Liftoff with Keith Newman

Randy has founded nine venture-backed technology companies including an autonomous vehicle insurance company, a digital avatar company, two software-publishing companies, two Internet technology companies, an e-commerce company, and two celebrity-based digital media companies. He has published more than 30 consumer software applications that collectively have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, raised more than $100MM in venture and has had five successful start-up exits returning more than $10B to investors. He is credited with the creation of PDF and Acrobat, the first eCommerce site on the web, the first web browser on a phone, co-founding Funny Or Die and the initial governance of Yahoo. Currently he is creating Metaverse venues in 25 world cities, including Paris, London, Barcelona, New York, Los Angeles, Sidney and Singapore.

It’s wonderful to bring to the podcast a veteran and friend my our days in media tech who has pivoted only to find challenge, change and a new path. Today, the amazing Debbie Gisonni is the Founder of SELF POWER NOW and is a best-selling author and life coach who inspires people to make simple changes that radically improve self-awareness and success. With over two decades in corporate leadership and a parallel career as a wellness entrepreneur, Debbie has been a role model and was one of the first female publishers in the tech market for Network Computing and Internet Week. The courses she offers today holistically address all realms of life – mental, physical, spiritual and emotional – and empower people to rise above the daily challenges of life and work. She is also the author of, The Goddess of Happiness: A Down-to-Earth Guide for Heavenly Balance and Bliss, Vita’s Will: Real Life Lessons about Life, Death & Moving On, Note to Self: Love, and a contributing author to, If Women Ruled the World. For More Info: www.selfpowernow.com

What a great chat with Christina who I’ve known for forever > as the leader at My Software Company,  then Maximum Games - and now she is CEO of Zordix AB, as well as founder and CEO of video game publishers Maximum Games and Modus Games, and development team Modus Studios. Maximum Games is an award-winning video game publisher with over 300 titles in its catalogue. She’s also one of the  few female leaders of a software company, and even in more select company if you count the number of female CEO’s running a gaming company but she is absolutely a force of nature and you have to check this pod out to know why Im betting on her (and more female leaders) in the world of software and gaming.

They call him The SuperAngel. The Godfather of Silicon Valley - I think that’s a bit unfair since he’s not really that old - anyway, I just call him Ron. I’ve known him for years. Back when he was running a startup (Personal Training Systems) and not just investing in them (he’s run SV Angel since Internet 1.0). We had a great chat that covered all of this and much more. Please give a listen, share with a fellow entrepreneur or investor and subscribe: The Look Back with Ron Conway….

Jerry Colonna CEO, Reboot.io Check-in, Reboot > Grow Up My former colleague Jerry Colonna is just a wonderful person to connect with for many reason including some insight and perspective - and a little grounding as it were. His words always land and his sharing is as challenging in tone as they are in revealing. In this episode of The Look Back we revisit our time together as journalists (@CMP) and technology guys and traverse over to his successful run as  venture investor which  set him up for what is now his current focus as a personal coach (CEO Whisperer) and author….btw, Unbelievable read. Check this out! “Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up” and can't wait to read the next one already!  Have a listen, share, enjoy! 

We’re not in E-Commerce 101 anymore! Marketing maestro and super e-commerce veteran Greg Writer shares his view of what’s going on in the world of e-commerce and why it rivals his passion for hang gliding for drama and excitement. We have a fun chat just days before the launch of his latest e-Commerce platform LaunchCart > check it out @ www.launchcart.com

Technologist, Scientist and Mathematician and I met him and saw a swash-buckling entrepreneur. He had just left France with nothing but a few bucks in his pocket and a computer software program he brought to the West Coast Computer Faire in the early to mid 80s. He was essentially selling software from a table and demand started to grow. He couldn’t afford ads to promote his software, heck he even couch surfed at the home of former Byte (Magazine) Editor Jerry Pournelle and his Co (Borland) became a huge success as did his subsequent ventures and now he’s connecting AI with IOT and working on sensor data into apps. What a journey - a great Look Back for anyone around in those days or for aspiring entrepreneurs, technologists, and software programmers. Listen and Share.

From Private equity to the Pitch - is just a part of the entrepreneurial journey Brett Johnson has traveled. And what a ride its been since I met Brett thru my relationship with Targus, a huge player in the computer case/accessories space, which his father built with aplomb. Brett had a turn at the helm before pivoting to his role as a modern-day Ted Lasso (owner of a soccer team - and now several investments in the Great Game) while running his investment shop. We had a fun Look Back and interesting stories and valuable lessons shared - see if you agree!  - #BendItLikeBrett @Targus @PhoenixRising @Ipswich Maine Sports Commission Keith Newman Brett Johnson NewmanMediaStudios.com - The Look Back Podcast Subscribe, Listen, Share!

Nicola Corzine is the Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center where thousands of entrepreneurs have come thru its doors to gain a fundamental understanding and insights into building the next generation of great companies. No charge, No Equity = Big Impact. But beyond the platform, Nicola has personally led the development of the curriculum and directed the conversation in important new directions, many before they became mainstream #DiversityAndInclusion #MinotrityAccess2VC #CEOMentalHealth - aided by her strong background as entrepreneur and investor. And they are always looking for more great mentors, leaders as well. Give a Listen and Share - #BuildingGreatLeaders #entrepreneurprograms #Entrepreneurship #MilestoneMakers #Nasdaq @Nicola @Celena @Colin

Anita Gardyne is the better half of a husband and wife leadership team (sorry Bob) providing supplementary care services to companies as part of a competitive benefits offering. Think Child Daycare, Elderly Parent Care, etc. The product-market fit is innovative and solid, the pipeline deep and demand is strong. But everyday is a challenge, and its more difficult @Oneva than even a regular startup. But equally strong is Anita’s perseverance because the road for a female, African American run company still has added challenges to winning over the traditional VC, customers and partners. Is it getting better? Is her Company going to crack $10M and then $100M in sales and then have the last laugh of those who passed up investing in Oneva???? Listen Here:  @IDG @Oneva @Anita @Bob @ChrisYeh