The Business RoundUp with Melissa Bill

Melissa Bill

The Business RoundUP (formerly Texas RoundUp) Hosted by seasoned journalist Melissa Bill, The Business RoundUp explores the pivotal topics shaping local and the broader business landscape today. From groundbreaking innovations to leadership insights and finance trends, this podcast delivers in-depth coverage and engaging interviews with influential figures and newsmakers from across the United States. ✨ Meet the Host: Melissa Bill With 16+ years of journalism experience, Melissa Bill has been a trusted voice for major outlets like The Miami Herald and WIOD News Radio. While reporting for The Texas Insider, she focused on business, technology, space, and finance—issues vital to Texans, from the proposed Texas-based stock exchange to the state’s expanding energy industry. A proud graduate of Florida International University, Melissa brings sharp insights and a passion for storytelling to every episode. 📅 Tune in Weekly for fresh perspectives, lively discussions, and a deep dive into the stories that matter most locally, regionally and beyond.

  1. Oct 6

    Redemption, Reinvention & AI: The Extraordinary Story Behind NextLM

    What happens when you lose almost everything and decide to build again? In this powerful conversation, Amer Ahmad and Chris Anzalone, co-founders of NextLM, share a remarkable story of friendship, failure, redemption, and reinvention. Amer’s journey has taken him from serving as Comptroller of Chicago and CFO of the Ohio State Treasury to spending a decade in federal prison following a public corruption conviction. But prison ultimately became not the end of his story, but one of the chapters that shaped who he would become. Today, Amer and Chris are building NextLM, an AI-driven sales intelligence company backed by venture capital and working with major technology partners including Google and NVIDIA. Their story raises bigger questions about what it takes to rebuild a life, earn trust again, and create something meaningful after your past has become part of your public identity. They talk candidly about the “paddles” that carried them through their darkest years, accountability, honesty, and the relationships that refused to disappear when there was nothing to gain. They also explore the extraordinary friendship that began in prison and eventually became the foundation for a technology company. This is a conversation about more than AI or entrepreneurship. It’s about second chances, taking responsibility, the power of loyalty, and the possibility that your worst chapter does not have to be your final one. For anyone who has ever made a serious mistake, lost everything, or wondered whether it’s possible to start over, this conversation offers a powerful message: your past may shape your story, but it doesn't have to determine your future.

  2. Oct 5

    Opening Doors: Kelly Ann Collins on Women, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of Blockchain

    What happens when you leave the traditional corporate path behind to build something that creates opportunity for others? For Kelly Ann Collins, the answer was to turn her experience in business, marketing, and corporate social responsibility into a mission focused on social impact, and to help more women find their place in one of the world's fastest-evolving industries. As Executive Director of Unstoppable Future Corporation, Kelly leads SheCrypto, a rapidly growing initiative dedicated to amplifying women in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Bitcoin. Supported by the Women in Bitcoin + Blockchain Fund, SheCrypto is helping women entrepreneurs, builders, and investors gain access to knowledge, networks, and opportunities in the blockchain ecosystem. In just one year, SheCrypto has helped more than 2,000 women attend blockchain and cryptocurrency conferences for free, connecting women who are already building businesses in the space with those who are exploring how blockchain technology could transform their companies and careers. But Kelly's journey didn't begin in blockchain. After building a career in the corporate and agency world including campaigns for major brands such as Starbucks and Disney, she made a pivotal decision: rather than continuing to build campaigns for other organizations, she wanted to create and run initiatives that directly addressed social challenges. That decision led her to entrepreneurship, nonprofit leadership, and ultimately to a mission centered on closing opportunity gaps for women in emerging technology. In this conversation, Kelly shares what prompted her career transformation, why access and community are so important for women entering blockchain, and what she has learned from helping thousands of women take their first steps into the industry. Don't miss this episode as we explore the future of blockchain and entrepreneurship, the importance of creating spaces where women can learn and connect without barriers, and why sometimes

Ratings & Reviews

5
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About

The Business RoundUP (formerly Texas RoundUp) Hosted by seasoned journalist Melissa Bill, The Business RoundUp explores the pivotal topics shaping local and the broader business landscape today. From groundbreaking innovations to leadership insights and finance trends, this podcast delivers in-depth coverage and engaging interviews with influential figures and newsmakers from across the United States. ✨ Meet the Host: Melissa Bill With 16+ years of journalism experience, Melissa Bill has been a trusted voice for major outlets like The Miami Herald and WIOD News Radio. While reporting for The Texas Insider, she focused on business, technology, space, and finance—issues vital to Texans, from the proposed Texas-based stock exchange to the state’s expanding energy industry. A proud graduate of Florida International University, Melissa brings sharp insights and a passion for storytelling to every episode. 📅 Tune in Weekly for fresh perspectives, lively discussions, and a deep dive into the stories that matter most locally, regionally and beyond.