Balancing Business and Passion: Austin Thomas CEO JERPA, Fit2Fulfill | Growth Street Podcast Ep. 14

07/22/24 • 92 min

Welcome to Episode 14 of the Growth Street Podcast! 🎙️ Dive into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship and innovation with our special guest, Austin Thomas.

Austin is not just a Marketing Analyst at Process Research & Optimization; he is also the visionary Founder and CEO of two thriving companies: JERPA and Fit2Fulfill. From his beginnings as an intern at Campbell’s Soup, where he honed his skills in bringing products from ideation to shelf life, to leading groundbreaking ventures, Austin’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

In this episode, Austin takes us through his transformative college years at Penn State University, where he graduated from the honors college, walked on to the men’s basketball team, and founded his first company, JERPA—an innovative clothing line known for its sherpa-lined items. Under his leadership, JERPA has soared to over $200,000 in revenue, propelled by a strong network of over 50 college ambassadors.

Austin also discusses the launch of Fit2Fulfill, a custom apparel sourcing company that caters to the specific needs of businesses and organizations. Beyond business, we delve into the impacts of social media on today’s society—the good, the bad, and the transformative.

Hear Austin share invaluable insights on starting businesses, networking with celebrities like Matt Rife, Saquon Barkley, and Salim The Dream, and his personal focus on accountability and passion.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or someone passionate about innovation and leadership, Austin's experiences and tips are invaluable.

🎧 Tune in now to get inspired and learn how to navigate the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship!

Subscribe to the Growth Street Podcast for more episodes that bring you closer to industry leaders and innovators. Don't forget to hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest content!

#GrowthStreetPodcast #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SocialMediaInsights #BusinessStrategy

Interested in Austin's journey and want to know more about his companies? Check out JERPA and Fit2Fulfill for a deep dive into entrepreneurship and innovation.

Welcome to Episode 14 of the Growth Street Podcast! 🎙️ Dive into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship and innovation with our special guest, Austin Thomas.

Hear Austin share invaluable insights on starting businesses, networking with celebrities like Matt Rife, Saquon Barkley, and Salim The Dream, and his personal focus on accountability and passion.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or someone passionate about innovation and leadership, Austin's experiences and tips are invaluable.

🎧 Tune in now to get inspired and learn how to navigate the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship!

Subscribe to the Growth Street Podcast for more episodes that bring you closer to industry leaders and innovators. Don't forget to hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest content!

#GrowthStreetPodcast #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SocialMediaInsights #BusinessStrategy

Interested in Austin's journey and want to know more about his companies? Check out JERPA and Fit2Fulfill for a deep dive into entrepreneurship and innovation.

Previous Episode

Transform Your Leadership with Jaime Diglio: Moneyball Mindset | Growth Street Podcast | Ep. 13

Welcome to Episode 13 of the Growth Street Podcast! 🎙️ We are thrilled to introduce you to an extraordinary leader and innovator, Jaime Diglio.

Jaime is the CEO of inFirst Consulting, a TEDx Speaker, and a former Sales Leader at powerhouse companies like Microsoft and Gartner. Known for her groundbreaking approach to leadership and sales, Jaime champions the "Moneyball MindsetTM," a concept inspired by the movie "Moneyball" that emphasizes data-driven strategies and innovative thinking to turn underdogs into champions.

In this episode, Jaime delves into:

The Highlight Reel We Live In - How social media makes us compare our everyday lives to others' highlights, leading to negativity and unrealistic pressures.
WIN Room vs. WAR Room - WIN stands for "What I Need" and represents focusing on positives and necessary actions during stressful times. The WAR room represents negative stories and stress. Jaime emphasizes focusing on your WIN room when you find yourself in a WAR room.
Modern Leadership with Moneyball LeadershipTM - Traditional leadership is failing. Moneyball LeadershipTM focuses on individuals' unique strengths and builds teams with personalized solutions. Ruling with fear and a one-size-fits-all approach is outdated.
Empowering Young People - Strategies for young professionals to take action, engage in intentional conversations with managers, and pursue their passions. Jaime encourages following who you want to become, not who you were told you were or should be.

Jaime's story is a testament to the power of a winning mindset and the courage to innovate. Whether you're a leader, seller, or aspiring entrepreneur, her insights will transform the way you approach your goals and challenges.

Stay tuned for Jaime's upcoming book release, "Moneyball Leadership," where she expands on these transformative concepts!

Tune in now to learn from one of the top performers in the industry and discover how you can start "Moneyballing" your way to success.

Subscribe to the Growth Street Podcast for more engaging conversations with industry experts and innovators. Hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes!

#GrowthStreetPodcast #Leadership #SuccessStories #Inspiration #MoneyballMindset

Next Episode

How To Train NBA and College Basketball Players at 24yo: Danny Cooper | Growth Street Podcast Ep. 15

On today’s episode of The Growth Street Podcast, I sit down with Danny Cooper, a 24-year old basketball trainer for NBA athletes, college student-athletes, as well as K-12 individuals. We discuss a wide variety topics focused primarily on entrepreneurship, passions, and success. We emphasize heavily how different influences such as parents, social media, and society plays a role in career development, especially when it comes to chasing a dream.

Key themes include the roles of your environment and the people around you, building and paying a team within a company, and the importance of relationships and client friendships in business. We also explore Danny’s story from being a basketball student athlete to now traveling across the world to places like Vietnam and Iceland to coach and train the next generation of aspiring athletes. This engaging conversation offers valuable advice for young dreamers and entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of passion, people, and persistence.

Learn more about Danny Cooper:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dcoopbball/?hl=en

Website: https://www.dannycooperbasketball.com/

X: https://x.com/dcoopbball?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DannyCooperBasketball/featured

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro To Danny

1:14 Basketball Beginnings

4:51 Parents Influence

5:31 Business Start

10:24 Following Passions

15:15 Establishing Credibility