We sit down with Michelle Marks to trace the path from Los Angeles to New York. She shares a childhood shaped by freedom, creativity, and strong working parents. That early independence mattered. It taught her to solve problems, trust herself, and keep moving. You’ll hear how art school gave her
Yearly Archives: 2026
22 posts
We sat down with Kevin Siskar to trace the experiences that shaped how he leads. He grew up in Buffalo, started working young, and learned through real jobs. He mowed lawns, washed dishes, scrubbed toilets, and bartended. Those roles showed him different sides of society early. They also built the
We sat down with Ravi Vinayak to trace a career that changed shape many times. He grew up in Mumbai, studied chemistry, and moved to Canada for a PhD. Along the way, he learned how discipline, education, and persistence could create options. Yet he also saw that career growth rarely
Andy Cwik starts with a small town upbringing and a constant pull toward independence. His parents wanted stability and benefits, yet he felt boxed in by large companies. That tension shaped his choices early and stayed with him for years. As a result, this founder journey begins with confusion, friction,
John Bucher grew up in East Texas with limited resources and a narrow view of success. Every Friday, his family rented ten movies for ten dollars. As a result, he unknowingly trained for a future in storytelling. However, he never imagined that film or television could become a career. At
We sit down with Skip Cohen to unpack his journey from Ohio to leadership in photography. He grew up in Painesville, Ohio, just east of Cleveland. His childhood centered on independence, responsibility, and strong family values. Kids stayed outside until the streetlights came on. Doors stayed unlocked. However, his biggest
Ralph Marucci grew up in Brooklyn in a disciplined household. His grandfather survived the Great Depression and fought in World War II . That resilience shaped his family values. His father worked as a New York City police officer . Structure and accountability defined Ralph’s early years. However, his mother
Paula Skaper begins with her early years in Northern Ireland during the Troubles . However, her parents chose Canada for greater stability and opportunity . That decision shaped her outlook on risk and resilience. She describes growing up in multiple provinces as mines opened and closed . As a result,
Paul Melella Jr grew up in a tight Italian family in New York. He faced bullying at a young age. That experience pushed him into martial arts. He trained in secret and gained confidence. One moment changed everything. He stood up to his bully and shifted his identity. That challenge
David Wagstaff shares how his first business venture began with a lemonade stand after failing second grade. That early success gave him the confidence to improve academically and socially. He explains how being on a busy corner, not business genius, made the difference in his early profits. From selling candy
In this episode, we sit down with Park Howell to explore how storytelling became his framework for leading teams, growing businesses, and navigating personal change. Through stories from his early life and career, Park shares how he moved from advertising executive to storytelling educator, building a unique path by making
David Kidder on How Founders Think Differently David Kidder explains what separates successful founders from the rest. It’s not polish or presentation. It’s the way they think. They focus on deep customer problems, challenge assumptions early, and they care more about traction than applause. David shares how many people build