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Unlocking Moves
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- Welcome to Unlocking MovesUnlocking Moves isn't the "typical" business podcast. We're not just looking to tell the stories of success and glory. We want the REAL stories. Because life as an entrepreneur isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Life as an entrepreneur (hell, life as a human!) is HARD! And believe me, you're gonna learn a lot more from other peoples' shit shows and gory stories than you will from their glory stories.
That's why I started Unlocking Moves. I want to challenge and inspire entrepreneurs to unlock their success by hearing the stories of others. Most entrepreneurs can point to a few key decision points that really changed the trajectory of their careers. My goal is to help YOU identify those moments in your own career.
2 min - Turning Valleys into Peaks | Unlocking Moves Mental Health Montage: Ep. 22
It’s 2023 – how many companies have incorporated the mental health of their team into their core values? I'm glad to see that the mental health of our employees is a hot topic -- my wish is that entrepreneurs look in the mirror and consider their own mental health, as well!
Join us for Episode 22 of Unlocking Moves, where we’re looking back on the first 20 episodes and highlighting some of the powerful stories our guests have told about their struggles – mentally, physically, and emotionally. Entrepreneurship is HARD – I’ve seen many friends and colleagues struggle with their mental health while trying to balance running a business with everything else. The fact of the matter is that we all need to take time and make space to focus on our mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. And the #1 thing I hope others take away from the episode is that we all need to have grace -- for ourselves, those around us, and our significant others!In this episode, you’ll hear stories from Jason Bronstad, Jennifer Hill, Craig Wiley, and Tyler Allgaier about their struggles – but also how they dealt with their stress, grief, and challenges. By sharing these stories, we hope to encourage you on your journey.About Kurt Wilkin – Kurt is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He's a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.15 min - Take the Risk or Lose the Chance | Unlocking Moves Risk-Taking Montage: Ep. 21
How many times have you thought, "Someday I'm going to do THIS" or "Somebody oughtta invent THAT"?
But we sit back -- wait for the perfect time to take action. The perfect time never comes.
Wanna know a little secret about ALL entrepreneurs -- really all successful people??? At some point we've done something that scared the hell out of us...something outside of our comfort zone. We took a risk. To quote Eminem's iconic Lose Yourself, simply: "...mom's spaghetti". I think you know what I mean: you're scared, we're all scared, but TAKE THE RISK OR LOSE THE CHANCE.
Join us for Episode 21 of Unlocking Moves, a montage of some "risk-taking" highlights of our first 20 episodes. Unlocking Moves dives into the pivotal moments in an entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many leaders only like to talk about their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes. This episode of Unlocking Moves features stories of taking risks from previous guests. In 20 episodes, we've heard some incredible stories about seizing chances when they arise - we look back with James Dumolin, Erik Qualman, Rolf Wilkin, and Scott Jensen as they share a few stories of taking risks. Don't just sit back and wait for things to fall in your lap!
About Kurt Wilkin – Kurt is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He's a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.
12 min - Human-to-Human Leadership Transformed a Business, a Man and a Family | Jason Bronstad, Malk Organics – Unlocking Moves Ep. 20
Jason Bronstad went through a transformation - from “businessman with a family” to “family man with a business”.
Join us for Episode 20 of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in an entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many business leaders only like to talk about their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes. This episode of Unlocking Moves dives into Jason’s journeys through both mental and physical health and his rise to the leadership in the CPG world. Jason’s life has featured multiple Unlocking Moves, including realizing he was failing his family by not setting a good example of healthy living. Since that point, he's lost over 100 pounds by training jiu jitsu and instilling discipline in eating and workout habits. He also became CEO of MALK Organics, and applied lessons learned on his health journey to the production of healthy, clean milk alternatives.
-----------Follow Jason Bronstad on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbronstad/Get a copy of Who's Your Mike? here:https://whosyourmike.com/Learn more about HireBetterhttps://www.HireBetter.comFollow HireBetter on LinkedInhttps://bit.ly/2S9sigx-----------About Jason BronstadHusband, Front Row Dad and seasoned Consumer Packaged Good Leader who is focused on ensuring that through a focus on the people and culture of organizations he can elevate the work-life integration in today’s society. As a graduate of The University of Texas, he moved 7 times before eventually landing back in Austin, where he still lives with his wife of 18 years (Melissa) and is blessed with two amazing children (11-year-old Vivien and 7-year-old Holden).About Kurt WilkinKurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.-----------Apple Podcast - https://apple.co/3TA1LEwSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3LLXVGq#UnlockingMoves #hirebetterTime Stamps:(00:00:00) Introduction(00:01:38) Why and How Did Jason transformed himself(00:03:06) Jason's Background(00:04:15) Jason's Health Journey(00:07:45) Not all big people are always in shape(00:08:52) HireBetter(00:09:03) What does Malk Organics do?(00:12:16) Where can we buy Malk products?(00:13:11) How Jason got to his position today(00:18:40) Jason joins a support group called Front Row Dads(00:22:39) Who's Your Mike?(00:24:27) Jason's Unlocking Moves(00:27:05) Jason's key hire that he made to unlock his success as a CEO(00:29:27) Jason's tips on how to get to the best version of your self(00:33:38) Tell me why your family is important?(00:35:49) Where can we find more about Jason Bronstad or Malk Organics(00:36:53) Give us a review and mention Malk Organics and win a Prize!(00:37:29) Subscribe to Unlocking Moves(00:37:39) Outro(00:37:47) Take the Quiz on whosyourmike.com(00:38:00) End39 min - Tyler's Secret Sauce? Giving a Sh*t! | Tyler Allgaier, Pitted Companies - Unlocking Moves - Ep. 19
How should entrepreneurs approach mental health as they lead teams?
Join us for Episode 19 of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in an entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many business leaders only like to talk about their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes. This episode of Unlocking Moves features a conversation between Kurt and Tyler that goes DEEP. Tyler offers a candid look at the moments that shaped him – including his father’s sudden death when Tyler was just 18 years old. Since then, Tyler has been a strong advocate for therapy and mental health. As the founder and CEO of Pitted Companies – a $100 million revenue company that help businesses with Amazon logistics (and other marketplaces) – Tyler invests in and helps others in their relentless pursuit of excellence.-----------Learn more about Pitted Labshttps://pittedlabs.com/Take the quiz here:https://whosyourmike.com/Learn more about HireBetterhttps://www.HireBetter.comFollow HireBetter on LinkedInhttps://bit.ly/2S9sigx-----------About Tyler AllgaierTyler began his entrepreneurial journey in his early 20s, when he was still in college, to earn a little "Taco Bell money." Today, now 29, Allgaier is the founder and CEO of the Pitted Companies—a portfolio of Sandy, Utah-based companies that provide optimization, warehousing and logistics, and venture capital for brands that want to succeed on the world's biggest marketplace. To date, Pitted has helped grow more than $100 million in revenue on Amazon.About Kurt WilkinKurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.-----------#UnlockingMoves #HireBetterTime Stamps:(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:22) Guest Intro(00:01:00) Why do Tyler and Kurt love the underdogs(00:03:15) Tyler's Educational Background(00:03:50) Taco Bell Money(00:05:03) Tyler's Background(00:05:42) HireBetter(00:05:58) Tyler at 18(00:10:14) Tyler in Kosovo(00:13:01) Tyler being a father figure for his siblings(00:14:58) Tyler's Mental Health Therapy(00:17:27) Tyler's Past Experience(00:20:23) What Pitted Labs Do?(00:22:09) Key Attributes before Pitted Ventures Invest in an Entrepreneur(00:23:54) Who's Your Mike?(00:26:39) Tyler's Unlocking Moves(00:29:01) Unauthentic Entrepreneurs in Social Media(00:32:10) Tyler's Advice to young people who have lost a loved ones(00:36:04) Do you know what you are doing?(00:38:58) Tyler Allgaier Contact info(00:39:32) Subscribe to Unlocking Moves(00:39:42) Outro(00:39:53) Take the Quiz on whosyourmike.com41 min - There's Purpose in the Pain - From Rock Bottom to Entrepreneur | Gareth Gallagher, EVT Media – Unlocking Moves Ep. 18
How did Gareth Gallagher go from hitting rock bottom (personally and professionally) to and building his own global event planning company?
Join us for Episode 18 of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many business leaders only like to talk about their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes. This episode of Unlocking Moves features a powerful conversation between Kurt and Gareth focused on overcoming personal demons, working in high-stress, high-pressure environments, and turning the impossible into the possible. Gareth’s personal struggles with drug and alcohol addiction led to some rock bottom moments that helped bring clarity and purpose as he found his way.
-----------About Gareth Gallagher
Gareth is an accomplished Senior Event and Marketing Executive with over 24 years of experience under his belt. He has worked all over the world in the events industry -- and he has seen it all. His expertise includes events management, marketing, and technology. Trusted by clients like Google, Facebook, and Apple, Gareth brings razor sharp analytical skills to his global event management brand. A visionary in business operations and event strategy, his experience is valued highly by small businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike. Gareth has grown his event management brand globally to over 150 staff, and has recently become an author and trainer with a passion to help others.About Kurt Wilkin
Kurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.
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Learn more about HireBetter
https://www.HireBetter.comLearn more about EVT Media
https://evtmedia.org/Follow HireBetter on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S9sigxGet a copy of Who's Your Mike?
https://whosyourmike.com/-----------#UnlockingMoves #HireBetter36 min - From Big Screen to Big Stage | LaQuita Cleare, Clear Communication Academy – Unlocking Moves Ep. 17
How did LaQuita Cleare go from Hollywood actress to one of the business world’s best storytelling coaches?
Join us for Episode 17 of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in an entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many business leaders only like to talk about their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes. This episode of Unlocking Moves features a conversation between Kurt and LaQuita about her struggles as an actress trying to make it in Hollywood.
After many misses and constantly comparing herself to others, she realized that what makes us interesting and different -- is just being yourself! As a public speaker, coach, and mentor to entrepreneurs, she leverages the lessons she learned in Hollywood to help others tell their own unique stories.
-----------About LaQuita Cleare
LaQuita is a Storytelling magician and public speaking expert who you've probably seen in commercials, TV or movies over the years. As the CEO of Clear Communication Academy, LaQuita transforms companies, Fortune 500 CEOs, Hollywood’s top talent, entrepreneurs, and public figures into powerful speakers and storytellers. She has worked in 50+ countries, across 5 continents speaking at companies, conferences, and at numerous prestigious schools and events, including Harvard, INSEAD Business School, Loyola University, and Milan Polytechnico.https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1914875/About Kurt Wilkin
Kurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.
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Learn more about HireBetter
https://www.HireBetter.comLearn more about Clear Communication Academyhttps://www.clearcommunicationacademy.com/Follow HireBetter on LinkedInhttps://bit.ly/2S9sigxGet a copy of Who's Your Mike?https://whosyourmike.com/-----------#UnlockingMoves #HireBetter32 min - Adam Witty Dropping Entrepreneurial Knowledge About What NOT to Do! | Adam Witty, Forbes Books - Unlocking Moves Ep. 16
How does Adam Witty help hundreds of entrepreneurs unlock their stories to benefit others?
Join us for Episode 16 of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in an entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many business leaders only like to share their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes.This episode of Unlocking Moves features a conversation that covers Adam's early days - starting an online ticket exchange as a student at Clemson - through his rise in the business publishing world. Kurt and Adam talk about creating your own opportunities, being a facilitator rather than trying to do it all, and how persistence and determination unlock doors for founders. As the CEO of Forbes Books, Adam helps entrepreneurs become thought leaders by distilling their stories into teaching opportunities.
-----------About Adam Witty
Adam is the CEO of Forbes Books, the book publishing brand of Forbes Media. What began in a spare bedroom is now one of the largest independent business book publishers in the world with over 2,000 authors from 14 countries. He is the author of 6 books including "The Authority Advantage" and "Book the Business: How to Make Big Money with Your Book Without Even Selling a Single Copy". Adam and his companies have been named to the Inc. 500/5000 list, Best Places to Work South Carolina, Inc's "30 under 30" list of cool young entrepreneurs, and in 2019 - Charleston's Entrepreneur of the Year. He is also an Eagle Scout and has his commercial pilot certificate.
About Kurt Wilkin
Kurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.
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Learn more about HireBetterhttps://www.HireBetter.comFollow HireBetter on LinkedInhttps://bit.ly/2S9sigx-----------#UnlockingMoves #HireBetter36 min - From Recovering Lawyer to Successful Entrepreneur and Thought Leader | Jennifer Hill - Unlocking Moves, Ep. 15
How did Jennifer Hill go from “recovering lawyer” to successful entrepreneur and AI and Cybersecurity Expert?
Join us for Episode 15 of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in an entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many business leaders only like to talk about their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes. This episode of Unlocking Moves features a conversation between Kurt and Jennifer about her transition from lawyer to entrepreneur. She talks about her experience joining, scaling, and successfully exiting businesses in healthcare analytics and education technology, sharing the key decision points that unlocked her success.
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Learn more about HireBetterhttps://www.HireBetter.comFollow HireBetter on LinkedInhttps://bit.ly/2S9sigx-----------About Jennifer Hill
Jennifer Hill is a passionate advocate of uncovering valuable data for good. She successfully scaled and exited a managed services health tech company that makes Rx cheaper through data (Remedy Analytics) as COO/CLO. Previously, she co-founded an ed tech start-up, and has advised entrepreneurs and VCs across the world on growing, funding, and exiting their businesses as a start-up/M&A attorney. She has frequently appeared on MSNBC, CBS Interactive, and has been featured in and contributed to the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Entrepreneur and Amex. She also chairs the board of Thoughtiver Ltd., an AI-for-legal SaaS company in the UK, and sits on the advisory boards of 1848 Ventures (B2B SaaS start-ups driving data collection), Coherent Health (platform for health + wellness practitioners), and The Alchemy Project (an entrepreneurial training program for high school students).About Kurt WilkinKurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.-----------#UnlockingMoves #HireBetter26 min - Building Teams: Secrets of Success for VC-Backed Entrepreneurs | Autumn Manning – Unlocking Moves Ep. 14
What are Autumn Manning's secrets of success in the venture-backed tech industry?
Join us for Episode 14 of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in an entrepreneur's journey that unlocked their true potential. Many business leaders only like to talk about their success stories - but host Kurt Wilkin is a firm believer that we learn more from our stumbles and mistakes. This episode of Unlocking Moves features a conversation between Kurt and Autumn, a successful tech entrepreneur, investor, and organizational change agent who has successfully scaled and exited multiple businesses. In this episode Autumn shares advice and experience from the male-dominated, venture-backed tech space, including both the investor and entrepreneur perspective, along with her keys to creating a company great culture!
(00:00:01) Introduction: Real Stories & Pivotal Moments
(00:00:33) Setting the Stage: Off‑the‑Wall Question on Mike Tyson
(00:00:49) The Dinner Dare: Asking Iron Mike for a Meal
(00:01:10) Influences of Iron Mike: Lessons from Boxing & Beyond
(00:01:34) Embracing Vulnerability: Authenticity in Storytelling
(00:02:15) Mentorship & Resilience: Learning from the Greats
(00:02:38) The Power of Story: Why Every Life Has Glory & Grit
(00:03:15) Meet Autumn Manning: Boxing Aficionado & Culture Guru
(00:05:23) Sponsor – HireBetter: Your Strategic Talent Partner
(00:05:56) From Psychology to Tech: The Birth of You Earned It
(00:06:10) The CEO Dilemma: Balancing Leadership & Life
(00:07:05) Overcoming “Head Trash”: Seeking True Mentorship
(00:08:16) Building Company Culture: Connection, Meaning & Growth
(00:20:05) Venture Capital Realities: Options & Founder-Friendly Funding
(00:32:34) Favorite HR Character: Championing Authentic People Leadership
(00:35:41) Unlocking Moves: Key Advice for Building a High‑Performing Team
(00:42:12) Beyond Labels: Who Are You? How Are You?
(00:44:45) CTA: Like, Subscribe & Review for More Authentic Stories-----------
Learn more about HireBetter
https://www.HireBetter.com
Follow HireBetter on LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/2S9sigx
-----------
About Autumn Manning
Autumn is a serial entrepreneur, investor, operator, organizational change agent, and deeply passionate community citizen. Her experience spans different growth stages and industries, but is always focused on talent, team, culture, and performance optimization. She cofounded and led YouEarnedIt in 2013, eventually exiting to Vista Equity Partners in 2018. She later served as President and COO of CrateJoy, and then joined Motley Fool Ventures as Partner and Entrepreneur in Residence.About Kurt Wilkin Kurt Wilkin is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For the past 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young, and today in his roles as co-founder and visionary of HireBetter and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies. -----------#UnlockingMoves #HireBetter
46 min
About Unlocking Moves
From the publisher's feed
(WARNING: May offend listeners of boring business podcasts.) Business leaders love to tell their success stories; but reality is complicated! Stumbles, mistakes, & battle scars catapult…
professional & personal growth. Successful leaders know exactly the pivotal moves that unlocked their true potential. Unlocking Moves features candid conversations with some of the nation's smartest entrepreneurs, so you can identify when & where to make your move. Veteran entrepreneur & best-selling author Kurt Wilkin shares key moments with the unscripted, irreverent approach that fueled his 30-year career.