In this inspiring episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with Dr. Michael Remson, President and CEO of KeyNote, home of the San Diego Youth Symphony, located in San Diego’s historic Balboa Park. Michael shares his powerful journey from growing up in musical theater in New York City to becoming a nationally respected nonprofit arts leader. He dives into how music shaped his life from a young age, how early access to arts education builds future-ready skills in children, and why cradle-to-college programming is the future of inclusive arts access. He also opens up about the challenges of managing 80+ staff, recruiting talent in an expensive city, and the delicate balance between passion and business in nonprofit leadership.

Themes:

• The transformational power of music in childhood
• Nonprofit innovation and leadership in arts education
• Building programs with real, measurable community impact
• Challenges of staffing, HR, and sustainability in high-cost urban areas
• Rebranding and restructuring to create lasting organizational clarity

Flow & Structure:

1. Michael’s artistic roots and personal journey into music
2. Transition from composer to nonprofit leader (AFA in Houston)
3. Founding and scaling cradle-to-college programming at KeyNote
4. Detailed overview of early childhood programs (Chimes, Music Discovery)
5. HR philosophy and challenges (hiring for heart and skill)
6. Vision for community outreach and equity in arts access
7. Leadership insights, rebranding to unify mission and identity
8. Final reflections on what it takes to succeed in business and nonprofit leadership

"I’ve seen okay musicians who are amazing teachers—and great musicians who aren’t. Teaching is its own calling." – Michael Remson

"If we’re just sitting in Balboa Park waiting for people to come to us, we’re not doing our job as a modern arts organization."

"It's always about the kids. The day I forget that is the day I need to get out of this work."

"Passion and business sometimes run into each other—and managing that tension is one of the biggest challenges in nonprofit leadership."

"We needed a central rallying cry. That’s why we became KeyNote—because the mission had to be clear to families and the community."

"You can't ask someone to go somewhere you’ve never been. That’s why my team knows I’ve been in their shoes."

In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Jamie Seeker sits down with Shay Wheat, Certified Event Producer™ and CEO of Grace & Ease Productions. Shay shares her powerful journey from managing apartments and doing network marketing to producing multi-million dollar events for powerhouse names like Dr. Oz and Lisa Nichols.

We dive into how events became her ultimate business-building tool, how she pivoted to virtual when the world shut down, and what it really means to lead a business with grace and ease. Shay opens up about the backstage chaos that taught her the importance of building a team, as well as the strategies behind events that truly convert — not just inspire.

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale your impact through live or virtual experiences, this episode is a goldmine.

• How Shay stumbled into event production — and landed her first gig through a chance conversation
• Working on Dr. Oz’s nonprofit event and Maria Shriver’s Women’s Conference
• Why the most successful events are reverse-engineered from the end goal
• The pivotal moment she transitioned from “planner” to Certified Event Producer and strategist
• The “authority illusion” — and how expertise alone isn’t enough to convert
• Pivoting to virtual during COVID (including nearly 600 attendees cancelled days before)
• How to recreate emotional, sensory, and communal experiences virtually
• Importance of intention for both host and attendees
• The role of energetics, healing, and intuition in Shay’s business
• Her breaking point — crawling on the floor in heels during a virtual event mishap — and the wake-up call to scale smarter
• Why entrepreneurs shouldn’t white-knuckle their businesses

“We’re not meant to do life alone, and we’re not meant to do business alone.”

“Events are a bridge. They're the fastest way I know to build trust, connection, and transformation — if you do them with intention.”

“I wasn’t going to keep building a business that required me to sacrifice my well-being to serve someone else’s mission.”

“The audience had no clue, but I was literally crawling on the floor in a dress, unplugging tech at my client’s feet. That was my wake-up call.”

“Being an expert isn’t enough. If you don’t have strategy, team, and conversion systems, your business can bleed out — even if you're the most respected voice in the room.”

“Virtual events are like movies. They need a story, an experience, and a journey that keeps people coming back for more.”

What does it take to be a business owner?

“You can be the most respected voice in the room and still watch your business bleed out. It takes strategy, support, and community. We’re not meant to do this alone — and we shouldn’t have to.”

In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Jamie Seeker sits down with Miguel Adao, CEO of Voler Systems, to explore what it means to be a truly global leader. With a career that’s taken him across eight countries, five languages, and leadership roles at Pepsi, HP, VMware, and more, Miguel shares how cultural intelligence has shaped his leadership philosophy and career path.

Now based in Sunnyvale, California, Miguel leads Voler Systems with a unique mix of engineering expertise, marketing savvy, and global perspective. He dives into the lessons he’s learned working with teams across the world, how to build trust across time zones, and the human side of scaling a tech company.

Whether you’re growing a startup or managing a team that spans continents, this conversation is full of takeaways on connection, adaptability, and leadership without borders.

• Cultural adaptability is a leadership superpower. Living and working in diverse environments taught Miguel to listen first, communicate clearly, and lead with empathy.
• Leadership doesn’t look the same everywhere. Miguel explains how expectations vary — and why self-awareness and flexibility are crucial.
• Language matters — but so does intent. Speaking five languages has helped Miguel connect, but he says tone and body language often speak louder than words.
• Trust is built differently across cultures. From hierarchical to collaborative dynamics, Miguel shares how to tune in and meet teams where they are.
• Leading a tech company today requires a mix of global awareness, humility, and curiosity.

“You don’t lead the same way in Tokyo as you do in Toronto — and that’s not a challenge, that’s the gift of global leadership.”

“Language gets you in the door. But listening gets you the trust.”

“Every country I’ve lived in has taught me something about patience, people, and the pace of business.”

“Leadership without borders is about being comfortable with what you don’t know — and hungry to learn it.”

“What does it take to be a business owner? Resilience, curiosity, and the ability to take the hit and keep going. Every. Single. Day.”

• Global leadership
• Cross-cultural business
• Tech leadership
• CEO interviews
• Startup growth
• International business
• Business communication
• Voler Systems
• Silicon Valley CEOs
• Engineering innovation