Shows
Learning Out Loud#49 - Chat Razdan *Update* - Care+Wear Founder & CEOIn a NEW episode, we caught up with Chat at a recent McIntire event this spring. Chat was also a guest on Learning Out Loud Episode #9 last July.
Chaitenya Razdan (UVA McIntire '05, UChicago Booth '11) is the Founder and CEO of Care+Wear.2024-05-1733 min
Learning Out Loud#48 - Ashley Young - CEO of Bridal Babes (Shark Tank Company)Ashley Young is the co-founder of Bridal Babes, the first size-inclusive bridesmaid gown line. Bridal Babes was featured on the 14th Season of Shark Tank, where Ashley and her husband Charles received a $250k investment from Emma Grede. Ashley is a 2009 graduate of the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce.2024-05-1236 min
Learning Out Loud#47- Griffin Spolansky - Co-Founder of MezclaGriffin Spolansky graduated from UVA in 2019 and was part of the NCAA National Championship men's lacrosse team. After being frustrated with the protein bars available after practice, and meeting his co-founder outside his social entrepreneurship class, he started working on his company Mezcla, which is a plant-based snack brand that has started in the protein bar aisle. They have a puff-crispy texture and combine many cultures into the flavors. You can find them in Whole Foods. Griffin was also found in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2023. We spoke with Griffin about
How he met his co-founder
His decision to pursue his company...2024-04-2947 min
Learning Out Loud#46-Hunter Stoler- Founder of Health With HunterHunter Stoler is the founder of Health With Hunter- a social media platform and website to have “Health Made Simple.” Hunter is a certified nutrition and health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. He coaches clients 1-1 and 1-2 and has helped over 150 people lose body fat in a simple and sustainable way. He has also created guides for food swaps, and is a full-time Business Analyst at American Express in New York, New York, all while managing his social media platforms where he creates health-related content with over 160k on Tik Tok and over 50k on Instagram. Hunter is o...2024-04-1237 min
Learning Out Loud#45 - Katlin Smith - Founder, CEO of Simple MillsKatlin Smith is the founder and CEO of Simple Mills, a leader in the natural foods movement. Their products include gluten free, paleo-friendly almond flours, crackers, cookies and baking mixes, and can be found in over 28,000 stores worldwide in locations like Whole Foods, Costco, Walmart and others. Katlin is a 2010 graduate of UNC and attended the University of Chicago Booth School of Business from 2013-2014.
We spoke with Katlin about:
Finding your first customers
Spending time on branding vs. on the product itself
Benefits of business school
Being a healthy fish in dirty water
Simple Mills’ pa...2024-04-0540 min
Learning Out Loud#44 - Evan Nied - Founder/CEO of OK EnergyEvan Nied is a second year undergraduate at the University of Virginia, and founder of OK Energy, a beverage start-up which launched in January 2024.2024-03-2955 min
Learning Out Loud#43 - Andrew Elliot - CEO of RoundlyX Alternative Investment & GivingAndrew Elliot is the founder of RoundlyX, a platform which allows users to round up spare change on purchases and invest in the cryptocurrency space, as well as donate to charitable causes. Andrew previously served in the U.S. Military and attended the University of Virginia.
We spoke with Andrew about:
Grit as your biggest resource
Learning by doing
Finding comfort in discomfort
Making faster, better decisions
2024-03-1535 min
Learning Out Loud#23 - Mark Galant - CEO of Ultra-High Frequency Trading Firm on the Opportunities in Entrepreneurship for College StudentsMark Galant is the CEO of Tydall Investment Partners, an angel investing and real estate lending/development firm, as well as the founder of the Galant Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Mark is a 1980 graduate of the UVA McIntire School of Commerce and a 1982 graduate of Harvard Business School. Prior to Tydall, Mark served as Founder and CEO of GAIN Capital.
We spoke with Mark Galant about:
Why college students should work at a startup
Circuitous career paths
The importance of passion outside of work
Iterating on an existing co...2024-03-081h 14
Learning Out Loud#42 - Neal Hoffman - Shark Tank Founder of Mensch on the BenchNeal Hoffman is the founder of Mensch on a Bench, the most publicized brand to come out of Shark Tank. Neal made a deal with Lori Griener and Robert Herjavec. In addition to the continued success of Mensch on a Bench, Neal is the CEO of FanRoll, a board a high-end accessories company for the gaming market. He is a 1999 graduate of the University of Michigan and earned an MBA from the UVA Darden School of Business in 2005.
We spoke with Neal about:
His experience on Shark Tank
Running Mensch on a Bench solo
Marketing
Thinking...2024-03-0147 min
Learning Out Loud#41 - Minnie Lahoti - Microsoft Program Manager on Building a Lucrative Side HustleMinnie Lahoti is the founder of ML STEM Prep, an online tutoring company focused on serving college undergraduates in courses such as organic chemistry, physics, and calculus. Minnie also serves as a Technical Program Manager at Microsoft, and has a rich background as an organic chemist, consultant and data scientist. She is a 2014 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned an MBA from the UVA Darden School of Business in 2023.
We spoke with Minnie about:
Balancing a startup with a full time job
Taking a company’s culture into account
Profiting off of an existing id...2024-02-2341 min
Learning Out Loud#40 - Josh Anton - Building XMode to an 8 Figure ExitJosh Anton is the founder of X-mode, a location services company that started out as Drunk Mode, a mobile app allowing college students to track their friends’ whereabouts during a night out. Josh parlayed that location technology into an industry leader in X-mode, and recently sold to Digital Envoy for an undisclosed amount. Josh now serves as Chief Strategy Officer with Digital Envoy. He is a 2014 UVA McIntire graduate.
We spoke with Josh about:
Minimizing risk
Lessons on intellectual property
Listening to your customers
Learning vs. earning
Learning by doing
Knowing yourself
Setting quantitative goals
Me...2024-02-1646 min
Learning Out Loud#39 - Josh Cohen - Building a Successful Side HustleJosh Cohen is a co-founder of Elevate meal plan, a dining hall alternative found at 5 different colleges and universities (UVA, UNC, Rutgers, VCU, St. Clair). Josh is also an engineering manager at Torch, and a 2013 graduate of UVA.
We spoke with Josh about:
Managing a side hustle
Scaling a college-focused business
Changing your business idea over time
Symbiotic relationship between a full-time job and a entrepreneurial venture
Much more
2024-02-0930 min
Learning Out Loud#38 - Vic Schaff - Building a Papa John’s EmpireVic Schaff owned and operated several Papa John’s locations throughout the central Virginia area. We spoke with Vic about how he managed an entrepreneurial venture underneath a corporate umbrella, and his tactics for hiring the right talent and managing his team.
We spoke with Vic about:
Pursuing business without a college degree
Creating motivation for teams
Calculated risks
Hiring the right
Much more
2024-02-0245 min
Learning Out Loud#37 - Bryan Pollard - Ask Alex Co-Founder on Lessons from Bird & Taking RisksBryan Pollard is a co-founder of Ask Alex along with Jordon Durst (Learning Out Loud Episode 6). Ask Alex is a platform focused on AI-powered data and marketing for restaurants.
We spoke with Bryan about:
His time at Bird - benefits of working at a startup
His first entrepreneurial ventures
Studying sociology
Surrounding yourself with interesting people
You don’t need to study business in college
Just trying stuff out
Much more
2024-01-2650 min
Learning Out Loud#36 - Shannon Nash - Wing CFO on Combining Skills to Reach New HeightsShannon Nash is a multi-hyphenate. Shannon is currently the CFO of Wing, an Alphabet subsidiary developing drone delivery services. She is also a lawyer, certified public accountant, investor and documentary filmmaker. Shannon is a 1992 graduate of the UVA McIntire School of Commerce and a 1995 graduate of the UVA School of Law.
We spoke with Shannon about:
The benefits of both accounting and law as a CFO
Wing’s drone delivery
Being open to pivots in your career
Taking lessons from a small company to a larger venture
Mentorship
Taking advantage of opportunities in fr...2024-01-1959 min
Learning Out Loud#35 - David Marquet - Bestselling Author & Navy Captain on Language in LeadershipL. David Marquet is a retired U.S. Navy Captain and author of the bestselling book Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders, published in 2013, where he discusses his unique approach to leadership. David’s blend of pushing for leadership at every level of the ship and the careful use of language with his crew resulted in the USS Santa Fe “worst to first” turnaround, becoming the Navy’s top ship by retention and operational standings.
We spoke with David about:
Linguistic hacks in leadership
Taking abstract ideas down to...2024-01-1256 min
Learning Out Loud#34 - Joe Linzon - Forbes 30 Under 30 Co-Founder of Roots & Corner JuiceJoe Linzon speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about starting Roots while an undergraduate, the three skills he sees as most important to business, and his passion for solving problems.2024-01-0659 min
Learning Out Loud#33 - Season 3 Recap - Justin, Marlee, and ChapinJustin, Marlee, and Chapin discuss the lessons they learned from each of the guests in Season 3 (episodes 23 - 32) in this quick season recap.2023-12-2923 min
Learning Out Loud#32 - Alex Berentzen - COO of Thompson Restaurants on Learning by DoingAlex Berentzen is the COO of Thompson Hospitality one of the largest retail food and facilities management companies, in the country. The company serves diverse clients, including Fortune 100 companies, universities, medical centers, and school districts, with a portfolio of well-known brands. Alex is a Dutch native and began his career in Amsterdam before moving to the US and holding Director of Restaurant Operations and other leadership roles at The Ritz Carlton, Wegmans Food Markets, King’s Seafood Company, and eventually, Thompson Restaurant Group.
We spoke with Alex about:
Holding yourself accountable through focused re...2023-12-231h 08
Learning Out Loud#31 - Michael Brown - CEO of Travel+Leisure Co. on Creating Strategies and Identifying New Trends in the Travel IndustryMichael Brown is the CEO of Travel+Leisure Co. (NYSE: TNL), the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, with nearly 20 travel brands across its resort, travel club, and lifestyle portfolio. The company provides outstanding vacation experiences and travel inspiration to millions of owners, members, and subscribers every year through its products and services: Wyndham Destinations, the largest vacation ownership company with more than 245 vacation club resort locations across the globe. Travel + Leisure Co. has created a recent partnership with Sports Illustrated to create Sports Illustrated Resorts, in addition to their existing partnership with . Michael is a 1992 gra...2023-12-1551 min
Learning Out Loud#30 - Aakash Shah - Y Combinator-backed CEO of Wyndly on Cutting the BSAakash Shah is the founder and CEO of Wyndly, a company focused on fixing allergies with personalized oral drops that train your immune system to beat your allergy triggers. Wyndly is a Y Combinator Winter 2021 company. Aakash is a 2016 UVA graduate.
We spoke with Aakash about:
Being a good learner
How to be a good mentee
Failing fast
Cutting the bullshit
Avoiding lying to yourself
Doing as the best form of learning
Much more
2023-12-0832 min
Learning Out Loud#29 - Merritt Lane - CEO of Canal Barge Company on Data Analytics, Wall Street Insights, and Attracting Top TalentMerritt Lane III is the CEO of Canal Barge Company, Founded in 1933, Canal Barge Company, Inc. is a family-owned, independent marine transportation company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. Today we are one of the most diverse marine transportation companies in the country, moving highly valuable cargo to virtually every part of the world. Enjoys relationships with several Fortune 500 chemical and oil companies, as well as refineries, construction companies, fabricators, public utilities, engineering companies, and the United States Government. Merritt is a 1983 UVA McIntire School of Commerce graduate.
We spoke with Merritt about:
Data analytics and s...2023-12-041h 01
Learning Out Loud#28 - Meg Pryde - The Importance of Mentors in Disrupting an IndustryMeg Pryde is the founder of Brandefy, a beauty product discovery platform using data & insights to launch our own line of affordable quality skincare. She started Brandefy to bring manufacturer products directly to the consumer, after spending 4 years working for a consumer packaging company. Meg is a 2012 University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce graduate, and a 2018 UVA Darden School of Business graduate.
***Brandefy is kindly sponsoring this episode of Learning Out Loud. Make sure to check out their website!***
We spoke with Meg about:
The importance of mentorship and r...2023-11-3047 min
Learning Out Loud#27 - Chase Minnifield - Forbes 30 Under 30 CEO of EZOS on Stacking BusinessesChase Minnifield is the founder and CEO of EZOS, a revolutionary property management software designed to simplify and streamline operations across a diverse range of property types. Chase is a 2011 UVA graduate and played football both at UVA and in the NFL for the Washington Commanders, and was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2019.
We spoke with Chase about:
The difference between ignorance debt and time debt
Pivoting between businesses and opportunities
Using money as a tool in business
Mitigating risk
Finding high leverage opportunities
How t...2023-11-201h 06
Learning Out Loud#26 - Maxine Clifford - Small Business Owner on How to Live your Ideal LifeMaxine Clifford is the owner of two Purvelo indoor cycle locations - one in Charlottesville, Virginia, and one in Athens, Georgia. Maxine began working for Purvelo as a second year undergraduate, and after graduating UVA in 2019 managed the Athens location before buying it and the Charlottesville studio.
Use our code: LEARNING20 for 20% off your first month on ALL Purvelo memberships (pur & simple, pur premium, ultimate pur and Student 3 month)!
We spoke with Maxine about:
The extreme importance of working with people you enjoy spending time with
Creating win-wins wi...2023-11-101h 01
Learning Out Loud#25 - Rachel Edwards - JPMorgan VP of Digital Private Markets on Empathy and Relationship BuildingRachel Edwards is the Vice President of Digital Private Markets and heads the development of internal startup, Capital Connect. Capital Connect brings together entrepreneurs, VCs, and LPs to help them find new opportunities and get deals done. Rachel is a graduate of the University of Maryland and a 2022 UVA Darden School of Business graduate. She founded several fashion companies before her time at JPMorgan.
We spoke with Rachel about:
The value of empathy in building a startup
Practical tips for relationship building
Pivoting from fashion to finance
Entrepreneurship within...2023-11-0741 min
Learning Out Loud#24 - Warren Thompson - CEO’s Lessons on Growing a $1 Billion Hospitality Group*Note: this episode was recorded at one of Thompson's restaurants, The Ridley in Charlottesville.*
Warren Thomspon is the founder of Thompson Hospitality, the largest minority-owned food service, and one of the largest retail food and facilities management companies, in the country.
The company serves diverse clients, including Fortune 100 companies, universities, medical centers, and school districts, with a portfolio of well-known brands.
Warren graduated from UVA Darden in 1983 and then spent 9 years with Marriott Corporation as an Assistant Manager at a Roy Rogers unit, before founding Thompson Hospitality in 1992.
W...2023-10-2745 min
Learning Out Loud#22 - Season 2 Recap - Justin, Marlee, ChapinJustin, Marlee, and Chapin discuss the lessons they learned from each of the guests in Season 2 (episodes 12-21) in this quick season recap.2023-10-1320 min
Learning Out Loud#21 - Rooney Lee - Founder’s Lessons on Sales and Revolutionizing SubleasingRooney Lee is the founder of NewSublease, the largest housing network for MBA/Law/Med students, focused on a hassle-free and affordable option for graduate students to rent a property or become a host with full confidence. Rooney is a former Product Strategy & Operations MBA Intern at Google, and also served as Product Manager and Analytics Lead, among other roles, at Cummins, Inc. Rooney also served for two years in the South Korean army. He graduated from the UVA Darden School of Business in 2023.
We spoke with Rooney about:
The skills he did and did no...2023-10-0645 min
Learning Out Loud#20 - Caitlin Anderson - Co-Founder of Thinkly SolutionsCaitlin Anderson (UVA ‘12) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about Co-Founding Thinkly Solutions, a consulting company focused on reducing wasted time in meetings, and why she decided to make the leap from the corporate world to tackling one of its largest issues.
Follow us on Instagram!2023-09-2949 min
Learning Out Loud#19 - Michael Baer - Fractional CMOMichael Baer (UVA) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about his work as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer with TechCXO, his thought process in designing effective ad campaigns, and the benefits of working with multiple companies simultaneously.
Follow us on Instagram!2023-09-2249 min
Learning Out Loud#18 - Dolores Stevens - Conscious Leadership CoachDolores Stevens (UVA ‘07) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about leaving the corporate world at WeWork and Hello Alfred to become a conscious leadership coach, and how she helps clients frame the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship and business.
Follow us on Instagram!2023-09-1544 min
Learning Out Loud#17 - Alex Russell - Founder of Nothing SpecialAlex Russell (McIntire ‘16) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about his time in Investment Banking, his discovery of Kava, and pulls back the curtain on spearheading the introduction of a new drink to the United States through his Kava brand, Nothing Special.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!2023-09-0841 min
Learning Out Loud#2 - Professor Chip Ransler - Co-Founder of Husk PowerProfessor Chip Ransler speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about a near death encounter with a poisonous snake, redesigning the inside of a Navy nuclear submarine, backpacking through the Swiss Alps, and running multiple million dollar companies.
2023-09-071h 42
Learning Out Loud#16 - Erika Bahr - Founder, CEO of Invest Capital AIErika Bahr (BYU ‘09, Harvard Business Analytics ‘22, UVA Darden ‘23) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about her company, Invest Capital AI, which uses AI to predict the success of startups for founders and VCs alike.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!2023-09-0153 min
Learning Out Loud#15 - Alex Zorychta - How to Grow EntrepreneursAlex Zorychta (UVA Engineering ‘13, Darden MBA ‘21) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about what’s wrong with the way we approach entrepreneurship in colleges today, and the system he’s developed to help fix it.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!
2023-08-251h 04
Learning Out Loud#14 - Brendan Richardson - Co-Founder of AstraeaBrendan Richardson talks to Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about the chance encounter that made him a VC, his time working in Europe, and his current company, Astraea, which uses AI and satellite imagery to tackle some of the world’s largest problems.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!2023-08-181h 24
Learning Out Loud#13 - Rich Diemer - 7/11 to UVA Angel InvestingRich Diemer (UVA McIntire ‘80) talks to Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about winning the lottery, managing risk in angel investing, and the patterns of successful entrepreneurs he’s seen as the Co-Chair of CavAngels.
Check out CAV Angels at https://cavangels.com
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!2023-08-1146 min
Learning Out Loud#12 - Professor Tim Davis - Clinical Psychologist on Building ResilienceProfessor Tim Davis (Indiana University ‘89, ASU ‘97, University of Maryland ‘01) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about building resilience, advice for young students, and his “bathtub moment”.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!2023-08-0441 min
Learning Out Loud#11- Season 1 Recap - Justin, Marlee, and ChapinJustin, Marlee, and Chapin take a few minutes to reflect on and summarize the first 10 episodes of Learning Out Loud, and the lessons we took from each of our first guests. Thanks to everyone who has spoken with us and listened so far. We're looking forward to many more episodes to come.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!
2023-07-2828 min
Learning Out Loud#10 - Attorney Rob Kaplan - Nationally Recognized MediatorAttorney Rob Kaplan - litigator turned nationally recognized mediator - speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin, and distills "success" down to just 8 words.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!2023-07-2133 min
Learning Out Loud#9 - Chaitenya Razdan - Care+Wear Founder & CEOChaitenya Razdan (UVA McIntire '05, UChicago Booth '11) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about the importance of caring for others, curating a positive company culture and what lead him to his current venture, Care+Wear.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!2023-07-1441 min
Learning Out Loud#8 - Walt Guidice - Mining Diamonds to Healing MindsWalt Guidice speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about his many experiences across Healthcare, Finance, and Minerals and Mining, and what lead him to his current venture, NeuroStim TMS.
Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!
Follow us on Instagram!2023-07-0833 min
Learning Out Loud#7 - Sophie Smith - Student Entrepreneur (College Contact)Sophie Smith (UVA McIntire '23) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about the overnight TikTok which started her business, College Contact, her decision to pursue it full time post-grad, and her advice for other student entrepreneurs.
*NEW*: Use code LEARNINGOUTLOUD at https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/ for 20% off!2023-07-0246 min
Learning Out Loud#6 - Jordon Durst - Goldman Sachs Investing to AI InnovationJordon Durst (UVA McIntire '15) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about co-founding an AI-powered data and marketing company, Ask Alex, with his college roommate, raising capital from early-stage VC, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will push you to succeed.2023-06-2346 min
Learning Out Loud#5 - Elizabeth Blankenship - Sprints, Successes, Fashion, and FailureElizabeth Blankenship (Poets and Quants Most Disruptive MBA Startups 2022) speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about her background in fashion, pursuing an MBA at UVA, founding her own zero-waste fashion startup (By Eilly), the importance of the KPI community in creating accountability, and her latest ventures in angel investing and VC.
Saras Sarasvathy's book Elizabeth mentioned.2023-06-1746 min
Learning Out Loud#4 - Mark Christensen - Taxi Low, Fly HighMark Christensen speaks with Justin, Marlee, and Chapin about running a $100MM commercial construction company, a unique educational experience, and explains the meaning behind the phrase "Taxi Low, Fly High".2023-06-0955 min
Learning Out Loud#3 - Jordan Geller - Nike Shoe Collector and Founder of the ShoezeumJordan Geller speaks with Justin, Marlee and Chapin about setting the world record for largest shoe collection, selling a pair of sneakers for $560,000, and lending his shoes to Ben Affleck on the set of Air (2023). 2023-06-031h 32
Learning Out Loud#1 - Professor Jeff Lovelace - West Point to Iraq to UVA Business ProfessorJustin, Marlee, and Chapin speak with Professor Lovelace about systematic accountability, reflection, mentorship, and lessons learned on leadership from his 12 years in the US Army.
Jeff Lovelace’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyblovelace
Learning Out Loud Instagram: @_learningoutloud2023-05-1949 min
Learning Out LoudLearning Out Loud TrailerJustin, Marlee, and Chapin introduce themselves and discuss what Learning out Loud will cover going forward.2023-05-1700 min