Disruptive CEO Nation Allison Summers
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- Business
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EXECUTIVE COACH + GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADER ADVISOR. SPEAKER. AUTHOR. GUIDING SMART PEOPLE TO GROW INFLUENCE & CREATE OPPORTUNITIES Over 30 years, I have had the opportunity to work with fantastic organizations, impressive individuals and key industry leaders across six continents. Sitting in the corner office in both corporate and non-profit environments, I’ve attained, delivered and coached success in both the C-Suite and international board rooms. My diverse experience has provided cross-cultural insights into the talents, skills and measures required by individuals not only to get to the top, but to THRIVE at the pinnacle of business… And now I am happy to share that knowledge and support you in your quest for influence, empowerment, and ultimately success.
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Episode 240: Becoming Better Together: Focus on Female Founders with Andrea Sommer
Andrea Sommer has spread her wings worldwide and is helping female founders crack the code to business success. Hive Founders is a global network supporting female founders in launching, funding, and scaling their businesses. The focus is on providing access to capital and building robust businesses to increase funding success; and the results are amazing. They are moving the needle from averaging funding levels of 2% up to 70% in some instances, proving that the right coaching and knowledge network pays off.
As I always say, Andrea is someone to connect with and follow. Here is some of what we talked about:
-Origins of Hive Founders: The initiative began as a collaborative support group when Andrea and a colleague, struggling with fundraising, realized the lack of representation for women in pitch events. This led to the creation of a network that has since grown to 2000 members globally.
-The Investment Playbook: Hive Founders emphasizes building robust businesses through deep analysis and problem-solving. They support and teach women the fundraising process successfully, tailored to their needs and experiences.
-PR and Personal Brand Management: Fundraising is compared to a performance where founders need to effectively communicate their vision. Andrea stresses the importance of founders being comfortable in the spotlight and authentic in their presentation.
-Diversity of Founders: Hive Founders attracts founders from various industries, promoting diversity of perspectives and ideas. They believe good ideas can come from anywhere and encourage a generalist approach to entrepreneurship.
-Trends and Sustainability: Andrea discusses the growing importance of sustainability in business performance, driven by legislative changes and investor interest. Businesses are focusing on sustainability as a performance improvement strategy.
-Personal Approach and Advice: Andrea shares her personal approach to balancing work, family, and hobbies, emphasizing the importance of making the world better for future generations. She also advises embracing discomfort and viewing anxiety as excitement to seize new opportunities.
Andrea is an entrepreneur, advisor, investor and strategist with global expertise in investment strategy, emerging technology, innovation, and strategic growth initiatives. She’s built four businesses in the technology space, including in analytics & event technology, femtech & wearables and HRtech.
Before her entrepreneurial career, Andrea was Director of Strategic Initiatives Europe at Avanade, a joint venture between Accenture & Microsoft where she focused on growth and optimization projects and M&A. She also consulted for other technology brands including Microsoft in the US, South America and Europe.
Connect with Andrea:
Website: https://www.hivefounders.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrealsommer/
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 #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Episode 239: Special Edition: International Women's Day 2024
Welcome to this special edition of Disruptive CEO Nation, where we celebrate International Women’s Day by honoring the trailblazing female founders and executives shaking up the business world. In today’s episode, we are spotlighting the achievements and challenges facing women in entrepreneurship and leadership.
Here's a brief overview of what we discussed:
- Highlighting Female Founders: We pay homage to Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, whose innovative products tackle everyday issues for women, provide a shout-out to other female founders who are leading the way, and encourage listeners to nominate outstanding female founders for future podcast features.
- Understanding International Women’s Day: Delving into the history and significance of International Women’s Day and tracing its origins from the women's rights movements of the 19th century to its current theme of "Invest in women: Accelerate progress."
- Women in Government and Business: Exploring the importance of representation in government and business, noting milestones in women's political participation and the ongoing challenges they face in achieving gender parity.
- Gender Disparities in Business Leadership: Discussing the gender gap in corporate leadership, including statistics on women in the workforce versus women in senior leadership positions, and highlighting the importance of gender diversity for business performance.
As we celebrate the achievements of women in business, let’s also recognize the work that still needs to be done to achieve true gender equality in the entrepreneurial landscape.
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 #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Episode 238: Business for the Changing Social Fabric with Courtney Leimkuhler, Co-Founder Springback Collective; New York, NY, USA
In this electrifying episode, we delve into the future of career, care, and consumer behavior with Courtney Leimkuhler, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Springback Collective. Join us as we uncover the secrets behind Courtney's journey from the heights of corporate finance at Marsh and the New York Stock Exchange, to her current role as a venture capitalist shaping the landscape of the new care economy.
With the mindset of a futurist and a firm background in finance and infrastructure knowledge, Courtney and the team at Springbank seek to elevate unique companies that are positioning services to meet the challenges of the next generation of the workforce. With an eye on gender equity and family care, they partner and invest in mission-based companies referred to as 'The Builders' to be catalysts of change.
Here are some of the topics we touched on in our conversation:
- Venturing into the Unknown: Courtney shares her insights on transitioning from the traditional corporate world to the dynamic realm of venture capital, and how her diverse background has shaped her approach to investing in disruptive startups.
- Pioneering Business for the New Care Economy: Dive deep into the innovative start-ups Springback Collective supports, and discover how they are revolutionizing how we approach caregiving and inclusive work environments. For example, Wellthy is a company that offers human-powered care concierge and it is sold as a benefit through employers for employees. And Brisk is using AI to build tools for teachers to make their workflows much more efficient.
- Trends that Every Business Must Watch: Highlighting the data behind key demographic trends that are shaping corporate priorities, government initiatives, the insurance landscape, and consumer behavior. And we discuss how these trends, if not addressed will affect worker productivity, presence, and ultimately profits.
- Unveiling Financial Frontiers and Shinning a Spotlight on Data: Explore the next wave of financial progress as I discuss the evolving landscape of fintech and the opportunities it presents for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
Courtney also serves as a board member or advisor to several companies including New Front, Dandi, Parento, Orchard, Coverwallet (sold to Aon in 2020), Betterment and Asta Capital.
Courtney is a graduate of Harvard College summa cum laude and Harvard Business School where she was a Baker Scholar. Courtney and her husband live in New York City with their two daughters.
Connect with Courtney:
Website: https://www.springbank.vc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-leimkuhler-32459b/
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 #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Episode 237: Mastering Influence and Perseverance with Entrepreneurial Maverick Matt Brown; Denver, Colorado, USA
Matt Brown is a seasoned entrepreneur as the founder of 14 startups. Matt is also a globally recognized podcaster, speaker, and 3 x Amazon best-selling author. Matt shares his incredible journey from South Africa to the U.S., discussing how failures shaped his curiosity and determination. As the CEO of ShowWorks Media, he delves into the art of influence, emphasizing the importance of elevating others over self-enrichment.
Throughout our conversation, Matt threads the significance of mindset and perseverance in the dynamic world of business. Here are the highlights:
-Building Businesses in Challenging Environments: Drawing from his experience in South Africa, Matt contrasts the challenges of building businesses in emerging markets with those in the U.S. He underscores the universal importance of hunger, resilience, and merit-based success.
-Transformative Power of Podcasting: The inception of the Matt Brown show a decade ago marked a pivotal moment. Matt details how the podcast transformed him from an introvert to a recognized influencer, sharing insights with global business leaders.
-The Inner Game of Success: Matt's book, "Your Inner Game," sheds light on the internal aspects of success. Through inspiring stories, he encourages entrepreneurs to embrace perseverance, recognizing that success can manifest at any moment.
-Influence and Its True Meaning: Matt challenges conventional views on influence, emphasizing its ethical dimensions. He highlights the pitfalls of influencer marketing and advocates for an approach centered on elevating others.
-Navigating Networking with Purpose: Acknowledging his introverted nature, Matt shares the art of asking better questions to deepen connections. He stresses the importance of quality over quantity in networking, urging entrepreneurs to focus on meaningful interactions.
Matt Brown is a veteran founder and entrepreneur zealously dedicated to aiding, entrepreneurs, CEOs, business leaders and the broader business community in fostering positive change. A veteran founder of 14 companies across a span of 25 years, successfully exiting multiple businesses.
The Matt Brown Show features over 800+ episodes, ranked in the top 2.5% of all podcasts globally and has an audience in 100+ countries. Today the show is a lexicon of high-value content for entrepreneurs, startups, investors and business thought leaders, around the world.
Connect with Matt:
Website: https://mattbrownshow.com/
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 #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Episode 236: Revolutionizing Sustainable Construction with Tim Sweeney, Founding Principal at Sweeney Architecture; Reno, Nevada, USA
As the founding principal of Sweeney Architecture, Tim Sweeney is driven by a passion for reversing climate change by revolutionizing the way we build homes, businesses, and structures by aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Tim sheds light on the staggering fact that buildings in the US are responsible for 39% of all emissions. His solution aims to significantly reduce this impact by addressing construction and material production processes.
One thing we love about Tim's story is that even after a long and satisfying career, he is willing to go all in on building a company with a product he believes in, proving there is no age limit on being a disruptive CEO. Here are highlights of our conversation:
-Innovative Solution: Tim introduces a groundbreaking patent-pending building system that combines the energy-efficient passive house design with panels made of magnesium oxide. This fusion creates an unprecedented level of sustainability.
-Career Evolution:Tim's journey highlights the diverse experiences of his career that have led to the creation of his unique and sustainable architectural solutions.
-Patent Process: Tim shares insights into the patenting process, emphasizing the simplicity of securing a provisional patent and the ongoing efforts to improve and finalize the patent. He hints at future developments that could make their approach carbon-negative.
-Versatile Applications: The patented system is adaptable to various construction needs, from single-family homes to multi-family buildings and commercial structures. Tim envisions a broad impact across different scales and types of construction.
-Strategic Growth: Sweeney Architecture's growth strategy involves a multi-faceted approach. Tim discusses the importance of strategic partnerships, finding responsible and reliable collaborators, securing project-based funding, and potentially franchising the technology to share its benefits globally.
Tim is both a Certified Passive House Designer and tradesperson, as well as is highly experienced in designing, detailing, and building panelized solutions that offer numerous benefits over conventional design and construction. As a result of his unique capabilities, Tim's clients can build faster, less expensively, and with higher quality and better results, as only a handful of professionals in North America are qualified to do. With over 40 years of design and construction experience, Certification as a Cohousing Facilitator, and a planner that develops superior consensus and pathways using the Design Down Process, Tim's clients are afforded much greater opportunities to achieve their desires, needs, and more.
Connect with Tim:
Website: www.sweeney.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-sweeney-8a303114/
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 #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
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Episode 235: Addressing the Affordable Housing Delima with Franco Perez, founder of Franco Mobile Homes; San Jose, CA, USA
Franco Perez is on a mission to revolutionize the conversation around mobile homes and affordable housing. Based in Silicon Valley, Franco's mission stems from the pain of his own family struggling with rent and the desire to help others facing similar challenges. But this isn't only about mobile homes, it's about bringing people financial education, an understanding of building credit, and gaining dignity.
Here are the top takeaways from our conversation:
-Making Affordable Housing Sexy: Franco's team challenges the misperception of mobile homes and strives to make this form of affordable housing more appealing. Through this, they help low-income families enter homeownership and build equity.
-The Business Model: Franco's unique business model combines real estate, construction, and community development. By introducing modern and aesthetically pleasing features to mobile homes, he aims to elevate their value and offer an affordable entry point to homeownership.
-Changing Perceptions: Franco addresses the stigma associated with mobile homes by showcasing the diversity in mobile home communities. He emphasizes that, like any other housing, there's a spectrum, and his company aims to beautify and enhance the quality of mobile homes.
-Value-Driven Leadership: Franco highlights the importance of having a strong why and purpose in business. His motivation comes from the joy of helping families achieve homeownership, and this purpose-driven approach guides his decision-making and partnerships.
-Collaboration and Problem-Solving: In the challenging world of real estate, Franco emphasizes collaboration and sharing value. He discusses the importance of addressing problems transparently, being emotionally secure, and approaching challenges with critical thinking.
As Franco continues to disrupt the affordable housing space, his vision extends beyond his company to seek to influence policies and perceptions on a broader scale. Franco is on a mission to create affordable housing in Silicon Valley. He discovered that the Bay Area’s mobile home parks offer an abundance of underused land with great growth potential. After years of dedication to his vision, Franco has established a devoted team of like-minded individuals who believe that their positive impact equals success.
Connect with Franco:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francoperezhomes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francotv/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexymobilehomes/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@francomobilehomes9706
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 #Bcorp #CEO #startup #startupstory #founder #business #businesspodcast #podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
inspiring stories and new insights
Allison has an incredible lineup of entrepreneurs and experts sharing their stories and expertise. It’s hard to listen without walking away with new perspectives and tools.
Love this Podcast
Allison first and foremost has amazing guests. On top of that’s she’s an exceptional interviewer. I love how she guides the discussion with probing and insightful questions. I come away from each episode inspired.
Very inspiring
Another great episode, thank you Allison! Love the backstory and journey of Rita!