Disruptive CEO Nation Market Domination

Eric Vaughan is a pioneering leader in the realm of AI-first transformations, advocating for the urgent adaptation to Generative AI. At the Imagine AI conference,Eric emphasized that this shift is not only essential but crucial for maintaining competitiveness in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape.

In this episode, Eric explains how he completely reimagined the structure, talents and thinking needed to prepare Ignite Tech and GFI Software to be stand out category leaders in the future.

He draws parallels between this transformative trend and past revolutions like the Internet and iPhones, underscoring the necessity for businesses to foster a culture of AI-first thinking.
Here are some highlights are from our chat:
- Gen AI is the fifth trend that has changed the world, following the Internet, personal computers, the web, and the iPhone.
- CEOs play a crucial role in leading AI initiatives and championing AI within their organizations.
- Eric's hands-on leadership includes personally interviewing AI innovation specialists, ensuring they share his vision of integrating AI into all facets of the organization to drive efficiency and innovation.
- Businesses need to adapt by integrating AI into various aspects of the company to stay ahead of the curve.
- Transforming companies into AI-first organizations and developing AI skills are essential for success.
- Continuous learning, skill development, and staying updated with AI advancements are necessary to avoid being left behind in the tech landscape.
- Removing every excuse for failure needs to be a leader’s motto.

Eric Vaughan is an experienced technology and M&A executive recognized for his innovation in the enterprise technology space. As IgniteTech’s CEO, Eric is responsible for setting and executing the Company’s vision, leading and motivating the global IgniteTech team to continue to drive the Company’s business to success in the eyes of its customers.

Eric is a frequent and noted author in industry publications including featured columns for executives in the enterprise software industry, and is a highly regarded speaker and thought leader on AI, GenAI and enterprise software company transformation.

Connect with Eric:
Website: https://ignitetech.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlvaughan/

Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#CEO #AI #Tech #Enterprise #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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250 Crisis Preparedness for Business with ‘Disaster’ Patrick Hardy, Founder Reverse Disaster; Sacramento, CA, USA

Patrick Hardy is a renowned expert in the field of emergency response challenges, boasting an impressive background which includes founding reversedisaster.com and accumulating hands-on experience from real-life emergency scenarios. This is why he is known in the industry as ‘Disaster Patrick’.

Patrick has developed a perspective on emergency response that emphasizes proactive preparation and planning. His clients have covered everything from standard offices to alligator farms. Believing strongly in turning a disaster into an opportunity for growth and resilience, he promotes a culture of preparedness in both personal and professional settings. His unique approach to emergency readiness along with his wide ranging experiences have enriched his insights, making him a valuable source of guidance and expertise in the realm of emergency response.

Patrick shares insights from his book Design any Disaster and touches on:
- His journey from a single letter launching his career in emergency response, to founding his company, to stepping out as Disaster Patrick taking the culture of preparedness to the masses.
- He explains the chronology of an incident and what you need to know about command, communicate, and carry out.
- He uses the example of the chaotic aftermath of the false missile alert in Hawaii highlighted to demonstrate the cracks in a top down approach to disaster preparedness and the importance of empowering individuals at all levels to understand the proper emergency response plans.
- He shares how he is now taking on ‘disaster challenges’ where he is receiving challenges to go into scenarios with little knowledge and design and carry out an emergency response plan. Such as evacuating 300 cats from a cat sanctuary in a timed situation.
- He explains how launching emergency response scenarios is something every business leader should do to educate teams and eliminating dependencies on there must be ‘a boss around to tell us what to do’ thinking. This is crucial for business resilience and disaster prevention.

Patrick is a graduate of FEMA’s Advanced Academy and has also gone on to gain numerous certifications including FEMA’s Master of Exercise, Certified Emergency Manager, Certified Risk Manager, and Master Business Continuity Professional. Drawing from his wealth of experience in disaster preparedness and response, Patrick equips audiences with practical strategies to break the Crisis Creation Chain and teaches them to eliminate disasters by turning disruptions into opportunities. His first book: Design Any Disaster: The Revolutionary Blueprint to Master Your Next Crisis or Emergency was released in late Spring of 2023.

Connect with Patrick:

Website: https://disasterpatrick.com/ and https://reversedisaster.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/disasterpatrick/

Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast #disasterpr #crisismanagement #publicrelations
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Ronny Shmoel, CEO of Circuit City, has a background forged in successfully exiting multiple companies over the past two decades. His perspective on the transformation of Circuit City is rooted in the brand's core values of service and innovation, acknowledging the power of adapting these values to fit the modern market. His goal is to ensure that their brand is the leader in customer service and that ‘Powered by Circuit City’ becomes a place of comfort and trust for the consumer.

By expanding thoughtful partnerships while still doing what they do best, Ronny plans to bring Circuit City into the future while staying true to its roots. Here are the highlights of our talk:
- Circuit City aims to redefine the consumer electronics market through service and innovation, prioritizing customer service and a consultative approach to stand out from competitors.
- The company plans to expand into a third-party marketplace, allowing quality sellers to offer their products under the Circuit City brand, creating a unique niche in the US consumer electronics market.
- Circuit City's e-commerce strategy focuses on personalized customer service, curated shopping experiences, live chat support, and personalized assistance in the product selection process.
- The company differentiates itself from retail giants by offering a personalized, consultative approach to shopping, leveraging technology and human interaction to enhance the overall shopping experience.

Ronny Shmoel is a seasoned serial entrepreneur with a highly successful proven track record of generating exceptional returns by building multiple businesses from the ground up, scaling them rapidly, and positioning them for successful exits. Ronny is an accomplished eCommerce and technology executive with 22 years of experience in the industry. His vast background in brand strategy, marketing, and intellectual property enables him to create and manage successful brand IP portfolios. Throughout his career he has consistently demonstrated a strong and consistent ability to drive growth and profitability for eCommerce businesses through effective strategy development, innovative marketing, and streamlined operations. Ronny has transformed struggling brands into successful ventures, with his last venture becoming one of the "Top 500 Internet Companies in the United States" for several consecutive years.

He is widely respected in the business world and has been recognized numerous times for his groundbreaking accomplishments in the eCommerce and consumer electronics industries.

Connect with Ronny:

Website - https://circuitcity.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnyshmoel/

Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast #AI #Bootstrapping #Amazon
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248 Is an Amazon Business for You? With Steven Pope, Founder of My Amazon Guy; Georgia, USA

Steven Pope, widely known as "my Amazon guy," is a seasoned entrepreneur who transitioned from TV reporting to creating a 500-person agency focused on enhancing businesses' presence on Amazon. His unique perspective on Amazon delivery and ordering is shaped by his profound experience in e-commerce. He perceives Amazon Prime's delivery service as unrivaled in convenience and speed, thanks to its customer-centric approach and efficiency. He sees Amazon as a marketplace where many businesses can thrive due to high customer demand, though he notes not every business will succeed in this highly competitive platform.

Steven believes that everyone can succeed on Amazon but cautions he has spent years learning the ins and outs that can keep you from stumbling when you take your own business down this path.

Here are the highlights of our talk:
- Native Born Amazon Brands are unique to the e-commerce world and exclusively exist on Amazon.
- Sellers on Amazon face challenges like price pressure, Chinese competition, and changing rules by Amazon.
- Amazon Prime's fast delivery service is discussed compared to Walmart and Target.
- Setting big, hairy, audacious goals (BHAGs) is crucial for overcoming growth challenges.
- Replacing yourself in leadership is essential for scaling up and advancing in a leadership role.
- Sticking to known expertise is crucial in business for sustained growth.

Steven is the founder of My Amazon Guy, an agency with 20-million dollars in annual revenue and 400+ active brands. Steven is a best selling author with his book “Amazon Selling Tips.” Steven started his career as a TV reporter in Idaho, then was an eCommerce Director for 10 years for brands ranging from Gold & Silver Coins to Women’s Plus Size Clothing. Steven then created My Amazon Guy, an agency with 500+ employees on growing traffic and sales on Amazon. Steven not only owns MAG but also My Refund Guy, My Warehouse Guy, 4 Amazon Brands: Momstir & Age of Sage, HOLSTIT, and Lilly Posh. Steven has been viewed by millions of people on YouTube in thousands of videos where he shows how to handle ANY problem faced on Amazon.

Connect with Steven:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-pope/
Youtube: https://youtube.com/myamazonguy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myamazonguys/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/myamazonguy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/

Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast #AI #Bootstrapping #Amazon
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Jason Radisson was introduced to us as a serial ‘unicorn breeder’ that we needed to talk with. Well, yes, he has over 20 years of experience in strategy, operations, and growth with global companies like Uber and Brazil's 99Taxis, but what we were really excited about was his passion for bringing frontline workers digital advancements so that they weren’t left behind and left out of the technology revolution that has improved the worklife of desk workers in the last five years.

Jason is the founder of Movo, a platform designed to streamline processes for any ‘on their feet’ or ‘in the field’ workforce member by providing a flexible and better connected work experience. All with the goal to lead to productivity enhancements, employee satisfaction and reduction in turnover.

Our conversations balanced lessons learned by Jason as a business builder as well as the ambitions of his latest work through Movo. Here are the highlights of our talk:
- Motivation Behind Movo: Jason identified a significant gap in the market for digitizing frontline work, particularly for blue-collar workers who lacked the benefits of automation and connectivity seen in white-collar settings.
- Value of Experience: Drawing from personal experiences, Jason stresses the importance of gaining industry experience before venturing into entrepreneurship. He suggests that learning from seasoned professionals can help avoid common pitfalls and accelerate growth.
- Team Dynamics: A key aspect of Silicon Valley's success, according to Jason, lies in the team's ability to tackle any problem collectively. He emphasizes the importance of fostering a team culture where members feel empowered to solve challenges effectively.
- Knowing the Value of Where You Come From: Jason shared how his humble beginnings led him to value education and seek out more in life. He explained how his drive was enriched by a self-funded education, a Fulbright scholarship, and graduate studies at Harvard.

Jason Radisson started his career at McKinsey & Company, where he worked with the Firm’s top clients in Spain, Germany, and Latin America on high-profile, M&A, organizational design, and workforce projects. As a Regional General Manager at Uber, he launched and grew cities in the western US. He was then hired to run Brazil’s 99Taxis, where as COO he grew the business 10x on $50M in invested capital, and sold it to DiDi Chuxing for $1B, making it the most capital-efficient scale-up recorded by a gig marketplace. He is also a member of the Rappi-Mafia, where he was an early investor and helped the Rappi founders scale their Operations and Growth teams efficiently across Latin America. Today, more than 20 venture-backed CEOs are alumni of his earlier teams.

Jason is passionate about using mobile technology and algorithms to empower and uplift the frontline workforce, which he believes is the foundation of the economy and society. He founded Movo to address the challenges and opportunities of digitizing this workforce, which is overlooked and underserved by the horizontal technology incumbents.

Connect with Jason:
Website: https://movo.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-radisson/

Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast #FrontlineWorkers #AI #Bootstrapping #GlobalEntrepreneurship #LatinAmericaInsights #RideSharing #EntrepreneurialAdvice #MarketDynamics #HiringAutomation #ProductivityBoost #ExperiencedEntrepreneurs
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Shayna Solis is a creative soul applying her vision and dreams to shake up technology applications through her company Navteca. Focusing on emerging tech and IT innovation, like cloud, ML/AI, and virtual reality, Navteca develops technical solutions for government clients like NASA, NOAA, and the Spain Ministry of Tourism.

Shayna's vision for Navteca extends beyond business success, aiming to leverage technology, particularly AI and data visualization, to address pressing global challenges like climate change.

Here are the highlights of our talk:
- Voice Atlas Revolutionizes Access to Knowledge: Navteca's Voice Atlas is a product born out of their exploration of natural language processing and AI. Initially piloted with NASA, Voice Atlas enables users to access designated knowledge bases securely and seamlessly through voice-enabled devices, revolutionizing information accessibility and usability.

- A Twist on the Path to Being a Founder: Shayna's journey to becoming a tech entrepreneur wasn't linear. With a background in fine arts and a childhood dream of becoming a NASA astronaut, she emphasizes the value of multidisciplinary experiences in bringing fresh perspectives to the tech industry. Her eclectic inspirations from music, literature, and current affairs underscore her multifaceted approach to innovation and leadership.

- Global Teams Cultivates Creativity: Despite being headquartered in Washington, DC, Navteca boasts a global team spanning across continents. Shayna underscores the importance of diversity and creativity within their team, fostering an environment where innovative ideas flourish.

- Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Shayna shares candid insights into the challenges of entrepreneurship, from facing fears head-on to the importance of building and maintaining relationships, especially during tough times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

- Tech Ecosystem in Washington, DC: Contrary to misconceptions, Washington, DC, hosts a vibrant tech ecosystem, particularly in collaboration with government agencies. Shayna highlights the opportunities and benefits of being located in DC for tech entrepreneurs aiming to work with governmental and international organizations.

Shayna Solis is the co-founder, CEO, and creative mastermind behind Navteca, a technology company with a focus on emerging technologies and IT innovation. For more than a decade, Navteca has created practical applications based on new and emerging technology to help fulfill customers' needs, solve real-world problems, and use technology for good through artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud technology, high-performance computing, platform engineering, virtual and augmented reality, and GIS data visualization. Solis is also the visionary behind Voice Atlas, a safe and secure conversational AI product tailored for government and enterprise use. Currently employed by entities such as the D.C. Government, NASA, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Voice Atlas facilitates insightful answers and knowledge across custom, curated databases. She is a graduate of Towson University, where she earned her Bachelor's degree with a dual concentration in English and Spanish.

Connect with Shayna:
Website: https://navteca.com/index.html
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaynasolis/

Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web and it is ranked the number 10 CEO podcast to listen to in 2024! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
Twitter: @DisruptiveCEO

#digitalmarketing #branding #socialgood #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast #aerospace
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