Baby Got Backstory

BGBS 027: Justin Moss | The Pineapple Agency | Bringing People Together and Making Them Smile

BGBS 026: Laurence Spiewak | Suerte Tequila | It’s Good to Be Lucky

BGBS 025: Alec Stern | Constant Contact | I’m Not a Quitter

BGBS 024: Marc Gutman | Wildstory | Masterclass: How to Name or Rename a Business

BGBS 023: Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard | Slumberkins | Believe In Yourself

BGBS 022: Hap Klopp | The North Face | Origin Of The Brand, Disruption, Quality, & 3x Bottom Line

BGBS 021: Frank Shankwitz | Make-A-Wish Foundation | Wish Man

BGBS 020: Michael Ventura | Sub Rosa | Someday I’ll be an Idea Man

BGBS 019: Chip Conley | Founder of Joie de Vivre | Becoming A Modern Elder

BGBS 018: Frank and Jacqueline Bonanno | Bonanno Concepts | Creating Happy People

BGBS 020: Someday I’ll be an Idea Man How adopting other people’s perspectives allowed Michael Ventura to discover that empathy is the secret to success and build a world class strategy and design studio serving the world’s biggest brands. Michael Ventura is the founder and CEO of the strategy and design firm, Sub Rosa based in New York City. He is also an expert on empathy and practicing empathy in business in order to produce real innovation. Later in the show we’ll hear Michael’s definition of empathy… how most people get it wrong and how applying empathy is the secret weapon for any business looking to innovate. In this episode we talked about: Michael’s early aspirations to be an “Idea Man” growing up. Background of Michael’s parents, their involvement, and what life was like growing up in suburban New Jersey. Where the sense of empathy and perspective taking came from for Michael. Michael’s plans to wanting to go to college coming out of high school and landing into a specialty school. The introduction to the business world in Michael’s college years. How Michael and his friend started doing events at bars and nightclubs at the age of 19. The next big move Michael makes coming to the end of his college years, which happened to be at the end of the dot-com boom, finds a job for a bit until he gets laid off at 23, stuck and unsure what to do. Michael and a friend of his who was a software engineer team up to build what was essentially a platform that made flash websites: the birthing of Sub Rosa. Michael’s insights on how he stayed valuable to his clients who were potentially ready to leave. How Seed came about and how it interwind with Sub Rosa. How Michael knew and learned of the business strategies he practiced with design thinking and a methodology for solving problems. Michael’s thoughts on what it’s like running an agency on how hard it is to stay relevant and why he feels strongly on practicing empathy. A powerful conversation between Michael and a three-star general about why Michael was even at the WestPoint Military Academy.   One of Michael’s favorite examples of empathy into an organization revolving around the world of equality for women in the business space.   Quotes: [7:38] “Then that night she said, when she laid in bed with my dad, the two of them were talking, they were like, what the hell is our kid talking about that he wants to be an idea man, he’s nine years old? What does that even mean?”  [18:12] “What I ended up doing pretty quickly, was actually starting a business with a friend of mine where we were doing events at differen

BGBS 019: Becoming a Modern Elder How a passion for hospitality, writing, and business fueled Chip Conley to start (and eventually sell) the global boutique hotel group, Joie de Vivre, only to find himself as the “Modern Elder” at a crazy, high growth startup called AirBnB, and rediscover what it was he was always meant to do… At 52 after selling the cool and rebel hotel brand he had started at 26, he could have retired. By today’s standards he should have retired… but the young founders of Airbnb came calling. He served as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy for four years — while also being CEO Brian Chesky’s mentor — and continues today as a Strategic Advisor to the company’s leadership. Chip Conley is a New York Times bestselling author whose manifesto on ageism, Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder, is inspired by his experience of being both a mentor and an intern in his 50s. In this episode we talked about: Chip’s story growing up, what his dad’s involvement was like, and how he became a brand builder. What the effects of psychology had on Chip. What an entrepreneur was perceived as, back in the day. Chip’s early career in business school and how he learned commercial real estate. How Chip caught onto the trend of boutique hotels. How Chip came up with the name Joie de Vivre. What the success rate was like for his grand opening and what he did to gain traction which would ultimately lead to great success! Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Chip’s mindset during the dot-com bust. How Chip managed to get up to 27 locations. What led Chip to leaving the hotel business and how he got into AirBnb. What a Modern Elder is and why that name was given to Chip. Chips thoughts on how we are to understand humans. Advice for those worried about growing older. Quotes: [9:46] “When I said to my father at age 12 that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up, he said he could send me to therapy.” [16:07] “If I was going to start my own thing in the future and learning from somebody’s already doing it, it’s probably the fastest way for me to learn.” [19:14] “I sort of history of proving people wrong and doing something that seems a

BGBS 018: Creating Happy People | Frank and Jacqueline Bonanno | Bonanno Concepts Today’s story features the husband and wife team behind Bonanno Concepts, Frank and Jacqueline Bonanno. Frank and Jaqueline Bonanno have built a restaurant group in Denver on the values of Pride, Family, and Excellence. If you talk to any of their hundreds of employees they’ll all tell you the exact same thing. Not only with they tell you this but they believe it with all their hearts. They believe they are family. They have tremendous pride in what they do and know that the product they are providing is excellent.  It is clear that these values permeate their business and their culture because this is how they view food and it’s place in our lives. Frank and Jacqueline Bonanno fell in love over after-shift drinks and romantic conversations centered around deeply flavorful food, nuanced service, and the business of restaurant excellence. In their twenty odd years as a couple, Bonanno Concepts built nine restaurants, two bars, a pie shop and a 16-venue marketplace. Eighteen of their executive chefs and managers used their experiences with the Bonannos to springboard restaurants of their own, and in a very real sense, the Bonannos have shaped and elevated the culinary landscape in Colorado. We conducted this interview, sitting in the wine room of their very first restaurant – Mizuna. In this episode we talked about: The history of Mizuna; what Frank was doing prior to being in the restaurant business and what steps led him into owning not only Mizuna, but many other businesses. What Frank thought his parents, especially his dad, would have said about him being in the food industry, which actually had a surprising turn for him. The specificity of Frank glorifying Italian food. Jacqueline’s history growing up in Indiana and coincidently working in the restaurant space growing up and going through her college years. What led Frank and Jacqueline to pursue a journey in the restaurant industry and business. Tips Frank has for people wanting to go into culinary school. Frank and Jacqueline’s thoughts on the lack of passionate and qualified workers in the restaurant industry to step back and become a leader. How Frank and Jacqueline met…and their different versions on how they fell they in love. The very specific details Frank and Jacqueline notice that make the biggest difference to the overall quality and experience in food service. Pizza pizza pizza!! Why Pizza is so important to Frank and what he loves so much about it. Frank’s pizza competition experience as a judge and his thoughts on why people have a particular pizza preference.

BGBS 017: Mike Arzt | Co-Pilot of The Public Works | Born To Shred

BGBS 016: Barney Waters | KSWISS | CEOs Wear Sneakers