Once upon a time... in a land far way, the prince slayed dragon the end!  If life were only that simple and straight to a successful end.  Into today's chapter of Entrepreneur, Alan is visited by Kristina McCoobery, Co-Founder and COO of INVNT, and Co-Author of, Challenge Everything:  The Battle Cry That Blew Sh*t Up and INVNTd  Live Brand Storytelling.  Kristina shares how she chose to start her business at a risky time during recession, but had faith that it could only go up from there.  She goes onto express how one needs to challenge themselves. To not underestimated how people in your life want to help you achieve success.  You don't need to do everything yourself.  And don't get discouraged, it's ok to mess up, you grow from it.  Kristina and Alan wrap things up with their thoughts on how important mentors are and how hard it is to find good ones.  How starting one's business is like stepping into really large pair of shoes, to which you will grow into one day.  [00:00:00] Blowing Sh*t Up with Kristina McCoobery [00:05:27] I Challenge You [00:11:30] Let Me Tell You A Story [00:18:20] Help Wanted! [00:25:48] Mentor Needed! [00:33:22] Oh, My! What Big Feet You Have! 

Storytelling 101 with Kristina McCoobery

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The CEO Series, a standout video series, is the brainchild of William Salvi, a Renowned media agency owner based in Chicago. This Emmy award-winning show stands out for its exceptional quality and its unique focus on CEOs from diverse industries. William, along with his brother Chris, initiated the series seven years ago, and for the past four years, they have been delving into the stories, roles, and mindsets of CEOs. The series kicked off with an interview with the chairman and CEO of Wintrust Bank, and since then, it has evolved, with the team constantly enhancing their interviewing techniques and the caliber of guests. The show's distinct goal is to unveil the person behind the role and brand, offering viewers a rare glimpse into the human side of business leadership often overshadowed in formal interviews.  The CEO Series remains industry-agnostic but focuses on the CEOs' unique experiences and perspectives as leaders of large organizations with many stakeholders. The show's producer and host discuss the pressure CEOs face, which can cause some of them to become reclusive, seeking honest feedback rather than flattery.  The CEOs featured in the show share the formative experiences that shaped them as leaders during their youth or teens. The CEO Series is an Emmy award-winning video series available on entrepreneur.com, giving successful leaders a platform to share their experiences with the world.  His brother Chris and he loves interviewing prominent business individuals for our CEO series. We aim for higher-profile CEOs and brands. It's exciting to meet and talk to these people as we get to know them as individuals with their insecurities and life experiences. We challenge ourselves daily by putting ourselves in uncomfortable positions, such as meeting high-profile CEOs. It's a great way to expand our agency and network of contacts. David Nurse is an accomplished mindset specialist and a bestselling author at the Wall Street Journal. Over the past 15 years, he has worked with sports teams and corporate executives, assisting them in dominating their respective fields. David has positively impacted the lives of over 150 NBA players, whose contract earnings total a staggering $3.2 billion. He believes that highly successful people can be classified into two categories—those who value honesty and those who do not. David's expertise lies in his profound understanding of the power of the mind and how it can be used as a cheat code for success. He provides mindset tools that help individuals overcome insecurities, deal with pressure, and utilize their gifts without internal or external roadblocks. He has designed these tools to help individuals take strategic action and realize their full potential. At the Next Level Club, David works with people to help them unlock their mind's potential and achieve their goals. With his constructive guidance and mindset tools, he empowers individuals to confidently reach the next level of their abilities and pursue their dreams.  There are nine action archetypes: fear of other people's opinions, inopportune, blame, test believer, distracted, scarcity mindset, perfectionist, underestimate, and imposter syndrome. To combat self-doubt, try these three tools: First, look at your hands and remember all the difficulties you've overcome. Second, remind yourself to serve others in the present moment. Finally, snap your fingers to cue your subconscious to live into the person you want to be. Remember to stop, notice, assess, and pivot when things get overwhelming. These tools can be used anytime, anywhere.  [00:00:00] The CEO Series [00:06:45] William Salvi [00:13:01] CEOs are Humans too! [00:20:52] The Mindset Specialist [00:30:01] David Nurse [00:37:27] STOP 

Profiling a Business Leader with William Salvi and David Nurse, The Mindset Specialist

On day three of the Women Tech Council in Utah, Governor Spencer Cox spoke about the SheTech Explorer Day event. The event hosted 4,000 junior high and high school girls and provided them with exposure to the tech industry. Governor Cox, who has expertise in business, entrepreneurship, and tech, expressed his excitement and gratitude for the event, which he believes opened many doors for these young girls. He emphasized the importance of mentorship, saying "you can't be what you can't see".  Governor Cox shared his own experience of turning his great grandfather's rural telephone company into a regional internet company and encouraged young women to explore the tech industry, which has been male-dominated for a long time. He praised SheTech for providing an interactive day with hundreds of mentors available to talk to, and an opportunity for young women to decide if the tech industry is something they're interested in pursuing. Cox stated that it's important to learn what you don't want to do as much as what you want to do, and SheTech offers that opportunity for young women to explore the tech industry. Barclay Burns - Assistant Dean at the School of Engineering and Technology Utah Valley University  Barclay Burns is the assistant Dean for Utah Valley University, focusing on AI and serving on the board of directors for the Utah Innovation Fund and the Automation Fund. He is passionate about investing in female tech and life science leaders and creating a women and AI symposium. Utah recently passed an AI bill, which includes guardrails and an AI laboratory for companies to innovate and learn in a safe environment. AI has promise and peril, and Utah is taking steps to ensure proper regulation and policy. The co-founder of Chatbooks, Vanessa Quigley, discussed the company's mission to make it easy for people to preserve their memories in physical form. The company's software automates the process of creating photo books and enables users to print their Instagram photos. Chatbooks is now exploring the use of AI to automatically curate photos and generate captions based on the user's writing style. Research has shown that printing photos can have a positive impact on family relationships. Chatbooks is looking to attract more women to help create products that resonate with their primarily female customer base. Dan Cathy is the CEO and investor of VOZE, a platform that helps industrial companies manage their field sales teams. He attended an event to support his daughter, who was attending high school for the first time. The event captivated Dan with its vast scale and the thousands of young girls in attendance. He believes that these events offer excellent opportunities for young girls to explore diverse career paths and gain exposure to different opportunities. Dan has worked with some amazing women in tech, from engineers to tech entrepreneurs, investors, and more. He acknowledges the value of women in the tech industry and looks forward to seeing more women enter it. He believes that women bring diverse perspectives to an industry that men have long dominated, and this would lead to better outcomes for everyone. In our last segment for this series, we have Kirk Ouimet, CEO and Co-Founder for Phi, spoke about his passion for improving health through technology at the Woman Tech Council's She Tech Explorer Day. Phi, named after the golden ratio (1.618), aims to use AI to debug and understand why our bodies fail. Kirk believes we live in an exciting time for this kind of work and was at the event to mentor and advise others.  [00:00:00] Governor of Utah [00:06:49] Spencer Cox [00:13:00] Barclay Burns [00:20:50] Vanessa Quigley - Co-Founder of Chatbooks [00:29:58] Dan Caffee - CEO of VOZE [00:37:38] Kirk Quimet - CEO and Founder of Phi 

Women Tech Council 2024 III

Alan attended the She Tech Explorer Day event hosted by the Women Tech Council. Dr. Susan R. Madsen, founding director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, joined him to discuss this event. The event had 4,000 high school girls and was different from other trade shows because of the sound of the girls. The event allowed girls to see themselves in technology and other fields, and it also showed them that they can be mothers and entrepreneurs simultaneously. Utah is working towards bridging the gender pay gap and making positive changes.   This program aims to shift things in Utah in just seven years, which would take 3-4 decades without it. The program is focused on five categories: safety and security, education, health and well-being, workforce, and poverty and homelessness. The program aims to coordinate efforts to identify gaps and find resources to shift things in a fast and effective way. Women in tech and women in STEM are critical areas for change.  Amelia Wilcox - Founder and CEO of Nivati Amelia Wilcox, the CEO and founder of Nivati, was invited to speak at a women's council of tech explorers and entrepreneurs. Her talk focused on the endless opportunities in science and tech for high school students. As a female leader herself, Amelia knows firsthand the challenges that come with the role. She emphasized that having the courage, grit, confidence, and faith in oneself is essential for leadership. Amelia encourages young people to find a supportive network and be true to themselves to reach their full potential. Her inspiring message is a call to action for all aspiring leaders, regardless of gender. Jessica Gelman is a successful businesswoman who holds multiple roles, including the CEO of Craft Analytics Group (KAGR), part-owner of the Utah Royals, and a board member of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). KAGR helps professional sports teams and leagues understand their fans better through analytics. The company has worked with major leagues such as the NFL, 76ers, Sacramento Kings, and Eagles. KAGR was formed based on the knowledge gained from Jessica's experience running the Patriots' business operations. Jessica is also part of the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics conference, which focuses on using analytics to drive change in women's sports. She is actively involved with the Utah Royals, bringing an analytics focus to women's sports.Analytics, a crucial differentiator, empowers women and girls who are often underrepresented in the sports industry. It provides them with a powerful voice, enabling them to stand out in a male-dominated business setting. This is the transformative impact that Jessica and KAGR are striving to bring to the industry. The Larry H Miller Group is a family investment firm with diverse business interests, including owning one of the largest automotive dealer groups in the country, the Utah Jazz, and investments in real estate, healthcare, sports, and entertainment. CEO Steve Starks participated in the She Tech Explorer Day event to inspire high school-aged girls to pursue careers in technology and business. He emphasizes the need for equal opportunities and upward mobility for women in the workplace. The company has three female executives on the highest level of the company's hierarchy. Join us on our next episode as Alan continues with part III of the Women Tech Council, She Tech Explorer Day.  [00:00:00] Susan R. Madsen [00:07:18] STEM [00:13:00] Amelia Wilcox - Founder and CEO of Nivati [00:20:50] Jessica Gelman - CEO and Investor of (KAGR) [00:30:34] Jessica Gelman [00:37:38] Steve Starks 

Women Tech Council 2024 II

Alan is speaking with Cydni Tetro, President and Co-Founder of from the Women Tech Council, at a She Tech event in Salt Lake City. The Women Tech Council is a nonprofit organization that aims to increase the number of women in tech by providing mentoring, visibility, opportunities, and networking. She Tech program provides role models and mentors to high school girls, exposing them to technology and entrepreneurship. The event includes a tech challenge, hands-on experiences with technology, and meeting mentors and role models. The goal is to change girls' lives by exposing them to people and industries they might not otherwise be able to access. Becky Wright is the founder and CEO of Proximity, a platform designed to help political candidates connect with voters more effectively. Proximity aims to address the inefficiencies of traditional campaigns by consolidating all of the resources needed for a campaign into one platform. It is a nonpartisan platform that helps good leaders become great candidates and levels the playing field. Becky is a natural-born leader who believes in civic engagement and encourages people to become more involved in politics to make a meaningful difference in their communities. Proximity is specifically built for down-ballot elections so that it can be more representative of those who are in your area. If you plan to run for office or know someone who is, Proximity provides the tools to help you be successful. Up next is Rob Gehring, CEO of Swire Coca-Cola USA. Swire Coca-Cola is a powerhouse bottling company that operates in 13 western US states and several Asian countries. They have partnered with Coca-Cola Company to manufacture, produce, and distribute their products. They are confident that technology is the key enabler in delivering their products to consumers efficiently and safely. They have set a bold goal of having 50% female leaders by 2030 and are committed to creating a diverse, high-performing team. Their latest innovation, Coca-Cola Spice, a new flavor with a hint of raspberry and spicy flavor, demonstrates their unwavering commitment to staying ahead of the curve. They are convinced that AI is the future of data processing and decision-making and are determined to harness its power to achieve their business goals. They know that AI is a valuable tool that can be used positively, and they will continue leveraging it to drive their business forward confidently. Joining us now is Jeff Moss, Associate Commissioner of the Innovation Utah Innovation Fund and something to do with the System of Higher Education. Jeff explains that Utah's goal is to make higher education more impactful from an economic development and innovation perspective. The aim is not just to benefit students but also to impact society and the economy. Jeff has been supporting the Women Tech Council event for quite some time and thinks that more needs to be done to promote the participation of females in technology. He has been in the tech sector for over 20 years and helped to secure funding for the event through the legislature last session. Jeff is impressed with the size of the event, as there are thousands of young girls attending. He believes that the Women Tech Council event will help to promote interest in the STEM space and will ultimately lead to more diverse and better employees, something that is important for the economy. Closing this episode with Alan is Vance Checketts, the CEO of Auticon US, a technology talent partner with a twist. Autocon US has an incredible 81% of their team comprising individuals with autism, particularly in technology roles like data analytics, quality assurance, and development, which leverage new technologies like artificial intelligence. When asked about building diverse teams, Vance shares that the whole company was built on embracing diversity and different ideas. He is also on the board of the Women Tech Council, which aims to encourage more women to pursue careers in technology. He believes that having diversity in leadership is key to having diverse teams and companies. Vance finds potential employees through various channels, and people often find Autocon US themselves. If you're interested in Autocon US, you can visit their global website at auticon.com or their US website at auticon.us. Alan recently attended the Women Tech Council SheTech Explorer Day, which saw over 4,000 high school girls exploring the booths of various tech companies. One such company was NICE.com, whose Vice President of Engineering, Sean Kirkby, spoke about their three divisions: Customer Experience, Financial Crime Solutions, and Public Safety and Justice, with a focus on Customer Experience. Sean, who was also a volunteer mentor, encouraged the girls to believe in themselves and explore their interests in technology. The event provided an excellent opportunity for young girls to understand the available opportunities and showcase their skills.  [00:00:00] Cydni Tetro [00:06:35] Becki Wright [00:13:00] Rob Gehring [00:20:50] Jefferson Moss [00:30:34] Vance Checketts [00:37:38] Sean Kirkby 

Women Tech Council 2024

  Alan welcomes Jonathan Beskin, a serial entrepreneur and bestselling author of "The Least Likely Millionaire." The book tells the story of how Jonathan overcame crippling anxiety, toxic parenting, and a total lack of support to start and build a wildly successful company, despite everyone telling him his ideas would never work and that he would be a failure. The book is a triumphant memoir highlighting Jonathan's journey, including the ups and downs, and providing actionable advice to help other entrepreneurs.   Jonathan also owns Singlesswag.com, worth 80 million dollars in subscription boxes. Aspiring entrepreneurs overcoming challenging obstacles can hopefully find inspiration in his story and become "least likely millionaires." During the interview, Alan asks Jonathan about three points of success. The first point is the concept of healthy obsession and how one can channel negative experiences into positive energy.  Alan welcomes Raj Jana, the CEO of Liber8. Liber8 is a company that develops programs to help people overcome emotional and childhood trauma, as well as any limiting beliefs that prevent them from living a meaningful and authentic life. The company's mission is to remove any barriers that may be stopping people from achieving the things they desire.  Raj shares his personal experience of burnout while building his first company in 2019, at the age of 27. He worked tirelessly, hustling day and night, until he reached his breaking point. He realized that his need to prove himself, his obsession with making money, and his constant busyness were all rooted in trauma. He understood that if he was living his purpose, he wouldn't have been burned out. Instead, he would have felt more alive.  After selling his company, Raj faced even more challenges. He felt purposeless and lost, and his relationships were in shambles. He realized that he needed to work on himself and his relationships. He had to address his trauma with being vulnerable and intimate in partnerships. He had to learn how to connect and be seen.  Raj's experience was both liberating and a trap. He had the resources to address his issues, but he also felt lost and directionless. Raj's story is a reminder that success doesn't always bring happiness and that it's essential to work on oneself, both personally and professionally.  Raj Jana emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision for your company, which includes how much money you're making, how your customers feel, what your products are, and what your brand is. By inspiring people with a vision, you can get talent to show up in ways that no paycheck will.   Another important tip from Raj is to empower your team by delegating tasks. Remember that a 90 is still an A, so relax your standards and delegate to open up your capacity for more support. This is the ultimate entrepreneurial journey – letting go of control.  [00:00:00] The Least Likely Millionaire [00:07:32] Triumphant Memoire [00:12:30] Actionable Advice [00:19:50] Liber8 with Raj Jana [00:28:37] Tools and Resources [00:36:24] Let Go! 

Storytelling 101 with Kristina McCoobery

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