Stefano Iaboni is the founder and principal consultant at Smile Solution, a company that helps teams "turn stress to smiles". In this truly joyous, hilarious, and thoughtful conversation, Stefano shares his experience on team bonding (instead of team building), using humor and laughter as a way to bring people together, the power of creativity and cultural interconnectedness. It is a really fun conversation. I (Zhou) laughed a lot. Listen till the end for some extra fun movie trivia.

Listen and subscribe.

Find, follow, and work with Stefano:

https://www.stefanoiaboni.com/

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

https://www.instagram.com/smilesolutionpnw/

Bridget Jackson is the founder and principal at Nexus Public Relations. In this energetic and authentic conversation, Bridget shares her brave and therapeutic journey as an entrepreneur, her passion and dedication to PR and communications, her practice of the abundance mindset in small and tangible ways, as well as her seeing intersectionality as her superpower.

Follow and work with Bridget:

http://www.nexus-pr.com

https://www.instagram.com/bridget_jackson/

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

Gil Gillenwater is the co-founder of Rancho Feliz, a grass roots, volunteer-based, non-profit organization that serves a large population along the southern border. Gil is also the author of Hope On The Border, a book that explores the intersection of social justice, Eastern philosophy, shared humanity, and insistent self-interest. Gil is also an executive producer of Trailblazers, a documentary about the history, heart, and humanity behind the Arizona Trail.

In this dynamic and rich conversation, Gil shares his philosophy on providing services to others, which he calls "Enlightened Self-Interest". Gil also talks about his passion for nature, adventure, his meditation and spirituality practice, and his views on being fortunate and hope.

Find Gil Gillenwater and follow his work on:

https://ranchofeliz.com/about/

Rick Turoczy is a well-known startup community leader and trusted advisor in Portland, Oregon. He is the creator and producer of Silicon Florist, PIE (Portland Incubator Experiment), among other projects. In this episode, Rick shares the origin story of Silicon Florist, the make-and-pause of PIE, his observation of Portland's startup community and his advice to founders. Rick also talks about the power of curiosity and the abundance mindset in the startup world.

Follow Rick and his work:

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

https://siliconflorist.com/

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

https://www.instagram.com/turoczy/

Mark Grimes, Pallavi Pande, and Shashi Jain, are three senior Portland based founders with global perspectives and experiences. In this special conversation, Zhou sits down with Mark, Pallavi, and Shashi and invites them to talk about their reflections from 2025, their views on opportunities for entrepreneurs, and their hopes and advice for business operators and innovators in 2026 and beyond.

Mark Grimes is a startup founder who since 1989 has gotten each of his companies to cashflow positive in 90 days or less, no business plans written, no money raised. Mark is always on the lookout for his next startup idea and also advises startup founders helping them develop their business models. He and his wife have supported over 11,500 women entrepreneurs in emerging market countries since 2006.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-grimes/ 

Kiva: https://www.kiva.org/lender/markgrimes 

Pallavi Pande is a certified Woman and minority mompreneur championing a sustainable brand called DTOCS: symbolizing a cleansing journey with leaves. DTOCS is an alternative tableware solution to paper and plastic single-use disposable tableware that are 100% compostable in 90 days for direct-to-consumer (DTC) and businesses (B2B) reshaping hosting needs at homes and events.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dtocsplates

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavi-pande-bb5abb1b/

Shashi Jain is a Portland-based entrepreneur, innovation leader, and strategic thinker. He is an experienced corporate entrepreneur with a track record of incubating ideas that go to production, using Lean Startup, Customer Development, and Rapid prototyping methodologies.  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skjain2/

Website: https://shashijain.co/about/

Victoria Proppe, known as Tory Proppe, is the founder of Imagine Marketing Strategies and the co-owner of Take The Leap Podcast. In this episode, Tory talks about being an entrepreneur and a parent at the same time, the power of imagination and magic, making a difference as a marketing expert, and the practice of abundance.

Connect and work with Tory:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaproppe/

Website: https://www.imaginemarketingstrategies.com/

Blog: https://www.imaginemarketingstrategies.com/blog

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginemarketingstrategies/

Podcast: https://taketheleap-today.com/podcast/

Marie Cacao is an LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist) based in Portland, Oregon, with deep roots in Montana. In this grounded, compassionate, and wise conversation, Marie talks about her intersectional life that honors her identities as both european and indigenous, her practice as a psychotherapist who values her relationships, her interpretation of embodiment and attunement, as well as her community offerings that guide folks to listen to our body.

Note: this conversation, while gentle and kind, does contain information that touches on mental issues, physical harm, and trauma. Please take care of yourself while listening.

Find out more about Marie Cacao's work and join her community:

https://www.mariecacao.com/events

Alisa Kajikawa is a Director of Community Development at Jade District in Portland, Oregon. In this episode, Alisa talks about her practice in leadership as Asian American and a woman; her lifelong journey in learning; her own lived experience with intersectionality and the abundance mindset. It is an honest, wise, and empowering conversation for girls and women who look like Alisa and Zhou, as well as folks who aspire to learn about intersectionality and practice the abundance mindset.

Follow Alisa's work:

https://www.apano.org/about/team

Connect with Alisa:

[email protected]

Zhou, host of The Intersection, shares a message on Intersectionality, The Abundance Mindset, and some advice on the practice of these principles.

Learn more about Zhou's work:

website: www.intersectionl.group

Sarah Cargill is the founder and principal strategist at Statement Co., a consulting firm that leverages the power of storytelling. In this episode, Sarah shares the story behind her business name Statement, her rehabilitation journey, how her theater background influences her business, and her #vanlife with her partner.

Follow and work with Sarah Cargill:

https://www.statementco.io/

https://www.instagram.com/statementco.io/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahcargill/