Lay of The Land

Ibrahim Mohmed is the founder of CourtSide Media Group and the co-founder & CEO of Taja AI. His entrepreneurial journey began right here in Ohio, where he launched CourtSide Media, a digital media agency that serves influencers with audiences ranging from 1 million to 75 million followers across various social platforms. Through CourtSide Media, Ibrahim has collaborated with high-profile clients including NBA legend Kevin Garnett, Cleveland’s FutureLAND annual conference, and prominent influencer Lauren Fitzmaurice—effectively amplifying their reach and impact through strategic, organic growth.Building on his success with CourtSide, Ibrahim co-founded Taja AI—a platform designed specifically to empower small businesses and content creators. TAJA AI automates content workflows by optimizing, repurposing, and scheduling content, significantly saving time for thousands of creators while maximizing their audience engagement and discoverability.Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Ibrahim is deeply committed to social impact through his organization, Nile Nights, which curates events to raise awareness and funds for individuals and communities affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.As a founder at the forefront of media and AI, Ibrahim offers powerful insight into where the space is headed and what it takes to succeed within it—please enjoy this fascinating conversation with Ibrahim Mohmed.00:00:00 - The Shift to Video Podcasting  00:04:06 - Understanding Taja AI  00:06:03 - The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins  00:08:14 - The Drive for Storytelling in Media  00:11:47 - The Power of Technological Leverage  00:13:22 - The Vision and Evolution of Taja AI  00:15:31 - User Experience and Product Functionality  00:17:36 - Building a Scalable Company with AI  00:20:35 - The Changing Landscape of Venture Capital  00:22:10 - Navigating Model Providers in AI  00:23:30 - Navigating Competition in the AI Landscape  00:26:26 - Understanding Vibe Coding and Its Impact  00:27:52 - Product Philosophy and Customer Engagement  00:29:41 - Common Mistakes Creators Make  00:32:34 - The Intersection of AI and Human Creativity  00:35:01 - Sustainable Business Models in Content Creation  00:36:42 - Personal Impact and Future Aspirations  00:37:48 - Embracing Adversity in Entrepreneurship  00:40:28 - Looking Ahead: Growth and Innovation  00:47:00 - Final Thoughts and Hidden Gems in Cleveland-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibrahim-mohmed-982076110/https://www.courtsidegroup.com/https://www.taja.ai/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Carey Jaros joined GOJO in 2014 as a board member, later taking on executive roles as Chief Strategy Officer—where she oversaw Marketing, Product Management, and Innovation—and as Chief Operating Officer, before becoming President and CEO in January 2020.Our conversation today covers Carey’s call to lead—shaped by a lifelong passion for solving problems and telling stories—her reflections on leadership and decision-making, GOJO’s extraordinary legacy, and its ongoing commitment to innovation. We discuss GOJO's origins, founded by Goldie and Jerry Lippman in 1946 to address the real human problem of safely cleaning workers' hands in Akron’s rubber factories. Carey shares how GOJO has evolved from those roots into a global leader in hygiene, skincare, and well-being, driven by an unwavering commitment to safety, efficacy, and sustainability.We also delve into the critical moments Carey faced stepping into her role at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bold strategic investments GOJO made during this unprecedented time, and how the company balances legacy with innovation. Carey offers insights into the importance of culture, rigorous debate, and continuous learning as cornerstones of her leadership approach.As an operator, investor, and board member, Carey has worked with more than 50 organizations throughout her career. Prior to GOJO, she was President of Walnut Ridge Strategic Management Company and served as a Vice President at Dealer Tire, a large privately held tire distributor based in Cleveland. She spent the first 12 years of her career as a management consultant at Bain & Company.Today, Carey is a Board Director of Grocery Outlet, a publicly traded NASDAQ corporation, and an Advisory Board Member of Aunt Flow, a venture-backed menstrual products startup. She also serves on the Boards of The Cleveland Foundation, University Hospitals, and Laurel School.Carey is a fantastic storyteller, and this conversation is filled with insightful anecdotes and practical wisdom on business and entrepreneurship—so please enjoy!00:00:00 - Reflecting on Career Paths  00:06:51 - Journey to GOJO Industries  00:11:27 - Transitioning to Leadership  00:16:36 - Understanding GOJO's Origins  00:24:48 - Balancing Legacy and Innovation  00:28:27 - Leading Through the Pandemic  00:30:32 - Navigating Unprecedented Challenges  00:32:49 - Strategic Leadership in Crisis  00:35:27 - Investing for the Future  00:37:49 - The Power of Brand Promise  00:40:01 - Defining Success Through Purpose  00:42:55 - Personal Reflections on Success  00:45:15 - The Importance of Health and Wellbeing  00:47:11 - Common Sense in Hygiene Practices  00:49:05 - Legacy and Impact of GOJO  00:51:45 - Community and Identity in Northeast Ohio  00:55:22 - Fostering Productive Debate  00:58:50 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.gojo.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/careyjaros/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Today, we’re picking up with the second part of my conversation with Jodi Berg, the former President & CEO of Vitamix.In Part 1, we explored Jodi’s career, the history, evolution, and family legacy of Vitamix, and her leadership journey in growing the company into the global brand it is today.In Part 2, we continue with her reflections on stepping away from the business—and dive deeper into her philosophy of purpose, the DANCE framework she’s developing to help others lead more intentional lives, and the wisdom she’s distilled from decades of research, teaching, and hands-on leadership and entrepreneurial experience.It’s a wide-ranging, deeply thoughtful conversation about what it means to live and lead with purpose—not to mention, a lot of fun. I’m so excited to share it with you.00:00:00 - Reflecting on Leadership and Culture  00:04:25 - Succession Planning in Family Businesses  00:06:56 - Navigating Leadership Transitions  00:13:44 - The Importance of Purpose  00:15:18 - Personal Experiences Shaping Purpose  00:19:34 - Helping Others Find Their Wings  00:26:33 - The Dual Nature of Purpose  00:35:23 - Impact of Personal Purpose on Company Culture  00:41:26 - The Impact of Personal Purpose  00:46:51 - Understanding and Helping Others  00:47:27 - Writing a Purpose-Driven Book  00:48:39 - The DANCE Framework for Decision-Making  00:56:20 - The Importance of Purpose in Decision-Making  01:02:42 - Discovering Superpowers and Purpose  01:03:26 - Innovating the Blender: A New Approach  01:10:05 - Technology and Purpose in Business  01:14:53 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodilberg/https://www.vitamix.com/us/en_us/Original Vitamix Infomercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5IzzGPzQA-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Jodi Berg, PhD recently retired as the fourth-generation President and CEO of Vitamix, having joined the family business in 1997 with the directive to lead the company’s overseas expansion, later serving as director of international, household and commercial divisions, and then ultimately as Executive Vice President in 2007, President in 2009, and CEO in 2011.Under her leadership, Jodi built on the 100+ year history and legacy of her family’s business, — founded in 1921 and headquartered in Olmsted Township in the greater Cleveland area — to grow the iconic and beloved brand to what it is today, with expanded distribution to over 130 countries and over 400% organic growth during her tenure.As many are familiar with — Vitamix manufactures high-performance blending equipment for home and commercial use, with millions of consumers around the world who use Vitamix products to help achieve their personal health and culinary goals. The company’s commercial customer list reads like a “Who’s Who” of major restaurant chains, and gourmet chefs regard their Vitamix machines in the same light and improtance as they regards their knives.The company has an incredible history of innovation and invention and developed the first true commercial blender in the early 1990s, which ignited the smoothie movement, and has been named the Best-in-Class Overall beverage blender for decades by readers of Foodservice Equipment & Supplies magazine.As you’ll hear in our conversation, Jodi developed a highly intentional approach to leadership — centered on purpose and employee engagement — which she formalized, researched and earned a PhD in management from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and ultimatley leveraged to transform the organizational structure of Vitamix and its corporate vision, mission and culture.This was such a fun and unforgettable conversation — we actually got into such depth and breadth here that I’m breaking the episode into two parts that will cover Vitamix and Leadership across growing up in the family business and the familial lessons passed on, the evolution of Vitamix over the generations and the corresponding ingredients required order to thrive for over a century, balancing family legacy with innovation, lessons learned in hospitality and working at The Ritz Carlton, many personal stories and historical anecdotes about Vitamix that shaped her understanding of purpose and how it drives engagement and fulfillment in both personal and professional contexts, synthesizing her earned leadership wisdom into her upcoming book, why Vitamix is headquartered in Cleveland, helping people find their superpowers and a whole lot more… Jodi is an incredibly thoughtful teacher and operator and this really felt like a master class in all things business, leadership, and purpose. 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background  00:04:56 - Journey to Vitamix: A Family Legacy  00:19:23 - The Ritz-Carlton Experience and Lessons Learned  00:24:57 - Returning to Vitamix: Merging Passions and Purpose  00:25:27 - Family Legacy and Personal Growth  00:30:05 - The Evolution of Vitamix  00:36:43 - Balancing Legacy with Strategic Growth  00:42:53 - Changing Perspectives on Food and Health  00:51:00 - Creating a Community Around Food  00:58:02 - The Impact of Authentic Marketing-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodilberg/https://www.vitamix.com/us/en_us/Original Vitamix Infomercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5IzzGPzQA-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Max Pennington is the Co-Founder & CEO of CLEANR, an innovative company that uses filters to prevent microplastics from entering water streams. Max graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where he co-developed CLEANR’s innovative VORTX filtration technologyb. Inspired by nature, VORTX biomimcry is capable of removing over 90% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater. Microplastics pollution is a severe and growing environmental crisis, with trillions of tiny plastic particles contaminating ecosystems worldwide, affecting marine life, human health, and the overall environmental balance. Under Max's leadership, CLEANR has garnered significant recognition, including the American Filtration and Separation Society’s New Product of the Year Award for 2024, and has raised approximately $7 million in funding, positioning it at the forefront of the fight against microplastics pollutionWith washing machines identified as the #1 source of microplastic pollution, CLEANR’s biomimicry filtration solutions are not only essential but increasingly requisite. The company is actively partnering with major universities and sustainability organizations, implementing their retrofit filters at campuses nationwide and is collaborating closely with leading global washing machine manufacturers to integrate VORTX directly into new appliances, aiming to make sustainability an effortless choice for consumers.I came away from this conversation inspired as Max exudes passion for solving this problem and has been incredibly impressive organize to that end. Please enjoy this awesome conversation with Max Pennington00:00:00 - The Invisible Crisis of Microplastics  00:08:51 - The ThinkBox: A Hub for Innovation  00:15:14 - Engineering Solutions: The Vortex Filter  00:22:52 - Cleaner: A Filtration Technology Company  00:29:43 - Navigating Market Strategies and Regulations  00:36:16 - Understanding the Challenge of Selling Solutions  00:38:55 - Fundraising and Vision for Cleaner  00:42:17 - Iterative Design and Prototyping Process  00:45:55 - Differentiation and Competitive Strategy  00:48:20 - Excitement for Market Launch and Consumer Impact  00:51:28 - Leadership Lessons from the Entrepreneurial Journey  00:54:45 - Overcoming Challenges in Product Development  00:58:03 - Radical Ideas for Addressing Microplastic Pollution  01:02:25 - Cleveland's Role in the Fight Against Microplastics  01:03:55 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.cleanr.life/https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-t-pennington/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

I’m very excited to welcome Umberto Fedeli back for his third conversation. In our first two conversations — episode 135 and episode 171 — we explored Umberto’s remarkable life journey, deep-rooted wisdom, and how he's mastered the craft of building authentic relationships and connecting people across business, politics, and philanthropy. Those episodes are timeless and packed with valuable insights — I highly recommend listening to them to set the stage for today’s discussion.In this episode, we delve deeper into these foundational ideas, unpacking the origins of Umberto’s relentless commitment to relationships, mentorship, and personal growth. We explore how to navigate the delicate balance between patience and persistence, between progress and perfection, and ultimately, how to cultivate resilience and rationality during times of uncertainty. We also dive into Umberto's perspective on the current state of the world — from economics and politics to tariffs. We talk about volatility, the fundamental human need for love and connection, regrets, legacy, and much more.Please enjoy this insightful, continued discussion with Umberto Fedeli.On a technical note, due to unexpected issues with our recording equipment at the time of this session, portions of the episode were lost. These segments have been audibly enhanced using speech technology in an effort to restore clarity and continuity. We appreciate your understanding regarding any subtle auditory or phonetic inconsistencies.-----LINKS:https://www.thefedeligroup.com/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Daniel Anstandig is the CEO of Futuri Media, a leading AI-driven platform he founded in Cleveland in 2009 to help companies build and monetize engaged audiences.Today, Futuri’s sales, content, and audience technology serves over 7,000 media brands across 22 countries, powered by a bold and passionate team recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies for nine years.Daniel has advised The Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Clear Channel R&D, the White House Commission on Remembrance, Glencoe-McGraw Hill, and various broadcasting companies in the U.S., Canada, and Europe on digital audience and revenue growth strategies. His research and editorials on radio and interactive media have been published in The Wall Street Journal, Billboard, and numerous trade publications. A proud two-time recipient of Edison Research’s 30 Under 30 Award, Daniel has also been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine for his work as a young entrepreneur.Outside of Futuri, Dan has developed more than 20 patents in audio, podcasting, AI, and broadcast technology. He also co-founded SparkTrade.io, a platform that democratizes AI-powered investment insights by offering real-time buy/sell signals to over 8,500 investors daily. He serves on the board of directors for Teaching Cleveland, part of Teaching Place—a nonprofit focused on social and civic engagement and education—and for Boxcast, a global leader in live streaming and remote mix technology. We previously heard more about Boxcast’s story from its founder and CEO, Gordon Daily, in episode 26 of Lay of The Land.As you’ll hear, Dan is thoughtful and articulate, offering clear insights into the evolution of media, curation in an age of information overload, the future of content creation, and life lessons learned from music that apply to entrepreneurship. He also shares reflections on building entrepreneurial teams, moving from Cleveland to Austin (and back again), the importance of community and trust, and much more.Please enjoy this insightful conversation with Daniel Anstandig!00:00:00 - Introduction and Background  00:04:36 - The Evolution of Media Consumption  00:06:51 - Daniel Anstandig's Entrepreneurial Journey  00:10:55 - Cleveland vs. Austin: A Tale of Two Cities  00:16:04 - The Importance of Community and Talent Retention  00:18:55 - The Role of Media in Society  00:23:01 - Futuri's Founding Vision and Evolution  00:27:03 - Cultural Influence on Business  00:30:53 - Lessons from Mentorship  00:32:55 - Navigating Legacy Media Challenges  00:37:00 - Curation of Information in the Digital Age  00:38:39 - Impact of Futuri's Innovations  00:42:54 - Transforming Intelligence in Trading  00:46:47 - The Future of Media and Content Creation  00:50:46 - Building Trust in New Media  00:52:56 - Futuri's Role in the Evolving Media Landscape  00:55:27 - Harnessing Machine Learning in Investments  01:00:34 - Democratizing Investment Strategies  01:09:36 - Lessons from Music for Entrepreneurship  01:12:20 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anstandig/https://www.daniel-anstandig.com/https://futurimedia.com/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Sonia Winner is the CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. In July 2018, she became the 10th director of the Museum in its more than 100-year history, dating back to 1920. Since then, she has spearheaded a $150 million reinvention of the institution—reimagining its campus and exhibits to highlight the interconnectedness of life on Earth.Under her leadership, the Museum continues its century-long legacy as one of the nation’s top natural history institutions, stewarding over 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems and housing more than 5 million artifacts and specimens. It is supported by a nearly 60-member Board of Directors, 140 staff members, and approximately $282 million in assets.Before joining CMNH, Sonia built an impressive career in higher education and philanthropy. At Columbia University, she led record-breaking fundraising efforts, helping to secure $6.1 billion for the university. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Case Western Reserve University, serving as associate dean of both the Weatherhead School of Management and the School of Law. A lawyer by training, she also served as Director of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.This was an amazing conversation! Sonia’s passion for this work shines through as we explore the transformative power of museums, cultivating childhood curiosity, the Museum’s rich history and legacy, her personal journey to leading a major cultural institution, the ambitious centennial project aimed at revitalizing the museum experience, the overall business of museums, and so much more.00:00:00 – The Magic of Museums and Childhood Curiosity  00:06:59 – Personal Reflections on Museums and Nature  00:09:07 – Sonia's Journey to the Museum Leadership  00:16:42 – Understanding the Cleveland Museum of Natural History  00:17:02 – The Museum's Legacy and Community Impact  00:19:56 – Honoring History While Embracing Change  00:25:50 – The Centennial Project and Its Vision  00:31:52 – The Business of Museums: Challenges and Opportunities  00:35:15 – Balancing Accessibility and Sustainability in Museums  00:36:28 – Creating Memorable Visitor Experiences  00:37:38 – Dinosaurs: The Gateway to Natural History  00:40:45 – The Role of Museums in Scientific Literacy  00:45:22 – Trust in Museums: A Reflection of Society  00:47:41 – Understanding the Value of Local Museums  00:50:04 – Personal Stories and the Impact of Museums  00:52:03 – The Future of Museums: Programming and Community Engagement  00:53:13 – Leadership Lessons in the Museum Sector  00:56:43 – Women in Leadership: Challenges and Opportunities  00:57:27 – Hidden Gem -----LINKS:https://www.cmnh.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-winner-2699123/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

DJ Eidson is the President and Co-founder of Limitless Minds, where he spearheads efforts to make elite mindset coaching accessible to everyone. Through their digital platform and programs, Limitless Minds has empowered hundreds of individuals and teams across organizations like Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Chick-fil-A, Bristol Myers Squibb, Goldman Sachs, Harvard Business School, and many others to enhance their performance and gain a competitive edge—just as Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, one of DJ’s co-founders, has done throughout his career.As a sought-after speaker and co-host of The Room Tilters podcast, DJ shares practical strategies for navigating change, overcoming adversity, and thriving under pressure — and as you’ll hear echoed throughout our conversation today, DJ embodies a commitment to excellence, pragmatic stoicism, and an inspirational presence that inspires and empowers others to realize their fullest potential.We cover the parallels between sports and business, the power of mindset, neutral thinking, what it means to be resilient, impacting a billion people, kindness as a business strategy, leading by example, love of Cleveland, and a whole lot more…I find there’s a certain magic at the intersection of peak performance and deep humility, and I felt that’s exactly where DJ — and this whole conversation — resides. I had a lot of fun listening to DJ’s stories, wisdom, and reflections on entrepreneurship, and I hope you all do as well.00:00:00 - From Pharmaceuticals to Entrepreneurship  00:09:35 - The Power of Mindset  00:12:01 - Early Influences and Entrepreneurial Spirit  00:18:39 - Building Limitless Minds  00:22:33 - Evolving Vision and Services  00:24:18 - Lessons from Sports to Business  00:29:10 - Differentiation in a Crowded Market  00:31:31 - Measuring Resiliency  00:32:45 - The Evolution of Limitless Minds  00:37:47 - Understanding Client Impact  00:42:23 - Aiming for Global Impact  00:44:49 - The Importance of Intentional Mindset  00:50:15 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://limitlessminds.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dj-eidson-limitlessminds/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Blake Squires began his journey in the mid-90s in Los Angeles, capitalizing early on the convergence of technology and media. He soon returned to his hometown of Cleveland to co-found Everstream with Steve McHale (episode 196) and Charlie Lougheed (episode 42, and also my co-founder at Axuall). Blake served as COO until Everstream’s acquisition by Concurrent Computer Corp in 2005.Next, he co-founded Findaway, a global leader in digital audiobook distribution and creators of PLAYAWAY, a line of preloaded audiobook devices and products. Findaway was acquired by Spotify in 2022—a story shared by co-founder Mitch Kroll (episode 128) and early team member Mike Belsito (episode 52).In 2011, Blake launched Movable, a software and wearable platform built to "inspire movement." He also founded DoctorsOrders, an e-scripting tool for medical suppliers, which was acquired by Cardinal Health in 2018.Blake later partnered with inventor John Osher (of SpinBrush fame) to develop the Stubl/Shadow manual razor, acquired by Edgewell for its Schick brand. The duo also created a unique toothbrush licensed to Waken in the UK.In 2022, Blake co-founded Bloomfilter, an AI-powered process intelligence platform optimizing the product and software development lifecycle. We’ve heard Bloomfilter’s story from his co-founder Andrew Wolfe on episode 134.By 2024, Blake had become a board partner at Greycroft and a “Fellow” at global design firm IDEO, recognized for his work supporting VCs and early-stage startups. Blake also serves as a founding advisor to the Ohio Angel Collective.As I mentioned up top, Blake’s story truly is a Lay of The Land of Lay of The Land. He’s deeply connected with Northeast Ohio’s startup ecosystem—through this episode alone, we’ll hear links to Lee Zapis (episode 7), John Knific (episode 199), David Levine (episode 132), AC Evans (episode 39), Ray Leach (episode 69), and many more.More than just well-connected, Blake is a visionary builder, inspiring leader, and accomplished serial entrepreneur with a rare ability to scale products, teams, and brands.00:00:00 - The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins  00:12:17 - Passion and the Intersection of Art and Business  00:15:09 - Defining Core Values in Entrepreneurship  00:18:27 - The Evolution of Big Mama Music  00:21:09 - Navigating Course Corrections in Business  00:23:23 - Finding the Next Problem to Solve  00:26:25 - Building a Values-Driven Company  00:28:09 - The Shift to Audiobooks and Market Insights  00:33:35 - The Role of Storytelling in Business  00:41:23 - Learning from Failure and Pivoting Strategies  00:43:22 - Scaling and Growth in Libraries  00:48:47 - Building a Strong Company Culture  00:49:08 - Lessons from Movable and the Importance of Partnerships  00:54:55 - Navigating the Healthcare Market  00:55:42 - Universal Truths in Entrepreneurship  01:01:07 - Transitioning to Advisory Roles and New Ventures  01:04:20 - Hidden Gem -----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakesquires/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/