Your Brand Isn’t A Robot, So Stop Marketing Like One
What happens when a Division I athlete turns a gaming passion into a model for inclusive growth and human-centered marketing? Erin Ashley Simon’s path from the University of Kentucky to esports leadership shows how authenticity builds trust in a noisy digital world. Her college experience sharpened her storytelling instincts and led her to create a […]
Your Insulin Pump Wants A Cybersecurity Update
Healthcare breaches are no longer news — they’re routine. IEEE’s Maria Palombini explains how connected devices multiply cybersecurity risks and how “security by design” can protect digital health without slowing innovation. With experience across pharma, blockchain, and the IEEE Standards Association, Maria brings a rare 360° view of building safe, interoperable tech. We follow data […]
From Wall Street To AI: Building Products That Actually Solve Problems
The fastest way to innovate isn’t about chasing speed but about protecting what matters most — people, trust, and purpose. That idea defines our conversation with product leader Josette Simon, who moved from global finance to a fast-paced AI startup. Her focus is on building tools that solve real customer challenges and deliver measurable impact. Josette […]
From Layoff to Legacy: Building a Personal Brand That Pays
Stop waiting for a title to prove your worth. In this episode, Alex talks with TEDx mentor Katrena Friel about turning layoff anxiety into a confident, expert brand in just 90 days. Her book-first method helps you shape your philosophy into a short, publishable book that powers your brand, website, keynote, and programs. Confidence grows […]
How a Chef-Marketer Built Experiences That Scale
The story begins with a name and a camera. Mariko Amekodommo moves from kitchens to boardrooms, building a career that spans journalism, Los Angeles supper clubs, and marketing across Asia and Europe. Her focus stays constant—understanding people, their needs, and why timing shapes every message. She built her brand on clear positioning, direct outreach, and […]
From Code & Coffee to AI Ethics: Community, Creativity, and Careers
A hackathon, pizza boxes, and a room of devs set the scene with Code & Coffee leaders Israel Santana and Charles Inwald. They explore what drives a developer’s career today: real community, smart AI use, and small public actions that create momentum. Izzy’s shift from law to code and Charles’s path from attendee to organizer […]
The Fourth Effect: Turning Boards into Growth Engines
Boardrooms don’t need to feel like courtroom dramas. Alex talks with Breen Sullivan, former IP lawyer turned startup general counsel and founder of The Fourth Effect, about why startups avoid boards and how that fear slows growth. Breen explains that unclear incentives and weak frameworks—not the word “board” itself—block progress. She breaks down how to […]
AI in Regulated Industry Segments – Round Table
Artificial intelligence is transforming regulated industries. In this roundtable, experts from government, healthcare, energy, insurance, and telecom discuss how innovation meets regulation. They reveal that powering a single AI data center can take six years—an alarming sign as energy grids face rising demand. Without better planning and policy, we could see serious shortages by 2030. […]
Expert Networks in the Age of AI: Transformation or Replacement? – with Alex Khomyakov
What happens when specialized human expertise meets artificial intelligence? That’s the fascinating question at the heart of my conversation with Alex Khomyakov, founder of Productera and expert in the knowledge economy. For years, expert networks have connected investors and researchers with subject matter specialists who possess real-time insights not yet captured in public sources. While […]
Real Coaching. Real Results — Leading with Clarity in a Chaotic World with Marla Bace
What separates successful leaders from fulfilled ones? According to recovering Wall Street executive Marla Bace, it’s not another mindset hack—it’s getting real about what coaching is (and isn’t) in a world addicted to “high-ticket offers” and quick-fix transformations. In this sharp, refreshingly unfiltered conversation, Marla gets brutally honest about how coaching has evolved since 2020—and […]
Preserving the Past in an AI-Accelerated World with Justin Rosenthal
The race toward technological advancement often leaves us disconnected from our shared heritage. In this thought-provoking conversation with Justin Rosenthal, we explore why museums and physical collections remain vital touchstones in our increasingly digital world. Justin shares his fascinating journey from childhood museum visits to pursuing classical studies and archaeology in college, where hands-on work with […]
From Banking Profitability to ScienceTech Innovation: An Investor’s Journey with Konstantin Schwarz
What drives an accomplished physicist with expertise in international banking to pivot toward healthcare, finance, and other science investments? For Konstantin Schwarz, of Nordvik Investments, the answer is refreshingly straightforward: profitability. In this revealing conversation, Schwartz explains how declining bank valuations following the 2008 financial crisis prompted him to shift his focus to more promising sectors, including […]