Breakthrough Builders

Four-time-startup-founder Chris Gladwin is a Chicago guy, and he’s spent much of his career bucking the notion that game-changing tech solutions can only be nurtured to market maturity on the coasts. But if you ask him, it’s not lightning-in-a-bottle moments that have propelled his journey; it’s the idea that successful companies are built in increments, over what he calls “person centuries,” by constantly lending an ear to your customers and earnestly addressing their concerns and needs.In his talk with Jesse, Chris talks about his journey as an IT customer and deliverer of user-friendly enterprise solutions. He describes why IT systems are becoming more complex, and why the need for adept IT talent isn’t likely to lessen any time soon. He reveals the ambitious plan behind P33, the organization he started to transform Chicago into a tech hub. He describes in detail how businesses can listen to the customer at scale. And he leaves us with a look at the future of data analysis - a future he’s helping to write as CEO of Ocient. (2:51) How Chris’s early journey as a customer of IT products prepared him to build consumer-friendly solutions(8:19) The rapidly accelerating complexity of IT systems and data ownership(12:40) “We know what works” -- how to prepare more people to work in IT(14:56) The allure of Chicago, and why Chris started P33 to help transform it(21:17) Building organizations that know how to listen at scale(25:36) Looking ahead: We can analyze more data than ever, but what will we do with it? Guest BioChris Gladwin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ocient, the Chicago-based company enabling rapid analysis and management of the world’s largest datasets. In 2004, Chris founded Cleversafe, which became the largest and most strategic object storage vendor in the world (according to IDC). The technology he started generated over 1,000 patents granted or filed. Prior to Cleversafe, Chris was the Founder and CEO of startups MusicNow and Cruise Technologies, and led product strategy for Zenith Data Systems. He started his career at Martin Marietta, and holds a mechanical engineering degree from MIT.Helpful Links Ocient’s websiteP33 Chicago: The organization Chris started to turn Chicago into a major tech hub by 2033Article on Chris in the Chicago TribuneChris on LinkedInEpisode features: Royalty Free Music "Chicago Nights" Prod. by Danya Vodovoz

You’ve probably heard about NFTs. You may have even googled, “What is an NFT?” and learned a thing or two about the emerging marketplace commodity known as the Non-Fungible Token. But if you want to really lift the veil on NFTs, including how and when they can and should be used as part of a successful, customer-centric growth strategy, you’re in the right place. Avery Akkineni is the President of VaynerNFT, and she understands the value and potential of NFTs better than most. In her talk with Jesse, she describes her journey to becoming a leading voice in the space. She reflects on the night-and-day experience of going from Google, the world’s biggest data aggregator, to the decentralized world of crypto and blockchain technology. She describes what makes a successful NFT strategy—for artists, musicians, celebrities, and brands. And she shares her learnings from working with VaynerMedia’s clients around the world and standing up its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Whether you’re a customer-centric growth marketer who wants to stay on the cutting edge, an NFT-curious consumer, or anywhere in between, our talk with Avery will get you up to speed quickly on the builders’ new currency of creation.(3:33) Avery describes the start of her crypto journey and lessons learned from early stints at Target and Google (6:44) Why there’s a push among creators to “cut out the middleman”(10:37) NFT lightning round: Avery gives you the basics (18:55) Advice for brands on developing successful NFT strategies(26:00) How to personally become NFT-proficient(29:08) Lessons learned from building abroad in Singapore and elsewhereGuest BioAvery Akkineni serves as the president of VaynerNFT. She leads the company’s mission to build long-term strategic NFT projects for the world’s leading intellectual property owners, serving brands, celebrities, athletes and associations. Avery previously led VaynerMedia’s expansion into APAC, growing a team from 0 to 150+, opening offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Sydney. Prior to joining Vayner, she spent six years working at Google, in both Silicon Valley and New York City.Helpful LinksVaynerNFT websiteWhy NFTs Are a Big Deal, explainedVaynerNFT launches with Budweiser as flagship clientAvery’s appearance on NFT Now podcastAvery on LinkedIn and TwitterReferenced in episode: Jesse’s conversation with Adobe’s Scott Belsky

Bruce Smith peered into the future and saw a different path for rowing—one that transcended old perceptions of the sport: that rowing on water is for the rich, and rowing in the gym is for Type A personalities with something to prove. And that vision led him to create Hydrow, an immersive in-home rowing experience unlike anything that the world had seen before.In his talk with Jesse, Bruce describes his entrepreneurial journey, starting with setting up shop in Boston and how the city proved to be both a fitting backdrop and a powerful catalyst for early growth. He gives an insider’s look at rowing culture and how it led him to pursue a more inclusive path. He breaks down his company’s process for designing machinery, software, and content synchronously. He advocates for rowing’s holistic health benefits. And he offers a peek into how Hydrow was able to develop its now-patented approach for broadcasting content live from the water. Throughout, it’s an inspiring look at how an insider disrupted the status quo to bring a beautiful human experience to everyone.(3:28) Launching Hydrow in Boston(6:21) Why in-home rowing needed, and deserved, a deeper connection to on-water rowing(8:50) “The best things in life should not be reserved for elites.”(15:45) Building the machine, software, and content in parallel(22:32) Ripples of the future: what lies ahead for live outdoor reality(27:16) Navigating a successful omni-channel strategy (31:11) Safeguarding the mission to create the most beautiful human experienceGuest BioBruce Smith is a lifelong entrepreneur and an accomplished rower and coach. A former Head of the Charles winner, Bruce coached the US Lightweight Eight to a Bronze medal at the 2015 World Rowing Championships. He is the former Executive Director of Community Rowing – Boston. He holds a BA in English Literature and Theory from McGill University.Helpful LinksHydrow.comCommercial: The Best Indoor Rowing Machine ExperienceBruce’s interview with ForbesThe mental fitness boost of rowingBruce on LinkedInAlso check out: Jesse’s conversation with Steve Schwartz, Founder of The Art of Tea

Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read, talks with Jesse about her work in ending illiteracy and gender inequality, the importance of consistent skill building in one’s career, reflections on a career shift, and her vision for the future of education. Geetha shares how her mom refused a marriage at 13, leaving home to become a nurse and move to the United States. Geetha shares how her mother’s determination and father’s affable serenity helped shape her growth and values in ways that helped her become an effective builder. She shares insights into how education changes and benefits children, and their communities, including success stories she has helped build at Room to Read. Geetha shares practical insights on how she collaborates with local leaders, governments, and schools to create sustainable change, and about how Room to Read has scaled with the goal of impacting 40 million children by 2025. She shares her transition from statistician to non-profit leader to CEO and her thoughts on how to have a positive impact no matter where you work. She shares her secrets to success, including how she views the importance of education and relationships. How does education influence your success and the success of the people you care about? How do relationships and cooperation factor into your success? How do you plan your career to include meaningful impact? How do you rethink your strategy to scale into the future?(6:28) How Geetha learned the value of education from her mother’s trailblazing journey(16:08) Geetha describes moving beyond achieving goals, to fulfilling her purpose(24:05) How Room to Read grew to impact 40 million children worldwide(33:05) The central role that reading plays in developing empathy(34:44) Advice for anyone pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector(38:51) Jesse asks: Which influential people do you want to meet through your work?Guest BioDr. Geetha Murali is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Room to Read, an organization that believes World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality by helping children in low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls to build skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. The organization collaborates with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. Room to Read has benefitted more than 18 million children across 16 countries and 37,000 communities and aims to reach 40 million children by 2025.As Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Geetha oversees Room to Read’s global operations, which include programmatic work in 16 countries, a global network of investors and volunteer chapters, and a worldwide staff of approximately 1,600 employees.Geetha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gkmuraliRoom to Read Website: https://www.roomtoread.org/Helpful LinksSo Good They Can’t Ignore You, a book recommended by Geetha that was seminal to her early in her role as Room to Read’s CEO“How to Citizen” podcast by Baratunde Thurston Room to Read success story of KamlaBBC World Radio interview on COVID-19 impact on girls’ educationGeetha op-ed on the power of books on our mind“Six Terrific Book Ideas for Getting Girls into Tech” interview with Geetha Murali and Youtube CEO Susan Wojcicki in Wired MagazineGeetha’s background and story, shared by the Shakti CollaborativeMichelle Obama & Julia Roberts meet with Room to Read kids in VietnamAward from the Library of Congress for Room to Read’s special response to COVID-19

One of the defining characteristics of this age of business is ambiguity. And to face that ambiguity with courage, we need to heed both ambitious visions of the future and the hard-earned lessons of the past. And you couldn’t ask for a better source of prescient ideas and valuable lessons than LivePerson CEO & Founder Rob LoCascio. He’s the rare tech entrepreneur who really may have seen it all.In his talk with Jesse, Rob discusses the ups and downs of his 25-year journey, revealing how he managed through the dot-com bubble, the Great Recession, and now, a global pandemic. He reflects on his company’s invention of cloud-based web chat for business, achieved decades before the cloud as we know it came into existence. Rob offers thoughts on the future of conversational commerce, and reveals how LivePerson is now building AI tools that can hold remarkably natural and confidence-inspiring conversations with customers. Finally, he attests to the power that blockchain technology can offer to workers, and describes how he’s leading with empathy in support of employees. Throughout, Rob’s depiction of what he calls his “beautiful journey” is refreshingly frank, earnestly offered, and packed with useful advice and encouragement for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs alike.(4:01) Why the entrepreneurial journey is full of setbacks and unknowns, but worth it(8:54) Inventing the cloud, decades before the cloud(13:24) How LivePerson builds chatbots that can hold more natural & personalized conversations with customers(21:55) The rise and democratizing potential of blockchain tech for workers(26:25) How conversational commerce can actually decentralize commerce—for good(28:12) To college or not to college?Guest BioRob LoCascio has served as LivePerson’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors since the company’s inception in November 1995. Additionally, he founded the charity Feeding NYC, hosts the podcast Over The Wall and is a frequent contributor to Inc., and other publications. Rob was named a New York City Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist in 2001 and 2008, and was the winner of the 2015 Smart CEO Circle of Excellence Award.Helpful Links Rob’s podcast: Over the WallInc. article: Four things to consider before turning your business over to bots (Rob authored)Announcing the launch of Conversational MarketplacesRob’s charity: Feeding NYCRob on LinkedIn and Twitter

Jenny Fleiss is co-founder of category creator Rent The Runway, but in some ways, that’s an understatement of the time and energy she put in to revolutionize the designer fashion industry—and forever change old ideas of Who Gets to Wear What. In her talk with Jesse, Jenny recounts the detailed logistics work and core insights it took to drive growth at Rent The Runway, with lessons learned for aspiring founders. She describes how she now brings her entrepreneurial experience to bear as an investor, emphasizing inclusivity and the growing importance of shared wins. Jenny outlines a format that digital commerce businesses can follow to create personalized experiences at scale. And she offers advice for parents on how to inspire entrepreneurship from an early age. All told, Jenny’s story highlights the transformational power of building in oneself – and others – the confidence to excel.(3:13) How Jenny’s experience as an entrepreneur led her to join Volition Capital this year(8:32) Assessing the state of digital commerce—global challenges & innovations(11:47) Jenny’s POV on the three pillars of personalization-at-scale(16:56) Launching Rent The Runway with an unprecedented dive into logistics and a crucial market insight(23:29) How Jenny linked up with RTR co-founder Jenn Hyman, along with her tips for finding co-founders(29:23) Changing the VC funding landscape and increasing opportunities for women-run businesses(31:23) Lessons for parents on teaching and encouraging entrepreneurshipGuest BioJenny Fleiss joined Volition Capital in 2021 as the company’s first Venture Partner, where she focuses on next-generation consumer brands. She is an entrepreneur and intrapreneur, founding two scaled digitally native businesses from scratch: Rent the Runway and Jetblack. During her time at Rent the Runway, Jenny wore many different hats, serving as President, Head of Logistics, and Head of Business Development.Jenny has been honored with numerous recognitions including Inc. Magazine’s “30 Under 30”; Fortune Magazine’s “40 Under 40” and “Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs”; and Fast Company’s “Most Influential Women in Technology.”Helpful LinksRent the RunwayVolition CapitalFast Company: Inside Rent The Runway’s Secret Dry-Cleaning EmpireHarvard Business Review: Women-Led Startups Received Just 2.3% of VC FundingJenny on LinkedIn and Twitter

Jessica Kleiman is a PR & comms veteran, a published author, and a principal contributor to one of the greatest brand stories of the new millennium.In her talk with Jesse, Jessica takes us on her journey from 90s media rooms to directing communications at Peloton, where she helped blend content with technology to turn living rooms around the globe into supercharged exercise studios and cherished virtual meeting places. She describes how, throughout her career, she leveraged a background in literature and love of story to bring an editor’s eye and human openness to the oft-sanitized world of PR, and how she managed to write her first book in the months after becoming a mother. Increasingly, the stories a brand tells are an integral part of how people experience a brand—Jessica’s advice is invaluable for any builder seeking to build a passionate following with authentic and empathetic content.(4:32) Reflections on having a mother who was an executive; the pros and cons (8:11) What media companies were like two decades ago, versus what they’re like now(13:59) Bringing together a passion for content with deep acumen in PR and comms at Peloton(18:26) How Peleton led out as a category creator(20:40) The power of community and how it can be amplified authentically(24:29) Advice for PR pros on communicating with humanity & empathy(32:48) How Jessica wrote a book as a working mom; advice for any aspiring author with too little timeGuest BioJessica Kleiman is Senior Vice President, Global Communications at Peloton, the leading interactive fitness platform, where she oversees the brand’s public relations, corporate communications, internal communications and social media initiatives. Before Peloton, she spent two years leading consumer communications at Instagram and over a decade at Hearst Magazines, where she managed PR efforts for 20 U.S. media brands. Jessica also led PR and IR for The Knot, Inc., the nation’s leading wedding website and media company, and helped take the company public. Helpful LinksPeloton Founder John Foley on How I Built This (ref’d at 17:28)Hollywood Reporter article: The Hollywoodization of PelotonJessica’s book: Be Your Own Best PublicistQ&A with author Kate White (ref’d at 33:56)Jessica on LinkedIn and Twitter

Hey everybody, it’s Jesse. Thanks so much for listening to Breakthrough Builders.I know it’s been a second since we dropped our last episode. That’s because the team here has been preparing to share a series of recent conversations I’ve had with some really incredible guests. Starting next week, we’re back to dropping shows on Wednesdays with the start of Season Five of Breakthrough Builders. The theme of this season is Building Experiences at the intersection of Technology & Purpose. Over the next few weeks, you’ll hear from CEOs, Founders, and other top executives at some wildly cool brands like Rent the Runway, Peloton, Bonobos, VaynerMedia, LivePerson, Hydrow, and more.My conversations this season will be with Builders who are challenging the status quo to put interesting, innovative, and really important things into the world. Products, services, and especially experiences that make a difference in people’s lives, and that are rooted in a shared sense of purpose between company and customer. Before we ‘round the bend into this next series of conversations, I wanted to take a moment to hype up and get you hyped up about our next 2 Guests!On Wednesday, November 3rd, you’ll hear my conversation with Jessica Kleiman, Senior Vice President of Global Communications at Peloton. Jessica and I talked about the work she and her team have been doing to build and cast Peloton as a new kind of company that’s purposefully and wonderfully blurring the lines between fitness, community, and entertainment.Then, on Wednesday, November 10th, you’ll hear my conversation with Rent the Runway Co-Founder Jenny Fleiss. Jenny has had a hand in creating some of the most inspiring and inclusive innovations at the intersection of fashion and technology over the past decade. The lessons she learned, starting and then running logistics for Rent the Runway, are a must-listen for any Builder with the ambition to build breakthrough experiences and create emotional connections with customers.Keep sharing your input on the show, as well as any suggestions for Guests you would like me to have on! You can reach us on our website, over at breakthrough-builders.com, that’s breakthrough-hyphen-builders-dot-com, or on Qualtrics’ socials, @Qualtrics. You can also hit me up on Twitter @jesse underscore purewal.Again, thanks for taking the time to subscribe to the show, and for leaving a rating and a review. And if you like the show, please, tell a friend!Looking forward to having you again next week, on Breakthrough Builders.

(3:29) Recognizing the devastating impacts of climate change(6:24) How Kim ended up in the food industry, and why making better & tastier plant-based meat became her primary pursuit(11:59) Going beyond the old staples: Cooking up delicious new products with a breakthrough ingredient(13:59) On serving a public who increasingly wants to eat less meat(15:57) Building a brand that’s for everyone in order to drive global impact(20:48) Encouraging diversity of thought and perspectives on the Prime Roots teamPrime Roots CEO & Co-Founder Kim Le is on a mission to combat climate change on a global scale—one meatless meal at a time. And her approach is remarkably authentic: Like the vast majority of Americans, she wants to eat less meat, and decrease her environmental impact in the process. But she also wants better plant-based meat to enjoy. And that’s why the company she started is developing and delivering delicious new products that taste amazing, appeal to everyone, and aren’t made with over-processed, bland ingredients.In her talk with Jesse, Kim discusses her journey to becoming a disruptive force in the food industry. You’ll hear how climate change became a problem she couldn’t ignore, and how she formed her belief that the omnivores and flexitarians among us have truly enormous power to stave off the emerging crisis. Throughout the discussion Kim describes the importance of building an authentic brand, how she’s encouraging diverse perspectives as a leader, and the power of storytelling. It’s an intriguing look into the mindset and motivations of a builder who’s made it her mission to help tackle one of the biggest existential problems of our time.Guest Bio Kim Le is the CEO & Co-Founder of Prime Roots. She’s a scientist-entrepreneur-foodie and life-long learner determined to make positive changes in our global food system. Kim has been working in management within the food industry (retail, food service, investing) for over ten years and is determined to bring delicious, sustainable, and nutritious foods to the masses and increase accessibility and equity in our food system. She’s a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. Helpful LinksTry it yourself! Order via the Prime Roots websiteForbes article: Bacon Without The Oink Is The Next Plant-Based FrontierAlso featured in Fast Company, Business Insider, & more Kim on LinkedIn and Twitter

(4:12) Brad describes the origins of his passion for baseball, and the contrarian criteria he used to identify his heroes(8:37) Art and science, connecting: How the premise of The Wax Pack was linked to Brad’s study of Tahitian bugs, and the parallels Brad sees more broadly between science and journalism(15:46) Refusing to be taken out of the game (as a character in his own book)(19:30) Journalism as therapy, and discovering the power of embracing vulnerability(22:59) How to write the telling details (27:26) Some of Brad’s favorite (and surprising) moments from his time on the road with retired players: Rick Sutcliffe, Don Carman, Rance Mulliniks, and others (32:10) Giving yourself the freedom to let go of expectations In 2020, Brad Balukjian’s first book The Wax Pack reached #7 on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list and was named one of NPR's Best Books of the Year. The book was formulated on a breakthrough premise, evident by its universal reception––lifelong baseball lovers and the merely curious followed Brad as he tracked down all the players in a single pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, drawing unexpected connections between their lives and his own in the process.In his talk with Jesse, Brad dishes on his unconventional journey to becoming a celebrated chronicler of the remarkably human 'afterlives' of uniquely talented athletes. You’ll hear about the early connections he made between the scientific method and journalism, how he’s currently embracing what he calls a 'hybrid career,' and of course: scores of anecdotes and special insights from his time on the road with retired major league ballplayers. Guest BioBrad Balukjian teaches natural history at Merritt College in Oakland, California. He is pursuing a hybrid career of teaching, writing, and research to get the word out that science is accessible and (gasp!) fun.Brad, a Filipino-American, studied journalism and island biogeography (yes, that's a thing) at Duke University and earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from UC Berkeley.Helpful LinksWaxpackbook.comBrad’s past work for Rolling Stone, National Geographic, and more An interview with Brad on MLB.comBrad on LinkedIn and Twitter