Presented by the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, Frontline Voices brings you raw, real, and unfiltered conversations with American veterans and changemakers who are leading from the front, long after they hang up the uniform. Hosted by IRON Mike Steadman, Marine Corps Infantry Officer turned social entrepreneur and Hoover Veteran Fellow, this show explores the intersections of service, leadership, and impact in a world full of uncertainty. Frontline Voices is part of the Veteran F ...
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African-American Naval Academy Graduate, Marine Corps Veteran, and Entrepreneur "IRON" Mike Steadman, shares his perspectives on race, culture, and business.
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Bunker Labs Presents: A Crash Course in Venture Capital with Paul Capon
Bunker Labs, IRON Mike Steadman
A limited-edition podcast series for veterans or military spouses looking to raise venture capital.
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Weekly Tac-planning on marketing, brand strategy, and category design for early & growth stage veteran small businesses, keeping you in the fight and not face down in a rice paddy!
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A show dedicated to highlighting the resilience of black entrepreneurs and the impact of patient capital.
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Step outside your daily bubble and learn from CEOs, product leaders, and bold decision-makers across industries - from tech leaders and sports coaches to Broadway show producers and restaurant owners. Executives Unplugged dives into case studies and coaching lessons to elevate your leadership. 🎙 Subscribe now and get tactical insights, battle-tested playbooks, and leadership perspectives you won’t find elsewhere.
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We demystify the entrepreneurial journey for veterans and military spouses in the Bunker Labs community.
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From Ballet to Scalpel to CEO: Reinvention, Resilience & Hiring Unconventionally
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26:49Ready to ditch the resume buzzwords and hire for true potential? Struggling with your own career pivot or leading teams through change? Join Keith Cowing on Executives Unplugged with Dr. Susan Lovelle, a former professional ballet dancer turned plastic surgeon, now founder & CEO of Balanced Performance, and her long-time colleague Tonya Sook, a Cer…
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Leading with Heart: Chief Steve Drew on Community, Crisis, and Courage
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1:03:54In this powerful episode of Frontline Voices, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew shares the realities of community policing, leadership under crisis, and the long road to building trust. From the heartbreaking response to a school shooting to managing protests after George Floyd’s death, Chief Drew reflects on lessons learned, the role of youth e…
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The Hardest Fight: Veteran Mental Health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, And Building Chimney Trail
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54:48In this powerful and personal episode of Frontline Voices, IRON Mike Steadman sits down with Matthew Brown, Navy veteran and founder of Chimney Trail Health, to talk about the often invisible battle veterans and high performers face: mental health. They unpack the power of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the hidden costs of unresolved trauma, a…
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Leading with Grit: From the Naval Academy to Newark's Frontlines
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59:44In this inaugural episode of Frontline Voices, host “IRON” Mike Steadman is joined by fellow Hoover Veteran Fellow alumnus Greg Eason. Mike opens up about his journey from growing up in a single-parent household, to becoming a Marine Corps officer, entrepreneur, and community leader. Together, they explore the idea of “normalizing excellence,” how …
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From Big Company to AI Startup, a product, and revenue in 12 Months: How Fast Execution Beats Perfect Planning with Uday Chakravarthi
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23:01In this episode of Executives Unplugged, Keith Cowing sits down with Uday Chakravarthi, former head of product at Atlassian and current CEO of Clinch AGI, an agentic AI company revolutionizing how companies sell and grow. Uday shares his journey from idea to his first $100K in revenue in just 12 months, revealing the strategies that fueled his succ…
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From the Mat to the Boardroom: Iron Mike Steadman on Grit, Branding & the Power of Action
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35:13What does it take to get back up when life knocks you down? In this episode of Executives Unplugged, Iron Mike Steadman - collegiate boxing champion, veteran, entrepreneur, and business coach - shares his journey from the boxing ring to the boardroom, revealing hard-earned lessons on resilience, branding, and the power of action. Mike takes us insi…
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Incentives, Truth and Selling the Right Way with Wayne Morris
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47:53In this episode of Executives Unplugged, Keith sits down with Wayne Morris, founder of RVNU and seasoned Chief Revenue Officer for multiple Silicon Valley startups. Wayne shares his transformative insights on go-to-market strategies, building sustainable sales teams, and the critical role of truth in creating long-term success. 💡 Key Topics Covered…
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How to Lead From Growth Stage to IPO with Nayya President and COO Sarah Liebel
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36:52Join us for a candid conversation with Sarah Liebel, President and COO of Nayya, who shares her invaluable insights on maintaining a founder's mindset while empowering teams. Learn about the art of empathetic yet decisive leadership and how to build trust with founders, making swift decisions with limited data in high-stakes environments. Tune in f…
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From Self-Taught Developer to CTO and Inspiring Leader with Danielle Leong
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38:13Join us as Danielle Leong shares her inspiring journey from marketing to becoming Twilio's first female engineer and on to senior leadership roles at companies such as Github and FireHydrant. Danielle opens up about her experiences managing former peers, building self awareness and confidence, communicating transparently and holding people accounta…
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From Open-Heart Surgery and Mom's Ginger Teas to Beverage Entrepreneur with Siwat Siengsanaoh
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27:32From open heart surgery and Mom's ginger teas, to selling ginger-based beverages in grocery stores across the country, Siwat's story is one of passion and resilience. The episode delves into pivotal moments that shaped Siwat’s leadership style, from teamwork in a hospital, to launching a series of businesses, to inspiration from great coaches such …
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What happens when design is the bottleneck? You came up with a great business idea, maybe even raised some capital for it, and then decided to hire an outside design agency, like ours at The MisFits, to build your brand identity. You had good momentum at first, but you can’t agree on the right design yet. Now what. This is a frustrating challenge f…
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Lean Marketing: More Leads, More Profit, Less Marketing with Allan Dib, Author of Lean Marketing & The One-Page Marketing Plan
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50:30When I first took the leap into entrepreneurship full-time, back in 2018, one of the first books I recommended was Allan Dib's, The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd. In the book, Allan gives a step by step process for creating a marketing plan that converts warm prospects into paying customers.…
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Killer Creative with Robert Mains, CMO at Guardian Revial & CEO of Rebel Victory Media
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32:40How do you drive traffic to your website? I know this is a question that I’ve been pondering lately as we continue to grow the MisFits and think of ways to help our clients. One way is through Killer Creative, badass videos, and other forms of content that catch your perfect customers' attention, leading them down a rabbit hole that eventually conv…
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The moment you start to get comfortable and complacent, you’re already dead; you just don’t realize it yet. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kgBy IRONBOUND Media, IRON Mike Steadman
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If you’re afraid to invest in your brand, in the words of Logan Roy from the HBO show Succession, You are not serious people. I’m all about staying lean, driving sales, and maximizing profitability. I’m a bootstrapper and proud of it. Truth be told, you can start a business these days with a Google Doc, a menu of products and services, and a hit li…
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Killer Video Storytelling with Sean Bell, Founder of Loud Media
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32:34Drew and I chop it up with fellow veterans and video storyteller extraordinaire Sean Bell, Founder of Loud Media, which helps brands tell epic stories through video content. On the show, Sean shares how he thinks about storytelling, why he’s so passionate about video, Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.do…
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What Two Local Businesses Have Taught Me About Brand Loyalty
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19:46I share what a local bar and barbershop taught me about brand loyalty. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Checkout our new website: www.IRONBOUNDMedia.comBy IRONBOUND Media, IRON Mike Steadman
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A Media Company For The Misfits & Underdogs
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41:05I discuss IRONBOUND Media’s rebrand and category expansion to serve ‘Underdogs & Misfits’ (Challenger brands led by Veterans, Black women, and anyone else use to being one of one). Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3…
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Data-Driven Beauty with Shante Frazier, Founder of WellCapped
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46:34Do you ever come across a founder with an idea that makes you think to yourself, “damn, I really think they’re onto something here.” That’s how I feel about today’s podcast guest, Shante Frazier, Founder of WellCapped, a data-driven beauty company that provides online wig rentals through a monthly subscription. I’m not a venture capitalist yet, but…
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Internal Branding & The Business of Design with Dan Janssen, Owner / Creative Director at Lincoln Design Company
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56:23Today on Dog Whistle Branding, my boy Drew O’Brien, from the design company “We Make Cool Shit,” chop it up with Legendary designer and studio owner, Dan Janssen, Owner/Creative Director of Lincoln Design Co., a Portland-based branding and design studio that represents the gold standard for modern designers, whose clients include Nike, Hot Wheels, …
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Billion Dollar Dreams with Marc Krauthamer, CEO of AMP Neutraceuticals
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53:39What does it take to build a billion-dollar company? If you’re like most people, you probably assume it requires raising venture capital, building some sort of SAAS product, and scaling it to millions of users. The last thing you’d probably think of us is maxing out your credit cards to start a manufacturing company that produces supplements stocki…
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You Think You Need Marketing When You Really Need Sales!
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21:16In this episode of Dog Whistle Branding, I discuss the problem with focusing on marketing when you should be focusing on sales. Trust me, this problem is more common than you think. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/…
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With another year in the books and another one head, have you thought long and hard about what you’re hoping to accomplish in the next twelve months? Either way, today’s episode is for you. Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Learn More about Bunker Labs by visiting: www.BunkerLabs.org…
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In this episode of DWB, I reflect on my goal for the new year goal of acquiring 10,000 True Fans, as opposed to 1,000 as recommended by Kevin Kelly in his essay, “1000 True Fans. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gm…
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The Truth About Launching A Startup with Lee Mills, Founder & CEO of Pixly
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47:38In this episode of the Transition, I catch up with Navy Veteran Lee Mills, Founder & CEO of Pixly, a visual documentation & collaboration platform for Construction, Insurance, Facilities and Field Service Professionals. In 2022, Lee won the Veteran Funds 100k Pitch Competition at the Military Influencer Conference. Since then, Lee and I frequently …
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In this episode of DWB, I discuss why “painstorming” is the new brand storming. Before we jump into the show, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the link in the show notes and also Download the official Dog Whistle Branding playbook at ironboundmedia.com Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhis…
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Bootstrapping An American-Made Jean Company with Patrick Mate, Founder & CEO of Patriot Jean Co.
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43:33In this episode of the Transition, I sit down with Patrick Mate, Army Veteran and Founder of Patriot Jean Company, An Arizona-based American-made apparel company that produces 100% grown, sewn, and built Jeans. Manufacturing is a hard business, but that’s not stopping him. Although he’s still in the startup phase, Patricks invested over six-figures…
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How To Create An Authority Machine For Your Business
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25:53Today on DWB, I share my thought process for creating an authority machine at IRONBOUND Media, a process for sharing thoughts and ideas in a systematic way that positions us as an authority on brand building. I share a framework I came up and hopefully, you can apply it in your own business. Before we jump into the show, make sure you subscribe to …
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In this episode of the Transition, I share a simple framework to set you and your team up for success heading into the new year. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kgBy Bunker Labs, IRON Mike Steadman
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Maybe It’s Time To Build A Better Mouse Trap?
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18:54Today on the Transition, I challenge conventional wisdom by challenging you to build a better mouse trap (i.e. build upon an existing product or service already in the marketplace) rather than trying to come up with market a new idea out the gate, especially if you’re a first-time founder or find yourself in a bit of a revenue lull. Apply for the n…
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A Coffee Company Run by Firefighters with Luke Schneider, Founder & CEO of Fire Department Coffee
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44:37Today on DWB, I’m joined by Navy Veteran and retired Firefighter, Luke Schneider, Founder & CEO of Fire Department Coffee, a veteran-owned and firefighter-run coffee company that is dedicated to roasting high-quality coffee while giving back to first responders and other heroes in need. Inspired by the vital role that coffee plays in helping firefi…
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Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) with Jeff Evenson, CEO of Flawless Acceleration & Thayer Gate Project
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48:08One topic that consistently comes up in my conversations with aspiring entrepreneurs is pursuing entrepreneurship through acquisition, a fancy way of saying buying a business as opposed to building one from scratch. There’s an old saying that, “There are multiple ways to skin a cat,” and as great as it is to start a business, buying one can be just…
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Premium Sparkling Soda with A Health Twists Feat. Blake Berman, Co-Founder of Spade
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47:55Almost a year ago, I had an opportunity to teach a branding workshop to the Founders Institute, The World’s Largest Pre-Seed Accelerator. After the workshop, one of the participants reached me on Linkedin, asking for advice and to keep me updated on his journey. The founder, Blake Berman, was in early stages of launching a San-Diego based premium s…
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The 20-Mile March: The Key To Surviving and Thriving in Tough Times
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18:35In this episode of the Transition, I discuss how to survive and thrive during tough times using Jim Collin’s Framework of the Twenty Mile March. Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kgBy Bunker Labs, IRON Mike Steadman
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What Stop Drinking Alcohol Taught Me About Competitive Alternatives and Pricing
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12:36Today on DWB, I share what stop drinking alcohol taught me about competitive alternatives and pricing. Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistlebranding.com Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kgBy IRONBOUND Media, IRON Mike Steadman
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Enlisted Marine To Bunker Labs Ambassador with Patryk Stanczak, Founder & CEO of Geek Heros
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49:07In this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Marine Corps Veteran and Chicago Bunker Labs Ambassador, Patryk Stanczak, Founder & CEO of GeekHeros, a digital marketing agency providing a plethora of services from website and logo design, to SEO support and beyond. I met Patryk a few years ago online and we finally caught up in-person at the Bunk…
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Take All The Risk Off The Table With A Brand Guarantee
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13:11Today on DWB, I’m going to teach you how to close your perfect customer, by taking all the risks off the table and giving them a brand guarantee. Visit our website to Download your free copy of the Dog Whistle Branding Playbook here: https://ironboundmedia.com/ Be sure to subscribe to the Dog Whistle Brand Newsletter on Substack here: www.dogwhistl…
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The Importance of Physical Activity and Leading Yourself First With Mike Erwin, Founder of Team Red, White, & Blue
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54:16In the following episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran, Published Author, and Serial Entrepreneur, Mike Erwin, Founder & Executive Director of Team Red, White, and Blue. Founded in 2010, Team RWB is a nonprofit organization with chapters all across the country, that delivers consistent, local opportunities for veterans and the commu…
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Direct-To-Consumer Performance Apparel for Modern Female Warriors with Haley Marie McClain Hill, Found & CEO of Torch Warriorwear
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38:37A few years ago, I met an inspiring young female officer, Haley Marie McClain Hill, who was building an apparel line specifically for female warriors. She was still in the early days of launching her venture, while also preparing to transition out of the military. From the moment I met her, I knew that given her background as an Air Force Officer, …
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Consumer Tech in Health & Wellness with Army Veteran Neil Whitney, CEO of Plankk
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53:49Today on DWB, I’m joined by Army Veteran Neil Whitney, CEO of Plankk, a tech company helping today's fitness brands turn their following into revenue with custom fitness & wellness apps. Prior to becoming CEO of Plankk, Neil founded and exited, Menud’s, which provided personalized & curated meal plans, allowing users to shop for a week's worth of g…
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Today on the Transition, I talk about the importance of getting back to “why.” When you get caught up in the day to day of running your business, and all the blocking and tackling that comes with chasing revenue, managing your team, and dealing with your personal life, it can start to wear on you. It’s all fun and dandy the first few months, when y…
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Redefining Sports Marketing In The Age of Name, Imagine, and Likeness (NIL) with Dominique Wright, Founder of FAND
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52:26I get hit up by countless veteran entrepreneurs seeking advice on their entrepreneurial journey. Some take my advice and run with it, others not so much. All I try to do is point people in the right direction. Today’s guest, Dominique Wright reached out to me over two years ago, in order to discuss her idea for an app serving collegiate athletes. W…
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Black Entrepreneurs Survive & Thrive Season 2 Announcement!
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1:21This is “IRON” Mike Steadman, host of Black Entrepreneurs Survive and Thrive, happy to announce we’re back with another Season of the Show. Our first 12 Episodes allowed to highlight the impact of patient capital, the BEST Fund, and the resilience of black entrepreneurs here in the great state of New Jersey. When we initially launched, we were stil…
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Addressing an Unmet Need In The Nonprofit Sector By Leveraging Technology with Jack Fanous, CEO of Mission Plus
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41:40I know it’s been a while since I’ve been on the Mic, but make no mistake, I’ve been work hard behind the scenes on all things IRONBOUND and DWB. I launched a new series FRAGO Friday, which I drop each week via our newsletter. I got a fellowship to the Fund For New Leadership, a social impact fellowship supporting change makers across the country, a…
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Today on the Transition, I discuss Blue Ocean Strategy, a method of thinking that allows you to identify uncontested market opportunities. Apply for the next cohort of Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship here: https://bunkerlabs.org/breaking-barriers/ Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg…
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On today’s episode, we talk about mental health. Mike reflects on recent events in his life, how they impacted him, and what the reality of managing mental health looks like for many of us. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gm…
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For first-time founders, it’s easy to fall in love with your idea and build a company that places you as the hero of the story. Jim Collins, renowned business author and famous for his books, Good To Great and Built To Last, believes that in order to build an enduring company, you have to be willing to do the hard work of building a company that do…
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Make Sure You Spend Some Time To Carve Your Ideal Workweek
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19:32Do you ever feel there’s never enough time in the day to get things done? I know I do, but one thing that’s been helpful for me, is carving time to build an ideal workweek. So for this episode of the Transition, I walk through my ideal work week template and how I structure my time, and share guidance on how you can do the same in your own business…
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Strong Leaders Generate Stronger Profits with Army Veteran Sean Patton, Founder of Stronger Leader Stronger Profits
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1:06:01On this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran, Leadership Coach, and Serial Entrepreneur, Sean Patton, Founder of Stronger Leader Stronger Profits, which helps companies increase their profitability by developing stronger leaders. I met Sean last year when the Bunker Labs Crew flew into Nashville, TN for a team fly-in. After hearing…
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Finding Passion & Purpose Post-Transition with Jessica Van Dop Dejesus, Founder of The Dining Traveler and Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship Facilitator.
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47:42I tell people that it takes at least three years or so to fully transition, but that's not based on any peer-reviewed data only my personal experience after spending 10 years in the military, five including my time at the Naval Academy Prep School and Annapolis, followed by five in the Marine Corp, for ten years total. Today’s guest, Jessica Van De…
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