The Corporate Expat™ Experience with Nicole Colwell

34 CX Michael Colwell, CEO: Wired for Success - An entrepreneurial conversation with Dad

In our latest episode of The Corporate Expat Experience Podcast, we had the honor of hosting Michael Colwell, CEO/President of Colwell & Associates, Inc.  With nearly 50 years of entrepreneurial experience under his belt, Michael shares invaluable insights and stories from his remarkable journey. Here are some highlights you won't want to miss:

• Making the Leap: Learn how Michael transitioned from working in a public works office to founding his own successful consulting engineering firm.
• The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: Discover the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, from the thrill of building something from scratch to navigating slow periods and overcoming challenges.
• Keys to Success: Michael shares his thoughts on what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, offering practical advice and wisdom accumulated over decades in the business world.

Tune into this episode for a high-voltage adventure in entrepreneurship as Michael offers a candid and illuminating perspective on what it truly takes to thrive as an entrepreneur. For more on Colwell & Associates, Inc. Consulting Engineers visit www.colwellengineering.com 

33 CX Daniella Rosa, Founder AIEA Golf - Revolutionizing Women's Golf One Stylish Swing at a Time

In this episode of The Corporate Expat Experience, we dive into the dynamic worlds of entrepreneurship and women's golf with Corporate Expat Daniella Rosa, the innovative mind behind AIEA Golf. 

Join us as we explore how Daniella is reshaping the landscape of women's golf attire, blending style, technology, and community like never before. In this episode, Daniella delves into the unique challenges and opportunities she encountered from deciding to leave her corporate job to building AIEA Golf from the ground up, sharing insights into:

• What it's like to be a new entrepreneur
• How curiosity led to embracing technology to uplevel and distinguish her brand
• Why building community is vital to your brand strategy today

Whether you're an avid golfer, a fashion enthusiast, or an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers inspiration and wisdom from one woman's quest to revolutionize womens golf by changing the game both on and off the course. 

Learn more about AIEA Golf by visiting: https://www.aieagolf.com

32 Kat Weaver, CEO Power to Pitch - Raising Capital with Confidence

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of entrepreneurship and fundraising with the dynamic Kat Weaver, CEO of Power to Pitch. Join us as Kat shares her inspiring journey as a two-time accidental entrepreneur, revealing how she stumbled into the world of grants and fundraising where she discovered the invaluable skill of mastering the "power to pitch."

Kat's entrepreneurial story is one of resilience, determination and a knack for turning unexpected challenges into opportunities. Tune in to hear how she navigated the complexities of raising capital for her ventures by strategically applying for (and winning!) grants. What's truly remarkable is that Kat didn't just dabble in the grant game – she emerged victorious, winning an astonishing 22 out of 23 grants in the process. 

Discover the secrets behind Kat's success as she unveils the art of crafting a compelling pitch, a skill she aptly calls the "power to pitch." Learn how she harnessed this power to secure funding for her own ventures and how she now empowers other entrepreneurs to do the same. Kat has become a sought-after advisor, helping ambitious business owners raise capital, refine their messaging, and accelerate the funding process.

Kat Weaver, CEO of Power to Pitch is a multi-award winning, accidental 2-time entrepreneur who works with pre-seed to seed stage founders pitch and raise capital.

To learn more about Kat’s work: https://www.powertopitch.com.

31 CX Steven Urban - Corporate Ladder Limbo: How Steven Urban Found His Feet & His Strengths

Meet Corporate Expat Steven Urban - Steven was on the corporate track, working his way up the ladder reaching new heights until one day before a critical meeting it all came crashing down, with Steven literally finding himself on the hotel floor unable to move. That event set him on a new path, to find himself and a future that involved helping others to discover their strengths, rediscover themselves and define what success means to them. 

In this episode, Steven shares his story that led him to entrepreneur-land and provides insights on

• Defining Your Success - why and how it might look differently for you and me
• Knowing Your Strengths - how to identify your strengths to help you become clear about who you are and how they help you to work more effectively with others
• What’s Your Future - the questions you need to be asking yourself today that can help you break your rut and reach your next level of success

Steven Urban is Founder and CEO of Build Your Alliance, CliftonStrengths Certified Coach, EQi Certified Coach. Steven works with individuals and teams to unlock their potential through self-awareness, understanding their values and strengths. Learn more about Steven’s work by visiting www.buildyouralliance.com

30 CX Baiju Solanki, Performance Psychologist: A funny thing happened at Pret…

Baiju Solanki, Performance Psychologist, Best-Selling Author and Coach had no idea what he was in for when he responded to a LinkedIn message that started off with a confession and an ask to connect - thankfully, Baiju responded kindly and here we are! 

In this episode, Baiju and Nicole discuss the surprising chance meeting and the several lessons learned from it that can help all of us to “Change Your Game” - aligning with what Baiju shares and teaches in his work as a high performance coach. 

Tune in to learn from Baiju: 

• The formula for an impactful introduction
• His journey from the halls of academia to the corporate world to becoming his own boss by changing his game and living life on his own terms
• The relationship between confidence and conviction and why this is so important to understand to achieve your next level of success
• How taking inspired action can lead to amazing things (like this podcast episode!)

Baiju Solanki is an Award-winning businessman, TEDx speaker and CEO/Founder of EnSpirit Global: A platform that creates next generation Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders who are ready to grow personally, scale fast and build legacies. He is a best-selling author of “Change Your Game” and host of  The EnSpirit Podcast. For more details visit:  www.baijusolanki.com and www.changeyourgamebook.com/

29 CX Leslee Cohen, ALLRise Legal Counsel - Wall Street’s Loss is the Start-Up World’s Gain!

Meet Leslee Cohen, the attorney who left Wall Street and a prominent law firm to launch her own firm - doing things her way, on her terms! Leslee’s love for law and for start-ups combined with her vision of a law firm that provides flexibility for employees with a commitment to client success culminated in a start-up of her own - ALLRise Legal Counsel. 

In this episode, Leslee shares her journey from Wall Street to Entrepreneur and provides insights on the needs of start-up businesses - from a legal perspective and from an entrepreneur’s perspective with experience being in the trenches, running the business. 

Leslee shares valuable start-up advice from a start-up founder’s viewpoint including:

• What it takes to create a business that works for you, on YOUR terms 
• Getting your ducks in a row - why and when to engage an attorney for your business
• Considerations in your business when it comes to cap tables, raising capital and taking on partners

Tune in to Episode 29 to learn more about those legal questions you didn’t see coming from the start-up attorney who’s been there and done that!

Leslee Cohen is a Start-up, M&A and Corporate Attorney who combines big firm experience and expertise with a small firm rates and an entrepreneurial mindset. Learn more about ALLRise Legal Counsel by visiting https://www.allriselawyers.com/

28 CX Mara Smith, CEO: Tequila Reimagined - the “Inspiro” you need!

Corporate Expat Mara Smith is a former attorney, corporate strategist and stay-at-home mom who always knew she wanted a company of her own and that entrepreneur life was in her future. Her corporate expat experience started with leaving corporate to focus on family, while continuing to envision the future running her own company. That vision came to life in February of 2022 as she set out on her journey to reimagine tequila, creating Inspiro Tequila with a goal to create a clean, smooth and sippable 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila without any of the additives often found in other tequilas, and with every detail thoughtfully crafted.

Check out this episode to learn more about Mara’s journey to entrepreneur land, how she was inspired to bring “Inspiro” to life and why being a women-created, women-led tequila company is at the core of their vision for “tequila reimagined”. https://inspirotequila.com

27 Becca & Justin Christiansen, Portland Salt Co - Have you ever wondered what it would be like to start a company while continuing your professional career?

Experiencing the best of both worlds: Becca and Justin Christiansen, founders of Portland Salt Co are maintaining dual residency living, working and thriving in the corporate world and in entrepreneur land!  This power couple launched their business Portland Salt Co in December 2021 during the global pandemic and while maintaining their demanding jobs in the tech industry and balancing family life with the kids.

In this episode, learn about their journey, the challenges of launching a business and how it has become a family bonding experience with so many lessons learned along the way.

Visit https://portlandsaltco.com and listen to this episode for a special discount for the Corporate Expat Experience audience.

26 CX Kim Walsh Phillips – How she made “The Shift”, from 32 clients to over 11k in less than a year!

Corporate Expat Kim Walsh Phillips decided early in her career that corporate was not for her and created a plan to build her business while keeping that steady job and pay! Early mornings, lunch breaks and evenings were dedicated to building a business that would soon overtake her corporate pay and lead her to a the freedom she desired. Kim shares her journey, best lessons learned and how year 18 of her business resulted in “The Shift” she experienced taking her from 32 clients to over 11k in less than a year! 

Kim is Founder & CEO of Powerful Professionals, a business coaching and education company and is the secret weapon for clients such as Kevin O’Leary, Harley Davidson, Hilton Hotels and has shared the stage with Tony Robbins, Barbara Cocoran and Gary Vee.  Named “a must to read by those in business” by Forbes Magazine, Kim is the bestselling author of multiple books including, "The Shift: Scale Your Business and Multiply Your Wealth without Sacrificing You," with another must read on the way! Learn more at www.powerfulprofessionals.com

Check out “The Shift” https://www.shiftbookbonus.com

25 CX Raymond Harari - Founder/Managing Director of Canalis Capital

CX Raymond Harari, former banker found his way to his Corporate Expat experience by making an investment in the cannabis space which led him to discover his skills in advising and launching businesses. Ray founded Canalis Capital, a venture capital and innovation firm focused on strategic advisory, venture building, scaling and go-public structuring for pioneering companies in high growth industries.

In this episode, learn more about Ray’s journey from studying engineering to going into the world of finance to entering the family business to setting out on his own path.  Ray also shares mistakes made along the way that proved to be invaluable lessons learned, the importance of defining your values in your business and using them to make decisions in your business, and how businesses change along the way.

Ray shares so many insights, great stories and business tips – this is a must listen episode no matter where you are at on your Corporate Expat journey. 

Learn more about Ray and Canalis Capital by visiting https://www.canaliscapital.com