Arizona Originals

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp.  If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I encourage you to do so. This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of empowering and engaging employees.  We touch on several issues including accountability, transparency, delegation, and tolerance for failure. Also check out David's discussion about Demystifying Millennials from last season.

This week our guest is Mark Jacobs, the dean of Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University.  He came to ASU in the fall of 2003 from Swarthmore College, where he had held an endowed chair in biology and had been both chair of the Biology Department and associate provost of the College. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard in biology and earned his Ph.D. at Stanford University in biological sciences. During his tenure at Barrett Honors College, Dean Jacobs has overseen tremendous growth, and during our conversation, he shares his story, the influences in his life, and his approach to leading and learning which influence the way he approaches his job and the students and culture at Barrett. You will also want to be sure you have listened to our episode with  Ambassador Barbara Barrett! SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST 1491

This week our guest is Greg Peterson, founder of the Urban Farm in Phoenix.  His mission is inspire people to embrace their own greenness,which he does daily by living what he speaks. He received his master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning (MUEP) in December 2006 from Arizona State University. His academic training has been augmented by 34 years of real world self-study, ownership of multiple businesses and a rich background in entrepreneurship, computer training, software development and management. Our conversation covers everything from nurturing curiosity, finding passion, building community, engaging in lifelong learning, and creating a long-lasting impact in our communities.  Greg's story engages and his enthusiasm inspires. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Urban Farm Podcast Ocean Robbins John Lee Dumas Scott Murray GrowPHX Diet For A New America Ishmael

This week our guest is Jonathan Keyser - the founder of Keyser…a commercial real estate firm in Scottsdale, AZ.  Jonathan’s enthusiasm is unmistakable and you’ll benefit from hearing how this son of missionaries was driven to pursue success, but more importantly, how his views of success and wealth have evolved.   Jonathan discusses topics ranging from his views on: Developing a long-term, sustainable and successful business thru helping others, Developing resilience and patience, Identifying what gets in the way of living out our values, Pursuing intentional imbalance in your life. And he also provides some insights into mindset and offers some great tools including the 30-day Positivity Challengeand the Everything Is A Gift Challenge. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Disruptive Mindset The Way of Mastery Please follow the Arizona Originals podcast on these social media platforms: Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.  And thanks to Beth Lewallen at Italicized Consulting for all her help getting our social media up

This week our guest is Sharon Orlopp - formerly the SVP of Human Resources and Global Chief Diversity Officer for WalMart.  Today, she is an author and continues her work as a leader in human resources for Core Scientific and Orangetheory Fitness.  We cover a range of issues from mentoring, to the role of diversity in innovation, to proactive goal setting, to the lessons she learned from her parents and how her experiences as a child set her on a path to leadership within one of the largest retailers in the world. She recently released "Standing Up After Saigon" which she co-wrote with Thuhang Tran.  The book tells Tran's story of resilience, courage and survival as she faced polio and life in Saigon after its fall in the Vietnam War...and Sharon shares more detail about the book and how it came about in our conversation. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Standing Up After Saigon Granite Mountain Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park Blockchain Revolution The Story of Blockchain Truth Machine

This week our guest is John Jennings - formerly the CEO of Safeguard Security, CEO of CQR Technologies and founder of QuickPass.  A native Arizonan, John shares his story which took him from the early days of the security business to growing one of the larger businesses in the industry.  He also discusses some important lessons learned from Jim Collins and how some counter-intuitive strategies led to tremendous growth for his company. Additionally, John discusses the lessons learned transitioning a family business from one generation to the next, the value of making mistakes, the lessons learned from his work with Hospice of the Valley, and the difference between leadership and management.  He covers that and so much more. Please follow the Arizona Originals podcast on these social media platforms: Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.  And thanks to Beth Lewallen at Italicized Consulting for all her help getting our social media up and running...and be sure to follow her on Twitter!  SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST

This week our guest is Joshua Becker- bestselling author, blogger and popular speaker on the topic of minimalism.  You won’t want to miss his story and his thoughts on everything from building a platform, navigating career change, determining what your "first filter" is, dealing with online trolls and haters, to building a team around you to make you your best. He takes us on his journey from studying banking and finance, to attending seminary and becoming a minister, to a particular Saturday speaking with a neighbor who would be a catalyst for where Joshua is today.  And if you have never thought about the topic of minimalism, this conversation will not only be a solid introduction, but will also be thought provoking. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST The Hope Effect Simplify Magazine Simple Money Magazine The 80/20 Principle Journey Church The Good Place - NBC The More of Less Clutterfree with Kids The Minimalist Home    

This week our guest is Park Howell - founder of the Business of Story…and you also might know him from the ad agency he founded, Park & Co.  This conversation is packed with great stories and very practical advice about how you can tell better stories to help you grow your business and your personal platform.   SELECT LINKS FROM THE SHOW: The Business of Story Park Howell's website Save the Cat The Hero With 1,000 Faces Save the Cat Goes to the Movies Origin Story: A Big History of Everything The Business of Story podcast What My TEDx Talk Taught Me About Storytelling Park's TEDx talk

Ron Robertson is the co-founder and CEO of Picmonic, a revolutionary visual learning platform proven to help students master critical information and retain it longer. Ron grew up in Show Low, Arizona and his journey takes him from the cool pines of Arizona to the beaches of San Diego, and then back to the University of Arizona for medical school.  During his preparation for the US Medical Licensing Exam, his life took an interesting turn...and he tells that story which led to the founding of Picmonic. In our conversation, Ron covers a variety of topics of interest to students, lifetime learners, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in improving yourself.  He also makes a good case that everyone could benefit from knowing a great tattoo artist! SELECT LINKS The Hard Thing About Hard Things Moonwalking with Einstein Galvanize Phoenix Campus

Olympic gold medalist Misty Hyman won a stunning upset victory at the 2000 Sydney games when she came from behind to break the American record and win the 200-meter butterfly. Recognized as a pioneer in the sport for her innovative underwater dolphin kick, she won 13 U.S. and five NCAA national titles. Hyman is recognized as one of the most inspirational athletes of our time. Her knowledge of the sport, gained from two decades of competitive swimming for two of America’s top swim coaches, coupled with her friendly and encouraging personality, have made her one of the country’s leading swim instructors. She is the former Senior Assistant Coach for the Arizona State University swimming program and offers personalized and private coaching at The Sanctuary Resort in Paradise Valley, AZ. She also hosts clinics and camps throughout the United States. As a motivational speaker, Hyman helps athletes, students, and corporations alike set and reach seemingly unattainable goals. In this episode, Misty shares her story a

Our guest is Russ Perry, the founder of Design Pickle - a subscription-based, on-demand graphic design service based in Scottsdale, AZ.  Russ recently released his new book, The Sober Entrepreneur. Russ is a 3rd generation Arizonan with roots in the historic Copper Triangle mining area.  Our conversation not only covers his personal story, but includes insights on a wide range of issues affecting your personal and professional life.  Russ also shares a powerful story about a Pepsi vending machine...you will not want to miss that story or the moral of that tale. Find us at Arizona Originals!

This week our guest is Shiva Planjery - the co-founder and CEO of Codelucida, a Tucson-based company working to improve error-correction solutions for everything from flash drives to hard disk drives. Shiva shares his story which took him from the US to South Korea to India to Canada and, ultimately, to Tucson. He not only shares insights about life and work stemming from his formative years, but how they help inform how he approaches his life as an entrepreneur. It’s another great story coming out of Tech Launch Arizona at the University of Arizona...I know you will learn from our conversation.

In Season 2 Episode 12, we spoke with David Kolbe, the CEO of Kolbe Corp.  If you haven’t already listened to that episode, we encourage you to do so.   David was kind enough to share his thoughts on a variety of topics in short, topical episodes which we will share intermittently over the coming months.   This week we spend a few moments with David on the topic of millennials and the multi-generational workforce.  He shares some common-sense insights which demystify what many make out to be complex and potentially counterproductive.   Reach us at contact@azoriginals.net   Check out what is happening at the AZ Chamber

This week our guest is Jordan Lancaster - the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Avery Therapeutics, a Tucson-based company working to solve the problem of heart tissue regeneration. Jordan comes from a long line of cardiologists and has found himself focused on the research side of the heart…and now is leading an entrepreneurial endeavor to bring scientific innovations to make the next leap forward in cardiac care. Jordan, who cycled for the University of Arizona and rode his first El Tour de Tucson at the age of eight, discusses topics ranging from mentoring, to building a culture of teamwork, to bringing research into the entrepreneurial space. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Avery Therapeutics on LinkedIn McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship - Eller College of Management - University of Arizona Tech Launch Arizona Zach Ferres podcast Hickman's Family Farms podcast Reach us at contact@azoriginals.net Check out what is happening at the AZ Chamber 

This week our guest is Mac Perlich - the president and publisher of ON Media Publications. Mac shares what I believe are two of the best life lessons we can all learn from and discusses her journey from nursing into publishing. I know you’ll enjoy her insights and her passion for everything she is involved with from publishing, to the Culture Pass program, to the Act One Foundation. We cover a wide range of topics from how to develop meaningful and mutually-beneficial business relationships, to thoughts about retirement, and much more. Follow us on our new social media channels - Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (thanks to Beth Lewellen for all her help on this)!  

Joann MacMaster brought extensive background in entrepreneurship and startups to her position as the Director of Business Development for the University of Arizona's Tech Launch Arizona.  In addition to having three successful exits (including one IPO) in private enterprise, she has served as Director of the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) technology business incubator, Program Director for the UA McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship, and is a UA Academic Leadership Institute Fellow. Among the many topics we cover, Joann discusses how to create a healthy corporate culture, mentorship and building mentor networks, and changes in the culture of entrepreneurship. SELECT LINKS: Art of the Start 2.0 by Guy Kawasaki Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath The Rainforest - by Victor Hwang Prescott College  Regulonix Arizona Chamber of Commerce contact@azoriginals.net    

John Phelps is the CEO and executive director of the State Bar of Arizona, an organization focused on improving the administration of justice and the competency, ethics, and professionalism of lawyers in Arizona. John's introduction to Arizona came when his father was stationed at Ft. Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona.  Ultimately, John became a second generation career Army officer where he also became an intelligence officer before pursuing a law degree from the University of Arizona and joining the US Army's JAG corps.  Following his 25-year career in the Army, John served in the Arizona Office of Homeland Security, the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross, and as the chief of staff at the US General Services Administration. John discusses topics ranging from the challenges of leading in a "zero-defect" environment, balancing "gut feelings" with data, leading in non-profits and government organizations, surrounding yourself with trusted advisers, and so much more. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Go

We’re joined by three generations of leaders from Hickman’s Family Farms - Bill Hickman, Sr., Glenn Hickman, and Branden Hickman. Each one shares stories and insights I know you will enjoy and learn from. They share some unique insights to being part of a family business, engaging with community, the importance of education, and how they approach changing production requirements in response to customer demands for products such as cage-free eggs. SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Arizona's Future of Education Vision event on 12/12/17 (Glenn mentioned in the podcast) Dirty Jobs w/ Mike Rowe at Hickman's Family Farms (Season 4, Episode 25) Arizona Chamber of Commerce contact@azoriginals.net

David Kolbe - the CEO of Kolbe Corp - shares insights into how they help individuals and companies thrive, how leveraging technology can grow your audience and simultaneously reduce costs, and how seeking feedback from users can lead to new product offerings.   Additionally, David shares his story which takes him from Brophy College Prep to the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.  After a brief stop on Capitol Hill, he returned to Arizona to attend law school at Arizona State University, practice law, and ultimately join Kolbe Corp. David’s mother, Kathy Kolbe, founded Kolbe Corp in Phoenix in 1975.  Kolbe Corp helps businesses and individuals identify, understand, apply, and leverage their unique instinctive strengths so they can be more productive and more fulfilled.  SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST Wonderlic Personnel Test Michael Hyatt podcast where he discusses the Kolbe A Index Takes Two 5 Love Languages assessment Elvis Costello Rex Orange County Arizona Chamber of Commerce contact@azoriginals.

This week we talk with Zach Ferres - the CEO of Coplex, a startup accelerator focused on founders who are not coders.  Zach grew up in Ohio and we talk about everything from leadership lessons he has learned from Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer, to lessons he learned from his parents who instilled a strong, customer-centric work ethic.    Zach shares his thoughts on coders being founders, lessons from sports, risk management, whether startups need business plans, the essentials of culture and emotional intelligence, and his love of gluten-free pancakes and Family Guy.     SELECT LINKS FROM THE PODCAST   Reebok Ragnar del Sol   Zach's Entrepreneur Magazine article about poker   Zach's Entrepreneur Magazine article about Coach Urban Meyer   The Hard Thing About Hard Things - by Ben Horowitz   Above The Line - by Urban Meyer   Scaling Up - by Verne Harnish   Launch Pad: Inside Y Combinator - by Randall Stross   Family Guy Arizona Chamber of Commerce contact@azoriginals.net