Square Stories

You remember the days… life was full of new experiences and the world was at your fingertips. You could be anything you wanted! From a cowboy to a firefighter, or even becoming an astronaut.

However, most people leave these “childish” passions behind… what if they could make you millions? That’s exactly what our guest today has done, using these passions and values to maintain his unstoppable drive for success, and this is just a small portion of what makes Frankie Russo so special. Hear the astounding story of what made him the powerhouse he is today!

In this episode, we get to hear it all from a woman who has done it all. From graduating early to adopting technology wholeheartedly in the ‘70s, getting an MBA, and even living a large part of her life in Europe, this is truly an individual who thrives off experiences, and that is exactly what Patti Pokorchak has done. She has jumped on countless opportunities that most in her field of expertise were far too afraid to do. she lives her life to its fullest and continues to share her knowledge with others, dedicating herself to what she believes in every day.

Andrew McConnell is a man of extraordinary character with a resume just as awe-inspiring as his life is. Born in Alabama, Andrew has moved around a lot, hustling side jobs wherever he could, and maintaining an astounding academic career in the process, even going from Harvard to Cambridge!

Yet this wasn’t enough for him, so he tapped into his entrepreneurial spirit by simply asking a few questions. Through this he found an untapped market: easing the pressure put on landlords, giving them access to modern technology and data, ultimately making renting easier for owners and renters alike.

How does one go from a printing business owner to one of the top tech saleswomen in the world? Lanette Richardson will tell you! After starting at the lowest ranks in tech sales due to misogynistic views, she quickly rose to the top, outselling everyone in the business by honest dedication and determination to helping clients receive the help they need. In addition, Lanette works tirelessly as the president and co-founder of Utah Women in Sales, building a community of people who strive to achieve equality and opportunities in sales positions around the world.

Meet Liz Coufal, a woman who breaks down social stigmas and misogyny while fighting for the rights and equality of all people. This Texas woman has relentlessly pursued her passion for social activism since the age of 15, building herself into an absolute fireball of a woman who has a successful career in tech startups, social activism, environmental justice, and even her own website dedicated to educating people about democracy and their individual rights… Talk about busy! Hear the lessons she has learned along the way as we explore what makes this fascinating woman tick.

How does a small-town boy become a rock n’ roll legend, successful author, and motivational speaker? Kenny Aronoff will tell you because that’s exactly what he did. Building his career from nothing but perseverance and an immensely strong work ethic, Kenny has performed with big names such as John Mellencamp, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan, and more. You name it, he’s probably played it. He attributes his success to his humility and inherent “workaholic” attitude, but this hasn’t stopped him from having some wild and fun times along the way.

Founder of Mugsy Jeans, Leo Tropeano, creates the most comfortable jeans in the world. After suffering years of discomfort and lack of style when shopping for menswear, Leo gave up everything to build Mugsy into the powerhouse it is today by teaching himself photography, graphic design, and working a multitude of odd jobs to make ends meet. His hard work  combined with the help of his team who share a combined vision and passion has paid off; Mugsy has received glowing customer reviews. Leo has found fulfillment by providing men with the confidence and style they need to become the best they can be.

Allye O'Brien boasts a proven track record of success as a Sales leader for both top-of-the-funnel and quota-carrying contributors. Experienced with building out Sales organizations, including quotas, goals, monthly and quarterly targets, and five-year planning, she is now involved in work that is deeply aligned with her ideals. She serves as the Director of Revenue Operations at Chief, a professional coaching network that aims to advance gender equality in business by helping more women land and excel in executive roles.

Chief was founded to drive women forward into positions of power — and keep them there. Allye's work with Chief allows her to focus on finding creative solutions to help women connect, problem-solve, and achieve their goals, while staying focused on the overall goal of gender parity in the workplace.

Michelle Schifrin is a sales and account management professional with 10+ years of experience within fast-growing technology companies and enterprise SaaS organizations. Currently, she works for Carta, a company working to create more liquidity in the private market. Their mission is to create more owners, which resonates with Michelle, since she is passionate about democratizing wealth in a disruptive way.

A passionate manager, Michelle oversees a sales team that works primarily with early-stage founders and companies, and spends her time coaching sales reps, optimizing usage of Salesforce, and onboarding new clients with a hands-on customer-centric approach.

Park Howell, a 30+ year veteran of the advertising industry, is passionate about the power of stories in our lives and businesses. He spends his time offering Business of Story workshops that help businesses clarify their stories to amplify their impact, and consults, teaches, coaches and speaks internationally to help leaders and communicators rise above the noise of the Attention Economy and be heard using the power of brand and business storytelling. 

His passion in life is helping purpose-driven leaders master their business storytelling to enable them to attract and retain top talent, connect with their ideal customers, and grow through a shared narrative that everyone can buy into and prosper from.