Shows
The BreakLine ArenaPete Koziol, Co-founder of Dauntless Ventures | Investing in America’s FutureWhat does it mean to manage someone else’s legacy, future, and trust all at once? Join us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Pete Koziol, co-founder of Dauntless Ventures, about building a venture firm with a national purpose.Pete shares his journey from the U.S. Naval Academy to Stanford Business School, his time at Goldman Sachs, and how he co-founded Dauntless Ventures—a firm backing early-stage companies in the defense, industrial, and nuclear sectors. We dive into the complexities of investing in national security tech, why the Department of Defense selected Dauntless for its...2025-04-3047 min
The BreakLine ArenaRaj Shah, Managing Partner at Shield Capital | The Future of War and DEFCON InvestmentJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for an insightful conversation with Raj Shah, Managing Partner at Shield Capital and co-founder of Resilience. As a former fighter pilot and the current Director of the Joint Reserve Detachment at DIU, Raj brings a unique perspective on the future of war, innovation in defense, and the intersection of government and technology.In this episode, Raj shares his expertise on: 🔹 The evolving landscape of modern warfare and defense technology 🔹 Key challenges and opportunities within the U.S. military 🔹 How entrepreneurs and innovators can navigate bureaucracy in pursui...2025-04-1747 min
The BreakLine ArenaStef Fisher-Sample, CEO and Co-Founder of HenHouse Holdings | The Secret to Entrepreneurship and FranchisingWhat does it take to build and scale a thriving business? In this episode of The BreakLine Arena, we sit down with Stef Fisher-Sample, CEO & Co-Founder of HenHouse Holdings, to explore the realities of entrepreneurship and franchising.Stef shares her journey from taking over seven struggling Taco Bell locations to growing a successful business portfolio. She dives into her "pain cave" mindset, the value of hiring in middle America, and why she believes in acquiring businesses instead of starting from scratch.We also discuss her "lazy entrepreneur" approach—how to work smarter, not harder—and why...2025-04-0950 min
The BreakLine ArenaEric Levesque, COO & Co-Founder of Strider Technologies | The Strategic Intelligence BattlegroundThe world of strategic intelligence is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In this episode of the BreakLine Arena, we sit down with Eric Levesque, COO and Co-Founder of Strider Technologies, to explore how organizations can protect their technology, innovation, and competitive advantage in an era of global strategic competition.Eric shares his expertise on the high-stakes battleground of strategic intelligence, revealing how intellectual property threats, geopolitical conflicts, and emerging technologies are reshaping industries worldwide. We dive into Strider Technologies’ all-of-society approach, the critical role of government-private sector collaboration, and how Strider’s ability to process massive amounts of d...2025-04-0435 min
The BreakLine ArenaTJ Parker, Co-Founder and Former CEO of PillPack | Transforming Customer Experience in the Pharmaceutical WorldHow do you disrupt an entire industry and transform customer experience? Together with his team, TJ Parker, Co-Founder and former CEO of PillPack, did just that.During our conversation, TJ shares the journey of building PillPack, from their early vision and startup team, to navigating through extremely tense dynamics with very large incumbents, to ultimately selling PillPack to Amazon, and continuing to build for a much bigger market. He reflects on the biggest lessons learned, and also the most critical decisions that shaped the company’s success.It was a treat to have TJ’s big...2025-03-1151 min
The BreakLine ArenaTodd Bennett, President and COO of Deer Valley Resort | Delivering Exceptional ExperiencesJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Todd Bennett, President and COO of Deer Valley Resort. Todd and his team are known for the “Deer Valley Difference.” They deliver extraordinary experiences unavailable anywhere else in the world.Todd shares insights on leadership, innovation, and guest experience, and covers topics from major resort expansions, hosting the Olympics and the World Cup, the future of privatized ski resorts and how cutting-edge tech is changing the game for top ski resorts. We also dive into his personal journey, including The Man Behind the Maps, the belov...2025-02-2549 min
The BreakLine ArenaLexi Reese, CEO & Co-Founder of Lanai Software | Empowering Employees to Reach Their Full PotentialIn Episode 63 of the BreakLine Arena, we sit down with Lexi Reese, CEO and co-founder of Lanai Software.Lexi shares actionable insights and research-backed strategies to help individuals and companies achieve big goals together. From hiring practices to building high-functioning teams, she breaks down the five key components that drive success and shares her priorities at Lanai.We also explore Lexi’s inspiring journey running for US Senate, her candid thoughts on AI—including where to start if you're feeling overwhelmed - and her hopes for its future.Please like, rate, subscribe, or revi...2024-12-0250 min
The BreakLine ArenaJosh Araujo, CEO of Forterra | The Future of AutomationJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Josh Araujo, CEO of Forterra. His team, among the earliest innovators in the field, is revolutionizing the defense sector with its dual-use autonomous vehicle systems, while supporting and protecting soldiers and civilians on the front line. Josh delves into a series of compelling topics, including his unique journey from the Marines to Wall Street and to leading Forterra. He highlights his core leadership principles and the significance of staying close to the operational level to genuinely empower teams. Josh ends by sharing his goals and plans to sc...2024-06-1853 min
The BreakLine ArenaChris Mahl, President and COO of Pryon | Navigating the AI FrontierJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Chris Mahl, President and COO of Pryon. Pryon is developing a best-in-class knowledge management platform, transforming complex, unstructured data from multiple sources into solutions for leading enterprises and government agencies.Chris dives into a range of interesting topics, from professional experiences and lessons learned in his earlier career to the transformation and impact we’re currently experiencing with AI. He emphasizes how essential passion is to the success of businesses and their workforce, details Pryon's distinctive strategies for tackling AI issues, and so much mo...2024-05-2853 min
The BreakLine ArenaJohn Donahoe, President & CEO of NIKE, Inc. | Driven by PurposeJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with John Donahoe, President & CEO of NIKE, Inc., world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. John dove into his own career transitions and the deeper sense of purpose that guides him. He shared some of the inner challenges he has navigated throughout his career, insights from “wisdom conversations” he had with peers and mentors during a sabbatical, how he and his wife, Eileen, built a dual-career family, and so much...2024-03-2147 min
The BreakLine ArenaLenore Karafa, Partner at First In | Maximizing Opportunities for AdvancementJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Lenore Karafa, Partner at First In – an early-stage investment firm focused on empowering entrepreneurs on a mission. First In invests in companies at the forefront of modern security for enterprises and for society, including cybersecurity software and defense technology companies.Lenore brings us along on her journey, from the Naval Academy to a prestigious career on Wall Street to surrounding herself with teams that exemplify her values. She details the growth mindset that helps her reframe challenging situations into opportunities, her experience being the on...2024-02-2843 min
The BreakLine ArenaJessica Nordell, Author, Journalist, and Science Writer | The End of BiasJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Jessica Nordell, journalist, and author of The End of Bias: A Beginning.In our conversation, she shares practical and research-backed approaches for addressing the habits of mind and action that prevent leaders from building and retaining outstanding teams. Among other topics, she describes the power of having an “existence proof,” the stabilizing and uplifting role that mentors play for up-and-coming professionals, and how to prevent “shadow requirements” from blocking one’s path to success. Please like, rate, subscribe, or review our s...2024-02-1445 min
The BreakLine ArenaJen Sovada, President of Public Sector at SandboxAQ | Creating a Learn, Grow, and Build MindsetJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Jen Sovada, President of Public Sector at SandboxAQ. SandboxAQ is harnessing the power of AI + Quantum technology to develop products for computationally-intensive industries including the public sector, healthcare, and telecommunications.Jen dives into her experience working on emerging technology while bridging the public-private sector gap, as well as her mentality around being a lifelong learner. She also shares some tips for building effective teams, managing imposter syndrome, and building a career in national security.“When building a team, don’t lo...2024-01-2426 min
The BreakLine ArenaDan Streetman, CEO of Tanium | Working and Living In ServiceJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Dan Streetman, CEO of Tanium, a company developing innovative technology to manage complex security and IT environments.Dan dives into his professional journey and describes the challenges he overcame as a CEO. He provides insights into what cultivates a successful leader and outlines the desired qualities of potential talent. All while revealing his framework for making the tough decisions that arise along the way.“[The] trick is not just to be a good leader, but a leader of leaders.”2024-01-1255 min
The BreakLine ArenaWilliam Treseder, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Services at BMNT | The Evolution of Defense TechJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with William Treseder, Senior Vice President at BMNT, a company transforming how governments deliver new capabilities at speed and at scale.William dives into all things defense tech, including the evolutions he has seen over the past decade and the current state of the market. He also shared the story of his non-linear career path and the essential insights he gained along the way. “There’s more defense startup-related activity now on any given day than there was in an entir...2024-01-0451 min
The BreakLine ArenaGeneral McMaster, Former US National Security Advisor | Unity in StrategyJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a Conversation with General H.R. McMaster, Former US National Security Advisor, seasoned military strategist, and author of Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World.In this episode, General McMaster analyzes the shifting tides of global threats since his tenure at the White House. He dives deeper into strategies aimed at reclaiming America's shared sense of identity, shares insights into what the U.S. public should keep in mind as we navigate current conflicts, and explores the collaboration between government and tech for enhanced national security. I...2023-12-2054 min
The BreakLine ArenaRichard Coleman, President of Axon Federal: Creating Technology to Build Transparency, Trust, and a Fair Justice SystemJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Richard Coleman, President of Axon Federal, a technology company delivering critical public safety solutions to the nation’s top security, law enforcement agencies, and military departments.Richard shares what attracted him to the public sector and national security as a young engineer, the importance of “breakthrough moments” in your career, Axon’s work protecting lives and building trust between law enforcement and the community, and the importance of building a diverse team.“Mission-driven people are typically the most passionate people, and oftentimes I find that they’re the...2023-12-0831 min
The BreakLine ArenaTyler Sweatt, CEO of Second Front Systems | Defense Tech: Transforming Government Software DeliveryTyler Sweatt, CEO of Second Front Systems | Defense Tech: Transforming Government Software Delivery Join us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Tyler Sweatt, CEO of Second Front Systems, a software startup building the first of its kind DevSecOps platform that accelerates delivery of commercial technology to U.S. warfighters and national security professionals.Tyler shares what drew him to the defense tech space, ositions in the tech industry that are well aligned to veteran skill sets, and how Second Front is “the lattice that stitches the defense tec...2023-09-2739 min
The BreakLine ArenaBrett Granberg, Co-founder and CEO of Vannevar Labs | Revolutionizing Defense TechnologyJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Brett Granberg, Co-founder and CEO of Vannevar Labs, a defense tech startup delivering state-of-the-art technology to people on the front lines of national security.Brett shares his perspectives on the opportunities for how to fundraise for and build a defense technology company, how their team ensures excellent product-market fit, why a mission-driven organization is magnetic for prospective employees, and some essentials of world-class leadership. “Our team is so outstanding - we are up-leveling all the time. I'm pushing hard every day to be worthy of workin...2023-08-2345 min
The BreakLine ArenaEthan Schmertzler, Co-Founder and CEO of Dispel | Good Expedition Behavior in the Business of Moving TargetsJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Ethan Schmertzler, Co-founder and CEO of Dispel, a computer and network security company revolutionizing the Zero Trust and network security space.Dispel started in Ethan Schmertzler’s New York City apartment nine years ago and today the company is well on its way to becoming the gold standard in industrial scale moving target defense technology. In this episode of the BreakLine Arena, Ethan shares the factors that are foundational to Dispel’s culture; including the flat hierarchy, the emphasis on “good expedition behavior,” and the prioritization of life out...2023-06-0731 min
The BreakLine ArenaHow Do I Tell You… | Episode 2: MicroaggressionsJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for another conversation within our “How do I tell you…” series. These discussions aim to foster healthy work relationships and collaborative professional environments by leveraging data-driven insights from our community, best practices that we role model here at BreakLine, and a few personal experiences and stories as well. In this episode of the BreakLine Arena, Mack and Bethany unpack the topic of microaggressions in the workplace and how to address them. They share personal examples of these experiences as well as reactions they’ve witnessed when others have been targ...2023-05-0349 min
The BreakLine ArenaHow Do I Tell You… | Episode 1: Addressing Conditional Support in the WorkplaceJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for the first conversation within our “How do I tell you…” series. These discussions aim to foster healthy work relationships and collaborative professional environments by leveraging data-driven insights from our community, best practices that we role model here at BreakLine, and a few personal experiences and stories as well. BreakLine Senior Customer Success Manager, Mack Gladney, joins Bethany to unpack the topic of conditional support in the workplace and how to address it. Conditional support refers to the common experience of perceiving psychological safety and belonging as long as you...2023-04-1154 min
The BreakLine ArenaDiversity and Performance with Anilu Vazquez-UbarriJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Anilu Vazquez-Ubarri, Partner and CHRO at TPG, a leading global alternative asset management firm investing across five multi-product platforms: Capital, Growth, Impact, Real Estate, and Market Solutions.Diversity is synonymous with performance, especially when aligned with business outcomes. Anilu joins the BreakLine Arena to talk about her leadership experiences overseeing all-things people related, including diversity. She shares insights related to the importance of diverse boards of governance, why language surrounding diversity matters, why mentorship is vital, and how we can handle feedback with grace. 2023-03-0250 min
The BreakLine ArenaChris Bickel | Finding YourselfJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Special Operations Veteran, musician, and BreakLine participant, Chris Bickel.Chris shares his life story, opening up about how the diagnosis of a rare autoimmune disease recalibrated and ultimately improved his life. He discusses the complexity of living with and healing from invisible disabilities and the reluctance some people have, especially some veterans, towards claiming disability support. He also shares inspiring insights on leadership and the value of supporting those around you. “Not identifying as an operator or as a sol...2022-10-2747 min
The BreakLine ArenaDan Berschinski | Bringing Our Truth Into the LightJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Dan Berschinski, BreakLine Alum, founder of Two Six Industries, and senior consultant at IBM. Dan is an Army veteran. During a combat deployment to Afghanistan, he stepped on a hidden IED. He lost both of his legs. After an intensive recovery, Dan went on to graduate from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and pursue his career in the private sector. This conversation, in celebration of the launch of BreakLine Transcend, our programming designed for people with disabilities, Dan talks about the importance of confronting problems early and m...2022-10-2039 min
The BreakLine ArenaJack Hidary, CEO of Sandbox AQ | The Third Quantum RevolutionJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Jack Hidary, CEO of Sandbox AQ, an enterprise SaaS company combining AI + Quantum to solve the hardest problems facing society.Opportunities in quantum are vast, as are the revolutionary applications of quantum tech in solving the world’s greatest challenges. In today’s episode, Jack joins the BreakLine Arena to discuss the third quantum revolution and its real-world applications and implications. Jack breaks down the fundamentals of quantum, explaining its history and its role in our world today and in th...2022-10-0655 min
The BreakLine ArenaDamien Atkins, Chief Legal Officer at Aura | Maximize Your Surface Area of LuckJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Damien Atkins, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Aura, a mission-driven technology company dedicated to creating a safer internet. Damien, an award-winning business and legal executive, joins the BreakLine Arena to share insightful perspectives on life and business. He discussed how to expand your ‘surface area of luck,' shared frameworks for dealing with failure, uncertainty, and risk, and closed with communication pillars that are essential to good leadership. “Too often, people are too passive about creating their own opportunities. Luck is far too import...2022-06-2851 min
The BreakLine ArenaDan Brillman, CEO & Founder at Unite Us | Working for Generational ImpactJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Dan Brillman, Founder and CEO of Unite Us, a tech company that builds coordinated care networks that connect health and social service providers in order to improve person-centered care.Dan Brillman, a military veteran and entrepreneur disrupting the status quo in the health services sector, joins the BreakLine Arena to share insights on why Unite Us’s approach to healthcare has been so successful, the opportunities for modern healthcare, and the importance of long-term goals. Through his work, Dan aims to create once-in-a-generation change within the health se...2022-05-2747 min
The BreakLine ArenaPartner Spotlight | Blend - Diverse Talent Breeds SuccessJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Steve Kalush and Javaria Braden, Solutions Engineers at Blend. Blend is a FinTech company that is re-architecting the banking sector by making essential banking services more secure and accessible.Steve and Javaria share insight about the impact of the customer-centric approach to the Blend business model, setting up a framework for diverse and holistic problem-solving solutions, and the benefits that a diverse team brings to a company. Additionally, hear about how the partnership between Blend and BreakLine helped to find and grow diverse talent and teams.2022-05-0435 min
The BreakLine ArenaJennifer Tejada and Joe Militello | CEO and CPO, PagerDuty - A Beginner's MindJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Jennifer Tejada, CEO, and Joe Militello, CPO of PagerDuty, the Saas incident response platform.Both Jennifer and Joe walked unconventional paths toward Pagerduty. Jennifer, a woman of color and a member of a military family, grew up in CPG selling "peanut butter and diapers" before transitioning into the tech sector. Joe served in the Marine Corps infantry before jumping to a career in human resources. They drew from their personal and professional experiences to discuss the enormous advantage of a unique perspective and a beginner’s mind. 2022-05-0435 min
The BreakLine ArenaKeenan Wyrobek: Inspiring New Heights for HealthcareJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Keenan Wyrobek, Founder, CTO and Product Architect of Zipline.Keenan shares his process of discovering the need for a more accessible supply chain for healthcare supplies in Africa, Zipline's role as the physical infrastructure for transformative and preventative healthcare, and empowering the teams who enable individuals to have total ownership of their outcomes.“When you build a culture where there's trust, and people learn how to handle responsibility, they can embrace their creativities to solve problems. It's just incredibly powerful.”If you like what...2022-03-1047 min
The BreakLine ArenaStephany Kirkpatrick: Automating the Movement of Money for a More Equitable FutureJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Stephany Kirkpatrick, CEO and Founder of Orum.Stephanie shares her family's immigrant roots, her incredible career path, and her genuine passion for opening the aperture to financial access for all. She also presents the driving mission behind Orum, and how she and her team have built a company where folks from diverse backgrounds and perspectives are all invited to the table.“Our vision is to power a better financial system where everyone has the freedom to build to their potential. By giving people the confidence to...2022-03-0951 min
The BreakLine ArenaMike DeCesare: The 50,000 ft. View on the Future of CybersecurityJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Mike DeCesare, CEO and President of Exabeam, a category-defining cybersecurity company.Mike shared epic stories, including his first sales calls with Larry Ellison and Steve Jobs, the importance of pursuing a mission you believe in, the trends he expects to see in cyber over the next 3-5 years, and the things he pursues for fun (he gives a killer cooking tip toward the end). Regarding the importance of diversity, Mike says: “I have to practice what I preach. I truly believe that a diverse environment is a be...2022-03-0845 min
The BreakLine ArenaDedric Landrum: Celebrating Black History MonthJoin us in the BreakLine Arena to celebrate Black History Month with BreakLine alum, Dedric Landrum.Dedric recently joined Gusto as a Senior Manager Business Technology & Product Owner. He shares a powerful story coming from humble beginnings to this seat of influence at one of the fastest growing tech companies in the world. Following Dedric’s advice, we will continue to share stories from our Apex community all year because “our heritages, including the black community’s, is worth celebrating year round.” BreakLine Education would like to honor the contributions, visions, and leadership of our entire Black communit...2022-02-2829 min
The BreakLine ArenaOthman Laraki: Creating Color(ful) Healthcare SolutionsJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Othman Laraki, CEO and Co-Founder of Color.Othman and his team are building Color to support durable and equitable public health across entire populations. Color’s technology and clinical services are the backbone of large-scale population health programs for over 200 institutions worldwide, with data and services spanning hereditary cancers, heart disease, infectious disease testing (including COVID-19), and community-based vaccination programs. Previously, Othman served as a VP of Product Management at Twitter and was an early Product Management pioneer at Google. He shared his stunning career in the te...2022-02-2442 min
The BreakLine ArenaSue Bostrom & Sue Barsamian: Self-Made Tech MavensJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for an authentic conversation with Sue Bostrom and Sue Barsamian.Sue Bostrom is the former EVP and CMO at Cisco Systems. She also serves on the board of directors at ServiceNow, Nutanix, and Anaplan, Druva, GitLab, Outreach, and Samsara. Sue Barsamian served as Chief Sales and Marketing officer at HPE Software for 10 years, and now is a Board Director at Five9, Box, NortonLifelock, Gainsight, Xactly, Onfido and formerly Segment, and Auth0. Both their rich industry experience and senses of humor make for a compelling conversation that ranges...2022-02-0446 min
The BreakLine ArenaAmit Bendov: Following Curiosity, Founding Gong.ioJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Amit Bendov, CEO and Co-Founder of Gong.io. In this episode, Amit highlights the importance of starting companies with a solution to a tangible problem, discusses leading from a place of humility, and inspires with a candid discussion of how dreams evolve over a lifetime. Amit Bendov has been in leadership at hyper-growth enterprise software startups for 20 plus years. Before co-founding and leading at Gong.io, he was CEO at SiSense, and CMO at Panaya. If you've liked what you've heard, please like...2022-01-2753 min
The BreakLine ArenaSaeju Jeong: From No's to NoomJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a stunning conversation with Saeju Jeong, co-founder and CEO of Noom.Saeju was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 and raised $540M in May 2021, but it wasn’t an easy path to success. This month, 17 years ago, he arrived in the United States with nothing but an intense desire to help people, after losing his father, a well-respected and well-loved doctor in South Korea. Saeju shares with us his journey as an entrepreneur: from college drop out, to rock music distributor, to new immigrant in the United States. He pit...2022-01-201h 07
The BreakLine ArenaNicole Camarillo: Defending DemocracyJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a compelling conversation with Nicole Camarillo. She is the Co-Founder, and Chief Talent and Operations Officer at Rebellion Defense. In this episode, she highlights the pressing need for engineers of diverse backgrounds to join her at the nexus of technology and defense.Nicole Camarillo is a licensed attorney and accomplished strategist who has led several cultural and management reforms across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. She has spent her career at the nexus of national security and technology, where she has honed her skill for hacking through bureaucratic legal...2022-01-1455 min
The BreakLine ArenaBruce Feiler: Navigating Life's TransitionsJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Bruce Feiler, best-selling author and TED speaker. In this episode, Bruce dives into his fascinating life trajectory and story, and shares the inspiration he derives from studying how people navigate life's transitions. Bruce Feiler is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers; the presenter of two prime-time series on PBS; and the inspiration for the drama series COUNCIL OF DADS on NBC. Bruce’s two TED Talks have been viewed more than two million times. His new book, LIFE IS IN THE TRANSITIONS: Mastering Change...2022-01-0755 min
The BreakLine ArenaGeorge Mathew: Leading with Guts & HeartJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a conversation with George Mathew, Managing Partner at Insight Partners.George Mathew joined Insight Partners and is focused on venture stage investments in AI, ML, Analytics, and Data companies as they are establishing product/market Fit.In this episode, George shares his advice on overcoming and ultimately growing from professional adversity as well as how his diverse set of experiences prepared him to serve as a Managing Director.He brings 20+ years of experience developing high-growth technology startups including most recently being CEO of Kespry. Prior to...2021-12-161h 07
The BreakLine ArenaGuy Gal: It's All Within ReachJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an insightful conversation with Guy Guy, tech entrepreneur, innovator, and angel investor.Guy is the CEO and Co-Founder of Side, the only real estate brokerage that exclusively partners with top producing agents to create, grow, and power their businesses. Prior to Side, he founded 3 successful companies, including Kingmaker, Biz, and Kognitive. Guy is an advisor to companies like Vidyard, a YCombinator top 100 company. He also served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Matrix Partners, one of the best venture capital tech funds in the world. Today, Guy is dedicated to transforming the...2021-12-1453 min
The BreakLine ArenaKenny Mendes: Evidence of Hustle or DriveJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a fascinating conversation with Kenny Mendes, Head of Finance, People, & Operations at Coda.In this episode, Kenny shares an incredible journey that placed him front and center in some of Silicon Valley's most exciting and influential tech companies. When asked about career he states, "I’m obsessed with building exceptional startups and believe talent is one of the biggest success drivers."As one of Coda’s earliest employees, Kenny helped the company grow from a private beta to a product used by more than 25,000 teams globally. Kenny...2021-12-1054 min
The BreakLine ArenaMarco Zappacosta: Building ThumbtackJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a fascinating conversation with Marco Zappacosta, the co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack.Recognized on Forbes’ 2015 30 under 30 list, Marco and Thumbtack have been featured in media outlets including The New York Times, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal and CNBC and were recently acknowledged as one of GlassDoor's Best Places to Work and Highest Rated CEOs lists.Marco co-founded Thumbtack after graduating from Columbia University, where he majored in Political Science. He and his family live in San Francisco. His favorite personal Thumbtack project was hosting a Halloween party that in...2021-12-0752 min
The BreakLine ArenaKatie Finnegan: Don't Sell Yourself ShortJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights, hear from industry titans, and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community. In this episode we have the opportunity to hear from BreakLine alum, Katie Finnegan.“Don’t sell yourself short.”This is the number one piece of advice Roblox’s newly minted Senior Manager of Moderation Core Functions Katie Finnegan has for anyone aspiring to enter a brave new chapter in their career.Prior to joining Roblox, Katie served in the United States Air Force where she held various roles ra...2021-12-0244 min
The BreakLine ArenaRodrigo Liang: Scaling SambaNovaJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a insightful conversation with Rodrigo Liang, CEO and co-founder of SambaNova Systems.In this conversation Rodrigo shares how developing rich relationships over the course of his career remains foundational to his success. He also provides deeper insight into how SambaNova aims to help bring AI to everyone, everywhere.Prior to joining SambaNova, Rodrigo was responsible for SPARC Processor and ASIC Development at Oracle. He led the engineering organization responsible for the design of state-of-the-art processors and ASICs for Oracle's enterprise servers.If you like what you've...2021-11-3056 min
The BreakLine ArenaBuilding Emotional Intelligence with Dr. Britt AndreattaJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an absolute master class in building Emotional Intelligence with Dr. Britt Andreatta. In this conversation, Britt takes a deep dive into how leaders, teams, and organizations can harness the power of emotional intelligence to build winning cultures and workplaces.Dr. Britt Andreatta is an internationally recognized thought leader who creates brain science– based solutions for today’s challenges. As CEO of 7th Mind, Inc., Britt Andreatta draws on her unique background in leadership, neuroscience, psychology, and learning to unlock the best in people and organizations. Britt’s indu...2021-11-1952 min
The BreakLine ArenaDutta Satadip: What's One Thing I Could Do Differently?Join us in The BreakLine Arena for an exciting conservation with Dutta Satadip, Chief Customer Officer at ActiveCampaign.Dutta is a tech industry veteran, thought leader and keynote speaker who specializes in customer strategy, customer acquisition, customer retention, and scaling operations. At Pinterest and Google, he built organizations that engage customers to scale and profitability.Dutta frequently speaks at major conferences like TEDx, Saastr, Chief Customer Officer, &Then, and contributes to publications like the Harvard Business Review. He is currently an Advisor at Berkeley Skydeck- the University of California, Berkeley’s startup accelerator and incubator pr...2021-11-1658 min
The BreakLine ArenaA Salute to Service: BreakLine Veterans In Their Own WordsJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a Salute to Service!On this Veterans Day, our team at BreakLine Education would like to celebrate the over 20 million Veterans who swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution in service to our nation.Veterans also make up a diverse and vibrant part of the BreakLine community. In this episode, we had an opportunity to catch up with five of our alumni from across the Armed Forces to ask them what service means to them in their own words.Special thanks to the following...2021-11-1136 min
The BreakLine ArenaNeha Sampat: Quit Your Job, Discover Your CallingJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an action-packed conversation with Neha Sampat, Founder and CEO of Contentstack™.In this episode, Neha shares the roots of her entrepreneurial journey, provides deeper insight into founding multiple companies to include Contentstack then concludes with her most impactful leadership insights gained over the course of her career.Contentstack is a leading Content Management System (CMS) and Content Experience Platform (CXP), adopted by brands including Best Buy, Chase, Holiday Inn, Icelandair, Morningstar, Express, Miami HEAT, Shell, and Walmart. Previously, Neha was Founder and CEO of Digital Experience Platform (DXP) Bu...2021-11-091h 00
The BreakLine ArenaLoretta Ross: Calling In the Call Out CultureJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a life-changing conversation with lifelong activist, Professor Loretta J. Ross. Loretta Ross is an award-winning, nationally-recognized expert on racism and racial justice, women's rights, and human rights. Her work emphasizes the intersectionality of social justice issues and how intersectionality can fuel transformation.Ross is a visiting associate professor at Smith College (Northampton, MA) in the Program for the Study of Women and Gender, teaching courses on white supremacy, race and culture in America, human rights, and calling in the calling out culture.She has co-written three...2021-11-051h 01
The BreakLine ArenaEllie Fields: Reimagining Sales in a Digital WorldJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for moving conversation with Ellie Fields, Chief Product & Engineering Officer at SalesLoft.In this episode, Ellie provides insight into leadership lessons she has learned over the course of her life in addition to importance of navigating her career with a sense of empowerment.Ellie is a seasoned product veteran with a strong analytics and intelligence background, who previously served as the Senior Vice President of Product Development at Tableau. Ellie graduated from Rice University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in Policy Studies, and also holds...2021-11-0349 min
The BreakLine ArenaKatie Burke: Just a Reminder, You're Doing GreatJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for an inspiring and insightful conversation with Katie Burke, Chief People Officer at HubSpot. In this episode, Katie shares how early childhood lessons informed her leadership style, what factors informed her decision to join HubSpot, and ultimately how she helped the company strategically build a world-class culture. As Chief People Officer, Katie manages the teams responsible for delivering a remarkable and inclusive candidate and employee experience. During her time leading people initiatives at HubSpot, the company has been named the #1 Best Place to Work by Glassdoor, the #1 Best Place...2021-10-2958 min
The BreakLine ArenaJaishri Atri: No Pressure, No DiamondsJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights, hear from industry titans, and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community. In this episode we have the opportunity to hear from BreakLine alum, Jaishri Atri.In this conversation, Jaishri shares the wisdom that informed her childhood as well as how she has continued to evolve as a leader over the course of her career. She has an extensive background as a scientist, lab researcher, consultant, and business specialist. Jaishri recently joined Benchling where she will have the opportunity to leverage her wide range...2021-10-261h 02
The BreakLine ArenaSusan Wojcicki: Broadcast YourselfJoin us in the BreakLine Arena as we celebrate our 2021 Summit with Silicon Valley pioneer and trailblazer, Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube.In this conversation Susan provides invaluable insight from her journey joining what at the time was a little known start-up named Google (she was Employee #16), to ultimately leading the company's acquisition of YouTube, a move that is widely regarded as one of the most successful acquisitions of all-time.Susan has served as Chief Executive Officer of YouTube, a digital video platform and subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (previously Google Inc.), since February 2014. She joined...2021-10-1950 min
The BreakLine ArenaLatinx in Tech: Celebrating Our Stories, Celebrating Our CultureAs we conclude this year’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, BreakLine Education would like to honor all of our Hispanic & Latinx alumni and partners.We also invite our entire community to join us in celebration by listening to a phenomenal conversation led by our very own Director of Admissions, Sergio A. Padilla. Sergio sat down with two of our amazing alumni, Muriel Payan and Eric Gonzalez, to learn more about their origin stories and what it means to be a Latinx professional in the tech industry.If you like what you've heard please like, su...2021-10-1552 min
The BreakLine ArenaSatyen Sangani: Democratizing DataJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we dive into a fascinating conversation with Alation CEO and co-founder, Satyen Sangani.In this episode, Satyen provides deeper insight into his entrepreneurial journey while also sharing the wisdom which has guided some of the most significant decisions in his life.In founding Alation, Satyen aspired to help people dispassionately observe the world around them, empowering them to passionately work to improve it. Before Alation, Satyen spent nearly a decade at Oracle, where he ran the Financial Services Warehousing and Performance Management business. Prior to Oracle, Satyen was...2021-10-1359 min
The BreakLine ArenaGreta Wagner: Raising the BarJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights, hear from industry titans, and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community. In this episode we have the opportunity to hear from BreakLine alum, Greta Wagner.Time and time again, Greta demonstrates she possesses the grit, determination, and resilience to raise the bar.Born and raised in Northern California, Greta grew up with natural athleticism, and a deep love for competitive sports. A gymnast by training, a chance encounter with nationally renowned high school track coach ultimately led Greta to try her...2021-10-0549 min
The BreakLine ArenaCarrie Siu Butt: Prove Everyone WrongJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we dive into a fascinating and empowering conversation with Carrie Siu Butt, CEO of SimpleHealth.Carrie leads SimpleHealth with a patient and people mindset. SimpleHealth is focused on providing Access and Expert Care to allow people to realize their potential through a healthy reproductive system. Carrie has spent her career in strategy and finance in some of the world's most exciting brands. As a Black and Chinese disabled woman, she is intimately aware of the perils of our healthcare system, and is dedicated to improving healthcare access in America.2021-09-3058 min
The BreakLine ArenaAddison Bohannon: Do Something ChallengingJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights, hear from industry titans, and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community. In this episode we have the opportunity to hear from BreakLine alum, Addison Bohannon.A lifelong learner, Addison is no stranger to stretching himself in order to accomplish difficult tasks.Originally from a small city in Wisconsin, the seeds of Addison’s insatiable curiosity were originally planted during childhood trips to the Saint Louis Science Center with his loving grandfather. Fascinated by the rotating science exhibits, Addison dreamt of...2021-09-2854 min
The BreakLine ArenaSami Inkinen: The Art of Constant ImprovementJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an engaging conversation with Sami Inkinen, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Virta Health.In this episode Sami provides deeper insight into how his Finnish upbringing shaped his incredible work ethic and ultimately provided him the courage to become a tremendously successful data-driven technology entrepreneur.A data-driven technology entrepreneur, Sami's personal connection to diabetes and passion to advance health on a global scale was the motivation behind Virta Health and its innovative approach to diabetes care.Virta Health provides the first clinically-proven treatment to safely and...2021-09-2354 min
The BreakLine ArenaMaya Dhir: Reclaiming Your PowerJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights, hear from industry titans and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community. In this episode we have the opportunity to hear from BreakLine alum, Maya Dhir.For Maya, life’s unexpected twists and turns ultimately inspired her to reclaim her power.Born of Indian descent, Maya was raised an expatriate in Kuwait after her family relocated in search of economic opportunity. Although the societal narratives of the time placed strict limitations on many young women, Maya, with the blessing of her parents, le...2021-09-1659 min
The BreakLine ArenaKara Nortman: Founding AngelJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an inspiring conversation with Kara Nortman, Managing Partner at Upfront Ventures. In this episode, Kara shares invaluable insight into her trailblazing career as a venture capitalist as well as how an incredible experience at the Women's World Cup Finals eventually let to her becoming a co-founder of Angel City Football Club.As Managing Partner at Upfront Ventures, Kara leverages her own founder experience to help entrepreneurs build high-performing teams across software, consumer, and the future of work categories. She is also a founding member of All Raise, dedicated to diversity...2021-09-141h 01
The BreakLine ArenaThe Intersection of Race, Mental Health, and Tech with Cornell Verjeda-WoodsonJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we explore the intersection of race, mental health, and the tech industry with Headspace's Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Cornell Verdeja-Woodson.These are truly unprecedented times. Collectively, we are navigating a global pandemic, adjusting to new workplace norms, and possibly engaging with issues of race, gender and equity in ways that stretch us outside of our comfort zones. The stress, anxiety, or uncertainty many of us feel from time to time is a reminder of the importance of protecting our mental health and incorporating self-care habits into...2021-09-0954 min
The BreakLine ArenaAli Ghodsi: Building DatabricksPlease join us in The BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Ali Ghodsi, CEO and Co-founder of Databricks.As Chief Executive Officer, Ali responsible for the growth and international expansion of the company. He previously served as the VP of Engineering and Product Management before taking the role of CEO in January 2016. In addition to his work at Databricks, Ali serves as an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley and is on the board at UC Berkeley’s RiseLab.Ali was one of the original creators of open source project, Apache Spark, and ideas from his ac...2021-08-3159 min
The BreakLine ArenaTJ O'Connor: Light at the End of the TunnelJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights, hear from industry titans and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community. In this episode we have the opportunity to hear from BreakLine alum, T.J. O'Connor.T.J. O’Connor’s story is a reminder that there is light at the end of the military transition tunnel.A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, TJ’s military service allowed him to hone his leadership, build a diverse set of professional skills, and gain exposure to a wide variety of roles.2021-08-2748 min
The BreakLine ArenaStacy Brown-Philpot: Up to the TaskJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an action-packed conversation with tech titan and trailblazer, Stacy Brown-Philpot. Stacy is the former CEO of TaskRabbit the leading task management network connecting skilled Taskers with clients to handle everyday services in the home. In 2017, Stacy led the successful acquisition of TaskRabbit by the IKEA Group. Ranked by Business Insider as one of the 46 Most Important Blacks in Technology, Stacy is a frequent speaker on diversity, equity and inclusion. Notably, she founded the Black Googler Network, a seminal component of diversity initiatives at Google and the larger technology industry. She...2021-08-2459 min
The BreakLine ArenaVictoria Langston: Give Yourself A ChanceJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community.A scholar, warrior, and athlete - Victoria Langston is the ultimate definition of a triple threat.Born and raised in a small rural town near Worcester, Victoria’s curiosity and love of learning carried her to the big city lights of Manchester, where she became the first in her family to attend university.As a psychology and neuroscience major, she gained invaluable insight into the human mind, and would ultimately go on to b...2021-08-1757 min
The BreakLine ArenaRani Johnson: Go Out and Do Something WonderfulJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an inspiring and uplifting conversation with tech pioneer Rani Johnson, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President at TIBCO.In this conversation, Rani shares how from an early age her curiosity, access to opportunity, and a supportive community facilitated extraordinary success and cultivated a life-long love of learning. During this episode, she also provides insight into how she navigated major decisions in her career while also providing words of wisdom to up-and-coming professionals navigating their own journey.In her current role as CIO, Rani is integral to developing...2021-08-1256 min
The BreakLine ArenaAndrew "AP" Powell: 10 for 10Join us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community. In this episode we have the opportunity to hear from BreakLine alum, Andrew Powell, (aka “AP”).He first forged his entrepreneurial spirit in the bustling markets of Trinidad and Tobago, where he spent his childhood summers.Whether learning to balance the books of his uncle’s corner store, or rolling up his sleeves to help grow the margins of his grandfather’s pig farm, AP’s experience was largely informed by the deep sense of confiden...2021-08-1055 min
The BreakLine ArenaAli Azhar: The Design Principles of Happiness"My purpose to walk this earth is not to generate revenue. My purpose is to help people find out ways that they can liberate themselves from a system of control in their mind to create a system of liberation so that they can find emotional and spiritual fulfillment. My first design principle for the rebirth of my professional life, which is where my identify was still very strong: Prioritize your happiness."Folks, if you are looking for a bit of deep wisdom and inspiration to help elevate you to that next level of happiness or fulfillment look...2021-08-051h 03
The BreakLine ArenaAriana Pybus: Pursue It VigorouslyJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share tech industry insights and celebrate the stories of our amazing alumni community. In this episode, we have the opportunity to hear from BreakLine alum, Ariana Pybus.When it came to life paths, Ariana knew from a young age her’s would be one of service.Growing up a military brat, she developed a special kind resilience, seamlessly navigating the challenges of adjusting to new schools and communities throughout her academic years.During the summers, Ariana’s family returned to her mother’s homeland of Bolivi...2021-08-0358 min
The BreakLine ArenaCharlie Newark-French: Choosing HyperscienceJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an in-depth conversation with Charlie Newark-French, Chief Operating Officer at Hyperscience. In this conversation, Charile shares how he evaluated his decision to join Hyperscience, as well as valuable insights into the future of automation.Before joining Hyperscience, Charlie was a Partner at Fusion Global Capital, a growth stage venture capital fund focused on enterprise software. Notable investments include RingCentral (NYSE), The Trade Desk (NASDAQ), VeloCloud (VMware) and Barefoot Networks (Intel).In 2014, Charlie took the role of President at Fuze, where he helped scale the organization and lead the...2021-07-221h 02
The BreakLine ArenaTina Tchen: Crafting Safe, Fair, and Dignified WorkplacesJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with living legend Tina Tchen. Tchen serves as president and CEO of TIME’S UP Now and the TIME’S UP Foundation, overseeing the organizations’ strategic plans to change culture, companies, and laws in order to make work safe, fair, and dignified for women of all kinds. In 2017, Tina co-founded the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund with Robbie Kaplan, Fatima Goss Graves, and Hilary Rosen; since then, the Fund has connected thousands of people to legal or PR support for sexual harassment across dozens of different industries.2021-07-151h 04
The BreakLine ArenaHannah and Heather Gallagher: Our Life. Our Love. Our Story.Join us in The BreakLine Arena as we share inspiring stories from our community in celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month. In this episode we hear from a beautiful couple, BreakLine alums Hannah and Heather Gallagher. Hannah and Heather walk us through their journey from serving in the Marine Corps, pivoting into the tech industry with BreakLine, and Hannah’s personal evolution of stepping into her full identity as a transgender woman. This conversation is a true celebration of love, family, and having the courage to take up space as the truest version of ourselves....2021-07-0153 min
The BreakLine ArenaLeslie Blodgett: Pretty Good AdviceJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share the fascinating journey of Leslie Blodgett, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of the book Pretty Good Advice, as well as the creator and former CEO of massively successful cosmetic company, bareMinerals.Called the “Queen of Beauty” and the most influential singular woman to impact the beauty industry by the New York Times, you’ve never met anyone like Leslie Blodgett. Leslie pioneered the original power of community (before the idea of social media existed)—reinventing how beauty was sold.Her warmth, empathy and authentic bond with her glob...2021-06-291h 03
The BreakLine ArenaMoving From Fear to Opportunity Based Decision-MakingJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we unpack the topic of Fear Based Decision Making as it relates to evaluating candidates from "non-traditional" backgrounds. In this episode, our team will share industry insights and best practices to equip leaders, hiring managers, and recruiters with additional tools to embrace a more Opportunity Based hiring approach.Key insights from this conversation include:Excellence is transferrable. High performers with a demonstrated track record of excellence tend to shine in multiple ways across multiple environments.Opportunity based decision making leads to value creation. Study after study...2021-06-2345 min
The BreakLine ArenaJason & Mirini Kim: Love, Legacy, and Tiger MomsJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share inspiring stories from our community in celebration of this most recent Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage month. In this episode we hear from a beautiful couple, BreakLine alums Jason and Mirini Kim.In this conversation, Jason and Mirini share their humble beginnings, favorite family traditions, as well as the foundational lessons instilled in them by their parents on the road to success. Growing up in Korean American households, both their families navigated the challenges of embracing American culture while holding on to the richness of...2021-06-2246 min
The BreakLine ArenaSazza Dahal: Female GurkhaJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share engaging and inspiring conversations from our BreakLine community in celebration of this most recent Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.Sazza Dahal was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal by her single mother in a patriarchal culture where she felt a bit of a misfit her whole life. She came to the United States in pursuit of freedom and independence through education. She has since been a social entrepreneur, a banker, a mentor, a student, and is also BreakLine alum. She recently graduated from the...2021-06-0149 min
The BreakLine ArenaRocky Takapu: Tonga with a Twist of OaklandJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share engaging conversations from our BreakLine community in celebration of this most recent Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month.Rocky Takapu was raised by immigrants from Tonga (a subset of Polynesian islands in the South Pacific) looking for greater opportunities in America, Rocky was born in Oakland, California as a first generation Tongan-American. Growing up in a rough environment and then falling into the street life, Rocky’s family moved him to stay in Hawaii with his uncle for the latter part of his teenage years. He...2021-06-0152 min
The BreakLine ArenaManny Medina: Grit, Growth, and Scaling OutreachJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a truly inspiring conversation with Manny Medina, CEO and Co-Founder of Outreach.io. In this episode Manny shares how his journey as a first-generation immigrant instilled in him an unshakeable grit, and ultimately prepared him to lead a billion dollar AI-based sales engagement company. Manny co-founded Outreach in 2014 and now serves as CEO. Prior to Outreach, Manny was employee number three on Amazon’s AWS team, and led the Microsoft mobile division from launch to $50M in annual revenue. He holds an MBA from Harvard and a Ma...2021-05-2543 min
The BreakLine ArenaMental Health Awareness Month: Overcoming Imposter SyndromeJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a vulnerable and encouraging episode celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month. We sat down with BreakLine teammates Bethany Coates and Lauren Faul to discuss their experiences with Imposter Syndrome, and how to conquer that voice in your head that tells you "you don't belong here." You do. And we'd love to remind you why.If you like what you've heard, please subscribe, follow, and rate our show! To learn more about BreakLine Education, check us out at breakline.org.2021-05-1854 min
The BreakLine ArenaKristin Groos Richmond: Heart of a RevolutionJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an inspiring, and uplifting conversation with Kristin Groos Richmond, Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman of Revolution Foods. In this episode, Kristin shares the incredible mission-driven success created by her company, as well as the challenges of innovating through a global pandemic to serve communities across the country.Kristin founded Revolution Foods in 2005 with Kirsten Tobey to transform the way we feed our students. Kristin continues to lead the growth of the company which now serves over two million freshly prepared meals every week, across the country and recently...2021-05-1157 min
The BreakLine ArenaSergio Padilla: Changing the Faces of Tech Through BreakLine AdmissionsJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for the inside scoop on the BreakLine admissions process with our Director of Admissions, Sergio Padilla. Sergio drops some knowledge on how to stay open-minded during overwhelming times of transition, shares his fascinating life path, and invites folks to come claim their spot at the table within the tech industry. Sergio is a United States Air Force veteran and BreakLine alum. He served as a Personnel Officer for 7 years, including tours to Afghanistan & Honduras. People Operations is his passion, and he has since led recruiting & HR teams in ed...2021-05-041h 04
The BreakLine ArenaJohn Vrionis: Winning, The Unusual WayJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an action-packed conversation with John Vrionis, Co-Founder and Partner at Unusual Ventures. In this episode, John shares valuable insights gained across the course of a tremendously successful career as a venture capitalist, as well as the epiphany which lead him to reimagine the industry and create Unusual Ventures. Originally from Georgia, John attended Harvard where he studied economics and played soccer. His drive to learn pushed him to earn his master’s degree in computer science from the University of Chicago, while helping with technical diligence and so...2021-04-271h 03
The BreakLine ArenaHasani Caraway: Chasing Your YesJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a thoughtful and compelling conversation with Hasani Caraway, General Counsel at Notion. In this episode, Hasani shares how receiving a childhood gift sparked an insatiable curiosity which inspired him to study Computer Science at Prairie View A&M University prior to entering the tech industry.Intrigued by various aspects of the industry, Hasani would later masterfully pivot, deciding to study law at KU Leuven in Belgium, ultimately earning his JD from NYU. His specialties are Venture Capital, Corporate Finance, Corporate Law & Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions.2021-04-131h 00
The BreakLine ArenaMonika Fahlbusch: The Art of Building Authentic CulturesJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a fascinating conversation with Monika Fahlbusch, the Chief People Officer at Epic Games. In this episode, Monika shares insights gained from shaping work cultures, tips for identifying talent as well as her journey rising to the highest levels of leadership as a woman within the tech industry.She is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience leading the People function for companies such as BMC Software and Salesforce. Monika was named one of the Silicon Valley Women of Influence for 2016 by the Silicon Valley Business Journal...2021-04-061h 01
The BreakLine ArenaHaley Wilson: Women's History MonthJoin us in the BreakLine Arena in celebration of Women’s History Month with BreakLine alum Haley Wilson. Haley shares her path from Grapevine, Texas to the Air Force Academy, where she studied Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. She then led several teams across the Air Force and in the Pentagon, and earned a Master’s in Human Factors and Industrial Organizational Psychology from Wright State. She now is the Chief of Staff to VP Product & Sales Activation at Google. Haley dives into her work-life as a recovering perfectionist, the import...2021-03-3047 min
The BreakLine ArenaOnai Gwachiwa: Women's History MonthJoin us in the BreakLine Arena in celebration of Women’s History Month with BreakLine alum Onai Gwachiwa. Onai chronicles the bold move from her hometown of Harare, Zimbabwe to the UK, where she attended the University of Gloucestershire and studied English literature. She then served in the British Army for 12 years, and earned a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Southampton, and another from King’s College London in Military and Security Studies. She now is a Customer Success Manager at Cisco Meraki. She highlights how power...2021-03-3036 min
The BreakLine ArenaMandy Birch: Women's History MonthJoin us in the BreakLine Arena in celebration of Women’s History Month with BreakLine alum Mandy Birch. Mandy describes her journey from rural Indiana to her now passionate pursuit of quantum computing solutions at Rigetti Computing. She attended the Air Force Academy, where she majored in Mechanical Engineering and French, and was an Air Force Athlete Hall of Fame swimmer. She transitioned into leading teams of over 2,000 people in the Air Force, and earned Master's Degrees from MIT in Mechanical Engineering and Tufts University in International Relations. She now is the Senior Vice Pre...2021-03-3049 min
The BreakLine ArenaMatthew Prince: Building CloudflareJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for an authentic and insightful conversation with Matthew Prince, Co-Founder and CEO of Cloudflare. In this episode, Matthew shares his love for his hometown of Park City, Utah, the entrepreneurial journey which led to the creation of Cloudflare, as well as the challenges associated with leading in a complex and ambiguous environment.Cloudflare’s mission is to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world's largest networks, which spans more than 200 cities in over 100 countries. Matthew is a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, a m...2021-03-0958 min
The BreakLine ArenaNima Ghamsari: Betting on YourselfJoin us in the BreakLine Arena for a conversation with Nima Ghamsari. From being a globally renowned online-poker player, to co-founding Blend, and to being named to Fortune’s 2020 Finance 40 under 40, Nima’s story is testament to the power of betting on yourself. Nima Ghamsari is the CEO and co-founder of Blend, a Silicon Valley technology company transforming the $40+ trillion consumer lending industry. Blend’s cloud-based technology, currently specific to mortgages, delivers speed and efficiency to lenders so they can serve the modern borrower and safely navigate the industry’s changing rules and regulations. Prior to...2021-03-021h 00
The BreakLine ArenaAudrey Stewart: Apex Origin StoriesJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an intimate conversation with BreakLine Alum, Audrey Stewart.Audrey is a member of the BreakLine Alumni Council, where she played a critical role in the successful launch of Apex, our vertical hyper-focused on closing the diversity gap in tech by helping high-performing people of color pivot into compelling careers within the industry.In this episode, Audrey thoughtfully shares her reflections on leadership as well as the state of diversity within the tech industry.Before joining Google, she ea...2021-02-2428 min
The BreakLine ArenaJay Staples: Apex Origin StoriesJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an intimate conversation with BreakLine Alum, Jay Staples.Jay is a member of the BreakLine Alumni Council, where he played a critical role in the successful launch of Apex, our vertical hyper-focused on closing the diversity gap in tech by helping high-performing people of color pivot into compelling careers within the industry.In this episode, Jay shares deep insights into the value and power of building community within organizations, especially as a member of an underselected group. Upon joining PayPal, Jay became...2021-02-2427 min
The BreakLine ArenaJasmine Motupalli: Apex Origin StoriesJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an intimate conversation with BreakLine Alum, Jasmine "Jas" Motupalli.Jas is a member of the BreakLine Alumni Council, where she played a critical role in the successful launch of Apex, our vertical hyper-focused on closing the diversity gap in tech by helping high-performing people of color pivot into compelling careers within the industry.In this episode, Jas shares empowering thoughts surrounding the mental models we carry, as well as how diversity elevates high-performing teams to the next level.2021-02-2434 min
The BreakLine ArenaDeon Scott: Apex Origin StoriesJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for an intimate conversation with BreakLine Alum, Deon Scott.Deon is a member of the BreakLine Alumni Council, where he played a critical role in the successful launch of Apex, our vertical hyper-focused on closing the diversity gap in tech by helping high-performing people of color pivot into compelling careers within the industry.In this episode, Deon masterfully shares the genesis of his lifetime commitment to service, both in and out of uniform. Deon's love and advocacy for Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs...2021-02-2436 min
The BreakLine ArenaLt. Gen. Vince Stewart: My American StoryJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as we share a compelling conversation with Lieutenant General Vince Stewart, former Deputy Commander, United States Cyber Command and 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.In this conversation, Lt. Gen. Stewart shares lessons from his childhood as a first-generation Jamaican immigrant, the importance of mentorship and sponsorship over the course of his 38 years of service in the US Marine Corps, as well as deeper insight into the dichotomy of being a person of color in America.If you have not had the...2021-02-0949 min
The BreakLine ArenaGeneral Jim Mattis: Lessons in Servant LeadershipJoin us in The BreakLine Arena for a gripping conversation between General Jim Mattis and Bethany Coates. In this episode, General Mattis delves into his style of servant leadership, and how we as citizens can each step up to help heal the fractures of our nation in pursuit of a more perfect union.James N. Mattis served as the 26th Secretary of Defense. Secretary Mattis enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at the age of 18, and after graduating from Central Washington University, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S...2021-01-191h 08
The BreakLine ArenaBethany Coates: The BreakLine Education Origin StoryJoin us in The BreakLine Arena as our Founder & CEO, Bethany Coates, shares the origin story of BreakLine Education - a company hyper-focused on helping high performing veterans, women and people of color pivot into the tech industry.Bethany's story is truly one of the pursuit of happiness - a journey in aligning one's natural gifts, talents, and professional expertise in hopes of altering the course of a societal issue with deeply significant impact - in this case employment outcomes stemming from higher education.This episode reveals the personal...2021-01-1957 min
The BreakLine ArenaWelcome to The BreakLine ArenaJoin hosts Kenny Vaughn, Director of BreakLine Apex, and Sophia Beaudoin, Talent Recruiter at BreakLine Education, as they welcome you to The BreakLine Arena.2021-01-1306 min