Lauren Hoover is the Co-founder and Chief of Staff at Doxa Talent, a firm that helps business leaders find full-time, dedicated, highly skilled workers from around the world. Before joining Doxa, Lauren served as the Chief of Staff at Guidant Financial, a company that helps entrepreneurs raise capital to start or buy a business. Previously, she served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to a Member of Congress in the US House of Representatives. Lauren received a bachelor’s in business, management, marketing, and related support services from Kansas State University.

As an entrepreneur, are you feeling overwhelmed with your day-to-day tasks? Have you thought of hiring a virtual assistant to help you with the workload? 

 With a virtual assistant (VA), entrepreneurs can focus more on important tasks to grow and scale their businesses. So, where can you find a highly-skilled VA? Lauren Hoover and her company collaborate with entrepreneurs to understand their business objectives, values, and culture and connect them with the right VAs. Learn how you can leverage this role to build a competitive business. 

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Lauren Hoover, the Co-founder and Chief of Staff at DOXA Talent, to discuss the importance of having a virtual assistant. Lauren explains the functions of a virtual assistant, DOXA's VA program and the use cases of a VA, and how to build a successful relationship with a VA.

Ben Elowitz is the Co-founder and Strategic Director at Zeitworks, an enterprise software company that helps businesses reduce costs, boost capacity, and improve efficiency with AI-powered business process intelligence. He is an investor, entrepreneur, and senior adviser to CEOs and executive teams, helping them with strategic challenges, leadership, organizational design, fundraising, and M&A. As an expert in solving growth challenges, Ben's friends refer to him as the startup rabbi. Previously, Ben founded multiple VC-backed startups, including Wetpaint, which was acquired by Viggle, Inc., and Blue Nile, which he took public.

As the CEO of a startup company, it’s crucial to secure funding partners and raise capital to scale your business. So, what are some steps you can take to maximize your success rate? 

Ben Elowitz advises establishing clear guidelines for your business processes. This requires creating a strong business model and identifying relevant investors who can align with that model. With set criteria, you can build meaningful relationships with partners who understand your company’s structure and will collaborate with you to raise profits. As a consultant to CEOs and executive teams, Ben helps entrepreneurs identify their ideal product markets, raise capital, and acquire profitable investments. 

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Ben Elowitz, the Co-founder and Strategic Director at Zeitworks, to discuss tips on maximizing your full potential as a CEO or executive team. Ben explains how to deal with imposter syndrome as an entrepreneur, the common mistakes entrepreneurs make, and advice for identifying investors. 

Dave Parker is the Managing Partner at DKParker, LLC, a consulting firm that helps companies launch their go-to-market strategies, design business and revenue models, and analyze pricing. As a five-time founder, Dave has been part of over 15 transactions as founder, operator, board member, and advisor. He splits his time between funding early-stage companies and helping them exit through NextPath Advisors. 

Dave is a Senior Partner at Fearless Fund, which invests in women of color founders seeking pre-seed, seed level, or series A financing. He is the author of Trajectory: Startup: Ideation to Product/Market Fit. Dave previously served as COO and Senior VP of Programs and People at UP Global, ­the parent company of Startup Weekend/Startup America, which was acquired by Techstars.

As an entrepreneur, scaling your business to prepare for exit can be daunting. There are many initiatives to undertake such as raising capital, finding talent, and increasing revenue. So, how can you grow and exit your company? 

Raising capital for your startup company is critical for business development. Dave Parker advises early-stage founders to leverage the venture power curve concept. This requires analyzing your top decile and quartile to generate returns. Entrepreneurs must also develop a robust business model to price their products and maximize revenue. Once you’ve reached the exit stage, Dave recommends experimenting with investments to financially prepare for the transaction. 

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Dave Parker, Managing Partner at DKParker, to discuss tips for managing and exiting a startup business. Dave explains the inspiration behind writing Trajectory: Startup: Ideation to Product/Market Fit, shares advice about raising capital, and how to navigate the exit process emotionally.

David Nilssen is the Co-founder and CEO of Doxa Talent, a company that helps small to mid-sized organizations build highly-skilled global teams with the goal of scaling the business. David is also the Co-founder and CEO of Guidant Financial, an industry leader in small business financing, and the Global Learning Chair for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). His mission is to help entrepreneurs create the life they want through small business success.

Are you a brand facing the challenge of finding the right talent? 

There’s no shortage of talent out there, but what you need to find is the right solution that you can retain and afford. And that’s where Doxa Talent comes. Doxa Talent helps businesses build highly-skilled teams that can help your business scale. Are you ready to develop your team and remain competitive in the future? 

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen, Co-founder and CEO of Doxa Talent, sits down with Chad Franzen of Rise25, to discuss how Doxa Talent helps its clients become borderless and achieve their results. David shares some of the questions they get from their clients, common issues and how they solve them, and some of the outcomes their clients have after working with them. 

Amanda Knox is an exoneree, journalist, public speaker, and author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, Waiting to Be Heard. Between 2007 and 2015, Amanda spent nearly four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit. The controversy over Amanda’s case made international headlines for nearly a decade and thrust her into the spotlight, where she was vilified and shamed.

Amanda now works to shed light on the issues of wrongful conviction, criminal justice reform, media ethics, truth-seeking, and public shaming, and to inspire people towards empathy and perspective. As part of this mission, Amanda hosts the podcast Labyrinths alongside her husband, the novelist Christopher Robinson.

Have you lost everything in your life? Do you have what it takes to recover from that? 

Amanda Knox spent nearly four years in prison for a crime she didn’t even commit. She was vilified and shamed throughout the media, but she eventually came out victorious. How’d she do it? She had to lean on the values and principles she stood for, have good support from her family, and manage her mental health. Amanda learned a lot, and now she works to shed light on the issues of wrongful conviction, criminal justice reform, truth-seeking, and how to inspire people towards empathy and perspective.

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Amanda Knox, an exoneree, journalist, public speaker, and Author of the memoir, Waiting to Be Heard, to discuss the wrongful conviction she went through and how she managed to overcome it all. Amanda explains how far-reaching the impact of media coverage can be, shares her wrongful conviction story and how she overcame everything, and her advice to entrepreneurs.

Raazi Imam is a Co-founder and Partner at Unlock Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Raazi is also a Co-founder and the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Caiman Consulting, a management consulting firm that focuses on management consulting and digital marketing solutions.

Raazi started his career in mutual fund trading before transitioning to management consulting with companies like Arthur Anderson, Bearing Point, and Hitachi Consulting. Raazi has advised executives around the globe in a variety of industries including fintech and e-commerce, and is also an active early-stage tech investor.

What does it take to gain investor attention as a seed-stage entrepreneur? How can you know what investors are looking for? Do you have what it takes for an investor to invest in you? 

As an investor, Raazi Imam has specific factors he looks for in a CEO and in their company. A CEO should have experience, and the ability to build and lead a team. He also advises entrepreneurs to be keen when choosing their investors — sometimes investors are great investors, but they're terrible board members. Most importantly, entrepreneurs need to think strategically about what their business needs to succeed before deciding if they want an angel investor, institutional investor, or anyone else. 

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Raazi Imam, Co-founder and Partner at Unlock Venture Partners, to discuss entrepreneurial tips on how to make investors invest in your company. Raazi explains what they look for before they make an investment, things that would make them pause on an investment opportunity, and the questions an entrepreneur should ask potential investors to help them effectively choose their investors. 

Theresa Fette is the Co-Founder and CEO at Digital Trust, a technology-driven approach to self-directed retirement accounts with a specialization in digital assets. Before selling the company in 2018, Theresa was also the CEO of Provident Trust Group, an independent corporate trust business. Theresa is a practicing attorney with a master's degree in accountancy and in law, and was named one of the 10 Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs by Fortune Magazine in 2012. Theresa is also a Board Member at Bitcoin IRA, the world's first and largest cryptocurrency IRA platform.

A lot of people are struggling with finding the right retirement investment. So, how do you get access to alternative retirement investment — or make a business out of it?

The CEO of Digital Trust, Theresa Fette saw a need for alternative retirement investments, prompting her to launch her company. But what has made her successful? She believes that people have the power to lift you up or bring you to your knees depending on where they put their energy. This is why Theresa recommends having a coach to help you understand those core values that make you a better human and professional at the same time. As a leader, Theresa says you should lead with your heart and help others become better humans in turn — raising your level of success. 

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Theresa Fette, the Co-founder and CEO of Digital Trust, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and the secret to being successful. Theresa explains how her upbringing has contributed to her growth, the key to a successful partnership, and the challenges she’s faced — and overcome — running her business.

Marc Rousso is the CEO and Captain Vision of JayMarc Homes, a national award-winning home builder specializing in new custom homes throughout the Greater Seattle area. In partnership with Jay Mezistrano, Marc builds luxury custom homes that people can’t help but fall in love with. Marc brings his three decades of entrepreneurship, industry leadership, and business owner experience to the table and delivers a world-class customer experience. Marc also has a rising career as a DJ, all while balancing his own personal and family life.

How can you create a world-class customer experience? Is it possible to build a love-where-you-work environment for your employees? Does the answer to both lie in leadership?

The CEO and Captain Vision of JayMarc Homes, Marc Rousso, has been through his fair share of challenges while elevating his custom home business to success. He’s lost a lot along the way, but most importantly, he’s learned. As leaders, you should focus on your personal development journey and have mentors so you can lead your team efficiently inside and outside of the office. So how do you do it?

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Marc Rousso, the CEO and Captain Vision of JayMarc Homes, to discuss how to be a successful leader and build homes people enjoy living in. Marc explains how he created a successful home-building business with his partner and the challenges they’ve faced, the leadership style he uses in creating a conducive working environment, and the formula he found to balance his professional and personal life — even as a DJ.

Winnie Hart is the Founder, President, and Chief Right Engine of TwinEngine, a brand growth agency fueled by purpose. Winnie is an industry-recognized interpreter of business brands and personalities. She has over 30 years of experience impacting both businesses and leaders and over 125 industry awards for helping companies create forward-thinking solutions. Winnie is the Author of Standout As A Thought Leader, Stand Out, and What Do You Stand For? Winnie is a Global Board Director of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) who has led and championed the women of EO.

Are your business and brand strategies aligned? Have you uncovered what your brand is? Well, Winnie Hart is here to help. 

Oftentimes, entrepreneurs don't know if they have product-market fit — they may not even be clear about what their brand is. To succeed in today’s market, you need to understand that your brand isn’t just a design: it’s who you are, everything you bring to what you do, how customers feel about you, and the experience they have with you. Plus, your company values have to be consistent with your own core beliefs. So, how do you uncover and discover it?

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with Winnie Hart, the Founder, President, and Chief Right Engine of TwinEngine, to discuss ways to stand out as a thought leader. Winnie explains the meaning of the word, “brand,” the process she takes entrepreneurs through to help them uncover their brand, the challenges and lessons she’s learned as an entrepreneur, and what it means to be a thought leader.

James Wong is the Co-founder and CEO of Vibrant Cities, a multifamily real estate development firm creating some of the most community-driven, liveable, and leading-edge buildings in Seattle and Portland. He is responsible for site evaluation, acquisition, development, funding, and banking relations. 

James is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and founder of multiple successful companies. He’s also a sought-after thought leader, speaker, and writer on real estate, technology, and entrepreneurship. James has been an active real estate investor and property manager for the past 20 years, acquiring, developing, and managing over $800 million in real estate projects.

People say that being a real estate developer is easy until they try it — some even go bankrupt after their first two deals. So how can you enter the industry and maximize your chances for success?

James Wong has been in the industry for 20 years and now understands that the more you learn, the more you earn. You are who you hang around with, so James recommends surrounding yourself with people who motivate you to grow. So what’s the key to absorbing as much as you can to maximize your potential? Simple: a borderless mindset, one that focuses on abundance and not scarcity.

In this episode of The Future is Borderless, David Nilssen sits down with James Wong, the Co-founder and CEO of Vibrant Cities, to discuss his journey as a real estate investor and developer. James explains the process of how he got into real estate, the challenges he has encountered building a company in the industry, and how being in a network like EO helped him succeed.