Best with Mark Silveira Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 105 - Frans Du Plessis 39:31

2h ago39:31

39:31

"When I started out originally, I said to myself, ‘How awesome would it be to be in every major state I wanted to be in?’." By his own admission, Franz Du Plessis has made quite a few mistakes in the last few years, but that has not stopped him from acquiring multiple businesses in various industries. Driven by his mantra of just being happy and en…

1
3 Steps Every Startup Should Immediately Implement | Vinay Chandrasekaran - E27 1:03:40

1d ago1:03:40

1:03:40

Vinay Chandrasekaran, founder of Frontek Solutions, Crayon’d, and Layerpath, shares his fascinating journey from learning HTML as a teenager in India to becoming the CEO of a successful SaaS company. Vinay delves into his entrepreneurial motivations, experiences at Zoho, and the essential role of community, mentorship, and resilience. He also discu…

1
The Iron Triangle: Integrating Product, Engineering, and Design | Alberto Silveira - E25 1:04:48

3d ago1:04:48

1:04:48

Alberto Silveira is a seasoned engineering leader with a diverse career spanning companies like IBM, Kaplan, Amplify, OnDeck, and currently, HireVue. He is also the author of the book, Building and Managing High Performance Distributed Teams. Alberto discusses the differences between leading small and large engineering teams, the importance of crea…

1
Why You SHOULD NOT Follow Your Mentor | Aaron Trahan - E25 1:04:24

10d ago1:04:24

1:04:24

Aaron Trahan, founder of Performance Mindset Coaching, discusses the fundamental differences between a coach and a mentor. Aaron shares his journey to becoming a coach, emphasizing the importance of having a coach for achieving personal and professional breakthroughs. The conversation delves into identifying signals for needing a coach, finding the…

1
Episode 104 - Lyle Steffensen 38:31

15d ago38:31

38:31

"How do we get out of our own way so we can be transformational leaders?" Speaking of the insurance industry, Lyle Steffensen says, “We're an industry of mavericks. We're an industry of people who don't fit other places”. She follows that up with, “But I don't think I've met many people who know that.” It is clear that Lyle has a passion for the in…

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Community Building, A Harvard Study’s Take on Fulfillment, and The 4 P’s of Mentoring | YJ Lin - E24 54:12

17d ago54:12

54:12

YJ Lin is a key player in the Austin startup ecosystem. He graduated from the University of Houston and is deeply involved with communities like Ascend Austin and the Executive Council Network. Currently, he is the Chief Fun Officer of York's Game Pieces, and Senior Program Manager at Dell for Startups. Over the past decade, YJ has orchestrated cit…

1
Customer Discovery, Validation, and Acquisition for Early-Stage Growth | Jeff Eversmann - E23 1:05:32

24d ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Jeff Eversmann is an experienced design engineer, fractional CFO at Miranti Growth, and GP at Longview Tech Ventures. Drawing from his career across various high-level roles, Jeff explains the continuum from product market match to alignment and finally to fit. He discusses examples, especially Uber's market strategy, and elaborates on how early-st…

1
Robotic Delivery, Co-Founder Dynamics, & Seeking Feedback | Ben James and Dylan Mankey - E22 1:00:29

1M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Ben James and Dylan Mankey from Tubular Networks discuss their journey from their initial meeting at HomeAway to co-founding Tubular Networks. Ben shares his extensive background in product management, having worked at companies such as National Instruments, VRBO, and Magic Leap, while Dylan talks about his engineering leadership roles with experie…

1
Episode 103 - Mark Silveira 28:23

1M ago28:23

28:23

"I've never been good at being a specialist at anything so I became a generalist at everything." Like many people in this podcast series, mine is a migrant's story infused with the generous support of so many people, particularly from within the Insurance Industry. The ability to develop relationships and create a career working across so many dive…

1
Humanity and AI, Embracing Serendipity, and the Art of Storytelling | Mark Fallows - E21 1:00:30

1M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

Mark Fallows is a seasoned advertising professional and founder of Fabrica Collective. He is also a creative collective based in New York, now operating from Austin. Mark shares his early career journey in advertising, including his roles at Oracle and McCann, and his motivation behind founding Fabrica Collective. He emphasizes the importance of li…

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Building TeleSign, Registering a C Corp, Navigating Acquisitions, and Utilizing Cybersecurity | Stacy Stubblefield - E20 58:21

2M ago58:21

58:21

Stacey Stubblefield is a former entrepreneur in residence at Curious Minds Inc, who co-founded TeleSign, a company born out of the incubator. Stacey shares her unconventional journey from considering law school to embracing technology and entrepreneurship, leading to the creation and eventual acquisition of TeleSign by BICS. Stacey discusses the ch…

1
Reimagining Media Consumption, Podcasting and Advertising | Sky King - E19 55:34

2M ago55:34

55:34

Sky King shares his journey from being a digital marketing specialist to founding his own company, Modern Stoa. King discusses his early career, his experiences with companies like Onnit and Aubrey Marcus, and his transition into the podcasting world with creations like 'Creator of Curiosity' and 'Sky King's Mental Playground.' He dives into the im…

1
Episode 102 - David Cook 22:21

2M ago22:21

22:21

"I look back now, and I think this (insurance) industry has made me a better person. That, to me, is the value of this industry; it gives as much back as you put into it." An accounting background allowed David Cook to work in retail. In his words, “Accounting wasn't for me. It just didn't suit me and my style. I loved the retail side of it, but si…

1
Unshackled: An Immigrant’s Guide to Thriving in the US | Soundarya Balasubramani - E18 59:27

2M ago59:27

59:27

Soundarya Balasubramani, an NIT Trichy and Columbia graduate, writer, and founder of Unshackled.club, details her journey from India to the U.S. Her career shifts from Salesforce to entrepreneurship, and even ventures into writing, including her blog Curious Maverick and books 'Admitted' and 'Unshackled'. The discussion spans her motivations, the i…

1
Navigating a Venture Debt Approach as an Early Stage Founder | Chris De Ayala - E17 40:48

2M ago40:48

40:48

Chris De Ayala, a UT McComb School of Business graduate working in banking, specifically in venture debt at the Bank of California shares insights into the role of venture lending, emphasizing its value to VC-backed startups by offering non-dilutive capital to extend their runway post-equity rounds. He details the ideal timing for startups to seek …

1
Is Your Product Solving the Right Problem? | Jake O’Shea - E16 1:04:08

3M ago1:04:08

1:04:08

Jake O'Shea, currently a Principal at Antler in Austin, delves into his rich background in the startup ecosystem. With experiences ranging from director roles at Capital Factory to mentoring at accelerators, Jake discusses the vibrant startup ideas and trends in Austin, emphasizing the ubiquitous role of AI in modern software development. He sheds …

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Product Leadership, Sales, & Pricing in B2b SaaS | Mike Ditson - E15 57:03

3M ago57:03

57:03

In episode 15, Mike Ditson joins us today to talk product management, sales, and innovation! Currently, Mike is the VP of Product Strategy at Envato Group and a lecturer in product management. He shares valuable insights on the importance of sales for product leaders, how to approach building a competent sales team, especially for founders without …

1
Episode 101 - Kara McInnes 35:16

3M ago35:16

35:16

"Insurance was never on my radar. It didn't strike me as a career." Eradicating doubt is imperative in clearing the first hurdle to a successful career, and Kara McInnes discusses how she managed to do that in her life and career. In dealing with clients suffering significant stress during major catastrophes, she believes that using emotional intel…

1
Episode 100 - Jonathan Hubbard 33:38

3M ago33:38

33:38

"You've got to put the hard yards in, and there’s no easy path, no shortcut; you have to do the hard work!" Jonathan's first foray into insurance was with the Nottingham City Council In England. He felt he had found his calling in their insurance claims department. He then moved to Australia in 1994 and met some great people. His love affair with l…

1
Navigating Acquisitions, Saying ‘I Don’t Know’, Embracing Randomness | Ken Platt - E14 59:14

3M ago59:14

59:14

Episode 14 features Ken Platt, an experienced entrepreneur and advisor with a rich history in operations, supply chain management, and startup leadership. Ken shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey that began later in life, sparked by his exposure to diverse businesses during the Y2K project era. He details his evolution from corporate pr…

1
What You Need to Get Right to Nurture a Successful Mentorship | Scott Finkelstein - E13 56:41

3M ago56:41

56:41

Scott, a seasoned C-level executive, draws from a diverse background in business leadership and organizational transformation. Originally aspiring to a career in finance, his trajectory shifted after witnessing the events of September 11th, leading him to navigate a path of resilience and mentorship. With a strategic vision and executive acumen, Sc…

1
Episode 99 - Shaneika Sutherland 41:52

4M ago41:52

41:52

"I always wanted to be better for myself. It was never that I wanted to be better than somebody else." Migrating from Ireland with a background in banking meant that Shaneika had to take a step back and start from the beginning in the insurance world. Her thirst for learning has seen her escalate her career in a very short time frame, and in 2023, …

1
Financial Modeling, Profitability & Raising Venture Capital for Startups | Lauren Pearl - E12 52:58

4M ago52:58

52:58

Lauren Pearl is a Fractional CFO/COO and Advisor who graduated from Boston University and NYU Stern where she did her MBA. She has a rich background in financial modeling and has a unique perspective on growing profitable startups. She is a 2x founder and recently started Pearl and Elmore, an offsite programming company. She was the Director of Str…

1
Finding the Lessons in Messy Situations | Curtis Dean - E11 58:12

4M ago58:12

58:12

Curtis Dean is the founder and creative director for Strangers Only, a lifestyle clothing brand and is also a coach helping people maximize their potential and design the lives they want. He is a positive thinker with a unique perspective on life. He has spoken at Soho houses and shared his deep knowledge on various topics. Key Takeaways: Identifyi…

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Trust is a Commodity, Hiring for Culture vs Skill Set, & Change Management | Steven Puri - E10 58:31

4M ago58:31

58:31

Steven Puri is a multipreneur who launched his career in the film industry and is also the founder of Sukha Company, previously known as Centred. He started Centropolis Effects. a CGI company then exited and has held multiple senior roles in big film companies like 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks. He is a chief strategist and has supported various …

1
Episode 98 - Nicholas Ackers 40:26

4M ago40:26

40:26

"I found it (Antarctica) the most incredible place to be (for work). The scenery, the shades and the colours and the vastness of where you change your whole mindset" Complex, interesting, major losses helped pave the way to become the loss adjuster and person Nick is today. In his own words, “When I left the farm, I never ever imagined I would be d…

1
Establishing a CPG Athleisure Brand, Calculated Risks, and Aligning with a Co-Founder | Daniella Rosa - E9 1:04:20

4M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

Daniella Rosa is the founder of Aiea Golf, an athleisure lifestyle brand for women golfers. She also was the owner and designer of cutclothing.com. Daniella has held various marketing roles in her career in the auction industry. As she hit the ceiling in her career she made an instant decision to switch and start a brand and this has been a great l…

1
Tony Robbin’s Peak Performance Strategist on Overcoming the Top 3 Fears in Sales | Brian Mayoral - E8 1:03:46

5M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

Brian Mayoral has been the number one peak performance strategist for Tony Robbins for over six years and is currently the CIO and founder of his agency called Sellup. As an avid sales manager and leader early on in his career, Brian joins us on Funds and Founders to discuss what he’s learned when it comes to selling yourself, common fears entrepre…

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Immigrating to the States, Building Community, & Establishing Brand Value | Lekan Olude - E7 38:56

5M ago38:56

38:56

Lekan Olude is a distinguished Nigerian entrepreneur best known for co-founding Jobberman, West Africa's leading job search engine. In 2021, he founded Motherboard, a comprehensive employee benefits platform, further solidifying his impact on the Nigerian business landscape. He’s a previous guest on the podcast in which we wanted to continue the co…

1
What Founders Underestimate About Building a Startup | Saleem Ahmad - E6 1:29:52

5M ago1:29:52

1:29:52

In this episode, serial entrepreneur, investor and founding partner of Anti-VC, Saleem Ahmed, joins us in an engaging discussion about his transition from an unfulfilling career in engineering to founding successful startups. In addition to Anti-VC, Saleem founded Jrop and Zown. Today, Saleem discusses what many founders tend to underestimate about…

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Market Validation, Sales & Co-Founding Job Machine | Brandon Tigges - E5 1:02:18

5M ago1:02:18

1:02:18

In this episode, Brandon Tigges, the CEO of Job Machine, shares his journey as an entrepreneur, and the valuable lessons that have shaped his career in sales and marketing. He portrays the picture of a resilient military child. He gives an insight into his transformative experiences in creating a failed marketing agency and then working for a robot…

1
Episode 97 - Katrina Shanks 41:28

5M ago41:28

41:28

"Your footprint should be bigger than yourself." Influenced by a grandmother and father, both of whom devoted their time to public service, Katrina Shanks has established a huge presence public presence in New Zealand and, as a recent migrant to Australia, hopes to continue that work in her new role as CEO of ANZIIF.…

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Building Intuitive Problem-Solving SaaS Products | Bret Siers - E4 52:20

5M ago52:20

52:20

In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Training Layers, Bret Sears. He shares his entrepreneurial journey, from running a financial services company to building TrainingLayers, a ground-breaking software training platform. We delve deep into the learning curve involved in building a SaaS product from the ground up and how Bret navigated t…

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Austin’s Startup Ecosystem, Building a Personal Brand, Finding Mentors & Venture Capital | Marc Nathan - E3 1:18:56

6M ago1:18:56

1:18:56

Marc Nathan is the Vice President of Client Strategy at Egan Nelson LLP, specializing in Emerging Technology and Venture Capital. With a robust background in the Texas Technology and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) startup community, he serves as a mentor to early-stage startups, providing expertise in fundraising strategy, connecting with investors,…

1
Scaling to A Million Users: Jobberman Job Board Giant | Lekan Olude - E2 49:16

6M ago49:16

49:16

Lekan Olude is a distinguished Nigerian entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Jobberman, West Africa's leading job search engine. Born and raised in Ogun State, he pursued his education at Obafemi Awolowo University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. With a diverse career that includes experiences at Goldman Sachs and TeleMo…

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Transforming Politics into Fantasy Sports: Fantasy Elect | Justin Schoenfelder - E1 55:58

6M ago55:58

55:58

Justin Schoenfelder is the CEO and Founder of Fantasy Elect, a platform that merges the fantasy sports experience with politics, allowing users to compete for bragging rights and cash. He is also a co-host of the Bully Pulpit podcast and has a strong passion for learning. With a diverse background in executive coaching, real estate development, ind…

1
The Untold Stories Behind Their Breakthroughs 2:15

6M ago2:15

2:15

Welcome to "Funds & Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs," where we dig deep into the stories of successful Austin founders. Instead of focusing on their successes though, we dive into their journeys, particularly the struggles and obstacles they had to overcome. This weekly podcast is tailored for Austin founders navigating the ear…

1
Wrapping Up 2023 3:18

7M ago3:18

3:18

The Business Made Personal team wishes to thank all those who have supported the podcast series, including our fabulous guests, our awesome listeners, and those wonderful people who have taken the time to provide us with their suggestions. How to Connect with Mark: Email: mark@bmppodcast.com.auBy with Mark Silveira

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Episode 96 - Tim Fairbrother 33:36

7M ago33:36

33:36

"I learnt pretty quickly when I was young that nothing great comes without hard work." A professional rugby player for 13 years, Tim looks back on that time - a time when he says, “You earn really good money, you don't even have to buy running shoes or lunch”, what it taught him and how he was able to apply it in his business journey.…

1
Episode 95 - Isabelle Kwek 21:46

7M ago21:46

21:46

"I think women have a tendency to need to feel confident about what they do before they step into an opportunity." Sitting in law school, going to lectures, and learning about the law, Isabell was uncertain as to what her career would look like. She knew she was not interested in attending Court, and that’s when fate stepped in. A brief experience …

1
Episode 94 - Heather Blanco 23:08

8M ago23:08

23:08

"I wasn't going to let anyone prevent me from getting to where I wanted to be." Being challenged as a young female by a plethora of difficult personalities, Heather has had to learn the sometimes difficult art of standing up and calling people out. Having now worked out her own strengths and immersed herself in education, Heather believes she is in…

1
Episode 93 - Deborah McBrearty 41:28

8M ago41:28

41:28

"One of the biggest challenges for me was being made redundant because the world economy had collapsed." Finding herself as a solo parent in London with two small children caused Deborah to reevaluate life. Most would have moved back home to New Zealand for the safety of family and friends, but Deborah decided to pack up and move herself and her tw…

1
Episode 92 - Tim Rafton 34:12

8M ago34:12

34:12

"I was never going to let the wheelchair define my life!" With a strong belief that being number 1 amongst a cohort of inconsistent performers is not something to aspire to, Tim’s number one priority and belief is that if we change the speed at which we settle insurance claims, we would change the perception of insurance for the general public.…

1
Episode 91 - Anita Lane 38:16

8M ago38:16

38:16

"It changes your DNA when you have to build and grow your business with no safety net." Working as a box girl at Lloyds, taught Anita that being young and female was something to be proud of and embrace wholeheartedly. It was also instrumental in developing her power of observational behaviour and becoming intuitive and resilient, which has stood h…

1
Episode 90 - Nick McLardy 19:36

9M ago19:36

19:36

"Get in front of people and ask stupid questions!" A career in insurance means Nick is able to indulge his passion for traveling as well as expand his capabilities within the business environment. To date, his biggest challenge has been that of managing people - he is quick to add that it is a good challenge.…

1
Episode 89 - Tanushree Arora-Sopori 20:00

9M ago20:00

20:00

"Do not jump into whatever you get. Think of what you love and what you want to do." With parents who were a teacher and an accountant and living in Agra (India), Tanushree and her University sweetheart (now husband) created a dream to migrate to Australia whilst they were in their 20s. Having achieved that dream but then finding that her destiny w…

1
Episode 88 - Dale Smith 27:24

10M ago27:24

27:24

"I used to think that wealth was a measure of success but you soon realise that that’s not the case." By his own admission, whilst he trained as an Accountant, Dale knew it wasn't the career for him, however, that grounding gave him insight into how numbers work and the early warning signs in business to be aware of. His trajectory from Accountant …

1
Episode 87 - Tetiana George 30:22

10M ago30:22

30:22

"It's important to be able to make mistakes." In February 2022, Tetiana’s world turned from very rosy and optimistic to a very dark place. With her home Country, Ukraine being invaded and suffering pre-natal depression, starting a new business was a struggle. Feeling she just needed to survive and find pleasure in the small things in life gave Teti…

1
Episode 86 - Drew Schnehage 34:06

10M ago34:06

34:06

"Step up. Step out and put yourself out there." From running a modeling school at age 25 to creating a career in the corporate world including commencing an underwriting agency at 32, Drew Schnehage has been goal-driven from a young age. She explains why and the lessons she has learned along her journey.…

1
Episode 85 - Aimee Henderson 33:48

10M ago33:48

33:48

"The only way you learn and grow is to push yourself into those uncomfortable situations and do it anyway." Having experienced the life insurance and general insurance industries, has given Aimee a real passion for what she does best - assisting people when they need her the most. This was never clearer to her than when, six months after joining a …

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