Entrepreneur Episodes

Do you ever feel boxed in or typecasted based on your current role or what you've studied? Dr. Neda Cvijetic has made it her mission to break down false barriers throughout her life and career. She's a senior engineering leader AND she has her own fashion business on the side called Hautefit. She has a strong intellect AND strong emotional intelligence. She has a thriving career AND a very fulfilling personal and family life. She has worked for some of the hottest technology and innovation lead...

“I’ve never had a job. And as soon as I stop liking what I'm doing, I generally try to change course.” Throughout his career, Brenden Mulligan, founder of Podpage and head of product at Commonstock, has been driven by more than just financial success. From the music industry to startups, his passion has focused on solving problems and building products that customers love. He’s been fortunate to have a number of companies he created get acquired. Contrary to popular belief, this didn’t mean he ...

Making moves into new roles and new companies can be challenging, especially if people are telling you what you want to do isn’t available to you or you’re an immigrant needing to get over visa hurdles. Our guest on this episode, Saiman Shetty, technical program manager of robots at Nuro, has faced and overcome these challenges, not by luck or chance but by design. With perseverance, determination, and a lot of hard work, he’s crafted a career journey that includes working for companies like ...

Gabrielle Bosché became addicted to achievement at an early age. Her incredible drive helped her achieve early success (including publishing her first book at 17!), but it came at a cost to her health and relationships. The unlock in her career journey was connecting her work to her life purpose. She intentionally crafted a career centered around her passions and founded two companies in the process – The Millennial Solution and The Purpose Company. She continues to share her learning with othe...

How do you gain the experience and skills you need to go out on your own as a consultant? In this episode, Tiffany Newhouse, CEO of Newhouse Project Consulting, takes us through her path to consulting which had plenty of curves, including a key decision to leave law school to pursue a career more aligned with her interests and passions. Throughout her journey, Tiffany gained experience and skills across a variety of industries and sectors, which prepared her to start and lead her highly successf...

When Greg Stern graduated from college with a degree in Political Science, he certainly did not expect to eventually co-found and co-chair the award-winning creative advertising agency BSSP. He also didn't anticipate that he would eventually be named CEO of the renowned performing arts organization SFJAZZ. He calls his career inadvertent, but the steps he took along the way prepared him for the extraordinarily fulfilling career he has enjoyed. He also continually nourished his love of music and ...

“All of the other things that I have done before just bubble up into this one particular moment in time.” That’s how Rodney Fong, President & CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, describes getting ready for the challenge he faces today – leading his 170-year-old organization during COVID-19, which has caused unemployment rates to soar and many businesses struggling to survive. Rodney shares his career and personal journey, including his lifelong challenges with dyslexia. Throughout hi...

Is it possible to make your voice heard around important issues of our day, like healthcare, water resource management and climate resiliency? Our guest, Susan Leal, has done just that in both the public and private sectors. She's worked as a lawyer for the US House Energy and Commerce Committee, been an elected official, and been a founding leader in a successful health care startup. She then became an expert in water management and now consults on water and waste water issues related to clima...

It’s the holidays, a time when many of us think of giving, both to our loved ones and to those in need, making this the perfect time to share our interview with Daniel Lurie, who has spent his career in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector focused specifically on supporting low-income individuals and breaking the cycle of poverty. In 2005, Daniel along with three other co-founders created Tipping Point, the San Francisco Bay Area’s leading poverty-fighting organization. Since its inception, Ti...

What does work-life balance mean to you? Could you achieve it if your career was threatened by something completely beyond your control? Our interview with Dr. Markus Watson explores how he has found balance throughout his life, even during especially challenging times like going to dental school while working full-time, and when receiving a life-changing diagnosis. Markus candidly shares how he uncovered his interest in dentistry, what he discovered about himself through various jobs, and how ...

Have you ever dreamed of taking what you know and venturing out as a consultant? Anna Beuselinck did that and then decided she wanted even more, so she created an organic farm, garden and vineyard retreat. Anna openly shares her story, including how and why she made the moves she made to lead a life she purposefully designed. Meet the Guest Anna Beuselinck, Life Gardener, is called a Life Gardener because she believes in planting seeds of humanity. She is both co-founder and CEO of Campovida W...

Can you take something you're passionate about and make it the focal point of your career? Manny Hernandez did, but it was a tough journey filled with long days and personal sacrifices. Manny candidly shares why he made the choices he did and the challenges he faced including the one that forced him to leave the organization he built and loved. Meet the Guest Manny Hernandez is an internationally recognized health advocate who has lived with diabetes since 2002. He co-founded the Diabetes Hand...

How do you bounce back from an early setback? Our guest today knows. He was on the path to do what many people dream of doing, making it into the big leagues as a professional athlete, and then an injury cut his pro career short. Mike Robbins, who has reinvented himself a number of times, shares his personal experiences and what he's learned about the importance of being true to yourself. Meet the Guest Mike Robbins is the author of four books, Focus on the Good Stuff, Be Yourself Everyone Els...

What can you do when the paths you're supposed to take aren't the ones you want to take? In this episode of Career Curves, guest Bill Auerbach shares his career journey and how a stint in comedy helped him discover the path that was right for him. Our first official episode of the Career Curves podcast and website, careercurves.com, are now available. Subscribe today! Meet the Guest Bill Auerbach, CEO Coaching Right Now, brings over 20 years of experience in organizational development, communi...