What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw
By Mike Irwin & Simon Daw
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon DawNov 10, 2020
The Voice of Endurance Sport with broadcaster Steve Fleck
Steve Fleck is the voice many people hear in their hardest moments, when their heart is jumping out of their chest, their mind is crushed, and the finish line is in sight. Fleck is a broadcast commentator for athletics, cycling, endurance, and running competitions. He’s the familiar soundtrack to events streamed on media like CBC, FLOBIKES, Ironman Live, and others. But how does one become the voice of sport, or anything else, for that matter?
It starts by knowing your stuff. And, in Steve’s case, doing it. He was an early competitor in triathlon. He’s a 9-time Ironman finisher with a best time of 9:04 and competed in the Ironman World Championships. In addition to broadcasting, Steve has coached elite athletes and is a founding board member of the Canadian Endurance Sports Alliance. In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Steve shares how his athletic career influenced his business career, how he transitioned from corporate work to a broadcasting career, and how he delivers a sense of the moment to his audience. He also offers a point of view on what event organizers should learn from the pandemic era.
It’s a story of expertise, resourcefulness, resilience, and, yes, endurance too. And it applies to anyone trying to turn a passion into a profession.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. Visit us at http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com or email to hello@whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Lifting Them Up: The Magic of Mentoring with Bert Thornton, former Waffle House president and COO
Is there a secret to success? Absolutely. And it's probably not what you may think.
Bert Thornton spent 40 years shaping careers (including his own) as Waffle House grew from a few restaurants in the American south to become a pillar of communities around the country. As president and chief operations officer, he believed that the growth of the company relied upon the development of its people. Building leadership skills throughout an organization is both an obligation and an opportunity. Now, there’s a gap between emerging leaders and those who can help guide them along the way. Mentoring can help bridge that gap…and, when done well, it can transform lives and organizations.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Bert shares why mentoring can matter so much, the elements of an effective mentor/mentee relationship, and how to get started. He also covers how to foster creativity within systems…in a way that led to a product that Waffle House sells 11 million times a year.
Bert is author of Find An Old Gorilla: Pathways Through the Jungle of Business and Life. The book is an essential guide for rising high achievers. He collaborated with Dr. Sherry Hartnett to write High-Impact Mentoring: A Practical Guide to Creating Value in Other People’s Lives. Available here: https://highimpactmentoringbook.com/
Bert currently serves as vice chairman emeritus of Waffle House, the largest full-service, 24-hour, sit-down restaurant in the world. He has served on the boards of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, the Georgia Tech Foundation, the Studer Community Institute, and the Museum School of Avondale Estates. He was a college football player at Georgia Tech and served in the US Army.
- “Ships don’t drift into port. And good people don’t drift into important positions. Both require guidance and support.”
- “See my friends, see my future. One of the most common questions I’m asked is this: is there one thing to do, a silver bullet for success? The answer is yes, surround yourself with successful people. The most important thing, though, the gold bullet for success, is to find a good mentor.”
- “My happiest friends aren’t the ones who play the most golf. They’re the ones who live a life of gratitude and reciprocation. Appreciating what they have and committed to helping others get to where they want to go.”
- “Two kinds of people in the world: a sink and a source. A sink absorbs energy and brings things down. A source radiates energy and brings people up.”
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Solve Your Story Not Your Problem with JUNO founder Josh Hotsenpiller
Josh Hotsenpiller is one of those people you wish you’d known your entire life. And when you meet him, you’ll feel like you did. You see, Josh, devotes a big chunk of his time to building community and he does it with a goal to have a positive impact for all.
He’s done it in as an entrepreneur, leader, and pastor. He’s founder & CEO of JUNO, a rapidly scaling online events platform that delivers connection, education, and engagement. He founded Wisdom Capture which helps organizations share the collective insights of experience across geography and time. He founded Profits 4 Purpose to help companies and their employees support their most passionate causes with charitable giving. He founded Crowd Hub which helps organizations and brands build ongoing connection and engagement with their most important audiences. His companies have served clients ranging from Apple, Google, and Unilever to the United Nations.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Josh shares principles and lessons he collected along the way that have fueled the growth of his teams, companies, and even his own sense of happiness.
- “People get stuck in their competency…there is a way out and it involves being confident in your ability to solve problems, not in having all the answers.”
- “Give yourself the freedom to be the one to not solve the problem. Give yourself the community to solve it.”
- “If your identity is wrapped up in your job, you’re destined for an unhappy life.”
- “You are the greatest variable to your success.”
- “Nobody speaks to you more than you do.”
- “If you can get you under control then there are no limits to what you can accomplish.”
- “Solve your story…not your problem…go find your own way of doing it.”
- “Don’t meet people in their crazy.”
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Get in touch with Josh Hotsenpiller: https://www.junolive.com/
4 Secrets to Turning Ambition into Reality: from Starting Out to Starting Up to Reaching the Top
Ambition is defined as a strong desire to achieve. But what does it really mean, in real life? And how do you turn your ambitions into reality? In this mini episode from What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, we talk with four people who absolutely can offer insights on how to achieve your ambition.
- Ann Hiatt was an executive partner to Jeff Bezos during the formative years at Amazon and to Eric Schmidt at Google. Her new book Bet On Yourself is available now.
- Bob Rief was CEO of Merrell Footwear, Reef Sandals, and Sanuk. As head of Nike Golf, he hired a young player named Tiger Woods.
- Cody Horton had a distinguished career in the US Navy before leading roles at Walmart, Microsoft, and Deloitte. He now runs Diversity Recruiters and has hired thousands of people.
- Hannah Ingram-Moore started a company in Spain that she sold to Motorola and held leading roles with Swatch, Mulberry Group, and The Gap. She founded the Maytrix Group in the UK as well as the Captain Tom Foundation.
In 13 minutes, they share 4 secrets to turn your ambitions into reality. It’s the sort of advice that anyone pursuing higher goals can readily apply to their daily work.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
Please subscribe, follow, and rate us on your favorite podcast platform. And join our community at WhatIWishIKnewShow.com
Making People Feel Good About Loving Food with Rude Health Founder Camilla Barnard
Camilla Barnard believes people should be able to feel good about loving food, not guilty. Her starting point was one of those good-for-you foods that may not taste so good: muesli. Trouble is that muesli is a commodity category dominated by big food companies, famous brands, and basic store products. Few would have the audacity to start there. She wasn’t a veteran of the food industry nor an expert in consumer marketing. And yet, her company, Rude Health, has become a familiar sight on store shelves and shopping baskets across the UK and Europe.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Camilla talks about how not knowing can be a strength, how Instagram has changed consumer behavior, and how creativity and attitude often leads to better solutions than expertise alone.
Camilla Barnard co-founded Rude Health in London in 2005 with her husband, Nick. Rude Health is on a mission to make the healthy choice a celebration, not a sacrifice, with their range of over 75 foods and drinks and a team of 45 glass-half-fullers. As well as being a full-time mum of two, Camilla is the creative brain behind the business’s marketing and brand development and is on a mission to inspire everyone to be in rude health by joyfully challenging the assumption that health food has to be bland and boring.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew wherever you find your favorite podcasts. As always, we welcome your ideas and feedback at hello@whatiwishiknewshow.com
Connect with Camilla Barnard: https://rudehealth.com/
Making Marketing Pay with David Taylor, Founder of The Brandgym
David Taylor has been named one of the world’s 50 leading marketing thinkers by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. His specialty, however, is in real-world, applied marketing…the sort that delivers growth in revenue and in regard. And whether the brand is a product or the proverbial brand you, Taylor has pragmatic advice shaped by 28 years’ experience leading growth projects for some of the world’s biggest global brands.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, David talks about his transition from engineer to marketer, crucible moments in life, the four classic marketing mistakes to avoid, and the rise of insurgent brands.
Taylor is also author of eight acclaimed branding books, writes one of the world’s top branding blogs, and is a highly rated teacher at London Business School. He has designed and delivered training programs for leading companies including AB InBev, Mars, Mondelez, Old Mutual, Pladis, and WD-40. Prior to founding The Brandgym in 2002, David worked with P&G before doing an MBA at INSEAD and running the Paris office of Kantar Added Value. Taylor also delivers brand training available to all called Mastering Brand Growth.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw wherever you find your favorite podcasts. We welcome your feedback and ideas for guests. Contact us at hello@whatiwishiknewshow.com
Connect with David Taylor:
https://thebrandgym.com/
https://thebrandgym.com/blog/
https://academy.thebrandgym.com/courses/brandgym-mastering-brand-growth-program-4
Solving Big Nasty Problems by Design with Jasmine Burton, founder Wish For WASH
Jasmine Burton is an industrial designer by training and a social impact designer by choice. She’s a believer that design can help solve important societal problems…and that the next iPhone or app isn’t necessarily one of them. Instead, she’s taking on one of the biggest health problems in the world and one that, ironically, has also had little innovation over the years: sanitation.
In college, she founded Wish For WASH, a social impact startup intended to bring innovation to sanitation. She and her team won a 6-figure innovation prize. Within weeks, they were working on the ground in Africa to test their designs. She has since worked in Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the US. Her innovation success and willingness to take on big nasty problems, like sanitation, is quite a story. That’s why Jasmine has delivered more than 130 speeches on global stages and has been featured by the likes of CNN, Fast Company, TedX, and Wired.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Jasmine talks about “design as functional art”, “designing for dignity”, and offers a perspective on the role that companies, institutions, and individuals should play in integrating social good into daily work. She seeks to couple design thinking and business acumen with evidence-based science to accelerate access to universal health and sanitation for all.
Along with serving as CEO of Wish For WASH, Jasmine is founder of The Hybrid Hype, a woman-owned global consulting firm which brings a multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving. She’s currently social enterprise fellow at Emory University. She earned a master’s degree in public health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine where she was a Rotary Global Grant Scholar. She is an industrial and product design graduate of Georgia Tech.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, entrepreneurs, experts, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. We welcome your feedback at http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Connect with Jasmine Burton: https://jasminekburton.squarespace.com/
Culture, Race, and Cooperation: Setting Aside Fear to Get to Understanding with UCLA Professor Gaye Theresa Johnson
The world today is deeply divided over politics, covid, race, culture, values, religion, and many other issues. Bridging that chasm is perhaps harder than it’s ever been and yet maybe never more important than it is right now. Dr. Gaye Theresa Johnson of UCLA shares a perspective that fear overhangs much of that discord and recognizing the source of that fear is vital to building cooperation.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Dr. Johnson talks about the capacity for compassion that we all have and how we can find ways to tap it. She gets into how to approach important conversations with curious mindset rather than a furious one. She covers how we can turn to our own history for examples of cooperation across boundaries. She talks about the power of kindness and compassion. And she makes the case of learning from the young in their ability to find joy in everyday life.
Dr. Johnson is an expert on race, cultural politics, and freedom struggles as well as the connections between them. She is Associate Professor of Chicana/o and Central American Studies and an affiliate in the Department of African American Studies at the University of California at Los Angeles. She is the author of three books: Spaces of Conflict, Sounds of Solidarity: Music, Race, and Spatial Entitlement; Futures of Black Radicalism; and the forthcoming Rings of Dissent. She’s an in-demand speaker, award winning faculty member, and teaches one of the most popular courses at UCLA. When you listen to this episode, you’ll easily understand why.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, entrepreneurs, experts, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Striving for Health Span with Dr. Richard Harris
Good health has never been more important or as top of mind as it has been this past year. And many folks wish they’d taken care of their health before they lost it.
“Most people think disease is instantaneous,” said Dr. Richard Harris. However, many physical ailments can take years to develop. Lifestyle choices have a profound impact on health and quality of life. While lifespan is a common focus, Dr. Harris says that striving for health span – the duration of one’s good health – is even more important. His mission is to help people live better quality lives and to recognize how the choices they make can affect their health.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Dr. Harris talks about the primary obstacles to healthy living, how the mental side of health affects the physical, health span versus lifespan, and four simple steps each person can take to help improve their health.
Dr. Richard Harris is an internal medicine physician, pharmacist, and an expert in holistic lifestyle medicine. A “double doc”, he is a graduate of the McGovern School of Medicine (MD), University of Texas at Austin (Doctor of Pharmacy), and the University of Houston (MBA). Along with his medical practice, he is founder of Great Health & Wellness, Harris Medical Consultants, Managing Director of New Spectrum Educational Consultants, and co-founder of the 40 Acres Fund. He is also host of the Strive for Great Health podcast.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. Find us at: http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Connect with Dr. Richard Harris: https://www.theghwellness.com/
From Thrive to Survive to Revive with Rad Season founder Oli Russell-Cowan
Oli Russell-Cowan was on a mission. It was also his honeymoon. He and his wife were roaming around North, Central, and South America with a plan to surf, see the sights, and experience culture. While surfing and sightseeing were pretty straightforward, they found it hard to find good information about special events like the Day of the Dead in Mexico City. That sparked an idea for a blog, which became a business, and eventually a platform intended to share information, experiences, and logistical help for travelers looking for action sports, music festivals, and cultural events around the world.
The company, Rad Season, was the first one-stop shop for checking out and booking all things rad. Then Covid triggered the shutdown in travel and the cancellation of more than 900 events on Rad Season’s global calendar. While the events were down, interest and participation in many of the activities that Rad Season was built around hit new heights. Running an events company when there were no events was a massive challenge. And also an opportunity.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the guests on What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, it’s this: no matter the obstacles, these people always find a way. In this episode, Oli talks about the evolution of Rad Season: from the uncertainty of the beginning, to the acceleration with partners and events, and then shifting gears as covid came on. Resilience and adaptability are important in any business and so are the lessons that Oli shares.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts. Got an idea for the podcast? hello@whatiwishiknewshow.com
Connect with Oli Russell-Cowan:
https://radseason.com/
Blanketing the World with Rumpl founder Wylie Robinson
What brand of blanket do you have at home? If you’re like most people, you have no idea. If you’re Wylie Robinson then you’re out to change that. Wylie is founder and CEO of Rumpl, the brand of blanket that most people will want when they see it.
It all started in a blizzard. Stranded in a vehicle that wouldn’t start and – of course out of cellphone range – Wylie was inspired to create blankets out of the same high-performance material used in sleeping bags and puffy outdoor jackets. The resulting product ultimately became Rumpl and is now sold in outdoor retailers and online. Rumpl became so sought after that the staff at Shark Tank spent four years pursuing him to appear on the show…which he did.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Wylie talks about how his architecture education prepared him for a role as a designer and eventually to create Rumpl. He shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs (two hints: be ready to hustle and create a narrative and a story around your business). He also talks about appearing on Shark Tank and why he turned down a deal.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Connect with Wylie Robinson: https://www.rumpl.com/
Rising to the Leadership Challenge with Professor Patrick Leddin of Vanderbilt University
What enables an effective leader? And why do so many fall short? Vanderbilt University’s Patrick Leddin is an expert in helping leaders and teams reach their potential.
Dr. Leddin’s expertise is both academic and practical, and forged across a range of organizations. He served as a U.S. Army airborne, infantry, ranger-qualified officer, managed projects at KPMG Consulting, and partnered with his wife, Jamie, to start an Inc. 5000-recognized company. He teaches strategy, negotiation, marketing, and leadership courses at Vanderbilt. He is an in-demand speaker and author of multiple books on leadership. His latest, The Five-Week Leadership Challenge, is a story-oriented, step by step process to become the leader all organizations need. His writing has attracted more than 100,000 followers on LinkedIn.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Patrick discusses rising to the challenge of leadership, the elements of an effective culture, and the vital role of humility in personal development.
His speaking engagements and consulting work have allowed him to partner with clients and present to countless audiences in the United States, Canada, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Great Britain, Aruba, Iceland, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Guam, and many other countries around the world. He is co-founder of the Leddin Group which helps leaders build teams to deliver exceptional results.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
From Baby Talk to Lifetime Language with smallTalk CEO Dean Koch
Why is learning another language so difficult? The challenge starts at the beginning…of life.
Babies aren’t born with a specific language but they are equipped to learn from what they hear. The sounds and words they hear from parents and caregivers are vital to their development of language. In fact, babies quickly learn to lock in on familiar sounds and those make up the building blocks of language. All good, right?
Sounds they aren’t exposed to never become part of their verbal repertoire. Years later, as they try to learn another language those unfamiliar sounds become obstacles to their progression. The solution isn’t trying to teach babies multiple languages. It’s a lot simpler than that and yet ingenious.
Dean Koch and the team at smallTalk have found a way to engage infants in interactive language learning. “When a baby is in an environment where they can interact with two or more languages, they benefit for a lifetime. Infancy is the only time of life where this language interaction really changes the brain.” The company has developed a line of products to enable infants to engage with a foreign language.
Dean is Co-Founder and CEO of smallTalk. He has also served as Venture Partner at Jumpstart Inc, Co-Founder and CEO of Cervilenz, VP Marketing at Adeza Biomedical, Strategist for Ionica Sciences, and mentor at Esperanza and College Now Greater Cleveland.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Dean talks about his entrepreneurial journey, the changing risk/reward tradeoff of entrepreneurship, and the mission of smallTalk to set babies up on a lifelong pathway of language learning.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
For more information about smallTalk: https://smalltalk.tech/
It Shouldn’t Take Sickness to Get Well with Mat Franken, Founder of Aunt Fannie’s
Mat Franken and his wife thought they had parenting all figured out. Having their first child was a breeze. Their second, however, had multiple health issues. Faced with an uncertain diagnosis about the causes of their son’s ailments and unclear direction about how to help, a doctor suggested the Frankens look at chemicals used around their home.
Their research revealed two alarming statistics: the air inside a home is up to 500% more polluted than the air outside simply because of products used to keep it clean. And more than half of children have some form of chronic illness, many of which are autoimmune driven. Those individuals may be especially vulnerable to chemical sensitivities. “At that point, I couldn’t unlearn what I had discovered. I had to do something.”
Franken set off to find or create products that addressed the very issues faced by his own family. “We were already buyers of natural products but that wasn’t enough.” Trouble was, Franken isn’t a chemist and doesn’t have the typical background one might expect of a founder of a cleaning company. But he did have something – a superpower, really – that many people lack: humility. “I know that there was a lot I didn’t know.”
He built a network of subject matter experts, friends, and experienced leaders to guide him on a circuitous journey. His work resulted in the creation of Aunt Fannie’s, a national brand of people and pet friendly cleaners, soaps, and pest solutions.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Mat shares how a personal quest turned into a business, the power of humility, and keys to engaging others to join the cause.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
Beyond ESG: Action Steps for Bigger Environmental Impact with Mark Tercek, Former CEO of The Nature Conservancy
“It’s true that there’s a cost to addressing environmental problems but it’s also true that there’s a much higher cost to not addressing them.” And in Mark Tercek’s view, everyone can and should play a part. The former CEO of The Nature Conservancy believes that the best outcomes for the planet will come at the intersection of government, corporate, institutional, organizational, and individual effort. The common Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are important but not enough and there are rewards for going above basic compliance levels.
It’s a familiar place to Tercek. With more than 1 million members, $1 billion in revenue, and active in 70+ countries, The Nature Conservancy is the world’s largest environmental nonprofit. With TNC, Tercek established NatureVest, their impact capital fund, drove a $7 billion capital fundraising campaign, and established a permanent department focused on gender, diversity, equity, and inclusion (GDEI). Prior to The Nature Conservancy, Tercek was partner and managing director at Goldman Sachs. He built Goldman’s environmental practice to help clients pursue initiatives that achieved positive financial and environmental outcomes. These days, Mark is a speaker, writer, advisor to business, institutional investors, and climate startups. He also publishes The Instigator which is intended to push the private sector to take bold action on the environment. His goal is to tackle huge environmental challenges in ways that make business sense.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Mark shares a blueprint for CEOs, organizational leaders, and individuals to maximize their positive environmental impact.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Connect with Mark Tercek: https://marktercek.com/
From Chaos to Creativity: An Insider's Look with the Dean of Innovation and University of Michigan Professor Jeff DeGraff
With the Covid vaccine, the entire planet has just had front row seats to innovation of massive importance, urgency, and scale. What looked like chaos has resulted in crunching the vaccine cycle time from 10 years to 10 months. So how did it happen? And what are the factors that lead to creative and innovative leaps? How can innovation occur in daily life? Jeff DeGraff is the person who knows.
Jeff is an advisor to Fortune 500 companies, a top innovation speaker, a professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and a bestselling author.
He founded the Innovatrium, an innovation consulting firm focusing on creating innovation culture, capability, and community. He has worked with companies including Apple, Coca Cola, General Electric, Google, and many others. He earned his nickname, the “Dean of Innovation,” while working as an executive for Domino’s Pizza in his youth, where he accelerated Domino’s growth from a regional success story to an international franchise phenomenon. He is also the author of several books on how teams innovate, his most recent being The Creative Mindset: Mastering the Six Skills that Empower Innovation.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Jeff talks about innovation accelerators and obstacles, the importance of the failure cycle, the geography of genius, and the Covid vaccine effort.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Connect with Jeff DeGraff:
Own Your Story with Eric S. Thomas, Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit
“Purpose is simultaneously absolutely nothing at all and absolutely everything.” How one defines purpose is an individual choice. And it’s all part of their story. Eric Thomas is what happens when you combine a decade of marketing experience, street smarts, and heavy dose of humor to balance it out.
For Eric, storytelling is a business and a way of life. His insights on culture, business, and media help strategists and leaders imagine innovative ways forward, break down old ways of thinking, and empower them along the way. He is an entrepreneur, storyteller, social commentator, brand strategist, artist, and self-taught designer. His life is one that proves many things can be true at once and no one is defined by any single part of their identity.
Eric is Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit. His blog on LinkedIn has earned more than 3 million reads and been republished across the globe. His comments and work have appeared in The New York Times, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Economist, CBS, Detroit Free Press, Adweek, TedX, MIT, and the University of Michigan.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Eric talks about racism, the meaning of purpose, emotional truth versus authenticity, and his philosophy of “bitter optimism.”
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
https://www.ericsthomas.com/
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew on Anchor, Apple, Google, Spotify, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Understanding Human Behavior and Culture with Business Anthropologist Bob Morais
Bob Morais is a go-to person when the goal is to understand human behavior. The business anthropologist has worked with brands such as Coca Cola, Danone, Fairmont Hotels, FreshPet, GlaxoSmithKline, Hain Celestial, Pinnacle Foods, Pfizer, Post, Proctor & Gamble, Sabra, Safeway, Swissotel, and WD-40 to distill customer insights into business strategy. He is a lecturer at Columbia University Business School.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Bob talks about the techniques to understand human behavior, how culture continually evolves, what cancel culture really means, big data versus thick data, and what may be the Covid pandemic’s lasting implications on modern culture.
Morais began his career with Grey Advertising and spent 25 years with advertising agencies. He then served as principal at market research firm, Weinman Schnee Morais. He is the author of five books and more than 50 articles. His work has been featured in Advertising Age, American Anthropologist, Forbes, and the Huffington Post. He’s been interviewed by the New York Times, CBS Radio, and Adweek. He holds a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh and a certificate from NYU’s Stern School of Business. He was a Fulbright Scholar, National Science Foundation Grantee, Mellon Fellow, and co-winner of an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
Intentional Diversity with Cody Horton
Cody Horton grew up as the oldest of his family’s 10 children in a small town in the Texas panhandle. At an early age, he learned what it felt like to be excluded because of race and skin color.
After high school, his family didn’t have the resources or connections to jump start his life with a job or college, so he enlisted in the Navy. His naval recruiter was intentional about recruiting diverse candidates for an officer training program. Cody was selected and earned a commission as a naval officer. That experience changed his life and inspired him to make a difference in the lives of others.
Cody is the Founder and Managing Director for Diverse Recruiting Experts LLC. Over the years, his teams have hired thousands of people into life-changing jobs at amazing organizations. Prior starting his company, Cody spent over 20 years in leadership roles in the US Navy, Walmart, Microsoft, Dell, Deloitte, Rackspace, Thoughtworks, and Sunpower. He earned a master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, a bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico, and maintains his SPHR certification.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Cody covers the keys to building resilience, adopting a diversity and inclusion mindset, and why culture fit can be a misguided goal.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
At The Intersection of Curiosity and Growth with Steph Barry
Steph Barry lives at the intersection of curiosity and growth. From traveling the world as a kid to working around the world in her business, Steph’s inherent curiosity about people and how things work has led her to leading roles in B2B, B2C, public and private companies, higher education, and as an entrepreneur. She has held senior leadership positions with organizations such as Hunter Douglas, Solatube International, Hunter Douglas, the University of California San Diego, and WD-40. She has lived in five countries and speaks four languages. She is co-founder of Advance with AVA, a leadership development platform for women, and principal of Steph Barry Inc where she advises company owners in driving profitable and sustainable growth.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Steph talks about the obstacles she faced and the qualities that enabled her to navigate the world of business, across industries, and around the world.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Switching off the SatNav to Find Her Own Way with Nicky Godding
Nicky Godding is a person of many skills none of which were part of a master plan because she says, “I didn’t have one”. She’s a publisher and has launched award-winning magazines. Publishing, however, is her fourth career. So far.
Before getting into magazines, Nicky ran PR campaigns for clients across Europe. She was equally likely to be flying off to glamor destinations like the South of France, Copenhagen, Paris, Lisbon, Milan, Rome or ‘up and coming ones’ like Bucharest, Vilnius, and Sofia.
Her second career was as a secretary, she says “the only thing I’ve ever qualified for when I was young”. She worked for lots of people “from stuffy small-town lawyers, to posh estate agents, to a funky video production company shooting music videos in down-town Soho.”
Nicky's first career – all three years of it – was as a barmaid. “This was probably the job that taught me the most about people. So much so that when my kids were growing up, I made sure that they all did a short stint in a pub or behind a bar.”
Nicky is co-founder of a publishing company, NK Media Ltd, and Editor in Chief of Business & Innovation Magazine. She’s also co-founder of Rock the Cotswolds, a campaign to highlight opportunities for businesses and people in a beautiful region of the UK.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Nicky describes taking a direction all her own with a thirst for adventure and an innate belief that she could figure things out. Nicky Godding is a worthy example for those who aspire to take the road less traveled.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
Notes
05:30 You talked about the importance of exposure and social interaction. “I was a barmaid and you have to deal with all sorts of people, whether they’re drunk or sober or lecherous or sad. They want to tell you their life story. It is the best education in how to handle people.”
13:37 Would your 20-year-old self be surprised by where you are today? “She would. What I didn’t realize is that there’s a world out there for the taking. The more I’ve done, the more I’ve wanted to do. I always and only ever looked forward. But I’ve never had a plan. It’s like climbing a ladder while there’s a fire down below.”
15:50: Was the glass half full always part of your thinking and would you recommend that? “Sometimes people are a bit too negative and look for problems. Some look for solutions. I tend to look for ideas, new things to do…different ways to embrace life.”
29:50: If the world had to listen to you for a few minutes about what you’ve learned in your life, what would you say? “Don’t be afraid to try something new because it’ll be exciting. An exciting drives enthusiasm which drives positivity. Don’t be afraid to fail. Also try to manage it just in case you do fail. Be crazy but don’t be reckless.”
The Quest to Positively Impact 5 Million People with WiHTL Founder and Former Hilton Hotels Exec Tea Colaianni
Tea Colaianni has never feared setting bold goals. As a child, she decided to become the Italian ambassador to Singapore. While her law and business career took her in a different direction, impact has always been the means by which she measured what she does. Following an executive career with organizations like Hilton Hotels and Merlin Entertainments, Tea set perhaps her boldest goal of all: to make a positive difference to 5 million women and people of color across the hospitality, travel, and leisure industry globally.
Tea is the Founder and Chair of WiHTL – Women in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure, an organization whose mission is to increase women’s and ethnic minority representation across all levels of leadership in the industry. WiHTL has been joined in the effort by companies like Airbnb, Aramark, Compass, Deliveroo, EasyJet, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, McDonalds, Nandos, and Virgin Atlantic. Tea is the senior independent director on the board of Watches of Switzerland Plc. She serves on the boards of DWF Group and SD Worx. She has also served on the boards of Bounty Brands, Criticaleye, Poundland, and others.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Tea shares her journey of impact, advocacy, and the determination necessary to blaze her own trail. “I really believe that no single company can make a difference alone.” She describes the process to engage enough companies to reach her goal of 5 million people.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. Website: http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Women in Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure (WiHTL): https://www.wihtl.com/
Creating a Brand while Building a Family with Tubby Todd founders Andrea Faulkner Williams and Brian Williams
Andrea Faulkner Williams partnered with her husband, Brian Williams, to create a line of bath products for children. In just a few years, their company, Tubby Todd Bath Co., has become famous for great products and for bringing a sense of fun to a daily chore for young families. The Tubby Todd slogan: “Good Clean Fun” is a realistic capture of what they do.
As marketers, we believe the best brands are the ones that are based upon and build community. Andrea and Brian have done exactly that. Tubby Todd has 276,000 followers on Instagram, 100,000 followers on Facebook, and even a private Facebook group called Tubby Todd Mamas with 20,000 members.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw, Andrea and Brian share lessons of how they built their brand while also raising a family with four kids. Theirs is really a story of faith, family, and figuring things out. If you've ever wondered about starting a company, this is conversation you'll want to hear. And if you've ever thought about starting one with your significant other, listen to what this duo has to say.
What I Wish I Knew podcast
https://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com/
Tubby Todd Bath Co.
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Valuing Sustainability with Planet Arborist Founder John Creaton
John Creaton is CEO and co-founder of Planet Arborist, a platform designed to provide integrated support for businesses focused on sustainability. Planet Arborist works directly with producers on investment funding, business services, and ratings, and provides guidance on sustainable living.
He was born and educated in Ireland and has lived in Japan, London, and New York. He is now based in the UK. After starting his career as an engineer with Fujitsu in Tokyo, John spent 21 years at Goldman Sachs as a managing director. There he was responsible for global financial technology platforms, international teams, and supporting investment in external companies and markets. John has extensive experience in the UK, US, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia, Ireland, the Middle East, and India. After Goldman Sachs, John has advised and invested in private businesses.
John and his family have been plant-based for many years. From a personal perspective, the move to vegetarianism and later 100% plant-based living led to an increased interest in whole foods, cooking, international flavours, animal welfare and sustainability. With sustainability as a core value, John co-founded Planet Arborist.
John is a fellow of the Royal Society for Arts and an advisor to the GB United World Colleges National Committee. He is also a member of the Vegan Society. At Goldman Sachs, John was co-chair of the European Technology Diversity Committee acting as an ally for LGBT and Disability. Stonewall named the Goldman Sachs group as the LGBT network of the year, citing a program of education and inclusion developed by John.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, John covers the journey from growing up in Ireland to serving as a local employee of Fujitsu in Japan. He describes himself as a “bit of a rebel” within Goldman Sachs…one who rose to managing director working on businesses around the world. He also pushed the importance of diversity within the firm. His focus on sustainability ultimately led to the founding of Planet Arborist.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to our podcast wherever you find your favorite audio stream.
More on Planet Arborist: https://www.planetarborist.com/
#sustainability #plantbased #privateequity #goldmansachs #planetarborist #whatiwishiknew
The Culture and Community of Sport with USA Surfing CEO Brandon Lowery
Brandon Lowery was a professional athlete…but not in the sports he loved most. While he leaned into skate, snow, and surf, Brandon’s athletic ability aimed him toward a professional soccer life in Europe. A crash ended his soccer career and left him wheelchair bound for two years. His experiences as a traditional sport athlete inspired him to bring the same standards, opportunities, and audiences to action sports. Brandon is CEO of USA Surfing, the national federation for the sport of surfing in the USA. As president of the Global Action Sports Foundation, Brandon works to advance the support of action sports. He also develops private equity ventures, mixed-use real estate, and community programs. He serves on the Australian committee of One Young World, a global youth leadership summit, and on the board of San Diego Sport Innovators, a sports and active lifestyle industry group. He’s also a global ambassador for Lululemon.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Brandon talks about the lessons of culture and community he learned from sports and travel, the value of listening to understand others, and overcoming belief systems.
Brandon grew up in Banner Elk, North Carolina. He played college soccer at Wofford where he was also a triple major. He went on to play professional soccer in France and England. Following his soccer career, he moved to Australia where he started a private equity firm and built support for action sport as well as young leaders.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, rate, and subscribe to us wherever you find your favorite podcast streams.
Building a Leadership Legacy with Hannah Ingram-Moore
Across the globe, Hannah Ingram-Moore has worked with companies such as Whittard of Chelsea, Gap, Fortnum & Mason, Swatch Group, and Mulberry to create and deliver omnichannel strategies, improve the customer journey, and boost international distribution and sales. She currently serves as co-founder, director, and workplace strategist with Maytrix Group, a company dedicated to helping clients achieve step changed revenue growth, effective strategy execution and maximizing people engagement.
Now based near London, Hannah and her family have been honoured to be part of the global phenomenon of fundraising by her father, Captain Sir Tom Moore. Little did they know that the simple gesture of her family sponsoring Tom to walk around the garden would lead to near £39 million being given to NHS Charities and the creation of The Captain Tom Foundation. Captain Sir Tom is the recipient of the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award, with the whole family receiving ambassadorships of the World Health Organisation.
In this segment of What I Wish I Knew, Hannah talks about recognising strengths, setting extraordinary goals and knowing your aspirations.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to our Youtube channel. Find us on Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast.
Capital, Culture, and Community with Hydrostasis founder Dr. Debbie Chen
Dr. Debbie Chen has many roles in life: parent, founder, advocate, scientist…and Muay Thai fighter. It was in her role as a fighter that she faced the personal struggle of hydrating properly for her sport. The rule of thumb 8-glasses-of-water-a-day is just a guess and not one that works for all. Armed with a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Tufts University, Dr. Chen set out to solve the problem and build a business around hydration monitoring. Her company, Hydrostasis, was granted a patent in January 2021.
Starting any company is a hard thing. As a female founder, it’s even harder because of the lack of access to capital and to potential investors. In 2019, female founders received 2% of venture capital funding in the US. For context, one male-founded company, Quibi, which shutdown in 2020, raised $1.7 billion – more than the entire funding for all female-founded companies.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Dr. Chen describes her journey from a life in research labs to fighting in the ring to creating a company and searching for funding.
Along with founding Hydrostasis, Dr. Chen has served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of California San Diego, a Scientist at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Post-Doctoral Research Scientist at Scripps Institute of Oceanography and UCSD. She is a tireless advocate for underrepresented company founders and women leaders.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Contact Dr. Debbie Chen:
An Insider's View of Executive Recruitment with Mike Meyrick
Executive recruitment has been regarded by many as a bit of a black box. Executives looking for the next role may not know how they can properly participate while companies may not recognize how to forge an effective partnership with a recruitment firm. Mike Meyrick has spent 20 years doing international executive search. Through his firm, Meyrick Consulting, he has helped clients identify talent across industry sectors and global locations.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Mike shares an insider’s view of executive recruitment, how the industry functions, and what he wishes that both clients and executives knew about the process.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
Check out our other episodes and sign up for our new episode email here:
https://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com/
Connect with Mike Meyrick:
https://meyrickconsulting.com/
The Ultimate Customer is the Planet with Muir Energy founder Ian Muir McNally
Ian Muir McNally is an acoustical engineer, classically trained musician, hiker, and trail runner. While training to complete the John Muir Trail in California, Ian was trying to eat real food rather than gels and sports bars. “My jaws tired from chewing raw nuts and dehydrated fruit,” he said. That led to an ultimately fruitless search for portable, easier to eat trail food made of natural ingredients. And that led to Ian trying to make stuff for his own use. Encouraged by growing interest from friends and acquaintances, Ian started Muir Energy, a sports nutrition company.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Ian describes his winding journey from music to math to mountains to making food.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. https://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com/
Please like, share, and subscribe to our Youtube channel. Find us on Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast wherever you find your favorite audio streams.
From Singing to Science to Sustainability with Dr. Robert Harwood
Dr. Robert Harwood is a scientist, business strategist, food industry expert…and chorister. His first ‘job’ was as a 7-year old chorister at Exeter Cathedral. “It was like having a job anyway. We’d spend hours each week in rehearsals and then perform in front of a couple thousand people at the weekend.”
That discipline and structure – as well as courage – formed the basis for Robert’s academic studies and led him to travel the world researching bugs, jumping out of airplanes, and exploring new professional experiences. Along the way, he developed a special vacuum to collect insects based on cyclonic technology. A certain James Dyson hit on similar idea and later commercialized it.
Dr. Harwood is a graduate of Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Southampton. His company, CPL Business Consultants, has worked with leading food companies across Asia, Europe, and North America.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Robert talks about how a scientist’s curiosity and skepticism help in resolving business challenges. And a mantra of “don’t be afraid of what you’re afraid of” has enabled him to go far outside his comfort zone.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
One of our mentors said there are three parts of a business life, well-lived: learn, earn, and return. Learn your craft, earn a living, and return what you know to those who follow. We believe life is a learning experience and we've benefitted from the insight of others. Through What I Wish I Knew, we highlight the voices of people with great stories to tell and valuable lessons to share.
Mike Irwin is an advisor, business strategist, entrepreneur, and writer. He served as global head of strategy, chief financial officer, and VP marketing at WD-40 and on boards of for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Through Bottle Rocket Advisors, he helps clients grow revenue, improve profitability, and scale-up. Simon Daw is a global commercial, innovation, and marketing expert. He's scaled B2B and B2C businesses across Europe and internationally, serving in commercial marketing leadership roles with Bel Fromageries, Kimberly-Clark, Tate & Lyle, WD-40, and Whitbread. He guides clients in developing competitive advantage and achieving step-change profitable growth.
The Unintentional Entrepreneur with ElliptiGO Founder Bryan Pate
Bryan Pate was a runner who couldn't run anymore. Injuries forced him onto elliptical trainers but he grew weary of gym life. When he couldn't find an elliptical to ride outside, he and a partner invented one. His company, ElliptiGO, created a new category of elliptical and stand up bikes. Prior to founding ElliptiGO, he was a consultant at McKinsey, a military intelligence officer in the US Marine Corps, and a law clerk in the US District Court.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Bryan talks about what drove him from Stanford University to serve as an intelligence officer in the US Marine Corps and to Columbia Law School. Coming from a family of lawyers, he broke tradition to start ElliptiGO.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
Please like, share, and subscribe to us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite audio streams.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
One of our mentors said there are three parts of a business life, well-lived: learn, earn, and return. Learn your craft, earn a living, and return what you know to those who follow. We believe life is a learning experience and we've benefitted from the insight of others. Through What I Wish I Knew, we highlight the voices of people with great stories to tell and valuable lessons to share.
Mike Irwin is an advisor, business strategist, entrepreneur, and writer. He served as global head of strategy, chief financial officer, and VP marketing at WD-40 and on boards of for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Through Bottle Rocket Advisors, he helps clients grow revenue, improve profitability, and scale-up. Simon Daw is a global commercial, innovation, and marketing expert. He's scaled B2B and B2C businesses across Europe and internationally, serving in commercial marketing leadership roles with Bel Fromageries, Kimberly-Clark, Tate & Lyle, WD-40, and Whitbread. He guides clients in developing competitive advantage and achieving step-change profitable growth.
#entrepreneurship #startup #founderstories #entrepreneurjourney #startuplife #sportsbusiness #whatiwishiknew
Bet on Yourself with Former Amazon and Google Exec Ann Hiatt
Ann Hiatt’s first job was with a startup. At age 16. “Leaning into doing hard things,” she joined Amazon out of college and became Executive Business Partner to Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos. In the early years, Amazon’s focus on securing customers rather than profit was considered risky. Also risky: the helicopter that Ann arranged for Bezos. Listen to hear that story.
While pursuing a PhD at UC Berkeley, she was recruited to Google and worked alongside Marissa Mayer on new technology. Ann then became Executive Business Partner and Chief of Staff to Google CEO Erik Schmidt. Ann's 15 years in leadership of the two tech giants has given her a unique perspective on the enormous role and responsibility of transformative business models.
Ann now consults with executives and companies across the globe to reverse engineer their moonshot goals and get results. Ann is a sought-after international speaker, angel investor and sits on several boards in the UK. Ann has recently relocated from Silicon Valley to Europe and brings with her a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in business today. Ann is also the author of Bet On Yourself which will be published by HarperCollins in 2021.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Ann talks about what she learned about innovation and leadership from her days at Amazon and Google and how to apply innovation at scale.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you. Find us on Apple Podcast, Googe Podcast, Spotify, and your favorite streaming service.
#amazon #amazonprime #jeffbezos #google #ericschmidt #annhiatt
The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Enrique Fiallo
As a child, Enrique Fiallo fled Cuba with his mother and literally only the clothes he was wearing. After high school, he worked for AT&T climbing telephone poles to connect service. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. He then launched an IT career working for companies like Ryder and eventually landing as CIO of Entergy. American dream complete, Enrique rose to become CEO of a company he took public on the New York Exchange where he rang the bell. And then he went to prison.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Enrique talks about his journey from immigrant to public company CEO to inmate. And how he now uses his own life experience to teach audiences how to make decisions based on core values.
Building Brands & Creating Community with Former Merrell Footwear, Nike Golf, Reef, and Sanuk CEO Bob Rief
For just about any outdoor sports or active lifestyle brand that you like, own, or want, there’s a good chance that Bob Rief has been involved. He was behind Merrell Footwear, Reef Sandals, and Sanuk, and as head of Nike Golf, he signed a college kid called Tiger Woods. Bob was also part of Callaway Golf, K2, Nordica, and Raichle-Molitor. A lifelong waterman, Bob knows the sense of authenticity and community inherent in the culture and he’s built it into every brand. He’s a held many titles: board member, CEO, founder, GM, marketing director, president, and sales manager. And he started as a gold miner.
Bob’s rare talent is maybe only matched by his commitment to help emerging entrepreneurs build their dreams. These days, he serves as executive director of San Diego Sports Innovators, a nonprofit that supports healthy living companies by fostering innovation, providing business mentorship, and building communities.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Bob talks about creating a brand, building a business, and the power of community.
#merrellfootwear #nike #nikegolf #sanuk #reefsandals #callawaygolf #k2 #raichle
Expertise to Entrepreneurship with Bernie Schroeder
Bernie Schroeder took a tiny ad agency and built it into a billion-dollar global integrated marketing firm with thousands of employees. He then embarked on a journey to share what he'd learned with entrepreneurs all over the world through Ted Talks, books, teaching at universities, and mentoring startup founders in multiple countries. He's the author of Brands & Bullsh*t, Fail Fast or Win Big, Simply Brilliant, and Startup Culture Mindset. As director of the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, Bernie has built an entrepreneur factory at San Diego State University.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Bernie talks about how a relentless focus on building expertise led him to build a billion-dollar agency and why "the customer isn't always right but they're never wrong".
Turning Ideas into Value with Ken Charman
Ken Charman has built software startups that were acquired by the likes of Deloitte, IBM, Oracle, and SAP. He’s now CEO of uFlexReward, an HR platform that consolidates employee costs and is owned by Unilever. Life as a tech entrepreneur may seem an unlikely route for a person suffering from dyscalculia, a condition sometimes known as dyslexia for numbers. While dyscalculia caused him to mistake a house number and begin a remodeling project on the wrong house as a young man, it hasn’t held him back in his career.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Ken talks about growing up in East London and overcoming his challenge with numbers to build a career and many companies in technology across Europe.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to our Youtube channel. Find us on Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast.
Switching the Field with Bryan Finnerty
Few people become professional athletes. Few of those go on to win championships. And fewer still create $100+ million companies. What are the odds of doing all three? Bryan Finnerty odds. The Detroit sports legend rode his work ethic, vision, intensity, and humility to achieve heights on and off the sports field that most could only dream about. Bryan Finnerty is an inspiring story of personal and organizational leadership relevant to people from all walks of life.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Bryan talks about values, personal leadership, humility, and gratitude in the context of sport, business, and life.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to our Youtube channel. Find us on Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast.
Making the Common Good Common Again with Shawn Parr
At some point today, there’s a good chance you’ll interact with a brand that has fingerprints all over it. Not just anyone’s fingerprints, mind you, but Shawn Parr’s fingerprints. Adidas, Campbell’s, CMT, Heineken, Hilton, Mattel, MTV, Nike, Samsung, Starbucks, WD-40, and Westfield have been clients of this business transformation strategist and his team at Bulldog Drummond. Purpose is at the heart of everything he does, personally and professionally.
Following a life-changing trip to Malawi in 2004, Shawn has been committed to finding creative and sustainable ways to make a measurable difference in the world by helping people and companies realize their full potential. He sits on the board of The Honest Kitchen, FEED Projects, Kitchens for Good, and International Farming, and is the co-founder of YouSchool and Y-Malawi.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Shawn talks about making the common good common again, the power of a mindset of service, and finding purpose.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to our Youtube channel. Find us on Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast.
After the Fall: Finding Purpose after Setback with Prince Daniels, Jr.
Prince Daniels, Jr. was told by a coach that he had a one in a million chance to play college football and a one in a billion chance to play in the NFL. He did both. As a running back at Georgia Tech, he set an NCAA record for rushing yards in a bowl game. He followed his illustrious college career to play for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. Understandably, “football player” became part of how Prince saw himself. And then injury took it all away. The physical aspect was only a part of the toll from the injury. He also suffered from anxiety and depression. Using meditation and mindfulness as tools of recovery, Prince found solutions for himself and also a new calling. An author, entrepreneur, and mindfulness expert, Prince helps athletes, professionals, and youth achieve their potential.
Prince is author of Mindfulness for the Ultimate Athlete: Mastering the Balance Between Power and Peace. He runs Game Beyond the Game, a platform to help athletes create a sustainable life of purpose after the game. He’s host of Talk that Talk, a series of conversations to enable and empower athletes to find their purpose after the game.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Prince describes his journey to recovering identity and purpose.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to our Youtube channel. Find us on Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast.
Designing a Life: A Conversation with Nick Dormon
Nick Dormon is Founding Partner and Strategy Director for Echo -a global Brand Design agency based in London. An engineer by training, a product designer by experience, and a brand strategist by choice, Nick has worked on jets, pets, and the BBC. He's designed telephones for the Danish, letter boxes for the Royal Mail, and steered successful brand innovation, identity and strategy; all delivered with a difference – useful, caring and with sustainability at the forefront.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Nick reflects on the importance of passion, curiosity, sustainability and zigzagging towards a highly successful career.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to our Youtube channel. Find us on Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast.
Graced By Grit: An Entrepreneur's Journey with Kate Nowlan
Kate Nowlan is founder of premium women's athletic apparel brand GRACEDBYGRIT, member of the boards of directors of Hylete Inc, San Diego Sport Innovators, Girls on the Run, and the GRACEDBYGRIT Foundation, and author of Graced by Grit: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Guide to Starting a Business with Power, Passion, & Purpose.
In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Kate talks about creating a brand, the challenges of raising money as a female entrepreneur, and the role men should play in advocacy and allyship for women.
What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw...
Life rarely goes to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge of when things aren’t quite going as expected. Sometimes the path through is almost easy but mostly it's not. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.
Website: http://www.whatiwishiknewshow.com
Please like, share, and subscribe to our Youtube channel. Find us on Spotify, Google Podcast, and Apple Podcast.
From Mad Man to King and Beyond with Former Burger King CEO J. Jeffrey Campbell
Jeff Campbell rose from a career on Madison Avenue to become global CEO of Burger King. He also served as Chairman of Pillsbury Restaurant Group, Senior Vice President of Brand Development at Pepsi-Cola, and CEO of Johnny Rockets. He's co-founder of Wisdom Capture, Executive-in-Residence at San Diego State University, writer, speaker and business mentor. In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Jeff talks about leadership, mentors, culture, and what he learned from being fired as a CEO.
Welcome to What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw
Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. Self-aware people learn from those trials. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by everyone, including athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, writers, and difference makers. They have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share those lessons with you.
Mike Irwin is an advisor, business strategist, entrepreneur, and writer. He served as global head of strategy, chief financial officer, and VP marketing at WD-40 and on boards of for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Through Bottle Rocket Advisors, he helps clients grow revenue, improve profitability, and scale-up. Simon Daw is a global commercial, innovation, and marketing expert. He's scaled B2B and B2C businesses across Europe and internationally, serving in commercial marketing leadership roles with Bel Fromageries, Kimberly-Clark, Tate & Lyle, WD-40, and Whitbread. He guides clients in developing competitive advantage and achieving step-change profitable growth.
Website: What I Wish I Knew