In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Barb Ewing, CEO of the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI), to talk about her career journey, leadership lessons, and the impact YBI is making on entrepreneurship, startups, and advanced manufacturing in the Mahoning Valley and across Ohio.
Barb shares how her path from nonprofit work and government affairs led her to YBI, where she and her team have transformed the incubator into a national leader in business development, technology entrepreneurship, and innovation support. She also highlights how YBI’s programs—like Shark Tank YBI, the Minority Business Assistance Center, and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub—are fueling economic growth and helping entrepreneurs succeed.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a community leader, or just looking for inspiration, this conversation is full of valuable insights and stories that will leave you motivated.
About Our Guest
Barb Ewing is the CEO of the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI), an award-winning program that supports technology startups, manufacturers, and small businesses. With a background at the Better Business Bureau, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, and nearly a decade in government affairs with Congressman Tim Ryan, Barb has built her career on innovation, strategy, and community impact.
At YBI, Barb has helped grow programs in software, healthcare, minority business support, and advanced manufacturing, positioning the incubator as a national model for regional innovation. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed and ensuring the Mahoning Valley thrives as a hub for business and technology.
About Success Stories
Welcome to Success Stories, the official podcast from the growth-obsessed team at iSynergy. Each episode dives deep into candid conversations with CEOs, founders, and business leaders who are building, scaling, and thriving across a variety of industries.
Through real-world insights, hard-won lessons, and inspiring strategies, we uncover what’s driving today’s top performers and how they’re shaping the future of their businesses. From scrappy startups to established enterprises, these stories go beyond surface-level wins to explore the mindset, habits, and decisions behind real success.
Hosted by iSynergy CEO Steve Cross, this podcast was built for growth-minded professionals who crave authenticity, actionable takeaways, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to succeed.
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