Silicon Slopes | Leaders Interviewing Leaders

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Chad Ingram, the Founder and CEO of Distro. They delve into Chad's entrepreneurial journey including his experiences in establishing and successfully selling a startup, leading to his current role at Distro. Chad has an exhilarating background in racing cars and he talks about the intricate process of getting into this lifestyle, as well as constructing the perfect pit crew team to support him in races. Chad shares his story of founding Distro and how he was inspired to fill a gap in the outsourcing market. They also talk about startups in Utah and highlight what some local leaders are doing to put the state on the map of innovation. "You become dangerous and productive when you don't give a sh**. And that doesn't mean that you become careless. It just means that you become fearless."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Aaron Starks to talk about building 47G and investing in Utah's ecosystem of aerospace entrepreneurs. 47G, previously known as Utah Aerospace and Defense, funds some of the greatest minds in cyber and defense innovation. They discuss the state of the world, the different powers leading in innovation, as well as what we lack in capable leadership. In the midst of a local political funk, they talk about why some people refuse to run for office and why we're seeing a decline in specific arenas. When small businesses succeed, the entire state succeeds and Aaron strives to help as many as possible thrive today. "Utah has 330,000 small businesses. We're a small to mid-market state. The life blood of our economy is the small businessmen."

Jaquelynne Elliott from J.P. Morgan joins Clint on this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast for a conversation about the unprecedented growth of Utah's market and business talent, particularly in the entrepreneurial space. With a background in finance, Jaquelynne recently joined J.P. Morgan and she currently helps founders plan ahead while managing risk. They touch on transferring wealth and being financially prepared for the future. They also discuss the complications of the current economic environment and Jaquelynne shares her perspective on the state of things. Utah's entrepreneurs stand out for their unique commitment to reinvesting in their own state, rather than going elsewhere once they achieve success, further investing in local innovation. "If you want information on anything financial, you can get it, and you can get it from the top minds."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Trent Mano who is a founder of Convoi Ventures, to have a chat about investing and entrepreneurship in Utah. They talk about shifting the culture around investing in local companies and why bootstrapping is important for gaining traction. Trent shares the story of starting Convoi and how it evolved into a household name for founders across the state. The startup game has evolved greatly over the last few years and new founders are having to adapt in the changing market to raise funds. Through this evolution, new talents have emerged, bringing about some of Utah's best to the startup scene. Tune in to hear more about the inner workings of Convoi and how they're putting Utah's founders on the map! "Being a founder is lonely and having a community, we feel, is a super important part of the journey."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Brandon Fugal who is the Chairman at Colliers International, and is widely known as the current owner of Skinwalker Ranch. Brandon shares exciting insights into the start of his career and tells how his fascination with real estate and business drives him today, particularly in entrepreneurship. He speaks on acquiring Skinwalker Ranch and how he was a skeptic at first, but certain events have since changed his mind. They dive into documenting the phenomenon happening at the ranch and going global with otherworldly, mind-bending evidence. Tune in to explore the intersection of science and the paranormal with a dash of entrepreneurship! "I have the most fun representing companies, growing companies, and helping them chart the course for the future. And to be able to not only procure the right concessions and economic package associated with their facilities planning, but to really look at all of the qualitative factors."

On this special episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Joe Tuia'ana and Aron from the I Love You Bro Project. They're on a mission to save lives by speaking authentically and openly about suicide rates among men and providing resources for suicide prevention. Their story starts on an overpass where Aron was standing on the ledge when Joe pulled over and kept repeating "I love you, bro," until he was able to embrace Aron and pull him to safety. To this day, the two consider each other family and are sharing their story to help men understand their emotions, to feel heard, and to facilitate life-saving connections. Tune in to hear their amazing story as they continue to save lives and change the stigma surrounding men's mental health. "It's just crazy how he was a stranger and he saved my life, and now I'm still here."

CEO of Utah Tech Leads, Liz Converse, joins Clint for this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast for a conversation about Utah politics and business. Liz answers some common questions about DEI and why this is important for community building in education and business. With a huge shift in national politics sweeping the nation, Utah isn't exempt from the chaos and they discuss one of Utah's more controversial figures. Liz shares what it takes to win your local majority vote and why candidates who connect with their community are more likely to win simply based on their personability. Beyond government and politics, Liz speaks to the impact of industry and growth in Utah, including the leaders who are making great things happen. "How do we continue to make Utah a sustainable place to live? How do we keep our kids here?...It's educating the community and educating policymakers on what those priorities are."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Utah native and co-founder of Storyy, Connor Snyder. They talk about the impact of social media on children and adults today, including how these apps affect behavior and our world view. Many people think going to university is an absolute must in order to have any career success whatsoever, but today's leaders are putting more value on experience and contribution, rather than strictly degrees. Connor talks about the power of authenticity in business and why no one wants to be 100% transparent, but he explains why leaders should be vulnerable and authentic with their customers anyways. It's no secret that Utah is at the forefront of social media engagement and building communities online; tune in to learn why! "Authenticity's kind of a tired word. Know, like, and trust are kind of tired words. I think that for me, the way that you really build those things isn't by being too disingenuous or strategic about it. It's about just focusing on what you know. Share what you know."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint is joined by Shaun Dee, the Hypno Hick. Shaun dives into the science behind hypnosis and how he was inspired to create the Hypno Hick act after learning about the human brain and psychology in school. He shares some hypnosis tips and tricks and he talks about the power of suggestion. Shaun also does hypnosis to help people navigate different life struggles like stress reduction, building confidence, quitting smoking habits, and even improving sports and athletic performance. If you've ever wondered how hypnosis works or are curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this episode is perfect for you! Tune in to learn more. "Meditation and hypnosis are not different. People think they're different; they're not. They're the exact same on the brainwave scale."

On this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast, Clint meets with Trevor Crump, who is the co-founder of Bestie. Trevor shares insights to capturing a market and scaling it, growing a business in Utah, and how scale can be highly dependent on customer loyalty. They talk about the psychological intelligence that goes on behind the scenes in business and how nine times out of ten, the best business is the one solving a specific problem in the market. Trevor and Clint discuss marketing on social media and how the algorithms on different platforms can affect audience engagement. They also talk about the massive brands coming out of Utah and why the movement is expanding every day. Tune in to learn more! "Tech is so different than running brands and services. Tech is different but it's a fun different for sure...If you can do it right, it's worth a lot more money than your multiples or much higher in those spaces."