22 Aug 029: Not your average CEO…Meet Louis Ziskin, founder and president of LA based DropIn Inc.

Louis Ziskin is definitely not your average CEO. He’s the founder and president of West Hollywood-based DropIn Inc.., a company that is changing the way the insurance and automotive industries do business by providing on-demand remote video inspection.

DropIn’s technology can be accessed via an app or, like a scene from a futuristic sci-fi movie, it can be paired with video-equipped drones that can remotely inspect and evaluate the damage to residences and commercial buildings.

Louis has had an entrepreneurial spirit his entire life. From his early beginnings when he launched a global supply chain venture, Louis cultivated an international network of suppliers delivering product to a demanding and complex market.

While lucrative, this business model resulted in some unanticipated consequences… a 12-year prison stay.

Louis, now a philanthropist who speaks nationally about causes like anti-recidivism and addiction recovery, was convicted in 2001 for the largest-ever U.S. government seizure of the drug commonly known as Ecstasy.

As well as driving the DropIn business forwards at a relentless pace, he now devotes his time to the Backpacks for Kids Foundation and is a frequent public speaker in support of anti-recidivism. (more…)

18 Aug 028: How Rob Kessler and his firm Million Dollar Collar are revolutionizing the global dress shirt industry

In this episode I meet Rob Kessler – founder, CEO and chief inventor at Million Dollar Collar. In the last 120 years, there have only been 2 significant, widely accepted enhancements to dress shirt design- Collar Stays & Non-Iron. According to Rob, Million Dollar Collar will be the 3rd because it cures the dreaded ‘sloppy collar’. Listen to the interview where I discuss with Rob how he got the idea and perfected the design after hundreds of different variations. Learn more about the way your shirts are made, how Rob is revolutionizing an age-old design, how he solved the distribution challenge and how he’s on the way to building a multi-million dollar, international organization. (more…)

15 Aug 027: Understanding the new rules of engagement for consumers in the age of conscious consumption with Kierstin De West

In this episode I chat with Kierstin De West – a leading authority on forecasting, tracking and understanding the monumental global cultural shift to sustainability and social impact in its broadest sense: the underlying trends that drive and characterize it, the influencers within in, the opportunities it presents and its impact on business, society, brands and culture. She is the founder and CEO of research and strategy consultancy Ci: conscientious innovation and the creator of its proprietary insights and data tool, The SHIFT Report.

In this episode we discuss:

Our desire for conscious consumption and how brands can respond

What are catalyst brands?

How do you price for ethics?

What is Sustainable Life Paralysis?

The rise of the empathy movement and the Mindful consumer. (more…)

11 Aug 026: YOUR fans are waiting! Find out why YOUR voice matters with Sanyika Street

In this Hooked On Startups episode I have a fabulous conversation with Sanyika Street – a performing artist, songwriter, music producer, keynote speaker and voice of inspiration. With immense presence as an artist and speaker he uses his art of the spoken word to inspire everyday people, everyday, and to positively impact people around the world. (more…)

08 Aug 025: Master the physical and mental challenges of being an entrepreneur with Glen Depke

In this episode I chat with with Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath, Author and Speaker. Based in Newport Beach in Southern California, Glen’s Depke Wellness clinic specialises in teaching people how to deal with all of the physical and mental challenges that are thrown at us from our diet choices, the stress we’re under, the habits we have and the environmental factors we’re subject to. If you’re running a business its important that you take the time to understand what you’re doing to your body each day – something that is so fundamental but so often overlooked (more…)

04 Aug 024: Understand pricing or pay the price, with acknowledged expert Per Sjöfors

“Get your pricing right and set yourself up for success. Get it wrong and you’re bound to fail”. In this episode of Hooked On Startups I meet Per Sjöfors – acknowledged expert in pricing and pricing psychology, CEO and founder of Atenga Inc and co-founder and CEO of Sales4 profit. He has managed over 500 assignments with top tier companies and by re-engineering their consumer pricing he has helped CEOs and investors often double their companies’ growth rates. Per is frequently quoted in the press including Fortune Magazine, Inc Magazine, Industry Week and the Financial Times and he regularly speaks at conferences. (more…)

01 Aug 023: Business breakthrough techniques with bestselling author and strategist Christine Perakis

I discuss business breakthrough systems with Christine Perakis – a business strategist, bestselling author and speaker with over 25 years of experience as an advisor, attorney, mentor, and team-builder. Christine, also a professional boat captain, is a strategic business partner for some of the world’s most visionary entrepreneurs, creating 360° transformations and turning creative ideas into profitable ventures. (more…)

28 Jul 022: How to crush your social media campaigns with Gavin McGarry, Founder and CEO of Jumpwire Media.

I chat with Gavin McGarry, CEO of Jumpwire Media, and we explore the important tricks, tips and tactics that you’ll need to know in order to build an effective social media presence. Gavin is a self-confessed human behavior aficionado, crowd dynamics specialist, data hound, cyclist, and percussionist. Gavin’s also the founder and CEO of Jumpwire media which is based in LA and has been recognised as one of the top ten most innovative companies in media with clients that include Coca Cola, AMC, Yahoo, and Sony Pictures. Before founding Jumpwire Media in 2009 Gavin worked for online video start up Joost and was the Head of Cross Platform Business Development at global television production company Endemol. (more…)

26 Jul 021: Connor Gillivan – From dorm room to $20 million in drop-shipping sales on Amazon.com in just 4 years

In this episode I speak to Connor Gillivan – a 27 year old serial entrepreneur who started his first drop-shipping company out of his dorm room at Quinnipiac University building it to over $20 million of sales on Amazon.com in just 4 years. After becoming an expert at hiring, he co-founded FreeeUp, an online hiring marketplace bringing together the top 1% of freelancers with growing businesses. He is also the owner of ConnorGillivan.com, where he writes about entrepreneurship and eCommerce.

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20 Jul 020: JP Morgan Jr – helping entrepreneurs and creative people to take decisive action and get their greatest work into the world

Working with leaders and entrepreneurs since the late 90’s, JP Morgan Jr leverages his scientific background and life experience in a unique way to train entrepreneurs and creative people to take decisive action so they can get their greatest work into the world. JP has a fascinating background.  After his formal studies in Physics and Mathematics, he built a property investing business and then (from a backpack) built a web media company serving local and global non-profits. He has travelled the world and he lived nomadically for three years, coached human rights leaders, recorded and toured as a musician in bands, funded development of a kids library in Cambodia, published travel writing and photography, competed as a black belt and triathlete, performed as a professional magician, studied with Buddhist monks and spiritual teachers, paraglided the Swiss Alps, cycled solo for thousands of miles and has had many other adventures. (more…)