Alonso Chehade Now

Jeremy Roos has been in the Solar industry since 2015, which energy experts say is expected to boom in the next 10 years, aiming to reach 20% of all U.S electricity generation by 2030.

Jeremy is the Chief Revenue Officer of FreeVolt USA, a global leader in the renewable energy sector, and I invited him to learn more about the residential solar industry, his sales career, and the lessons learned along the way.

Many people are working from home are feeling overwhelmed as we weather the storm of this pandemic. 

My guest is Ellia Harris, a productivity expert, trainer, and coach. In this episode, I ask Ellia about how to stay productive while we work from home during this crisis.

My guest is a productivity expert, trainer, and coach. 

Éllia Harris helps individuals and organizations increase productivity through creative problem-solving and innovation.

In this episode, I ask Éllia to share how she got into the problem-solving training business, how to use her Light Bulb Thinking framework to simplify how to solve problems, how better problem-solving leads to innovation, and more!

My guest is a drug addict turned Peak Performance coach. 

His name is Nick Elvery, and to free himself from a decade of drugs and alcohol, he committed to learning about transformational, psychology, cognitive therapies, NLP, hypnotherapy, biohacking, and more.

Following his personal transformation, he's helped improve the lives of his clients—including CEOs, Ironman Triathletes, coaches, entrepreneurs, and corporate professionals.

In this episode, I ask Nick to share more about his story, how he got his coaching business off the ground, and to share practical tips on how to overcome self-doubt so that you can create a business and life you love.

Chris Walker is a former Director of Marketing turned Marketing agency owner and LinkedIn micro-influencer. 

As of the recording of this podcast, he's nine months in ramping up his business, and he's a prolific LinkedIn user. His daily posts and videos get over 4k views, over 130 reactions, and over 40 comments.

In this episode, I ask Chris about his transition to entrepreneurship. The current state of his new agency and how he's growing it.

We also dive into the top revenue drivers he sees on his business and with his clients. Finally, we'll also cover the behind the scenes of his content and LinkedIn strategy.

He's one of the most experienced VCs in the Pacific Northwest with over $300M total in funds raised.

Back in college, he hired a friend and me to help him with a moving job. Ten years later, I was able to spend an hour with him to learn more about his journey.

His story is a case study on how to combine your skills and passions, and having a clear vision.

Listen as we dive into how he became a VC, what he looks in entrepreneurs before investing, his wine business, how he works, and more.

Nelson Yong is a brand marketing strategist and lifestyle influencer. He has over 100k followers on Instagram and companies like Delta Airlines, Stella, Lexus, and many luxury hotels and restaurants, partner with Nelson to promote their brands. 

In this episode, I ask Nelson to take me behind the scenes of his social media influencer business, how he got started, his best tactics to gain new followers and increase engagement, how he gets new ad partners, and what it's like to live the life of an influencer.

Laura Espriu, is an executive coach, consultant, and speaker who helps women find clarity and confidence by connecting with their strengths.

In the past, Laura has led women’s initiatives at a coaching firm in New York called Beck Global Consulting, she’s served as a Mexican delegate on issues of Gender Equality and Education at a Youth Assembly of the United Nations.

Earlier in her career, in Mexico, she’s held different HR roles running talent development initiatives for companies such as American Express, Dannon, and Televisa.

In this episode, I ask Laura about popular concepts to find and gain more clarity in life such as vision, mission, purpose, and values. How do these all fit together? Do we even need all of them? And what are some tactical ways to implement these on an ongoing basis to living our full potential?

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btsep026

My guest Rand Fishkin has been called the Pope of SEO. He’s is the founder of a new startup called SparkToro, and co-founder and former CEO of Moz, a startup he grew into a $47m per year profitable marketing software company. In his new book Lost & Founder, Rand shares a painfully honest memoir of his experience as a startup founder. He talks about depression, layoffs, failure, growth hacks, how much $$ founders actually make, and more.

In this episode, I ask Rand about his beginnings, his blogging and social media practice, how he got started in public speaking, his approach to product development, and his vision for influencer marketing. Those among other skills, habits, and values that have catapulted Rand's career into starting and growing a startup over the past 14 years—and why he’s doing it all over again.

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btsep025

Jennifer Wong is one of the recipients of Forbes 2018 30 under 30 in Marketing & Advertising Jennifer Wong. She recently became VP of Marketing at a fast growing trucking startup called Convoy, and she’s also a digital marketing adjunct professor at the University of Washington.

Before Convoy, Jennifer was the VP of Marketing at TUNE, a 350-person tech startup that she helped scale up by overseeing global marketing, public relations, and planning and hosting premium events. Under her leadership, TUNE was awarded $34M in venture capital funding, launched six international offices, and experienced a 714% increase in revenue.

In this episode, we’ll explore Jennifer’s beginnings, how she became a top marketing executive so fast, her biggest lessons learned as a marketer and leader, and her outlook in life as she continues to grow.

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btsep024

Steven Clough is a behavioral economist, author, speaker. He's the founder of AVO—a Seattle-based consulting firm—and his clients consider him the experts’ expert when it comes to Marketing.

Steven is an emerging voice in behavioral economics and business, and he has published multiple research and thought leadership papers. His work focuses on business strategy, consumer insights, product development, branding, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. 

In this episode, Steven shares his journey to starting a boutique marketing firm and his approach to doing meaningful work and solving problems. I also ask Steven about how he works and the tools and tactics behind his professional success.

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btsep023

This episode is my first solo round. A series I’ll be experimenting with once in a while in between interviews with guests. 

Alongside this podcast, I run a blog. In this episode, I share a couple of ideas I've written about before on productivity and performance.

You'll learn how to deal with information overload, become a better learner; and an approach to setting long-term goals and achieving them. 

Finally, in the end, I share my answers to a series of rapid-fire questions I usually ask my guests on how they work and their outlook on life. 

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btssolo1

Dr. Merry Harris is a Chiropractic Clinical Neurologist with over two decades of experience. She has a private practice in Woodinville, WA; and she’s the only active woman doctor of her kind in the state. Dr. Merry’s mission is to help others live to their fullest by helping their bodies function properly. In this episode, we talk about ADHD, anxiety, and depression; and how to overcome these disorders with proper stimulation.

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btsep021

My guest Manny Medina is the CEO of Outreach.io, a sales automation firm that has grown from six employees to over 230 in its first three years. Born in Ecuador, Manny moved to the US for college which led him to work at two of the most prominent tech giants Amazon and Microsoft before becoming a CEO. Manny has been featured on CNBC, HuffPost, and Entrepreneur.com.

In this episode, I ask Manny about his journey from employee to entrepreneur, how he got started using automation to increase his first startup sales productivity, and the challenges and lessons learned as a CEO of a fast-growing company.

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btsep020

My guest Margo Myers is a former award-winning TV news anchor. She has spent more than 20 years doing TV news at KOMO and KIRO TV in Seattle. Now she manages her own PR firm and is a communications expert, keynote speaker, and an executive coach.

In this episode, we talk about her journey to becoming a news anchor and her transition to becoming an entrepreneur. I also ask Margo to share her best advice she gives her clients on personal branding and getting ahead at work.

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btsep019

My guest Beth Whitman is women’s travel expert and host of the Be Bold Podcast. She’s travel around the World mostly solo and has almost 30 years of traveling under her belt.

Her mission is to inspire other women to pursue their travel dreams while becoming a better version of themselves. Beth’s travel blog has nearly 10,000 subscribers and she’s been featured in USA Today, CNN, MSNBC, and multiple lifestyle magazines.

In this episode, I talk with Beth about her love affair with travel, her journey as a lifestyle entrepreneur, and the tools and tactics behind her career as a tour guide, author, and speaker.

Full show notes: http://bit.ly/btsep018 

My guest is one of Seattle’s favorite yoga teachers and one of my friends, Carina Terra. She has been practicing yoga since she was 13 and has studied with some of the world’s most respected yoga experts.

She moved from Brazil to the U.S on her late 20’s, and owned and managed a yoga studio for ten years. Today she continues to spread her passion for yoga by holding teacher training programs and classes in the Seattle Area.

In this episode, we’ll be talking about yoga and meditation, and how you can use these to bring steadiness, peace, compassion, and self-acceptance into your life.

Full show notes: bit.ly/btsep017

My guest Jorge Barón is a national figure in the immigration debate. He was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved to the U.S. when he was 13.

As the son of a TV legend in Colombia, it seemed like Jorge's destiny was to be in the entertainment business. But instead, his career took a different path. Now he’s the leader of one of the largest immigrant rights nonprofits in the U.S.

In 2008, Governor Gregoire appointed Jorge to serve on Washington’s New Americans Policy Council. In 2009, Puget Sound Business Journal selected Jorge as one of “40 under 40”—a list that highlights 40 business and nonprofit leaders under the age of 40. In 2012, the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington awarded Jorge its Model of Excellence award. These only among some of his honors.

In this episode, I asked Jorge about his life in Colombia. What it was like to grow up under the shadow of his famous father. And why he left his career making movies in Hollywood to fight for immigrant rights.

I also asked Jorge to share his take on running a successful nonprofit and his future aspirations as he continues to do his part to change the world.

Full show notes: bit.ly/btsep016

A local media legend stops by. My guest has spent four decades as a broadcast journalist where he’s interviewed newsmakers and celebrities—from former presidents to music icons.

He’s the recipient of nine Northwest Emmy Awards. In 2003 The Seattle Weekly featured him as Best TV Host and in 2006 Seattle Magazine named him one of the most influential people of the year.

Enrique Cerna is the senior correspondent at KCTS 9. In this episode, he shares how to get people back on track when they go off on tangents, how he prepares for his interviews, and three dream guests he'd like to have on his show. He also talks about his battle against depression, why he turned away opportunities to do national TV, what it was like to interview Bill Cosby and three truths about life he's learned so far.

Full show notes: bit.ly/btsep015

Niveen Heaton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. A mixed background that has given her a unique perspective that she brought to fruition by building a 7-figure swimwear company called Adicora, which she started in 2009.

Niveen is also the fashion creative director of Metropolitan Fashion Week, one of the fastest growing fashion events in the United States.

In this episode, we'll explore Niveen's Latin roots, her journey to becoming a fashion designer, how she works, and her outlook on life as she continues to grow towards building an international brand.

Full show notes: bit.ly.com/btsep014

Have you ever struggle with the question, “What’s my purpose?” For many of us, narrowing down on “the one thing” we’re supposed to be, is a never-ending challenge.

That’s why I’m excited about my guest Justine Joslyn. She's a skilled therapist and life coach, and founder of the Self Empowerment Institute. For over 15 years—through her private practice and group workshops—Justine has dedicated her life to helping others develop the confidence and self-discipline required to transform their lives.

I participated in one of Justine’s life coaching workshops a couple years ago and gained new levels of clarity and strength in my life.

• How Justine discovered her calling as a professional therapist and life coach.
• Tools you can use to discover what path belongs to you.
• Common challenges to accessing your inner voice for self-guidance.
• The function of passion as it relates to living your purpose.

And much more!

http://bit.ly/btsep012

Seattle serial entrepreneur shares how he built a seven-figure consulting business under 30, the highs and lows of venturing into the world of startups, and more.

Award-winning author and investor Jeff Lehman shares advice on buying or renting a house, saving and investing priorities, robo-advisors, and more.

A special episode in response to Trump's pledge to cancel DACA. Award-winning immigration attorney discusses risks involved, fighting deportation, and more.

A conversation with award-winning radio host Ross Reynolds. We discuss the future of radio, asking great questions, how to get people to open up, and more.

An undocumented student turned social entrepreneur shares life lessons on overcoming adversity, becoming a leader, the power of possibility, and more.

In this interview, sales training expert Ray Makela talks about sales grit, top characteristics of gritty salespeople—and how to hire for them!

Lloyd Ball is one of Seattle's top networkers. In this interview, we talk about networking, throwing $40k+ events for free, his morning habits, and more!

Keegan Hall is fast becoming a well-known artist. In this episode, we explore through his story, how passion is not something you "follow" but "cultivate" instead.

Learning and development expert Ilana Guttmann discusses how adults learn best, turning knowledge into new skills and behaviors, and measuring learning effectiveness.

In this episode of Beyond the Surface, I talk with keynote speaker and coach Omar Rivas to learn about the art of storytelling and how to develop this essential tool to becoming a powerful communicator.