Raw and Real Entrepreneurship Susan Sly

In this episode, Susan unpacks the whirlwind saga of Sam Altman, the visionary CEO and co-founder of OpenAI. She also dissects the stunning news of his removal, the shockwaves it sent across the tech community, and the unprecedented decision to bring him back into the fold.
 
Join Susan as she explores Q-Star, a mysterious player making bold moves in AI advancement, and what this development could mean for the future of artificial intelligence.
 
Susan also takes a critical look at the unraveling of the OpenAI board, drawing lessons on governance, trust, and the power struggles at play in high-stakes entrepreneurship.
 
This episode isn’t just about the titans of AI; it’s a lesson for entrepreneurs everywhere on navigating the complexities of leadership, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of groundbreaking technology. Tune in to hear all about the chaos, the comebacks, and the cutting-edge of AI on “Raw and Real Entrepreneurship.”
 
About Susan Sly:
Susan Sly is a Tech Co-founder, a tech investor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the highly acclaimed podcast – Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television, The CBN, The Morning Show in Australia and been quoted in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and more. She holds Certificates in Management and Leadership, Technology and Operations, and Strategy and Innovation from MIT. Susan is the author of 7 books. Her book project with NY Times Best Selling Author, Jack Canfield, made six Amazon Best Selling lists.
 
Connect With Susan:
Twitter @Susanslylive
Twitter @rawandrealentr1
LinkedIn @susansly
Facebook @susanslylive
Website https://susansly.com/
Join Susan's Insider’s List   https://susansly.com/insider/
 
 
 

Join Susan Sly and her guest, John St. Pierre, a serial entrepreneur who has navigated the tumultuous business world, co-founding and leading multimillion-dollar ventures. John's journey is one of resilience, learning from monumental successes and poignant failures.
 
In this riveting episode, John shares the raw truth behind his tumultuous 15-year entrepreneurial journey, highlighted by founding a company that soared to over $50,000,000 in revenues, only to face unexpected firing and a gruelling legal battle. His resilience shines as he recounts the pivotal moments that forced him to make tough decisions and stand up for his beliefs.
 
From the dot-com boom and bust to learning crucial lessons from failures, John's story encapsulates the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship. His experiences shaped invaluable principles that transformed subsequent ventures, leading to the growth of a construction facilities maintenance company surpassing $100,000,000.
 
Join Susan and John as they explore the nuanced realities of entrepreneurship, unpacking John's seven principles to build a thriving business while avoiding pitfalls.
 
About John St. Pierre:
 John St. Pierre, an accomplished entrepreneur with a remarkable 25-year journey marked by significant successes and invaluable lessons from failures. John is not just an entrepreneur; he is a visionary leader who co-founded and scaled two companies to over $50M+ in global revenues. 
 
John embarked on his entrepreneurial career while still in college, kick-starting his journey as a franchisee for College Pro Painters. John's journey includes stints with HandymanOnline.com, WorldAtMyDoor, and the co-founding of Legacy Global Sports, BrandPoint Services, and Rhombus Group.
 
With Legacy Global Sports rapidly reaching $50M+ in global revenues and BrandPoint Services now a $100M+ enterprise, John has been a driving force in his companies' success. His role as the majority owner and chairperson of Rhombus Group, a holding company comprising several small businesses, has allowed him to inspire other entrepreneurs and help them achieve their goals. John is also the author of "The $100M Journey," where he shares the 7 principles for entrepreneurial success.
 
Connect with John:
Website https://entrepreneursunited.us
Website https://100mjourney.com/
LinkedIn @johnstpierre
X @johnstpierre100
 
About Susan Sly:
Susan Sly is a Tech Co-founder, a tech investor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the highly acclaimed podcast – Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television, The CBN, The Morning Show in Australia and been quoted in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and more. She holds Certificates in Management and Leadership, Technology and Operations, and Strategy and Innovation from MIT. Susan is the author of 7 books. Her book project with NY Times Best Selling Author, Jack Canfield, made six Amazon Best Selling lists.
 
Connect With Susan:
Twitter @Susanslylive
Twitter @rawandrealentr1
LinkedIn @susansly
Facebook @susanslylive
Website https://susansly.com/
 
Join Susan's Insider’s List   https://susansly.com/insider/
 
 

In part two of this conversation, Susan Sly and Elijah Meeks, Co-Founder and CO-CEO of Noteable, dive deeper into the transformational power of AI-driven tools in data science and analytics. 
 
Ethical considerations also surface, particularly regarding AI’s role in content creation and cultural impact. Elijah paints a thought-provoking picture of a future where AI-generated media isolates individuals within personalized experiences, altering the fabric of shared culture.
 
The conversation gets into the regulatory challenges surrounding AI, echoing the difficulty in legislating its use due to its pervasive nature. The discussion contemplates the inevitable expansion of AI’s influence and the need for a rational, ethical approach to integration into daily life.
 
Susan and Elijah explore the chaos and opportunity within this AI revolution, inviting entrepreneurs to harness this transformative wave in ways yet unimagined. Don’t miss this thought-provoking episode!  
 
About Elijah Meeks:
Elijah Meeks is known for his pioneering work in the digital humanities while at Stanford, where he was the technical lead for acclaimed works like ORBIS and Kindred Britain. After that, he joined Netflix as its first Senior Data Visualization Engineer, where he created the charting library Semiotic and brought cutting-edge data visualization techniques to the A/B testing platform and analytical applications for stakeholders across the organization, including algorithms, membership, people analytics, content, image testing, and social media. He is a prolific writer, speaker, and leader in the field of data visualization, the co-founder and first executive director of the Data Visualization Society, and the author of the bestselling book D3.js in Action.

Connect with Elijah:
LinkedIn @elijah-meeks
Twitter @Elijah_Meeks 
Website https://noteable.io/
 
About Susan Sly:
Susan Sly is a Tech Co-founder, a tech investor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the highly acclaimed podcast – Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television, The CBN, The Morning Show in Australia and been quoted in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and more. She holds Certificates in Management and Leadership, Technology and Operations, and Strategy and Innovation from MIT. Susan is the author of 7 books. Her book project with NY Times Best Selling Author, Jack Canfield, made six Amazon Best Selling lists.
 
Connect With Susan:
Twitter @Susanslylive
Twitter @rawandrealentr1
LinkedIn @susansly
Facebook @susanslylive
Website https://susansly.com/
Join Susan's Insider’s List   https://susansly.com/insider/

In this episode, Susan interviews Elijah Meeks, the Co-Founder of Noteable, for a candid conversation about his journey from studying ancient Chinese civilizations to co-founding a tech company.
 
Elijah shares his transition experience from academia to tech, highlighting his challenges in adopting new tools and methodologies. He reflects on the importance of embracing contrarian thinking and being open to unexpected skills that set him apart in data visualization.
 
As one of the co-founders of Noteable, Elijah provides insights into the founding journey, sharing the fortunate timing of starting a remote-first company amid a pandemic. He delves into the role of computational notebooks in shaping the future of collaborative data-driven documents and how Noteable aims to bridge the gap between code-first and GUI-first tools.
 
Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation exploring the intersection of technology, culture, and entrepreneurship, offering valuable lessons and perspectives for business founders and entrepreneurs navigating the ever-changing tech industry landscape. Get ready for an episode that's raw, real, and filled with entrepreneurial wisdom.
 
About Elijah Meeks:
Elijah Meeks is known for his pioneering work in the digital humanities while at Stanford, where he was the technical lead for acclaimed works like ORBIS and Kindred Britain. After that, he joined Netflix as its first Senior Data Visualization Engineer, where he created the charting library Semiotic and brought cutting-edge data visualization techniques to the A/B testing platform and analytical applications for stakeholders across the organization, including algorithms, membership, people analytics, content, image testing, and social media. He is a prolific writer, speaker, and leader in the field of data visualization, the co-founder and first executive director of the Data Visualization Society, and the author of the bestselling book D3.js in Action.

Connect with Elijah:
LinkedIn @elijah-meeks
Twitter @Elijah_Meeks 
Website https://noteable.io/
 
About Susan Sly:
Susan Sly is a Tech Co-founder, a tech investor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the highly acclaimed podcast – Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television, The CBN, The Morning Show in Australia and been quoted in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and more. She holds Certificates in Management and Leadership, Technology and Operations, and Strategy and Innovation from MIT. Susan is the author of 7 books. Her book project with NY Times Best Selling Author, Jack Canfield, made six Amazon Best Selling lists.
 
Connect With Susan:
Twitter @Susanslylive
Twitter @rawandrealentr1
LinkedIn @susansly
Facebook @susanslylive
Website https://susansly.com/
Join Susan's Insider’s List   https://susansly.com/insider/
 

In this episode of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship Podcast, Susan Sly continues with part two of her interview with David Ledgerwood, the co-founder of Add1Zero. 
 
David shares his essential shift in perspective when he realized that relationships and personal well-being are at the core of success. David shares his unique approach to business, emphasizing the importance of protecting what truly matters while maintaining an abundance mindset.
 
Together, they explore various aspects of entrepreneurship, from understanding your ideal customer profile to the value of being in charge of your destiny. David's candid stories and Susan's thoughtful insights make this episode a valuable resource for both seasoned entrepreneurs and those just starting on their entrepreneurial journey.
 
Tune in for a thought-provoking and inspiring discussion that will leave you motivated and ready to take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level.
 
About David Ledgerwood:
David Ledgerwood serves as the Managing Partner at Add1Zero, a company specializing in end-to-end sales execution for tech-enabled B2B service firms looking to scale from six to seven digits in revenue. With a remarkable career sales record exceeding $50 million and an average deal size of over $150,000, he boasts over a decade of experience in software and service sales. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding multiple companies to mid-7 figure growth.
 
Connect with David:
Website www.add1zero.co 
LinkedIN @davidledgerwood
 
About Susan Sly:
Susan Sly is a Tech Co-founder and Co-CEO, a tech investor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the highly acclaimed podcast – Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television, The CBN, The Morning Show in Australia and been quoted in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and more. She holds Certificates in Management and Leadership, Technology and Operations, and Strategy and Innovation from MIT. Susan is the author of 7 books. Her book project with NY Times Best Selling Author, Jack Canfield, made six Amazon Best Selling lists.
 
Connect With Susan:
Twitter @Susanslylive
Twitter @rawandrealentr1
LinkedIn @susansly
Facebook @susanslylive
Website https://susansly.com/
Join Susan's Insider’s List   https://susansly.com/insider/
 
 

In part one of this two-part episode, Susan Sly dives deep into entrepreneurship with David Ledgerwood, the Co-Founder of Add1Zero. With over two decades of experience in the business world, David's journey from professional services at PwC to crafting code for Fortune 500 giants like UPS, JP Morgan Chase, and Aetna is nothing short of inspiring.
 
In part one of this conversation, you'll hear David's insights on the current business landscape. He shares his experiences with the unprecedented challenges faced by businesses in recent times, notably the low lead volumes in Q2 and Q3. David discusses how the COVID hangover may still affect decision-makers and how this has impacted businesses across the board.
 
He questions why the focus in the startup world often revolves around raising capital and securing funding when revenue is, in his view, the true lifeblood of any enterprise. David emphasizes the importance of building a robust cash reserve and cultivating a culture of revenue generation within your company.
 
David also sheds light on the changing financial landscape, including rising interest rates and the end of an era where money was essentially free. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared for economic downturns and highlights the role of having a financial safety net. David suggests that maintaining a side consulting company as a personal financial buffer has been a key strategy for navigating the peaks and troughs of entrepreneurship.
 
Join Susan Sly and David Ledgerwood in this candid and insightful conversation that will inspire and educate entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey!
 
About David Ledgerwood:
David Ledgerwood serves as the Managing Partner at Add1Zero, a company specializing in end-to-end sales execution for tech-enabled B2B service firms looking to scale from six to seven digits in revenue. With a remarkable career sales record exceeding $50 million and an average deal size of over $150,000, he boasts over a decade of experience in software and service sales. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding multiple companies to mid-7 figure growth.
 
Connect with David:
Website www.add1zero.co 
LinkedIN @davidledgerwood
 
About Susan Sly:
Susan Sly is a Tech Co-founder and Co-CEO, a tech investor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and host of the highly acclaimed podcast – Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. Susan has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox, Lifetime Television, The CBN, The Morning Show in Australia and been quoted in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and more. She holds Certificates in Management and Leadership, Technology and Operations, and Strategy and Innovation from MIT. Susan is the author of 7 books. Her book project with NY Times Best Selling Author, Jack Canfield, made six Amazon Best Selling lists.
 
Connect With Susan:
Twitter @Susanslylive
Twitter @rawandrealentr1
LinkedIn @susansly
Facebook @susanslylive
Website https://susansly.com/
Join Susan's Insider’s List   https://susansly.com/insider/