Wisdom.MBA
Gavin Jocius
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Top 10 Wisdom.MBA Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Wisdom.MBA episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Wisdom.MBA for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Wisdom.MBA episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
04/02/23 • 75 min
Jen “JB” Braly is a hands-on transformation executive with a proven track record of driving large-scale change. Most recently, she was the Vice President, Program Office for Moderna during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reporting directly to the Chief Digital and Technology Officer, JB helped the company grow from a pre-commercial research start-up with less than 1,000 US employees and no revenue to a $20 Billion global enterprise with over 4,500 employees. There needs to be an operations and logistics business case on Moderna because JB’s stories from behind the scenes are wild.
JB is an absolute force of nature with a very impressive resume. Air Force Captain, project manager, lean guru, Poets & Quants “100 Best & Brightest Executive MBA,” and the 1st and only EMBA to receive MIT’s “Graduate Women of Excellence Award.” In addition to all her success, she is also a really cool and fun person. I loved this conversation.
If you are interested in knowing what it was like managing one of the largest and fastest product rollouts in human history or what it’s like doing an Executive MBA at a top business school, then you’ll want to listen to this episode.
Discussion Topics:
(2:35) AI productivity tools for project managers.
(13:01) Moderna and the COVID-19 response.
(29:39) Working with brilliant classmates in EMBA programs.
(46:35) Advice for people thinking about an EMBA program.
(1:04:05) Rapid fire questions.
For this episode, I try something a bit different by having two guests on the show. I interview fellow classmates from the Executive MBA program at Duke. Bailey Smith and Noah Smith (no relation) were both Navy Surface Warfare Officers (SWOs) with deployments in the Arabian Gulf and South China Sea. They both share their experiences from their time in the Navy and the challenges and similarities of managing sailors versus employees.
Noah completed this undergraduate degree from Clemson University and is now a Product Manager at Corning Incorporated, one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science. Bailey graduated from Cornell University and is an Assistant Vice President of Global Technology and Operations at the Bank of America.
In addition to talking about life in the Navy, we have open and candid conversations about what it is like to balance work, family and school during COVID-19, transitioning to all online classes, and in Bailey’s case, having a child while in the program and doing classes from the hospital the day after giving birth. If you are a perspective student contemplating an Executive MBA, I would encourage you to take a look at the podcast show notes to skip ahead as needed to where we provide our advice on how best to manage the program and give tips for success.
Discussion Topics:
(2:02) Deployments and navigating ships at Sea.
(9:22) Dealing with sleep deprivation.
(15:18) Naval officer portrayal in movies and literature.
(18:40) Traveling the world and favorite port calls.
(21:41) Earning trust and managing sailors versus employees.
(28:37) The decision to pursue an EMBA and why the format works.
(35:30) Adjusting to all online classes.
(42:55) Rapid fire questions on the pros and cons of an EMBA program.
(52:55) Time management advice for working parents doing an EMBA.
(1:04:01) #1 piece of advice for success in an EMBA program
(1:06:39) Having a child in the middle of term 2.
11/23/21 • 31 min
For this podcast, I plan to tell the story of why I got into ultrarunning. I was never a runner, but I decided this year to completely immerse myself in it. This year, I have finished 5 ultras, the last of which was a 100 miler that I podium at, but after finishing the race I suffered kidney failure. I spend 5 days in the hospital and almost had to be put on dialysis. I basically developed Rhabdomyolysis where the muscle breakdown from running 26 hours straight poisoned my kidneys.
I think this story is valuable to the podcast because I have learned a lot throughout the entire process, from setting a stretch goal, to training, to developing a working excel model for my race, to over-coming setback and learning from mistakes. At the beginning of 2021, I interviewed Dan King, the founder of ReadyTalk who is also the World’s Fittest CEO. That discussion really opened my eyes of how and why physical fitness can make you a better leader and sharpen your resolved to handle stress and challenges.
If you are interested in ultrarunning, pushing yourself to physical limits, embracing challenges or just learning a little bit more about what makes me tick, I think you will like this episode. There is definitely some wisdom that you can apply to business and life. It is my most personal yet and I feel it has been helpful to showcase some of my vulnerabilities, which I hope is a leadership quality in and of itself.
Discussion Topics:
(2:20) Why I decided to get into ultrarunning.
(4:20) Motivating factors for running long distances.
(10:55) How to train for ultras.
(19:24) Overview of the actual 100-mile race.
(26:07) Suffering and overcoming post-race acute kidney failure.
(28:43) Lessons learned from this entire process.
08/09/23 • 56 min
Ryan Duey is the Co-Founder + Co-CEO of plunge.com. Plunge has seen fantastic growth with increases in demand for cold plunge and contrast therapy coming out of the pandemic. Ryan and I go deep into what caused the company’s parabolic rise and how he and his co-founder Michael Garrett were able to both help create and capitalize on the current cold plunge boom.
We talk about getting free organic exposure from Lebron James. Plunge’s origin story during COVID lockdowns. His appearance on SharkTank, goals for the future and his honest advice for young entrepreneurs. A really fascinating insight is Ryan’s concept of the entourage effect. I had never heard of the concept before, but I think it is a genius and a big reason why the company and cold plunges in general took off so quickly in the United States.
If you like health and wellness or a great founder story that involves taking risks and pivoting during adversity, then I think you will really like this episode.
Discussion Topics:
(1:17) Icebreaker: study abroad.
(3:16) Lebron James, Tony Hawk, Andrew Huberman and more.
(14:37) Why did cold plunge go parabolic in December 2022?
(21:30) The entourage effect.
(24:09) Which celebrity has the coolest house?
(30:47) Plunge’s origin story - necessity is the mother of invention.
(38:12) Sharktank ... was it worthwhile?
(43:00) Sauna launch.
(51:29) Advice for young entrepreneurs.
(53:33) Rapid fire.
07/15/23 • 66 min
Bradley Harris is the principal and CEO of A-Frame - a venture studio built for sustainable growth. Brad and I met on acquire.com, an online marketplace for buying and selling startups. I was looking to purchase the surf and board sports business that he had founded. I loved what he had built and his focus on being a socially minded entrepreneur. Brad ultimately sold the business to someone else, but we have stayed in-contact and have helped each other on our respective entrepreneurial journeys.
Brad is a 3x founder and advisor with a deep understanding of go-to-market strategies, brand management and mobile technology. His super-power, however, is being able to position brands for social impact in ways that are authentic and resonate with consumers.
We talk about how he positioned his surf eCommerce business Good Wave to meet an underserved portion of the market, namely surf parents. We geek out hard on surf culture and board sports and how brands can be better leaders of social impact.
Brad is a great guy with a lot of wisdom to share. I hope you enjoy.
Discussion Topics:
(1:14) Brand archetypes in action sports.
(6:18) The best winter ever and finding your why post-exit.
(11:42) Building a business for surfing parents and families.
(28:32) Product development process.
(37:40) Advice for selling on acquire.com.
(52:17) Vision for A-Frame ventures.
(54:40) Rapid fire.
07/18/20 • 56 min
Ted Baker is the co-founder of QALO (pronounced “kay-lo”), an active lifestyle company which was started in 2012. Their hero product, a functional silicone ring, has disrupted the multi-billion dollar wedding ring industry. In 2018, QALO was ranked #151 on Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing companies list. People like Lebron James, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Steph Curry now wear them. Ted’s story is a great example of how new innovative products can create a white space, unlocking unmet sources of customer value while capturing share in established markets. Ted shares his insights on the grit and tenacity it takes to bootstrap a company to phenomenal growth. Ted earned his MBA, with a focus in entrepreneurial and small business operations, from Loyola Marymount University. He currently serves as Board Chairman of www.qalo.com.
Discussion Topics:
(1:29) Backstory on how and why Ted started QALO.
(5:35) Launching without outside investment.
(7:35) Brand, culture and building an active lifestyle brand.
(14:30) Dealing with new competitors after explosive growth.
(17:26) Innovation and new product launches.
(22:57) Selling on Amazon and omni-channel marketing strategies.
(29:15) How to bootstrap a company for growth.
(35:40) Variable marketing and return on advertising spend (ROAS).
(40:45) Leveraging a business school education as an entrepreneur.
05/12/23 • 53 min
Mike Fata is a true pioneer in the health food sector and a passionate advocate for wellness. Mike's story is as inspiring as it is unconventional. His career began not in the boardroom, but in a personal battle with weight loss and the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. This journey led him to discover the nutritional potential of a plant that was largely overlooked.
In 1998, Mike co-founded Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods, transforming it into the world's largest hemp food manufacturer, and in the process, changing our understanding of hemp as a health food ingredient. In 2019, the company sold to Tilray for $419mm.
Like his passion for the hemp industry, Mike now devotes his time, energy and capital to helping founders in the natural products industry grow and thrive. Mike has a proven track record of success. As the Chairman of the Board for Sol Cuisine, the company was acquired by Plant Plus Foods in January 2022 for $125mm. Many of Mike’s portfolio brands like Mid-Day Squares and Love Good Fats have experienced incredible growth thanks in part to his mentorship and guidance.
While very busy, Mike still provides wisdom and guidance to entrepreneurs through his podcast Founder to Mentor and his new book GROW 12 Unconventional Lessons for Becoming an Unstoppable Entrepreneur.
Mike and I talk about the early stages of launching a startup in a nascent industry, health and wellness and launching consumer products online and in retail. Mike’s story is a fascinating journey of personal transformation and overcoming adversity with a great deal of wisdom that I think many people can relate to.
Discussion Topics:
(1:48) Icebreakers: How Mike is currently using AI tools and 80s TV.
(6:33) Early days of hemp in Canada.
(14:52) Financing/bootstrapping a hemp business.
(19:56) The health & wellness boom.
(25:56) Investing in founders and natural products startups.
(29:02) Do you launch in eCommerce first then retail?
(30:50) Can the Mid-Day Squares playbook be replicated?
(34:14) Breaking into the US market from Canada.
(35:53) Advice from Mike’s book GROW.
(41:06) How nutrition and health benefit entrepreneurs.
(45:13) Best lessons for entrepreneurs that you will not learn in business school.
(50: 52) Rapid fire questions.
(51:59) Shoutout to The Weakerthans “One Great City”
The Future of Private Aviation, Leadership & Special Forces Training with Tommy Sowers, PhD
Wisdom.MBA
01/15/22 • 56 min
Tommy Sowers is a true renaissance man with an incredible resume. He is an entrepreneur, academic, politician and a decorated Military officer with an 11-year career in the Army, having achieved the rank of Major. He has taught at West Point, the University of Missouri and Duke. He also served as the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Tommy is currently the President of flyExclusive, which is the fastest growing private jet charter in the United States, located in Kinston, North Carolina. Tommy and I discuss the future of private aviation and how COVID-19 has impacted the demand for private jet ownership. Tommy also talks about cofounding GoldenKey, a venture backed firm which disrupted the buying and selling of homes. The company raised $3.7 million in funding and was sold in 2018.
Tommy graduated first in his class at the Special Forces Qualification Course, and we talk about how his military training and time as a Green Beret prepared him for diverse leadership challenges. Tommy completed his undergraduate from Duke University and earned his MSc and PhD from the London School of Economics.
This episode has a lot of great insights on leadership, dealing with adversity and adapting to different work environments and situations. Also ... if you have dreams and aspirations about flying private or owning a jet, you’ll want to tune in.
Discussion Topics:
(1:47) Duke basketball & being a seven-foot Army Ranger.
(4:45) Private jet travel and sales during the COVID era.
(14:14) Investment trends in the private aviation industry.
(20:56) Adding innovative technical jobs in North Carolina.
(26:15) The economics of jet ownership. Does it make financial sense?
(29:00) Becoming an entrepreneur, founding GoldenKey and raising venture capital.
(35:54) University education and teaching styles.
(41:40) Special Forces mindset to help with career and life transitions.
(49:35) Veteran career transition advice.
(53:33) Rapid fire questions.
04/20/21 • 65 min
Rahul Pagidipati is the CEO of ZebPay, India’s oldest and most widely used Bitcoin and crypto asset exchange, with over 3 million users and $3 billion worth of transactions.
Prior to ZebPay, Rahul was a co-founded of Freedom Health which became the largest Private Health Insurance company in America with over $1.8 Billion in annual revenue. The company was acquired by Anthem in 2018. Along with his family office, Rahul has led investments in multiple "Unicorn" Healthcare companies.
Rahul has a JD/MBA from the Northwestern School of Law and Kellogg School of Management, and he has been investing in Blockchain and digital currencies since 2011.
Rahul and I talk about his early investments in Ethereum, what he thinks about Dogecoin, the future of digital assets, basic attention tokens, Ethereum 2.0 and more. If you are a crypto expert or beginner, there are plenty of great insights in this episode. We also talk about Rahul risking much of his personal wealth to acquire ZebPay despite the Reserve Bank of India’s ban on crypto-related payments – a move many felt was crazy but turned out to be an incredible investment once the Supreme Count of India reversed the ban. Finally, Rahul shares his wisdom on the future of business school education and he shares his advice for anyone seeking a career in crypto.
Discussion Topics:
(1:45) All things Ethereum.
(15:52) Acquiring ZebPay during the Reserve Bank of India’s ban on crypto-related payments.
(19:10) ZebPay acquisition investment thesis and risk-taking.
(21:50) Social impact, corporate social responsibility & Bitcoin as social enterprise.
(28:52) Mining Dogecoin back in 2014.
(31:28) Interesting NFT applications that is not art or collectables.
(38:55) How co-founding Freedom Health helped prepare Rahul for success with ZebPay.
(44:00) MBA & business school advice.
(48:19) Basic Attention Tokens (BAT).
(49:27) The Metaverse pioneers and prisoners.
(58:22) Rapid fire questions.
11/18/22 • 53 min
Sheena Brady is the founder of Teasewellness.com, a wellness brand that creates all natural, tea and botanical based products that support you to live and lead consciously. As a B-Corp and through its’ Founder Fund, Tease also helps support under-represented women entrepreneurs with mentorship, strategic resources and funding.
Sheena is a tea Sommelier with a wealth of knowledge. As an owner and co-founder of a tea company myself (mositea.com), we geek out on the different ways teas can support you throughout your day. Sheena also blows my mind with some genius tea and booze infused cocktail ideas. She really knows her stuff.
Having worked at Shopify for almost 8 years on the merchant success team, Sheena shares her insights into eCommerce, changes in omni-channel marketing and how to succeed as a D2C brand in the post-Facebook era. As two eCommerce vets, we also share our secrets on how to prepare for this holiday shopping season.
Finally, Sheena tells her story of appearing on TV’s Dragons’ Den (Canada’s version of Shark Tank) and how she managed to out-smart one of the Dragon with the ultimate chess move which you will not want to miss.
(1:30) Ice breaker ... wine pairings.
(5:07) Becoming a Sommelier and discussing tea culture.
(12:55) Tease Wellness origin story.
(24:03) Working at Shopify while running a side-hustle.
(30:34) Influencers and TikTok marketing.
(35:35) Q4 2022 Holiday Shopping predictions & secret sauce.
(40:30) Was appearing on Dragons’ Den worth it?
(48:36) Rapid fire questions.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Wisdom.MBA have?
Wisdom.MBA currently has 48 episodes available.
What topics does Wisdom.MBA cover?
The podcast is about Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Ecommerce, Podcasts, Finance, Education, Business Education, Business and Mba.
What is the most popular episode on Wisdom.MBA?
The episode title 'eCommerce, Shopify, Building a Tea Brand, Dragon’s Den & More with Sheena Brady' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Wisdom.MBA?
The average episode length on Wisdom.MBA is 55 minutes.
How often are episodes of Wisdom.MBA released?
Episodes of Wisdom.MBA are typically released every 26 days, 13 hours.
When was the first episode of Wisdom.MBA?
The first episode of Wisdom.MBA was released on Jun 28, 2020.
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