Episodes

  • EP7: Mickayla Rosard, Partner at Groove Capital | "Empowering Women in Venture Capital"

    EP7: Mickayla Rosard, Partner at Groove Capital | "Empowering Women in Venture Capital"
    Oct 3 2024
    Keywords: venture capital, women in business, angel investing, entrepreneurship, Minnesota startups, diversity in investing, career journey, networking, personal mission statement, economic development Summary: In this engaging conversation, Kasey Devine interviews Mickayla Rosard, a partner at Groove Capital, who shares her inspiring journey into venture capital as a young woman. Mickayla discusses her early influences, the importance of building relationships, and her challenges in a male-dominated industry. She emphasizes the need for diversity in investing and the importance of taking action to create change. The conversation also touches on the significance of personal mission statements and the evolving landscape of angel investing in Minnesota. Takeaways
    • Mickayla's journey into venture capital began with her studies in entrepreneurship.
    • Building good relationships is crucial for success in any field.
    • Women need to embrace their capabilities and have confidence in their abilities.
    • Mickayla emphasizes the importance of being proactive and solution-oriented in her career.
    • Diversity in investing is essential for a thriving ecosystem.
    • Networking requires intention and nurturing relationships over time.
    • Mickayla advocates for open discussions about money and investments in Minnesota.
    • The landscape of angel investing is becoming more diverse and inclusive.
    • Personal mission statements help guide career decisions in a non-linear job market.
    • Taking action is more important than just discussing issues.
    Sound Bites
    • "I ended up as a partner in VC."
    • "You gotta maintain good relationships."
    • "You need more women in leadership roles."
    Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mickayla Rosard and Her Journey 02:38 Early Influences and Entry into Venture Capital 08:39 Building Relationships and Confidence in a Male-Dominated Field 12:28 Transitioning to Minnesota and Navigating Career Changes 17:25 Michaela's Role at Groove Capital and Commitment to Diversity 22:21 The Importance of Action and Personal Mission Statements 27:24Advice to Her Younger Self and Engaging with the Community
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    33 mins
  • EP6: Erin Thompson, Founder of Aspire for More with Erin | "Overcoming Self-Doubt and Finding Purpose"

    EP6: Erin Thompson, Founder of Aspire for More with Erin | "Overcoming Self-Doubt and Finding Purpose"
    Sep 9 2024
    Erin Thompson, Founder of Aspire for More with Erin, shares her journey of overcoming self-doubt and finding her true purpose. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and overcoming mental roadblocks and negative thoughts. Erin discusses the two different versions of herself - the professional Erin and the personal Erin - and how she learned to integrate them. She also talks about the impact of COVID-19 on her mindset and the lessons she learned from surrendering control and embracing vulnerability. Erin offers advice on trusting the journey, believing in oneself, and finding meaning in every circumstance. Erin's Links: https://aspireformorewitherin.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinthompsonaspireformore/ Keywords: leadership development, senior living, overcoming self-doubt, mental roadblocks, integrating personal and professional life, COVID-19 impact, surrendering control, vulnerability, finding meaning Takeaways:
    • Acknowledge and overcome mental roadblocks and negative thoughts
    • Integrate personal and professional life to find fulfillment
    • Embrace vulnerability and surrender control to grow and find meaning
    • Trust the journey and believe in oneself
    Sound Bites
    • "How to overcome the mindset of people who tell themselves that they can't do things when they actually can."
    • "How you do that is by saying, yes I can, what are the roadblocks? And typically they're just mental roadblocks."
    • "I resonate with that. If you're familiar with DISC assessments, DISC, two different examples."
    Chapters: 00:00: Introduction and Background 01:40: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Aligning Goals 03:28: Integrating Personal and Professional Identities 05:39: The Importance of Self-Reflection and Awareness 08:30: Taking Control of Thoughts and Emotions 11:30: Embracing Vulnerability and Growth 16:06: Drawing Wisdom from Personal and Faith-Based Experiences 18:27: The Power of Surrendering Control 21:18: Trusting the Process and Believing in Divine Timing 27:40: Engaging with Erin Thompson's Work 29:31: How to Support Erin Thompson 31:38: Conclusion and Call to Action
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    32 mins
  • EP5: Casey Allen, Founder of Enterprise Rising | "Finding Happiness: Fulfilling the Six Basic Human Needs"

    EP5: Casey Allen, Founder of Enterprise Rising | "Finding Happiness: Fulfilling the Six Basic Human Needs"
    Sep 3 2024
    Casey Allen, a technology startup expert, shares his insights on finding happiness and making decisions in life. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and fulfilling the six basic human needs: love, validation, growth, contribution, certainty, and variety. Casey discusses how to assess and improve these needs to achieve true happiness. He also shares his personal journey of failures and successes in the startup world and offers advice for those interested in getting involved with startups. Casey's Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/learncasey/,https://x.com/enterprise_rise?mx=2, https://twitter.com/casey__allen?lang=en, https://enterpriserisingconference2024.splashthat.com/ Keywords: startups, happiness, decision-making, basic human needs, fulfillment, failure, success Takeaways:
    • Understanding and fulfilling the six basic human needs is crucial for achieving true happiness: love, validation, growth, contribution, certainty, and variety.
    • Regularly assess your level of fulfillment in each of these needs to identify areas that need improvement.
    • Failure is a common part of the startup journey, and learning from failures is essential for growth and success.
    • To get involved with startups, immerse yourself in the startup community, attend events, and connect with startup leaders.
    • Consider following Casey Allen on LinkedIn for insights and updates on startups and startup HR.
    Sound Bites
    • "We never learn about happiness in school."
    • "Pinpointing where we're dangerously low and working on those."
    • "Understanding that most successful founders are quite broken inside."
    Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:08 The Importance of Happiness and Decision-Making 05:04 Finding Happiness: Fulfilling the Six Basic Human Needs 10:16 Casey Allen's Journey: Embracing Failure and Success 20:49 The Draw of Startup Life: Understanding the Mindset 27:35 Getting Involved with Startups: Immersion and Connection 34:40 Startup HR: Building a Community for Startup HR Leaders 39:43 Conclusion and Call to Action
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    40 mins
  • EP4: Doug Spencer, Co-Founder & CEO of Bold Xchange | "Flexibility and Adaptability"

    EP4: Doug Spencer, Co-Founder & CEO of Bold Xchange | "Flexibility and Adaptability"
    Aug 26 2024
    Doug Spencer, CEO of Bold Xchange, shares his journey from law school to entrepreneurship. He discusses the importance of being open to new opportunities and making bold decisions. He emphasizes the need for flexibility and adaptability in business and the importance of providing value to customers. Doug also highlights the mission of Bold Xchange to support small businesses, particularly those owned by underrepresented groups. He encourages listeners to share Bold Xchange and help uplift small businesses. Doug's links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-spencer-59279a76/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/bold-xchange/posts/?feedView=all, http://boldxchange.com/ Keywords: entrepreneurship, law school, small business, flexibility, adaptability, underrepresented groups Takeaways:
    • Be open to new opportunities and willing to make bold decisions
    • Flexibility and adaptability are crucial in business
    • Provide value to customers and be willing to pivot when necessary
    • Support small businesses, especially those owned by underrepresented groups
    Sound Bites
    • "Be quick, but don't hurry."
    • "How do we make an opportunity for the little guy?"
    • "Share Bold Xchange. Help us live out our mission."
    Chapters: 00:00: Introduction and Background 03:01: Decision to Leave Law School 06:49: Making Bold Decisions and Pursuing Entrepreneurship 11:05: Moving to St. Louis and Starting Bold Xchange 27:26: Pivoting and Adapting in Business 34:38: Call to Action: Share Bold Exchange
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    36 mins
  • EP3: Shelisa Demuth, CEO & Founder of LAUREL | "A Radical Invitation"

    EP3: Shelisa Demuth, CEO & Founder of LAUREL | "A Radical Invitation"
    Aug 18 2024
    Shelisa Demuth, Founder & CEO of LAUREL, shares her journey from marketing consultant to starting her own public relations consultancy and media platform. She emphasizes the importance of alignment, community, and purpose in her work. She discusses how she developed a sense of community by finding common ground and learning from others. Shelisa advises following your intuition, sharing your unique perspective, and letting things be easy. Links for Shelisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelisademuth/, https://www.laureldevelops.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/laureldevelops/ Keywords Shelisa Demuth, LAUREL, public relations, media platform, alignment, community, purpose, diversity, equity, inclusion, startup, innovation Takeaways
    • Alignment and purpose are key in building a successful business.
    • Developing a sense of community involves finding common ground and learning from others.
    • Follow your intuition, share your unique perspective, and let things be easy.
    Sound Bites
    • "Go where you're celebrated and go where you're relevant."
    • "Hard work doesn't have to mean hard experiences. It's okay for it to be easy."
    • "A radical invitation is making a call out to call in."
    Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:28 Journey to Founding Laurel 05:26 Involvement with Beta 10:04 Developing Community and Connections 12:28 Finding Purpose and Drive 14:57 The Evolution of Laurel 21:04 Radical Invitations and Inclusion 24:59 Advice for Darkest Times or Beginning 29:17 Embracing Ease and Making Progress 30:13 Stay Connected with Shelisa Demuth and Laurel
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    33 mins
  • EP2: Andy Smith, Founding CEO of BlackSmith Ventures | "Infinite Impact"

    EP2: Andy Smith, Founding CEO of BlackSmith Ventures | "Infinite Impact"
    Aug 13 2024

    Andy Smith shares his journey from a small town in Alabama to becoming an entrepreneur. He emphasizes embracing change and surrounding oneself with the right people. Smith discusses the power of social media in building connections and finding one's voice. He also highlights the significance of having a clear purpose and staying focused on freedom rather than just chasing money. Smith's driving force is making an infinite impact and helping others on their entrepreneurial journey.

    Links for Andy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andysmithlife/ , https://theblacksmith.com/ , https://linktr.ee/AndySmithSmith , https://link.theblacksmith.com/widget/booking/3Bbp8hAzM2HMPBT8Uz1K

    Keywords

    entrepreneurship, change, connections, social media, finding one's voice, purpose, freedom, impact

    Sound Bites

    "We go into situations thinking one thing, thinking it's going to go a certain way, maybe a way that we like, and then it changes on a dime." "Surrounding ourselves with the right people and really say to ourselves, look, I'm, I'm a unique creature. I can surround myself with people who elevate me and also people who protect my blind spots." "People absolutely care about you as the person. They want to know who you are, what you do, how you do it and how specifically."

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Background 03:08 Embracing Change and Resilience in Entrepreneurship 06:25 The Power of Building a Strong Network 10:26 Utilizing Social Media for Connection and Storytelling 13:56 Making an Infinite Impact and Helping Others 18:52 Prioritizing Freedom Over Chasing Money 22:39 Never Giving Up and Remembering It's Not About You
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    28 mins
  • EP1: Vision for "how?"

    EP1: Vision for "how?"
    Aug 2 2024

    Join Kasey Devine in the first episode of "how?" as he explains his vision for the podcast. Tired of vague advice in business podcasts, Kasey focuses on actionable insights from successful leaders. This episode delves into understanding the specific steps behind success, aiming to provide practical advice for personal and professional growth. Listen in and refer a guest you'd like to hear on the show!
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    5 mins