Hi everyone.

Did you know that several trends have put us at the doorstep of opportunities for people who work with, start businesses, or invest in SaaS products and services? That’s SaaS, as in "software as a service." My guest expert, Maia Benson, Managing Director at Forum Ventures, speaks about these opportunities and much more on this episode.

Among other things, Maia speaks about (1) the origins of SaaS, (2) some of the biggest trends affecting SaaS these days, (3) global differences in SaaS, and (4) the exciting future waiting just around the corner for us, both personally and professionally, due to major developments in the SaaS space. This includes, of course, AI's expanding presence.

Most importantly for you, our opportunity seekers, Maia identifies SPECIFIC jobs and careers that will be in demand. And, as a venture capitalist in the SaaS world (as well as in other areas), she names industry categories and "pain points" where investors and entrepreneurs may find great opportunities to leverage their assets.

Now a little bit about Maia. Maia Benson is a partner and Managing Director at Forum Ventures where she invests in and works with early stage B2B SaaS founders from inception to scale. She has spent over 20 years founding, building, and scaling award-winning SaaS products and platforms for entrepreneurs and SMBs at places like LexisNexis, Pitney Bowes (SendPro platform/apps), and most recently at Shopify, where over 5 years, she helped found, launch and scale their Shipping and Fulfillment products from inception to 60%+ merchant adoption and $Bs of transportation spend.

In addition to her venture work at Forum Ventures, Maia continues to angel invest and advise next gen eCommerce and Logistics tech founders. You can find out more about Forum Ventures at www.forumvc.com You can reach Maia at [email protected] She's also on LinkedIn.

Now a word about a special deal you can get just by being a Looking Forward® listener!

Do you make podcasts, video courses, or other content? Well that means you need your own engaging website and mobile app for everything you make... and SupaPass can help. Turn your followers into super fans and paid customers. Elevate your brand with your own stunning website and mobile app. And with SupaPass it’s never been easier.

SupaPass is the most powerful content app maker on the market and NOW you can try it for free. Or like me, you can be on one of their other plans. In fact, enter code LOOKINGFORWARD and get a 10% lifetime discount on any of their plans. Go to SupaPass.com

I invite you to LISTEN, ENJOY, LEARN, LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE this episode! NOTE: We may include your comment with attribution, of course, on our website. And please subscribe to Looking Forward®: Opportunities for Job, Career, Business, and Investment Seekers, too!

If you are interested in sponsoring 3 episodes of Looking Forward-- or distributing our content-- please let us know. (Give a listen to what I have to say about SupaPass. We can do something like that to promote your organization or upcoming major event!)

**You’ll find more information about me and my business, Jeff Ostroff & Associates, LLC, in the middle of this episode and by visiting https://www.jeff-ostroff.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-ostroff-8142647/

On the website, you can also contact us about the various marketing and communications services we offer, such as (1) podcast hosting, creation, consulting, and column writing, (2) professional voice overs, (3) B2B/B2C interviewing for individuals and businesses looking to promote themselves or better understand their competitors, customers, and prospects, (4) "Voices in the Spotlight," our new show specifically intended to help you promote your business, its products or services, and (5) senior marketing assistance. (Hey, I've actually written a book about that!) You can also reach me at [email protected]

Looking Forward is THE podcast about the OPPORTUNITIES created by global trends, now and into the future, and how YOU might capitalize on those: Think... jobs, careers, business start-ups, entrepreneurial ventures, freelancing, investments, and life enrichment. Guests are experts in their field, and most are C-suite executives, household names, authors, and/or from prestigious universities or similar organizations.

Hi everyone.

Did you know that buildings are responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, and that of all the buildings that will exist in 2040, 2/3 already exist today? Well it turns out, that creates enormous opportunities for those who want to remove the carbon from those buildings. My guest expert, Owen Barrett, serial entrepreneur, and founder and president of Rayven , speaks with me about these opportunities and much more on this episode.

Among other things, Owen discusses (1) what the impetus was for him to get involved in decarbonizing commercial real estate properties, (2) one major trend that's stimulating interest in clean technology in the United States, (3) how other countries actions on climate change and decarbonization differ in some ways from those of the U.S., and (4) an exciting development that could be a game changer for tackling climate change in the future.

Most importantly for you, Owen identifies numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs, job and career changers, and investors spawned by the commercial real estate decarbonization effort. And he gives you some great tips to get you started on that path.

Now a little bit more about Owen. Since earning a bachelor’s degree in finance, cutting his teeth in the financial industry, and earning a master’s degree in environmental science and management, Owen’s been on a professional rampage, pushing complacency and bureaucracy aside, and decarbonizing our economy at an impressive rate. Owen’s a three-time founder in the clean tech space, with one successful exit.

As a Global Energy Manager for a Fortune 500 company for three years, Owen implemented $60 million of clean technology. Combining his experience in fuel cells, solar PV, energy storage, LED lighting, and HVAC optimization, Owen left to launch lumeo, a niche energy service company. Within three years, lumeo hit eight figures in revenue and helped forty school districts implement energy efficiency and renewable energy.

After a successful exit from lumeo, and nearly a decade in the clean technology industry, Owen started ZNE Capital and pivoted to buying commercial real estate for the purpose of decarbonizing it. In just three years, Owen acquired and partially decarbonized $96M of multifamily properties.

While ZNE Capital proves to have a successful business model, the rampant inauthenticity within the institutional impact investing space made it challenging for ZNE Capital to make impact at scale. Owen founded Rayven to decarbonize existing buildings at scale.

Rayven is the world’s first net-zero real estate investment platform. Every property they buy is converted to true net zero (no offsets involved). By partnering with thousands of authentic, retail-impact investors, Owen, Rayven, and every single investor will decarbonize the world, one apartment building at a time. Rayven is Owen’s Sistine Chapel and the culmination of a decade in sustainability.

You can reach Owen at [email protected] Learn more about Rayven at www.joinrayven.com

Now a word about a special deal you can get just by being a Looking Forward® listener!

Do you make podcasts, video courses, or other content? Well that means you need your own engaging website and mobile app for everything you make... and SupaPass can help. Turn your followers into super fans and paid customers. Elevate your brand with your own stunning website and mobile app. And with SupaPass it’s never been easier.

SupaPass is the most powerful content app maker on the market and NOW you can try it for free. Or like me, you can be on one of their other plans. In fact, enter code LOOKINGFORWARD and get a 10% lifetime discount on any of their plans. Go to SupaPass.com

I invite you to LISTEN, ENJOY, LEARN, LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE this episode! NOTE: We may include your comment with attribution, of course, on our website. And please subscribe to Looking Forward®: Opportunities for Job, Career, Business, and Investment Seekers, too!

If you are interested in sponsoring 3 episodes of Looking Forward-- or distributing our content-- please let us know. (Give a listen to what I have to say about SupaPass. We can do something like that to promote your organization or upcoming major event!)

**You’ll find more information about me and my business, Jeff Ostroff & Associates, LLC, in the middle of this episode and by visiting https://www.jeff-ostroff.com or https://www.l...

Hello Looking Forward listener! Hey, do you get annoyed by having to have 200... or maybe it’s 2000 passwords? Can you imagine a world that’s passwordless. My guest expert, Denis O'Shea, founder of Mobile Mentor, says most of us should get there soon. He also has a lot to say about Generation Z, and what impact they’re going to have on tomorrow’s working world. And if you’re one of those people who needs a tug of the arm to protect yourself, your phone, and your computer, you’ll really appreciate what Denis has to say about that! But what I really love in this second part of our two-part series with Denis O’Shea is his excitement about the huge number of OPPORTUNITIES he sees for people all over the world, especially those who know how to communicate and collaborate effectively. These are opportunities related to computer and phone security, the expanding and improving technology tools available to us, and the ever-increasing number of mobile workers around the globe.You’ll find more about Denis, Mobile Mentor, the Microsoft award it earned in 2021, its clients, how to get its research results for FREE, ...and more by visiting the podcast page at www.jeff-ostroff.com

If you like this episode, please give it a “like” or a positive review on the podcast hosting site you listened to it, and hey, you can let me know about that, too, if you want. :)- You can also let me know if you have any ideas for trend topics or guest experts we might want to feature on Looking Forward. And while you’re at it, why not tell a family member or friend about this episode or any of our nearly 100 other Looking Forward episodes. Any one of them will not point you in the direction of a potential global opportunity, it will also make for a great conversation!

Looking Forward is THE podcast about how you might capitalize on OPPORTUNITIES created by global trends that will continue in the future. Think... jobs, careers, business start-ups, entrepreneurial ventures, investments, and life enrichment. Guests are experts in their field, and most are C-suite executives, household names, authors, and/or from prestigious universities or similar organizations. Looking Forward is a great source for media outlets, podcast producers, telecom companies, audio publishers, etc. to include as part of their content. This is what MTN, the gigantic telecom company in Africa, will soon do. To discuss revenue-sharing opportunities to distribute our content-- which can be customized and reformatted to meet your needs and those of your target audience-- please contact us at www.jeff-ostroff.com Looking Forward also offers a smart and affordable way for advertisers to promote their products or services, especially given its positive spin and informative, entertaining, and wholesome content. For more information, or to inquire about Jeff's podcast creation and hosting services, B2B interviewing, voice acting, training, meeting facilitation or speaking services, please contact us atwww.jeff-ostroff.com You can also request to have Jeff appear on your show. He's informative, articulate, and engaging!

Hello, Looking Forward listeners! Thanks for tuning in! Today on Looking Forward we’re again going to focus on media production and distribution, be that TV, radio, film, the Internet, or other media formats. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Episode #85, we looked at how media production and distribution have changed over the past few decades. Wel also learned who’s now in the driver’s seat when it comes to media production and distribution, and we began to explore what role COVID-19’s has played in all this. In Part 2 of this two-part series, we’ll take a further look at COVID’s impact, we’ll learn about what the future of media production and distribution might look like, and we’ll hear about some of the opportunities that may create for YOU... our Looking Forward listeners. Finally, we'll get some excellent guidance on how we can become better media consumers. Spoiler alert: If have you any upcoming or current college students in your family, they may want to tune in, too! To help us with all this, we’ve again brought on our outstanding guest expert, Brian Brodeur. Brian Brodeur is the Founder and President of East Main Media, a full-service audio/video/media services firm & studio facility located in Little Falls, NJ. Brian’s life and career has been spent at the crossroads of entertainment and technology. Entering Berklee College of Music in 1987, Brian studied Music Technology, and upon leaving Berklee in 1991, he began his professional career in the recording studio. In 1997, he moved to New York City and joined the staff of Digi-Rom, eventually establishing one of New York City’s first DVD studios. In 2001, Brian founded ACIEM LLC, established the New York DVD & ACIEM Studios brands , and has since produced several best-selling DVD titles featuring some of the world’s top musicians: Frank Zappa, Phish, Rod Stewart, Buddy Rich, Phil Collins, George Benson, and dozens more. Today, Brian and East Main Media produce a wide-range of projects for entertainment, healthcare, financial, education and non-profit clientele - including over 100 hours of public television broadcasting content annually. The East Main Media team has recently produced projects featuring such luminaries as President Barack Obama, Keith Urban, and Randy Jackson.

** If you enjoy this episode, please be sure to tell your family, friends, and other members of YOUR network about it... and encourage them to listen to it, too. Also, please give it a "like" and/or a good review.

Looking Forward is THE podcast about global trends, opportunities, and the future, and how YOU might capitalize on those: Think... jobs, careers, business start-ups, ventures, investments, life enrichment. Guests are experts in their field, and most are C-suite executives, household names, authors, and/or from prestigious universities or similar organizations. Looking Forward is a great source for media outlets, podcast producers, telecom companies, audio publishers, etc. to include as part of their content. This is what MTN, the gigantic telecommunications company in Africa, will soon be doing. To discuss revenue-sharing opportunities to distribute our content-- which can be customized and reformatted to meet your needs and those of your target audience-- please contact us atwww.jeff-ostroff.com Looking Forward also offers a smart and affordable way for advertisers to promote their products or services, especially given its positive spin and informative, entertaining, and wholesome content. For more information, or to inquire about Jeff's podcast creation and hosting, professional interviewing, voice acting, training, speaking, or meeting facilitation services, please contact www.jeff-ostroff.com

Hello, Looking Forward listeners! Thanks for tuning in! Today on Looking Forward we’re going to focus on media production and distribution, be that TV, radio, film, the Internet, or other media formats. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Episode #85, we’re going to take a look at how media production and distribution has changed over the past few decades. We’ll also learn who’s now in the driver’s seat when it comes to media production and distribution, and we’ll begin to explore what role COVID-19’s has played in all this. In Part 2, among other things, we’ll take a further look at COVID’s impact, we’ll learn about what the future of media production and distribution might look like, and we’ll hear about some of the opportunities that may create for YOU... our Looking Forward listeners. To help us with all this, we’ve brought on an outstanding guest expert. He’s Brian Brodeur (Bro-Dure). Brian Brodeur (Bro-Dure) is the Founder and President of East Main Media, a full-service audio/video/media services firm & studio facility located in Little Falls, NJ. Brian’s life and career has been spent at the crossroads of entertainment and technology. Entering Berklee College of Music in 1987, Brian studied Music Technology, and upon leaving Berklee in 1991, he began his professional career in the recording studio. In 1997, he moved to New York City and joined the staff of Digi-Rom, eventually establishing one of New York City’s first DVD studios. In 2001, Brian founded ACIEM LLC, established the New York DVD & ACIEM Studios brands , and has since produced several best-selling DVD titles featuring some of the world’s top musicians: Frank Zappa, Phish, Rod Stewart, Buddy Rich, Phil Collins, George Benson, and dozens more. Today, Brian and East Main Media produce a wide-range of projects for entertainment, healthcare, financial, education and non-profit clientele - including over 100 hours of public television broadcasting content annually. The East Main Media team has recently produced projects featuring such luminaries as President Barack Obama, Keith Urban, and Randy Jackson.

** If you enjoy this episode, please be sure to tell your family, friends, and other members of YOUR network about it... and encourage them to listen to it, too. Also, please give it a "like" and/or a good review.

Looking Forward is THE podcast about global trends, opportunities, and the future, and how YOU might capitalize on those: Think... jobs, careers, business start-ups, ventures, investments, life enrichment. Guests are experts in their field, and most are C-suite executives, household names, authors, and/or from prestigious universities or similar organizations. Looking Forward is a great source for media outlets, podcast producers, telecom companies, audio publishers, etc. to include as part of their content. This is what MTN, the gigantic telecommunications company in Africa, is doing. To discuss revenue-sharing opportunities to distribute our content-- which can be customized and reformatted to meet your needs and those of your target audience-- please contact us atwww.jeff-ostroff.com Looking Forward also offers a smart and affordable way for advertisers to promote their products or services, especially given its positive spin and informative, entertaining, and wholesome content. For more information, or to inquire about Jeff's podcast hosting/ consulting, B2B interviewing, voice acting, training, speaking, or meeting facilitation services, please contact www.jeff-ostroff.com