INspired INsider Podcast

Matt Bressler is a Principal at TDF Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm with offices in Washington DC and Silicon Valley. They focus on startups that serve enterprise markets within infrastructure, software, and services. They invest from a $150M permanent pool of capital which gives them a long-term horizon to work with startups with big ideas. They also believe in technology's power to improve lives and support development initiatives through the TDF Foundation which operates in parallel to their venture activity. Before TDF Ventures, Matt worked with GE Ventures supporting investments and strategy in intelligent environments. He also served as the Director of Investments for the Wharton Social Venture Fund and as an Associate for FOUNDER.org. Matt graduated with a BA in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University and he later earned his MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode… Early-stage investing is a high-risk, high-reward venture. And early-stage venture capital firms typically invest in companies that are promising and are capable of delivering innovative products that have the potential of disrupting an industry. Venture firms are meticulous in picking a company that has a great team with a valuable idea that has a product-market fit. But at what point do early-stage investors decide to veer from that path and take things to the next level?  The next level for venture firms means that they have come up with an idea and what they need to do is to find leaders who can get behind it and turn the idea into a product. Matt Bressler and his team at TDF Ventures not only invest in innovative companies, they’re also ready to push the envelope further and find people who are capable of taking things up a notch. Did that, and their Principal was on hand to share what they learned. Even more, he talks about the innovative companies they invested in and why, their big misses, and so much more.  On this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with TDF Ventures’ Principal, Matt Bressler, to talk about early-stage investing and how investors can take it to the next level. They’ll be discussing what makes the early-stage startup investment an exciting space for investors, what TDF Ventures looks for in a company before deciding to invest, early signs of a business that’ll succeed, some stand out companies they’ve invested in, and more. Stay tuned.

John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and was a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and ran his own boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. John is the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast since 2012 where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, from Peter Diamandis and Adam Grant to Gary Vaynerchuk and Marie Forleo. John is also the co-founder of Rise25 Media, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners, and generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service.  In this episode… When you think about thought leadership, what comes to mind? Do you picture yourself going on a retreat to your cabin to write tons of articles or a book, and then return to publish and promote it? Well, that could be true if you work in academia. Even then, that’s the hard and inefficient way to do it. Fortunately, there’s a simpler way to build thought leadership in any field. Think: podcasts. It’s one of the surefire ways to build thought leadership, network for new relationships, earn the respect of industry thought leaders as a peer, and promote and grow your brand. Are you interested to find out how to leverage a podcast for thought leadership? Then tune in to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast as Dr. Jeremy Weisz chats with his Rise25 co-founder, John Corcoran about how podcasts can be a vehicle to create thought leadership. They’ll be discussing how a podcast becomes a wheel that churns out thought leadership content, the different ways to use a podcast, and the easy way to use a podcast to become a thought leader, and more. 

Peter Shallard is the Founder and CEO of Commit Action, a company that uses real science to help business owners achieve their goals faster, easier, and more often. He spent the last decade doing one-to-one therapy and consulting with some of the world's highest achievers in his other business where he is better known as "The Shrink for Entrepreneurs."  For years, he was dissatisfied with pseudoscience and the lies in the entrepreneur's growth world. From pseudoscientific life coaching, hype-driven "secrets" based info-marketing, to false/artificial epiphany and snake-oil personal development, Peter saw how the personal development movement was failing business owners. This led to the founding of Commit Action as a way to help business owners predictably bridge the gap between personal development and business growth through evidence-based methodology. In this episode… It’s not uncommon for business owners and entrepreneurs to feel dissatisfied with their performance. Oftentimes, they feel that they fall short of their internal bar and this leaves them feeling frustrated. This then results in a struggle, a struggle that prevents them to become the execution powerhouse that they actually hope to be. Contrary to what most people think, it’s not necessarily inner emotional blockages that lead this to happen. According to the “Shrink for Entrepreneurs”, Peter Shallard, entrepreneurs fail to satisfy their own standards because they are operating in a vacuum of isolation without a lifeline of accountability and community. So how can they reverse this so that they can optimize their strengths and become the incredible execution powerhouse that they are capable of being? On this episode of the INspired INsider podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks with Commit Action Founder and CEO, Peter Shallard, about the colossal problem that entrepreneurs are facing and how he can help them solve it. They’ll be discussing why many entrepreneurs are underachieving, the importance of accountability, the value of having a healthy balance between delayed gratification and fun, and how to address the common excuses that people make that hinders productivity. Stay tuned.

Steve Sarowitz is the Founder and Chairman of Paylocity, a company that he started with just three people in a 600 square feet office which has since grown into a billion-dollar company and a leading US provider of payroll and HR solutions.  Steve also serves as CEO of Blue Marble Payroll, an international payroll provider, and the Director of Payescape, a UK payroll provider. He is also an international philanthropist who plans to give away over £1billion to charitable causes during his lifetime. Steve and his wife have a family foundation that supports over 50 worthy causes worldwide, including programs helping orphans, foster children, refugees, and many other people in need. He has also helped produce several movies including The Gate, a ground-breaking film documentary about the Baháʼí faith which was named as the Best Religious Documentary of 2018. In this episode… Steve Sarowitz is passionate about the things he is involved in and he was able to utilize this passion to bring his faith, business, and philanthropy together in order to create a positive spin to everything he touches. Steve found a new religion six years ago and has gone on from there to create movies about it, found and run companies based on its principles, and more. But that’s only the latter part of Steve’s incredible entrepreneurial Journey.  He takes us back to the time he founded a Chinese restaurant and failed, and how he lost $1 million after investing in the wrong payroll product before getting it right with Paylocity. After Paylocity went public and grew into an $11 billion empire, Steve has gone on to found Blue Marble Payroll and join Wayfarer Studios—further expanding his successes and achievements in his entrepreneurial career. Take a listen to Dr. Jeremy Weisz’s Inspired Insider Podcast episode with Steve Sarowitz, Founder and Chairman of Paylocity, about how Steve combines religion, philanthropy, and business in his career as an entrepreneur. Steve shares the story of how he founded and built Paylocity, the challenges that came with relinquishing control as CEO of the company, how he discovered and committed to the Baháʼí faith, the learning experiences he’s had throughout his career, and more.

Lawrence Chester has served as a CFO for 25 years for companies such as Colovos Company, Republic Windows and Doors, United Service Companies, and High Sierra Sport Company, helping them eliminate losses and improving financial operations and reporting. He is an intuitive businessman, able to grasp complex situations, driving to the heart of the matter while developing creative solutions to problems.  Realizing that he enjoyed the challenges of helping companies that were working their way through a crisis, Lawrence joined a bankruptcy trustee for several years, analyzing the financial condition of client companies and managing them through those difficult times. Soon after that, he struck out on his own, forming CFO Simplified’s team of CFOs. CFO Simplified helps their clients get clarity on their business’ performance, and the core of CFO Simplified’s focus is working with small to mid-sized businesses in cash flow improvement, strengthening internal controls, improving profitability, and clarifying financial reporting. Since starting CFO Simplified, Lawrence has been involved in Business Turnaround, and Mergers and Acquisitions, in addition to Financial and Operations Management for his clients. In this episode… When you look at your financial statements, do you see the information you need to help you make changes today that will affect your business profitability tomorrow? If your financial statement isn't telling you what's happening in your business, then there's a problem.  According to Lawrence Chester, the President of CFO Simplified, there are two basic ways of looking at your financials: one is on a cash basis, and the other is on an accrual basis. But what do these two options mean and which one should you use to pay for recurrent expenditure like taxes?  Learn more about smart financials for business growth on this episode of the Inspired Insider podcast. Tune in as Dr. Jeremy Weisz and his Rise25 co-founder, John Corcoran talk with Lawrence Chester, President of CFO Simplified, about the pain points businesses face with their financials, the common mistakes they make, and how to rejig your financials for business growth. 

Kelly Perdew is a Co-Founder and Managing General Partner at Moonshots Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in extraordinary leadership. Kelly has served in every capacity: Founder, Board Member, CEO, COO, CFO, Business Development, and Sales. He has raised institutional financing, grown businesses, down-sized businesses, and sold businesses for 8-figure exits. Kelly was the winner of the second season of The Apprentice.This granted him access to work with the Trump brand across its different businesses. He holds an MBA and JD from The School of Law UCLA and graduated from West Point. In this episode… Imagine yourself proving your entrepreneurial mettle, riding on fame, and going on to build and invest in exceptional brands—that would be like a snapshot of Kelly Perdew’s story. When Kelly won the second season of Donald Trumps’ The Apprentice, you’d think the journey would be a smooth sail from there. But in Kelly’s case, it wasn’t a straight line: there were a few twists, turns, and kicking yourself experiences before he was able to set down his roots and get to where he is today. Learn more about the inspiring entrepreneurial story of Kelly Perdew, Co-Founder and Managing General Partner at Moonshots Capital, on this episode of Dr. Jeremy Weisz’s Inspired Insider Podcast. Kelly recalls what it was like working with Donal Trump after winning The Apprentice, how he became an investor, his biggest investment miss, and how his company determines which early-stage companies they should invest in.

Jon Morris is the CEO of Ramsay Innovations LLC, where he helps business leaders grow their companies faster. They provide companies a framework that Jon has fine tuned over the years that is focused on data-driven leadership, high performing culture, focus and alignment, and growth infrastructure. Before Ramsay Innovations, Jon founded and bootstrapped Rise Interactive, a full-service internet marketing agency, with $10,000 and grew it into one of the largest independent digital agencies. Rise Interactive helps clients get new customers at the lowest acquisition cost. In this episode… Three things can sink or help your business grow: organizational design, financial infrastructure, and sales and marketing infrastructure. Jon Morris explains that these three items, if done properly together, can propel your company forward. But when one of them goes missing, it can tip off the balance in your organization and challenge the momentum you’ve painstakingly built for your business. Jon shares that as a company grows, the CEO’s role changes with it. And the business needs a solid organizational design so that business owners can remove certain functions and pass them on to your team while at the same time empowering the employees to do their jobs efficiently. And as the business grows, the organization's core values must be the driving force behind the hiring, firing, and promotional decisions in order to retain a cohesive and top-performing workforce.  So where does the finance, sales, and marketing infrastructure of the business fit into the picture? Ramsay Innovations LLC CEO, breaks down these three things on this episode of Inspired Insider brought to you by Rise25.  Learn how Jon Morris, CEO of Ramsay Innovations LLC, grew Rise Interactive from 0 to 250+ employees with just an initial $10,000 in his pocket on this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast. Jon breaks down and shares the secret to capturing your business’ organizational design, finance, and sales and marketing infrastructure. He also discusses how Ramsay Innovations help their clients through this process and how he zeroed in on his tried-and-true method for growing a business. Stay tuned.

Steve Fretzin is the President of Fretzin Inc., where he offers business development coaching and training, law practice advice, and interactive and impactful law firm retreats to his clients. Steve has been a business development coach with over 20 years of experience. He coaches and trains lawyers on the most modern-day business development skills, providing precise tips, fresh ideas, and actionable tasks that drive tangible results. Steve is also a three-time author on legal business development and the host of BE THAT LAWYER podcast. He has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s, and Entrepreneur.com and has appeared on NBC News and WGN Radio. He is a regular contributor to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and has published articles in Attorney at Law Magazine, the National Law Review, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association. In this episode… A lot of people struggle with sales because they don’t know how to sell without feeling salesy. As a result, they have a hard time getting clients and growing their business. But premier business development coach, Steve Fretzin, says you can turn that around following his sales-free selling model.  Steve says that selling your services isn’t more complicated than any other type of sales—but it is crucial that you have an impeccable game plan to not only attract potential clients but to also close the deal. He says that relationship building, setting an agenda, networking and giving with intention, working with a coach, and being fearless are the key ingredients to making a hard-to-resist offer—the question is, how can you put these things into practice? On this episode of the INspired INsider Podcast, John Corcoran and Dr. Jeremy Weisz shares a LinkedIn live episode that they did with premier business development coach and “lawyer whisperer”, Steve Fretzin of FRETZIN INC. They’ll be sharing their conversation about how lawyers, coaches and other b2b service providers can sell without feeling salesy. They’ll also discuss the common struggles of selling today, how professionals can take control of the selling process, and the bad sales habits and mistakes people often make. Stay tuned.

Ladi Goldwire is CEO and Owner of BrinMar Construction & Development Group Ltd, a design-build general contracting firm specializing in condo renovations and single-family residential home flips and rehabs. She is passionate about her business because it provides a means for women to be expressive and relevant in a space typically set aside for, and dominated by, men.  Ladi is also a big advocate for mental health and the hemp industry. She’s a member of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In this episode… Breaking into any industry is never easy—and this is particularly true if you’re a female trying to dominate a male-dominated one like construction and development. It can be so intense and so challenging that it can push you to your breaking point. But with grit and determination, it’s definitely possible to not just penetrate the industry but to make a mark in it as well. And this was the case for Ladi Goldwire. Ladi took an early interest in construction because of her father. Her interest then morphed into a passion that later inspired the founding of her company, BrinMar Construction & Development Group Ltd. But early industry dominance saw Ladi as a target—she even landed in jail because of some trumped-up charges as she was doing her job as a Certified Building Official in Florida. The charges were eventually dropped and she became an even stronger force to be reckoned with in the industry.  On this Top Black Leaders Series episode of Inspired Insider, Dr. Jeremy Weisz talks with Ladi Goldwire, the CEO and Owner of BrinMar Construction & Development Group Ltd, about how she pursues them with passion in order to make a mark in whatever she undertakes. Tune in as she discusses why she’s passionate about mental health, how she dominated a male-populated industry in Florida despite the challenges, and what she has been up to in the hemp and tea industry.

Christina Nicholson is the Founder of Media Maven and Podcast Clout. Media Maven is a full-service public relations agency that specializes in owned and earned media. At the same time, Podcast Clout is a service that makes it easy for you to find the right podcasts to be a guest and catapult your brand. Christina is an award-winning journalist with more than a decade of experience anchoring, reporting, writing, blogging, video production, editing, and excelling in social media, photography, and live TV. She’s been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, the Huffington Post, Time, Yahoo!, PR Daily, All Business Experts, CNN, WTVJ in Miami, WPTV in West Palm Beach, News 12 in New York City, and many other media outlets. More importantly, she has gotten her clients on everywhere from Good Morning America and all over the media. In this episode… Hate fake news? According to Christina Nicholson, Founder of Media Maven and Podcast Clout, it’s your fault that there’s so much of it everywhere. She explains that how you consume and engage with content determines the types of content that media produces. And with social media depending on user-generated content, everyone is now deeply a part of what makes up the media and everyone is now media and equally responsible for fake news. However, despite the proliferation of fake news, everyone—including businesses—can’t do without the media. As a brand, you want to get your story in the right media channel to grow your business, but how do you cut through the noise to land publicity for your brand on a platform like Today Show? Who should you be pitching for promotion, and what’s the DNA of a great pitch?  Tune in to this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast as Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Christina Nicholson, Founder of Media Maven and Podcast Clout, about fake news and how your brand can avoid being entangled with it. They’ll be going deep into the pandemic of fake news as Christina explains why it’s everyone’s fault that it’s everywhere, how to earn media and leverage the exposure to profit your brand, and she also shares how her companies help brands get the media attention that they need.