Sometimes abstract thinking that can lead to real breakthroughs. The knowledge and innovative thinking of today's guests led to an life-changing solution to an ongoing 75-year puzzle. Today we sit down with David Katz and Robert Jacks; Chief Scientific Officer, and President & CEO, of Sparrow Pharmaceuticals, respectively. Sparrow has come up with a groundbreaking way to help patients who need steroid treatments. Robert was previously President & CEO of Indalo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing therapeutics for serious fibrotic diseases, and President, CFO, and Co-Founder of Symbiomix Therapeutics, which was sold after achieving NDA approval for Solosec®. Robert began his career in finance and product development at Pfizer, where he last worked as the Director of Business Development for Oncology and Infectious Diseases.Prior to Sparrow, David Katz was a pharmaceutical R&D leader at Abbott and AbbVie, where he led clinical development and drug discovery teams, and was a personalized medicine pioneer. David is dedicated to the mentorship of the next generation of life sciences entrepreneurs, currently as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Oregon Health & Science University. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers.Highlights:David explains Sparrow's key focus, and they problem they are solving (2:49)How Sparrow planned for the economics of developing a new treatment (5:13)Robert explains why he jumped on board at Sparrow (7:21)David talks about his background, mentors, and interests in the field (8:36)David explains the 75-year puzzle of glucocorticoids (13:50)How Sparrow's SPI-62 treatment can change a patient's life, and how it's a novel approach (16:27)Sparrow’s current clinical trials (19:41)Sparrow's strategic partners (21:20)Why an investor would be attracted to Sparrow now (22:19)Managing being on 2 different coasts, and how they attract talent (23:18)The businesses/leaders that David admires (24:40)David talks about his passion for both art and science (25:58)Robert discusses Sparrow's unique value proposition (26:51)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteRobert Jacks on LinkedInDavid Katz on LinkedInSparrow Pharmaceuticals on LinkedInSparrow Pharmaceuticals WebsiteFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

Building partnerships and investing strategically can be key in the growth of a business. However, for big corporations, and small start-ups, creating and managing a variety of partnerships can be challenging. Today's guest created his company to help ease that process.On this episode we're sitting down with David Horowitz, founder and CEO of Touchdown Ventures. Touchdown partners with leading corporations to manage their venture capital funds, and currently they partner with Kellogg T-Mobile, Amerisource Bergen, Olympus, and Erie Insurance, Masco and Colorcon just to name a few. Prior to starting touchdown, David was founding partner and managing director at Comcast Ventures for nearly 15 years. There he focused on investments in digital media, advertising, technology, digital home education, and financial technology. David also helped start and was partner at Gencast Ventures, a seed stage venture capital fund affiliated with Comcast Ventures.Prior to Comcast, David worked in investment banking at Bear Stearns. He started South Jersey Tech Collective and networking group of entrepreneurs and investors in South Jersey, and David is also the inventor of the board game 'Frequent Flyer', which we'll talk about later in the program. Highlights:David's previous work, and introduction to Touchdown Ventures (3:10)Market change and transitioning into corporate venture capital (4:33)Benefits of corporate venture capital investing (6:08)Common mistakes corporations make with investments (7:19)Pros and cons of venture capital partnerships (9:11)Industries investing in corporate venture capital (11:12)What makes a company an ideal partner for Touchdown Ventures (12:53)How Touchdown Ventures' model works, and success examples (14:03)Effects of the current market on investing and venture capital business (15:35)The company's future goals and trajectory (17:45)David's board game 'Frequent Flyer' (18:42)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteDavid Horowitz on LinkedInTouchdown Ventures on LinkedInTouchdown Ventures WebsiteDavid's 'Frequent Flyer' board gameFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

Making mistakes is a natural part of building every business, but leaving problems unresolved for too long can be costly. Today's guest is teaching business owners that huge success can come out of grand failures - if you’re paying attention. Today we're sitting down with Robert Irvine, a world-class chef and host of Food Network's hit show 'Restaurant: Impossible', where he takes two days and under $20,000 to transform failing restaurants and give their owners a second chance.Robert's also an entrepreneur, a Royal Navy veteran, and a tireless supporter of the military. In addition to his restaurants, he's the owner of 'Fit Crunch', makers of protein bars and snacks; Robert Irvine Foods, which makes restaurant-quality, prepared meals available in grocery stores and for food service applications; and Boardroom Spirits, makers of Irvine's Vodka and Irvine's American Dry Gin. Robert is also the author of five books, the latest of which is called 'Overcoming Impossible'.Highlights:Robert's childhood, and introduction to military (2:44)'Restaurant: Impossible' TV show, and inspiration for new book (3:56)Robert's businesses, and business hurdles (6:04)Philosophy on businesses integrating social media (8:49)Robert explains how, and why businesses fail (10:39)Memorable success stories from 'Restaurant: Impossible' (13:26)How Robert discovered his talent for leadership (17:15)Robert discusses scalability and growth (19:47)Hiring and maintaining a great team (20:31)The Robert Irvine Foundation and philanthropy (23:23)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteRobert Irvine on InstagramRobert Irvine on LinkedInRobert Irvine's WebsiteRobert's TV Show 'Restaurant: Impossible'Buy Robert's Book 'Overcoming Impossible'Feedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

To create a brand with a lasting legacy, owners have to set and follow clear principles from the very beginning. Today's guest has continued to strengthen and grow their brand while maintaining those key principles. Today we're sitting down with Alex Ryan, President, CEO, and Chairman of The Duckhorn Portfolio, North America's premier luxury wine company, with 10 wineries, eight state-of-the-art wine-making facilities, seven tasting rooms, and over a thousand coveted acres of vineyard spanning 32 estate properties.Their wines are available throughout the US, on five continents, and in 50 plus countries around the world. Their stock trades under - not surprisingly - NAPA. Since 1988, Alex's visionary leadership has been instrumental in establishing and growing The Duckhorn portfolio from a modest 15,000 cases and a few million dollars in revenue to one of the most highly respected and fastest growing luxury wine companies in the world with multiple Appalachians brands, price points, and styles. Alex's story about moving to the region and rising through the ranks to his current position is so interesting, and it's safe to say Tom has been looking forward to this interview for months. Join him on this week's episode as he cracks a bottle of Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot 2019 just for the occasion.Highlights:Alex's relationship with the Duckhorns (2:57)Alex's start in the business (4:24)The Duckhorn Portfolio brands and products (5:15)Alex's path to CEO (7:52)How being on the production side has influenced Alex's approach to business (8:06)What makes The Duckhorn Portfolio unique (9:58)The company's distribution strategies (11:37)Off-premise growth strategy (13:42)Innovation and incorporating modern technology into the business (15:01)The company's total addressable market, and going international (17:02)Growth investments (18:26)The executive team at The Duckhorn Portfolio (20:23)Company values, and brand legacy (22:18)How the brand makes and chooses their acquisitions (24:15)The impact of inflation and the current economy have on the business (25:29)Alex's proudest moments in his career (27:28)Wine recommendations from Alex (28:22)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteThe Duckhorn Portfolio on InstagramThe Duckhorn Portfolio on LinkedInThe Duckhorn Portfolio WebsiteFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

Recently, the restaurant industry has been struggling to hire new workers and retain their current employees. Today's guest is using innovative AI technology to deliver speed and consistency in customer service, and in the kitchen. On this week's episode we sit down with Krishna Gupta, Chairman and Interim CEO of Presto, one of the largest drive-through automation technology providers in the hospitality industry. Krishna is a founder and CEO of venture firm Remus Capital which he founded as a student at MIT in 2008. Remus partners with visionary founders and management teams to build technology businesses that rewire entire industries. This led him to Presto, which many years later trades on NASDAQ under the symbol PRST. Prior to Remus, Krishna spent time at McKinsey & Company, and JP Morgan, helping several Fortune 100 clients on billion dollar technology transactions. Krishna is an incessant traveler, and has done business across five continents. Outside of investing, he has a broad set of intellectual interests. He's conducted chemistry research at the University of Chicago, and in Israel. He produced a film on English ancient history, which is used at Cambridge in Oxford, and competed as a finalist in the USA Mathematics Olympia.Highlights:Krishna's start in venture capital and investing (2:57)Presto's products and their purpose (4:30)How Krishna stepped up as interim-CEO (7:14)What makes Presto services unique in the industry (8:05)The addressable market for automation (9:40)Automating labor and automation ROI (11:18)The journey to becoming a public company (13:33)Automation duality for customers and businesses (15:15)Collaboration with OpenAI and ChatGPT (17:10)How AI is implemented in the service industry (18:16)Current projects and goals for the future (20:21)Managing their P&L (21:21)Krishna's advice for beginner entrepreneurs (22:21)The state of human-machine convergence (24:03)What investors might miss about Presto (26:01)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteKrishna Gupta on LinkedInPresto on LinkedInPresto WebsiteFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

The fashion industry is powered by the sometimes differing perspectives of artistic entrepreneurs and business executives. It takes an intuitive and bold business innovator to merge those visions, and lead brands into the future. On this episode we sit down with Sandra Campos, a board member, three time CEO and two-time entrepreneur and advisor. Throughout her career, she's built global lifestyle brands, and she's been instrumental in turnarounds, digital transformations, and innovative marketing campaigns, as well as international expansion as a technology-focused operator. She's the only independent board director at Fabric, a modular and headless commerce solution. She's also a board member at Private Equity-backed Daniels Jewelers, and Big Lots. Her retail career has included being CEO of Diane Von Furstenberg, president of a portfolio of billion dollar contemporary brands, including Juicy Couture, and Division President at Oscar de la Renta. As an entrepreneur, she created the first teen celebrity brand management company in partnership with fellow Latina, Selena Gomez. Together, they launched Gomez's first lifestyle brand 'Dream out Loud'.Sandra is an advocate for Latinos, and recently launched Latina Disruptors, an event highlighting and honoring entrepreneurs. She has received numerous awards, including Top 100 Latina Leaders by Latina Magazine; ALP'S most powerful Latina 2020 to 2022; Top Women in Retail and 2019 Top Leaders in Business, by Hispanic Executive Magazine.Highlights:Upbringing and entrepreneurial background (3:23)How Sandra was introduced to retail and fashion (5:20)Sandra's business mindset (7:44)Her first CEO role (8:44)Bringing together creative and business mindsets (10:18)Recent transformation in the retail industry (12:53)Sandra's partnership with Selena Gomez (15:13)Finding the right role in the fashion industry (17:50)Working on a Board of Directors (19:06)Sandra's experience working in a male-dominated and less culturally-diverse industry (23:16)Her new role with Fabric and Daniel's Jewelers (24:46)Latina visibility in the workforce (27:56)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteSandra Campos on LinkedInFabric on LinkedInFabric WebsiteFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

The food industry is a tough business that relies on tight planning and logistics, but today's guest has created a finely-tuned operation by taking advantage of tech innovations. On this episode, we're sitting down with Sean O'Scannlain, who founded Fortune International in 2001. Since then, the company has grown both organically and through numerous acquisitions into one of the country's leading processors, distributors, and importers of quality seafood, meats and gourmet products.Today, Fortune International employees over 1,300 people and is the parent company of Fortune Fish and Gourmet Fortune Imports, Chef Martin, Coastal Seafood, D'Artagnan and Lobster Gram. The company handles more than 15,000 seafood and gourmet products daily throughout the central, southeastern and northeastern United States. It's no surprise that Sean is well respected in the seafood industry. Among many leadership positions, he’s a past chairman of the National Fisheries Institute, and he’s a founding member of SeaPak group of seafood companies dedicated to driving continuous improvement of social, economic, and environmental responsibility throughout the global seafood chain.Highlights:Sean describes Fortune International's reach and background (3:04)How Sean started the business (3:54)How Fortune finds its customers (6:51)Industry changes, and new tech (8:43)How seafood travels (11:37)Using acquisitions to expand 14:20)Making acquisition decisions, and the finding the right fit (16:46)Fortune's most recent acquisition, and future growth plans (18:09)Direct-to-consumer project (20:05)The senior team at Fortune International (21:37)The current economy's effect on business (23:55)The company's total addressable market (25:16)Sean's favorite products, and locations for seafood (26:02)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteSean O'Scannlain on LinkedInFortune Fish & Gourmet on LinkedInFortune International WebsiteFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

In business, you have to want to win. But in addition to that, simple, honest values go an incredibly long way. Today's guest leads a company that is powered by that philosophy.On this episode we get to sit down with Tom Nolan, CEO of the jewelry and accessories brand, Kendra Scott. Tom leads the billion dollar business by balancing day-to-day functions and strategy with the integration of the brand's core pillars of family, fashion and philanthropy into every consumer touch-point. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, Tom oversees the brand's substantial omnichannel growth, global expansion and evolving retail model. Tom has more than two decades of experience in brand building, management and results-driven strategic planning from a diverse range of companies, including Ralph Lauren, Conde Nast, and his own entrepreneurial endeavor, Prospect Brands. We had a great conversation about the company's humble beginnings and how far they've come.Highlights:The origin story of the company (2:58)Tom's background and career trajectory (4:02)The appeal of the Kendra Scott story and her as a leader (8:33)Tom outlines the company's brand values (10:43)Why Tom made the decision to join the company/the importance of philanthropy (14:36)The various tipping points in the company's growth (16:52)The importance of their relationship with Berkshire (19:29)Tom discusses Kendra Scott's creative approach to marketing (20:28)The Kendra Scott Foundation (22:50)The men's line (23:40)Tom talks about his leadership philosophy and the closeness with his team members (25:36)The company's vision for the next 5 to 10 years (27:08)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteTom Nolan on TwitterTom Nolan on LinkedInFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

A business's true test of survival is based on their ability to learn from challenges. By adapting to changing times, today's guest found a sweet spot in the market for their product to thrive. Today we're sitting down with Julie Smolyansky, who became the youngest female CEO of a publicly held firm when she took over Lifeway Foods at the age of 27 in 2002. Over the ensuing years, Julie has continued the company's growth trajectory with creative product development and marketing, bringing an Eastern European product into the US mainstream. Under her leadership, the company has grown annual revenues from 12 million in 2002 to over 119 million in 2021. During Julie's tenure, the company has expanded distribution throughout the United States, and has expanded their reach internationally. Julie serves as a member of the United Nations Foundation, Global Entrepreneur's Council, and was part of the 2015 Class of Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. She's produced several documentaries, co-founded a non-profit test 400k, and she released her first book, a cookbook in 2018. On this episode we have a great conversation about taking over her family's business, the health benefits of kefir, and overcoming business hurdles.Highlights:Lifeway Foods' history and introducing kefir (2:57)Julie's transition to CEO (4:37)Gut health and kefir health benefits (7:28)The growing probiotics market (10:37)How the pandemic affected business at Lifeway Foods (12:08)Lifeway Foods' marketing strategies (16:13)Scaling the business, and future expansion (18:00)Manoeuvring in the current economy and supply chain concerns (20:26)Current products and new projects (22:20)Charity work and supporting Ukraine (24:12)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteJulie Smolyansky on InstagramJulie Smolyansky on LinkedInLifeway Foods on LinkedInLifeway Foods WebsiteFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

The success of a company can hinge on clear and accessible communication with customers. Today's guest is leveraging tech to marry communication quality with the ultimate efficiency.This week, we're sitting down with John DiLullo. John is the CEO of Live Vox, which is transforming call centre communications with cloud technology. LiveVox trades under the symbol LVOX.  John is a growth oriented industry veteran with a track record spanning more than 30 years in networking, telecom application delivery and cybersecurity, including 10 years experience in multi-channel contact center and enterprise voice communications.Most recently, John was the Chief Revenue Officer at Force Point where he drove the company's worldwide revenue operations, sales, marketing, and business development efforts. Prior to Force Point, John served as the CEO of Last Line Security, a fast-growing AI-based network, threat detection company that was acquired by VMware in 2020. John holds two US patents and is a former Stanford University fellow. John and I had a great conversation about LiveVox's state-of-the art cloud data platform, hybrid and remote working, and the future of AI. Highlights:John describes his career path leading up to LiveVox (2:51)How the software works, and customer service (4:18)LiveVox's customers (5:59)How the software improves an agent's service quality (7:29)LiveVox's unique cloud-based architecture (8:48)Implementing the software, and transforming old systems (11:10)Employee retention rate and managing enterprise risk (15:10)Catering to customer experience (17:12)The future of customer service and how LiveVox will respond (19:06)How LiveVox uses and creates AI solutions (21:30)LiveVox's projection and growth goals (24:28)What investors miss about the company (26:06)Links:ICR TwitterICR LinkedInICR WebsiteJohn DiLullo on LinkedInLiveVox on LinkedInLiveVox WebsiteFeedback:If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.