The Brand Called You

Dive into an inspiring conversation with Anthony Stephan, Chairman of Cornerstone Development, hosted by Stephen Ibaraki on The Brand Called You Podcast.

From his resilient upbringing in Lebanon to leading global initiatives in sustainable real estate, energy access, education, and the metaverse, Anthony shares how purpose-driven leadership and technology can uplift billions.

This episode explores:

• Impact investing and off-grid energy (Bboxx)
  

• Empowering Gen Z through platforms like Goodwall
  

• Sustainable city development
  

• Measuring real impact
  

• Leadership lessons for a rapidly changing world

In this episode, host Stephen Ibaraki interviews Dr. Vassil Dimitrov, Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Calgary. Dr. Dimitrov shares his journey, his lifelong passion for mathematics, and groundbreaking perspectives on AI, analog computing, quantum technology, encryption, and brain-inspired hardware.

💡 Topics Covered:

• Is the human brain analog, digital, or hybrid?
  

• Why analog computing may outperform digital systems for certain problems
  

• The real future of quantum computing: hype vs. reality
  

• Exascale supercomputers and their comparison to the human brain
  

• Image compression, blockchain algorithms, and AI hardware accelerators
  

• Advice for young researchers and innovators

How do you build a category-defining company in blockchain while navigating regulatory chaos and cultural shifts?

In this episode of The Brand Called You Podcast, Mark Mueller-Eberstein, CEO & Co-Founder of CodexDF, joins Stephen Ibaraki for an unscripted, thought-provoking conversation on crypto accounting, startup success, and the future of work.

• Why Mark launched CodexDF after decades of success as an investor and technologist
  

• Solving crypto accounting and compliance at enterprise scale
  

• How regulation is shaping the future of blockchain globally
  

• Separating blockchain utility from crypto speculation
  

• Why startup success is 98% about people
  

• Building global, remote-first teams without burnout
  

🔑 Key Topics Covered:Staying relevant through curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning

How do we ensure that AI’s rapid evolution aligns with human values, responsible use, and a flourishing future for all?

In this episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY) podcast, Stephen Ibaraki sits down with Ramsay Brown, CEO of The AI Responsibility Lab, for a powerful conversation on operationalizing ethical AI, the rise of synthetic labor, and how organizations can build responsible AI systems at scale—both practically and profitably.

Discover Ramsay Brown’s unique journey, from PhD training with a world-renowned neuroanatomist to founding Dopamine Labs, and his participation in global forums on AI, ethics, and free will. Learn how Mission Control, the AI Responsibility Lab’s coordination platform, helps data science teams move faster, reduce risk, and embed responsibility at the heart of innovation.

• The evolving definition of intelligence and consciousness
  

• AI’s impact across neuroscience, society, and business
  

• How Mission Control mitigates real-world AI risks
  

• Why coordination—not bad intent—is behind most AI failures
  

• The future of work, synthetic labor, and responsible automation
  

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY)! In this episode, our host Frits Bussemaker sits down with Carissa Reiniger, Founder & CEO of Small Biz Silver Lining, to explore Carissa’s powerful journey from rural Canada to New York City, and her mission to change the global economy—one small business at a time.

Carissa reveals how her early roots in Alberta, a strong drive for community impact, and a psychology background inspired her entrepreneurial leap. She shares candid lessons on resilience, what it truly takes to build and scale a business, the importance of aligning values with actions, and why small businesses are the real backbone of the global economy. You'll discover her thought-provoking approach to overcoming adversity, the philosophy behind Silver Lining’s name, and why real success might not be what mainstream entrepreneurship tells us.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business supporter, or simply curious about impact-driven leadership, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical advice, and motivation. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more exclusive conversations!

Immigrant and refugee poet Dario reflects on war, displacement, identity, and healing—revealing how poetry becomes both a refuge and a form of resistance in a world shaped by trauma and migration.

00:34- About Dario Cvencek

• Dario is an immigrant and a refugee poet from the Balkans.

• He's an author of a book titled PTSD Martini. 

In this powerful episode of The Brand Called You, Peter Samuelson—film producer, philanthropist, and founder of multiple global charities—shares a remarkable journey from mentorship to moviemaking, and from success to service. He reveals why volunteering is the first step to happiness, how films can change society, and why legacy matters more than wealth.

00:36- About Peter Samuelson

• Peter is the co-founder and president of First Star.

• He's the CEO of PhilmCo Media LLC.

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY). In this episode, host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Jairaj Purandare, Founder Chairman of JMP Advisors Pvt. Ltd. and a renowned taxation expert, to break down the key highlights, reforms, and implications of India’s latest Union Budget.

In this in-depth conversation, you’ll gain insights into:

• The economic context and the “Goldilocks moment” India is currently experiencing
  

• Major infrastructure and manufacturing initiatives
  

• Key policy shifts in taxation, employment, and both direct and indirect taxes
  

• Practical implications for individuals, businesses, and foreign investors
  

• Forward-looking incentives for AI, electronics, and data centers
  

• A renewed focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, alongside a strong push for tourism
  

• Simplified compliance, GST reforms, and customs rationalization
  

• Updates on TCS, buyback taxation, transfer pricing, and more

In this insightful episode of The Brand Called You, leadership expert and author William Davis explains why true leadership is built on trust, empathy, humility, and genuine human connection—not hierarchy or titles. Drawing from corporate, academic, military, and personal experiences, he shares practical lessons on leading people with authenticity and purpose.

00:34- About William C Davis

• William is a leadership expert, a speaker and a mentor dedicated to helping executives, managers and aspiring leaders develop the skills to lead confidently and positively.

• He's an author of two books titled How to Lead Without Just Managing and  Building Genuine Relationships.

In this episode of The Brand Called You, Senthilnathan Shanmugam, Global CEO of EFL Global, shares his remarkable journey from a disciplined upbringing in Sri Lanka to leading a multinational logistics powerhouse. He reflects on values-led leadership, customer intimacy, navigating geopolitical uncertainty, and how data, AI, and sustainability are reshaping the future of global supply chains.

00:40- About Senthilnathan Shanmugam

• Senthilnathan is the Global Chief Executive Officer of EFL Global.