In this episode, Darren Reinke interviews Ramon Marquez, the COO and CMO of the iconic retail brands Sears and Kmart.

Ramon shares his fascinating journey from selling sweaters in college to rising through the ranks of fashion and retail, working for leading brands like Old Navy, American Eagle, and Abercrombie & Fitch.

He discusses the importance of living the brand, the challenges of fast fashion, and the leadership lessons he's learned through personal growth and reviving storied retail names.

Ramon provides unique insights on fostering creativity through scarcity, the power of empathy and humility in leadership, and the opportunity to breathe new life into beloved brands like Sears and Kmart. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in retail, branding, and the mindset of an experienced, purpose-driven executive.

In this episode, Darren Reinke interviews Alok Chanani, the co-founder and CEO of BuildOps. Alok shares his fascinating journey from serving in the military as a combat engineer to founding a technology company focused on serving the "unsung heroes" of the trades industry. 

Alok talked about how he creates a sense of mission by focusing on their customers’ customers, the danger of following a playbook and copying and pasting what your competitors are doing, the value of setting a big, Herculean goal, and much more.

In this episode, host Darren Reinke interviews Bonni Pomush, the inspiring CEO of Working Wardrobes. Bonni shares transformative stories of uplifting others and her insights on building a purpose-driven organization, the power of partnerships, and ways to create positive change. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance on making a difference.

In this episode, host Darren Reinke interviews Karen Brasch, the Head of Business Strategy & Operations at AWS. Karen shares her remarkable journey from growing up as the daughter of an Air Force pilot to becoming a pioneering female Navy helicopter pilot. Listeners will be inspired by Karen's perseverance in overcoming doubters and breaking barriers to achieve her dreams. She also provides valuable insights on effective leadership, including empowering your team and maintaining a positive mindset. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in stories of determination and finding purpose in one’s career.

In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Margie Newman Tsay, an expert in reputation management and crisis communication. Margie discusses her journey from theater to leading a communications firm, emphasizing the importance of trust and authenticity in leadership. She provides practical advice on managing personal and corporate reputations, handling crises effectively, and maintaining a communication mindset.

 Intesa Communications Group specializes in public relations, government affairs, crisis communications, and executive coaching. The firm focuses on building confidence and strategic communication skills for leaders and organizations.

 Show Notes:

• Margie’s background in theater and how it influenced her communication skills [00:19]
• Margie’s transition from theater to a career in communications, including her first job in a gubernatorial campaign [01:06]
• Why adaptability and public speaking were the most important skills Margie gained from theater [03:35]
• The importance of building trust and being coachable in leadership [05:14]
• Why public relations can be defined as reputation management [12:34]
• The necessity for leaders to maintain a communications mindset and the role of self-awareness [18:07]
• The importance of a personal brand and its impact on authentic leadership [22:12]
• Margie’s top crisis management strategies, and why she focuses on preparation and response [40:24]
• Practical steps for managing crises, including targeted communication and public perception management [49:27]

Links:

Intesa's Website: Intesa Communications Group

Margie Newman on LinkedIn: Margie Newman

In this episode of The Savage Leader Podcast, Darren Reinke sits down with Jordan Justus, the innovative co-founder and CEO of Automotus. Dive into the world of curb management solutions that are reshaping cities and airports worldwide. Jordan shares his journey from a $780 tradeshow test that led to the launch of his successful company. He offers powerful insights on the realities of entrepreneurship, building resilience, and developing thicker skin as an entrepreneur.

Automotus specializes in bringing cutting-edge technology to curb management, helping cities reduce congestion, improve safety, and cut emissions through automated parking management, enforcement, and data collection. Their solutions offer a holistic approach to modern urban mobility challenges.

Show Notes:

• Jordan’s early exposure to entrepreneurship and family background in business [01:12]
• The importance of building trust and transparent relationships in business [04:54]
• Learning from a mentor and the value of integrity in entrepreneurship [06:21]
• Transition from college student to CEO and the inspiration behind Automotus [08:39]
• Initial steps and challenges in establishing Automotus, including the first tradeshow [11:31]
• Overcoming early-stage challenges and securing initial pilots and customers [15:18]
• The pivotal role of curb management in urban mobility and the spark of his business idea [24:05]
• Practical applications and the impact of curb management solutions on reducing traffic and emissions [27:19]
• Jordan’s journey through Automotus’s stages, including cold calling and setting up pilots [30:09]
• How reflecting on criticism led Jordan to develop thicker skin [33:31]
• Jordan’s personal milestones and recent professional achievements [41:07]
• Insights on scaling the business and future directions for Automotus [42:36]

Links:

• Jordan’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-justus/
• Automotus Website - https://www.automotus.co/

In this episode, Darren Reinke speaks with Mike Kijewski, the founder and CEO of MedCrypt. Mike discusses his journey from teaching high school physics to pioneering cybersecurity solutions for medical devices. He shares insights into his career transitions, the challenges of starting a tech company, and the impact of cybersecurity on medical technology.

 Medcrypt is a team of medical device experts who are laser-focused on supporting MDMs and bringing cybersecurity to the next generation of healthcare technology. Medcrypt helps healthcare technology companies ensure medical devices are secure by design. They provide cybersecurity products and strategic consulting to expedite the go-to-market process of medical device manufacturers' new life-saving connected technologies.

 Show Notes:

• Mike's background as a high school physics teacher and his transition to the business world [00:47]
• The decision to leave teaching for better financial prospects and the jump to healthcare technology [02:36]
• Early career steps in medical device field and entrepreneurship insights [03:00]
• From teaching to founding a tech company: The value of communication skills acquired as an educator [05:29]
• Discussing the practical applications of physics and education's impact on Mike’s career [05:53]
• Reflections on business risks and transitions into the entrepreneurial space [07:00]
• The genesis of MedCrypt and the critical importance of cybersecurity in medical devices [08:58]
• Challenges and pivotal moments in establishing MedCrypt [17:20]
• Developing leadership and managerial skills in a technical environment [20:03]
• The role of soft skills in technical fields and the journey of continuous learning [22:36]
• The importance of human connection in business and personal anecdotes from Mike’s life [26:41]
• Future directions for MedCrypt in the evolving landscape of medical device security [30:43]

Links:

Medcrypt.com

In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Michael Burns, a serial entrepreneur with a diverse background ranging from tech recruiting to cannabis farming. Michael shares his journey to becoming a multifaceted business leader, emphasizing the pivotal role sales has had on his career, the power of showmanship, and how the Grateful Dead's philosophy influences his approach to business.

 Show Notes:

• How Michael started and continued his diverse entrepreneurial journey [00:37]
• An overview of Michael's early ventures, from lemonade stands to T-shirt sales [01:05]
• Lessons learned in tech recruiting and the importance of management [02:17]
• How Michael broke into cybersecurity and sales enablement for SaaS companies [09:36]
• The significance of sales skills in entrepreneurship and leadership [13:52]
• Building operations and the 'tribe' mentality in startups [23:41]
• How Michael created a strong personal brand [23:57]
• Why Michael believes operations is the spinal cord of a company [27:28]
• The concept of 'Candelabra Way' and the essence of showmanship [32:16]
• Developing greater showmanship and becoming more engaging [35:34]
• The 'Shield, Diamond, Love' framework explained [43:58]
• Michael’s Next Steps [49:17]

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxbcandelabra/

In this episode of The Savage Leader Podcast, Darren Reinke chats with Aaron Fulkerson, CEO of Opaque Systems. Aaron discusses his transition from entrepreneurship to ServiceNow and how he's found his way back to the entrepreneurial world. He also discusses the issue of trust erosion within the technology sector and how Opaque Systems is spearheading efforts to rebuild this trust through secure application development for collaborative analytics and AI.

Opaque Systems is on a mission to unlock the high-growth market of confidential computing by creating the first Confidential AI platform. It enables secure, collaborative analytics and the usage of AI on confidential and sensitive data stored in Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs).

Show Notes:

• Aaron’s journey from entrepreneurship to ServiceNow to entrepreneurship again [01:10]
• Aaron’s transformative experience in taking time off, reconnecting with personal roots, and sparking new business ideas [02:12]
• How Opaque Systems led Aaron back to entrepreneurship [04:29]
• How UC Berkeley's RISE Lab led to the founding of Opaque Systems [06:48]
• Opaque’s mission and the importance of privacy in data utilization [10:43]
• Addressing the erosion of trust in tech and how Opaque Systems is enabling developers to secure user data and rebuild consumer trust [13:13]
• Balancing entrepreneurship with personal life and strategies for managing work, family, and self-care [14:39]
• The importance of physical and mental fitness in maintaining balance and enhancing productivity [17:08]
• How Aaron plans to capitalize on the rapid developments in artificial intelligence [22:10]
• Generative AI's transformative impact on society and the industry [28:29]
• Aaron's approach to making a positive impact [30:32]

Links:

• Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfulkerson/
• Opaque’s Website: https://opaque.co/

In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Anthony Lee, CEO of Westcliff University. Anthony shares his journey from childhood passions to leading a university that's making a significant impact in the education sector. They delve into the future of education, how Westcliff University is preparing students for a rapidly evolving job market, and Anthony's personal insights on entrepreneurship and leadership.

Westcliff University was established to provide quality education for students wishing to enter the fast-growing fields of business and education. Westcliff University’s curriculum consists of graduate and undergraduate degree programs in business and education as well as other certificate programs. Westcliff University emphasizes the importance of preparing students personally, academically, and professionally.

Show Notes:

• Anthony's early interests and the influence of sports on his life [00:47]
• The entrepreneurial lessons from Anthony's father [01:25]
• Taking over Westcliff University and early challenges [04:18]
• Learning to lead and the importance of listening and learning from others [05:38]
• The pivotal decision to pursue accreditation for Westcliff University [08:28]
• Early wins and strategic moves that fueled growth [10:50]
• The emotional journey to achieving regional accreditation [12:59]
• Expanding Westcliff University through strategic acquisitions and new programs [15:54]
• The approach to making degree programs practical and relevant to today's job market [19:15]
• Keeping up with the pace of innovation and the future of education [21:09]
• The importance of culture, support, and fit in choosing a college [27:19]
• Anthony's advice for students entering the workforce and the significance of internships [28:11]
• Anthony's personal definition of Greatness and striving for it [30:08]
• Where to learn more about Anthony Lee and Westcliff University [31:06]