Mike Sharp, owner of the Sharp Insurance Agency, refused to let the pandemic stop him from opening his business this year. A few months in and he has already realized considerable success. After several years of working for two large national insurance companies, he decided that he wanted to apply his drive and passion for the industry into building his own firm. In this episode, Mike talks about the most common mistakes that small business owners make when buying insurance, how working as a police officer has provided him with important negotiation and communication skills, and why you shouldn't wait for the perfect time to start a business.

Linda MacMurdo started The BANTU Collection to showcase the beautiful designs and artistic handiwork of her African childhood homeland. In her mother’s native language, Bantu means “people,” and this was her inspiration to create a collection by the people for the people. In this episode, Linda talks about what it’s like for a small business to import goods from Africa, how a co-worker’s generosity helped her to get started, and why following your heart can sustain you through the challenges of entrepreneurship.

As head brewer, business operator, cigar and beer aficionado, podcaster, and mayor of Butler, PA, Ben Smith is a modern-day Renaissance man. He and his father did the brunt of the work to renovate and transform a historic building into the Reclamation Brewing Company, which is the first brewery to operate in Butler County since Prohibition. Today, the Smiths also operate RB Cigar Bar & Speakeasy, which is located just down the street from their brewery. In this episode, Ben talks about how he started brewing beer, why he ran for mayor, and the challenges of operating a bar and restaurant in the middle of a pandemic.

John Vella’s successful career as a hair stylist and salon industry leader spans over 30 years and encompasses work in corporations, privately-owned salons, and now under his own brand – The John Vella Salon. Although his main operation is here in Pittsburgh, John continues to commute to his San Francisco location and to Beverly Hills for red-carpet events. In this episode, John talks about how his career in hairdressing actually found him, why he always knew he would own his own salon, and why it’s important to be really good at what you do.

Alan Mabry, Josh Studl, and Sean Bailey are co-founders of Upstream Coding, a technology and education company headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Since its beginning two years ago, the business has had to change and evolve in unexpected ways in light of the pandemic and the rapidly changing “EdTech” marketplace. In this episode, Alan and Sean discuss the role their company plays in the local tech scene, why it’s important to teach coding and programming skills, and the importance of partnering with experienced people when starting a business.

Jen Urich, owner of Farmer x Baker, designed, renovated, and opened the first upcycled shipping container restaurant in Western Pennsylvania. And if building a one-of-a-kind café wasn’t enough of a challenge, she had to find the right home for it. Ultimately, the beautiful Aspinwall Riverfront Park proved to be the perfect fit. In this episode, Jen talks about becoming a first-generation farmer, the role that sustainability plays in her café, and how resilience and determination were two of the most important factors in realizing her dream.

Gregg Zegarelli, owner of Technology & Entrepreneurial Ventures Law Group, has been practicing law for over 30 years. His decades of experience have shown him what the most successful entrepreneurs have in common and where others tend to fall into traps. In this episode, Gregg talks about which mistakes to avoid when starting a business, how to find the right attorney to work with, and why partnerships could be your secret weapon in making your business succeed.

Christina Dickerson is an entrepreneur, marketing and media expert, philanthropist, and leading event planner. She has been involved with some of the Pittsburgh area’s most prestigious events including Savor Pittsburgh, which has been an important fundraiser each year for Magee-Womens Research Institute. In this episode, Christina talks about her background in television and working as a lobbyist on behalf of animal rights, her inspiration for becoming an entrepreneur, and the changes she is seeing with her small business clients in light of the current pandemic.

Janna Hockenjos was living life in the fast lane in New York City when she rediscovered yoga. A new career in magazine journalism and a busy social scene kept her both entertained and exhausted. Her yoga experience was transformative, and it didn’t take long before she began to chart a new course. She moved back to Pittsburgh, and found a way to combine all of her favorite things. Today, Janna is an online yoga studio owner, a freelance writing coach and developmental editor, and a two-time book author. In light of the current pandemic, she recently adapted her yoga business into a virtual format and rebranded it as Inhale Yoga Together.

Benjamin Schmidt, PhD began his career in bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, but he eventually found his calling in the world of technology startups. After working as chief technology officer for an energy market forecasting and analytics business, he later joined the founding team that launched RoadBotics where he currently serves as president of the company. In this episode, Dr. Ben talks about the number one thing that all entrepreneurs must do early in their businesses, what it’s been like to raise capital for a venture-backed startup, and how solving practical problems in the “GovTech” market space motivates him and his team on a daily basis.