Uncertain Times

What is life like in the restaurant and hospitality industry 9 months into the pandemic? In an update of episode 5 of the podcast, Joe is joined once again by Sam Mustafa, the founder of the Charleston Hospitality Group. Sam talks about the early darks days of the pandemic, how his restaurants adapted to the new normal, and what it means to celebrate the 16th anniversary of his flagship restaurant, Toast! All Day.

The trend of remote work accelerated in 2020 thanks to the pandemic, but what does the future of remote work look like in 2021 and beyond? This week, Joe speaks with Silvina Moschini, the President and Founder of TransparentBusiness and CEO and Founder of SheWorks! Silvina explains how her two companies help businesses and how she crushed the glass ceilings as the first Latina led pink unicorn in the remote working industry.

What do you do when you create a company that connects fans at concerts and includes a 50-college tour to test the idea? And then a pandemic happens. You pivot. Joining Joe this week is Sarah Figueroa, the Founder & CEO of Geojam, the first rewards-based music platform bringing artists and fans together.

Since the beginning of March, the pandemic has resulted in $481 billion in losses for the U.S. travel economy. Now that a COVID-19 vaccine is on the horizon, how long will it take for the travel industry to recover? Joining Joe this week is travel and branding expert,Rob DelliBovi, the Founder of RDB Hospitality. Rob talks about how the travel industry crashed in 2020 after a blockbuster 2019, and when he thinks the hospitality industry will rebound in 2021.

We define entrepreneurs as people who find a problem and solve a problem, but this week Joe is joined by a "philanthropic entrepreneur." Genevieve Piturro wanted to solve a problem for the benefit of humanity, not stockholders. She is the founder of the national nonprofit Pajama Program, which donates pajamas and books to children in need. Genevieve is also the author of new book, “Purpose, Passion, and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection, and Lead with Meaning".

This episode could be titled "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Hand Sanitizer, But Were Afraid to Ask". This week, Joe is joined by Alastair Dorward, the CEO of clean wellness company, OLIKA. Joe & Alastair talk about how hand sanitizer became as sought after as the latest X-Box and how OLIKA is changing the hand sanitizer game.

Two businesses that are really feeling the effects of the lockdowns and pandemic induced restrictions are restaurants and gyms.The former can try to make a few bucks with outdoor dining and take-out menus. But what about the latter? What do when you own a gym? This week Joe is joined by Dylan Schenk, the owner of an LA Based boutique gym called LIFT Society.

Snacking became everyone's favorite pastime during the lockdown, but how did snack companies handle their operations during the pandemic? This week Joe connects with Bill Deacon, the Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Standard Provisions - a Boston-based snack food company that specializes in stuff like artisanal soft pretzels.

Abraham Lincoln said that “The best way to predict the future is to create it," but are the future leaders able to create their future? Are they prepared with the skills that employers are looking for? Joining Joe this week is David Dvorkin, the Executive Director and the founder of Hire Cause, an online experiential learning platform that is helping to realize a vision of the world where companies, non-profits, and schools work together around projects that help communities thrive.

This isn’t breaking news, but small businesses have struggled mightily due to the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn, but there are companies that are helping small businesses not only survive but thrive. This week Joe is joined by Rahul Aggarwal, the co-founder of Designhill, an award winning crowdsourcing marketplace that connects a community of graphic designers from across the globe with clients looking for graphic designs.