Disruptive CEO Nation

Latest Episodes:

Episode 234: Linking Humanity and Nature in the Global Toy Marketplace with Vishnu Chandran, CEO of Wild Republic; Cleveland, OH, USA Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Vishnu Chandran, the CEO of Wild Republic, is carrying forward his grandfather's legacy in the family business. But, this is not your typical family affair. Wild Republic is a global brand dominating the sales of realistic stuffed animals and toys often found in the shops of zoos, national parks, and other venues where wildlife may be found. Wild Republic also sets itself apart by being nature-related, sustainable, and innovative in the toy industry.

Here are highlights of our conversation:

- Wild Republic, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, has expanded its presence globally with locations in Denmark and Australia, and factories in India and China.

- Wild Republic is committed to sustainability, using innovative methods to create products with a reduced environmental impact.

- The company has eliminated single-use plastics, uses recycled water bottles for stuffing, and introduced fully recycled stuffed animals. In 2024, they plan to launch biodegradable toys and plush lines, reinforcing their dedication to the planet.

- Vishnu emphasizes the importance of putting passion and love into product design, making Wild Republic's stuffed animals stand out in design and quality.

- Vishnu emphasizes the company's commitment to making a difference, citing examples like eliminating phthalates from toy products years before regulatory changes and introducing fully natural stuffed animals.

- Vishnu shares insights into his unique leadership role as a third-generation CEO steering a family legacy.

- The company's future vision involves continued localization, expanding sustainability efforts, and introducing more earth-friendly materials. Vishnu finds motivation in self-help resources, podcasts, and literature, embracing a holistic view of leadership.

With over 15 years of expertise in the toy industry, Vishnu has honed skills in nature conservation, corporate social responsibility, and global leadership. Committed to preserving his grandparents' legacy, Vishnu expands their influence across the US, Europe, UK, Australia, China, India, Japan, Africa, and New Zealand. For Vishnu, toys transcend play—they serve as bridges connecting humans to animals, emphasizing sustainability. The forthcoming launch features entirely biodegradable toys, reflecting a dedication to eco-friendliness. Vishnu envisions a world where humans and animals coexist peacefully, urging collective action for a greener, more compassionate world.

Connect with Vishnu:

Website: https://www.wildrepublic.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishnu-chandran-09805428b/

Connect with Allison:

Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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Episode 233: Michael Hoffman, Founder and CEO of Gather Voices; Chicago, IL, USA Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

This episode focuses on your ability to unveil the power of authentic brand stories. Our expert is Michael Hoffman, founder and CEO of Gather Voices, a leading platform revolutionizing how organizations harness authentic video content.

Entering 2024, we must consider the dichotomy of AI-generated content versus the growing human craving for authentic connections. Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:

-The AI Duality: We unpack the interesting interplay between the rise of AI-generated content and the increasing demand for authentic human stories. Michael shares insights on how organizations can navigate this balance effectively.

-The Event Renaissance: Discover the resurgence of the event industry post-COVID and its pivotal role in fostering genuine human connections and how brands should use these gatherings to collect stories.

-Gather Voices' Mission: Gather Voices was founded to help brands address the challenge of creating quality video content efficiently. Michael sheds light on the platform's unique approach to enabling organizations to tap into the authentic voices of their community.

-The Evolution of Video Content: Michael discusses the shift from brand-created content to user-generated content and the importance of humanizing brands and building trust through storytelling.

-Design Thinking for Life: Michael shares a refreshing perspective on design thinking and how design thinking principles can enhance both professional and personal journeys.

Michael Hoffman is the co-founder and CEO of Gather Voices, a technology company that automates the creation, management, and publishing of video content. He is also the founder of See3 Communications, a digital marketing agency in Chicago and the founder of the DoGooder Video Awards which honors the best social cause video on YouTube each year. Hoffman taught marketing at the University of Chicago and is an internationally sought-after speaker and trainer who is a trusted advisor to business leaders on engagement strategy.

Connect with Michael:

Website: https://gathervoices.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffman/

Connect with Allison:

Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation is one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024. https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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Episode 232: Kenneth Berger, Kenneth Berger Coaching; San Fransisco, CA, USA Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Kenneth Berger is a seasoned technology professional turned executive coach. Having been an early team member at Slack and holding personal experience with startups, Kenneth's unique approach to coaching combines his technology background with a relatable demeanor.

In this episode, we focused on common concerns of business builders, including:

-Doubling Down on Your Path: Kenneth challenges the conventional career trajectory, urging us to question our chosen path. Is it about climbing the corporate ladder, or is it about making a meaningful impact?

-Intentional Asking: Arriving at your desired destination by unpacking the complexities of asking for what you want.

-Expanding Your Range: Break free from narrow communication styles, whether it's about building relationships or asserting your desires.

-Building Internal Safety: Burnout is a common challenge in the startup world. Cultivating internal safety and a deep trust in oneself is critical to enabling sustainable growth and resilience.

-Confidence vs. Imposter Syndrome: We explore the paradox of confidence and imposter syndrome, realizing that vulnerability and admitting uncertainty can be the most confident statements.

Kenneth Berger is a veteran of the tech world. He's one of Slack's first key hires and contributed as a Product Manager. He's also the former Co-founder and COO of YesGraph - a social graph analysis technology, later acquired by Lyft. He now helps startup leaders articulate what they truly want, take a courageous stand for those desires, and accept the world’s response so they can move forward. Over 20+ years in technology as a founder, operator, and executive coach, he’s seen both the promise of these companies and all the pain they can create. Now he’s sharing the tools he’s developed to help leaders succeed.

Connect with Kenneth:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kberger/

Website: https://kberger.com/

Connect with Allison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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Episode 231: Skye Logan, CEO of Philanthroinvestors; Puerto Rico Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

Skye is a maestro of philanthropic capitalism, blending venture capital tools with philanthropic principles to tackle global challenges while making a profit. Did that sound like a mouthful? Well, Skye makes it sound much easier than that.

We caught up with Skye at his home in Puerto Rico, and here is just some of what we covered:

-Venturing Beyond Profit: The mission of Philanthroinvestors is to prove that one can both make money and contribute to solving global issues simultaneously.

-Diverse Impactful Verticals: Delving into the diverse projects, Skye outlines Philanthroinvestors' focus on ten essential life verticals. From air and water to health, housing, and education, each vertical aims to address critical global needs, making a meaningful difference in people's lives.

-Housing for Families in Need: Skye discusses the housing initiatives, sharing their success in providing homes for underprivileged families in the U.S. market. With an average cap rate of 11.93%, Philanthroinvestors is striving to create a positive impact in the housing sector.

-Global Ventures: From environmental initiatives in Dubai to implementing recycling programs in Argentina, Philanthroinvestors is making waves globally. Skye touches on the company's reach in Nigeria, Jordan, and other regions, showcasing the extensive network and impact they've achieved.

Skye Logan has been “in business” from the age of 12. Since that young age, with an overriding purpose to help others, he has a long history of volunteer and humanitarian work. Before his successful career in the real estate sector, Skye was instrumental in developing and managing a one-of-its-kind multilocation medically assisted holistic drug and alcohol detox and rehab program. As a 2x Inc. 500 Executive, his work has spanned many facets of the real estate industry, from residential sales to helping build a $ 50 million-plus housing philanthroinvesting portfolio. Skye is a devoted husband and father of six.

Connect with Skye:

Website: https://philanthroinvestors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/philanthroinvestors/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philanthroinvestors/

Connect with Allison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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Episode 230: Joe Meyer, Founder & CEO of ExecThread; New York, NY, USA Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

Joe Meyer is a man on a mission to elevate the ease with which executives connect to opportunities. As founder and CEO of ExecThread, he has grown a platform that is transforming the executive job search game.

In this conversation, Joe shares the secrets behind ExecThread's success and discusses the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship.

VIP Access to Career Opportunities: ExecThread serves nearly a million professionals with exclusive access to confidential career opportunities. From VP to C-suite, including board-level positions, ExecThread leverages a unique crowd-sourcing approach to unlock hidden career paths.
Founding Philosophy: Joe reflects on the inspiration behind starting ExecThread. Frustrated with being approached only for opportunities aligned with his past experiences, he envisioned a community where executives could confidentially share opportunities beyond the recruiter's radar.
Leveling the Playing Field: Joe explains the limitations of traditional networking and job boards and how ExecThread bridges the gap by connecting a vast network of professionals directly.
Personal Branding for Executives: Under ExecThread's suite of services are services that support personal branding - an area Allison feels very strongly about.
Words of Wisdom: Joe shares his leadership values, the hard lessons learned in entrepreneurship, and his evolving philosophy of success.

Joe Meyer is the Founder & CEO of ExecThread, a VC-backed crowdsourcing platform and premium job-sharing network that enables 450k+ professionals to access the “hidden job market”. ExecThread is the largest global aggregator of unpublished executive-level job opportunities.

Joe is a successful start-up CEO and operating executive at high-growth tech companies with a strong track record of recruiting teams, launching new products, raising venture capital, growing traffic, eliciting engagement, scaling revenue and achieving liquidity.

Joe was also cited as the Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 by Crain's New York Business, and was #9 on Business Insider's 2013 "Silicon Alley 100" list (as one of the Top 100 tech executives in NYC).

Connect with Joe:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExecThread

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/execthread

Connect with Allison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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Episode 229: A Year in Review with Allison Summers Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

What a great year of guests on the Disruptive CEO Nation Podcast! In this episode, Allison K. Summers breaks down her experiences of 2023 highlighting where she has been and what she has been doing.

This episode also contains a shout-out to insights gained from some of the great guest conversations, featuring:

- Roger Krulak, Founder of FullStack Modular

- Sanchali Pal, Founder and CEO of Commons

- Dr Sophia Yen, Co-Founder and CEO of Pandia Health

- Chloe Duckworth, Co-Founder and CEO of Valence Vibrations

- Ivan Anz, Founder of CAPITANZ Family Office

- Jeffrey Klubeck, Founder and President of Get a Klu Inc and author of The Integrity Game

- Dr Jeffrey Magee, Founder of Performance Media Group

- Przmek Szleter, Co-Founder and CEO of DAC.digital

Allison closes by challenging listeners to set their sights on elevating their personal brand presence in 2024 setting their sights on developing how they will raise their voice and what beautiful things they can share with others. She reminds the listener to understand how you currently show up in the world and determine what success point you are trying to reach. She encourages everyone to reach for their transformative zone in 2024 because building authority has reach and reach delivers money!

If you would like a free copy of Allison's book Building Your Brand: Make Business Happen in a Global Economy, send her a note at Connect@allisonksummers.com.

You can also connect with Allison on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

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Episode 228: Cari Jacobs-Crovetto, CEO and founder of The Force Majeure; Orinda, California, USA Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever wondered what is really on the mind of an ambitious startup founder? For this episode, we turned to the incredible Cari Jacobs-Crovetto, CEO and founder of The Force Majeure and a Stanford University Graduate School of Business executive coach and T-Group facilitator.

Based in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area, Cari has been a part of multiple startup teams and today is on a mission to ensure that leaders are tapping into the human side of business goals and relationships while on their path to success. When talking about the realities of begin a founder we touched on:

- Loneliness at the Top: Cari shares how many young CEOs, especially those under 40, grapple with the loneliness of leadership and the challenges that may come from guiding a company without a personal support system.

- The Fear of Being Found Out: Unveiling the second layer of vulnerability, Cari discusses the fear many CEOs harbor—the fear of being found out for what they don't know. Learn how young CEOs navigate the pressure of knowing everything and the unknowns they grapple with in private.

- Transitioning Team Dynamics: Building and evolving teams as the business needs change is a significant task for a less experienced founder. From hiring super horizontal talent in the early stages. to the pivotal shift toward specialists as the business grows is an area many fail to address early enough in the startup lifecycle.

- Navigating the Red Zone: Cari introduces the concept of the "red zone," a challenging phase where startups move from the green zone of endless possibilities to a constrained and stressful environment.

- Gender Bypassing: Reflecting on gender dynamics and differences between make and female founders, Cari touches on the concept of gender bypassing and the deeper work required for gender equality in the startup community.

Cari Jacobs-Crovetto is an executive coach and advisor specializing in leadership development. She built a career at ad agencies in the 90s, working with prominent brands like Levi’s, P&G, and Lexus. She then moved into the entertainment industry with NBC and CBS and contributed to Bay Area startups, including Sunrun and ModCloth.

In the early 2000s, Cari pivoted towards promoting personal growth, earning mindfulness certifications from Google and UC Berkeley. She eventually founded The Force Majeure, offering executive coaching to startup CEOs and founders, including clients from LinkedIn, Coinbase, and Twitch. Additionally, she is an active coach at Stanford University and regularly published in Forbes, as a Forbes Council Member.

Connect with Cari:

Website: https://www.carijacobs.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CariJacobsSF

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cari_jacobs_sf/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carisf/

Connect with Allison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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Episode 227: Simon Bacher, CEO and Co-Founder of Ling; Hong Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Meet Simon, the CEO and Co-Founder of Ling. Simon shares the journey of creating Ling, highlighting its unique features, playful brand, and the cultural experience of being an entrepreneur in Thailand.

The episode covers Ling's motivation to stand out in a competitive market, its bootstrapped journey, and the company's vibrant corporate culture. Simon also discusses Ling's diverse user base and future plans, including integrating AI for an interactive language learning experience.

- Gamified Language Learning: Explore Ling's unique features as a gamified language learning app supporting hard-to-learn languages like Thai and Chinese.

- From Prototype to Platform: Simon shares the inspirational journey of starting Ling from a small prototype to becoming a comprehensive language learning platform.

- Playful Branding: Learn about Ling's playful branding, featuring a monkey named Ming, symbolizing both the app's connection to linguistics (Ling) and the fun, approachable nature of language learning.

- Entrepreneurship in Thailand: Discover the challenges and advantages of being an entrepreneur in Thailand, including the abundance of talent and the thriving digital nomad community.

- Corporate Values and Culture: Explore Ling's corporate values, including curiosity, supportiveness, and an entrepreneurial mindset, fostering a transparent and empowering culture within the company.

Simon Bacher is CEO and Co-Founder of Ling which is a gamified language learning app. His vision is to use the power of language to break down barriers, open people's hearts to culture, and connect people by offering a tool where people can access languages spoken by many, but taught by few.

Connect with Simon:

TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@ling_app

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SimyaLearnLanguages

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ling_app/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simya.learn.languages

Connect with Allison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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Episode 226: Satyam Kantemneni, CEO at UXReactor; San Francisco, CA, USA Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Meet Satyam Kantamneni, the managing partner and chief experience officer at UX Reactor in the San Francisco Bay Area. Satyam shares insights on the work of UX Reactor and why he believes focusing on 'experience' should be considered a powerful superpower in a CEO's toolkit.

Here are five high points from our conversation:

- Satyam emphasizes the importance of the human-centered design process in making technology more user-friendly and efficient. UX Reactor specializes in bringing human experiences to technology, making products easier and more efficient to use.

- Key considerations when working with enterprise clients in the software space, such as ServiceNow, Nokia, VMware, and Compass. The focus is on creating seamless experiences for complex products used across different contexts and modalities.

- Satyam introduces a test for leaders to determine if they are truly user-centric. The four key questions are: Do you know who your user is? Do you know the top pain points? Do you know what you're doing about it? Do you know the measure of success? User-centricity involves understanding users, their pain points, and continuously working to improve their experience.

- Satyam's vision for the future is to scale the impact of UX Reactor at a global level. The goal is to do what they do at scale, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness in driving business growth through experience design.

Prior to founding UXReactor, Satyam led various in-house design organizations such as Citrix and PayPal. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School. While at Harvard, Satyam realized that most businesses aren’t leveraging the full power of User Experience (UX) Design as an engine for strategic growth. So, he resolved to change that. Through UXReactor, Satyam demonstrated that UX can and should drive enterprise-wide innovation and business outcomes. UXReactor has enabled its clients-partners to generate hundreds of millions in additional revenue from user-cen- tered innovation. Satyam is passionate about user-centered innovation and he is authoring a book titled User Experience Playbook: A Practical to Fuel Business Growth, which will be released on May 10, 2022.

Connect with Satyam:

Website: Uxreactor.com

Facebook: /UXReactor/

Instagram: /UXReactor/

Twitter: /uxreactr

LinkedIn: /company/uxreactor/

Connect with Allison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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Episode 225: Sanchali Pal, Founder and CEO of Commons; Oakland, CA, USA Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Meet Sanchali, a woman on a mission to help everyone be a good climate-conscious citizen. In this episode, we cover Sanchali's business story and discuss the trajectory for Commons, an app that places sensible choices in the palm of the consumer's hand.

We caught up with Sanchali as Common is on its way to scale to one million users. The app's data demonstrates that users can reduce emissions by 20% in the first year alone. This is all part of the company's goal to help everyone 'decarbonize their life' by the 2050 planet targets.

Here are highlights of our conversation:

- Sanchali shares her journey from working in international development to founding Commons, including her thoughts on what it takes to build, scale, and grab hold of consumer attention in the app space.

- We gain insights into the impact the app has on reducing emissions and how users can save money while shopping sustainably. She explains how none of the companies on the app have paid to be there but that all are vetted independently based on Common criteria.

- We dive into how users can be better motivated by harnessing rewards and incentives for making eco-friendly choices.

- Sanchali talks about Commons' growth strategies, including lessons from working with the Sequoia ARC accelerator and building a team that continues to grow.

- We even get a sneak peek into the app's future developments, including enhanced data visualizations and gamification.

Commons, recognized as one of Time's top 100 most innovative companies, is revolutionizing sustainable spending. As the founder and CEO of Commons, Sanchali shares insights into the app that helps users make eco-friendly choices effortlessly. From discovering sustainable brands to earning rewards for conscious shopping, Commons is transforming the way we spend.

Sanchali founded Commons to empower people to make spending choices that are better for them and the Earth. Prior to founding Commons, Sanchali worked in sustainable development at Dalberg, during which time she lived in Ethiopia and India and worked with communities directly affected by the climate crisis. Sanchali holds a BA from Princeton in Economics and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Connect with Sanchali:

Website: https://thecommons.earth/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanchalipal/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.commons.earth/

Connect with Allison:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/

Website: DisruptiveCEONation.com

Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast

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