In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Michael Burns, a serial entrepreneur with a diverse background ranging from tech recruiting to cannabis farming. Michael shares his journey to becoming a multifaceted business leader, emphasizing the pivotal role sales has had on his career, the power of showmanship, and how the Grateful Dead's philosophy influences his approach to business.

Show Notes:

• How Michael started and continued his diverse entrepreneurial journey [00:37]
• An overview of Michael's early ventures, from lemonade stands to T-shirt sales [01:05]
• Lessons learned in tech recruiting and the importance of management [02:17]
• How Michael broke into cybersecurity and sales enablement for SaaS companies [09:36]
• The significance of sales skills in entrepreneurship and leadership [13:52]
• Building operations and the 'tribe' mentality in startups [23:41]
• How Michael created a strong personal brand [23:57]
• Why Michael believes operations is the spinal cord of a company [27:28]
• The concept of 'Candelabra Way' and the essence of showmanship [32:16]
• Developing greater showmanship and becoming more engaging [35:34]
• The 'Shield, Diamond, Love' framework explained [43:58]
• Michael’s Next Steps [49:17]

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxbcandelabra/

In this episode of The Savage Leader Podcast, Darren Reinke chats with Aaron Fulkerson, CEO of Opaque Systems. Aaron discusses his transition from entrepreneurship to ServiceNow and how he's found his way back to the entrepreneurial world. He also discusses the issue of trust erosion within the technology sector and how Opaque Systems is spearheading efforts to rebuild this trust through secure application development for collaborative analytics and AI.

Opaque Systems is on a mission to unlock the high-growth market of confidential computing by creating the first Confidential AI platform. It enables secure, collaborative analytics and the usage of AI on confidential and sensitive data stored in Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs).

Show Notes:

• Aaron’s journey from entrepreneurship to ServiceNow to entrepreneurship again [01:10]
• Aaron’s transformative experience in taking time off, reconnecting with personal roots, and sparking new business ideas [02:12]
• How Opaque Systems led Aaron back to entrepreneurship [04:29]
• How UC Berkeley's RISE Lab led to the founding of Opaque Systems [06:48]
• Opaque’s mission and the importance of privacy in data utilization [10:43]
• Addressing the erosion of trust in tech and how Opaque Systems is enabling developers to secure user data and rebuild consumer trust [13:13]
• Balancing entrepreneurship with personal life and strategies for managing work, family, and self-care [14:39]
• The importance of physical and mental fitness in maintaining balance and enhancing productivity [17:08]
• How Aaron plans to capitalize on the rapid developments in artificial intelligence [22:10]
• Generative AI's transformative impact on society and the industry [28:29]
• Aaron's approach to making a positive impact [30:32]

Links:

• Aaron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfulkerson/
• Opaque’s Website: https://opaque.co/

In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Anthony Lee, CEO of Westcliff University. Anthony shares his journey from childhood passions to leading a university that's making a significant impact in the education sector. They delve into the future of education, how Westcliff University is preparing students for a rapidly evolving job market, and Anthony's personal insights on entrepreneurship and leadership.

Westcliff University was established to provide quality education for students wishing to enter the fast-growing fields of business and education. Westcliff University’s curriculum consists of graduate and undergraduate degree programs in business and education as well as other certificate programs. Westcliff University emphasizes the importance of preparing students personally, academically, and professionally.

Show Notes:

• Anthony's early interests and the influence of sports on his life [00:47]
• The entrepreneurial lessons from Anthony's father [01:25]
• Taking over Westcliff University and early challenges [04:18]
• Learning to lead and the importance of listening and learning from others [05:38]
• The pivotal decision to pursue accreditation for Westcliff University [08:28]
• Early wins and strategic moves that fueled growth [10:50]
• The emotional journey to achieving regional accreditation [12:59]
• Expanding Westcliff University through strategic acquisitions and new programs [15:54]
• The approach to making degree programs practical and relevant to today's job market [19:15]
• Keeping up with the pace of innovation and the future of education [21:09]
• The importance of culture, support, and fit in choosing a college [27:19]
• Anthony's advice for students entering the workforce and the significance of internships [28:11]
• Anthony's personal definition of Greatness and striving for it [30:08]
• Where to learn more about Anthony Lee and Westcliff University [31:06]