaigns at the local, state and federal levels as well as to clients in the private and public sectors across the public relations landscape. He worked on special projects during Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign and helped to create the “We Just Did” hat. He created his PR Consulting Firm, Publitics, in 2011 and has been growing his team ever since.

Matthew has a unique view of the political landscape, and during the episode he shares his perspective of it through the lens of PR. He also shares insights into the relationship between social media and politics.

Key Takeaways and Discussion

• The typical way (and time) Matthew usually meets his clients.
• How he got involved in political campaigns
• How the approach to PR politics has changed and opened up to young people.
• The different ways that campaigns mirror startup companies.
• What makes Publitics a full-service PR firm.
• What consulting looks like in PR politics and politics-adjacent spaces.
• Why an overlap in values is important in public relations.
• The best social media platform for organic reach today.
• The difference between the Harris versus Trump campaign from a PR perspective.
• Why policy proposals sometimes take a back seat through values and personality.
• The secrets to running a seamless and successful campaign.
• Why empowering your people, especially your PR team, is crucial in all organizations.
• Why psychological safety is important in business, including those who work in politics.
• How people in the US today are reckoning with work culture (and changing it).

Episode 62.  A good career always starts one way and ends another. As you get older, not everything comes about moving up and more money, eventually the goal of legacy becomes the focus.

Brenda Ha began her career in the corporate world, but when she started a family and started craving more flexibility, she decided to start her own business—a concierge service called Check Box Services. Building a business that suits her personal life has helped her create the kind of balance in her life that she values.

The topic of legacy is something that has come up often in Brenda’s work. During the episode, she discusses what she’s learned about her own legacy and values since starting her business. She also shares great tips for those people in the initial stages of growing their career and how the older clients she has today are all striving for legacy and impact in their work.

Key Takeaways and Discussion

• Brenda’s educational background and the experience she had in consulting and IT before starting her own company.
• How her life changed when she had kids and what she realized she needed to do.
• What they do at Check Box Services and who their typical client is.
• Why she’s made the intentional decision to keep her team small.
• How she becomes like family to her clients and why it matters.
• How working for yourself differs from working for another business.
• Why legacy is important to Brenda and what it inspired her to get involved with.
• The importance of having role models who resemble you when you’re young.
• The most translatable skills you can have in the workplace and how Brenda used them.
• Opportunities that you should keep your eyes open for as you start your career.
• Brenda’s advice for figuring out what you want to do for work if you aren’t sure.

Episode 61.  How do you know you should start a business, and how do you put the pieces of your life together to do it and be successful?

Richa Gupta is a food entrepreneur who founded Good Food for Good, a fantastic lineup of sauces, condiments and related food products sold in grocery stores across North America. Richa’s experience in becoming a mom combined with her desire to do something meaningful influenced her journey in bringing Good Food for Good into the world. In this episode, she shares the story of her journey into entrepreneurship and shares her tips for other people who are looking to build a meaningful career for themselves too.

On top of all that, Richa has now transitioned into an advising role for similar businesses and is the Vice President of Partnerships and Development at the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) and discusses how this next step will help her make an even bigger impact.

Key Takeaways and Discussion

• Where her career started, and the role Richa is filling today.
• Why Richa says she was always a believer and how that has helped her career.
• Where you should go if you don’t know which career path is right for you.
• What Richa’s (first) midlife crisis pushed her to pursue and where it led.
• Why insight is important in entrepreneurship. 
• What sets Good Food for Good apart from other food companies.
•  What she wishes she’d done first before starting her business.
• The model of business that became her saving grace.
• The role she still plays in Good Food for Good after stepping away.
• The goal of CFIN and what they’re on a mission to help food manufacturers do.
• How having several mentors has helped Richa find the success she has today.
• How leaning into your journey can help you get through the challenges of your career.