Visionaries

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with brothers Nick and Michael Ahmed, the co-founders of Seven Pillar, a revolutionary approach to developing athletes that goes far beyond performance metrics. After witnessing firsthand the mental health crisis affecting one in three high-performing athletes, these former professional baseball players created a holistic framework designed to build champions in life, not just in sport.

Key Discussion Points:

[02:00] The Genesis of Seven Pillar

• How organic conversations between teammates evolved into a comprehensive athlete development system
• The decade-long journey from personal struggle to purposeful solution
• Why traditional athlete development falls short of preparing players for life

[06:13] The Identity Crisis in Sports

• Understanding performance-based identity and its devastating effects
• How comparison culture and external validation create unstable foundations
• The transformation that happens when athletes discover their true worth beyond the scoreboard

[11:37] Sport as Life Training

• Reframing athletics as a vehicle for character development
• Why winning isn't everything, but competition still matters
• Building skills that translate from the field to family and community

[15:52] The Seven Pillars Framework

1. Identity - Building unshakeable self-worth independent of performance
2. Mindset - Developing mental resilience for competition and life
3. Lifestyle - Creating sustainable habits that support long-term success
4. Relationships - Fostering authentic community and accountability
5. Nutrition - Fueling both body and mind for optimal performance
6. Fitness - Physical preparation that serves athletic and life goals
7. Recovery - Understanding rest as a competitive and personal advantage

[22:25] Faith and Community in Athletic Development

• Why relationships matter more than individual achievement
• The role of faith in creating lasting identity and purpose
• Building teams and communities that elevate everyone

[26:45] The NIL Generation Challenge

• How modern athletics has shifted toward individual focus
• The recruiting crisis facing college sports
• Developing intangibles and "it factor" in young athletes

Connect with Seven Pillar:

• Website
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

Join Whiteboard founder Eric Brown in conversation with Brett Hagler, CEO and co-founder of New Story, for an inspiring deep dive into visionary leadership, social entrepreneurship, and pioneering solutions to the global housing crisis. In this episode, Brett shares his remarkable journey from a 23-year-old college graduate on his first mission trip to Haiti, to building one of the world's most innovative housing nonprofits that's revolutionizing how we think about affordable housing through technology, land ownership, and market-based solutions.

Meet Brett

Brett Hagler is the CEO and co-founder of New Story, a nonprofit dedicated to pioneering solutions to the global housing crisis. Under his leadership, New Story has built thousands of homes across Haiti, El Salvador, Mexico, and Guatemala, and created the world's first 3D printed neighborhood. A Y Combinator alum and recognized thought leader in social innovation, Brett is passionate about creating market-based solutions that serve underserved families while building sustainable, scalable models for lasting impact.

Key Highlights

The Origin Story (00:00-05:11)

• How a life-changing trip to Haiti sparked the vision for New Story
• The intersection of faith, entrepreneurship, and social impact
• Early lessons from a failed e-commerce startup that led to breakthrough insights

Y Combinator & Early Growth (05:11-10:28)

• Becoming one of the first nonprofits accepted into Y Combinator (Summer 2015)
• The "100 houses in 100 days" campaign that outpaced the Red Cross
• Building transparency and trust in international charitable giving

Innovation in Action (10:28-16:54)

• Creating the world's first 3D printed neighborhood in partnership with Icon
• Taking calculated risks with R&D funding for breakthrough technology
• Lessons learned about the true complexity of the housing puzzle

The Evolution to Market-Based Solutions (16:54-22:09)

• Shifting from charitable beneficiaries to customers
• The importance of land ownership and building credit profiles
• Creating sustainable, scalable solutions that attract other market players

Advice for Emerging Entrepreneurs (22:09-26:53)

• "Dream big, but start small" - beginning with just one $6,000 house
• Why courage is in shorter supply than genius
• The power of being different and attracting the right resources

Key Takeaways

1. Start Small, Dream Big: Every massive vision begins with a single, achievable step
2. Challenge the Status Quo: Innovation happens when you question why things aren't working
3. Customers vs. Beneficiaries: Market-based solutions create more sustainable impact than charity alone
4. Courage Over Genius: Taking calculated risks attracts opportunities that wouldn't otherwise exist
5. Systems Thinking: True impact requires understanding all pieces of complex problems

Resources Mentioned

• New Story - Learn more about their housing innovation work
• Icon - 3D printing construction technology partner
• Y Combinator - Startup accelerator program
• Charity: Water - Clean water nonprofit
• Mission of Hope Haiti - International development organization

Connect with Brett Hagler

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Today we're joined by Cam Doody and Matt Patterson, co-founders and general partners at Brickyard. Before launching a pre PMF venture firm in residency, they co-founded Bellhop, a tech driven relocation company that moved over 350,000 households and raised 90. 80 million in venture capital through Brickyard. They provide early stage founders, not just with capital, but operational support, accountability, and a community of builders.

They discuss their entrepreneurial journey from founding Bellhop, a tech-driven relocation company, to establishing a new kind of venture firm focused on early-stage founders. Brickyard offers a unique approach by providing not just capital, but operational support, accountability, and a community.

They reflect on their experiences, the challenges of the venture capital landscape, and the innovative model that demands radical focus and dedication from startup founders. Success stories and key insights from their efforts to create a founder-driven startup ecosystem in Chattanooga, Tennessee, are also highlighted.

Key Moments and Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Visionaries Shaping the Future
• 00:55 Meet Cam Doody and Matt Patterson of Brickyard
• 01:53 The Entrepreneurial Journey: From Bellhops to Brickyard
• 05:24 The Brickyard Vision and Mission
• 06:27 Challenges and Critiques of Venture Capital
• 08:36 Brickyard's Approach
• 14:27 Success Stories and Notable Founders
• 18:54 Personal Reflections & Principles
• 22:03 Lessons Learned & Future Plans

Whiteboard is the leading creative and technology partner to visionary leaders and brands, helping them navigate the future with wisdom and imagination.

Visionaries is a Whiteboard and Toldwell production.

We’re all familiar with the visionaries who shaped our past, but what about the ones who are shaping our future?

The ones who see what others don’t. 
Who challenge the status quo. 
Who imagine a future not just as it is, but as it ought to be.

That's why on Visionaries, we’ll dive deep with today’s boldest thinkers—leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs—who are crafting the next chapter of our world.

How do they see what’s coming?
How do they make the impossible, inevitable?
And how can we learn to think like them? 

Because the future belongs to those bold enough to imagine it.