Shows
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 20 - The Back Room: Details You Can't Ignore When Starting A BusinessToday our guest is Michael LaPerch, Senior Sourcing Manager for Financial Systems & Strategic Projects at Pitney Bowes. Michael is also an Alum of Iona University and an extremely active Mentor to students and small business owners.
In this episode, we explore several areas that new business owners often overlook. Finances, inventory management, customers service, and many other areas all have their pitfalls, and this episode covers things to keep in mind to avoid costly mistakes. We also discuss the importance of mentorship - new business owners are often afraid to ask for help or think that they...2024-04-0439 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 19 - Futuring, SMART Goals, and Micro GoalsToday we welcome back Erica Soto, the founder of Enjoy Erica Art Studio which provides a space where people can explore their creativity and celebrate the joy of life through art. Erica strives to create an environment where everyone feels supported, inspired, and empowered to create. Erica believes that art is a powerful form of expression, and by providing an accessible platform, she is able to bring out the best in each and every person who enters her online and in-person studio experience.
In this episode, we explore the idea of Futuring, which “…is the practice of envi...2024-03-2245 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 18 - What's Your Ask and What's Your OfferToday we are joined by Sandra Nam, a tech entrepreneur, marketplace builder, leader in virtual event design & management, brand & marketing manager, and licensed landscape architect. She is Co-founder & CEO at Qiqo Inc., a B2B SaaS technology company helping associations create dynamic online events, conferences, communities, and marketplaces to connect their sponsors and members.
This episode is loaded with great insight - our conversation includes several important topics, including the importance of focusing on client success, especially as a service-based business, and the value of being giving as a business owner and always paying it forward. We...2024-02-2934 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 17 - Killers Don't Close Over EmailToday we are joined by "IRON" Mike Steadman, who is a published author, serial entrepreneur, and business coach based in Newark, NJ, who's committed to enhancing the economic and social outcomes of urban youth and military veterans through boxing, entrepreneurship, and new media. This episode is LOADED with great advice, best practices, and actionable steps to starting or growing your small business.
We explore the story of IRONBOUND Boxing, IRONBOUND Media, and Mike's experience developing both. We then dive into several key business topics, including category design, branding, marketing, sales, and the importance of...2024-02-2247 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 16 - From Pro to CEOSeason 2 kicks off with Giuliano Santucci, Alum of Iona, former professional soccer player, and the founder of GSS Media Agency and GSS Sport Goalkeeper Academy. We discuss his transition from pro athlete to full-time business owner, the challenges he's faced in growing GSS Media Agency, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.
After Graduating from Iona, was the first American goalkeeper to be signed to first division Columbian Team. After three years, Giuliano stepped back from professional soccer to pursue his businesses.
Simon Sinek Clip - https://www.youtube...2024-02-1528 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 15 - The Messy MiddleToday our guest is Charissa Eykelhoff, the Founder and CEO of Simply Loved Weddings. In this episode, we discuss how Charissa got started planning weddings and how she is working through some of the growing pains of being the owner of a growing small business. She talks about being in "The Messy Middle" which is the period of transition from just starting out and doing everything in the business to letting go of control and passing off responsibilities to her team. This is something all business owners experience and it is one of the hardest things to do.
2023-12-0830 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 14 - Keep Showing UpToday our guest is Emily Angell who is a singer, songwriter, guitar player, producer, and founder of Emily Angell Music. This episode explores a ton of great topics - digital marketing tips for creative entrepreneurs, balancing the creative and business mindsets, the benefits of having an accountability partner, the importance of taking a rest day in business, and the value of consistency. Even on the hardest days, all you need to do is keep showing up!
Emily's music has been described as "A bit folk, a bit roots, a bit electro-pop, her music combines motivating, inspiring lyrics...2023-11-3042 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 13 - Direct vs. Indirect CompetitionEpisode 13 features Lisa Tretler, who has over 25 years of experience coaching, consulting & mentoring businesses & entrepreneurs in the areas of goal setting, business plan development, and marketing and growth strategies. In this episode, Lisa shares her experience starting her consulting firm, Business Boosters Consulting. She also discusses effective ways for small businesses to understand their competition, the difference between direct & indirect competition, and how to better articulate one's value proposition.
Lisa is the CEO of Business Boosters Consulting, a business strategy consulting firm, WomInsight, a career development and growth firm for women, and was a co-founder of The...2023-11-1625 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 12 - Don't Force Your TeamToday our Guest is Logan Higuera who is the founder of OpenOcean - a startup support management system built for university entrepreneurship centers and entrepreneur support organizations. Logan discusses his experiences starting his company, building his team, and leveraging no-code platforms to get OpenOcean out in the market quickly. What's more, Logan talks about how his leverage of no-code allowed him to self-fund his startup, which enables him and his team to focus on getting paying customers over chasing angel investment.
Logan has spent the majority of his professional career as a coach and consultant to startups that span a v...2023-11-0842 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 11 - Thinking About It Won't Do It, Doing It WillToday our guest is Dr. Charles Fritz, the Founder of Cloudless Sky Meditation, which provides individualized guided meditations for school districts, businesses, families, athletic organizations, and individuals. Cloudless Sky uses various types of meditation that help individuals achieve mindfulness and inner peace.
In today's episode, Dr. Fritz talks about his background in meditation and how he brought meditation into the classroom to help his students focus and manage the stress associated with test taking. Seeing the opportunity to bring his guided meditations to others, Fritz started Cloudless Sky Meditation to help others manage stress...2023-11-0833 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 10 - You Gotta Be in It to Win ItToday our guest is Ray Wilcox who is the Executive Director of Yonkers Arts and the Co-Founder of the PowerLab, a Co-Working Facility and Incubator dedicated to providing our underserved communities with business and financial literacy resources.
In this episode, Ray talks about his transition from a career in corporate to starting his own company, moving into the non-profit world from a for-profit, the importance of building relationships, and the opportunities for artists and creative entrepreneurs in the City of Yonkers due to the work of Yonkers Arts.
Ray is recognized by the state, Westchester...2023-10-1837 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 9 - Progress Over PerfectionOur guest today is Tina Steffen, Founder and Chief Mess Maker at Unleashed Creative Studio, which Tina created to help people discover or re-discover their creativity in a stress-free, judgment-free, and drama-free environment, one messy project at a time.
In this episode, we explore the backstory of Unleashed Creative Studio, the value of working with a business coach, but most importantly, we discuss imposter syndrome and how to push through it as an entrepreneur.
Tina is an Air Force Veteran and spouse, mom to an almost 18-year-old human, and dog mom to Bo, a 6-year-old Carolina Dog...2023-10-1136 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 8 - Find your Product Market FitOur guest for Episode 8 is Dr. Marci Klein, who is the Co-Founder of 3DuxDesign a cardboard modeling system that incorporates community-centered design projects and inspires students to imaginatively and practically think through solutions to real-world problems they see around them. Today she shares the story of how she started 3DuxDesign with her two kids, the importance of letting a small business grow at its own pace, and getting your product out in the market to find the right product market fit.
Marci is a clinical and academic pediatrician with over 25 years of experience in early childhood development...2023-10-0431 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 7 - If It's Free It's For MeOur guest for this episode is Erica Soto, the founder of Enjoy Erica Art Studio and a self-taught artist who has been creating professional works since 2004, and is also a certified Therapeutic Art Life Coach who is passionate about making art accessible to everyone. Erica shares her experiences starting her business, the importance of taking advantage of the free resources available to entrepreneurs, her experiences in the Launch1000 incubator program, and more.
Enjoy Erica Art Studio provides a space where people can explore their creativity and celebrate the joy of life through art. We strive to create...2023-09-2734 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 6 - The Value of Relationship BuildingIn this episode, Riana and I are joined by Joanna Falisi, who is an alum of Iona, graduating with degrees in entrepreneurship and economics. She discusses life after graduation and her entrepreneurial background in starting an ice skating instruction business for kids. Joanna also shares her experience in the GaelVentures Incubator and the relationships built working with mentors and her peers in the program.
Connect with Joanna on LinkedIn
Joanna Falisi | LinkedIn
GaelVentures is the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation's community incubator at Iona University. The Hynes Institute is an interdisciplinary hub for...2023-09-2019 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 5 - Small Business Opportunities in New Rochelle NYOur guest is Jorge Ventura, the Deputy Commissioner of Development for the Department of Development for the City of New Rochelle, New York. Today he discusses the small business landscape in New Rochelle, particularly the opportunities created with the huge development projects going on in the city. Jorge also talks about the resources available to small businesses.
Jorge is a Dominican architect with a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Virginia Tech as a Fulbright Scholar. His professional experience ranges from architectural projects to urban, regional, and national scale projects, as well as economic de...2023-09-1325 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 4 - Turning My Mess Into My MessageOur guest for Episode 4 is Federico Ruso, an Alumni of Iona, professional soccer player, and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, he came to the US after finishing high school, playing professional soccer, and representing his country at the youth level. Federico was the captain of the soccer team during his senior year at Iona, and in this role, he led the team to its second conference final in program history. Federico graduated with a double major in Business Management and Entrepreneurship.
Federico discusses the challenges he faced post-graduation after sustaining an injury that interrupted his...2023-09-0623 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 3 - Small Business Opportunities in Mt. Vernon NYToday's Guest is Andrea Haynes, Director of Economic Development for the City of Mount Vernon, who explore the fantastic opportunities that Mt Vernon has to offer business owners. We discuss Mt Vernon's strong sense of community and the support available from the city for aspiring business owners.
Born and raised in Co-Op City, Andrea has always had a passion for developing dynamic urban communities. Andrea’s role as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Mount Vernon is dedicated to developing revenue-generating opportunities for business owners and operators throughout the city.
In her fo...2023-08-3017 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 2 - Know Your ValuesToday our guest is Lauren Cruz, who discusses her transition from the military to starting her own coaching business to serve U.S. Service Members and Veterans and help them transition into the civilian workforce.
Lauren is a Veteran graduate of the United States Naval Academy During her career in the U.S. Navy, she worked for the White House Communications Agency in Washington, D.C., where she led teams on weekly domestic and international missions as they built a secure communications environment for the President of the United States (POTUS) his support staff and the U...2023-08-3020 min
The GaelVentures PodcastEpisode 1 - What Problem Are You Solving?In our first-ever episode of the GaelVentures podcast, we are joined by John Jones, an Army veteran who is on a quest to help the youth of today learn essential life skills and avoid the mistakes that he made as a young person. His business, Teaching Our Youth Skills, or TOYS for short, offers workshops on a variety of topics including financial literacy, credit, and interview readiness. In this episode, John discusses his experience in developing his business.
John has been taking advantage of the free business coaching through the Community Navigator Pilot Program here at Iona...2023-08-2923 min
The Ionavation PodcastIonavation Podcast Ep. 004| What is Entrepreneurship?In episode 004 hosts Maimouna '20 and Alberto Goncalves '20 discuss what exactly entrepreneurship and innovation mean as well as what happens over at GaelVentures with the Hynes Institute team - Lendynette Pacheco-Jorge, Assistant Director of Curricular & Co-Curricular Programming and Jarlyne Batista, Coordinator.
2019-05-2100 min