Best Yj Podcasts (2024)

1
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
The HR Secrets Every Leader Needs to Know with Andrew Bartlow 29:31

2h ago29:31

29:31

Human resources expert Andrew Bartlow joins the pod to talk about all things management, especially when it comes to tech startups looking to scale and grow their management strategy and team. Working with corporations like Pepsi and GE, as well as gaining experience in every stage of startup growth, Andrew specializes in helping early stage compan…

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
The Switchless Smart Switch with Adis Lujinovic 35:11

12d ago35:11

35:11

Forging the Future gets its first student entrepreneur guest, Adis Lujinovic, a Texas A&M Chemical Engineering senior and CEO of Switchless. Switchless, founded in 2022, is a startup pioneering the smart home industry with feature-rich and interconnected smart switches for commercial and residential use. Talking points include Adis’ early inspirati…

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
AI in the Outfield: How Sports Tech will Change Professional Sports with Nate Thompson 28:59

16d ago28:59

28:59

Nate Thompson, Managing Partner of HTX Sports Tech, joins the show to talk about his impact as a key player in the sports technology industry. Sports tech is an industry experiencing massive growth and incredible innovations in recent years, and Nate has been at the forefront, providing strategic guidance to sports organizations, innovation ecosyst…

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
Empowering Student Startups at Texas A&M with Shelly Brenckman 35:51

1M ago35:51

35:51

Forging the Future finds itself in Aggieland with this week’s guest, 1876 Venture Director Shelly Brenckman. As a lifelong entrepreneur and learner, Shelly works with Texas A&M students on an independent, pro-bono startup and student accelerator. Talking points include gaining fundraising experience in unlikely places, catching the spark of entrepr…

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
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…

1
Additive Manufacturing & the Future of Engineering with AmPd's Timothy Neal 26:01

2M ago26:01

26:01

Timothy Neal, CEO of AmPd Labs, joins the pod to talk about the future of manufacturing and the industry side of 3D printing. Standing for “additive manufacturing product design,” AmPd Labs is a Houston-based additive manufacturing startup with capabilities that span the entire product lifecycle, from design to production. As the first CEO of AmPd,…

1
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
Equipping Today’s Entrepreneurs for Tomorrow’s Challenges with gBETA’s Muriel Foster 28:13

2M ago28:13

28:13

Muriel Foster, Director at gBETA Houston, joins Forging the Future in a conversation about equipping entrepreneurs with skills, networks, and mentors for the challenges of the future. gBETA is a part of a growing community of accelerators under the brand gener8tor, a platform that empowers programs like gBETA to provide incredible opportunities for…

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
Networks in Action: Driving Economic Growth Through Community Ecosystems 38:52

3M ago38:52

38:52

Forging the Future heads to Austin for the Texas Venture Forum & Gala to discuss community-driven innovation happening across the state and the impacts of the Texas triangle on the global economy. From Austin’s own backyard to Latin America, Chris talks with directors, CEOs, and futurists in this mashup episode about their respective projects and t…

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 …

1
Capital Connections: Bridging Family, Finance & Future with Denny Chared 22:08

3M ago22:08

22:08

Denny Chared, Founder of DC Finance, joins Chris at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum in Austin to discuss the current trends and future potential of family office investments in tech and venture. With origins in Israel and a base in New York, DC Finance builds an international network of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and investors for m…

1
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
The Billion-Dollar Path of People-Centric Leadership with Jay Steinfeld 36:22

3M ago36:22

36:22

Jay Steinfeld, Founder of Blinds.com and Entrepreneur in Residence at Rice Business School, presses rewind to take Chris to 2001 to discuss the founding, innovating, and selling his company. Originally started as Laura’s Draperies, Bedspreads, and More, Blinds.com was inspired by Jay’s desire to evolve continuously, and ended up being sold to Home …

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
Dell for Startups: From Cowboy Boots to Startup Roots with YJ Lin 26:43

3M ago26:43

26:43

YJ Lin, Sr Program Manager at Dell for Startups, joins Chris at South by Southwest to celebrate 40 years of Dell and the company’s recent initiatives to make startups soar, both in Houston at The Cannon and around the world. Dell for Startups provides mentorship magic for innovative startups at every stage in their journey, offering tech support an…

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
From Lone Star to Tech Star: Texas' Triangle Transforms the Techscape with Thom Singer 27:01

4M ago27:01

27:01

Thom Singer, CEO of Austin Technology Center (ATC), meets up with Chris at SXSW to celebrate the past of Austin’s amazing tech accomplishments and look to the future of a more innovative Texas. Made up of 280 companies and over 60,000 employees, the ATC fosters innovation and growth within Austin’s technology ecosystem by connecting, promoting, and…

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
Beyond Tomorrow: Futurism, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation at SXSW 27:23

4M ago27:23

27:23

Chris takes Forging the Future on the road to Austin for 2024’s South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference, held from March 8 - 16. Speaking with special guests and subject matter experts Mike Courtney, Ilya Tabakh, and Ehab Gabr, this episode tackles a taste of South By and talks about some of the most innovative technologies on the (very) near horizon.…

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…

1
Reimagining Leadership Development in the Age of AI with Kim Bach 25:20

4M ago25:20

25:20

Chris talks with Kim Bach, the SVP of Customer Success and CPO at Dailyhuman for an episode on groundbreaking AI technology as a tool for fostering and sustaining human skills in organizations. Kim helped pilot Dailyhuman in the NFL Combine through a readiness mindfulness lab and says that through AI, Dailyhuman makes lasting changes in qualities l…

1
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
Feeding Tomorrow: Revolutionizing the Future of Restaurant Technology with Aaron Knape 33:40

4M ago33:40

33:40

Aaron Knape, CEO and Co-Founder of Rivalry Tech, joins the pod to talk about his journey to entrepreneurship and what it's like to scale a leading technology company in Houston. Rivalry Tech began with their mobile platform, sEATz, and has now expanded to revolutionize hospitality and convenience with their order fulfillment technology. Talking poi…

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
Accenture's Approach to Corporate Innovation at Scale with Brian Richards 29:51

5M ago29:51

29:51

Brian Richards, Managing Director at Accenture’s Houston Innovation Hub, joins the pod to talk about helping senior leaders at large corporations in greater innovation and spearheading projects in the Houston innovation community. Serving clients globally, Accenture is a professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud, and…

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…

1
Corporations at the Forefront of Catalyzing Houston’s Startup Ecosystem with Scott Gale 29:52

5M ago29:52

29:52

Scott Gale, Executive Director of Halliburton Labs, brings innovation and scale to center stage in this week’s episode. Founded in 2020, Halliburton Labs provides access to a unique industrial setting catered to the specific needs of tech startups who are changing the face of clean energy today and for the future. Talking points include forging his…

1
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
Investing in Houston Healthcare: Making a Global Impact in the World's Largest Medical Center with Jay Zeidman 34:19

5M ago34:19

34:19

Jay Zeidman, Managing Partner of Altitude Ventures and Chairman of the Board for Houston First, talks about making impactful investments in the future of healthcare and the wellbeing of Houston. Based in Nashville, Altitude Ventures accelerates growth and provides early-stage venture capital financing for healthcare services and startups. Talking p…

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…

1
Activating Venture Capital Across Texas's $2.4 Trillion Dollar Economy with CS Freeland 30:07

5M ago30:07

30:07

CS Freeland, Founder of the Texas Venture Alliance and creator of the Texas Venture Crawl (now known as Texas Venture Fest), joins the pod to share her unique insights on the thriving innovation scene in Texas. Founded in 2022, the Texas Venture Alliance is a statewide venture capital network and ecosystem of startup support that aims to amplify ve…

1
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
How Houston’s Impacting the Globe through Innovation with Steve Kean 27:13

5M ago27:13

27:13

Steve Kean, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), joins the pod to talk about the unique innovations and impact the city of Houston has already accomplished and can look forward to on the horizon. Formed in 1989, the Greater Houston Partnership has a mission to make Houston one of the best places to live, work and build a busi…

1
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…

1
Launching and Scaling Softeq Venture Studio with Texas Entrepreneur, Chris Howard 16:32

6M ago16:32

16:32

Chris Howard, Founder and CEO of Softeq, switches places from host chair to the hot seat in this part two episode guest hosted by entrepreneur, angel investor, and COO of Softeq, Craig Ceccanti. Continuing their previous conversation from part one, Craig and Chris tackle Softeq’s present-day success with their venture studio and Chris’s journey as …

1
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…

1
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
Insights from a 30-Year Tech Founder with Chris Howard & Craig Ceccanti 25:43

6M ago25:43

25:43

Chris Howard, Founder and CEO of Softeq, switches places from host chair to the hot seat in this episode guest hosted by entrepreneur and angel investor Craig Ceccanti. Inspired by feedback from his own interview on Forging the Future, Craig wants to reverse the roles with Chris and give the podcast audience an opportunity to learn the origin story…

1
Houston-Based SnapStream's Ascent to $7M in ARR with Rakesh Agrawal 29:24

6M ago29:24

29:24

In this episode of Forging the Future, Chris sits down with Rakesh Agrawal, founder and CEO of SnapStream, to discuss his journey of founding and scaling a technology business in Houston prior to the prevalence of the budding ecosystem that exists today. Rakesh shares his experience of founding SnapStream over 20 years ago and the importance of gle…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Yj Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide