Going Deep with Aaron Watson

Self-driving cars are coming. Ford is betting $1 billion dollars over five years that Argo Ai can make it happen.   CEO Bryan Salesky calls upon his experience leading the software engineering for Tartan Racing, Carnegie Mellon’s winning entry in the DARPA Urban Challenge as he tries to build the future.   He also was on the Google self-driving car team. While at Google, Bryan was director of hardware development, and was responsible for development and manufacture of Google’s portfolio of hardware, which included self-driving sensors, computers and several vehicle development programs.   Do not miss this interview.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Bryan’s Challenge; Choose a day of the week where you commute and do not use your phone.   Connect with Bryan LinkedIn Website   Underwritten by Piper Creative A digital agency that provides strategy, delivery, and analysis specializing in a few key service offerings. Documentary-as-a-Service (Vlogging 2.0) Instagram Content Production & Account Building Podcast Production, Strategy Consulting, and Guest Acquisition   If you aren’t creating or curating content regularly, your clients and customers might forget you’re open for business. YouTube Instagram   If you liked this interview, check out other interviews with tech CEOs like Niche.com’s Luke Skurman, RE2 Robotics Jorgen Pedersen, and Jetpack Workflow’s David Cristello. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher |

Wendy Downs is an artist who learned to be an entrepreneur. Her company, Moop, was founded in 2007 in western Massachusetts. She has since moved to Pittsburgh, where her small team design and manufactures every waxed canvas bag.   In a 35-minute conversation, we cover her expertise in e-commerce, design, small batch manufacturing, and textile manufacturing.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Wendy’s Challenge; Find the thing you love and exercise it.   Connect with Wendy Instagram Facebook Twitter Website   Underwritten by Piper Creative A digital agency that provides strategy, delivery, and analysis specializing in a few key service offerings. Documentary-as-a-Service (Vlogging 2.0) Instagram Content Production & Account Building Podcast Production, Strategy Consulting, and Guest Acquisition   If you aren’t creating or curating content regularly, your clients and customers might forget you’re open for business. YouTube Instagram   If you liked this interview, check out episode 295 with Nisha Blackwell where we discuss making bow ties by hand, reusing fabric, and learning to market on Instagram. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay

Pittsburgh has been in the news recently for robots and restaurants. But it’s still a blue collar town.   In a sweeping discussion, Aaron & Neil Ashbaugh discuss the opportunities for good pay and consistent work offered by roles in manufacturing. The industry is facing a cliff over the next ten years as Baby Boomers continue to retire, leaving companies hungry for talent.   New Century Careers is training the next generation and excited about the opportunity.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Neil’s Challenge; Read. Never stop learning.   Books Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca It Doesn't Take a Hero: The Autobiography of General Norman Schwarzkopf Walt Disney biography Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi   Connect with Neil Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Website ashbaugh@ncsquared.com   Underwritten by Piper Creative A digital agency that provides strategy, delivery, and analysis specializing in a few key service offerings. Documentary-as-a-Service (Vlogging 2.0) Instagram Content Production & Account Building Podcast Production, Strategy Consulting, and Guest Acquisition   If you aren’t creating or curating content regularly, your clients and customers might forget you’re open for business. YouTube Instagram   If you liked this interview, check out episode 147 with Steve Shelton where we discuss getting ex-offenders reintegrated into society and employed with the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh. Subscribe on

Niche.com generated 50,000,000 unique visitors last year. They announced a $6.6M Series B round of fundraising in February 2018. They've come a long way from their humble beginnings in 2002.   In my interview with Luke Skurman, the Founder & CEO of Niche.com, we discuss the challenges of raising venture capital as an established company, the marketing & business development talent in Pittsburgh, and importance of aiming at a big target.   Luke is also a Co-Founder of Ascender, a non-profit, 501(c)(3), focusing on bolstering innovation and entrepreneurship in the Pittsburgh region. They host the annual Thrival Innovation + Music Festival every year in Pittsburgh.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Luke’s Challenge; The more you give, the more you get back. Have an impact in a meaningful way through service.   Connect with Luke Twitter LinkedIn Website Underwritten by Piper Creative A digital agency that provides strategy, delivery, and analysis specializing in a few key service offerings. Documentary-as-a-Service (Vlogging 2.0) Instagram Content Production & Account Building Podcast Production, Strategy Consulting, and Guest Acquisition   If you aren’t creating or curating content regularly, your clients and customers might forget you’re open for business. YouTube Instagram   If you liked this interview, check out a bunch of previous interviews with Pittsburgh entrepreneurs like David Cristello, Jorgen Pederson, and Darrin Grove. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher

Jake Wheatley joined the United States Marine Corps in 1989. He needed more discipline and that’s exactly what her got.   He has since translated the skills and lessons he learned serving in the Gulf War into a career in public service.   Jake Wheatley is a Democratic politician from the state of Pennsylvania. He represents the 19th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives which includes a number of areas in the city of Pittsburgh including: the Hill District, North Side, South Side, Allentown, Hazelwood, Downtown Pittsburgh, The Bluff, Knoxville, Beltzhoover, Manchester, Arlington, Arlington Heights and, North, South and West Oakland.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Books Mentioned The Art of War by Sun Tzu The Autobiography of Malcolm X Smoketown: The Untold Story of the Other Great Black Renaissance by Mark Whitaker Making Ideas Matter by Dwight Evans   Jake’s Challenge; Get involved in your neighborhood. Democracy demands your talents to be active in society.   Connect with Jake Facebook Twitter   Underwritten by Piper Creative A digital agency that provides strategy, delivery, and analysis specializing in a few key service offerings. Documentary-as-a-Service (Vlogging 2.0) Instagram Content Production & Account Building Podcast Production, Strategy Consulting, and Guest Acquisition   If you aren’t creating or curating content regularly, your clients and customers might forget you’re open for business. YouTube Instagram   If you liked this interview, check out previous interviews with Mayor Bill Peduto and Dan Gilman. Subs

Rich, President & CEO of Innovation Works, leads one of the nation’s most active early-stage investors. In this conversation, we discuss a recent report IW authored with Ernst & Young that detailed the last decade of venture investing in the region.   Some highlights of recent activity include the $225 million acquisition of security awareness trainer Wombat Security by California-based Proofpoint and the $1 billion round of funding recently raised by self-driving car intelligence provider ArgoAI from Ford.   Further, Pittsburgh tech companies have attracted over $3.5 billion in funding over the past 10 years, including $2.1 billion in the past five years. What will this mean for the future of the region?   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Rich’s Challenge; Advocate for the startup community in your region to elected officials.   Connect with Rich LinkedIn Twitter Website   Connect with Piper Creative YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Website   If you liked this interview, check out our dozens of interviews with Pittsburgh influencers and business leaders including entrepreneurs than Innovation Works has invested Henry Thorne, Hahna Alexander, and Ryan Green. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast |

From an early age, Hannah developed a love for art and creating, and has grown those passions into hard skills that could build a business.   She started HPMedia in 10th grade and was dedicated to growing it part-time throughout high school. After graduating in 2016, she started an apprenticeship/entrepreneurship program called Praxis. After apprenticing at a digital marketing agency, Hannah found sustainable success in full-time creative work.   Piper Creative offers her the opportunity to guide and mentor the next generation of creatives while leveraging their skills to transform brands and drive business outcomes.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Hannah’s Challenge; Look at your daily routine and find 10 minutes to study a completely novel subject.   Connect with Hannah Instagram Twitter   Connect with Piper Creative YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Website   If you liked this interview, check out the video where we launched Piper Creative. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay

Lisa is the the President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation. She calls upon over 20 years of experience in the marketplace in sales and marketing and senior management roles, as well as ministry leadership experience, to coach leaders in her day-to-day work.   Lisa provides executive leadership for business development and donor relationships and evaluates and develops new initiatives and partnerships that advance the mission and vision of PLF. Lisa also brings this diverse and invaluable expertise to her role as a Leadership Foundations Senior Associate serving the global network of Local Leadership Foundations.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Lisa’s Challenge; Look at your calendar for tomorrow and assess how you are stewarding yourself. Are you allocating your time correctly?   Connect with Lisa LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Website   Connect with Piper Creative YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Website   If you liked this interview, check out episode 242 with Darrin Grove where we discuss building a company through servant leadership. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay

David Cristello had no background in accounting. He’s not a coder. Yet, he is the founder of a fast-growing accounting software startup called Jetpack Workflow.   How’d that happen? David diligently interviewed business owners until he found an untapped opportunity, then struck with full force.   He’s driven to solve painful problems with smart, passionate, and empathetic people and is building his company in Pittsburgh.   Jetpack Workflow is used by thousands of accountants in 12+ countries to help them better manage their client work.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   David’s Challenge; Go sell something in the next 24 hours. An old item around the house, a service you want to offer, or anything you can think of.   Mentioned Dan Kennedy John Carlton Gary Halpert   Connect with David LinkedIn Twitter Website david@jetpackworkflow.com   Connect with Piper Creative YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Website   If you liked this interview, check out our interviews with other software entrepreneurs like Andy Rachleff, Dennis Mortensen, and Mark Leslie. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher |

RE2 Robotics CEO & founder Jorgen Pedersen is responsible for the strategic direction of the Company, developing partnerships and alliances, and overseeing the day-to-day operations.   Jorgen has contributed to the growth of the unmanned systems market for the past 20 years, beginning his career at Carnegie Mellon's National Robotics Engineering Center.   Jorgen is the 2016 Carnegie Science Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year recipient. He has also been recognized for his technology leadership by the Department of Defense. Jorgen was presented with the 2008 Army SBIR Achievement Award for the development of the Small Robot Toolkit for unmanned ground vehicles and the 2011 Tibbetts Award for SBIR Excellence.   Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.   Jorgen’s Challenge; Get outside of your comfort zone. Take a risk.   Connect with Jorgen LinkedIn Jorgen's Twitter Website RE2 Robotics Twitter   Connect with Piper Creative YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter Website   If you liked this interview, check out more interviews with people putting Pittsburgh on the map. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay