School for Startups Radio Jim Beach

Brian J. Esposito – CEO of Diamond Lake Minerals Inc. and Esposito Intellectual Enterprises LLC
Brian J. Esposito is CEO of Diamond Lake Minerals Inc. and Esposito Intellectual Enterprises LLC (EIE). Brian is a serial entrepreneur and business leader who was ranked among the world’s top 10 CEOs for 2020, 2021 and 2022 in The World CEO Rankings Awards’ by Adria Management LLC. Esposito has 20+ years of experience building companies on a global scale across 25+ unique industries. EIE, a holding company consisting of 110+ entities and 200+ joint ventures, proudly operating in over 25 cities around the world. He brings to each organization a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as a drive and passion for connecting companies with promising growth opportunities. In December 2019 and in August 2022, he was featured in The Corporate Investment Times, the next-gen investment magazine in the Middle East, and he was recognized as a ‘Top 100 In Real Estate’ in 2021, as well as being among the’ Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs’ in 2022 and 2023. In August 2023, Esposito embarked on a new venture as the CEO of Diamond Lake Minerals, Inc. ($DLMI). In this role, he swiftly implemented a transformative strategy, completely overhauling the company’s direction. His leadership prowess was evident in the way he surrounded the company with industry icons as advisors. This strategic move, coupled with his innovative leadership, skyrocketed the company’s share price from a modest $0.35 to a remarkable $5.25. Concurrently, the market capitalization of Diamond Lake Minerals soared from $1 million to an astounding $184 million, a testament to Esposito’s extraordinary leadership and business acumen.Jennifer T. Long – President of Own Up! and Author of Own Up!: How To Hold People Accountable Without All The Drama 
Jennifer T. Long is a Certified Master Coach and the President of Own Up!, a leadership development company providing training and coaching for leaders and managers across various disciplines. For nearly four decades, she has worked with leaders of every stripe, from newly-minted managers to the seasoned vets of the C-suite, small companies to Fortune 500 enterprises. Beyond her coaching and training experience, Jennifer spent ten years as a theater director. The unique skills acquired in this time proved invaluable in gaining niche insights into how people work. “The lessons of the theater are the lessons of working with people, of engaging in convincing dialogue, of creating desired emotional responses, and outcomes,” she notes. Jen has two children and works all across the country but calls Denver home. Jennifer’s book offers a refreshing perspective on how to foster responsibility without drama. As a Certified Master Coach and Master Trainer with decades of experience, Long brings a wealth of insights to the table, making her an ideal guest for your show. Her book provides actionable strategies that resonate with managers and leaders seeking to navigate the intricacies of accountability effectively. Jennifer’s expertise shines through in “Own Up!,” offering readers a roadmap to navigate the complexities of accountability with confidence and poise. Her unique blend of experience in coaching, theater directing, and leadership development brings a fresh perspective to the subject.

Kyle Kuderewski – Operations Manager at WebStreet – Investing in Online Businesses 
Kyle Kuderewski is the Operations Manager at WebStreet (formerly Empire Flippers Capital), and is a dynamic individual with a wealth of expertise in passive investing, entrepreneurship, alternative investments, and remote work. With a background in engineering management and a master’s degree in project management, Kyle brings a unique perspective to the world of online business investing. Kyle’s journey from the corporate world to WebStreet began when he discovered the potential of online businesses while exploring real estate investments. Intrigued by the opportunities offered by then-Empire Flippers (online biz brokers), he immersed himself in their culture and quickly realized that their approach to online business investing aligned perfectly with his goals. Recognizing the need for passive investment options in the online business industry, Kyle joined WebStreet, where he now leads the charge of making online businesses a passive investment opportunity for accredited investors. WebStreet operates a first-of-its-kind investment platform that matches experienced operators of online businesses with accredited investors.Chris Reilly – Founder of Financial Modeling Education – Designing Financial Models and Selling Online Courses 
Chris Reilly is a finance professional with a unique journey that began during the 2008 financial crisis, working on Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy. He transitioned from consulting to Senior Analyst roles at Hilton Worldwide, providing exposure to the world of private equity. With self-taught expertise in LBO financial models, Chris spent nearly a decade in middle-market private equity in Denver. In 2020, he founded Financial Modeling Education, where he imparts advanced financial modeling skills in a relatable manner. An influential LinkedIn figure with 85,000+ followers, Chris simplifies the intricate finance landscape, sharing his extensive knowledge of private equity, FP&A, and financial modeling.

David Siegel – AI Legal Expert
David Siegel is a Silicon Valley startup attorney at Grellas Shah, LLP. He is an accomplished startup lawyer and litigator who has extensive experience with our firm in handling a broad range of corporate, transactional, and intellectual property matters, including work on multi-million dollar financings and acquisitions, all in addition to having deep expertise in handling complex intellectual property, corporate, and commercial litigation matters. Prior to joining Grellas Shah, David worked for five years at the nationally recognized firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, initially out of its New York office and subsequently out of Palo Alto. He has a keen interest in working with startups and has worked closely with early-stage companies since joining the firm while expanding his expertise in the startup field. David is licensed to practice in California and New York. He has extensive experience in both state and federal courts and has done in-depth work connected with SEC investigations, including managing a team of 30 lawyers in defending a client in a particularly intensive investigation.Oli Strong – COO of Magma
Oli Strong is the COO of Magma Studios, a software called Magma to make digital art projects multiplayer, client-centric, and more efficient. Game/digital art studios using Magma can work on cloud-based projects, allowing them to access projects from any device. It allows work on a project with up to 50 people at once, seeing the real-time creativity at work (making art multiplayer). Clients and team members can give each other immediate feedback via videos, voice notes, etc. The impact allows a 25% reduction in project delivery time, 32% less time spent in meetings, 40% fewer revisions per cycle, and a 72% increase in employee satisfaction. Magma will be at the Game Developer Conference next month and Oli will be talking about empowering co-creation and licensing at scale.

Steven Andrews – Real Estate Investor and Coach and Author of The New American Dream: A Simple Roadmap to Purchasing Investment Properties
Steven Andrews remembers how hard it was to overcome his own doubts and insecurities in the beginning of his investment career, Steven Andrews is now on a mission to empower others to achieve their own goals in real estate. Coming out of college, Steven was $75,000 in debt and making $45,000 a year. Circling back to the dream he once had while studying at High Point University, Steven used a credit card to fund his first rental property. Within nine years, Steven went from buying properties to supplement his income to pursuing real estate full-time. Today, he owns and manages hundreds of properties through his virtual property management company, Realty Management Group. In addition to writing, The New American Dream: A Simple Roadmap to Purchasing Investment Properties, Steven established SOARX Consulting, where he provides an eleven-week course outlining the same process he used to create his rental property company. The program, like the book, offers a roadmap to finding the kind of success Steven has in the business called real estate.
Stephen Steers – ContextSelling Guru and Author of Superpower Storytelling: A Tactical Guide to Telling the Stories You Need to Lead, Sell and Inspire
Stephen Steers is an author, consultant, standup comedian and speaker with a unique mix of storytelling as it relates to sales. As a consultant and keynote speaker, Stephen has advised more than 750 companies from 30 countries. Including teams from Google, Nike, HEC Paris Business School and Entrepreneurs Organization. Stephen’s philosophy is the following: forget everything you think you know about sales and leadership. Effective sales and leadership are about listening, learning and connecting through stories. Stories close the sale, never the conversation.

Wayne Elliott - Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate  
[caption id="attachment_58814" align="alignright" width="150"] Wayne Elliott[/caption]
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne's involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne's story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years. Stephanie Glanzer - Chief Sales Officer & Senior Vice President for MGM Resorts International and Co-Chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition
Stephanie Glanzer is the Chief Sales Officer & Senior Vice President for MGM Resorts International. She is responsible for the company’s overall sales strategy and operations comprised of group, industry relations, global sales, transient and luxury sales strategy as well as property operations including catering and convention services. She is also co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition. The way we do business continues to evolve. When the world went virtual in 2020, we did our best to maintain relationships and make connections, both personally and professionally. While virtual meetings may be convenient, they are proven to be much less effective in developing lasting relationships. Face-to-face meetings are the best way to capture a person’s full attention. In-person meetings, events, and conventions build mutual respect, drive education and personal growth, foster creativity, and build long-lasting connections. Critically, they also boost the U.S. economy. In 2023, $119 billion was generated nationally through in-person meetings and events-related travel spending in the United States, which directly supported 600,000 American jobs. For decision-makers looking to boost their company’s visibility and bottom line, there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings. Global Meetings Industry Day – an internation

Cary Sparrow – Founder and CEO of WageScape
Cary Sparrow is a business leader and engineer who has thrived throughout his career with his entrepreneurial approach and a keen eye for innovation opportunities. He founded WageScape in 2015 with a vision of bringing transparency to the labor market. Prior to founding WageScape, Cary served as a Vice President at Cargill, the largest privately-held company in the US, with over 65 businesses across nearly 70 countries. At Cargill, Cary was responsible for upgrading the global workforce management infrastructure, including all related technology, processes, data, and organizational structures. Prior to Cargill, Cary was a Principal and Global Practice Leader at Willis Towers Watson (then Towers Perrin). Cary is a veteran of the United States Navy, where he served as an officer on nuclear fast attack submarines. Cary has a master’s in management degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, with concentrations in finance and strategy. He also has a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering, with research in artificial intelligence and neural network control systems. His bachelor’s degree is in computer and systems engineering. Cary lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two children. He enjoys the outdoors, biking, and traveling.Mark Phillips – Recruiting for Education Businesses – Founder of HireEducation
Mark Phillips is the Founder and Board Chair of HireEducation. He supports his team to build authentic and inclusive partnerships for Education companies that work directly with Early Childhood, K12, and Higher Education, and Workforce organizations. He’s been recruiting since the late 90s before transitioning into Education and is happy to spend his time coaching his team and working on strategic projects to continuing to expand the business! Mark Phillips (Founder, Board Chair) – Mark is all about hiring and sustainable business practices, remote company culture, and mental health for leaders. His narrative is relevant to EdTech professionals, startups, ethical innovation and remote leaders, and even small business managers that have gone through sobriety and/or enjoy endurance athletics. They help education and talent management organizations sell their organizations to prospective employees. They work for schools (sometimes), Ed Tech companies that sell to schools, Ed Tech and Talent Management companies that sell to corporations, and Learning organizations within those corporations.