Today our guest is Michael LaPerch, Senior Sourcing Manager for Financial Systems & Strategic Projects at Pitney Bowes. Michael is also an Alum of Iona University and an extremely active Mentor to students and small business owners.

In this episode, we explore several areas that new business owners often overlook. Finances, inventory management, customer service, and many other areas all have their pitfalls, and this episode covers things to keep in mind to avoid costly mistakes. We also discuss the importance of mentorship - new business owners are often afraid to ask for help or think that they are bothering mentors, when in fact mentors want to help!

Connect with Michael

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellaperch/

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Today we welcome back Erica Soto, the founder of Enjoy Erica Art Studio which provides a space where people can explore their creativity and celebrate the joy of life through art. Erica strives to create an environment where everyone feels supported, inspired, and empowered to create. Erica believes that art is a powerful form of expression, and by providing an accessible platform, she is able to bring out the best in each and every person who enters her online and in-person studio experience.

In this episode, we explore the idea of Futuring, which “…is the practice of envisioning and planning for potential futures, often through a systematic process that includes analysis, exploration, and forecasting,” according to Really Good Innovation. Erica discusses how she uses futuring and brain dumping to help materialize her vision for the future of her business, and then applies SMART goals and micro goals to help actualize that vision.

Connect with Erica:

⁠https://www.enjoyericaartstudio.com/

⁠https://www.instagram.com/enjoyericaartstudio/⁠

https://www.facebook.com/enjoyericaartstudio/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enjoyericaartstudio/

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Today we are joined by Sandra Nam, a tech entrepreneur, marketplace builder, leader in virtual event design & management, brand & marketing manager, and licensed landscape architect. She is Co-founder & CEO at Qiqo Inc., a B2B SaaS technology company helping associations create dynamic online events, conferences, communities, and marketplaces to connect their sponsors and members.

This episode is loaded with great insight - our conversation includes several important topics, including the importance of focusing on client success, especially as a service-based business, and the value of being giving as a business owner and always paying it forward. We also discuss the challenge of analysis paralysis as a business owner and how it is essential to keep taking action, even if the "right" decision isn't clear.

Learn more about Qiqo and connect with Sandra

https://qiqochat.com/

https://qiqo.pro/

https://qiqochat.com/about/events

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-nam/

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Today we are joined by "IRON" Mike Steadman, who is a published author, serial entrepreneur, and business coach based in Newark, NJ, who's committed to enhancing the economic and social outcomes of urban youth and military veterans through boxing, entrepreneurship, and new media. This episode is LOADED with great advice, best practices, and actionable steps to starting or growing your small business.

We explore the story of IRONBOUND Boxing, IRONBOUND Media, and Mike's experience developing both. We then dive into several key business topics, including category design, branding, marketing, sales, and the importance of having a business coach. There is so much to take away from this episode, this is not one to miss!

Connect with "IRON" Mike Steadman

https://ironboundmedia.com/

https://ironboundboxing.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iron-mike-steadman-%F0%9F%A5%8A%F0%9F%8F%B4%E2%80%8D%E2%98%A0%EF%B8%8F-3387586a/

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Season 2 kicks off with Giuliano Santucci, Alum of Iona, former professional soccer player, and the founder of GSS Media Agency and GSS Sport Goalkeeper Academy. We discuss his transition from pro athlete to full-time business owner, the challenges he's faced in growing GSS Media Agency, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.

After Graduating from Iona, was the first American goalkeeper to be signed to first division Columbian Team. After three years, Giuliano stepped back from professional soccer to pursue his businesses.

Simon Sinek Clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EPLItTf-QU

Connect with Giuliano

https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuliano-salvatore-santucci-448532176/

https://www.instagram.com/giuliano_santucci/

https://www.gssmediaagency.com/

https://www.gsssports.com/

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Today our guest is Charissa Eykelhoff, the Founder and CEO of Simply Loved Weddings. In this episode, we discuss how Charissa got started planning weddings and how she is working through some of the growing pains of being the owner of a growing small business. She talks about being in "The Messy Middle" which is the period of transition from just starting out and doing everything in the business to letting go of control and passing off responsibilities to her team. This is something all business owners experience and it is one of the hardest things to do.

Simply Loved is a growing wedding and event planning company based out of the Hudson Valley. After spending time working in both Manhattan’s bridal industry as well as the corporate event industry, Charissa decided to combine the love she had for both and started planning weddings in 2018. Like she tells her couples, she’s unapologetically authentic, wildly outgoing, and can’t take a good candid to save her life. Like her, love is quirky and unique and she encourages every couple to embrace that when planning their big day!

Connect with Charissa

https://simplylovedweddings.com/

https://www.instagram.com/simplylovedweddings/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charissa-eykelhoff-417b057b/

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Today our guest is Emily Angell who is a singer, songwriter, guitar player, producer, and founder of Emily Angell Music. This episode explores a ton of great topics - digital marketing tips for creative entrepreneurs, balancing the creative and business mindsets, the benefits of having an accountability partner, the importance of taking a rest day in business, and the value of consistency. Even on the hardest days, all you need to do is keep showing up!

Emily's music has been described as "A bit folk, a bit roots, a bit electro-pop, her music combines motivating, inspiring lyrics, with a strong, steady optimism.” Her upcoming release, titled, The Start of Something New, is scheduled to come out later this month and focuses on piano-driven, cinematic pop. When Emily isn't busy gigging about town or running around obstacle course races, you can catch her over on Twitch singing, sipping coffee, and laughing at her own jokes.

Connect with Emily

https://www.emilyangellmusic.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6JZ9z1p1RzPUYDi4wiaRzm?si=PCQacKM0Qh691lvWkHA7BQ

https://www.instagram.com/emangellmusic/

https://www.youtube.com/emilyangell

https://www.facebook.com/emilyangellmusic

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Episode 13 features Lisa Tretler, who has over 25 years of experience coaching, consulting & mentoring businesses & entrepreneurs in the areas of goal setting, business plan development, and marketing and growth strategies. In this episode, Lisa shares her experience starting her consulting firm, Business Boosters Consulting. She also discusses effective ways for small businesses to understand their competition, the difference between direct & indirect competition, and how to better articulate one's value proposition.

Lisa is the CEO of Business Boosters Consulting, a business strategy consulting firm, WomInsight, a career development and growth firm for women, and was a co-founder of The Acceleration Project (TAP), a nonprofit harnessing the talent of professional women to accelerate small business growth. Lisa is also the Strategist-in-Residence at the Hynes Institute.

Connect with Lisa

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisatretler/

http://www.businessboostersconsulting.com/

https://www.wominsight.com/

https://www.iona.edu/faculty/tretler-lisa

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Today our Guest is Logan Higuera who is the founder of OpenOcean - a startup support management system built for university entrepreneurship centers and entrepreneur support organizations.  Logan discusses his experiences starting his company, building his team, and leveraging no-code platforms to get OpenOcean out in the market quickly. What's more, Logan talks about how his leverage of no-code allowed him to self-fund his startup, which enables him and his team to focus on getting paying customers over chasing angel investment.

Connect with Logan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/higuera-logan/

https://openocean.website/

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes

Today our guest is Dr. Charles Fritz, the Founder of Cloudless Sky Meditation, which provides individualized guided meditations for school districts, businesses, families, athletic organizations, and individuals. Cloudless Sky uses various types of meditation that help individuals achieve mindfulness and inner peace.

In today's episode, Dr. Fritz talks about his background in meditation and how he brought meditation into the classroom to help his students focus and manage the stress associated with test taking. Seeing the opportunity to bring his guided meditations to others, Fritz started Cloudless Sky Meditation to help others manage stress, maintain focus, and perform their best.

Connect with Dr. Fritz and Cloudless Sky Meditation

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesandrewfritz/

https://cloudlessskymeditation.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@cloudlessSkyMeditation

About GaelVentures

GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for the development of creativity and leadership skills critical for success in a global economy. Learn how to take your ideas from concept to execution. Take a course on the entrepreneurial mindset, attend a guest lecture, and collaborate with peers and mentors in our coworking space.

This podcast is made available through the generosity of Jim and Anne Marie Hynes