Value Creators
Business & Economics Podcasts
Welcome to the Value Creators podcast, the ultimate destination for business enthusiasts seeking to unlock the secrets of success through the lens of Austrian economics. Join Hunter Hastings and a variety of insightful guests as they delve into engaging conversations with business owners and esteemed practitioners from leading business schools.
In each episode, the Value Creators podcast goes beyond the surface-level discussions of traditional business strategies and explores the profound impact of Austrian economics on the world of entrepreneurship. Drawing upon the rich principles and theories of this school of thought, our host uncovers hidden gems and actionable insights to help listeners improve their businesses.
With a keen focus on value creation, this podcast aims to inspire and empower listeners to elevate their businesses to new heights. By exploring the ideas of Austrian economics, which emphasize individual decision-making, market dynamics, and the importance of entrepreneurship, our interviews shed light on innovative strategies and approaches to succeed in today's dynamic business landscape.
We'll present a diverse range of guests, including successful business owners who have effectively applied Austrian economics principles to their enterprises. Listeners will gain invaluable knowledge about strategic decision-making, market-driven innovation, and the importance of understanding human action in business contexts.
Additionally, the podcast features discussions with esteemed practitioners from renowned business schools. These experts provide listeners with a broader perspective on how Austrian economics can be effectively integrated into business curriculums, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills and gain a competitive edge.
Whether you're a seasoned business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a curious mind intrigued by the intersection of Austrian economics and business, the Value Creators podcast is your go-to resource. Tune in to each episode to explore thought-provoking discussions, actionable advice, and captivating stories that will inspire you to unleash your full business potential.
Are you ready to uncover the secrets of successful businesses through the principles of Austrian economics? Join us on the Value Creators podcast and embark on an enlightening journey that will revolutionize the way you approach entrepreneurship.
Location:
United States
Description:
Welcome to the Value Creators podcast, the ultimate destination for business enthusiasts seeking to unlock the secrets of success through the lens of Austrian economics. Join Hunter Hastings and a variety of insightful guests as they delve into engaging conversations with business owners and esteemed practitioners from leading business schools. In each episode, the Value Creators podcast goes beyond the surface-level discussions of traditional business strategies and explores the profound impact of Austrian economics on the world of entrepreneurship. Drawing upon the rich principles and theories of this school of thought, our host uncovers hidden gems and actionable insights to help listeners improve their businesses. With a keen focus on value creation, this podcast aims to inspire and empower listeners to elevate their businesses to new heights. By exploring the ideas of Austrian economics, which emphasize individual decision-making, market dynamics, and the importance of entrepreneurship, our interviews shed light on innovative strategies and approaches to succeed in today's dynamic business landscape. We'll present a diverse range of guests, including successful business owners who have effectively applied Austrian economics principles to their enterprises. Listeners will gain invaluable knowledge about strategic decision-making, market-driven innovation, and the importance of understanding human action in business contexts. Additionally, the podcast features discussions with esteemed practitioners from renowned business schools. These experts provide listeners with a broader perspective on how Austrian economics can be effectively integrated into business curriculums, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills and gain a competitive edge. Whether you're a seasoned business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or a curious mind intrigued by the intersection of Austrian economics and business, the Value Creators podcast is your go-to resource. Tune in to each episode to explore thought-provoking discussions, actionable advice, and captivating stories that will inspire you to unleash your full business potential. Are you ready to uncover the secrets of successful businesses through the principles of Austrian economics? Join us on the Value Creators podcast and embark on an enlightening journey that will revolutionize the way you approach entrepreneurship.
Language:
English
Episodes
Episode #62. Choose the Handle That Holds: Stoic Leadership and Everyday Integrity with Becky Schmooke
5/9/2025
How we lead is who we are.
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Becky Schmooke—entrepreneur, leadership coach, and author of Choose the Handle That Holds. Becky shares how the system of philosophy we label as Stoic generates practical tools for leadership, self-awareness, and resilience. Rather than hierarchical leadership vested with titles and administrative control, Becky proposes a more human vision of leadership: grounded in personal values, emotional clarity, and active participation.
Key themes include:
This conversation is a guide for anyone who wants to lead with clarity, build resilient organizations, and live aligned with their deepest values.
Resources:
➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Becky’s book: Chose The Handle That Holds
Learn more about Becky Schmooke
Connect with Becky Schmooke on LinkedIn
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Subscribe to The Value Creators on Substack
Duration:00:51:21
Episode #61. Democratizing Alternative Investments Through Innovation, Liquidity, and Design: A Conversation with Kim Flynn
4/28/2025
The term alternative investments refers to investment opportunities that the financial regulators want to preserve for financial elites and protect from the average “retail investor” like you and me. They’re investments like venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds. They’re too sophisticated for individuals who are not “accredited”. These potentially high-yielding investments must be fenced off from broad accessibility. Too risky for the plebes.
But, despite the regulators, financial markets are evolving to make alternative investments more accessible, liquid, and tailored to individual investors. How do you design products that combine institutional sophistication with retail access—without compromising on structure, performance, or trust? Through customer-centric design: knowing customers well and giving them access to products that meet their needs and give them new choices.
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings talks with Kim Flynn, President of XA Investments, a pioneer in private market innovation and product design. Kim shares how her firm is breaking down barriers in the investment landscape, from new fund structures to investor education and cutting-edge indexes.
Key insights include:
• Why the term “alternatives” is evolving into a broader concept of private markets.
• How products like interval funds and tender offer funds balance liquidity and long-term investing.
• The importance of demand-focused product design and timing innovation to market needs.
• How educational tools like the XAI Interval Fund Index create transparency and drive adoption.
• Why creativity, empathy, and structured iteration are critical in financial product innovation.
Whether you're an investor looking to access private equity or a product builder seeking to serve new markets, this episode provides a playbook for innovation at the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship, and education.
Learn how venture-mode creativity is coming to financial markets—and how the next generation of investment products will empower everyone.
📚 Resources:
➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Learn more about XMS Capital
Connect with Kim Flynn on LinkedIn
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Subscribe to the The Value Creators on Substack
Duration:00:49:25
Episode #60. How to Master Entrepreneurship Through Imagination, Value Creation, and Market Disruption: A Conversation with Per Bylund
4/17/2025
How does entrepreneurship truly drive economic growth, and why is it often ignored in mainstream economic models? What role does imagination play in creating market-changing value?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings is joined by Per Bylund, professor, author, and one of the leading voices in Austrian economics. Per introduces a radically dynamic model of entrepreneurship based on his new book, Entrepreneurship and Evolutionary Economics.
Key insights include:
This episode redefines entrepreneurship not as a function of business plans or investment capital, but as an imaginative, value-creating force that reshapes the economy from within. If you want to understand how real economic growth happens, this conversation is essential.
Resources:
➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Read this episode's Knowledge Capulse at thevaluecreators.com
Check out Per Bylund’s Latest Book: Entrepreneurship In Evolutionary Economics
Read Per Bylund’s Book: How To Think About The Economy
Read Per Bylund Book on The Economic Damage Caused by Regulation: The Seen, The Unseen And The Unrealized
Follow with Per Bylund on X: @PerBylund
Connect with Per Byklund on LinkedIn
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
The Value Creators on Substack
Duration:00:50:21
Episode #59. How to Build a Self-Managed Organization: A Conversation with Doug Kirkpatrick
3/25/2025
Can companies operate effectively without bosses, titles, or hierarchies? How can organizations empower employees to take full ownership of their roles while maintaining accountability and productivity?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Doug Kirkpatrick, author of The No Limits Enterprise and a pioneer of self-management. Doug shares his experience implementing self-management at The Morning Star Company, a firm that scaled successfully without traditional managers or management.
Key insights include:
For business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to rethink traditional management, this episode offers a compelling look at the future of work. Discover how to transition from a control-based hierarchy to a high-trust, self-managed enterprise.
Resources:
➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Connect with Doug on LinkedIn
Read Doug’s Blog on “The Future of Work”
Get Doug’s Book The No-Limits Enterprise
Read Morning Star’s Success Story
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
The Value Creators on Substack
Duration:00:39:46
Episode #58. How to Recognize and Overcome Selfish Leadership: A Conversation with Josefine Campbell
3/14/2025
What if the traditional view of leadership—an individual who is assertively bold, visionary, and all-powerful—was actually harmful? What if leadership is not about commanding authority but interpersonal relationships, collaboration, self-awareness, and authenticity?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Josefine Campbell, international business coach and author of 12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader: Unlocking Authenticity for Resilience. Josefine shares how toxic leadership dynamics can damage organizations and individuals—and how employees and leaders alike can protect themselves and build resilience.
Key insights include:
Whether you're a leader striving to improve or an employee dealing with a challenging manager, this episode offers valuable tools to foster authenticity, resilience, and ethical leadership. Learn how to protect yourself from toxic leadership and embrace a leadership model that works for the 21st century.
Resources:
➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Visit josefinecampbell.com
Connect with Josefine on LinkedIn
Sign Up To Josefine’s Newsletter
Check Out Josefine’s books:
12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader
Power Barometer: How To Manage Personal Energy For Business Success
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
The Value Creators on Substack
Duration:00:44:13
Episode #57. How to Enable a Kinetic Flow State Organization: A Conversation with Mark Beliczky
3/4/2025
How can businesses shift from rigid, hierarchical structures to agile, fast-moving organizations that adapt to change effortlessly? What if businesses could remove bottlenecks, eliminate bureaucracy, and enable knowledge to flow freely—boosting innovation and engagement?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Mark Beliczky, co-creator of the Kinetic Flow State Organization (KFSO) model. Mark explains why traditional business structures are failing in today’s dynamic market and how KFSOs enable companies to replace control with continuous motion and adaptability.
Mark served as President and CEO of ProHome Holdings, LLC, and in Executive Management roles at The Carlyle Group. He was the Founder, President & CEO of Salus Sciences, LLC, and held senior executive positions with PepsiCo, UBS, Citigroup, Sunrise Senior Living and other companies. He has been engaged in numerous business start-ups, turnarounds, transformations, and acquisitions/ mergers. Mark is a Fellow at the Strategic Management Forum, and a member of the American Academy of Management and the International Leadership Association. He holds an MBA from Loyola University, is a graduate of Heidelberg University, and has a faculty appointment at Georgetown University. He has authored over 120 articles on leadership, management, culture and performance excellence, and has led numerous leadership seminars and been a speaker at global leadership forums.
Key Episode insights include:
For business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone rethinking organizational design, this episode offers a blueprint for creating a company that moves fast, innovates freely, and thrives in an era of continuous change. Discover how to enable a Kinetic Flow State Organization designed for the future.
Resources:
➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Connect with Mark Beliczky on LinkedIn
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
The Value Creators on Substack
Read Mark's Articles:
The New Organizational Model That Is Needed For The 21st Century
Reimagining Organizational Structures for the 21st Century: The Agility Advantage
Adapting for Success: The Organizational Shift Every 21st Century Business Needs
The Evolution of Agile and the Rise of Enterprise Flow Organizations
Duration:00:53:45
Episode #56. How to Build a Scalable Real Estate Empire: A Conversation with Ivan Barratt
1/30/2025
Real estate is more than buying and selling properties—it’s about creating value for tenants, investors, and communities. How do you scale a real estate business from a single duplex to managing thousands of units? How do you navigate economic cycles while ensuring consistent returns for stakeholders?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Ivan Barratt, founder of BAM Capital, about his entrepreneurial journey and the principles that have driven his success in the real estate industry.
Key insights include:
Whether you’re an aspiring real estate entrepreneur or looking to invest in multifamily housing, this episode offers valuable lessons on leveraging innovation, culture, and strategy to create lasting value. Learn how to approach real estate as a value-driven business and scale sustainably.
Resources:
➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Visit BAM Capital
Connect with Ivan Barratt on LinkedIn
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
The Value Creators on Substack
Duration:00:39:44
Episode #55. Activating Change is Harder Than Prescribing It: A Conversation with Nellie Wartoft
1/17/2025
How can businesses successfully navigate the relentless pace of change without alienating employees? Why do so many change initiatives fail, and what role does communication play in driving successful transformations?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Nellie Wartoft, founder and CEO of TigerHall, about a revolutionary approach to organizational change—change activation. Nellie explains how businesses can move beyond outdated, top-down "change management" processes to foster bottom-up, action-driven change that engages employees and aligns with company culture.
Key insights include:
For leaders seeking to address change fatigue, retain top talent, and create agile organizations, this episode provides a roadmap to activate meaningful and lasting transformation.
Resources:
Discover how TigerHall helps businesses navigate change in a human, engaging, and data-driven way.
The Executive Council For Leading Change
Connect with Nellie Wartoft on LinkedIn
➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
The Value Creators on Substack
Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
2:02 | Change is the Only Constant: The Concept of Change Management in Corporate America and Its Challenges
4:57 | Increasing Frequency of Changes Employees Face and its Impact on Engagement
5:35 | Subjective Value
8:39 | Change Activation and its Importance Over Traditional Change Management.
13:04 | Change with the Organization
14:42 | Overview of TigerHall's Platform and its Features for Driving Change Activation.
18:12 | TigelHall’s Content Creation Process
20:42 | Dynamic Audience Group: Targeting messages
22:09 | Value Creators Online Course
23:22 | AI-driven targeted messaging
24:16 | Self Selection
25:26 | Success Story and the Role of Culture in Change Management and its Challenges
29:19 | Giving Individuals a Voice
31:37 | Culture
34:49 | The Flow Concept: Future of Change Management and the Need for Adaptable Professionals
37:52 | Training People with Special Skills and Experience
40:40 | Wrap-Up
Duration:00:41:57
Episode #54. How to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Brand: A Conversation with Neil Twa
1/7/2025
What if you could leverage billions of dollars in pre-built infrastructure to grow a thriving e-commerce business without the burden of warehouses, logistics, or massive overhead? How can small innovations—rather than big inventions—solve customer problems and create scalable brands?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings sits down with Neil Twa, CEO and Co-Founder of Voltage Holdings, to explore the concept of "almost automated income." With over 17 years of experience building businesses both online and offline, Neil shares his expertise in scaling multi-million dollar brands through Amazon FBA and other e-commerce channels. Since 2012, he’s launched 5+ personal brands, generated tens of millions in revenue as an 8-figure seller, and helped over 1000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses through consulting, coaching, and mentoring.
Neil walks through key principles, including:
Listeners will learn how to identify winning products, test market potential, and build exit-ready brands that can sell for 3-15x their earnings. More than just a business model, Neil highlights how entrepreneurship can create purpose, freedom, and a fulfilling lifestyle.
For entrepreneurs looking to tap into today’s generative platforms, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration to achieve success in the new economy.
Resources:
➡ 📚 Get a Free Copy of Neil’s Book “Almost Automated Income with FBA” Using code: VALUECREATORS
Connect with Neil Twa on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
The Value Creators on Substack
➡ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
3:21 | How Does Neil View Entrepreneurial Business Growth?
5:19 | Platforms That Drive Business Growth and Their Impact on Success
10:09 | Customer-Centric Business Models
16:49 | Subjective Value VS Solution Value
19:58 | Value Creators Online Course
21:11 | Price Value Choosing Customer
24:45 | Finding Suppliers
29:02 | Profit & Balance Sheet: Building Profitability and Assets
34:19 | Neil Shares his Value Proposition: Innovation and Product Development
39:06 | CEO Operators: Future of Economy
40:20 | Process, Process, and Process: Building a Brand and Capturing Demand
44:15 | Wrap-Up
Duration:00:47:03
Episode #53. Big Tech for Small Businesses: Unleashing the Power of Geofencing with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari
12/5/2024
Big Tech for Small Businesses: Unleashing the Power of Geofencing with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari
How can small businesses best use cutting-edge technologies? Geo-fencing is a great example, providing location-based advertising to drive traffic, revenue, and ROI for local businesses. What does the future hold for small businesses as they integrate advanced tech to personalize customer experiences?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings explores these questions with Barbara Wardell and Ernesto Cullari of Cullari and Wardell, a pioneering service provider in geofencing and location-based marketing solutions. Barbara and Ernesto share their expertise in helping small and medium-sized businesses harness advanced technologies to attract customers, increase conversions, and create sustainable growth.
They emphasize a customer-centric approach, leveraging tools like GPS tracking and demographic data to tailor highly targeted ads that resonate with local audiences. By combining technology with a deep understanding of small business challenges, they demonstrate how geofencing can deliver measurable results, from attracting new customers to optimizing location choices based on foot traffic studies.
Barbara and Ernesto also discuss the importance of hyper-specialization, ROI measurement, and the evolving future of advertising, where AI and privacy-sensitive data play a pivotal role. For small business owners, this episode offers actionable insights into leveraging big tech to compete effectively while maintaining the personal touch that defines their success.
This conversation is a masterclass on how to think and act as value creators, showcasing how innovation, technology, and customer focus can unlock new opportunities for small businesses.
Resources:
➡ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Barbara Wardell & Ernesto Cullari’s Agency
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn:
The Value Creators on Substack
Duration:00:50:07
Episode #52. CFO-as-a-Service is a Window on the Future of Business Organization with Kristian Marquez
11/20/2024
➡ 📈 Get Your Free CFO Consultation with Kristian: https://finstratmgmt.com/cfo/
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, host Hunter Hastings engages with Kristian Marquez, founder and CEO of FinStrat Management, to explore the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship. Kristian shares his journey, from the founding team of a successful medical data company that went public to navigating startup challenges with a venture-funded business to pioneering the delivery of CFO-as-a-service. The episode concludes with insights on leveraging external expertise as a service and a free CFO consultation offer.
Resources:
➡ 📈 Get Your Free CFO Consultation with Kristian: https://finstratmgmt.com/cfo/
➡ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn:
Connect with Kristian Marquez on LinkedIn:
The Value Creators on Substack
Duration:00:52:28
Episode #51. Applying Agile Principles to Transform Management (The B2B Growth Blueprint Repost)
11/12/2024
This episode is a repost from The B2B Growth Blueprint podcast with Mark Osborne.
There is a shift away from traditional management toward self-managed, digitally-enabled companies. We are entering the Post Managerial Era of Capitalism. In this new way of thinking about business and organization, top-down structures are giving way to self-management, where employees make decisions informed by real-time data and customer insights.
Mark Osborne from the B2B Growth Blueprint podcast provided a platform to discuss the implications of this shift.
Mark highlights the role of empathy, emotional engagement, and agile customer feedback in building responsive, customer-centric businesses, and emphasizes the importance of leveraging digital tools to create interactive environments where customers can actively participate and provide invaluable insights. This approach allows businesses to strengthen product development and build loyalty by making customers feel directly involved.
Mark Osborne emphasizes the relevance of these strategies for early-stage companies, emphasizing iterative design and customer engagement, even with limited resources. By integrating these principles, businesses can not only strengthen their product development but also create a loyal customer base that feels directly involved in the process.
Resources:
Learn What They Didn't Teach You In Business School (The Value Creators Course)
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Connect with Mark Osborne on LinkedIn
The B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast on Apple Podcast
The B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast on YouTube
thevaluecreators.com
TVC Substack: hunterhastings.substack.com
Duration:00:32:05
Episode #50. Creating Value With AI Agents with Michael Walker
10/27/2024
We are about to enter the era of AI agents, and learning about them and deploying them is relevant to every business. What are they? How can a business develop one? How can a business successfully deploy one? How can a business develop a team of AI agents to work together to automate processes? How will these AI agents create value for customers?
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings gets answers to these questions from Michael Walker of SmythOS. Michael is the right expert to learn from because he prioritizes customer-centricity in AI solutions. Michael believes that businesses should put customer needs and benefits first, before technology features. That’s the Value Creators mindset, and it helps businesses to avoid the common pitfall in tech-first startups where excessive focus on features can obscure the value for end-users. According to Michael, this focus on customer problems is foundational, and AI deployment should primarily aid in addressing customer needs rather than showcasing technological capabilities.
SmythOS advocates for a future where AI and humans work in synergy to optimize value creation effectiveness.
Resources:
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Connect with Michael Walker on LinkedIn
Follow Michael Walker on Substack
The Value Creators Online Course
Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
0:30 | Focus on Customer’s
2:17 | Can AI be Emphatatic?
3:59 | Mainstream Market for AI: Is it Here Yet?
6:47 | SmithOS: Vision and Mission
9:04 | OS: Coordinated AI
11:57 | Solving the Problem of Generating Innovation Idea
15:37 | Can AI Improve the Quality of Technological Investments?
18:01 | AI Boosts Productivity by Optimizing Resource Allocation
19:27 | Michael’s Views on AI: Enabling Smaller, Tech-Driven, Specialized Firms
21:47 | AI May Replace OR Transform SaaS Companies
23:39 | Smith OS: Relationship Between the Owner of the Problem and the Designer of the Solution
25:36 | AI Integration May Eliminate Traditional Company Departmental Silos
28:01 | AI Agents as Team Members
29:30 | AI CEO
31:30 | Hunter’s Contradictory Approach: AI Can Help Us with Vision and Mission
33:41 | Can AI Generate Bold, Unconventional Ideas?
34:34 | Entrepreneurial Intent
36:00 | Changing Interaction Modes will Transform Technology Perception
39:15 | Potential AI Risks and Concerns
40:54 | Wrap - Up
Duration:00:45:51
Episode #49. Erik Schön On Self Management Amidst Change
10/18/2024
Has the pace and volume of change increased in the modern age? Is dealing with change more of a problem for businesses today than in the past? What is the recommended way to manage change?
Erik Schön is a student of ancient philosophy, and he reminds us that the challenges raised by change are ancient, not modern. And the ancients had good ways to deal with them. In this episode of the Value Creators podcast, Erik Schön discusses the genesis of his book, The Art Of Change, the latest of a trilogy of works that include The Art of Strategy and The Art of Leadership. Erik distills highly relevant ancient wisdom, particularly from texts like The I Ching and Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. He builds a modern business application from these classic ideas based on his extensive experience in leadership and strategy.
Resources:
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
The Value Creators on Substack
Connect with Erik Schön on LinkedIn
Get Schön's book on Amazon: THE ART OF CHANGE: Patterns for Success.
Yokoso Press
Duration:00:50:54
Episode #48. New Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs with Brian Hollins
9/24/2024
Brian Hollins is the founder and managing partner at Collide Capital, the Founder and CEO of Takeoff Institute, and a Founding Board Member at BLCKVC. He’s devoted his career to addressing and solving the challenges entrepreneurs face in accessing capital when they’re not plugged in to elite VC networks and funding sources. Brian shares insights from his venture, Collide Capital, which provides investment, coaching, and support to entrepreneurs lacking access to traditional networks.
The conversation highlights the importance of community, mentoring and education in empowering these entrepreneurs. Brian also discusses his involvement with the Takeoff Institute, which aims to develop future leaders. The episode underscores the critical role for entrepreneurship in value creation. Entrepreneurs develop better products and services and contribute to meaningful experiences for customers. Institutional support, such as venture capital, is essential.
Yet, only some have access to these resources, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not be plugged into the institutional environment of university incubators and venture capital pools.
Key Challenges Discussed:
Brian's journey serves as an inspiring example of how one can create value not only through business success but also by uplifting others and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship.
Resources:
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Connect with Brian Hollins on LinkedIn
collidecap.com
Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
1:05 | Differential Access
4:53 | Disadvantaged Entrepreneurs: How do they Get Started?
7:14 | Is Networking a Baseless Fear?
10:01 | Unique Business Models from Lived Experience
12:10 | Less Algorithmic, More Empathetic Approach
13:49 | Fund Zero: Collide Capital's Stoy
15:28 | What is a Scout Check?
18:01| Collide Capital Investment’s Success Stories
21:45 | Better Entrepreneurial Culture: Raising the Community
24:40 | Education's Role in Entrepreneurship
28:21 | Fellowship Language
28:58 | Future Access to Investment
32:00 | Technology's Role in Entrepreneurship: Can Finance Become Less Institutionalized through Apps?
34:55 | AI as an Entrepreneur's Operating System
38:00 | One-Person Billion-Dollar Company: Building Bigger Businesses with Fewer Resources
39:30 | Wrap-Up: Building Leaders through the Takeoff Institute
Duration:00:47:29
Episode #47. End-user Innovation From The Middle of The Supply Chain
9/17/2024
John Willenborg's business, Owl Vans, specializes in adventure vans designed for outdoor enthusiasts who seek to connect with nature. These vans provide essential comforts and accessories while encouraging maximum high-value outdoor time. The market for adventure vans has expanded rapidly, with Owl Vans leading in aftermarket accessories. John highlights the importance of scalability and being a generalist to succeed in entrepreneurship.
John’s approach emphasizes the importance of strategic marketing, careful expansion, strong partner relationships, and diligent financial management in building and scaling a successful business.
Resources:
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Connect with John Willenborg on LinkedIn
Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
00:09 | Adventure Category for Customers
03:40 | Process of Kitting Out Vans
05:20 | Popularity and Usability of Sprinter Vans
15:24 | Design Process
19:00 | Mark Packard: Be the Customer
20:21 | Knowledge and Empathy
22:21 | Knowing when to stay focused
25:43 | Brand Name is Critical
28:00 | Service Provided at Owl Vans: Maintenance and Adventure Ideas?
31:09 | Scaling Business through Strategic Partnerships
33:20 | Managing Partnership Relations
35:37 | Cash flow of a Business: Finance and Accounting
42:46 | Owl Vans: Maintaining team spirit and unity?
46:41 | Wrap - Up
Duration:00:53:54
Episode #46. Digital Enablement: Customer-led business, Subjective Value, and Empathy with David Kramer
8/29/2024
Digital enablement and AI are revolutionizing how companies operate and reshaping the economy.
At the core of this transformation remains a fundamental principle: the customer is the boss. In this new era, empathy becomes crucial as businesses strive to meet subjective values and deliver hyper-personalized experiences. Consumers demand instant access, precise responses, seamless order fulfillment, and transparency, while resisting intrusive tracking and data monetization.
David Kramer, Founder & Chief Product Officer at Cooperative Computing, joins Hunter Hastings to highlight how AI can enhance creativity while balancing automation and human touch. In this discussion, Kramer shares insights on the digital enablement movement, emphasizing that AI should complement human creativity rather than replace it.
He underscores the need for maintaining a brand's unique voice amidst the risk of generic content. As AI advances, businesses must adapt, using it to innovate while preserving the essential human element that resonates deeply with audiences. This approach aligns with the shift towards hyper-personalization, where understanding and delivering what each individual wants becomes the new standard, as exemplified by companies like Nike, which serves diverse customer needs with tailored, transparent experiences.
Resources:
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Cooperative Computing
Connect with David Kramer on LinkedIn
Digital Enablement by Cooperative Computing PDF
Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro: Vision of the Digitally Enabled Firm
01:57 | 5 Key Business Functions: Branding and Marketing
03:15 | Second Key: Sales and Commerce
03:56 | Digitally Enabled Organization: Third and Fourth Key
04:48 | Fifth Key for a Digitally Enabled Organization: Service Delivery Management
07:13 | Human Role: Coding OR Evolving Decisions?
13:13 | Are We Still Customer-Centric?
20:33 | Transition Away From Control
25:01 | Customer in this New Digital Environment
29:39 | Demand for Transparency and Responsiveness
35:34 | Managing Accelerating Digital Change Speed: The Art of Possible
40:47 | Stephen Hawking: Cosmology Depends on the Questions You Ask
45:38 | Is Competition Still Relevant, and Can Large Firms Adapt?
53:52 | Wrap-Up
Duration:01:01:46
Episode #45 - Embrace the Hyper-Entrepreneurial Era: Creating Innovations to Serve Customers' Needs (Working On Purpose Podcast Repost)
8/15/2024
This episode is a repost from The Working On Purpose Podcast
Capitalism comes in for criticism, despite the fact that this economic system has resulted in substantially increasing global per capita income over the centuries, spurring economic growth and progress.
Critics often criticize a kind of Aberrant Capitalism, one that is dominated in their minds by corporations, whose behavior is not always meritorious.
But from the earliest times, it was Customer Capitalism, not corporate capitalism, that was the driver of individual prosperity and thriving. Companies such as Wedgwood & Bentley of Wedgwood China fame (founded 1759) set the original precedents by prioritizing customer needs and innovation, laying the foundation for contemporary business practices. The advent of these corporations facilitated large-scale entrepreneurship, promoting innovation and efficient responses to customer demands.
Entropy has set into the capitalist system since the founding days, and there is some corporate behavior that needs reform. Dr. Alise Cortez is attentive to these concerns. We discussed the prospects for a revival of customer capitalism
Resources:
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Alise Cortez on LinkedIn
The Value Creators Website
Hunter Hasting’s Blog
Dr. Alise Cortez's websites: Gusto-Now.com and AliseCortez.com
Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
3:25 | Capitalism: Bad Rap and the Purpose
08:07 | Standard Oil's Impact on Civilization
09:52 | World War: Capitalism in the Next Era
14:20 | The Post-War Capitalism: Command and Control
19:50 | Period of Financialization
21:05 | Maximising Shareholder Value
22:14 | Government as the Customer
25:35 | The Promise of Customer Capitalism
28:30 | Current Landscape of Customer Capitalism
33:03 | Management Practices of Forward-Thinking Companies: Extremely Flat Organization
35:33 | Cross-Functional Teams
37:45 | Short-Term Problem Solving vs. Long-Term Planning
39:50 | Long-Term Stock Exchanges: Role and Contribution
40:30 | AI and Middle Management
42:24 | Principles Over Rules
43:40 | Customer-Centric Business Models
45:13 | Idea of Subjective Value and Empathy
48:37 | Wrap - Up
Duration:00:51:32
Episode #44 - Understanding Customer Capitalism: A Conversation With Hunter Hastings (Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast Repost)
7/26/2024
In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings, an economist and corporate marketing professional, is interviewed by Natalie Born, host of the Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast.
Imagine a future where your organization works backward from a detailed vision of how customers will interact with your products and services. This is a concept Hunter Hastings passionately discussed on the podcast. He advocates for a mental shift in organizations to focus on the flow of information from the customer, leading to effective marketplace tests and implementations.
Hastings reflects on the historical shift from customer-centric entrepreneurship to bureaucracy and financialization, emphasizing the need for organizational innovation to remove barriers. The conversation explores the importance of empathy, understanding customer needs, and the potential for flatter organizational structures to accelerate innovation.
Resources:
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
Connect with Natalie Born on LinkedIn
Valuecreators.com
Hunter Hasting’s blog
Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast
Show Notes:
0:00 | Intro
02:03 | Hunter Hastings Professional Background
04:50 | Procter and Gamble's Customer-Centric Approach
08:58 | Removing Barriers to Innovation: Mental Model
11:47 | Fundaments of Innovation: Self-Management
15:20 | Morning Star's Self-Management Model
18:01 | Imagining the Future for Implementation
20:39 | Vision and Customer-Centric Innovation
22:45 | Example: The Blackberry and Customer Frustration
24:57 | Tension Between Customer Knowledge and Innovation
26:44 | Empathy and Interaction in Entrepreneurship
28:52 | Wrap-Up
Duration:00:31:06
Episode # 43 Understanding the Decline of Customer Capitalism: The Impact of Financialization and the Importance of Empathy in Business (The Learn-It-All Podcast Repost)
7/10/2024
This episode is a repost from The Learn-It-All Podcast
The decline of customer capitalism and the shift in support for capitalism among young people highlights the need for a cultural transformation in business and economics. By prioritizing customer value, fostering empathy, and empowering employees, businesses can build stronger relationships with customers and drive long-term sustainable growth. The future of customer capitalism lies in understanding and meeting customer needs, leveraging technology to enhance the customer experience, and reforming business education to prioritize customer value creation.
In this episode of the Learn It All podcast, guest Hunter Hastings, an economist, venture capitalist, and author of "Aberrant Capitalism: The Decline of Customer Capitalism," discusses the decline of customer capitalism and the shift in support for capitalism among young people. Hastings emphasizes the importance of customer-centric business practices, the impact of financialization, and the need for empathy in business. He advocates for a reform in business education to prioritize customer value creation and introduces an online course aimed at teaching these principles. The conversation also touches on the potential of AI in enhancing customer experiences and the importance of capitalism in improving well-being.
Hunter Hastings' insights provide a valuable roadmap for businesses and entrepreneurs looking to navigate the evolving landscape of capitalism and create meaningful value for customers. By embracing the principles of customer capitalism, businesses can not only thrive but also contribute to a more empathetic and customer-centric society.
Resources:
Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn
To download the book: Aberrant Capitalism: The Decline of Customer Capitalism
The Online Value Creators Course: Valuecreators.com
Connect with Damon Lembi on LinkedIn
Connect with Darren Bridgett on LinkedIn
Duration:00:44:45