Silicon Valley Impact

S2 E2 - Dr. John Baird, Local Legend and Author and Alex Hult, CEO and Founder of Aio

On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we speak with Dr. John Baird about insights into the heart and mind of top leaders in startups, and Alex Hult, CEO and Founder of Aio, an ex-professional hockey player turned successful restaurateur.
Dr. John Baird is one of Silicon Valley’s premier executive coaches. Over the past 25 years, he has worked with top leaders at startups like DoorDash, MasterClass, and Bombas, as well as at Fortune 500 companies such as Apple, Nike, and Twitter. He has founded several companies, including ExecutivEdge, Edgeman Coaching, and the Velocity Group, where he currently serves as chairman. Additionally, he is a fellow at Sapphire Ventures and a member of the San Jose State University Tower Board.
John is the co-author, with Edward Sullivan, of the best-selling book Leading with Heart and is currently working on his second book with Matt Hunter. He holds a PhD in Organizational Communication and Leadership from Purdue University.
Alex Hult played professional ice hockey worldwide from 2000 to 2010. He later transitioned to the restaurant industry, founding Hults in 2013. Since then, he has opened 10 restaurants, nightclubs, and bars in two states under the Flights Restaurant Group. During the pandemic, Alex began developing a tech company aimed at fixing the broken restaurant tech ecosystem. He is now poised to disrupt the industry with the world’s first AI platform for restaurants.
Catch this and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, airing on KPCR 92.9 FM in Los Gatos and 101.9 FM in Santa Cruz, Tuesdays at 3 PM!
Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz? Listen online at: https://kpcr.org/
Follow us and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
 

S2 E1 - Bill Reichert, Partner at Pegasus Ventures; and Payom Niazmandi, founder of Unibui.

On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Bill Reichert, Partner at Pegasus Ventures; and Payom Niazmandi, founder of Unibui.
Bill is a Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures, a $2 billion global venture capital firm with headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices around the world. Bill focuses on deep technology investments, including AI, quantum computing, next-generation chips, materials science, and medical technology. He is also Chief Evangelist of Startup World Cup, the largest and richest venture capital competition on the planet, with over $1.5 million in cash prizes, including a $1 million grand prize.  
Bill is co-author of the pitching guide, “Getting to Wow! Silicon Valley Pitch Secrets for Entrepreneurs.” He has been a venture capital investor for 20 years, originally as co-founder and Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, a seed and early-stage venture capital firm that has been acquired by Pegasus. He has taught at Stanford and Berkeley, and has delivered keynotes and workshops around the world.  
He began his Silicon Valley career as an entrepreneur, taking two companies public as co-founder or senior executive. Early in his career he worked for McKinsey & Company, the global management consulting firm, in Los Angeles, and the World Bank in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.  
Payom is a member of the Abrahamic Submitter Community in San Jose. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, he graduated from Leland High School, West Valley College, and San Jose State University with a degree in Economics. He is the founder of Unibui, a startup dedicated to helping local students begin their careers and achieve their goals locally. Through a partnership with the California Community Colleges, the largest education system in America, he has brought over 40,000 job opportunities to the Unibui app, now available on the App Store. In his free time, Payom is an avid gamer and is eagerly anticipating the release of NVIDIA’s new 50 series line.  
This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!
Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/
Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:
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🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823
📺 Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact
 
"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.”

S1 E37 - David Isaac, Founder of AIPath.one

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re chatting with David Isaac, Founder of AIPath.one, a self-serve SaaS platform disrupting innovation consulting and venture building. It leverages AI for product strategy, customer journey mapping, and go-to-market (GTM) approaches to achieve product-market fit and growth. Today, we’re talking about go-to-market innovation, AI, and his newest venture.
David is the founder of AIPath.one, the AI tool for product-market fit. He previously launched venture building and digital transformation initiatives at EY-Parthenon, led strategy consulting as Chief Growth Officer for a publicly listed company, managed turnarounds for a $x0 million fintech venture, and is an exited co-founder who launched an international multi-sided marketplace.
AIPath co-pilots growth strategy validation and prepares it for execution. Described by Gartner as unique in depth and breadth, its management dashboards prioritize features, sync roadmaps for multiple teams, and generate personalized sales and marketing assets for each customer. World-class research tools unlock insights at enterprise scale and speed, identifying key needs and validating product-market fit more efficiently for clearer business impact.
David has led marquee projects as EY-Parthenon's ASEAN Digital Innovation Co-Lead, directed business design for a Samsung Product-Innovation Team global project, and consulted C-suites and leaders from various banks, fintechs, cybersecurity firms, and e-commerce companies on strategy, fundraising, and valuation.
This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9 FM in Los Gatos and 101.9 FM in Santa Cruz, Tuesdays at 3 p.m.!
Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz? You can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/
Follow us and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact
"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions."
 

S1 E36 - AJ Thomas, Monica Pool Knox, and Kat Steinmetz from Good Trouble Ventures

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’ve got “Trouble” in the studio. We’re welcoming the ladies from Good Trouble Ventures—AJ Thomas, Monica Pool Knox, and Kat Steinmetz—and diving into insights around the power of people, building culture, and shedding light on a unique perspective on what matters for startup founders, investors, and driving traction in a global economy.
AJ is a visionary leader, troublemaker, and the driving force behind Good Trouble Ventures, a VC firm blending iconic creativity with technology to fuel lasting social impact. With a background that spans startups, venture growth, and Fortune 100 companies, AJ has been a key leader at Google X as an advisor and former Global Head of Talent & People Products. Now, through The Troublemaker Lab, she coaches extraordinary founders and leaders to make a lasting impact through immersive experiences and executive development. AJ is also the award-winning author of A Kids Book About Teams and a champion of founders, artists, and creatives. As a respected executive, advisor, speaker, and coach, she challenges leaders to embrace bold ideas and drive meaningful change. Beyond work, AJ is a musician, mom of three, and private pilot. Ask her about being signed to a record label at 15 or her latest adventures creating “good trouble” in the world.
Monica has been an investor, tech executive, strategic advisor, and board member for over 25 years, leading global human capital strategies for some of the world's most iconic brands such as Microsoft, Twitter, Sony, and PepsiCo. As both a venture partner and a venture advisor, Monica creates deal flow, makes investment decisions, advises, and provides consulting services to portfolio companies with venture funds and early- to mid-stage companies in the tech, healthcare, CPG, and financial services industries. As a strategic advisor for a number of HR tech companies, she also lends her voice to product design, roadmaps, and GTM strategies. As an industry thought leader on human capital leadership and the future of work, Monica's expertise is sought out regularly in and outside of the US for advisory services, speaking engagements, and literary contributions.
Kat is an early-stage investor focused on the Future of Work and Digital Health, as well as an advisor and coach to founders and startup teams. Previously, she spent 20+ years in executive roles at Box, Stitch Fix, and the Burning Man Project, leading teams through hyper-growth, IPOs, global scaling, and M&A. She is a PeopleTech Partners (PTP) advisor and has served on the boards of Torch, FunCountry, and Ava. She is also a longtime creative artist and musician, as well as a mom to a young human.
This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact!
Follow us and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823
Disclaimer:The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.

S1 E35 - Mariane Bekker, Tiffany Hicks, Co-Founder of Seed Through Series, and Hans Sandhu, CBO at TheAgentic

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we have our friend Mariane Bekker in the house, co-hosting on the topic of Go-To-Market insights—our newest recurring theme for scaling at velocity. Joining us in the studio are Tiffany Hicks, Co-Founder of Seed Through Series, and Hans Sandhu, CBO at TheAgentic.
Tiffany is a sales and operations guru with a proven track record at Fortune 500 companies and stealth startups. She excels at building sales organizations from scratch and developing infrastructure to enable rapid growth. A Stanford graduate and second-generation entrepreneur, her passion for sales is built into her DNA. She cut her teeth at Yelp as an early sales hire and manager during their pre- and post-IPO phases, refined her complex selling skills at Salesforce, and has spent the past decade building revenue engines at fast-growth startups. Her passion for complex problem-solving and keen instinct for sales and go-to-market strategies inspired her to begin working independently as a startup growth consultant in 2023, which quickly led to partnering with Cailin LaVallee to create Seed Through Series.
Hans is an entrepreneurial and technology professional with a passion for scaling startups, shaped by Silicon Valley. He’s played pivotal roles in companies' successful acquisitions and achieved unprecedented sales results at multiple venture-backed startups, while using that success to become an LP in a VC fund (he’s still a current ARR record holder at three companies). Hans is highly skilled at swiftly identifying gaps within GTM motions and guiding startups through their market entry and scaling phases, focusing on strategic execution and process. As CBO at TheAgentic, Hans leads the development of the most accurate LLM for AI agents, enabling startups to build production-grade AI applications with unmatched accuracy. Their platform allows users to create intelligent agents that work seamlessly, outperforming models like Claude and ChatGPT. TheAgentic’s Startup Launch Program is dedicated to building an AI MVP from the ground up—taking companies from 0 to 1.
This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact!
Follow us and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823
"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions."

S1 E34 - Wendy Shew, Founder & Executive Director of Building Education, Santosh Pandey, Award Winning Entrepreneur from Nepal

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Wendy Shew, Founder and Executive Director of Building Education, who is on a mission to build safe schools in developing countries to end the cycle of extreme poverty. Also with us is Santosh Pandey, an award winning entrepreneur from Nepal, who is talking with us about his journey and supporting Building Education in his region.
When an earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015, and damaged 9,000 schools, Wendy traveled to Nepal to support in earthquake disaster relief. From there, she founded Building Education, a nonprofit organization that serves to build safe schools in developing countries to end the cycle of extreme poverty.
Building Education’s motto is 1,000 schools and 1,000,000 lives. In collaboration with local governments, schools and partner organizations we aim to transform rural villages into prosperous, dignified communities. We believe in a world where every child has an equal opportunity to education.
Wendy was born and raised in San Francisco, California as a first generation with immigrant parents from China. At an early age, she experienced tragedy which has become her catalyst for 25 years in social impact work. She has studied aviation, learned to fly single engine prop planes, and worked in the international aviation business as a jet engine specialist. After volunteering in October 2014 at a girl’s orphanage in India, she quit her job 4 months later, sold all her things, and left the country to travel the world all across Asia, Europe, and Africa for six years.
Wendy is also titleholder of Miss Nepal Global Citizen 2021, Top 100 Visionaries in Education 2021, Top Women of Influence 2023, Silicon Valley’s Power List in Philanthropy 2023, and Woman of the Year 2024.
Santosh, is an award-winning entrepreneur, political strategist, and educator. He co-founded Offering Happiness, Nepal's largest experiential gifting e-commerce platform, and Oho Cake, the fastest-growing cake brand in Nepal. As a visiting lecturer at Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University, he teaches social media and digital marketing.
Santosh's entrepreneurial journey has earned him recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree in Retail and eCommerce, the Global Student Entrepreneur Award for Nepal in 2018, and the Best Startup Kathmandu award at Seedstars Kathmandu in 2019. His story is also featured in the National Geographic documentary "Own the Room."
As a changemaker, Santosh co-founded Change Bhaktapur at the age of 16 and served as Program Director for We Inspire Nepal and Project Coordinator for the US Embassy Youth Council Nepal. Since 2016, he has worked on political campaigns in Nepal as a strategist and social media specialist. He is currently pursuing political leadership and governance studies at the Konrad Adenauer School for Young Politicians and is a graduate of the Apolitical Foundation Accelerator Program, where he develops political incubation courses through the Nepal Center for Political Leadership, and much more!
This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact!
Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:
🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823
"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.”

S1 E33 - Haya AlMana, Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Zain, Kuwait and Lama Aloraiman Founder and CEO of BluDot

On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Haya AlMana, Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Zain Kuwait, and Lama Aloraiman founder and CEO of BluDot. Listen in as we explore international corporate accelerator, oversea startup delegations, and international venture. 
Haya AlMana is currently heading Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Zain in Kuwait. During her 17-year tenure at Zain, she has built a strong presence for the Zain brand through programs and initiatives that support the Zain strategy in sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship. Her previous experience at Khazaen Venture Capital has also given her a 20-year experience and a foundation for building the Innovation Unit, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation. She founded the award-winning "Zain Great Idea" (ZGI) tech startup accelerator in 2010 and continues to spearhead the program.  Proudly witnessing ZGI accelerated founders raise over $100 Million over the past 5 years. She is also currently heading Zain's Innovation Campus "ZINC" that entails entrepreneurship, intrepreneurship, tech startup programs, startup acceleration, creativity, innovation and more. Through the all-new "Innovation" Nation initiative, AlMana heads several programs that foster innovation, digital upskilling, and leverage an ecosystem of partnerships with active players in the community. She has coached thousands of youth, entrepreneurs and corporates around the region in communication, branding, strategy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. She has attained her executive certification in “Driving Innovation and New Ventures” from Stanford University GSB.
Lama Aloraiman was named one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 for Science and Technology, an Emerging Space Leader and an Astronaut Candidate. She serves as Vice-Chair of the International Astronautical Federation’s ACCESS Committee for the Middle East and Central Asia and is the founder and CEO of BluDot. Lama has been featured in Vogue, Smithsonian, and TED for her notable work in the global space industry
This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact!
Follow us,  and listen to all our episodes on:
🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823
"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.”
 

S1 E32 - Delya Jensen, CEO and co-founder of Partner Utopia, Franz Schrepf, Head of Strategic Partnerships at OpusClip, Sydney Levin, Head of Partnerships at micro1

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re back on the topic of partnerships with my subject matter co-host, Delya Jensen. Delya is the CEO and co-founder of Partner Utopia. With over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, her expertise spans software, hardware, cloud, and SaaS, having built partnerships from scratch for industry giants like SanDisk, Snowflake, and NetApp. She is a powerhouse subject matter expert on partnerships.
Joining us is Franz Schrepf, Head of Strategic Partnerships at OpusClip, the #1 AI video editing tool used by over 6 million creators and businesses around the world. Before OpusClip, he was the 16th employee at Hopin and StreamYard, a virtual events and live streaming company that Sifted called "Europe's fastest-growing startup of all time." His new book, The Book on Partnerships: How Startups Work With Partners to Sell More, Add Features, and Get Acquired, is a foundational guide full of stories and insights from over 50 industry experts, explaining the power of partnerships in clear, straightforward terms.
Also on the show is Sydney Levin, Head of Partnerships at micro1, an AI recruiter for hiring top global talent. Micro1's AI engine enables users to source, vet, and hire talent all in one place or hire pre-vetted engineers, designers, AI trainers, and more from their global talent pool. Micro1 has raised $6.6 million at an $80 million valuation and generates $7 million in annual revenue. Their mission is to make every recruiter on the planet 100x more effective, helping global talent find the perfect role faster.
Catch all this and more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9 FM in Los Gatos and 101.9 FM in Santa Cruz, Tuesdays at 3 p.m.!
If you're not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz, you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org.
Follow us and catch all our episodes on: 
🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.

S1 E31 - Margaret Jackson, CEO/President of Small Business Concierge Communications & Digital Media Corporation

On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we speak with Margaret Jackson, CEO/President of Small Business Concierge Communications & Digital Media Corporation and a prominent Bay Area radio personality. Listen in as we explore how Margaret rebuilt her career after a business failure and came back stronger than ever. Discover how she leverages communication to effectively position herself in the market and empowers women to amplify their influence in business.
Margaret Jackson is a respected Bay Area leader, small business radio personality, magazine publisher, and former director of the Alameda County Small Business Development Center. She is Silicon Valley's top small business radio personality, broadcasting on AM 1220 KDOW Business & Finance radio, reaching over 7.75 million listeners across the Bay Area's nine counties and now available on iHeart Radio. AM 1220 KDOW Business & Finance radio operates in the fourth-largest radio market in the country. In 2011, she became the first Black woman to broadcast as a weekday personality on the network.
Margaret is the CEO/President of Small Business Concierge Communications & Digital Media Corporation, with more than 36 years of experience as a business professional. A sought-after public figure and speaker in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, she also publishes the Small Business Concierge Digital Magazine (with a global reach). Jackson brings over 28 years of experience in audio/video television production as a program producer, senior producer, and director, and has received two prestigious international media awards: the Silver Davey Award and the Communicator Award of Distinction.
Catch this and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, airing on KPCR 92.9 FM in Los Gatos and 101.9 FM in Santa Cruz every Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz? You can listen online at https://kpcr.org.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.

S1 E30 LA Tech Week Sidebar Summit

This week on Silicon Valley Impact, we’re on-locatoin at the Sidebar Summit in Santa Monica during LA Tech Week.
Our thanks to Vishal Verma, General Partner at Edgewood Ventures, for hosting this dynamic event, which unites innovators from tech, venture capital, academia, and government to foster learning, collaboration, and networking. From startups to industry leaders, the summit draws a diverse crowd dedicated to community and technological advancement.
Joining us are:
Chris Pimentel, Mayor Pro Tem of El Segundo: A former Marine Corps officer and risk management executive focused on preserving El Segundo's vibrant community.
Barbara Voss, Deputy City Manager of El Segundo: Leading economic development and community engagement efforts since 2015.
Cristina Reveles, Sr. Management Analyst.
Brian Garrett, Co-Founder of Crosscut Ventures: Tackling humanity’s largest challenges in frontier tech like energy, climate, and space.
Doug Bernauer, CEO of Radiant: Envisioning nuclear power for Earth and Mars to further human interplanetary settlement.
Drew Boyles, Mayor of El Segundo: Driving economic growth and innovative governance in this high-tech beach town.
Aalim A. Moor II, Senior Sales Manager at the San Francisco Giants: Championing customer experience and ROI in business development.
Faraz Fatemi, Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners: Supporting global innovations in enterprise, health, and consumer tech with $28B under management.
Brian Christensen, EVP at Protiviti: Overseeing risk and transaction solutions for clients worldwide.
David Sabow, Head of Tech & Healthcare Banking at HSBC.
Louis Lehot, Corporate Lawyer at Foley & Lardner LLP: Advising clients on M&A, venture capital, and corporate strategy.
This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact.
 
"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.”