Turning Point with Blaine Bertsch: Recent Episodes
Blaine Bertsch
Stories and Strategies from the World of Business with host Blaine Bertsch, CEO at Dryrun. Join Blaine as he has frank and honest discussions with experienced entrepreneurs. Where they come from, the challenges they faced, how they overcame adversity and where they are headed today.
In this episode of "Turning Point," Blaine Bertsch, CEO of Dryrun, interviews Ilya Kroogman, founder of The Digital Panda, about his entrepreneurial journey and business growth. They discuss the challenges of hiring and the transition to remote work, emphasizing the importance of hiring for culture fit. The conversation dives into the impact of the pandemic on agencies, highlighting the benefits and challenges of a distributed team.
Ilya shares his insights on client relationships, networking, and the importance of positive interactions for business development. They also explore the evolving dynamics of office culture and the economic impact of the pandemic, as well as touch on the role of AI in marketing and the resilience of businesses during tough times. Tune in to learn from their experiences and gain valuable insights into navigating the changing business landscape.
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe, follow, and like "Turning Point" for actionable insights and lessons from those who have successfully navigated the complexities of building a business.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/izXw6IYzoyk
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about Ilya at thedigitalpanda.com
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about Mike and AMZ Advisors at amzadvisers.com/
Entrepreneur #founder #business #turningpoint #entrepreneurstories
Summary
In this conversation, Blaine Bertsch, CEO of Dryrun, interviews Ilya Kroogman, founder of Digital Panda, discussing their entrepreneurial journeys, business growth, hiring challenges, and the shift to remote work. They share insights on starting a business, pivoting, client relationships, and the importance of hiring for culture. The conversation also touches on the impact of the pandemic on agencies and the value of distributed work. The conversation covers the impact of remote work, the challenges and benefits of a distributed team, the changing dynamics of office culture, the economic impact of the pandemic, and the future outlook for businesses. It also delves into the challenges faced by creative agencies, the impact of AI on marketing, and the resilience of businesses during tough times.
Takeaways
- Entrepreneurial Journey: Ilya's journey from high school jobs to founding Digital Panda and the challenges and learning experiences along the way.
- Business Growth and Pivoting: The evolution of Digital Panda from selling ice cream at a night market to expanding into UX/UI design and marketing strategy.
- Client Relationships: The importance of client relationships, networking, and the impact of good work and positive interactions on business development.
- Hiring Challenges: The significance of being selective in hiring, testing rigorously, and hiring for culture fit, especially in a distributed work environment.
- Pandemic Impact and Remote Work: The challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic for agencies, the shift to remote work, and the value of distributed teams. Remote work has both advantages and disadvantages, with the pandemic accelerating the acceptance of distributed teams.
- The pandemic has changed the dynamics of office culture, leading to a more hybrid approach to work.
- The economic impact of the pandemic has been significant, with businesses facing challenges and uncertainties.
- Creative agencies have had to adapt to changing market dynamics, including the impact of AI on marketing and the need for high
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
Join us on "Turning Point" as Mike Begg, co-founder and CEO of AMZ Advisors, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of his business. Mike discusses his early experiences, from working at a marina to selling on Amazon and launching his own brand. He explains the changes in the Amazon marketplace and the importance of building a professional brand with content marketing. Mike also talks about transitioning from selling products to starting an agency to help other brands succeed on Amazon. The conversation covers the growth and scaling of a business, focusing on challenges, strategies, and the importance of company culture. Tune in to learn about effective communication, clear goals, and the benefits of remote work in business success.
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe, follow, and like "Turning Point" for actionable insights and lessons from those who have successfully navigated the complexities of building a business.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dBC7Sxex-4E
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about Mike and AMZ Advisors at amzadvisers.com/
Entrepreneur #founder #business #turningpoint #entrepreneurstories
Summary
Mike Begg, co-founder and CEO of AMZ Advisors, shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the evolution of his business. He discusses his early experiences with entrepreneurship, including working at a marina and selling ice to boat owners. Mike then delves into his foray into e-commerce, starting with selling products on Amazon and eventually launching his own brand. He explains the changes in the Amazon marketplace over the years and the importance of building a professional brand and utilizing content marketing. Mike also talks about the transition from selling products to starting an agency to help other brands succeed on Amazon. The conversation explores the growth and scaling of a business, focusing on the challenges and strategies involved. The speakers discuss the transition from a small team to a larger organization, the importance of building a strong company culture, and the benefits of remote work. They also touch on the ideal customer for the business and the value of effective communication and clear goals.
Takeaways
- Entrepreneurship is often driven by a desire for independence and a dislike for authority.
- Building a professional brand and utilizing content marketing are crucial for success on Amazon.
- The Amazon marketplace has become more competitive, with higher advertising costs and the need for larger budgets.
- Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands can choose to focus on DTC channels or leverage Amazon as a sales channel.
- Cashflow is a critical factor in business growth and success.
- Starting an agency can be a way to generate cashflow and leverage expertise to help other brands succeed. Transitioning from a small team to a larger organization requires careful planning and delegation of responsibilities.
- Building a strong company culture is essential for long-term success and employee satisfaction.
- Remote work offers the advantage of accessing talent from anywhere, but effective communication and clear goals are crucial.
- The ideal customer for the business is a physical product brand with an online revenue of 5 to 20 million per year.
- Effective communication tools like Slack and regular team meetings are vital for remote teams.
- Cashflow forecasting and analysis can be a challenge for growing businesses, and tools like Dryrun can help with financial planning.
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
Join us on "Turning Point" as Brandon Gano, Co-founder of Whadif, shares his entrepreneurial journey. From starting young to focusing on larger, more profitable clients, Brandon discusses the importance of having a clear mission and vision for sustainable growth. He highlights building relationships, leveraging testimonials, and knowing where your customers are. Brandon also talks about his transition from running a franchise to helping entrepreneurs achieve time and financial freedom. Discover how clarity, confidence, and community play crucial roles in business success and learn actionable steps to improve your own venture.
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe, follow, and like "Turning Point" for actionable insights and lessons from those who have successfully navigated the complexities of building a business.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ehJuNPOmjr4
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about Brandon at gowhadif.com
Entrepreneur #founder #business #turningpoint #entrepreneurstories
Summary
Brandon Gano, Co-founder of Whadif, shares his journey as an entrepreneur and the importance of identifying the right clients and offering exceptional customer experience. He started his entrepreneurial journey at a young age, providing services to his neighbors and eventually running his own business. When he realized that his current client mix was not sustainable, he made the decision to focus on larger clients who could provide more frequent and profitable orders. Brandon emphasized the importance of having a clear mission and vision for the company and using that as a guide when making decisions. He also highlighted the value of building relationships and obtaining testimonials to establish trust and attract clients. Brandon shares his experience of building and scaling businesses, focusing on the importance of knowing where your customers are and providing value. He emphasizes the need for clarity, confidence, and community in business ownership. Brandon also discusses his transition from building a franchise to starting a new business focused on helping entrepreneurs achieve time and financial freedom. The conversation concludes with a discussion on how business owners can take the first steps toward gaining clarity and improving their businesses.
Takeaways
- Entrepreneurship often starts at a young age and is driven by a natural inclination towards business and providing value to others.
- Identifying the right clients is crucial for sustainable growth and profitability.
- Having a clear mission and vision for the company helps guide decision-making and ensures alignment with the target market.
- Building relationships and obtaining testimonials are effective strategies for attracting clients and establishing trust. Knowing where your customers are and providing value is crucial for business success.
- Clarity, confidence, and community are the key elements business owners need to focus on.
- Transitioning from being a business operator to a business owner is essential for achieving time and financial freedom.
- Taking an assessment can help business owners gain clarity and identify areas for improvement in their businesses.
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
In this episode of Turning Point, Herb Cogliano, Managing Partner at Aspire Growth Advisors, shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights into the employment business. He discusses the early industry days and how his father's company pioneered temporary staffing. Herb emphasizes relationship-building and its evolution in the staffing industry. He talks about pivoting businesses, data-driven decision-making, and the value of a growth playbook.
Herb also shares insights on employer branding, value proposition, beta testing, and iterative strategies. He discusses the benefits of business coaching, simplifying strategic plans, and bringing visions to life. Herb stresses the importance of people's decisions, fostering a culture of hearts and minds, and refining hiring practices. He explores challenges like culture fit vs. remote work, hiring self-motivated individuals, and using job scorecards. Finally, Herb highlights aligning with values, working with revenue-doubling entrepreneurs, and purpose-driven partnerships.
Don't miss an episode! Subscribe, follow, and like "Turning Point" for actionable insights and lessons from those who have successfully navigated the complexities of building a business.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rzE2uMqm27I
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at https://turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about Herb at https://www.aspiregrowthadvisors.com/
Connect with Herb at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hcogliano/
Entrepreneur #founder #business #turningpoint #entrepreneurstories
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
Adam Leventer, the visionary behind Scriberbase, unveils the narrative of his entrepreneurial voyage. Diving into the intricacies of launching a consulting venture and navigating the turbulent waters of the couponing industry, Adam talks about the evolution of Scriberbase into a premier authority in subscription commerce on a global scale.
Emphasizing the pivotal role of recurring revenue, he sheds light on the trajectory of loyalty and membership programs in the years to come. Adam extends an invitation to enterprises seeking to establish or augment their recurring revenue streams to engage with Scriberbase, which is poised to guide them toward sustainable success.
Watch on YouTube:
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at https://turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about Adam at https://scriberbase.com/
Connect with Adam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-j-levinter-sbase/
Entrepreneur, #founder, #controller, #cashflow, #revenue, #profit, #finance, #business, #podcast, #CEO
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
Zach Coleman, the owner of creative agencies GymMark and Creatitive, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges he faced in the creative industry. He discusses the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset and the influence of his parents' entrepreneurial journey. Zach talks about his transition from the corporate world to starting his own agency, emphasizing the need for continuous growth and the importance of providing value to clients.
Zach also discusses the challenges of balancing creativity and profitability in the agency business. The conversation explores the evolution of business in the digital age and the importance of building relationships and experiences. The conversation also touches on the benefits and challenges of remote work and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Finally, it delves into the services provided by GymMark, which focuses on helping gym owners build a sustainable lead flow and create a strong community.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zIzypxZH25o
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at https://turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about GymMark at https://gymmark.com/
Connect with Zach at https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-colman/
Entrepreneur, #founder, #controller, #cashflow, #revenue, #profit, #finance, #business, #podcast, #CEO
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
On this episode of Turning Point, Blaine Bertsch interviews Sam Jenkins, CEO of Punchcard Systems. They cover his entrepreneurial journey, focusing on his shift from web design to creating a healthcare analytics platform, and the nuances of team management. The discussion highlights culture fit, the art of hiring effectively, and fostering a remote working environment conducive to mastery and balance.
Sam also discusses maintaining work-life harmony, building a lasting team through trust and open communication, and the roles of rest and the subconscious in problem-solving. Additionally, they touch on conducting impactful experiments, managing finances wisely for growth, and the challenges of leadership in entrepreneurship. Joij Blaine and Sam as they share stories and challenges that we all face as entrepreneurs.
Watch on youtube:
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at https://turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about Sam at https://punchcard.io/
Connect with Sam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samjenkins/
Entrepreneur, #founder, #controller, #cashflow, #revenue, #profit, #finance, #business, #podcast, #CEO
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
In this episode, host Blain Bertsch, CEO at Dryrun, is joined by Matt Howard from Maverick Agency in Calgary, a creative agency known for its innovative work.
The conversation explores Matt's entrepreneurial journey, starting from his early fascination with technology and creativity to founding Maverick Agency. Matt shares his experiences navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, from high school ventures to partnering with others and scaling his business. He discusses the importance of focusing on passion, doing great work, and making tough decisions to drive growth.
Blaine and Matt also explore the current business landscape, highlighting the increased scrutiny on projects, evolving client needs, and the importance of adaptation. They discuss strategies for thriving in a changing environment, including refining service offerings, prioritizing client partnerships, and embracing evolution.
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or an aspiring business owner, this podcast offers valuable perspectives and practical advice for navigating the challenges of running a successful business.
Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/5yeR-0xScCc
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at https://turningpoint.buzzsprout.com
Learn more about Matt and Maverick at https://www.maverickagency.ca/
Connect with Matt at https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardmatthew/
Entrepreneur, #founder, #controller, #cashflow, #revenue, #profit, #finance, #business, #podcast, #CEO
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
In this episode of "Turning Point," host Blaine Bertsch welcomes Rob Danard from Black Owl Systems to discuss his story of entrepreneurship and innovation. The episode kicks off with Blaine reminiscing about meeting Rob in Texas during South by Southwest, highlighting the significance of networking in such events. Rob shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his early ventures in social media and digital marketing through to his current position at Black Owl Systems, focusing on lease accounting solutions.
The conversation dives into the challenges of digital marketing in an era of information overload, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and referrals over mass digital communications. Rob and Blaine discuss the shift towards human-centric approaches in business development and the importance of building networks and partnerships based on trust and mutual value.
This episode offers a deep dive into Rob Danard's entrepreneurial path and sheds light on broader trends affecting businesses today.
Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/L9d1JLEJX1A
Learn more about Black Owl Systems at https://blackowlsystems.com/
Connect with Rob at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robdanard/
CFO, #accountant, #controller, #cashflow, #revenue, #profit, #finance, #business, #podcast
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
In this episode of "Turning Point," host Blaine Bertsch dives into the innovative world of e-commerce and dropshipping with guest Lior Pozin, CEO and co-founder of AutoDS. Lior shares his story of building AutoDS from its inception as a simple idea to the complexities of managing a global e-commerce platform. Lior shares his entrepreneurial beginnings, starting with a keen observation in the cell phone market, leading to the birth of AutoDS. Lior shares the challenges of scaling a business in the highly competitive digital marketplace, emphasizing the importance of quality, creativity, and customer experience in the dropshipping domain.
Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/aRDrXQbSUmI
Listen on your favourite podcast network or at
Learn more about AutoDS at https://www.autods.com/
smallbusiness, #entrepreneur, #founderstories #cashflow #dryrun #business #podcast #video
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
In the latest episode of "Turning Point," host Blaine Bertsch chats with Eric Mayville, the Co-Founder and CEO of Fairgame, where they aim to revolutionize the golf tech landscape, concentrating on building community and enhancing the golf experience through cutting-edge technology.
This episode dives into Eric's journey, tracing his path back to creative agency, Wondersauce, and through to Fairgame. Eric and Blaine talk about entrepreneurial spirit, stories of business, and an unwavering passion for innovation. Eric reminisces about his time at Wondersauce, reflecting on the agency's incredible growth and the significant role of culture and creativity in the agency sphere.
He also shares his seamless transition to Fairgame, a pursuit fueled by his love for golf and an ambition to foster change in a market primed for technological advancement.
Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/g-dT-KiGgN0
Learn more about Farigame at https://www.fairgamegolf.com/
smallbusiness, #entrepreneur, #founderstories #cashflow #dryrun #business #podcast #video
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
In this episode of Turning Point, Blaine engages in a conversation with entrepreneur Chris Wehbe from Caissa, an advisory firm that serves small businesses and nonprofits.
They discuss Chris’ experiences in managing a business across diverse cultural and regulatory environments. Drawing on his engineering background, Chris shares how it influences his business strategies, particularly underscoring the importance of effective negotiation skills. The discussion covers the challenges involved in marketing, identifying the right customer base, and the strategic decision-making between taking on new ventures and focusing on a specific niche.
Chris highlights the value of maintaining stability and consistency within a team, promoting a balance between innovative approaches and reliable practices. They also touch upon the necessity of balancing strategic planning with practical execution, ongoing research and development, and the vital role of customer feedback in shaping business growth.
Watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rACQXWR2K4Q
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwehbe/
Ciaocaissa.com
smallbusiness, #entrepreneur, #founderstories #cashflow #dryrun #business #podcast #video
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
This episode of "Turning Point," hosted by Blaine Bertsch, features a deep dive into user experience (UX) design with guest Satyam Kantamneni, Managing Partner & Chief Experience Officer from UX Reactor. The conversation explores the intricacies of UX design, Satyam's entrepreneurial journey, and the significant impact of UX on technology and business growth.
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Cc1RZV9wPLQ
Learn more about Satyam at https://uxreactor.com/
Listen on your favorite podcast network: https://turningpoint.buzzsprout.com/
smallbusiness, #entrepreneur, #founderstories #cashflow #dryrun #business #podcast #video
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
Join us on a compelling episode of "Turning Point" as we dive into the remarkable story of Mike Snyder, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps reserves, who seamlessly transitioned his military discipline and leadership prowess into the world of business.
Discover how Mike's unique blend of experiences shaped his approach to entrepreneurship, from his military tenure to his ventures in marketing and branding. Explore his insights on differentiating in a crowded marketplace, the power of listening to the market, and the transformative impact of rethinking traditional marketing strategies.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or marketer, this episode offers invaluable lessons and inspiration from a Marine's unexpected journey towards entrepreneurial success.
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
After a storied career building success within creative agencies, Chris Caldwell turned to developing a program called "Focus Management" that helps founders optimize their businesses by aligning teams, improving processes, and fostering a collaborative culture. He understands the importance of creating value for customers and going beyond simple money transactions by providing effective solutions to their problems. Caldwell's approach involves digging deeper to identify the main causes of business challenges, rather than just treating the symptoms, leading to practical advice to deal with the ups and downs of the service industry, and using agile methods to deliver the most value to customers.
Master the Future of Your Finances. From cash flow management to forecasting and scenario planning, see the impact of your decisions before you act.
dryrun.com
On this episode of Turning Point, Obed Maurice shares his journey of starting a virtual accounting firm through to an exit and on to his latest venture. Obed realized that traditional accounting practices were often painful for both accountants and clients. He developed a prototype for cloud accounting, accounting automation, and CFO services. He emphasizes the importance of understanding entrepreneurs' vision and needs, focusing on foundational aspects such as cash flow and financial independence. Obed believes that viewing the business through the lens of cash and profitability is crucial for success.
Lumpy cash flow?With dryrun you can see it and fix it!dryrun.com
In this podcast, Dena Patton, a successful entrepreneur and business coach, shares her journey of starting a PR and marketing agency in New York City in 1996. She talks about the challenges she faced and how she overcame them, emphasizing the importance of having a CEO self-care plan. Dena reminds us that as entrepreneurs, we often forget about taking care of ourselves, and having margins in life, downtime, and activation time is crucial for fueling inspiration and innovation. Her story inspires listeners to pursue their passions, take care of themselves, and never give up on their dreams.
Lumpy cash flow?With dryrun you can see it and fix it!dryrun.com
In this podcast episode, we dive into the story of Guy Bauer, an entrepreneur who started his own video agency, Umault, during the 2009 recession. Despite facing challenges in his early days, Guy persevered, and his business grew exponentially.
Guy's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, hard work, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, making his story an inspiration for those looking to make a difference in the world.
Learn more about Guy at https://umault.com/
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/J6n_htpioJI
#smallbusiness, #entrepreneur, #founderstories #cashflow #dryrun #videoproduction
Lumpy cash flow?With dryrun you can see it and fix it!dryrun.com
In this episode of Turning Point, entrepreneur Nicole McKenzie shares her journey to founding Momentum Accounting. After realizing that the traditional accounting model was not for her, she took the leap and found a whole new world of possibilities.
Nicole believes in empowering entrepreneurs and helping them achieve their goals. Building long-lasting relationships with her clients is essential, and she measures her success by her clients' success. Nicole's journey is an inspiration to all entrepreneurs and shows that with hard work, determination, and the right resources, you can achieve your dreams.
entrepreneur #accounting #podcast
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/bFh_1001Nwc
Lumpy cash flow?With dryrun you can see it and fix it!dryrun.com
In this episode of Turning Point, Drew English, Founder of Charter and Co. shares his experience of building a successful video production company. Drew talks about his turning point client that gave him the confidence to pursue his passion for video production full time.
He explains how he built a team of specialists, but as the company grew, he realized he wanted to pivot the model and build a network of video specialists who were the right fit for each different type of job they received. Drew shares his insights on the importance of finding the right people, building relationships, and creating a great people experience while keeping the business profitable.
Co-founder and CEO of Quickly, Kyle Friedman, is no stranger to the challenges of cash flow. A serial entrepreneur, Kyle experienced the effect rapid growth can have on a business. Tied with the ups and downs over the years as an entrepreneur, Kyle decided to turn his attention to helping businesses stay liquid, with Quickly, a service that gets their customers paid immediately for the invoices they send. Kyle and Blaine talk business, growth, cash flow and Quickly on this episode of Turning Point.
Watch on Youtube at: https://youtu.be/-tblbO0BTIc
Listen to Turning Point on Your Favorite Podcast Network or at
https://turningpoint.buzzsprout.com/
http://www.helloquickly.com
entrepreneur #business #innovation #startup #design #branding
Co-founder and Creative Director of Braind, Eduard Kankanyan sat down with Blaine to talk about the journey that led him to build a leading agency in Armenia, through to their expansion to the Canadian market. Find out how aiming high and thinking big helped Eduard gain significant media attention, putting Braind on the map, as well as the highs and lows of building a thriving business.
Watch on Youtube at: https://youtu.be/9PKNlHWgHuA
https://braind.am http://www.braind.ca/
entrepreneur #business #innovation #startup #design #branding
Business, entrepreneur, investing, innovation, startup
https://www.dryrun.com/resources
Steven Adjei is no stranger to entrepreneurship. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs in a region built on entrepreneurs, Steven quickly realized that a life in his chosen profession of pharmacy, wasn’t for him. He had much bigger aspirations. Near the end of business school, the idea for BlueCloud Health came into view.
Today, they “provide new ethical, sustainable and profitable healthcare investment opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa.” But the journey to success was fraught with life altering challenges for Steven. Here about the decade of darkness on this episode of Turning Point.
entrepreneur #business #innovation #startup
Mélanie Villeneuve came from a family of entrepreneurs and credits her parents with the “hustle and desire to serve” that led her to a life as an entrepreneur. Melanie shares a series of happy accidents that took her from Canada, to Singapore and back, with each experience building on another. Her relentless drive and smarts led her to her current venture, Urtica, where she builds captivating brands for food and farm to give small producers a platform that can reach a broader market. Explore Urtica at https://www.urtica.ca/.
entrepreneur #business #innovation #startup #farmtotable
Idris Fashan’s entrepreneurial journey had many twists and turns, with each experience compounding his skill as a marketer. Jumping from business initiatives to a drummer in a traveling band, a stint as a promoter, through to building a copy-writing business and finally a wealth of experience putting it all together in marketing. Idris is always on the lookout for opportunity and a better way to promote brands to the world.
entrepreneur #business #innovation #startup
https://www.dryrun.com/resources
Startup TNT burst on the scene just three years ago in Edmonton, Alberta with a grassroots, support-local approach to cultivating startup talent in ‘fly over country.’
From a modest start as a Thursday night networking event, to investment summits in multiple cities, TNT is helping investors find top innovators locally. Zack and Tim both cut their teeth in the startup world, preparing them to build an organization with a goal of $100M invested in 100 cities in 10 years.
Discover how Kevin Horek started his entrepreneurial journey as a designer, how he became a radio and podcast host with millions of listeners every month, and how his journey led him to his current role as C0-Founder & Chief Design Officer at Llearner.
Gregg has a storied career, building numerous tech companies from the earliest days of the web. He experienced wins, losses and exits throughout the years. Today he has taken his vast experience to Llearner, where he and his co-founders are building a social sharing site for life-long learning.
Adam dove into entrepreneurship right out of college and built his first company to an acquisition. But it wasn’t as smooth as it sounds. It rarely is. Adam shares the challenges and hard-earned experiences that led to his company today, Email Outreach Company, where he helps businesses that struggle to gain customers and grow.
It is one of the hardest decisions you have to make in small business: knowing when to quit. Pulling the plug on a project you love, or a business you invested everything in will cause a lot of anxiety and heartache. Unfortunately, sooner or later you have to make that decision. Mike and Blaine talk about things you should consider to know when it’s time to let go.
Our beer today:
Mike: Altstadt - Kolsch
Blaine: Resident Culture Brewing - Causal Continuum IPA
@altstadtbrewery @ResidentCulture
entrepreneur #smbs #craftbeer
Watch on Youtube at https://youtu.be/pzgRJWjle50
Listen to all our episodes at: https://www.mikeandblaine.com/podcast
https://mikeandblaine.com/
To say that Jarod has had a rapid accession as an entrepreneur is an understatement. From graduating High Schools at sixteen, through to a brief college career and marketing roles in the corporate world, Jared dove into entrepreneurship at a young age. After experiencing some of the challenges rapidly growing businesses face, Jared retooled, focused and created a Comet Fuel, a highly successful and focused marketing agency.
After starting out as an accountant, Derek had a long and storied career helping businesses thrive. Even though he views business as a complex series of systems, he preaches that it always comes down to people. Today Derek is still helping businesses through Unconstrained CFO.
Shortly after graduating from business school, Jyotsna immersed her self in the world of retail, but a desire to learn and grow drove her to dive into entrepreneurship. After some early success writing and self-publishing books, Jyotsna saw a much larger opportunity and created Happy Self Publishing where they help experts from around the globe create and launch their books.
Monique Allen comes from a family of entrepreneurs. It’s built into her DNA. So when she started working as a landscaper at the age of eighteen, it was no surprise that she had a full-fledged, growing business by the age of twenty-one. Fast forward to today and Monique is an author and owns a thriving business built on the back of her lifelong passion for landscaping.
Arjun has had a rapid ascension in the business world. From graduating high school at 16, mastering marketing soon after, through to building a successful and rapidly growing business. Discover how Arjun got started, the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey, and find out how he’s reached success at such a frantic rate.
Wally has a long and storied career in payment automation. Having exited from technology business in the mid-2000s. Wally switched his attention to helping businesses better manage payments in the digital realm via his company, SparcPay. Discover how Wally got started, the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey, find out how a broken elevator nearly cost Wally his business!
Starting out her career, Aimee gravitated towards non-profits, helping them to forecast and better understand their finances. Fast forward to today, and Aimee helps her many business clients maintain financial stability and grow, through her thriving business, My Virtual CFO. Find out how Aimee’s entrepreneurial journey got started, the ups and downs, and how she advises her client today!
Seasoned entrepreneur, Josh Little, aims to evolve the use of video within business communications to a new level beyond video calls. Discover how Josh got started, the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey, and learn about his side hustle, his amazing pickles!
Dubbed ‘The Price Whisperer’, Per Sjöfors is truly an expert in pricing. After founding and selling his electronics business, Per found a deep interest in pricing tactics and created a system that looks at pricing in a holistic manner, rather than as an isolated endeavour. To date, Sjöfors & Partners has helped over 700 businesses rethink their pricing, delivering dramatically improved revenue and profit.
You can find Per at sjofors.com
After cutting his teeth at a ‘big four’ accounting firm, Josh took the leap and started his own business advising others as a CFO. He shares how he not only built his own business and drove growth through the value he offered, but how he used his experience to help his clients better manage their businesses and thrive.
David Jenyns’ storied career began in technology but his true talent emerged in marketing. After running a highly successful agency for years, David realized that he wanted a way to reduce the load on his shoulders and found the answer in business systems. That led to his book and business, ‘Systemology’ where he spends his time today guiding the way for entrepreneurs.
Rachel Fisch, Chief Global Development Officer at High Rock Accounting, reached her role through a fearless approach to building partnerships, and nurturing her network.
Rachel is the Chief Global Development Officer at High Rock Accounting, a rapidly growing firm with big aspirations. The way Rachel reached this role is the interesting part. A bookkeeper by trade, Rachel ran her own business early in her career but opportunity led her into a series of interesting roles. One common thread ties the opportunities together: her knack for networking, building relationships and asking questions.
By accident or opportunity – Ricardo started in the technology industry when he was hired back as a consultant and could never go back to big corporate. Blaine and Ricardo talk technology and the evolution of security and the tools we use every day to support the WFH world we currently live in.
Security and the continuous push for individualistic technology that brings people together but also creates risk for information and data. Recently – Ricardo and his business partner started Visitorbay.com to assist with office management when people visit office/business environments. With the COVID Pandemic – they were able to pivot to meet the need of asking important COVID related and required questions to support contact tracing. Listen/watch the Podcast for more.
Making life choices for your career is a driving force for Arshad and what kept him moving from one industry to another. He believes in building experiences and giving clients/customers what they are expecting and hoping for in engagement with his business environment.
When Arshad decided to move into a SaaS start-up his focus was laser targeted on supporting businesses and their employees with a payroll solution that allowed employees the flexibility to decide when they could get paid based on their unique and individualistic needs to support their personal cash flow requirements. Enjoy the Podcast and the passion Arshad has put behind his business for others.
From watching his parents have their own businesses to working in the digital space for a number of years for his own agency – Jesse had a solid grounding to be able to take the leap into his own start-up business. Blaine and Jesse talk through the trials and tribulations of the entrepreneur world and the struggles that build strength in a small company and the requirements for Founders to take on to be successful. Listen for more key insights from Jesse’s career in the full interview.
After building a leading, Toronto creative agency, Erin Bury was looking for a new challenge and found opportunity in the tech startup world. Today, she is Co-founder & CEO at rapidly growing, online will platform Willful.
Erin Bury has a natural talent for pulling growth levers in business, tied with true operational savvy. From her experience growing a leading creative agency focusing on startups, Erin was immersed in startup culture. When she decided it was time for a new challenge, she saw the perfect fit alongside her husband, in their venture Willful, where they’re redefining online estate planning.
From an award-winning illustrator to tackling the publishing industry with a groundbreaking book, Corey is truly a creative force.
Through early ups and downs in their business, Pulp Studios, Corey and his business partner turned their attention to maintaining a small shop that focuses on high-quality. Over a decade later and the partners have garnered multiple awards for their creative work. Next on the horizon, creating their own content, starting with a graphic novel that deals with true-to-life and often heavy topics facing today’s youth.
From a start selling watches in a Kenyan marketplace as a boy, to building and selling a wildly successful software company in North America, Ashif Mawji has experienced a lifetime of ups and downs in the business world.
Ashif’s entrepreneurial journey started early in life as he brokered a partnership with a local watch shop, allowing him to sell the timepieces on the weekend in a market in Kenya. After a move to Canada, Ashif discovered a love of software, tied with a talent for recognizing opportunity. His software company, Upside Software was quickly recognized internationally for its quality and performance, leading to an acquisition. Today, Ashif is an investor and highly active in his community, serving on numerous boards.
Michèle Hecken turned language translation into a global business and an acquisition, that set the stage for her role today as a highly sought after executive coach.
Michèle’s entrepreneurial journey started in Germany, pre-internet when she grabbed the opportunity in corporate language translation. Fast forward a few years and Michèle found herself based in North America with a rapidly growing business, built on rock-solid processes that led to an acquisition. Today, Michèle shares her extensive experience and insights with entrepreneurs through her role as an executive coach.
Starting out as an accountant, Dave Bodnarchuk quickly moved into technology. Several products later and Dave’s company, ElectionBuddy, has revolutionized online voting for organizations.
Dave dove into technology while in college, where he studied accounting. Early on, he found opportunity in the problems of bloated paperwork and devised tech solutions to solve the issues. After college, Dave spent some time in a global accounting firm, then an international software company. But after a decade of working for others, Dave set out on his own to tackle more problems with technology. Today, his company, ElectionBuddy has caught fire in the remote environment as he helps organizations conduct fast, easy and secure elections.
The spark for serial entrepreneur, Shaheel Hooda, started young in the family business, leading him into businesses of his own, a Harvard MBA, driving two tech companies to success and finally, a role as a venture capitalist. Hear about his successes, failures and learnings along the way.
Shaheel Hooda was responsible for the books for four of his father’s companies at the ripe old age of nine. The early life experiences led him to a lifetime of entrepreneurial pursuits, often in completely different sectors where drawing on his experience tied with a drive to learn and take on new challenges led to numerous wins and a few defeats. As experiences compiled, Shaheel turned to advising entrepreneurs and taking a role as a managing partner for an early stage venture fund.
From a founder in the tech space, through to an acquisition and multiple businesses along the way, today Scott helps businesses build systems and processes to drive success and growth.Early in Scott Rusnak’s career, he grabbed opportunity and moved his family to the United States from his home in Canada. There, he built a tech business to an exit and began a path taking through opportunities and experiences that laid the foundation for his role today as an EOS implementer. Scott has always been passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience with other entrepreneurs. Today, he is highly sought after by businesses seeking to improve their operations and grow.
Innovation so often comes from first-hand experience and Bryan McIver has experience in droves. After building and selling a business that managed major construction projects, Bryan is now working on building Vitruvi to bring innovation to the space.
Bryan McIver has a unique set of skills. While his core experience lies in managing major infrastructure projects, his ability to build software to help him in his role laid the foundation for Vitruvi (vitruvi.cc). After building up and selling a construction management company focused on data network infrastructure, Bryan turned his attention to creating software that handles the complex, time-consuming and ultimately, expensive management of these massive projects.
After a successful exit from his company, Mailout, Jon Larson has shifted his focus to Zept, an online service that matches international students with perfect-fit post secondary schools across the globe.
Finding a niche in a highly competitive tech space is always a challenge but Jon and his partners found a way to that tied a ‘land and expand’ sales model within big organizations, tied with outstanding service, was the key to success. After selling ‘Mailout’, and a battle in the online document signing space, Jon and his partners are now building Zept, an online platform that matches students with their dream schools across the globe.
After thirty years as an entrepreneur spanning numerous sectors, Colin Christensen has transitioned to helping startups across the globe. Via his Accelerator, Fuse42, Colin drives change through innovation and social enterprises.
Colin Christensen was determined to be an entrepreneur from a young age and took the leap by the time he was twenty years old. From successful ventures through to ill-timed failures, Colin learned the path to success comes from a mix of hard lessons and solid management. The culmination of thirty years of experience led to establishing Fuse42 Accelerator and guiding numerous startups through the early struggles of business. Today, Colin has his hand in a number of ventures, all with intriguing stories and opportunities.
After building a successful and growing marketing firm, David felt the need for a wholesale change, pairing his business acumen with a social cause that he is truly passionate about.
With a foundation in marketing, David Cree built rapidly growing companies, experienced the sting of economic slowdowns, and realized that landing the ‘big deal’ wasn’t all that exciting anymore. Falling back on a life changing experience, Dave set out to solve a business problem alongside a social ill, as a model for building business that truly make the world a better place.
An opportunity to earn some money during a tight job market led Colin to his role as a CEO delivering innovative education software that’s used around the globe.
A computer engineer by trade, Colin found an opportunity for innovation tying together emerging tablet technology with a need in the classroom. Fast forward a little over a decade and Colin’s company, Showbie, (showbie.com) helps millions of kids across the world harness technology to learn and interact with their teachers.
Ken shares with Blaine the journey and challenges as he moved from the creative industry, to building the startup community, and now revitalizing business communities for the new norm.
Diving into entrepreneurship while an education student, Ken diverts from teaching before he even gets started and dives into the world of e-learning and games. His early experience in business leads him first, starting a ground-breaking startup community, through to today, where he’s driving forward ‘One Million Feet’ with Makespace (makespacegroup.com), their innovative community building venture.
Starting out working in a gym – Tom Port never pictured himself in the software industry, but ten years, several pivots and a major acquisition later, Tom has been a part of a great success in the FinTech industry.
Tom's enthusiasm is truly contagious. He goes back to the early days tackling issues in the accounting industry with their software, AutoRec, and how it involved into AutoEntry (autoentry.com). He discusses the role ‘the entrepreneurial spirit’ plays in driving the business forward. From the early days sitting on the floor in a tiny office making cold calls – to ten years later – selling the AutoEntry to Sage and the adventure that lays ahead.
Jason watched his father struggle as an entrepreneur and swore it was not for him. Now – an entrepreneur – Jason is in the education and gamification industry working on amazing projects with institutions and corporations alike.
The life of an entrepreneur is not something Jason wanted to emulate as he watched his father struggle, then he ended up in the same position... thankfully. Working in education and gaming led him to a unique opportunity in staff training. The new role suited him well, building on his past successes and dovetailing with new opportunities. Jason describes how his passion for learning, and for kids, became a stepping stone for unique partnerships in the corporate world through his company TIQ Software (tiqsoftware.com)
Mark is the King of Retail – from a data management perspective. Mark discusses his early revelations around his business ‘HeadCount’ and how he doubled down as an author to open doors and make it a reality.
Early on – Mark never saw himself as an entrepreneur but more as a ‘corporate guy’ until ideas and opportunities converged. Mark challenged the status quo with his thinking and revolutionized the retail traffic industry by making the numbers matter. But it was his role as an author that both positioned him as the preeminent expert, while opening doors that brought his business to life. (headcount.com)
From professional athlete to a storied veteran in Silicon Valley, Mark both built and invested in businesses during the evolution of the internet.
Going back to the early days of Silicon Valley – Mark takes you on a journey through his career that spanned a couple of decades in the world’s leading tech environment. Mark shares stories of his own triumphs and challenges in business, alongside his role in venture capital (sproutfund.ca). Mark and Blaine delve into the entrepreneurial spirit that is needed to survive during challenging times and how opportunity can prevail.
A designer turned entrepreneur, Jeff shares the challenges of dealing with growth and managing change.
Jeff spent years working in the web design industry, building a business from ground zero. Business brought opportunities, but also the realities of managing through change. His personal development, clear thinking and ability to adapt drove his success. Jeff learned the hard lessons of “Jack of all trades but Master of none” as he grew his business, Paperleaf (paper-leaf.com), and brought clear focus to his business building on the strengths within his team.
From landscaping to retail to oil transportation to VR – Tom is an eclectic entrepreneur that doesn’t look at drastic change as risk but as opportunity mixed with blind optimism.
Tom is the epitome of the entrepreneurial spirit. Starting his first business while still a college student, Tom built business after business working into larger and larger opportunities. His impulse for something different was the drive to explore new things - often without considering the risk. A few shifts later and you have new technologies that are so far removed from his early days but show his path of entrepreneurship and growth. (omencapital.com)
Mike took his structured and procedural approach as a State Trooper into his career as an entrepreneur to build a unique community of 12 businesses, culminating in a truly dynamic career.
Managing opportunity into business growth and prosperity; How to seize unique environments you are presented with and turn them into entrepreneurial gains; Consider diversity to manage workflow and utilizing process and manpower to support infrastructure - Mike uses what he has in front of him to create business opportunity and legacy from his career. (snopsis.com)
Decades of experience and managing through change - an experienced entrepreneur shares his stories of survival and re-invention.
Josh spent many years working in a very specific business and became the King of vending machines. When he decided to hang up his gloves for a new direction – he was no longer the man on top but one of many. His knowledge and expertise as an entrepreneur is the enduring spirit within Josh that keeps his enthusiasm and drive going and gives him a distinction of being a legendary entrepreneur. (stage2planning.com)