Coffee with a T-bird hosted by Alex Rozenfeld

Alex Rozenfeld
  • 5.0 (10)
  • BUSINESS

Grab a cup of coffee and join Alex Rozenfeld, Thunderbird alum and founder of Freshwater Investments, as he sits down with fellow T-bird graduates who are making an impact in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features open and insightful conversations that explore the pivotal moments, personal motivations, and lessons learned on their journeys. From building companies across continents to leading global teams, these stories highlight the drive and mindset behind success. Whether you're a student, alum, or someone passionate about business and personal growth, you'll walk away with fresh ideas and real-world perspective. This is more than a podcast—it’s a platform for connection, storytelling, and celebrating the global spirit of Thunderbird. This podcast is sponsored by www.freshwaterinvestments.com 

  1. Leading at Boeing: Maria Laine on Career, Family, and Taking the Leap

    FEB 17

    Leading at Boeing: Maria Laine on Career, Family, and Taking the Leap

    In this engaging conversation, Maria Laine shares her journey from her unique upbringing in Finland and Sweden to her successful career at Boeing. She reflects on a truly meaningful day at Thunderbird—standing at the podium as keynote speaker while her daughter crossed the stage as a graduate. Maria discusses the importance of mentorship, cultural insights, and the skills needed for success in the aerospace industry, especially in the context of AI advancements. She emphasizes the value of stepping out of comfort zones and offers advice for aspiring leaders, particularly women, in navigating their careers. Maria concludes with a heartfelt message to the Thunderbird community, highlighting its relevance in today's rapidly changing world. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-laine-8b61ba11/ Thunderbird Graduation Speech With more than 30 years of aerospace and defense experience, Maria Laine leads the Business Capture and Operations organization of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) at Boeing’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. In this role she is responsible for the functional excellence of the business development organization which includes leading the proposal development efforts for U.S. Government and international defense campaigns, leading the campaign and competitive analysis teams, the financial management and business operations teams, as well as the training and development teams. Prior to taking on her current role, Laine served as president of Boeing in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Nordic region based in London covering Boeing’s enterprise wide interests across the region in one of Boeing’s largest markets and footprints outside the United States. Prior to the move to London, Laine was leading global business development for Boeing’s defense portfolio and she has an extensive background in global defense acquisition programs, US Government Foreign Military Sales and global Industrial Cooperation Programs. Prior to her 32 year career at Boeing spanning a variety of different roles in numerous global locations, Laine also worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration on the Nordic desks, as well as at the US Embassy in Helsinki in the Commercial section. Laine has also served on multiple non-profit boards to include on the Board of Trustees of the Whitehall & Industry Group (WIG), the International Advisory Board of British-American Business (BAB), both in London. She previously also served as Chairman of the Board of the Global Industrial Cooperation Association (GICA), as well as on the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Denmark. She was also named a visiting professor at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (AMRC) while based in the UK. Laine has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona and a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from the University of California Santa Barbara. Laine was born in Finland, spent her childhood in Sweden and moved to the United States in 1975, after which she has moved back and forth across the Atlantic numerous times. Her native languages include Finnish, Swedish and English, and she has studied French, Spanish and Dutch. She is married and has two daughters. This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments

    39 min
  2. Grit, Growth & Career Pivots with Ekaterina Solovova, Head of Albania at EBRD

    FEB 7

    Grit, Growth & Career Pivots with Ekaterina Solovova, Head of Albania at EBRD

    In this insightful episode, Alex Rozenfeld sits down with Ekaterina Solovova, Head of EBRD in Albania, to explore her remarkable journey from post-Soviet Russia to leading economic development across emerging markets. With over 20 years of experience in development finance, Ekaterina shares how her early exposure to international institutions, a pivotal scholarship to Thunderbird School of Global Management, and her work in private equity shaped her career. The conversation dives into Albania’s unique history, its path toward EU integration, and EBRD’s critical role in supporting green energy, infrastructure, and private sector competitiveness. Katya also reflects on leadership, values, and the importance of seizing opportunities—both professional and personal. Whether you’re interested in economic development, international finance, or global leadership, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-solovova-6bb361/ This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments

    59 min
  3. A Life in Diplomacy with Ambassador Larry André

    JAN 23

    A Life in Diplomacy with Ambassador Larry André

    In this special episode, Alex Rozenfeld sits down with Ambassador Larry André, a veteran of more than 33 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. From his beginnings as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal to serving as U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Djibouti, and Mauritania, Ambassador shares what diplomacy really looks like day to day: building trust, leading teams under pressure, and pushing progress forward in some of the world’s toughest environments. He reflects on Somalia’s hard-won gains, the human side of crisis work, and the lessons he now brings to the classroom at UT Austin’s LBJ School—especially the idea that you can love your country and still show up for the broader human community. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-edward-andr%C3%A9-jr-8066a0245/ https://so.usembassy.gov/thank-you-somalia/ Ambassador (ret.) Larry E. André, Jr. retired from the State Department’s Senior Foreign Service in May 2023 after a 38-year career in global public affairs.  During his 33 years at the U.S. State Department, he served in a mix of leadership, policy, and management positions.   Ambassador André's leadership positions included Ambassador to Somalia, Ambassador to Djibouti, and Ambassador to Mauritania.  He also served as Chargé d’affaires, U.S. Embassy South Sudan; Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Tanzania; Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Sierra Leone; Director, Office of the Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, and Deputy Director, Office of West African Affairs. Ambassador André's management positions included Deputy Director, African Affairs Executive Office; Management Officer, U.S. Embassy Guinea; Administrative Officer, U.S. Consulate Kaduna (northern Nigeria); Deputy Management Counselor, U.S. Embassy Iraq; and Supervisory General Services Officer, U.S. Embassy Bangladesh. Ambassador André's policy positions (advocacy, diplomatic reporting and programs) included Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy Kenya; Political/Consular Officer, U.S. Embassy Cameroon, Economic/Commercial officer, U.S. Embassy Bangladesh, and Regional Environment Officer for East Africa covering 14 countries from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.   Prior to joining the State Department’s Foreign Service, Ambassador André worked in Chad for USAID as an institutional contractor assisting refugees returning home following the war with Libya.  Before that, he served both as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal and as Peace Corps staff in Washington, DC. As an undergraduate, he was a researcher at the Rose Institute of State and Local Government in Claremont, California.   Ambassador André is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award, Global Reporting Award, and several other honors.  In 2023, Amb. André was inducted into the American Academy of Diplomacy.    Ambassador André, his wife Ouroukou, and their sons Isidore and Amiel reside in Caldwell County, Texas.  His daughter, Ruhiyyih, joined the State Department Foreign Service in 2024. He has Cal-Tex roots: born in California then relocating to Fort Worth, Texas in the 8th grade. He speaks French. This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments

    45 min
  4. From Wall Street to Clean Energy: Bo Lee's Entrepreneurial Journey

    JAN 6

    From Wall Street to Clean Energy: Bo Lee's Entrepreneurial Journey

    In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Bo Lee, an entrepreneur who has navigated the complexities of Wall Street and ventured into the promising realm of clean energy. Bo shares his strategic insights and experiences, offering a candid look at the challenges and triumphs of building a business in the renewable energy sector. Join us for a conversation that delves into the intricacies of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the future of energy. https://akkuenergydevices.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo-lee-22072194/ A serial entrepreneur and investor, Bo started his career on Wall Street as an institutional FX and interest rate derivatives trader in New York and London with two leading global firms – Harlow Meyer Savage and Garvin Guy Butler, after earning his Master’s in International Finance and Trade from the renowned Thunderbird School of Global Management and MIS from from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies. He later joined American Express/First DataCorporation as the Director of Asia-Pacific Region, leading the company’s expansion into the Asia market, successfully developed an extensive payment product network throughout the region. Bo started his entrepreneurial pursuit in the year 2000, founded several companies, started venture investments in renewable energy and climate tech. He has owned and operated companies ranging from manufacturing of energy efficient modular homes to food process; invested in and helped scaling companies in the clean energy sector – thin-film PV modules manufacturing, hydrogen electric critical component engineering/manufacturing, electrification of heavy duty material handling devices, product/resource circular solutions, etc.. Born in China, immigrated to the U.S. 40 years ago, he lives in Denver, Colorado. He sits on school boards, volunteered his time as a board member and treasurer of DCIS Foundation(Denver Center for International Studies). In his spare time, he enjoys reading, the outdoors and sports. He is an avid skier, golfer and tennis player. This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments

    46 min
  5. From One Clinic to a European Network: Dennis Diokno on Scaling FirstMed

    12/19/2025

    From One Clinic to a European Network: Dennis Diokno on Scaling FirstMed

    In this episode we sit down with Dennis Diokno, founder and CEO of FirstMed, to unpack a 30-year journey of building trusted healthcare for expats across Europe. From launching a single clinic in Budapest to expanding into Rome, Milan, and beyond, Dennis shares lessons on perseverance, customer care, scaling with culture, and knowing when to focus. The conversation also explores the power of the Thunderbird network, hard-earned entrepreneurial mistakes, and how AI and telemedicine are shaping the next chapter of FirstMed’s growth. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-a-diokno-5a455a8/ https://firstmed.hu/ Dennis Diokno is a global healthcare entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience launching and scaling international outpatient clinics. He is the Founder and CEO of FirstMed, one of Central Europe’s most recognized English-language private healthcare providers, serving expatriates, tourists, and international insurers. Dennis began his career in Moscow with the American Medical Center, rising from intern to Marketing Director and Operations Manager. He later became the first General Manager of the International Medical Center–Beijing, where he helped launch China’s first international joint-venture clinic. He then co-founded a healthcare venture in China, raising 3 million dollars in funding and advising U.S. healthcare companies on expansion into Asia. He moved to Central Europe to establish FirstMed in Budapest, developing the business plan, securing investment, and opening what is now a trusted healthcare provider entering its 26th year. Today, FirstMed operates clinics in Budapest, Rome, and Milan, with new locations planned for Paris and Vienna, alongside a pan-European telemedicine expansion designed to make international healthcare more accessible and scalable. Dennis serves as a Council Member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary and is a Co-Founder and Board Member of the International Business Chamber in Rome. He speaks English and German, converses comfortably in Hungarian, and enjoys running, golf, Aikido, and travel. This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments

    1h 2m
  6. From Morgan Stanley COO to Bestselling Author of Visible: May Busch on Owning Your Career

    12/12/2025

    From Morgan Stanley COO to Bestselling Author of Visible: May Busch on Owning Your Career

    In this engaging conversation, I spoke with May Busch, a former COO of Morgan Stanley Europe and author of the book 'Visible'. We discussed May's journey from a challenging corporate career to becoming an entrepreneur and author, emphasizing the importance of visibility, relationships, and integrity in career advancement. May shared formative experiences from her upbringing, insights on leadership, and practical advice for navigating the corporate world without compromising one's values. The conversation also touched on the emotional impact of publishing a book and the significance of mentorship and support systems in personal and professional growth. https://thevisiblebook.com/T-Bird https://maybusch.com/T-Bird https://www.linkedin.com/in/maybusch/ May Busch works with good people who want to advance their careers and make the difference they’re meant to make in the world – without sacrificing their values in the process. After her own 24-year rise to Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley Europe, she discovered the hidden shift that separates those who advance from those who plateau: it’s not enough to deliver excellent performance – you also need to make your potential visible to key decision-makers. As founder of Career Mastery™, May has developed a practical framework that helps mid-career professionals accelerate their advancement while staying authentic. Her approach has guided hundreds of professionals toward promotions, leadership roles, and greater career satisfaction. A Harvard College and Harvard Business School graduate, May serves as Senior Advisor for Leadership at Arizona State University and provides executive coaching globally. Her work proves that good people can finish first. May is the author of #1 International Bestseller, VISIBLE: How to Advance Your Career without Playing Politics, Selling Your Soul or Working Yourself into the Ground, and Accelerate: 9 Capabilities to Achieve Success at Any Career Stage. Everything May shares is what she wishes she’d had during her own journey. This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments

    50 min
  7. Ray-Bans, Rock Bands & AI: Jim Groo on Embracing Change

    12/01/2025

    Ray-Bans, Rock Bands & AI: Jim Groo on Embracing Change

    In this episode, we speak with Jim Groo — a Thunderbird alumnus whose international journey is anything but conventional. From frying chicken in Connecticut to launching Ray-Bans in post-communist Europe and leading AI-driven MarTech out of Switzerland, Jim shares how embracing uncertainty opened doors across 50+ markets and six countries. With stories ranging from eating a questionable fish in Egypt to close a deal, to starting a band during the dot-com crash, Jim reflects on the personal and professional lessons that shaped his worldview. He discusses the power of good vibes in leadership, how a First Tuesday in Prague changed his career path, and why trusting your gut can be your most powerful business tool. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgroo/ https://msights.com/ https://www.travelandnature.co/  https://www.instagram.com/jrgroo/?hl=en Jim Groo is a global business leader whose career reflects the spirit of Thunderbird itself. A dual US-Swiss national, Jim has lived in six countries and worked with more than fifty global markets in industries as diverse as vision care, sunglasses, consulting, powersports, and marketing technology. No matter the challenge, Jim is at his best in the kinds of environments T-Birds know well—diverse, multicultural settings where strategy, creativity and entrepreneurial energy come together to build something new. Currently based in Montreux, Switzerland, Jim is currently the Managing Director and CRO of MSIGHTS, an innovative marketing technology platform that helps global brands turn fragmented media data into smarter, faster decisions. At MSIGHTS, Jim has driven expansion into Europe and Asia, forged global partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, and is now leading the launch of the next generation of AI-driven media analytics for enterprise clients around the world.  His career reflects a lifelong passion for driving product innovation and building bridges across markets, teams, and technologies to increase business value. That passion is the thread that connects his executive leadership today with the global experiences that shaped his earlier career. Before joining MSIGHTS in its early growth phase, his path took him from interning at the United Nations in Geneva, to expanding Ray-Ban and Bausch & Lomb vision care products in Central Europe and the Middle East, to leading international marketing for power sports at Bombardier Recreational Products—where he helped launch the iconic Can-Am Spyder roadster across 30+ countries. Fluent in French and conversant in Czech, Jim combines strategic vision with a down-to-earth, entrepreneurial management style that resonates across cultures. His multicultural family includes a Czech wife and two kids – one born in Belgium and the other in Switzerland. Outside of work, you’ll often find Jim enjoying the Swiss outdoors—hiking and skiing, riding a motorcycle through the Alps or behind a camera lens, capturing the beauty of life’s global perspectives. This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments

    44 min
  8. From Small-Town in India to Forbes 40 Under 40: Sanghita Dey's Startup Playbook

    11/04/2025

    From Small-Town in India to Forbes 40 Under 40: Sanghita Dey's Startup Playbook

    In this episode, I spoke with fintech entrepreneur Sanghita Dey, co-founder and CEO of Solus Finance, a company making crypto derivatives more accessible through gamified, social trading. A Forbes 40 Under 40 honoree and former founder of YourMocha (acquired), Sanghita shares her journey from a small town in India to becoming a global fintech leader. She opens up about growing up with limited access to education, building resilience, navigating entrepreneurship solo, and how she secured her first investor via a bold Twitter DM and a one-day trip to Dubai. This episode dives deep into grit, innovation, and the future of financial education through AI. Solus Finance https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanghita-dey-45531053/ Sanghita Dey is a FORBES 40U40 Honoree, a 2x founder, board member and a fintech leader. 15+ years of experience at the crossroads of deep tech, finance, and TradFI, with a strong footing in regulatory audit This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments

    52 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Grab a cup of coffee and join Alex Rozenfeld, Thunderbird alum and founder of Freshwater Investments, as he sits down with fellow T-bird graduates who are making an impact in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features open and insightful conversations that explore the pivotal moments, personal motivations, and lessons learned on their journeys. From building companies across continents to leading global teams, these stories highlight the drive and mindset behind success. Whether you're a student, alum, or someone passionate about business and personal growth, you'll walk away with fresh ideas and real-world perspective. This is more than a podcast—it’s a platform for connection, storytelling, and celebrating the global spirit of Thunderbird. This podcast is sponsored by www.freshwaterinvestments.com 

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