Episodes
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Gabe Kennedy – Founder of Plant People
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2020
Category: Food & Drink
Gabe Kennedy takes an experimental approach to life. His career started after attending the Culinary Institute of America and Cornell University. A private equity firm employed him, but he left to be a contestant on Anthony Bourdain’s reality TV competition - and he won!
Being the winner led him to a variety of experiences in the food industry. But after a traumatic spinal injury from skiing, his focus was on healing his body in non-traditional methods.
That led him to start Plant People and creating a CBD-based supplements brand, plus other plant-based products. The company sells products including infused olive oil, sleep drops, and face masks. They’ve already raised capital from Unilever.
In our conversation, Gabe shares his journey, and answers the question, “How can we be a business and build an industry that stands for equity and access, social justice, climate justice, and embodies all the values and philosophies we truly feel a business should step into.” We discuss:
Holistic science-the inspiration for products.
Make a decision and move forward.
Doing a good job now is better than doing a perfect job later.
Starting on a shoestring budget.
Spend time on what you are good at. Find others with different skill sets.
The purpose of Plant People is to heal and connect people and the planet through the power of plants. Gabe has a coupon offer for you to try one of his products.
Take advantage and enjoy the show!
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman. It inspires the way I walk through life.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Investing in myself.
Worst - When I buy an avocado and it’s rotten.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - Meditation. Either breathing or guided.
PM - Cooking my own food. I draw the line between business and personal time before bedtime.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I’d find where I can contribute the most and have an intersection between passion and purpose.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
A King size bed and a good mattress. A full-size computer monitor.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Gabe Kennedy’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Gabe Kennedy - Founder - Plant People
CONTACT: Twitter @gabekennedy, Instagram COMPANY: @plantpeople, PERSONAL: @gabe_kennedy
WEBSITE: www.plantpeople.co
COUPON CODE DISCOUNT for audience: "forbes15"
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Jason Gui – Co-Founder of Vue
Forbes List: Asia
Year: 2017
Category: Industry & Energy
Jason Gui, Co-Founder of Vue, had difficulties in finding a target market for the first version of his smart glasses. At one point, he cut back to a skeleton staff and had little in the bank account. He didn’t agree on taking a new direction with his co-founder, but he listened to her, anyway.
With smart pivoting and firm due dates, the second product version of his smart glasses helped him bring in over $2.2-million on Kickstarter. He sold $4-million in its first year of launch, becoming the top eyewear Kickstarter campaign of all time.
Vue smart glasses are stylish and built for everyday use. They track your activities like steps, posture, and calories, taking calls, and listening to music without the intrusive earbuds.
This MIT Innovator Under 35-Asia list winner has a long list of lessons for entrepreneurs. We discussed:
Revising a product to serve a different market than intended.
The value of listening to a co-founder who disagrees with you.
The journey in making quick pivots with due dates.
How to engage media in the early stages of product development.
The importance of asking those outside the inner circle for product and marketing opinions.
Joint ventures and new distribution channels.
Differing from Google Glass.
Jason has offered a discount on a purchase for these fantastic glasses. I hope you give them a look. Enjoy!
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson. The book gives me a perspective of how the world works, why there are countries and governments, how things take form etc.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Financial investments. I watch what goes on in China and then see how things replicate in the U.S. I especially watch the trends relating to Covid.
Worst - Stock investments where I didn’t understand the fundamentals or the industry where I was putting my money.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - For over 10 years I’ve made it a habit to think about who I am going to help each day. I try to help someone every day.
PM - I don’t want regrets so I ask if there is something else I want to do. I think about living my life as if each day was the last.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
Before expanding on an idea I would talk to people who are older and more experienced. I’d find people who have different perspectives.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
A co-founder who may not agree with me. I’ve also learned you can’t do everything on your own.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Jason Gui’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Jason Gui – Co-Founder of Vue
CONTACT: Twitter @jason1081 and Instagram @jason1081nz
WEBSITE: http://vueglasses.com/
COUPON CODE DISCOUNT for audience: PHILSPODCAST for $30 off
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Episodes manquant?
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Bonnie Burton – Video Game Producer at Bungie
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2020
Category: Games
At age 12, Bonnie Burton became the 1st Female Pro Gamer Ever! It started as a family bonding event, with Bonnie and her brothers traveling from city to city in an unknown phenomenon–playing computer and console games in live tournaments. It was the early stages of Esports that we know today.
The game industry, not always female-friendly, eventually welcomed Bonnie when she pursued one of her passions-working for Bungie. That company has the team that created the famous video game Halo, one of the all-time highest-grossing media franchises.
Today she works at Bungie on the Destiny franchise.
In our conversation, Bonnie shares her journey including:
How she started the journey to playing Halo at home, to competitive tournaments.
Her approach to working in a male-dominated industry.
Using powerful mantras to direct her focus to achieve goals.
How coaching affects her life and those she coaches.
Bonnie also shared how she pursued her goal of being hired in a very competitive industry. I hope you enjoy her story as she continues to expand her goals and inspire other gamers.
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
Coaching for High Performance, Sarah Cook
Learned Optimism, Martin E.P. Seligman
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Coaching programs. I didn’t realize the impact it would have on my life.
Worst - I’d buy a better couch that isn’t cheap. You’re going to spend a lot of time on it.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning routine and the most impactful thing you do in your Evening routine?
AM - I wake up and immediately drink water.
PM - I use an app to remind me of what I am grateful for that day or in general.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of go to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I’d spend time researching more about how health is linked to “gaming” abilities. I’d set up a coaching practice for gamers so they can be their best.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
A digital wellness timer that’s on my phone. It limits the time I can be on social media.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Bonnie Burton’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Bonnie Burton – Video Game Producer of Bungie
CONTACT: Twitter @BonnieXburton and Instagram @BonnieXburton
WEBSITE: PERSONAL: https://bonnieburtoncoaching.as.me/
COMPANY: https://www.bungie.net/
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Marek Kubik – Market Director of Fluence
Forbes List: Europe
Year: 2017
Category: Industry (Energy)
Marek Kubik is a recognized influencer and leader in the energy industry. Early in his career, Marek had an instrumental role in developing the 10MW Kilroot Energy Storage Array. It was the first utility-scale commercial battery energy storage project in Europe, and one of the largest systems in the world.
Marek is a director and founding member of energy storage tech powerhouse Fluence, a company that delivers a fleet of nearly 2000MW of energy storage solutions on six continents.
Marek has a passion for accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy. And he’s great at putting high-tech issues in easy-to-understand terms.
In our conversation we discussed energy storage:
What it is.
How it solves the problem of limited fossil fuels.
How it can quickly reduce emissions leading to climate change.
Understanding grid infrastructure and how to reimagine it.
The joint venture with Siemens and an alternative method of supporting entrepreneurs.
You can read more of Marek’s thought leadership ideas on LinkedIn. Enjoy the show!
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman. It’s a fascinating insight into human psychology.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - My Apple watch. It’s great for data collection.
Worst - A gym membership. I found other tools to exercise that lead to my exercising more.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - I make my bed first thing in the morning because of the science of doing this task every day.
PM - I shut off my phone before bed because I’m a workaholic.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I’d explore my interest in sustainable aviation.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Flight radar. I like how you can track the plane and figure out where it is so I know ahead of time if it’s delayed.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Marek Kubik’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Marek Kubik – Market Director - Fluence
CONTACT: Twitter @mlkubik and Instagram @goodsophism
WEBSITE: http://www.fluenceenergy.com/
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Lucas Sin – Chef of Junzi Kitchen
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2020
Category: Food & Drink
It was his Asian parents’ dream to send him to the U.S. for higher education so he didn’t end up working in some low paying kitchen. So it’s ironic that this son left Hong Kong, went to Yale, and returned to a Chinese kitchen. Lucas Sin, Chef of Junzi Kitchen, has four locations in NY City and New Haven, Connecticut. Lucas raised over $5-million in funding, including an investment from the co-founder of PF Changs.
Lucas’s recipe for success is based on his curiosity about American Chinese cuisine with a dash of cognitive science!
In our conversation Lucas shares:
The importance of apprenticing-scrubbing dishes and working your way up.
Searching for nuances of Chinese American food.
Being quick to abandon things that don’t work or improve it, so it does.
Understanding the customer experience.
With ingenuity and quick pivoting, Junzi Kitchen stayed open during the pandemic. Lucas organized a system to work with existing programs and invited other restaurants to feed front-line workers with safe and scalable ways that meet hospital standards. He continues feeding workers by taking donations.
Consider making a donation. And if you get the opportunity, eat more fried noodles–Junzi’s Chow Mein. It’s really good!
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
Lydia Davis books. She packs an immense amount of meaning in a few sentences in her short stories.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Exercise resistance bands.
Worst - An air fryer.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
I don’t have a morning or evening routine. I have a coffee machine that wakes me up better than an alarm clock.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I believe in going to school. It made me a more curious and empathetic being. I’d also invest in real-life work experience.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Espresso, Aero Press, and drip coffee machines.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Lucas Sin’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Lucas Sin – Chef of Junzi Kitchen
CONTACT: Twitter @chinesechipotle & Instagram @lucas.sin
WEBSITE: http://www.junzi.kitchen/
COUPON CODE DISCOUNT for audience:
MAKE A DONATION: https://www.junzi.kitchen/shareameal
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Alina Alam – CEO of Mitti Cafe
Forbes List: Asia
Year: 2020
Category: Social Entrepreneurship
Dear Listeners,
There are a billion people across the world with disabilities and 70-million in India. With compassion and determination for creating a world that’s more inclusive, Alina Alam, CEO Mitti Café has helped people with physical, intellectual, and psychological disabilities to become productive, while showcasing their skills to earn a living.
She won the Mindtree Helen Keller Award, Times of India She Unlimited Award, and India’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
I am so humbled and proud to share Alina’s journey of starting Mitti Café, sponsored and located in corporate offices in four cities in India. It’s a sustainable non-profit and a model that could be replicated around the world.
It’s incredible how executing a goal of social responsibility is keeping the cafe workers employed, even during COVID-19. The cafes are closed, but the disabled adults are giving back and continuing to work by serving those even more disadvantaged. So far, they have served 274,000 meals and drinking water to daily wage earners who are now unemployed because of the pandemic, and others who are homeless.
There is so much for all of us to take away from Alina’s remarkable cause and story. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has been devastating to the people Alina has given an opportunity. The project needs funds to keep operating.
I’m asking all my listeners to help contribute to Alina’s work with a contribution to her outstanding mission that will surely make you feel part of the greater purpose. Your gift will truly make an impact in saving the employees of Mitti Café as they continue to feed and serve others. And you will be part of the movement to create awareness for the cause of equal opportunities in employment.
I am grateful for our conversation. It’s inspirational.
With gratitude,
Phil Michaels
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, Dale Carnegie. It presents practical solutions to problems.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - My time and money into the cafe.
Worst - Even in a bad investment you can still learn from the experience.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - Running - a great exercise.
PM - I write everything that was amazing that day to end on a positive note.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
Reach out to mentors.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
A paper and pencil to enhance my creativity.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Alina Alam’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Alina Alam – CEO of Mitti Cafe
CONTACT: Twitter @mitti_cafe & Instagram cafemitti
WEBSITE: http://mitticafe.org/
COUPON CODE DISCOUNT for audience: MitticafeRETURNturngift
Fundraising campaign: bit.ly/help-mitticafe
Also mentioned in this episode: www.volunteerworld.com
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Mia Park – Co-Founder of Sundae School & Sundae Flowers
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2020
Category: Art & Style
Mia Park is the co-founder of Sundae School & Sundae Flowers. Don’t jump to conclusions on what it is they sell!
Sundae School is a boutique fashion smoke wear brand based in NY. “Smoke wear” is a label for high fashion apparel and accessories to wear when you’re smoking weed. Sundae Flower is a cannabis brand that sells cannabis flowers without harmful chemicals.
Mia and her best friend since elementary school were raised in South Korea, then immigrated to the U.S. where they discovered marijuana at boarding school.
They have combined their longtime love affair with cannabis into a career with a clothing collection that’s been featured at NY Fashion Week, Barneys NY, and is recognized by celebrities including John Legend and Lil Nas X. Their Cannabis Flower sells at some of the biggest California dispensaries, including Eaze and The Apothecarium. Sundae Flower is known for the slowest-burning, slimmest joint on the market.
It almost seems comical to know their hobby led to a big break that came from an Instagram DM from the high-end store Barneys.
All misconceptions and laughs aside, Mia shared some serious entrepreneurial insights including:
Doing the research to create a quality cannabis product.
Partnering with minority manufacturers, distributors, and flower farms.
Increasing diversity in the cannabis industry.
Staying true to her Korean heritage.
Working with a lean, small team.
Due diligence on the people you may want as a sustainable partner.
Staying true to her values by asking, “What do I like?”
I hope you enjoy the show!
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide, Kay Redfield Jamison. It gets you to think about life optimistically.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - My sister. She is my support.
Worst - A Bird of Paradise Tree. It was expensive, and I don’t know how to take care of them.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning routine and Evening routines?
AM - We start the day with a green tea ceremony. It helps to clarify my goals.
PM - On Friday nights we smoke joints.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I would call my mentors. They’ll give me the right advice to start anything.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Google Calendar. It’s an inseparable part of my life.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Mia Park’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Mia Park – Co-Founder of Sundae School & Sundae Flowers
CONTACT: Instagram FASHION: @sundae.school CANNABIS: @sundae.flower MIA: @miamiapark
WEBSITE: Fashion: https://sundae.school/ & Cannabis: https://sundae.flowers/
NEW PRODUCT: Holiday Korean Jesus Collection, New Asian-flavor inspired cannabis gummies
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Kimeshan Naidoo – CTO & Co-Founder of Unibuddy
Forbes List: Europe
Year: 2020
Category: Social Entrepreneurship
I teach entrepreneurs that it’s important to focus on the number one reason your customers want your product or service. Kimeshan Naidoo, CTO, and Co-Founder of Unibuddy is a master at finding out his client’s pain points and knows how to create a product and service based on that.
His product, Unibuddy, helps students select the right university for higher education in a way that updates antiquated university recruiting methods. Over 250-thousand students have used the product with great enthusiasm.
Unibuddy is a fast-rising tech company with 300 universities using the product in 30 countries. Unibuddy has raised $12-million and has offices in London, New York, and Bangalore.
In our conversation we discuss:
How Unibuddy was developed to meet a need that’s an industry disrupter.
The importance of creating a product that solves problems with an easy client interface and deployment.
How Unibuddy speaks the language of Gen Z.
Using peer-to-peer communications to benefit potential students.
How potential student questions (data collection) can benefit university marketing efforts.
Future markets.
Kimeshan keeps improving his product. Recently, a new live video streaming feature was added and is proving to be invaluable to students and universities during the pandemic.
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
Measure What Matters, John Doerr. The strategies apply to organizations and your personal life.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Just starting. I also bought some good cryptocurrency early on.
Worst - I thought investing in Nelson Mandela coins would have more value.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - I started to read philosophy instead of emails first thing. I’m reading Meditations, Marcus Aurelius.
PM - I do non-reactive things such as flossing my teeth.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I would start a think-tank or incubator that would try to figure out how to produce leaders who could improve governments around the world.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Sleep. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Kimeshan Naidoo’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Kimeshan Naidoo – CTO & Co-Founder of Unibuddy
CONTACT: Twitter @kimeshan_ Instagram kimeshan_n
WEBSITE: https://unibuddy.com/
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Farryn Weiner – Founder of FarrynHeight
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2014
Category: Marketing & Advertising
By recognizing her skills as a storyteller and marketer, Farryn Weiner positioned herself as the leader of social strategy for Michael Kors. When social media was in its infancy, Farryn took a risk in creating the first Instagram ad ever! That risk paid off and proved that Farryn was ahead of the trend in creating social media and understanding consumer behavior shifts. Farryn has also held social media positions at Jetsetter.com and the Sweet Green restaurant chain.
When the entrepreneurial itch came, she started FarrynHeight. Her work is still about telling stories to build brands while helping companies identify and solve their marketing challenges.
I’m impressed with Farryn’s ability to inspire business leaders to access their core values. It’s also a reflection of how she leads her life and her business.
We discuss:
The excitement of creating the first Instagram ad.
Using critical feedback.
The importance of authenticity in brand building.
Her focus on strengths, not weaknesses.
Self-funding success.
Shedding fear.
Big sister leadership style.
Hiring for strengths and values, and not skills.
Farryn shares valuable work and life lessons. It’s also a common theme in her new podcast. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon. Clayton is the first person who got me thinking about how I can be happy and successful in my career at the same time.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Investing in myself.
Worst - Thinking about what I should invest in.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - Concentrate on breathing.
PM - Take a bath when I can as it’s a forced calm.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I would “ask why,” start understanding the why, and look for the problem rooted in the why.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
An infrared sauna and a heated blanket.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Farryn Weiner’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Farryn Weiner - Founder of FarrynHeight
CONTACT: Twitter @jetsetfarryn and Instagram @jetsetfarryn
WEBSITE: https://www.farrynheight.com/
PODCAST: www.farrynheight.com/podcast
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Gavin Armstrong - Founder of Little Iron Fish
Forbes List: USA & Asia
Year: 2016
Category: Social Entrepreneurs
In multiple cultures and religions, the fish is a symbol of luck and prosperity. But it took more than just luck to make my guest, Gavin Armstrong a Forbes 30 under 30 list winner in three continents in the same year–a first for anyone mentioned on the Forbes List!
Gavin Armstrong is the founder of Lucky Iron Fish. The “fish” is a small piece of iron that one drops into a pot of boiling water when cooking. As a result, the fish helps reduce iron deficiency, a major cause of anemia and one of the world’s biggest malnourishment problems.
CNN said, “This little iron fish is fighting a global health problem.” Gavin’s Lucky fish is available in over 80 countries and has improved the lives of a million people around the world.
Gavin created his company while a Fulbright scholar at Auburn University. He was also awarded the prestigious Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award.
In our fast-paced conversation Gavin shared:
How he learned firsthand about the malnourishment problem of 5-billion people no one talks about.
His path of overcoming being bullied and how it led to his business success.
Research into cultural diversity on making a lackluster piece of iron into a fish icon.
Crafting a communications message to overcome product acceptance obstacles.
How investors invest in leaders, no matter what the product.
The motivation for making the product sustainable and scalable.
There are so many great lessons to be gained from Gavin’s story. I hope you enjoy it!
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World, Jacqueline Novogratz. It actually teaches how a business can help the world.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Hiring my Vice-president of Operations. I paid her even before paying myself.
Worst - Unnecessary software purchases.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - Coffee check-ins with our small team. It’s important to keep up the community aspect.
PM -There’s a point in the evening where I can’t listen to any news. Decompression and sleep are important.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
Build an advisory team. You can’t do it alone.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Friends. A work-life balance is actually going to help you in both your personal and professional life.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Gavin Armstrong’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Gavin Armstrong - Founder - Lucky Iron Fish
CONTACT: Twitter @GavinA09 and Instagram @LuckyIronFish
WEBSITE: https://luckyironfish.com/
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Parveen Begum – CEO of Solisco
Forbes List: Europe
Year: 2020
Category: Manufacturing and Industry
Protecting the environment is at the forefront of Parveen Begum’s work and the inspiration for starting Solisco. How she started the company and created portable solar car charging stations is just part of her story.
My admiration for Parveen comes from her courage and strength to follow the beat of her own drum in all her career decisions. Although education was important to her, she took a leap and left law school to run a retail fashion division. When she wanted a bigger challenge, she applied and survived the Electric Vehicle (EV) Tesla interview process. It was the car company’s early entry into the EV world and the UK market.
Parveen started Solisco in 2016, and just two years later, the company won the UK’s Global Clean Energy’s most innovative EV power tech award. The company also won the UK’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles and Innovate UK competition.
When COVID-19 hit, Parveen was left stranded in St. Lucia. Island life has given her time to reflect, especially how the planet’s health has changed for the better. It encourages Parveen to continue to bring her visions, ideas, and knowledge to contribute towards a sustainable planet.
I know you’ll be inspired by Parveen’s unique journey. Enjoy the show!
Check out the feasibility study – Smart Energy Transportation & Charging Hub Project.
https://media.solisco.co.uk/setch-study/
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
The Shift, Dr. Wayne Dyer. I learned to let go of my ego and things I can’t control.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - My open water diving license. I overcame my fear of drowning.
Worst - None. I have no regrets.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning routine and the most impactful thing you do in your Evening routine?
AM - I do yoga.
PM - I put my phone away a few hours before bedtime.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I’d put together a team of young people to brainstorm all the things wrong with the world. Then we’d work on those ideas.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
A Tesla.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Parveen Begum’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Parveen Begum - CEO of Solisco
CONTACT: Twitter @SoliscoLtd and Instagram @soliscolimited
WEBSITE: http://solisco.co.uk/
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Ryan Disraeli – Co-Founder - Telesign
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2017
Category: Enterprise Tech
From saving himself from a charging mountain lion to keeping mentally strong while leading a multi-national company, my guest Ryan Disraeli has a great story to share.
Ryan is a co-founder of the online security company Telesign, which started in 2005 when he was a sophomore at the University of Southern California. Telesign pioneered mobile-phone-based two-factor authentication, a security service protecting millions of online accounts. The company has raised $78-million in funding. The platform has billions of users in over 200 countries in 87 languages. Telesign has 300 employees with annual revenues of over $100-million.
We covered a lot of topics including:
The behind-the-scenes of creating two-factor authentication.
The value of finding team members to augment your skill sets.
What it takes to lead a team.
Being authentic and honest with co-founders and team members.
The importance of taking a break mentally and physically.
Insights into how one can benefit from coaches and mentors.
Ryan’s scrappy idea will leave you laughing. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
You can learn more at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/telesign
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni. It’s humbling to see where you can grow and improve.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - A couple of months ago I bought an air fryer.
Worst - I keep buying needless things online. I keep buying iPads and chargers and then leave them on planes.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning routine and the most impactful thing you do in your Evening routine?
AM - I meditate in the morning or later in the day.
PM - I look at the next day’s schedule, put priorities in order, and make sure they align with what has to be completed.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I’d find an idea and make sure I execute it well. It’s important to identify and build great teams. Find really smart people that can take ideas and start scaling.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
It’s about being better every day; becoming a better friend, having better relationships, and taking care of my health and well-being.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Ryan Disraeli’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Ryan Disraeli – Co-Founder of Telesign
CONTACT: Twitter @telesign
WEBSITE: www.telesign.com
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Dr. Marek Buchman – Research Scientist of AbbVie BioPharmaceuticalsForbes List: SlovakiaYear: 2018Category: Science and EducationDr. Marek Buchman showed his chemistry talents early when he co-authored his first patent at 15. He left his home in Slovakia and studied at the University of Oxford, and to date, he scored the highest in their organic chemistry exams. Dr. Buchman earned his PhD. from the KC Nicolao lab at Rice University, where he co-authored a patent that a pharma company recently licensed.He currently works as a research scientist and is a postdoctoral fellow at the biopharmaceutical company, AbbVie in Chicago.Our conversation takes us on his educational journey including:Crediting his parent’s philosophy of trying things for a week to find his talents.The advantages of attending a school for gifted children.Finding a mentor who made the subject of chemistry interesting.The science prize - having a planet named after him.The Oxford experience.The importance of ballroom dancing.The transition from academia to private industry.Dr. Buchman has ambitious goals for his role in the drug discovery process. We wish him the best as he continues his contributions to medical science.“Under 30 Seconds Round”1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?"Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis by Laszlo Kurti & Barbara Czako" (https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Applications-Reactions-Organic-Synthesis/dp/0124297854)2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?Best - Learning how to solve problems using chemistry; learning when to switch strategies when something is not working.Worst - None3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?AM - A quick shower and great Gordon Ramsay breakfast.PM - Reading for an hour before bed.4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?I’d find a good way to invest the money. I’d still go to college. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.5. What’s something you never knew you needed?Having good friends and people I can rely on.In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…The city / country you’re tuning in from!How Dr. Marek Buchman’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members! GUEST INFO: Dr. Marek Buchman – Research Scientist of BioPharmaceuticalsCONTACT: Twitter @MarekBuchman and Instagram @Marek.BuchmanWEBSITE:https://www.abbvie.com/our-company.html?utm_campaign=cc_herenow_2020_rep&utm_medium=psearch&utm_source=google&utm_content=brand%20core&utm_term=abbvie%20biopharmaceuticalHOST INFO: Phil MichaelsSOCIAL: @iamphilmichaelsYOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaelsPODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.comPHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Lizz Warner – Founder of Gleam Dating
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2020
Category: Media
Ever wonder what makes a video go viral? My guest Lizz Warner is extremely talented at creating social media content that does just that. Lizz is the creator of BuzzFeed’s first travel brand called “Bring Me!” which became the #1 Travel Publisher on the Internet in under a year with over 4-billion views.
She was also the content creator for NBC’s Snapchat for the 2016 and 2018 Olympics. On top of that, she was a producer for Joe Biden’s social media campaign while simultaneously working on her app. Her app is a modern-day dating timesaver called Gleam. It allows people to screen their dates over a video call before meeting them in person.
Lizz shared some great insights on how to create viral videos including:
Her story on creating content that positively affects people’s lives.
Being a bit of a data scientist to understand who watches a video.
The importance of testing, experimenting, and reiterating.
The first three seconds rule.
Insights into the use of video titles, visuals, audio, and graphics.
Lizz is an expert in knowing how to test both content and products for usability and marketing. She gives a behind-the-scenes view of how she created Gleam and how the app will expand because of consumer research.
I enjoyed how Lizz shared her great takeaways for making her products a success. I know you’ll be able to implement her strategies right away!
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
The Mom Test, Rob Fitzpatrick. It shows you how to test an idea without bias.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Buying Tesla stock at the right time.
Worst - Investing in BP. People don’t want to invest in oil and gas.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - I don’t have a morning routine. I roll out of bed when I have to.
PM - I tend to get most of my work done late at night when it’s quiet and silent. I suggest people just do what’s right for them.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I would put the money towards the new dating app I’m creating. Or I would start a production company that was geared towards saving the planet.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
My Vitamix. I even make my own almond milk!
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Lizz Warner’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Lizz Warner – Founder of Glean Dating
CONTACT: Twitter @wanderlizz and Instagram @wanderlizz
WEBSITE: GleamDating.com
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Julian Gluck - A Military Pilot in US Air Force
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2020
Category: Law and Policy
My guest today is in the Law and Policy category and is only the third military member selected for the honor.
Julian Gluck is a B-52 Stratofortress pilot and flight commander for the U.S. Air Force. He has flown combat missions against ISIS and the Taliban and served as the executive officer of the Department of Defense’s largest bomb group. In 2018, the Air Force Times chose him as Airman of the Year, another prestigious honor.
Julian was recently nominated to serve as the next Chairman of the Company Grade Officers Council for all 49,000 captains and lieutenants in the Air Force, and even Space Force. And he has directly advised military leaders at the Pentagon. He is also in the ABC documentary “Everyday Heroes.”
Julian’s military experiences have contributed to his leadership skills, which are exemplary and impressive. He shares his experiences in his endless hours of volunteer work. One of his projects centers on helping people in the civilian world understand and dispel many of the misconceptions of military life. Through his work with the Civil Air Patrol, Julian encourages and shows civilians how to give service to the community without becoming a member of the military.
I especially enjoyed our conversation in the “30 under 30 Round,” which has even more insights on how Julian lives his life and excels in leadership.
Julian is a true inspiration. He is so deserving of this Forbes honor.
*NOTE: The views expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or United States government.
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
Meditations, Marcus Aurelius. I read Stoic meditations every morning. I love philosophy and theology.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Joining the U.S. Air Force.
Worst - Investing in precious metals through mutual funds.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - I wake up and check the news. I read a Stoic mediation and pick a weekly virtue that I think about and meditate on.
PM - I do nonprofit or volunteer work in the evenings. Then I go on a run to clear my mind and listen to music.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I would find a group of individuals I trust that represent several life sectors. I’d look for opportunities to aid others, probably through a nonprofit.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Technology such as Zoom. I’ve been able to connect with family and to work with people in all different sectors. It’s amazing what technology can allow us to do.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Julian Gluck’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Julian Gluck – Military Pilot at US Air Force
CONTACT: Instagram @JulianRGluck
WEBSITE: www.JulianGluck.com
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Milan Reinartz – CEO of iVideoSmart
Forbes List: Asia
Year: 2018
Category: Media. Marketing, and Advertising
Milan Reinartz is the CEO of iVideoSmart (iVS). The company is South East Asia’s largest B2B video publishing and monetization platform. It’s like YouTube for business. iVS allows businesses to monetize their video content more effectively with a unique, proprietary process. iVS reaches over 120 million unique views on over 1.3 billion pages each month.
Milan quickly realized that even though he was making a great living working in advertising, he could make even more money being true to his calling as an entrepreneur. He realized through his early experience of flipping “things” over the Internet that he could achieve great profit margins. More importantly, he didn’t have to work such long hours to reach his financial goals.
Milan explained his first successful venture and the process to get there. I was impressed with what Milan learned from that experience and how his approach has changed as he’s continued to grow his new company.
As a coach, I can clearly see how Milan’s success is a result of hard work and passion. Yet at some point, a successful leader empowers his team to take on more responsibility and ownership for the product or company to really succeed and grow. Milan addressed that in our conversation. He also spoke about the need to listen to his staff, investors, and customers.
We also discussed how he approaches company challenges so that problems can be solved quickly and how to structure the environment for quick pivots.
Milan’s personal story is unique and interesting. His road to continued success is inspiring. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*uck, Mark Manson. I think most people's biggest problems are their values, ego, and how they approach things. I think Manson has a good method for entrepreneurs to change their approaches.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Building a house in New Zealand.
Worst - My shoe collection.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning routine and the most impactful thing you do in your Evening routine?
AM - Yoga - three or four times a week. Bike riding or other exercises.
PM - Cuddling with my fiancé and having a glass of whiskey.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
Find out what to do and who to do it with. Build a team, look for a partner or co-founder.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Time. Time for myself.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Milan Reinartz’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Milan Reinartz – CEO of iVideoSmart
CONTACT: Instagram @milan_sgp
WEBSITE: ivs.TV
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Julius Bachmann – Coach from Volate
Forbes List: Europe
Year: 2017
Category: Financing
It’s not every day that I get to have a conversation with a fellow coach, especially one who joins me in the Forbes under 30 club!
It took some time for Julius Bachmann to realize he was a working coach and much more than just an advisor to start-up companies needing help in developing the monetary side of their business. He is now breaking new territory as an executive and team coach, plus serving as a venture capital advisor based in Berlin.
As a former Coach at Volate, he worked with European founders on tackling personal, organizational, and business growth topics. He also serves as a VC expert advisor to the European Commission on its Horizon 2020 program.
Phil says, “Not every athlete has a coach, but every Olympian does.” If you want to take your performance to the next level - invest in a coach.
Our conversation covered so many topics including:
The unique health and happiness company Julius advises
Overcoming the stigma of coaching in Germany
The importance of non-judgment and having an open curiosity when meeting people
Accepting people where they are in their coaching journey
Appreciation and gratitude
Acting as a partner to his clients
The importance of accountability
How reaching goals accelerates with the guidance of a coach
Some of the successful people who invested in themselves by investing in a coach
Julius is someone to be admired for his approach to helping others achieve their goals. He has a great talent for guiding a client’s journey to success. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did and please, take him up on his very generous offer in the notes below.
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book?
Mindset - The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck.
2. What’s one of the worst investments you’ve ever made?
Worst - Investing in some companies that went bankrupt.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
I work out and meditate.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of go to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
Finance work from the operating perspective. CFO software stack is absolutely broken and there is a need to start a company that helps finance professionals, especially small companies.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
An eBook reader with backlight
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Julian Bachmann’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Julius Bachmann
CONTACT: Twitter @jmbachmann | Instagram @julius_bachmann | Linkedin https://de.linkedin.com/in/jmbachmann
WEBSITE: https://www.jmbachmann.com
COUPON CODE DISCOUNT for audience: 3 for 2 offer on founder coaching sessions; go to https://www.jmbachmann.com - use contact form and mention Phil with F30 Podcast for discount.
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Madhavi Shankar – CEO of Space Basic
Forbes List: Asia
Year: 2020
Category: Enterprise Technology
Madhavi Shankar had two career goals – to be on the Forbes list and to succeed as an entrepreneur. This year Madhavi reached both those goals in her role as co-founder and CEO of the mobile and web app Space Basic.
The app is a platform to manage hostels and student housing matters including attendance, payments, and room allotment. It may sound simple, but the end results of using this app have incredible benefits and cost-saving implications for a number of stakeholder ecosystems.
Space Basic has had fast growth as a company and in adding app users. Since launching in 2017, it reached 200,000 users last year and is on target to reach one-million users this year.
In 2019 Madhavi was named one of the Top 60 Women Transforming India by the Indian government and the United Nations.
Madhavi certainly knows how to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way and works both instinctively and methodically. Some of the many things she shared with me include:
Her unique insights on the value of working at startups before starting her own entrepreneurial journey.
The importance of due diligence to understand ecosystems and opportunities.
How her work in the due diligence phase has created a loyal client.
Understanding how to work with teams and finding ways to inspire them.
The importance of encouraging employees to contribute to the company as well as seeking opportunities for personal growth.
Her own take on the importance of “gut” feelings.
The desire of working to improve her home country of India.
Her love of self-learning using books, podcasts, and tutorial videos.
The importance of mentors.
Her next ambitious set of goals to grow the company.
Madhavi’s leadership skills are impressive. She shares a number of memorable strategies that helped her to grow her company quickly and successfully. I hope you’ll be inspired by her unique perspectives.
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
The Lean Startup, Eric Ries. It gave me a head start on my startup.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - My company.
Worst - Maybe some poor investment in the stock market.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning and Evening routines?
AM - Meditation. I use the Calm app.
PM - Meditation if I missed it earlier. I get my “steps” on the treadmill while on the phone.
4. If you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of going to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
I’d still go to college. Since I’m passionate about the education space I’d probably start something similar, but sooner.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Patience.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Madhavi Shankar’s story has inspired you and your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Madhavi Shankar – CEO of Space Basic
CONTACT: Twitter @madhavi_shankar / Instagram @madhavishankar
WEBSITE: https://www.spacebasic.com/
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with Forbes 30” podcast is Jordan Levy – CEO of Capstone Source
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2017
Category: Education
My friend and guest Jordan Levy bridges the gap of bringing Higher Education students to the workplace through unique experiential learning opportunities.
His company, CapSource makes it easy for educators and companies to match skills and needs through hands-on collaborations that expose students to new circumstances with real stakeholders, challenges, and outcomes.
Jordan has started two Ed-Tech companies and today, CapSource has over 200 company partners providing learning experiences to over 3,000 students at 50 different institutions around the globe. Some of his clients include Fordham, the University of Texas at Dallas, University of Illinois, and Notre Dame.
Jordan’s global teams are in the Middle East and Asia with a home base in New York City. It’s our shared belief that it’s important for entrepreneurs to make sure one enjoys life and living surroundings for creativity, physical and psychological safety.
Jordan and I shared mutual philosophies including:
How teams that work virtually may become the new normal.
This is the time to build good processes and great teams; network and keep learning from Fortune 500 executives and their corporate responsibilities.
Being in the fortunate position of team building when other companies are not.
Lessons from Michael Gerber on working on a business instead of becoming an employee of their own business.
The opportunities gained by being a Forbes Under 30 award recipient and the value of mentors.
Jordan also describes his own student journey that lacked real-world applications.
That experience was his inspiration for experiential learning - empowering students to be in a position to solve real problems.
How students build a case study of the company while being mentioned and coached simultaneously.
How it puts students in a position of advantage over those not having practical work experience.
The challenges of integrating new learning techniques into a curriculum.
The unique proposition of CapSource’s ability to onboard clients.
Proving a return on investment to higher education institutions.
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
The Art of Gathering, by Priva Parker. It’s about the importance of people.
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Education companies.
Worst - Investing in novelty essential diffusers - haven’t made money, but learning about physical products and supply chains.
3. Guilty Pleasures
Tuna Tartar; the ability to host friends and create relationships.
4. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning routine and most impactful thing you do in your Evening routine?
I sleep smarter and make it a point to learn every day.
5. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of go to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
Maybe building a side hustle type school and simple product.
6. What’s something you never knew you needed?
Zen Gardens that I buy as gifts.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Jordan Levy’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Jordan Levy – CEO of Capstone Source
CONTACT: On Instagram @Lordanjevy
WEBSITE: http://www.capstonesource.com/
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL MEDIA: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithforbes30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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Today’s guest on the “Phil with F30” podcast is Georges Clement – Co-Founder of JustFix.NYC
Forbes List: USA
Year: 2018
Category: Law & Policy
At 12-years of age, Georges Clement left an all-American small town in Kansas to discover what the world has to offer. He convinced his parents that moving to New York City was the thing to do so he could expand his thinking and world-view. He fell in love with the city and early on observed how his neighborhood was rapidly changing with big developers moving in and landlords changing the rental scene. Although he loved the city, he felt the need to move again. This time it was to get his degree at the University of Wisconsin. Then there was another move when he studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa.
With a degree in sociology, Georges went searching for a career path. He became a generalist at a tech startup and later went to General Assembly as a Product Manager, leading the expansion of GA’s business programs around the world.
Georges is a Cheng Fellow and Kennedy Fellow with a Masters of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. After his fellowships, Georges combined all of his background and skill sets to co-found JustFix.nyc.
Just Fix is a nonprofit that helps NY city renters fight evictions, request repairs, get an apartment’s rent history, and even takes a landlord to court if necessary. The organization won the Justice Innovation of the Year award from the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law. Georges has also been selected as an American Express Emerging Innovator.
Georges really understands the housing issues of NY City and the consequences it has for both property owners and tenants, and its implications for social justice issues being part of mainstream conversations today. I think you will really enjoy his insights, plus how he has the unique ability to look at issues from varying perspectives.
Once again, using all of his entrepreneurial skills, Georges is helping a friend start a new company called Enrich. The firm helps connect talented college graduates from unrepresented backgrounds to get jobs with top companies. Check the show notes below if you are looking to hire and want to diversify your candidate pipeline. It’s a very timely and needed initiative.
“Under 30 Seconds Round”
1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?
Why David Sometimes Wins: Leadership, Organization, and Strategy in the California Farm Worker Movement, Marshall Ganz
2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?
Best - Hair clippers because I can’t get to the barbershop during the quarantine.
Worst - A stand-up desk I bought in quarantine that collapsed.
3. What’s the most impactful thing you do in your Morning routine and most impactful thing you do in your Evening routine?
AM - Iced coffee and bagel.
PM - Dinner with family, friends, and loved ones whenever possible.
4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of go to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?
College is very important. I’d look at companies that examine wealth gap disparities.
5. What’s something you never knew you needed?
A durable phone case.
In the REVIEW SECTION, please let me know…
The city / country you’re tuning in from!
How Georges Cement’s story has inspired you! And, your favorite part of this episode!
Tell me the questions you’d like me to ask future Forbes 30 Under 30 Members!
GUEST INFO: Georges Clement – Co-Founder of JustFix.NYC
CONTACT: Twitter @JustFixNYC and Instagram @furiousgeorges
WEBSITE: http://www.justfix.nyc/
HOST INFO: Phil Michaels
SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithF30.com
PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com
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