This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviours, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Paulina Jansch is the Founding Partner at Leanox Impact Capital and one of the TOP 100 most influential women in the European VC and startup space. 

In this engaging conversation, she shares her journey and the organic growth of Leanox, a startup consultancy turned venture capital firm. With a background in finance and project management, Paulina brings people together, organizes processes, and evaluates companies based on facts and figures. 

Paulina’s drive to make a difference comes from her involvement in female empowerment, having worked with human trafficked women. The realization that female founders were not getting equal opportunities led her to establish Leanox’s vision of a balanced ecosystem where both male and female founders thrive. 

She emphasizes the importance of education, dialogue, and unlearning biases to achieve equality. The challenges they face include creating a mindset shift and navigating cultural differences when giving feedback. 

Join this insightful interview to gain valuable insights on leadership challenges, impact investing, gender parity, and fostering a culture of open communication. Get inspired to make a difference and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable world. 

You can find Paulina at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulinajaensch/
• http://www.leanox.eu/

In the interview, Paulina shares

• “We started Leanox because we wanted to become founders again and support startups with financial planning, fundraising strategies, and valuations.”
• “At Leanox, we invest in early-stage startups that have impact at their core.”
• “Our vision at Leanox is to achieve gender parity in the startup ecosystem by investing 50% in female founders and raising capital from 50% female investors.”
• “We believe in educating people about discrimination and biases to create a more inclusive society.”
• “Supporting each other and seeking mentorship is crucial in fighting against gender inequality and empowering women.”
• “We support our founders both financially and through our expertise in impact investing.”
• “Navigating difficult conversations with founders requires cultural sensitivity and adapting feedback styles.”
• “We create a feedback culture that focuses on highlighting successes and providing constructive feedback for growth.”
• “Building relationships based on listening and understanding is key to effective communication and collaboration.”
• “The joy and satisfaction come from working with courageous individuals who strive to make a positive change in the world and seeing our company grow from scratch.”

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviors, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Rajiv Vaishnav is the co-founder and Managing Partner at Cornerstone Venture Partners Fund. He is the Honorary Executive Chairman of Start-ups council of India, and was an integral part of NASSCOM’s senior management team for 13+ years. 

From humble beginnings to working with renowned organizations like Reliance and NASSCOM, Raji’s career has been defined by seizing opportunities and making a difference. With an entrepreneurial spirit, he co-founded Thai, an organization that empowered entrepreneurs in India. 

Rajiv’s leadership evolved through the challenges of working with both small startups and big conglomerates, giving him a unique perspective on leadership. His experiences have shaped his approach to working with founders, emphasizing the importance of self-monitoring, accountability, and taking ownership. 

His management style is rooted in storytelling, using anecdotes and experiences to inspire and guide others. He believes in the power of faith, confidence, and trusting mentors to navigate the unpredictable path of success. 

With a focus on passion, problem-solving, and societal impact, he encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to embark on an inside-out journey, where fulfillment comes hand-in-hand with financial success.

You can find Rajiv at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivvaishnav/
• rajiv@csvpfund.com

In the interview, Rajiv shares

• “I had a very humble beginning coming from a middle-class background, and I always wanted to do some business of my own.”
• “I have gone with the flow and have no regrets. I was at the right time with the right set of people, and those people have really changed my life.”
• “Every job I’ve done, I was either the first person in that organization or my boss was not sitting in the next cabin.”
• “Confidence in yourself and belief in yourself are key factors in leadership and personal growth.”
• “Leadership and mentorship may sound pompous, but for me, it’s about taking ownership, being self-monitoring, and being accountable for your actions.”
• “Having faith and trusting your mentors’ advice, even when it seems unconventional, can lead to unexpected opportunities.”
• “Management by storytelling is my style. I love sharing anecdotes and experiences of life to inspire and guide others.”
• “The difference between an entrepreneur and an employee lies in the mindset. An entrepreneur is driven by passion to solve societal problems, while an employee’s focus is often on money and fulfillment.”
• “Success doesn’t come from rushing. It requires balance, faith, and the ability to adapt to unexpected situations.”
• “The entrepreneurial journey involves co-creating, building products, working with people, and finding solutions that customers are willing to pay for.”

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviours, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Bryony Cooper  is a startup enthusiast and serial founder-turned-investor. She has led a few tech startups, a venture builder, an accelerator program, and is now a Managing Partner at Arkley Brinc VC. 

Get ready to be inspired by Bryony Cooper, with a background as a tech startup founder and experience in helping startups go from concept to commercialization, she brings a unique perspective to the table. 

Her unconventional journey, rooted in a creative background as a professional singer and writer, sets her apart in the world of venture capitalists.

Drawing from her own experiences and observations, Bryony underscores the significance of broad skill sets in founders and the value of interpersonal skills in addition to technical expertise. Mapping out a clear framework for growth, maintaining open communication, and aligning on company values are key aspects she highlights.

For individuals struggling with confidence, Bryony encourages deliberate practice and stepping outside comfort zones. Understanding one’s worth, believing in oneself, and exuding confidence while remaining humble are crucial factors she advises.

Join Bryony Cooper on her remarkable journey and gain valuable insights to overcome leadership challenges, foster company culture, navigate success and failure, and embrace your own creativity in the ever-evolving startup landscape.

You can find Bryony at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryonycooper/
• https://www.bryonycooper.com/

In the interview,  Bryony shares

• “I ran three tech companies by the age of 30 as CEO, and in between, I also ran a venture builder program helping other early-stage startups.” 
• “In the tech startup world, you can grow very quickly, and it’s important to establish a company culture early on.” – Bryony Cooper
• “Having open communication and shared vision with co-founders or management is crucial for the growth and success of a company.” 
• “Failing makes you learn much faster, and experienced founders who have learned from failure are valuable in the startup ecosystem.” 
• “Success can be more challenging than failure because it brings new responsibilities and expectations.” – Bryony Cooper
• “Knowing your own worth, believing in yourself, and carrying confidence into the room are essential for leadership.” 
• “Practicing pitching, presenting, and public speaking builds confidence and improves communication skills.” 
• “Humility is just as important as confidence, especially when seeking investments or support for your company.” 
• “Creativity can be an outlet and a source of energy replenishment for leaders in the business world.” 
• “Body language plays a significant role in effective communication, and power poses can boost confidence and presence.” 

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviors, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Anil Joshi is the Managing Partner at Unicorn India Ventures. Previously, he was heading operations at Mumbai Angels and Bangalore Angels, leading Angel Investment forums in India as President. He is also a mentor with various incubation centres and a speaker on startups and early stage investment.

In this insightful interview, we delve into the extraordinary journey of our guest, who stumbled into the world of startups and strategic investments by accident, only to discover a deep passion for supporting and nurturing innovative ventures. 

From working in India’s largest engine network to collaborating with thought leaders and assisting international businesses in entering the Indian market, their wealth of experience brings invaluable lessons for leaders facing diverse challenges. 

Discover the contrasting leadership styles required in large organizations versus startups, as well as the unique qualities that founders bring to the table, whether they’re seasoned professionals or fresh graduates. 

Get ready to be inspired as we explore the accidental path to success and the joy found in navigating the dynamic startup ecosystem. 

Tune in for a friendly and engaging conversation that will leave you motivated and armed with practical insights for your own leadership journey.

You can find Anil at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniljoshi74/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/unicornivc/

In the interview, Anil shares

• “My journey to where I am today was unplanned and accidental, transitioning from a successful corporate career to strategic investments and becoming part of Mumbai Angels.”
• “I’ve had a diverse professional background, ranging from working in India’s largest engine network to being a consultant and eventually finding my passion in the startup world.”
• “I had the opportunity to interact with thought leaders and assist international businesses in establishing their presence in India, which provided invaluable learning experiences.”
• “I was exposed to the startup ecosystem in India even before it gained significant momentum, giving me a unique perspective on its growth and development.”
• “As an investor, I’ve witnessed the contrasting leadership styles required in large organizations versus startups, and understand the challenges faced by founders in building effective leadership teams.”
• “In startups, founders often play multiple roles, taking on responsibilities from CEO and CMO to HR and finance, until the organization matures and a proper leadership structure can be established.”
• “Supporting young founders, who may lack experience but possess great potential, is a crucial aspect of my role as an investor. Providing guidance and acting as a sounding board helps them navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.”
• “Every founder brings unique qualities to the table, whether they have years of industry experience or are fresh out of college. Both groups benefit from learning, making mistakes, and developing their leadership skills over time.”
• “My current role in strategic investment and being part of Mumbai Angels was never planned, but it has become my passion. The accidental nature of my journey has allowed me to thrive in identifying promising ventures and working with them.”
• “Being exposed to the startup world and witnessing the growth and success of innovative companies brings me immense joy and a sense of gratitude. It’s a reminder that when you love what you do, excellence follows naturally.”

This is the Investor’s Lens series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

This series will look at leadership from the point of view of an investor or VC.

In each episode of this series, we will explore what traits, behaviours, or red flags investors see in the leaders that they work with – and how founders evolve over time as they become better leaders.

Suresh Narasimha is an idea-stage investor in student startups. He helps student entrepreneurs with funding, resources, and connections; and believes in co-creating rather than mentoring or advising.

Join us in this captivating interview as we dive deep into the remarkable journey of an entrepreneur turned investor, who has paved a unique path in the world of startups. Discover how this visionary leader, with a strong sense of purpose, has dedicated himself to nurturing the brightest minds of the next generation. 

From motivating college students to become entrepreneurs while pursuing their education, his approach challenges the traditional norms of leadership. Uncover the power of purpose, flexibility, and emotional balance in driving teams towards success. 

Explore the intriguing dynamics of gender diversity and how having women in leadership positions has proven to be a game-changer. With thought-provoking anecdotes and practical wisdom, this interview will inspire and empower you on your own leadership journey. 

You can find Suresh at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/cocreator/
• https://www.cocreate.ventures/

In the interview, Suresh shares

• “I started as a deep tech entrepreneur and built several startups before transitioning to becoming an investor with a purpose.”
• “I believe the best thing for the country and the world is when bright youngsters become entrepreneurs and solve real problems.”
• “My role is to motivate and support young college students to become entrepreneurs while continuing their education.”
• “In the past two years, we have invested in around 45 startups, with 60% of them being led by female entrepreneurs.”
• “Leadership requires a strong vision and purpose to drive change in the world.”
• “I emphasize the importance of sticking to purpose rather than being fixated on specific solutions.”
• “When working with young and inexperienced individuals, I focus on co-creating rather than just mentoring them.”
• “I trust in the capabilities of youngsters and believe there is much to learn from them.”
• “In my investment decisions, I look for disciplined and innovative students who are deeply committed to solving complex problems.”
• “Having female leaders in startups has proven to be beneficial, as teams with women in leadership positions tend to perform exceptionally well.”

This is the Can’t Stay Silent series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

For most of my life, I have kept my voice buried beneath layers of fear and insecurity. In each episode of this series, I will find the strength to express myself from the bottom of my heart.

These short episodes will be filled with honest reflections, simple stories and metaphors, and some gentle provocations – all to help you Deploy Yourself in your own life.

Together, we’ll discover how we can create a world where all of us can show up as leaders. So, if you are ready to allow the leader in you to bravely listen to my call of leadership, join me on Can’t Stay Silent.

You can find more about me & the Deploy Yourself School of Leadership

• https://www.deployyourself.com/
• https://www.deployyourself.com/podcast/
• https://deployyourself.com/newsletter
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumit4all/
• https://twitter.com/sumitgupta4all
• https://www.youtube.com/@leadership-sumit
• https://www.tiktok.com/@sumitguptacoach

Show Notes

• How being smart and intelligent leads you to never having enough time?
• He said that my biggest challenge is time. Or my biggest enemy is time. He said that I am super ambitious. I have this drive, this energy. I’m very smart. I know what to do, but I never have enough time. 
• What if being smart and very good with planning leads you to never having enough time?
• normally we see time as a horizontal time shift. Like we see time as something which is coming from the past and going to the future. We see time on the calendar. We see time as a minutes, we see time as hours and  seconds. And we also, we always see time on this dimension right. That it is running out. 
• as long as we have this mindset about time. It only means that there is limited time. That’s one. Naturally. way for dealing with time horizontally. That there is only limited time.
• They will never be enough time. In fact,  there cannot ever be enough time For your dreams for your potential, for your leadership, which are infinite as they should be. 
• What if there’s also a vertical dimension to time, which is not finite, which is infinite. And which is always available to us. And which is a never-ending.
• It’s a choice that we always have. To continue operating the way that we have been in the horizontal dimension of time driving. Thinking overthinking with our brains. And always ending up with time as an enemy, with never having enough time. 
• Or we can slow down. We can stop. We can sense we can listen. We can go deep and we can see what is an oppurtunity, which is here. What is an opportunity that can lead to those big exponential results.
• it is very important to recognize when your strengths are becoming a liability. Any strength. Even of being. Super smart or having an . High IQ. If you cannot choose to when to use it. And when not to use it. It becomes a liability.
• you’re totally missing out on playing some shots. which can give exponential results, but which are only accessible when you access the vertical dimension of time. 
• It requires you to be present. It requires you to slow down the rush.
• When you get this, your life will never be the same again.  

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this interview, Abdul shares how he took inspiration and lessons from his father and became an entrepreneur. He trusts people and believes in giving them full responsibility, and he also shared the importance of prayer, meditation, and journaling to his leadership and day to day activities as an entrepreneur.

You can find Abdul at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdul-salim-83413015/

In the interview, Abdul shares

• my father was a very successful entrepreneur. So as a kid, I’ve tagged along with him, wherever he has done business, be it a small business or he was doing multiple businesses, right?
• I was always with him and just to see his his persistence and passion, the way he used to work. It always inspired me, right? My father is my motivation and I’m following his footstep.
• I worked in large companies where people would want to give their arms and legs to be in companies like infosys, HP or even Target, but I was never content there. I always wanted to be entrepreneur. 
• I start very early, right? Like, I typically wake up by six o’clock every day. So first three hours is for myself, right? So that’s completely divided for myself. It could be my mind. It could be my body, it could be my learning, right? This three hours is completely, I will work out, I will do meditation
• It helped me schedule my day pretty well. And then I don’t react for every little thing, right? because of meditation. It’s helped me for sure.
• I’ve hired some smart people and then we have completely given them the freedom, where they can manage their work.
• Whenever I think of a idea or anybody in my team, comes up with the idea and I feel that this is a good idea. We implement immediately so that freedom I’ve got being an entrepreneur we’ve seen a lot of ups and down, but then somehow manage to survive in this 10 years.
• Everybody deserves respect and when you do that, the team members always perform  

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this conversation, Tom shares how he started his company while still in college and how that has been an advantage – when it comes to culture, leadership, and working remotely. He reflects about the difficult times he faced early on and the important role of transparency in organisations.  

You can find Tom at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomcoburn/
• tom@jebbit.com

In the interview, Tom shares

• So this has been my only real job to date. I was not one of those kids growing up that like always knew I was gonna be an entrepreneur.
•  I always wanted to be a doctor. My grandfather’s a doctor. He’s 82 years old and still practices in his small town outside of Boston where he grew up. And I always loved science and school.
• I went to college in Boston, at Boston College. I got there in 2009 and I was, I, pre-med major, working in the lab, getting ready to take the MCATs. All of those things you’ve gotta do to go become a doctor in the US.
• my roommates were in the business school, and our business school had a business plan competition. You could pitch a Shark Tank style pitch in front of judges and you could win $10,000 for your business idea. And so I decided to do that competition with my friends just for fun
•  freshman year, we submitted our first year of college, we submitted an idea to the business bank competition, and we didn’t make it past the first round. Our second year, we came back with a new idea, which ended up being the start of the idea for Jebbit, although we changed the idea a lot and we ended up winning the competition with that idea. 
• I was mentally ready to drop outta school after that summer and go do the business full-time. And the thing that made it an easy decision for me was I talked to both my dean at my college and I talked to the dean I was gonna have at the medical. And I just asked them both for a one year leave of absence and they both said, sure 
• My current challenge is everything around culture and communication and getting everyone internally at Jebbit g rowing in the same direction, fully in sync with each other.
• One of the things I hear a lot from new employees when I get their feedback is they’re shocked at how transparent me and my management team are.
• We spend a lot of time trying to get people in person and getting the right combos of people in person. So we get the whole company together twice a year now for a three day offsite. Once in January and once in July. 

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this interview, Abhijit opens up about how lonely it can get as a founder and the toll it can take on your wellbeing and health. He also  shared his decision making process – and how every decision in the company depends on how it impacts the bottom line, the top line, and the company’s reputation. He also shared how he plans his day, stays productive, and how gardening teaches him patience and tenacity.  

You can find Abhijit at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/abanand/
• abhi@zindagi.tech

In the interview, Abhijit shares

•  I’m a first generation entrepreneur. My dad is a doctor, he’s been a government servant. And my mom’s been a teacher all her life. 
• one thing I’ve realized is that cash is king. The moment cash disappears, the company will cease to exist. 
• my number one priority is to make sure that there is enough cash in the company to keep us liquid for at least the next three quarters. That is the number one priority. Number two I’ve, both me and my wife, we’ve decided. that Every single decision that we take in our company will have a three-pronged approach. That decision will be a yes or a no, depending upon how well it improves the company’s top line. How well it improves the company’s bottom line, and does it impact the company’s reputation in a positive way or a negative way?
• From a sales point of view, I’ve realized that, a small customer and a large customer, They’ll take the same amount of time. They demand the same kind of attention. So I’ve decided to focus on some very large customers who, from whom we keep getting big projects
• one key thing that we did was we kept on we kept our focus on customer satisfaction. Number two, we’ve managed our finances very tightly. And number three, I think We’ve tried to make sure that we treat our employees with the same respect as what we would do to our customers and to our vendors.
•  Richard Branson’s book, losing my virginity, somebody asked him a question that you look like a quintessential entrepreneur, in your opinion, how would you define a business? And his response was, I’m paraphrasing, but his response was, A business is nothing else but an idea that will improve people’s lives. So that’s how the name Zindagi, which is Hindi the way of life. That’s how the name started. 
• one key mission statement that we have is to ensure that we leave this earth better than the, where, how we found it.
• from a personal point of view, I can tell you that It becomes hard sometimes because I feel that there is nobody to talk to.
• I think one thing that, that I’m trying to learn even now is, Don’t dilute responsibility. Give one task to one person, let him make it his baby and let him own it completely end to end. 

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this heartfelt conversation, Paddy shares his passion for startups and how he moved from technology to entrepreneurship. He shared the powerful yet simple lesson of “nishkama karma” or detached action – and how he applies that in his role as the CEO. He shares how he had to take a big risk and pledge his property to pay salaries in his previous startup.   

You can find Paddy at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyraghavan/

In the interview, Paddy shares

• I don’t know, somewhere in my life somewhere I got this entrepreneurial, bug it’s something that I’ve had right from my college days. Multipl is my third StartUp
• I always wanted to build something on my own that was on the cards, but it wasn’t, I wasn’t really desperate or I wasn’t, not every day that I wake up that I start thinking about, or I should be starting something. 
• I mean it’s always especially when you’re actually interacting with someone who’s fairly successful, which I would call myself and you would only see the positive side of it. And people tend to think that, yeah it’s a nice journey. It’s good we should become entrepreneurs. But I’ve definitely had my fair share of challenges.
• I literally had to pledge my property and to pay the salaries in the previous startup it was at a point where we had very difficult situation in terms of you know, raising capital and paying the salary 
•  I must be grateful to a lot of people. You know, my family has been very supportive. My wife has been very supportive throughout because that is very important. You can’t have a you know, if you have a family you need the support because that could definitely take away a lot of your Focus if it is not in the right frame. 

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Pavel shared how his journey as an entrepreneur has evolved over the years. We talk about the importance of believing in ourselves, and how he has established teams in different countries that can work independently without his direct involvement. He also shares his love for flying and how he experiences freedom when in flight.   

You can find Pavel at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/vspavel/
• http://solar-staff.com/

In the interview, Pavel shares

• I was interested in technical issues and legal issues and both together helped me to open the private legal practice for the internet companies in Ukraine.
• I decided to move to international law and international taxation and help Russian based internet companies to move abroad to open the subsidiary companies anywhere in the world. 
• I went to the chief of the office I was working in and told him of the future of internet business. He listened to me but didn’t believe that was a good solution. I was invented by that Idea and I took on that step and just followed my idea and my dream.
• When I was a child I read a book written by the Russian famous authors. And there was a phrase, if you want to pass through the wall, you need only two things. You need to believe in yourself and do not look at the barrier. If you do not look at the barrier and look through that if you can, and if you believe in you, in yourself, you can go through the world. 
• The first five years I worked really hard in Solar Staff and I almost had no time to have any kind of hobbies maybe except swimming in a pool or some kind of sports. 
• I’m starting piloting. I will start my career as a private pilot next year in Oakland. I feel very excited about flying. Flying is like having freedom.  
• I’ll also start my first art project. I’ll work together with a team of AIs to create an art. An abstract art, abstract portraits of the personalities. 
• I allow my company and my team to make mistakes and and to learn from their own experience on those mistakes.
• Now I’m focused on the human and AI collaboration and sometimes it scares me. I start to learn A lot of subjects, a lot of terms about the philosophy of AI systems, and I start to know a bit more about that.

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other’s stories – of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In the interview, Brian shares how his world turned upside down when a drunk driver hit him in 2016, and how he turned that into a positive by creating companies that can continue to operate without him. He shares that if he doesn’t feel a connection with somebody at a grounded level, he doesn’t do business with that person.  

You can find Brian at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjesposito/
• https://twitter.com/brianjesposito

In the interview, Brian shares

• I get invited into startups, even up the Fortune 500 companies and help these companies succeed, grow, and become profitable.
• when I work with these startups, or even failing large corporations, it gets really fun and exciting to look at what am I holding that can make them more valuable
• So in the late nineties, I built the first B2B B2C eCommerce platform for the beauty. I was first to build a website basically to distribute beauty products and personal care products.
• I had to quickly learn that life is very difficult and we want to try to do great things sometimes. Whether it’s universe or jealous, people want to try to harm you and prohibit that from happening.
• I learned from that experience, it turned problems into potential opportunities. So anybody that was potentially suing me, like it was a, if it was a brand, for example, or a retailer, well, I was very open and communicative with them.  
• So I always try to look at problems or negativity and turn in and say there’s always a solution or an upside here.
• when they had a liquidity event or a larger company bought them out, not only did I have no connection to the upside or equity ownership, I also lost the brand and the distribution because those other companies have their own distribution.
• biggest turbulent time in my history was in 2016, a drunk driver hit me head on and outside of Nashville, Tennessee, I had 30 or so companies in my holdings doing what I felt was quite well and That was the first domino where I began to lose everything. So my whole world turned upside down. I realized I was the glue for everything. 
• I’m definitely love old movies and old western types of shows, so that’s my escape. I do that every night. I’ll watch, I’ll flip on YouTube and start going through old Johnny Carson shows, and that’s my therapy, that’s my escape.