Bilt215 Kevin Michals

Sylvester Mobley is the Founder and CEO of the youth tech education non-profit, Coded by Kids. Through his organization he works to increase access to tech education opportunities for those who are underrepresented in tech, especially children of color. Under his leadership, Coded by Kids has grown from serving fewer than 15 children in a rec center to serving more than 500 students per week. Tech has a lot of great benefits but there are still groups of people being locked out of it. Sylvester strongly believes that building a tech industry that is diverse, inclusive and equitable is one of the most pressing issues we face, and is working toward this with Coded by Kids. He shares more about his entrepreneurial journey, the impact he is having on kids in the region, and his hopes for the program in the future. Tune in to find out more.
 
Key Takeaways:
[1:18] Kevin introduces his guest for this episode — Sylvester Mobley.
[2:38] Kevin does a speed round with Sylvester.
[7:33] Kevin and Sylvester discuss his background prior to starting Coded by Kids.
[10:58] How did Coded by Kids begin?
[14:13] What did the first few months of Coded by Kids look like?
[16:59] How did Sylvester decide to make the leap to focusing on Coded by Kids full-time?
[18:45] Sylvester explains the differences between equity and equality.
[21:19] What does equity look like at Coded by Kids?
[22:26] What is the difference between underserved and underrepresented?
[24:58] How does Sylvester approach such a huge systemic societal problem?
[27:19] What is the structure of Coded by Kids and how does it resemble a youth sports organization?
[31:57] What is the attrition or self-selection rate through the different stages of the program?
[32:54] Sylvester shares a little about how the programs work, and some of the kids he has seen move through the program.
[35:37] What are some of the creative projects produced by the students of Coded by Kids?
[38:55] Ctrl+Shift is a coding competition run for the students. Sylvester shares more about the competition.
[41:42] What are some of the hurdles Sylvester has had to overcome in his entrepreneurial journey?
[44:07] Who are some of the partners of Coded by Kids?
[46:15] Sylvester focuses on a long-term view for his organization, but other stakeholders may want a quick outcome. How does he address that difference in perspective?
[49:00] What are some of Sylvester's leadership principles?
[51:47] Who are some people who have influenced Sylvester in his life?
[54:10] What are Sylvester's greatest hopes and concerns for Coded by Kids?
Links:
Sylvester Mobley
Sylvester Mobley on Twitter
Coded by Kids
John McCain
Past Projects at Coded by Kids
AT&T
ComCast

Felicite Moorman is the CEO and co-Founder of STRATIS IoT, the only Sidewalk to Sofa® Intelligent Building Solution built for Multifamily and Student Housing. STRATIS helps create smart apartments and intelligent buildings built for the complexities of split multi-family and student housing. Serving over 325,000 apartments in the US, and over 18,000 internationally, STRATIS is poised for more growth in the future. Felicite reveals the journey to founding STRATIS, the customer experiences STRATIS offers, as well as some insight about the internal operations of the firm. She also speaks to her experience as a woman and a leader in the tech space, as well as some of her hopes for the Philly region in general.
 
Key Takeaways:
[3:20] Kevin does a speed round with his guest — Felicite Moorman.
[9:22] Kevin gives an overview of STRATIS IoT.
[10:11] What is CES? What were some of the trends that Felicite saw there?
[14:22] What was Felicite's background before STRATIS?
[19:34] Felicite explains the trajectory of Zonoff.
[20:47] What is IoT and what role does STRATIS play in it?
[23:11] Felicite shares more about her journey from BuLogics to STRATIS.
[29:22] What are some of the savings that Felicite brings her customers?
[31:47] Felicite talks us through the experience of walking through one of her smart buildings.
[36:40] What is the owner/manager/landlord experience in this?
[38:10] STRATIS is platform-agnostic but has certified partners. Felicite explains more about this.
[42:20] What is the revenue model for STRATIS?
[45:03] Who was one of the first investors in STRATIS and what was the incentive to invest?
[47:18] Felicite has made some unusual hires in her company. She shares more about the hiring process at STRATIS, and what drives the hiring decisions they make.
[54:12] What has Felicite's experience been as a woman and a leader in the technology space?
[58:26] What are some things Felicite would like to see improved in Philadelphia, and what are some of the exciting opportunities she sees?
Links:
Felicite Moorman
Felicite Moorman on LinkedIn
STRATIS IoT
Blitzscaling, by Chris Yeh and Reid Hoffman
The Messy Middle, by Scott Belsky
Books by Brené Brown
Masters of Scale Podcast 
CES
BuLogics
Silicon Labs
Zigbee
Ryan Buchert
Greystar Property
Lutron
ButterflyMX
Leviton
Honeywell
John Martinson

Mahe Bayireddi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Phenom People, a global HR technology company with a mission to help 1 billion people find the right job. With over 200 million people using the product in 140 countries, including 50 of the Fortune 500 companies, Mahe is well on his way to achieving his goal of revolutionizing the talent life cycle through technologies, specifically AI. Mahe shares more about his entrepreneurial journey, the inefficiencies he is trying to solve in the global hiring and recruiting market, and how his company is impacting millions of people globally. He also has insights about creating a strong company culture, how to export that culture around the world, and what it takes to be a leader. 
Key Takeaways:
[3:25] Kevin does a speed round with Mahe.
[5:45] Mahe has started other companies in the past. What were some of the big successes and losses in those?
[10:03] Kevin lays out the structure of this podcast.
[11:52] How did Mahe's journey begin?
[14:58] What is the problem that Mahe is solving? Who are the stakeholders in Mahe's business?
[18:24] There are many inefficiencies in the global hiring market that Mahe is trying to reduce with his company.
[24:36] Mahe describes his company as providing "talent experience management". What are some of those attributes they are using to drive those experiences?
[29:24] Kevin and Mahe discuss "customer" acquisition from an eCommerce, sales and marketing perspective vs. a recruiting and HR perspective.
[32:18] How does Phenom work with recruiters and employees?
[38:26] How does Mahe use AI to learn more about candidates beyond just their resumes?
[41:32] Mahe shares more about validated psychometric testing — what does that mean? How widespread is the adoption and what are some of the strengths and pitfalls?
[45:58] What are some elements of Phenom People that certain customers have rejected?
[48:05] What is the culture of Mahe's company?
[55:33] What are the five values at Phenom?
[58:47] Every candidate interviewed has to resonate with the company values to be a good fit. Mahe explains the hiring process at Phenom.
[1:00:42] How does Mahe ensure a positive onboarding process?
[1:05:02] Why has James Harvey Gravell become a part of the company ethos? 
[1:08:05] How has Mahe exported the company culture and ethos abroad?
[1:11:52] Mahe shares more about the company expansions into Europe.
[1:13:47] What is Mahe's leadership style? What are some of his leadership principles?
[1:17:47] How difficult has it been to export the company culture?
[1:19:54] How does Phenom's revenue model work?
[1:21:43] What is retention like at the company?
[1:23:23] Mahe share's more about the different rounds of fundraising he did.
[1:25:40] What are Mahe's feelings towards a potential IPO?
[1:26:36] What are some obstacles Mahe foresees in reaching his goal of serving 1 billion people?
Links:
Mahe Bayireddi
Phenom People
SnipSnap
DreamIt Ventures
Delivering Happiness, Tony Hsieh
James Harvey Gravell, Ambler Yards
Brad Goldoor, Chief People Officer Phenom People

Nader Elm is the Co-Founder and CEO of Exyn Technologies, a commercialization of the technology spun out of GRASP Labs (General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania). Since its founding in 2014, Exyn has become the world leader in autonomous data acquisition using drone technology. The artificial intelligence behind their autonomous software platform has found commercial success in the mining industry, and Nader has plans to expand into the construction industry next. Nader explains how he ended up in the robotics and AI industry, the unique gap in the marketplace that Exyn addresses, and the business and revenue model of Exyn. Tune in to find out more about how Nader and Exyn Technologies are pushing the Philadelphia region into the future of robot technology.
Key Takeaways:
[3:23] Kevin does a speed round of five questions with Nader Elm.
[6:30] What does Exyn do?
[8:18] Who is Vijay Kumar, and how did Nader and he get together?
[10:32] Who was the initial investor of Exyn Technologies?
[11:25] What is PCI Ventures?
[14:21] How did Nader feel about the initial challenge of setting up Exyn Technologies?
[15:59] Who is Nader's market with Exyn? Who are the competitors, and how is Exyn different?
[19:56] How did Nader find his target market in the mining industry?
[22:15] What is the mining industry currently doing to solve its problem of not having a comprehensive map of the underground mines?
[26:47] Kevin and Nader discuss some other applications of the technology produced by Exyn.
[28:47] How does GPS work, and what is the system that takes its place in Exyn?
[33:01] What are some interesting areas of Exyn from an investor standpoint and from a customer standpoint?
[37:58] How does the drone know when its job is done?
[38:56] Nader highlights some other interesting and unique features that Exyn offers.
[42:09] Nader explains how a team of robots would operate together.
[44:49] What is Exyn's business model and revenue strategy?
[49:02] Exyn's next industry to expand into is the construction industry. What is unique about their solution that isn't being addressed by existing players?
[50:16] What is the level of detail that the drones are able to capture?
[51:36] How did Nader find the investors in his latest round of fundraising?
[54:00] How is Nader using the funds he has raised?
[54:49] Talent is a big part of the company. What is the structure of the company and how is Nader managing his team?
[57:46] How easy is it for Nader to find the talent that he needs?
[1:02:39] What is the culture of Exyn Technologies?
[1:05:40] Who are some of the influences in Nader's life that have impacted him?
[1:09:41] What are Nader's thoughts on whether entrepreneurs are born or nurtured?
Links:
Nader Elm
Exyn Technologies
Vijay Kumar
TED Talks by Vijay Kumar
IP Group [00:10:54] 
IMAX

Bill Yoh is the youngest of five children born to Spike Yoh. Bill's grandfather, Harold, helped build the Philadelphia-based business that is now in its 5th generation, Day & Zimmermann. Founded in 1901 as a fledgling staffing company for engineers, it has grown into a massive organization of 45,000 employees globally and nearly $3 billion in revenue, making it one of the biggest privately held companies in the US and the world. Their employees protect faraway embassies, create munitions for the US defense department and staff nuclear power plants. Bill is part of the 3rd generation of Yoh children who have worked at Day & Zimmermann in some capacity, and in 2017, Bill undertook the endeavor to chronicle the family history. Through interviews with his father and other related parties, Bill compiled the history of Day & Zimmermann and its century-long lineage into a book, Our Way: The Life Story of Spike Yoh. In this interview, we dive into Spike Yoh, his legacy, the ups and downs of running a family, a business, and a family business, focusing on four themes — enterprise, leadership, culture, family business dynamics. Tune in to find out more. 
Key Takeaways:
[1:18] Kevin introduces his guest for this episode — Bill Yoh.
[3:50] Kevin does a speed round with Bill.
[6:44] Day & Zimmermann is an impressive company. Why don't more people know about it?
[8:24] How much of the Day & Zimmermann team is in Philadelphia vs other sites?
[8:58] What did the company start as and how has it evolved over time?
[10:25] What was the difference between Yoh Staffing Services and Day & Zimmermann?
[11:17] How did the revenue of the company change over time?
[12:33] What are the four business lines of the company?
[14:32] What are some of the high profile construction jobs Day & Zimmermann has been involved in?
[16:39] Why has Day & Zimmermann remained private instead of going public?
[18:38] How has the company taken on outside equity through the years?
[20:02] There was a time when there was a business miss that didn't align with the corporate values or strategy. Bill speaks more about this situation.
[22:05] What are Bill's greatest hopes and fears for Day & Zimmermann, and the greatest opportunities he sees?
[25:17] How did some of Spike's family influences dictate the way he led the company?
[31:19] Kevin and Bill discuss some of Spike's leadership traits and styles.
[37:07] Spike was big on giving back to his community and his alma mater.
[38:46] How does Bill feel about his relationship with his father, a larger-than-life figure?
[41:04] What is the culture of Day & Zimmermann like? What were the foundational values and "our way"?
[46:04] What were some hurdles Spike had to overcome to buy out the company from his father?
[51:01] How was the transition and succession from Spike to Hal and Billy, as compared to from Harold to Spike?
[54:26] Bill and Kevin discuss some of the anecdotes from the book.
[56:31] Was it always assumed that Hal would take over.
[58:05] What does Bill envision for the next five generations and the company?
[1:01:39] What is Coach K's five-finger analogy and how has it played out in the Yoh family dynamic?
[1:03:43] The Yoh family has developed a system of metaphorical hats. Bill explains the system.
[1:05:32] How did Hal, Mike, and Bill become shareholders of the company?
[1:07:32] What were the three strategies implemented when Hal took over?
[1:10:47] How important was the Philadelphia region to Billy, his family, and his company's success?
Links:
Bill Yoh
Day & Zimmermann
Yoh Family
Our Way, by Bill Yoh
Comcast
Vanguard
City of Philadelphia
Yoh Staffing Services
Panama Canal
Lockheed Martin
Bill Hamm
Coach K, Duke University

Mike Hagan is a founder, operator and wildly successful investor in a variety of companies. He has repeatedly proven his ability to create or invest in a company, scale it and successfully exit. His venture was the B2B procurement WebHost VerticalNet, which hit a market capital peak of $11 billion. Unfortunately, Vertical Net ended in flames like many other dot.com companies at the turn of the millennium. Following that experience, Mike used his personal profits and lessons learned along the way to buy and build NutriSystem, with an eventual big exit to diet nutrition conglomerate Trivity for $1.4 billion. Mike's next venture was a similar controlling interest investment in the DIY home security company LifeShield which he and his team scaled rapidly, sold, eventually bought back, and sold again for a substantial profit. In 2014, Michael launched HawkCapital, his current passion project. A founder, operator and investor, Michael is a man who has taken on multiple roles and worn many hats. Tune in to find out what he has learned from his experiences.
Key Takeaways:
[1:18] Kevin introduces his guest for this episode — Mike Hagan.
[3:00] Kevin asks Mike five speed questions.
[5:37] What was WaterOnline and how did it start? Mike shares the story of how he got started with what eventually became VerticalNet.
[8:38] Mike shares more about how the expansion of the internet led to establishing multiple VerticalNet communities.
[15:25] How difficult was it to navigate the early stages of VerticalNet in an uncertain environment?
[18:17] What was the business model like for VerticalNet?
[20:16] VerticalNet eventually went public. Mikes shares more about that experience.
[25:08] Beyond just the advertising component, what were some other pockets of revenue that Mike was able to grab?
[28:29] VerticalNet's stock took a sudden plunge in 2000.
[28:59] Mike talks about some of his experiences with the leaders of Microsoft.
[30:06] What were some of the tough decisions that Mike had to make in the aftermath of the dot.com bubble bursting?
[35:40] Mike learned a useful skill during his early days at VerticalNet — seeing opportunities. How did that play into his experience at Nutrisystem?
[39:06] Mike regrets not taking Nutrisystem private. He explains why.
[42:47] How did Mike raise capital? Mike shares the trajectory of Nutrisystem from 2005 to 2008, and briefly after he re-joined the company.
[48:04] Mike talks about some of the numbers behind the business. 
[51:19] Who were some of the celebrities that got behind Nutrisystem?
[54:08] How did Mike get involved with LifeShield?
[59:52] What is the business model for LifeShield?
[1:02:11] As a consumer, ADT is the category killer, and LifeShield is considerably smaller. How does LifeShield compete?
[1:04:21] What kind of technology was LifeShield holding on to at the time?
[1:06:08] LifeShield was sold to DirectTV, and then eventually bought it back from them. Mike shares the process.
[1:15:28] Who did Mike bring in as investors?
[1:16:26] Hawk Capital lists a lot of requirements for potential investments. Mike explains some of the reasoning behind that.
[1:20:00] Mike is competing with a lot of capital to get good investments. How does he manage that?
[1:23:19] How important was the Philadelphia region to Mike's journey? What is Mike's hope for his alma mater?
Links:
Mike Hagan
VerticalNet
Nutrisystem
Trivity
LifeShield
DirectTV
SJU
AT&T
Netscape
Safeguard Scientifics
Ira Lubert
eBay
Yahoo
Lycos
AltaVista
AskJeeves
Mark Walsh
AOL
Microsoft
SoftBank
British Telecom
Satya Nadella
WebMD
NewSpring Capital
Blackstone
Lehman Brothers
Dawn Zier, CEO of Nutrisystem
Louis A. Stilp
Steve Jobs
Apple
ADT
Comcast
Verizon
Amazon Ring