Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business Leaders

Solving today's huge environmental problems takes creativity and innovation, but it also requires businesses to build strong industry partnerships. Today's guest is doing just that. 

We're sitting down with Vijay Manthripragada, President, CEO and Board Member of Montrose Environmental Group, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol, M E G. Vijay brings significant leadership in management experience to the company. Previously, he was the CEO of PetCareRX, a high-growth e-commerce company in the pet health industry. Prior to that, Vijay was in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, and was also a director at The Advisory Board Company and a member of Johnson & Johnson's management development program. He received his MBA from Wharton and his BS from Duke and Oxford.

In this episode we talk about Montrose's mission to protect the environment with ground-breaking technology.

Highlights:

• Vijay explains Montrose's business, and his family's connection to environmental work (2:38)
• How Vijay went from finance to the environment (3:57)
• The market and the competition for Montrose is in (5:06)
• Montrose's strategy with integrating with other service providers (6:40)
• Who are Montrose's clients? (7:41)
• R & D at Montrose (8:11)
• Vijay talks about Montrose's work in greenhouse gas mitigation (9:35)
• How politics have impacted the business (11:01)
• The Inflation Reduction Act's new standards (12:37)
• Montrose's financial position since going public (13:45)
• Montrose's portfolio and what Vijay sees as holding promise in the future (14:52)
• Creating value with non-organic growth (15:57)
• Montrose's current balance sheet (17:04)
• What Vijay hopes he could see in the industry in the next 5 years (17:49)
• Vijay's ideal vacation (18:30)
• Vijay's favourite musicians/music (19:50)
• What investors might miss about Montrose (21:03)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

Vijay Manthripragada on LinkedIn

Montrose Environmental Group on LinkedIn

Montrose Environmental Group Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

A great thinker once said "what is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right." Our guest on this episode has built his legacy on difficult, but hugely influential decision-making.

We're joined by Cyrus Vance Jr., best known for serving as New York County's top law enforcement officer for 12 years. As Manhattan District Attorney, he oversaw everything from white-collar fraud to cybercrime, human-trafficking, and even cold-case homicides. He's now a partner at global law firm, Baker Mackenzie, where he wears three hats, sitting in its litigation and government enforcement and global investigations and compliance groups, all while serving as Global Chair of the Cybersecurity Practice. 

After graduating from Yale University and earning his JD from Georgetown Law Center, Cy entered his first stint in public service as an Assistant District Attorney in the office that he was later elected to lead. His career has taken him everywhere from Africa to the Pacific Northwest, and we're very fortunate to have him as a guest. 

Highlights:

• Cyrus describes his background and journey to the Manhattan DA Office(2:58)
• Cyrus' father's influence on his career (4:42)
• What it's like to run for office, and learning how to operate in the public eye (6:02)
• Returning to work in the office: what was the same and what was different (7:39)
• The benefits and problems of working with large amounts of money (11:10)
• Developments in anti-corruption legislation, and heightening pressure on white-collar crime (15:06)
• Cyrus on if he regrets leaving office amongst the current prosecution of President Trump (19:31)
• What Cyrus learned from a business standpoint about managing a large team at the Manhattan DA Office (20:55)
• Cyrus' current goals as head of cybersecurity at Baker McKenzie (22:21)
• Cyrus discusses potentially writing a book in the future (24:16)
• Cyrus' hobbies and passion for motorcycles (26:57)
• What Cyrus would be doing if he didn't pursue a career in law (27:57)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

Cyrus Vance on LinkedIn

Baker McKenzie on LinkedIn

Baker McKenzie Website

Manhattan DA Office Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

Millions of Americans with medical conditions spend years waiting for breakthrough treatments. Today's guest is making extraordinary advances in cancer treatment to significantly improve outcomes.

Today we're sitting down with Dr. Marc Hedrick, President and CEO at Plus Therapeutics whose stock trades under the symbol PSTV. Previously, Dr. Hedrick served in a number of executive leadership roles, including President, CEO and Director of Cytori Therapeutics, and President and CEO of STEM Source. He's a trained general vascular and plastic surgeon, and former Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at UCLA. He also served as co-Director of the Laboratory of Regenerative Bioengineering and Repair at UCLA. 

Dr. Hedrick received his MD from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas, and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA in 2005. We talked about his company's incredible new technology that is revolutionizing how some cancers can be treated. 

Highlights:

• Marc describes his background, and path to the medical field (2:52)
• How Plus Therapeutics approaches their work to change outcomes for debilitating diseases (3:34)
• How Plus Therapeutics targeted treatment differs from traditional radiotherapy (5:19)
• Marc breaks down how the company chooses what types of cancer to develop treatments for (6:11)
• How Plus Therapeutics is driving innovation (7:39)
• What treatments their distinctive drugs can be used for and how they work (9:44)
• Plus Therapeutics partnerships, and what the company looks for in a partner (12:16)
• How the company managed challenges through the COVID-19 pandemic (13:47)
• Competition in the CNS space, and the challenges Plus Therapeutics faced introducing a new treatment (15:18)
• Funding, and the company's unique capitalization strategy (16:33)
• The competitive landscape (18:32)
• Plus Therapeutics leadership team, and value of culture (20:16)
• Locational benefits, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Texas (21:42)
• Marc's predictions on the future of the radiotherapy industry (22:59)
• What investors might not understand about this company (24:42)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

Marc Hedrick on LinkedIn

Plus Therapeutics on LinkedIn

Plus Therapeutics Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

When it comes to legacy industries, it's all too common for business processes to become embedded and stagnant, but with growing technological and environmental transformation across markets, there may be no choice but to change. Today's guests are teaming up to promote a technology that could drive that change with the potential to disrupt the mining industry.

Today we're talking with John Dowd, CEO of GoGreen Investments and Chris Showalter, CEO of Life Zone Metals. GoGreen is a special-purpose acquisition company combining with Life Zone Holdings Limited in a go-public transaction set to list on the New York Stock Exchange in July under the symbol LZM. 

John has over 30 years of energy and commodity investing experience and has received six Lipper Awards for best risk-adjusted performance in in the energy sector. Previously, he researched energy companies for 11 years as a sell-side analyst. Needless to say, John has a deep understanding of what resonates with investors.

Chris is the CEO of Lifezone Metals. He brings a corporate finance and merchant banking background to the Lifezone team and has extensive experience across Africa. In addition to capital markets and fundraising, Chris brings strong expertise, originating sourcing, and developing relationships across the continent.

He held the role of director and partner at the Merchant Bank, Hanneman Partners in Zimbabwe, where he focused on African mining sector. Over six years in Zimbabwe he has developed specific, he has developed specific expertise in the platinum sector and advised a number of platinum mining companies prior to that. He spent nine years at Goldman Sachs where he held various roles in equity capital markets where where also ex, while also exploring opportunities for Goldman across Southern Africa. 

Highlights:

• John explains GoGreen's mission statement (3:16)
• How GoGreen approached the SPAC process (3:42)
• John explains the benefits of the SPAC structure (5:06)
• John describes what attracted GoGreen to Life Zone Metals (5:50)
• SPAC redemption rates, and the process of securing a partnership (7:37)
• Chris breaks down Life Zone Metals' work, and relationship to Africa (9:41)
• Chris compares traditional smelting practices to the benefits of Lifezone's Hydra-Met technology (12:10)
• Efficiency of Hydra-Met technology, versus traditional mining practices (14:23)
• What makes Kabanga nickel sustainable? (15:20)
• Chris describes the market in Africa, and why they companies work in the location (16:28)
• Tanzanian Nickel and its relation to the recent Inflation Reduction Act (18:47)
• Chris and John describes the total addressable market for their industry (20:35)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

John Dowd on LinkedIn

Chris Showalter on LinkedIn

GoGreen Investments on LinkedIn

Life Zone Metals on LinkedIn

GoGreen Investments Website

Life Zone Metals' Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

Sometimes abstract thinking that can lead to real breakthroughs. The knowledge and innovative thinking of today's guests led to an life-changing solution to an ongoing 75-year puzzle. Today we sit down with David Katz and Robert Jacks; Chief Scientific Officer, and President & CEO, of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, respectively. Sparrow has come up with a groundbreaking way to help patients who need steroid treatments. 

Robert was previously President & CEO of Indalo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing therapeutics for serious fibrotic diseases, and President, CFO, and Co-Founder of Symbiomix Therapeutics, which was sold after achieving NDA approval for Solosec®. Robert began his career in finance and product development at Pfizer, where he last worked as the Director of Business Development for Oncology and Infectious Diseases.

Prior to Sparrow, David Katz was a pharmaceutical R&D leader at Abbott and AbbVie, where he led clinical development and drug discovery teams, and was a personalized medicine pioneer. David is dedicated to the mentorship of the next generation of life sciences entrepreneurs, currently as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Oregon Health & Science University. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Highlights:

• David explains Sparrow's key focus, and they problem they are solving (2:49)
• How Sparrow planned for the economics of developing a new treatment (5:13)
• Robert explains why he jumped on board at Sparrow (7:21)
• David talks about his background, mentors, and interests in the field (8:36)
• David explains the 75-year puzzle of glucocorticoids (13:50)
• How Sparrow's SPI-62 treatment can change a patient's life, and how it's a novel approach (16:27)
• Sparrow’s current clinical trials (19:41)
• Sparrow's strategic partners (21:20)
• Why an investor would be attracted to Sparrow now (22:19)
• Managing being on 2 different coasts, and how they attract talent (23:18)
• The businesses/leaders that David admires (24:40)
• David talks about his passion for both art and science (25:58)
• Robert discusses Sparrow's unique value proposition (26:51)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

Robert Jacks on LinkedIn

David Katz on LinkedIn

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals on LinkedIn

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

Building partnerships and investing strategically can be key in the growth of a business. However, for big corporations, and small start-ups, creating and managing a variety of partnerships can be challenging. Today's guest created his company to help ease that process.

On this episode we're sitting down with David Horowitz, founder and CEO of Touchdown Ventures. Touchdown partners with leading corporations to manage their venture capital funds, and currently they partner with Kellogg T-Mobile, Amerisource Bergen, Olympus, and Erie Insurance, Masco and Colorcon just to name a few. 

Prior to starting touchdown, David was founding partner and managing director at Comcast Ventures for nearly 15 years. There he focused on investments in digital media, advertising, technology, digital home education, and financial technology. David also helped start and was partner at Gencast Ventures, a seed stage venture capital fund affiliated with Comcast Ventures.

Prior to Comcast, David worked in investment banking at Bear Stearns. He started South Jersey Tech Collective and networking group of entrepreneurs and investors in South Jersey, and David is also the inventor of the board game 'Frequent Flyer', which we'll talk about later in the program. 

Highlights:

• David's previous work, and introduction to Touchdown Ventures (3:10)
• Market change and transitioning into corporate venture capital (4:33)
• Benefits of corporate venture capital investing (6:08)
• Common mistakes corporations make with investments (7:19)
• Pros and cons of venture capital partnerships (9:11)
• Industries investing in corporate venture capital (11:12)
• What makes a company an ideal partner for Touchdown Ventures (12:53)
• How Touchdown Ventures' model works, and success examples (14:03)
• Effects of the current market on investing and venture capital business (15:35)
• The company's future goals and trajectory (17:45)
• David's board game 'Frequent Flyer' (18:42)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

David Horowitz on LinkedIn

Touchdown Ventures on LinkedIn

Touchdown Ventures Website

David's 'Frequent Flyer' board game

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

Making mistakes is a natural part of building every business, but leaving problems unresolved for too long can be costly. Today's guest is teaching business owners that huge success can come out of grand failures - if you’re paying attention. 

Today we're sitting down with Robert Irvine, a world-class chef and host of Food Network's hit show 'Restaurant: Impossible', where he takes two days and under $20,000 to transform failing restaurants and give their owners a second chance.

Robert's also an entrepreneur, a Royal Navy veteran, and a tireless supporter of the military. In addition to his restaurants, he's the owner of 'Fit Crunch', makers of protein bars and snacks; Robert Irvine Foods, which makes restaurant-quality, prepared meals available in grocery stores and for food service applications; and Boardroom Spirits, makers of Irvine's Vodka and Irvine's American Dry Gin. Robert is also the author of five books, the latest of which is called 'Overcoming Impossible'.

Highlights:

• Robert's childhood, and introduction to military (2:44)
• 'Restaurant: Impossible' TV show, and inspiration for new book (3:56)
• Robert's businesses, and business hurdles (6:04)
• Philosophy on businesses integrating social media (8:49)
• Robert explains how, and why businesses fail (10:39)
• Memorable success stories from 'Restaurant: Impossible' (13:26)
• How Robert discovered his talent for leadership (17:15)
• Robert discusses scalability and growth (19:47)
• Hiring and maintaining a great team (20:31)
• The Robert Irvine Foundation and philanthropy (23:23)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

Robert Irvine on Instagram

Robert Irvine on LinkedIn

Robert Irvine's Website

Robert's TV Show 'Restaurant: Impossible'

Buy Robert's Book 'Overcoming Impossible'

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

To create a brand with a lasting legacy, owners have to set and follow clear principles from the very beginning. Today's guest has continued to strengthen and grow their brand while maintaining those key principles. 

Today we're sitting down with Alex Ryan, President, CEO, and Chairman of The Duckhorn Portfolio, North America's premier luxury wine company, with 10 wineries, eight state-of-the-art wine-making facilities, seven tasting rooms, and over a thousand coveted acres of vineyard spanning 32 estate properties.

Their wines are available throughout the US, on five continents, and in 50 plus countries around the world. Their stock trades under - not surprisingly - NAPA. Since 1988, Alex's visionary leadership has been instrumental in establishing and growing The Duckhorn portfolio from a modest 15,000 cases and a few million dollars in revenue to one of the most highly respected and fastest growing luxury wine companies in the world with multiple Appalachians brands, price points, and styles. 

Alex's story about moving to the region and rising through the ranks to his current position is so interesting, and it's safe to say Tom has been looking forward to this interview for months. Join him on this week's episode as he cracks a bottle of Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot 2019 just for the occasion.

Highlights:

• Alex's relationship with the Duckhorns (2:57)
• Alex's start in the business (4:24)
• The Duckhorn Portfolio brands and products (5:15)
• Alex's path to CEO (7:52)
• How being on the production side has influenced Alex's approach to business (8:06)
• What makes The Duckhorn Portfolio unique (9:58)
• The company's distribution strategies (11:37)
• Off-premise growth strategy (13:42)
• Innovation and incorporating modern technology into the business (15:01)
• The company's total addressable market, and going international (17:02)
• Growth investments (18:26)
• The executive team at The Duckhorn Portfolio (20:23)
• Company values, and brand legacy (22:18)
• How the brand makes and chooses their acquisitions (24:15)
• The impact of inflation and the current economy have on the business (25:29)
• Alex's proudest moments in his career (27:28)
• Wine recommendations from Alex (28:22)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

The Duckhorn Portfolio on Instagram

The Duckhorn Portfolio on LinkedIn

The Duckhorn Portfolio Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

Recently, the restaurant industry has been struggling to hire new workers and retain their current employees. Today's guest is using innovative AI technology to deliver speed and consistency in customer service, and in the kitchen. 

On this week's episode we sit down with Krishna Gupta, Chairman and Interim CEO of Presto, one of the largest drive-through automation technology providers in the hospitality industry. Krishna is a founder and CEO of venture firm Remus Capital which he founded as a student at MIT in 2008. Remus partners with visionary founders and management teams to build technology businesses that rewire entire industries. This led him to Presto, which many years later trades on NASDAQ under the symbol PRST. Prior to Remus, Krishna spent time at McKinsey & Company, and JP Morgan, helping several Fortune 100 clients on billion dollar technology transactions. 

Krishna is an incessant traveler, and has done business across five continents. Outside of investing, he has a broad set of intellectual interests. He's conducted chemistry research at the University of Chicago, and in Israel. He produced a film on English ancient history, which is used at Cambridge in Oxford, and competed as a finalist in the USA Mathematics Olympia.

Highlights:

• Krishna's start in venture capital and investing (2:57)
• Presto's products and their purpose (4:30)
• How Krishna stepped up as interim-CEO (7:14)
• What makes Presto services unique in the industry (8:05)
• The addressable market for automation (9:40)
• Automating labor and automation ROI (11:18)
• The journey to becoming a public company (13:33)
• Automation duality for customers and businesses (15:15)
• Collaboration with OpenAI and ChatGPT (17:10)
• How AI is implemented in the service industry (18:16)
• Current projects and goals for the future (20:21)
• Managing their P&L (21:21)
• Krishna's advice for beginner entrepreneurs (22:21)
• The state of human-machine convergence (24:03)
• What investors might miss about Presto (26:01)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

Krishna Gupta on LinkedIn

Presto on LinkedIn

Presto Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].

The fashion industry is powered by the sometimes differing perspectives of artistic entrepreneurs and business executives. It takes an intuitive and bold business innovator to merge those visions, and lead brands into the future. 

On this episode we sit down with Sandra Campos, a board member, three time CEO and two-time entrepreneur and advisor. Throughout her career, she's built global lifestyle brands, and she's been instrumental in turnarounds, digital transformations, and innovative marketing campaigns, as well as international expansion as a technology-focused operator. 

She's the only independent board director at Fabric, a modular and headless commerce solution. She's also a board member at Private Equity-backed Daniels Jewelers, and Big Lots. Her retail career has included being CEO of Diane Von Furstenberg, president of a portfolio of billion dollar contemporary brands, including Juicy Couture, and Division President at Oscar de la Renta. As an entrepreneur, she created the first teen celebrity brand management company in partnership with fellow Latina, Selena Gomez. Together, they launched Gomez's first lifestyle brand 'Dream out Loud'.

Sandra is an advocate for Latinos, and recently launched Latina Disruptors, an event highlighting and honoring entrepreneurs. She has received numerous awards, including Top 100 Latina Leaders by Latina Magazine; ALP'S most powerful Latina 2020 to 2022; Top Women in Retail and 2019 Top Leaders in Business, by Hispanic Executive Magazine.

Highlights:

• Upbringing and entrepreneurial background (3:23)
• How Sandra was introduced to retail and fashion (5:20)
• Sandra's business mindset (7:44)
• Her first CEO role (8:44)
• Bringing together creative and business mindsets (10:18)
• Recent transformation in the retail industry (12:53)
• Sandra's partnership with Selena Gomez (15:13)
• Finding the right role in the fashion industry (17:50)
• Working on a Board of Directors (19:06)
• Sandra's experience working in a male-dominated and less culturally-diverse industry (23:16)
• Her new role with Fabric and Daniel's Jewelers (24:46)
• Latina visibility in the workforce (27:56)

Links:

ICR Twitter

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Website

Sandra Campos on LinkedIn

Fabric on LinkedIn

Fabric Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, [email protected].