Check out all the details of the summit @e7nafoundation on Instagram!Ps. You can now nominate any guest you'd like to be featured on Empathy Always Wins here: <a href="https://forms.gle/341i2ehoRDSLeC5w9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/341i2ehoRDSLeC5w9</a>Support the show by dropping us a rating and review on Apple Podcast!&nbsp;Music: “Daydream” by Ash. Available on Spotify, Apple Music &amp; Anghami.Tune in daily &amp; follow me here <a href="https://www.instagram.com/allysalama/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@allysalama</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/empathyalwayswins/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> @empathyalwaywins</a> for more on the show's latest updates.&nbsp;Show Credits&nbsp;Empathy Always Wins: The World's Exclusive Leadership &amp; Mental Health Podcast. © Ally Salama 2020.

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Philip is passionate about helping e-commerce entrepreneurs realize the full value of their brands. He is the co-founder and co-CEO of Opontia, the only digital-first consumer goods group in EEMEA. Opontia was one of the fastest companies in MENA to raise over 40 million dollars in under 9 months. The company was featured as #12 on the Forbes Top 50 Most Funded Startups list in 2021. Prior to founding Opontia, Philip worked for 2 years at McKinsey in their Dubai office on e-commerce strategy, private equity, and post-merger integration. He also spent 2 years working in venture capital across Africa and 5 years in banking between London, Singapore, and New York. He holds an MPA from Harvard University, an MBA from The Wharton School, an MA in Mathematics from Columbia University, and is a CFA Charterholder. In this episode, Philip shares with us his journey of founding Opontia by reflecting on his past and present.Key Timestamps:- [00:46] Introducing Philip and Opontia- [03:10] Philip’s Educational Investment- [06:40] Opontia Launch- [10:25] The Founding Team- [12:10] Breaking Records - [14:20] What VCs Look For- [15:40] Leading in Chaos- [19:10] Startups, Governance, and Leadership- [23:00] Fire RoundKey Quotes from Philip Johnston:- “Your chance of founding a unicorn if you do go to an ivy league is 500 times higher”- “I looked at all the companies which produce the highest number of unicorn founders”- “It took a week to raise $3.5M in seed from scratch with no deck or model”- “You should be looking for the idea that best fits with your founding teams’ skill set”- “You need either an extremely credible founding team or a lot of convincing traction”- “Leadership is a choice; anyone can be a leader if they decide to be”---About Ally Salama:Forbes 30 Under 30:https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/30-under-30-2021/ally-salama/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysalama/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/allysalama/Twitter:https://twitter.com/allysalamaAbout Philip Johnston:Website:https://opontia.com/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstonphilip/TechCrunch:https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/08/opontia-gets-42m-to-buy-more-e-commerce-brands-in-eastern-europe-middle-east-and-africa/---Support the show by dropping us a rating and review!©Ally Salama 2022 | Produced by https://www.empwrhouse.com/ ( EMPWR House)

#74. Building a Unicorn with Philip Johnston

Khalid has a passion for breaking things and moving fast. He is an experienced entrepreneur reshaping the tutoring industry in the Middle East. Khalid founded AlGooru in 2018, after just graduating from his business bachelor’s degree, raising over 2 million dollars in seed investments to date and his startup was recently recognized as the “EduTech Business of the Year” during UAE’s regional SME Awards for 2022-2023. He is currently leading a team of over 50 employees across various locations and connecting learners to private tutors for over 200 subjects. In this episode, Khalid shares his learning outcomes in entrepreneurship and growth as a leader in this industry. Key Timestamps:- [00:55] Introducing Khalid and Al Gooru- [02:40] Joining Accelerators- [05:10] Entering the Competitive Tech Industry and Start up Launch- [10:28] Value Proposition of Al Gooru- 13:40] Leadership Methods - [15:45] Common Challenges Faced - [18:50] Fire RoundKey Quotes from Khalid Abou Kassem:- “You can’t learn the ABCs of launching a startup all alone”- “Stay as humble as possible”- “I am still making mistakes and I am still learning”- “Armor yourself with enough references and resources before launching a venture”- “Starting a business is like jumping off a cliff and then building an airplane while jumping off”- “We stride as talented owners”---About Ally SalamaForbes 30 Under 30:https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/30-under-30-2021/ally-salama/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysalama/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/allysalama/Twitter: https://twitter.com/allysalamaAbout Khalid Abou Kassem:Website:https://algooru.com/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalidwak/Email: khalid@algooru.comSupport the show by dropping us a rating and review on Apple Podcast!©Ally Salama 2022 | Produced by EMPWR House

#73. Disrupting Education and Leading the Way with Khalid Abou Kassem

Christophe Zoghbi is an experienced software engineer and entrepreneur focused on building the Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem and democratizing AI education in MENA. Chris founded Beirut AI in 2017 which grew to become the largest applied AI community in Lebanon, and enables participants to explore impacts of AI, explore employment opportunities, engage with others, and develop projects. To take things to the next level and on a broader scale outside Lebanon, Chris founded Zaka in 2019, providing AI bootcamps and certifications taught by industry leaders to accelerate one's career or business in AI. In this episode, Christophe discusses his take on AI and the future of AI in the region as well as tackling internal and external challenges.Key Timestamps:- [00:30] Introducing Chris and the Power of Data- [03:00] Tackling Industry Challenges in the Region- [04:55] Why do we need AI?- [07:58] Creating an Environment where your Team can Thrive in an Unstable Country- [11:45] Driving Emotional Intelligence in AI and the future of AI- [18:00] Will Arabs use AI Chat-bots?- [21:30] Fire RoundKey Quotes from Christophe Zoghbi:- “People need to understand what AI really is”- “The first thing we had to is educate the market”- “Get the right people who believe in that mission to be part of your team”- “There is no environment that is free of challenges but it's about the mentality and the approach”- “You can think of AI as the next version of software, it's actually software 2.0”- “AI allows me and the product developer to customize the experience for very user”- “AI is not something to be afraid of it's actually going to elevate our lives”---About Ally SalamaForbes 30 Under 30:https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/30-under-30-2021/ally-salama/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysalama/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/allysalama/Twitter: https://twitter.com/allysalamaAbout Christophe Zoghbi:Website:https://zaka.ai/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophezoghbi/?originalSubdomain=lbInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaka.ai/?hl=en---Support the show by dropping us a rating and review!©Ally Salama 2022 | Produced by EMPWR House

#72. Unlocking AI Education in MENA with Christophe Zoghbi

Saadallah Sarkis is an entrepreneur and strategy consultant focused on building a people-centric venture and culture. His experience in Strategy& across clients in the MENA region, has enabled him with the needed skill-set to launch LAZE, a global rolling papers brand with a community invested in art, creativity, and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Saadallah discusses his story in launching the disruptive “People Beyond Papers” brand and encourages young aspiring entrepreneurs in taking the leap. Key Timestamps:- [00:35] Who is Saadallah and What is LAZE?- [04:25] Why People Beyond Papers?- [11:36] Working with Friends and Style of Leadership- [17:40] What do you do to handle that level of stress of entrepreneurship?- [28:00] What would you advise people who want to start a business?Key Quotes from Saadallah Sarkis:- “Who said that the brand should be owned by just one person?”- “A unique brand developed and created by a global pool of people, we never saw this model before”- “Don’t fear about exploring any stereotype” - “Perception to entrepreneurship is still outdated”- “Whenever I want to know about a topic, I prefer to go to an expert of this topic”---About Ally SalamaForbes 30 Under 30:https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/30-under-30-2021/ally-salama/Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysalama/\Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/allysalama/Twitter: https://twitter.com/allysalamaAbout Saadallah Sarkis:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/laze.ltd/?hl=enLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/saadallah-sarkis-babab4165/---Support the show by dropping us a rating and review!©Ally Salama 2022 | Produced by EMPWR House

#71. A LAZE Lifestyle with Saadallah Sarkis

Peggy Van de Plassche is an author and international speaker focused on microdosing for mental health and personal transformation. In her memoir, “Paris, Mushrooms, and Me” as well as her speaking engagements, she shares her experience from being a banker and venture capitalist for 20 years in the financial services and technology industries, as an executive, investor, board member, and entrepreneur to becoming an author of narrative non-fiction. Her audience acquires a first-hand understanding of her transformation process and the role microdosing psychedelics has played in giving her a new lease on life.Key Timestamps:- [01:00] Introducing Peggy- [02:30] Diving into Microdosing- [06:00] Paris, Mushrooms, and Me- [09:00] Getting Past the Fear of Uncertainty- [12:00] Knowing the When- [13:58] Peggy’s Truth- [17:12] Is Microdosing for Everybody?- [19:30] Trends in Microdosing- [21:16] Peggy’s Secret Sauce- [23:56] Fire RoundKey Quotes from Peggy Van de Plassche:- “I had a very successful career but it was not me”- “Being aware of doing the right thing instead of just what you’re told”- “I see people from all ages, different genders, different backgrounds, being very interested with that”- “Microdosing is taking 5-10% of a dose that someone takes for a trip”- “I should live my life for myself and not to please others”---About Ally Salama:Forbes 30 Under 30:https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/30-under-30-2021/ally-salama/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysalama/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/allysalama/Twitter: https://twitter.com/allysalamaAbout Peggy Van de Plassche:Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@PeggyVandePlasscheLinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/peggy-van-de-plasscheWebsite: https://peggyvandeplassche.com/---Support the show by dropping us a rating and review!©Ally Salama 2022 | Produced by https://www.empwrhouse.com/ ( EMPWR House)

#70. The Secrets of Microdosing with Peggy Van de Plassche

My name is Ally Salama. I'm 25 & my purpose is to make empathy go viral. Today, I'm recognized as a global youth leader, Forbes 30 Under 30, WHO, UN & MIT Keynote Speaker & the Middle East & North Africa's Mental Health Ambassador. My journey to founding my startup, EMPWR, started in 2019, as a Mental Health Magazine, winning Harvard's Top 7 Most Impactful Social Initiatives and earning recognition from the WHO. The rest is history.This podcast aims to share my weekly journey & lessons on Self-Care, Youth Leadership & Entrepreneurship. New episodes every Tuesday. Please rate & review the podcast if you enjoy it! In life & in business Empathy Always Wins.

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Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 501, an interview with the innovative CEO of Motiv, David G. Ewing where we speak about entrepreneurial resilience and customer experience innovation.    In this episode, David shares his journey from early struggles during the 2000 tech recession to building a successful Oracle partnership that transformed his business. He candidly discusses overcoming self-doubt through meditation and mindfulness, while offering practical insights on testing business concepts and managing multiple ventures. The conversation explores how Motiv creates "moments of wonder" in customer experience, the value of the Entrepreneurs Organization community, and practical strategies for work-life integration.    David G. Ewing has revolutionized the realm of customer experience since 1998. With a keen understanding that altering customer attitudes drives ideal behaviors, David has transformed this insight into substantial revenue growth for over 500 clients. A Harvard cum laude graduate in Engineering, his leadership acumen has not only propelled Motiv to the Inc 5000 list of America's fastest-growing companies but has also generated millions in additional revenue for his clients. Beyond his professional prowess, David's leadership extends to the community as the president of The Entrepreneur's Association, Austin Texas Chapter, where he's committed to unlocking every entrepreneur's potential. Outside the boardroom, David is the proud coach of his son's robotics team and cherishes his 19-year marriage, considering it his crowning achievement.   Learn more about David here: <a href= "https://www.davidgewing.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">https://www.davidgewing.com/</a>   Here are some free gifts for you:   Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: <a href= "http://www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach</a>   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: <a href="http://www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf" target= "_blank" rel= "noopener">www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf</a>   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: <a href= "http://www.firmsconsulting.com/promo" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">www.firmsconsulting.com/promo</a>

501: From Harvard Engineer to Inc. 5000 CEO: David G. Ewing on How to Build a Successful Business

Walid Mansour is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) — one of the leading venture capital firms in the MENA region. With over a decade of experience in investing, Walid didn’t just invest in successful startups — he played a key role in building some of the MENA region’s most prominent companies, including Anghami, Totters, Stake, Fresha, and many more. In this episode, Walid shares raw, practical insights on the realities of entrepreneurship, what it takes to build a successful company, and how to raise funding in today’s ecosystem. We also dive into the MENA startup landscape, the role of degrees and MBAs in 2025, and where the next big opportunities lie. What You’ll Get from This Episode: 🚀 01:25 — Why VC?🏢 10:20 — How MEVP became the MENA’s leading VC👨‍💼 12:21 — The traits of successful founders🎭 15:51 — Does "Fake It Until You Make It" actually work?🤔 17:49 — Should you start your own company?💰 20:00 — How to get funding for my startup? (Through a VC)📈 24:38 — How to valueate a startup?🎓 26:57 — Are MBAs still worth it in 2025?🎓 36:20 — Can I get a job without a degree?🌍 41:10 — The MENA Startup Ecosystem today🔮 43:47 — What should we be excited about in the upcoming years? 💸 46:15 — Where would Walid invest with a blank check?📊 47:52 — Technologies with the highest potential⏳ 50:28 — If Walid could time travel, where would he invest? 🤝 Our PartnersWe proudly partner with Acom International, a leading provider of software and automation systems. With a commitment to quality, reliability, and innovation, we trust Acom International to deliver world-class technology solutions for businesses of all sizes. 🌐 Visit: acominternational.com📩 Contact: info@acominternational.com Connect with us👇:📧: contact@thetitanspodcast.co https://www.linkedin.com/company/thetitanspodcast/https://www.instagram.com/thetitans.podcast/https://www.youtube.com/@TheTitansPodcast 🔗 MEVP's Links:Website: https://www.mevp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middle-east-venture-partners/posts/?feedView=all 🔗 Walid's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walid-mansour-3246342// walid-mansour-3246342 👇 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives with the top minds in Business & Tech.

Building Startups, Raising Capital, and What VCs Look For — Walid Mansour, Co-Founder & CEO of MEVP

Ben Horowitz is the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, Silicon Valley’s largest and most influential venture capital firm, with over $46B in committed capital across multiple funds. He took Loudcloud public with just $2 million in revenue (dubbed “the IPO from hell”), sold it for $1.6 billion, and has backed companies from Facebook to Stripe to Airbnb to OpenAI to Databricks (now worth more than $100 billion). His management philosophy—forged through near-death experiences and refined through coaching hundreds of CEOs—contradicts most conventional startup wisdom.In our conversation, Ben shares:1. Why “founder mode” is half right and half dangerously wrong2. The story behind “Good Product Manager/Bad Product Manager” and why it went viral despite being written in anger3. Where the biggest AI startup opportunities remain4. Why you need to run toward fear, never away5. The one trait that predicts that a founder will fail as CEO6. Inside Paid in Full, Ben’s nonprofit awarding pensions to pioneering hip-hop artists—Brought to you by:DX—The developer intelligence platform designed by leading researchers: http://getdx.com/lennyBasecamp—The famously straightforward project management system from 37signals: https://www.basecamp.com/lennyMiro—A collaborative visual platform where your best work comes to life: https://miro.com/lenny—Transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/46b-of-hard-truths-from-ben-horowitz—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): ⁠https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/172439345/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Ben Horowitz:• X: https://x.com/bhorowitz• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/behorowitz/• Website: https://benhorowitz.com/• Andreessen Horowitz’s website: https://a16z.com/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Ben Horowitz(04:09) Important leadership lessons from Shaka Senghor(10:15) Running toward fear and why hesitation kills companies(19:35) Who shouldn’t start a company(22:36) The Databricks story: thinking bigger(24:54) Managerial leverage and CEO psychology(28:06) When founders should be replaced as CEOs(31:20) Normalizing failure for CEOs(37:57) Counterintuitive lessons about building companies(42:31) “Good Product Manager/Bad Product Manager”(48:21) Product managers as leaders(51:16) Why a16z invested in Adam Neumann after WeWork(56:23) Is AI in a bubble?(01:02:43) The biggest opportunities in AI(01:12:51) Why U.S. leadership in AI matters(01:18:53) The Paid in Full Foundation for hip-hop pioneers(01:23:18) Lightning round: book recommendations, products, and life mottos—References: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/46b-of-hard-truths-from-ben-horowitz—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

$46B of hard truths from Ben Horowitz: Why founders fail and why you need to run toward fear (a16z co-founder)

What happens after that coveted exit? What does life look like for a founder who's achieved what so many others are striving for? Today, we're diving deep into that very question with Timothy Armoo, a serial entrepreneur who sold his influencer marketing company, Fanbytes, in a multi-million pound deal at the age of 27. But this isn't a story about how to build and sell a successful startup - it's about what comes next. What's truly captivating about Tim’s current chapter is his unconventional approach to business. He's not following the typical path of immediately jumping into another venture-backed startup or becoming a full-time investor. Instead, he's crafting a unique strategy that involves everything from funding lithium mines in Africa to investing in avocado imports. … Sponsors Vanta - get 20% off security certifications like ISO27001 and SOC2: https://vanta.com/secretleaders Personio - all in one HR platform: https://personio.com/secretleaders -- Newsletter Sign up here: https://secretleaders.email/.

A Business without a company?  - Timothy Armoo

Andrew Wilkinson is the co‑founder of Tiny, a holding company that quietly owns more than three dozen profitable internet and consumer brands, including Dribbble and the AeroPress coffee maker. Starting as a teenage barista and web designer, he’s created a portfolio approaching $300 million in yearly sales (and he was personally worth over $1 billion at one point)—all without ever raising venture capital.In this conversation, you’ll learn:1. The “fish where the fish are” framework for spotting high‑margin niches no one else notices2. The exact agent stack (Lindy, Replit, Limitless, and more) that supercharges Andrew’s day-to-day productivity (and has replaced his assistant)3. How Andrew evaluates companies in less than 15 minutes using Buffett‑style moats and “lazy leadership”4. Telltale signs you should shut down (or never start) that startup idea5. His journey from crippling anxiety to clarity through SSRIs and ADHD medication6. His prediction that most knowledge work will be automated—and the skills to teach your kids now—Brought to you by:Sauce—Turn customer pain into product revenueEnterpret—Transform customer feedback into product growthMiro—A collaborative visual platform where your best work comes to life—Where to find Andrew Wilkinson:• X: https://x.com/awilkinson• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awilkinson/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Andrew Wilkinson(04:07) Finding the right business idea(07:18) Avoiding common business pitfalls(11:58) Finding your unfair advantage(17:08) Fish where the fish are(20:08) Why boring is good(25:30) Bootstrapping vs. venture capital(31:20) Lessons from acquiring and managing businesses(36:47) Avoiding people problems(42:39) Leveraging AI in business and life(49:30) The Limitless device(53:13) Job displacement and AI’s future impact(58:20) Advice for new grads(01:02:50) Parenting in the age of AI(01:05:26) The pursuit of happiness beyond wealth(01:10:10) Mental health and medication(01:16:45) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Andrew’s post on X with the Charlie Munger quote: https://x.com/awilkinson/status/1265653805443506182• Metalab: https://www.metalab.com/• Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/• AeroPress: https://aeropress.com/• Brian Armstrong on X: https://x.com/brian_armstrong• Warren Buffett’s quote: https://quotefancy.com/quote/931119/Warren-Buffett-I-am-a-better-investor-because-I-am-a-businessman-and-a-better-businessman• Flow: https://www.getflow.com/• Instacart: https://www.instacart.com/• Things: https://culturedcode.com/things/• Dustin Moskovitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmoskov/• Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/• Serato: https://serato.com/• Chris Sparling on X: https://x.com/_sparling_• Lindy: https://www.lindy.ai/• Replit: https://replit.com/• Behind the product: Replit | Amjad Masad (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-product-replit-amjad-masad• David Ogilvy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ogilvy_(businessman)• Malcolm Gladwell’s website: https://www.gladwellbooks.com/• Inside Bolt: From near-death to ~$40m ARR in 5 months—one of the fastest-growing products in history | Eric Simons (founder and CEO of StackBlitz): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/inside-bolt-eric-simons• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Limitless: https://www.limitless.ai/• Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/• Claude: https://claude.ai/• ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app• William Gibson’s quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/681-the-future-is-already-here-it-s-just-not-evenly• Palm Treo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Treo• Sam Altman on X: https://x.com/sama• Dario Amodei on X: https://x.com/darioamodei• Anthropic’s CPO on what comes next | Mike Krieger (co-founder of Instagram): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/anthropics-cpo-heres-what-comes-next• Challengers on AppleTV+: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/challengers/umc.cmc.53cuz33n4e74ixj8whccj87oc• Matic vacuum: https://maticrobots.com/• Jerzy Gregorek’s quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8652595-hard-choices-easy-life-easy-choices-hard-life• Tiny: https://www.tiny.com/• Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/—Recommended books:• The Laws of Human Nature: https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Human-Nature-Robert-Greene/dp/0525428143• How to Get Rich: One of the World’s Greatest Entrepreneurs Shares His Secrets: https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-Rich-Greatest-Entrepreneurs/dp/1591842719—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

I’ve run 75+ businesses. Here’s why you’re probably chasing the wrong idea. | Andrew Wilkinson (co‑founder of Tiny)

What if the key to success wasn’t grinding harder—but learning to let go? Chris Bakke made 10s of millions selling two companies, including one to Elon Musk’s Twitter. But after years of chasing big wins, something changed: he had kids. And suddenly, the drive that once defined him wasn’t as important as being present for his family. Chris started as a scrappy startup founder, building and selling multiple companies for over $50 million each. He worked directly with Elon, made bold investments, and built a net worth of $25 million (or 50 depending on how you value Twitter stock). But fatherhood led him to reevaluate everything—including his ambition in the tech world. In this episode, Chris opens up about how becoming a dad reshaped his perspective on work, money, and happiness. We dive into: <ul><li>Why having kids made him rethink the endless pursuit of success.</li><li>How he balances financial security with personal fulfillment.</li><li>The trade-offs of working with Elon Musk—and why he ultimately walked away.</li><li>Why he believes the multiple cashflowing agencies he runs make him better off than a highly valued illiquid tech company anyway.</li></ul> This is Moneywise, a podcast where host Sam Parr is joined by high-net-worth guests to explore exclusive insights into personal finance and lifestyle tailored for other high-net-worth people, or those on their way. They'll get radically transparent about the numbers, revealing things like their burn rates, portfolios, and spending habits. Who is Sam Parr?Sam is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of <a href="https://thehustle.co/">The Hustle</a>, which he <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/04/hubspot-acquires-media-startup-the-hustle/">sold </a>to <a href="https://www.hubspot.com/">HubSpot </a>in 2021. He's also the co-host of one of the world's top podcasts for entrepreneurs, <a href="https://www.mfmpod.com/">My First Million</a>. Known for his insightful business acumen and candid communication style, Sam Parr continues to be a prominent figure in the world of media and entrepreneurship. Sam's newest and biggest venture yet is <a href="https://joinhampton.com/">Hampton</a>, which he co-founded in 2022. Check out Sam’s Companies: <a href="https://joinhampton.com/">Hampton</a><a href="https://samslist.co/">Sam’s List</a> This podcast was made for the <a href="https://joinhampton.com/about-us">Hampton community</a>, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups. Chapters:Chris Bakke's Financial Breakdown (02:18)Early Career and First Startup (08:16)The Success of Lasky and Acquisition by Elon Musk (13:43)Working with Elon Musk (18:16)Family Life and Career Transition (20:24)Balancing Family and High-Stakes Career (20:52)Shifting Focus to Smaller Projects (22:29)The Trade-Offs of Ambition (23:34)Finding Joy in Simple Ventures (26:26)Parenthood and Professional Ambition (27:54)Lessons from Working with Elon (29:58)The Impact of Wealth and Parenthood (36:49) This podcast was produced in partnership with <a href="http://authority.fm">Lower Street</a> and distributed by <a href="https://www.morningbrew.com/daily">Morning Brew.</a>

Elon Musk's Acquisition Made Me $50M, But Fatherhood Redefined My Life

Send a textSteve Kurz vaulted from early days at a worm poop startup (yes, that's a real thing) to the fast track of traditional finance, only to find himself with a front row seat to the Global Financial Crisis. Steve took the lessons he learned in traditional finance at legendary institutions like Lehman Brothers, Fortress, and River Birch and forged a new path along with his co-founder, Mike Novogratz, to found Galaxy: the Goldman Sachs of crypto.In today's episode, Steve explains to us his vision of the institutional future of crypto, the character of the crypto ecosystem emerging from the stress tests of the past few years (ahem, FTX), and explains the contemporary use cases for crypto that transcend the fragmented narrative of its early days. He also talks about building a family with an equally talented, successful, and driven partner.Steve's bold --- yet thoughtful --- entrepreneurial mindset should be an inspiration to anyone doubting themselves as they navigate their own career path. We are honored to share Steve's insight & perspective. Steve Kurz is the Global Head of Asset Management at Galaxy and a member of Galaxy’s founding team. In addition, Steve is a member of the firm’s management committee and serves as chair of the ESG Steering Committee. Before joining the firm, he Co-founded Outer Realm, an enterprise focused immersive software company (sold in 2022). Previously, he was a Principal and Head of Business Development at River Birch Capital, where he led global capital formation efforts. Prior to that, he was a Vice President at Fortress Investment Group, where he held strategy, product specialist, and capital formation roles in New York and Singapore. He started his career as a Capital Markets Analyst in the Fixed Income Division of Lehman Brothers. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University. He also serves as a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.Check out Galaxy on Instagram @galaxydigitalhqFor a 14 day FREE Trial of Macabacus, click HERE Visit https://iconnections.io/ to learn more about iConnections!Shop our Self Paced Courses: Investment Banking & Private Equity Fundamentals HEREFixed Income Sales & Trading HERE Wealthfront.com/wss. This is a paid endorsement for Wealthfront. May not reflect others’ experiences. Similar outcomes not guaranteed. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. Rate subject to change. Promo terms apply. If eligible for the boosted rate of 4.15% offered in connection with this promo, the boosted rate is also subject to change if base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period.The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of 11/7/25, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. The APY reflects the weighted average of deposit balances at participating Program Banks, which are not allocated equally. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where they earn the variable APY. Sources HERE.

111. The Future of Crypto, feat. Galaxy Co-Founder Steve Kurz

Ilya Strebulaev has devoted two decades to studying how venture capitalists approach decision-making, and the reasons behind the successes and failures of corporate innovations. He joins Google to discuss his book, "The Venture Mindset," a playbook on how to adapt to a rapidly changing world, make smarter bets, launch new ventures, and transform traditional organizations into hubs for innovation. Ilya is an international expert in venture capital, private equity, and financing innovation. Among his many achievements, he's been a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business since 2004. He is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and the founder and faculty director of the Stanford GSB Venture Capital Initiative. Watch this episode at <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fEyffMkUxA">youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle</a>.

The Venture Mindset | Ilya Strebulaev

Special Bonus Episode! Charlie has The McNeil Team from the Colorado School of Mines, this year&apos;s EPIC location, on to get to know them bit more.   The McNeil TeamSid Hanna Saleh, Ph.D. – McNeil Center Director and Associate ProfessorAs the Director of the McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Dr. Sid Saleh plays a pivotal role in upholding our mission to cultivate a campus-centric entrepreneurial culture by producing experiential programs that combine creative discovery with business and financial astuteness towards creating sustainable value. Leading unique programs such as Innov8X, Sid fast-tracks early innovative endeavors via rigorous curricula, efficient methods, demonstration spaces, mentorship, and early-stage funding.In 2023, Sid was honored as the Americas Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year by the Accreditation Council of Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities. Sid is a member of the Mines Faculty Senate and was past chair of the Research Council which represents faculty on matters pertaining to the Mines research enterprise. It provides research instrumentation funding and recommends faculty for academic research excellence awards. Sid’s research investigates why some early ideas gain traction while others fizzle out. He explores how founders can collaborate to frame problems and create value despite their constraints. A former Apple product manager and entrepreneur, Sid’s experience motivates his research and enriches his teaching. In practice, Sid has conducted over a hundred conjoint analysis studies for innovation-seeking high-tech organizations including Apple, Best Buy, CEA, IBM, Motorola, Philips Medical and others. Sid currently serves as a board member of the Tri-County Workforce Development Board, Future Cities and the CiviCore Foundation.Lia Franklin, Ph.D. – McNeil Center Associate DirectorDr. Lia Franklin has spent the past 30 years of her career in higher education supporting students, training, teaching, and inspiring others. She is passionate about helping people live their dreams. An entrepreneur at heart, she has run her own small business for over 25 years and has developed women’s leadership training programs over her career.Lia’s sweet spot is where education and industry connect. She began with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing, and later earned her master’s in college student personnel (Ed / Psych) from Western Illinois University before earning her PhD in Leadership, Research, and Policy from University of Colorado. Before joining the Mines community, Lia ran an international MBA program at a regional campus. She joined Mines in 2014 and first served in the Advanced Steel Processing Center. She then moved to Student Life and helped run operations for the Division of Student Life before joining the McNeil team in January 2023.As the McNeil Associate Director, she leads all the Innov8x Challenges, including sourcing industry problems, developing partnerships, marketing and student engagement, and event day planning and implementation. She also focuses on developing industry, government, and non-profit partnerships with the McNeil Center, and develops Center based programming and outreach.  Read up at <a href='https://empoweringpumps.com/'>EmpoweringPumps.com</a> and stay tuned for more news about <a href='https://www.empoweringindustry.com/'>EPIC</a> at the Colorado School of Mines Nov 12th and 13th Find us @EmpoweringPumps on <a href='https://www.facebook.com/empoweringpumps'>Facebook</a>, <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3957420/'>LinkedIn</a>,  <a href='https://www.instagram.com/empoweringpumps/'>Instagram </a>and <a href='https://twitter.com/empoweringpumps/'>Twitter </a>and using the hashtag #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast or via email <a href='mailto:podcast@empoweringpumps.com'>podcast@empoweringpumps.com</a>

Engineering + Entrepreneurship = Innova8x

True impact isn’t measured by what you build for yourself—it’s defined by what you create for others.In this episode of Flavors of Ambition, we sit down with Fadi Ghandour, co-founder of Aramex and a trailblazer in Middle Eastern entrepreneurship, investment, and digital transformation. Fadi shares the vision, grit, and strategic thinking that led him to reshape the logistics industry, compete with global giants, fuel the growth of venture capital, and empower an entire generation of entrepreneurs.At the heart of Fadi’s story is a commitment to solving problems for his own community—a philosophy that guided Aramex’s rise, and keeps him redefining industries through Wamda Capital, and transforming education through Ruwwad. Joining the conversation is Akram Awad, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, who highlights how government-backed initiatives, venture-building, and talent retention are shaping the Middle East’s business future—and why talent, not capital, will be the region’s greatest competitive advantage.Together, we'll explore what it takes to build an ecosystem that drives innovation, attracts investment, and supports sustainable growth in the Middle East and beyond.Links:Fadi Ghandour on LinkedInWamda CapitalRuwwadAkram Awad on LinkedinBCG Middle EastEmail Flavors of Ambition: flavorsofambition@bcg.com

Think Local, Build Global: Fadi Ghandour’s Blueprint for Scaling a Thriving Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

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