Forward Obsessed

Tanay Kothari: Building the Next Generation of Personal AI // #63

What if your voice could replace your keyboard—and be smarter than Siri ever dreamed of? Meet Tanay Kothari, the CEO and co-founder of Wispr Flow, a voice-first AI company redefining how we interact with technology. From teaching himself to code at age nine to building and selling a company fresh out of Stanford, Tanay’s journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurial obsession, resilience, and product-driven thinking.
 
In this episode, Tanay shares how his childhood dream of building Jarvis (yes, Iron Man’s assistant) led him to develop one of the most exciting voice AI tools today. We dive into the difference between good engineering and great design, why most voice assistants fail, and what it really takes to lead teams and raise capital in Silicon Valley. If you're into startups, AI, or just love hearing from product-obsessed founders, this one's a must-listen.
 
✨ Listeners of Forward Obsessed can sign up for 1 FREE month of Flow:https://ref.flowvoice.ai/pete
 
🔎 Find Out More About Tanay Kothari and Wispr Flow:
https://x.com/tankotshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tankots/https://ref.wisprflow.ai/fopod https://www.linkedin.com/company/wisprflowhttps://x.com/WisprFlow
 
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Tanay Kothari04:17 - Entrepreneurial Roots: Tanay’s Parents and Early Hustles08:00 - Simples Inc: A 12-Year-Old Builds His First Company10:10 - Going Viral with Convert.cc and Google’s Cease & Desist18:39 - Journey to Stanford and Embracing Silicon Valley25:06 - Learning to Lead: From Engineer to Team Manager33:22 - The Hardest Part of Scaling: Managing People38:12 - Deep Values Alignment: Early Co-Founder Conversations45:36 - What Makes Wispr Flow Different from Every Other Voice Tool50:45 - How Wispr Flow Fixes Transcription Accuracy54:57 - Product Hunt Success: Tips for a Top Launch59:47 - The Future of Voice Interfaces and Contextual AI 
 
🔗 Other Links & Resources:
The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062367544The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465050654Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553208845DISC Leadership Framework: https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc
 
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#ai #entrepreneurship #founderstory

Sean Busch: Lessons from Bootstrapping to Big-Box Retail // #62

What does it take to scale a business from a $20,000 launch to over $100 million in revenue? In this episode of Forward Obsessed, entrepreneur Sean Busch takes us through his incredible journey—from a small-town kid flipping car parts in high school to founding and selling the household cleaning brand Puracy. Along the way, Sean shares how he leveraged Amazon’s early days, built a direct-to-consumer powerhouse, and navigated the challenges of big-box retail.
 
Sean opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including the moment he was fired just before Christmas, the brutal cash-flow struggles of expanding into Target and Walmart, and the pivotal decision to exit his company. He also shares key lessons on craftsmanship vs. commerce, the importance of customer obsession, and why having the right CFO can make or break your business. Now, with his newest venture, Dad Mode, Sean is applying everything he learned to build another game-changing brand.
Whether you're a founder, a business leader, or just someone fascinated by the journey of building something from the ground up, this conversation is packed with invaluable insights.
 
🔎 Find Out More About Sean Busch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantbuschInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stb416/Dad Mode: https://godadmode.com/Puracy: https://puracy.com/
 
Chapters
00:00 - A First for Forward Obsessed03:15 - Sean’s Early Hustles & Entrepreneurial Roots10:45 - From Car Detailing to Medical Sales18:30 - The Leap Into E-Commerce & Building Puracy25:50 - Cracking the Amazon Playbook32:15 - Scaling to Retail: The Target & Walmart Challenge40:05 - Surviving Cash Flow Nightmares48:20 - The Emotional Toll of Entrepreneurship55:10 - The Exit: Selling Puracy1:02:30 - Lessons Learned & Advice for Founders1:10:00 - Sean’s Next Venture: Dad Mode
 
🔗 Other Links & Resources
The Honest Company by Jessica Alba (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1609619110The Lean Startup by Eric Ries (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307887898Amazon FBA: https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazonSinger Automotive: https://singervehicledesign.com/Seven Generation (CPG): https://www.seventhgeneration.com/
 
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Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/
 
#entrepreneurship #startups #businessgrowth

Mike Lloyd: Building Resilience, Distribution, and Cyber Insurance Innovation // #61

Mike Lloyd’s entrepreneurial story began with a simple childhood side hustle—burning CDs for friends in his small Michigan hometown. That spark of ingenuity set him on a journey from studying at MIT and Harvard to launching and scaling companies that reshaped industries. In this episode of Forward Obsessed, Mike delves into the pivotal moments that defined his path, sharing the highs and lows of his journey.
He opens up about the painful lessons learned from his first failed startup and how he transformed those experiences into a winning formula for success. Mike reveals the critical importance of mastering distribution, his obsession with solving meaningful problems, and how COVID and Bitcoin propelled his cyber insurance company to the forefront of the industry. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or simply love a compelling story of resilience and growth, this conversation is full of inspiration and actionable wisdom.
🔎 Find Out More About Mike LloydLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelloydTwitter: https://twitter.com/MikeLloydCorvus Insurance: https://www.corvusinsurance.com
Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Mike Lloyd04:10 - Small-Town Beginnings: Burned CDs & the Hacker Spirit08:45 - Learning Early Business Lessons13:00 - From Soccer Dreams to VMI and MIT19:30 - Why Engineering Shapes Problem-Solvers24:15 - The Shift from Academia to Startups29:00 - First-Time Founder Failures and Hard Lessons35:20 - Obsessing Over Distribution: A Game-Changer39:40 - Building Corvus Insurance with Phil Edmondson44:15 - The Role of Brokers in Insurance Distribution50:00 - Finding Product-Market Fit in Cyber Insurance55:30 - COVID as a Catalyst for Cyber Insurance Growth01:03:15 - Bitcoin’s Role in Cybersecurity’s Evolution01:08:20 - Fundraising Tips for Entrepreneurs01:14:45 - Partnering with Travelers: A Behind-the-Scenes Look01:22:30 - Lessons in Failure, Resilience, and Letting Go01:30:00 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Parents
🔗 Other Links & Resources:
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062292986The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062273205Measure What Matters by John Doerr: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525536221
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#entrepreneurship #startups #forwardobsessed

Anthony Ng Monica: From Bootstrapping to Breakthroughs in E-Commerce // #60

In this episode of Forward Obsessed, we sit down with Anthony Ng Monica, a visionary entrepreneur whose journey from humble beginnings to leading an internationally recognized e-commerce technology company is nothing short of inspiring. Anthony shares his early entrepreneurial ventures, from pirating software to funding his education by cold-calling businesses. He candidly discusses the lessons learned while building Swogo, a cutting-edge product recommendation engine that has transformed how global retailers drive cross-sell and upsell opportunities.Join us as Anthony unpacks the critical pivots that defined Swogo’s path to success—from its early B2C focus to becoming a B2B powerhouse and ultimately innovating with AI-driven product bundling. Learn how his cultural heritage, family dynamics, and relentless focus on learning shaped his business acumen. Whether you’re scaling your own venture or looking for strategies to pivot and grow, Anthony’s story is filled with practical advice and game-changing insights.🔎 Find Out More About Anthony Ng MonicaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyngmonica/
Daily Body Coach: https://www.dailybodycoach.com/Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Anthony Ng Monica04:10 - Growing Up Between Cultures: Macau, Portugal, and the UK08:45 - The Spark for Entrepreneurship: Early Influences14:30 - Breaking into Business: Cold Calling and Selling Websites20:20 - Launching Swogo: The Early Days of Product Recommendations25:15 - The Pivot: Transitioning from B2C to B2B32:45 - The Big Breakthrough: Solving E-commerce Cross-Selling Challenges41:10 - Overcoming Challenges: Five Co-Founders and Scaling the Business50:00 - Lessons from a Global Journey: Focus, Learning, and Resilience56:30 - Working with Global Clients: Breaking into Major Markets1:04:20 - Leveraging Accelerator Programs for Growth1:10:50 - Long-Term Vision and the Future of E-commerce
 
🔗 Other Links & ResourcesGood to Great (book) by Jim Collins: https://a.co/d/eDIM5soSwogo: https://www.swogo.com/
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We Are Taking A Summer Break

As we approach the summer, the Forward Obsessed podcast is taking a brief but much needed break from creating new entrepreneurial content for you, our incredible listeners. We're grateful for the remarkable guests who have made season three a success, and we have some amazing stuff coming down the pipeline. During this hiatus, we invite you to stay engaged with us: visit our YouTube channel, subscribe, leave comments, and share your favorite episodes. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us shape future content - Don't forget to visit www.forwardobsessed.com to share your favorite moments and suggestions for future guests. We're committed to exploring all facets of entrepreneurship, and your support keeps us in this podcasting game.
We also have an important announcement: this is the final episode with our executive producer, Robert Roche. Since day one, Robert has been instrumental in every facet of the production process, from finding guests, to the full production of the episode, clips, and articles, all the way through answering your questions and comments on our social channels. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and hope to collaborate again in the future. Robert, thank you for your dedication, creativity, and passion. Your presence will be greatly missed. 
 
From Robert: Please stay in touch! If you ever have a question about podcasting or content management, find Robert P. Roche III on Linkedin. 
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Sam Parr: Founder Of The Hustle, Hampton And My First Million Podcast

Sam Parr, the founder of The Hustle and the host of the My First Million podcast, shares his entrepreneurial journey from his humble beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri, to building and selling successful companies. Parr's early hustles, including selling whiskey online and running a hot dog stand, laid the foundation for his future endeavors. Despite a setback with Airbnb, Parr persevered and started a roommate matching business, which he eventually sold to Apartment List.
 
Parr's success with The Hustle, growing the company's newsletter to over 1.5 million subscribers, is a testament to his skills in hiring passionate people and his ability to "brute force" a company to success. He offers valuable insights on the emotional challenges of selling a company and the importance of focus and perseverance in building a successful business.
 
This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, MBA students, and managers, as it provides practical advice and inspiration from someone who has successfully navigated the ups and downs of the startup world. Parr's candid discussion of his experiences, from cold calling to angel investing and growing a podcast, offers a wealth of knowledge for those looking to build and scale their own ventures.
 
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction of Sam Parr
(00:01:28) Sam Parr's background and early entrepreneurial ventures
(00:10:00) Building and selling a roommate matching company
(00:14:02) Starting The Hustle and growing the newsletter
(00:22:36) Hiring strategies and building a strong company culture
(00:29:00) The emotional journey of selling The Hustle to HubSpot
(00:35:00) Life after the acquisition and starting a new company, Hampton
(00:40:45) Branding, positioning, and pricing strategies
(00:44:49) The art of the cold call and its importance in business
(00:50:00) Angel investing experiences and lessons learned
(00:55:00) Building a community with Hampton and differentiating from competitors
(01:02:04) The power of personal branding and visibility
(01:07:31) Hiring and working with CEOs
(01:13:57) The impact of fatherhood on entrepreneurship and personal growth
(01:17:31) Strategies for growing a successful podcast
 
Episode Links
The Hustle (company): https://thehustle.co/My First Million (podcast): https://www.mfmpod.com/Hampton (company): https://joinhampton.com/Sam's List (website) - https://samslist.co/The Game (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Game-Penetrating-Secret-Society-Artists/dp/0060554738Glengarry Glen Ross (movie): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glengarry_Glen_Ross_(film)
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Hacking A Startup From Idea To Exit With Ben Lamson

Ben Lamson is the Head Of Revenue at Paperspace, a GPU cloud and software stack for machine learning and artificial intelligence developers, which was recently acquired by Digital Ocean. Previously, he was the co-founder and CEO of WeDidIt, a crowdfunding platform for nonprofits that was acquired by a private equity firm. Lamson's entrepreneurial journey began in his early twenties, inspired by his parents, who were both successful small business owners despite not having college degrees. Growing up in a close-knit family in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Lamson learned the value of hard work and determination from a young age. In college, Lamson pursued his passion for wrestling, becoming a Division I athlete at American University.
Lamson's career in sales began at Meltwater Group, where he met his future co-founder, Sisu Suh. Together, they left Meltwater to start WeDidIt, hacking their way through the startup process by entering business plan competitions, winning grants, and participating in accelerator programs. Through their scrappy efforts, they raised a total of $3.5 million for WeDidIt before successfully exiting to a private equity firm. After the acquisition, Lamson joined Paperspace as the Revenue Leader, where he implemented a product-led growth strategy that resulted in a 350% revenue increase in just 12 months. His success caught the attention of Digital Ocean, who acquired Paperspace in 2023.
Throughout the interview, Lamson shares valuable insights and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, such as the importance of being curious, asking the right questions, and constantly learning. He emphasizes the value of resilience and grit, drawing parallels between the challenges of wrestling and the struggles of building a startup. Lamson also discusses the future of generative AI and its potential impact on various industries. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, sales, product-led growth, and the future of AI. Lamson's inspiring journey from college wrestler to successful startup founder and revenue leader is a testament to the power of hard work, determination, and continuous learning.
 
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:07:49) Discovery of wrestling passion and its impact
(00:17:21) Service industry experience and lessons learned
(00:21:58) Starting a tech company with a co-founder from Meltwater
(00:26:29) Idea evolution and the aha moment for WeDidIt
(00:28:46) Hacking the startup journey through accelerators and competitions
(00:31:18) Raising funds and extending runway through odd jobs
(00:40:45) Joining Paperspace and implementing product-led growth strategy
(00:54:33) Paperspace acquisition by Digital Ocean
(00:56:20) The experience of a successful exit
(01:02:22) Advice for non-technical professionals entering the tech industry
(01:04:00) Importance of curiosity in personal and professional growth
(01:09:58) Mental models for success in wrestling and sales
(01:12:35) Importance of repetition and constant refinement
(01:14:17) Turning unhappy customers into happy ones
(01:16:08) Transitioning from sales to product-led growth
(01:20:55) Navigating the stressful acquisition process with Paperspace
(01:24:30) Balancing ego and humility in leadership
(01:26:36) Hacking the fundraising process through alternative methods
(01:30:11) The moment the wire hit after the successful exit
(01:33:54) Staying at Paperspace post-acquisition and future plans
(01:38:02) Coolest use cases of AI seen in the past month
(01:41:56) Concerns about big players in the AI space and the need for regulation
Episode Links
Paperspace: https://www.paperspace.com/Digital Ocean: https://www.digitalocean.com/Meltwater Group: https://www.meltwater.com/enBen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminlamson/Jason Lemkin on having a mentor budget for VPs of sales: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-your-vps-have-mentor-budget-jason-m-lemkin-2c/?trk=public_post
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Transforming Data Ownership Into A Connective Force With Aaron Lyles

Aaron Lyles is the Founder and CEO of CommonAlly, a company that builds two-sided marketplaces to connect organizations with hard-to-reach communities in a way that empowers people and gives them agency over their data. Aaron's entrepreneurial journey began at a young age when he started a snowboarding magazine in high school despite challenges with ADHD. This experience taught him the value of passion, perseverance, and creative problem-solving. After college, Aaron founded a photography firm called Pixel Lab, which later evolved into a video production collective called Multiple Mammals.
 
The idea for CommonAlly was born out of Aaron's desire to create a more empathetic and less polarized world, especially for his young daughter, in the midst of the tumultuous 2016 election. He raised money from friends, family and dev firms to build the platform. Recently, CommonAlly was acquired by Small Great Ventures, allowing Aaron to continue pursuing his vision with the necessary resources and support. Throughout the interview, Aaron shares valuable insights and candid stories about the challenges of entrepreneurship, from difficult co-founder splits to navigating the acquisition process.
 
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mission-driven entrepreneurship and the real-world challenges and triumphs of building a startup. Aaron's story offers an honest and inspiring look at the entrepreneurial journey, with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and staying true to one's values in the face of adversity. Aspiring founders and business leaders will come away with practical insights and wisdom they can apply to their own ventures.
 
Episode Outline
 
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:03:47) Growing up with ADHD in the 80s and learning to navigate life differently
(00:05:12) Starting a snowboarding magazine in high school 
(00:07:54) Overcoming academic struggles and getting into Emerson College
(00:10:21) Founding Pixel Lab photography business and evolving into Multiple Mammals 
(00:17:07) Inspiration for starting CommonAlly during the 2016 election to combat polarization
(00:20:39) Challenges of being a solo founder and the importance of having the right partners
(00:25:34) Building a creative collective model with Multiple Mammals 
(00:31:02) Pivoting CommonAlly's business model to focus on a two-sided marketplace 
(00:37:29) Navigating the acquisition process with Small Great Ventures 
(00:47:11) The role of AI in enhancing CommonAlly's offerings 
(00:48:42) Lessons learned and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
(00:52:36) Fundraising challenges and the importance of strategic partnerships for growth
(00:57:15) The evolution of CommonAlly's services 
(01:02:54) The significance of CommonAlly's acquisition and the continuation of Aaron's vision
(01:06:09) The importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship and staying true to one's values
(01:11:42) Closing thoughts and how to connect with CommonAlly for potential partnerships
 
Episode Links
CommonAlly (current company): https://www.commonally.com/Multiple Mammals (previous company): https://www.multiplemammals.com/Small Great Ventures (acquired CommonAlly): https://www.smallgreat.co/Emerson College (attended): https://emerson.edu/
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Founding 21Seeds Tequila With Kat Hantas

Kat Hantas is the co-founder of 21 Seeds, an infused tequila brand that was acquired by Diageo for $160 Million after just three years in business, being the largest exit ever by a female-founded spirits brand. Previously, Kat had a 15-year career in the film industry, working at Creative Artists Agency and as an independent producer developing horror and music-driven films.
 
In this interview, Kat shares her entrepreneurial journey, from starting her first business right out of college to pivoting to a film career focused on specific niches to launching 21 Seeds to solve her own pain points around finding an easy-to-drink, low-calorie alternative to wine and cocktails. 21 Seeds differentiated itself by targeting a specific customer - women and moms - with an elevated, all-natural infused tequila. The brand took off quickly, landing national distribution in under two years.
 
Kat shares candid insights useful for entrepreneurs and business leaders, including the importance of focusing relentlessly on a specific customer, hiring people with complementary skills, building a culture of respect and results, and understanding the operational drivers in your business. This is a must-listen interview for anyone interested in consumer products, branding, entrepreneurship, and learning from a founder who defied the odds to build a category-creating brand and successful exit in record time.
 
 
Episode Outline
Here is a concise outline of the key topics discussed in the interview, with timestamps:
(00:00:00) Introduction and overview of Kat Hantas' background (00:04:13) Kat's childhood in Peru and moving to the US with her mother(00:11:07) Impact of seeing her mother's work ethic and hustle (00:14:39) Early entrepreneurial ventures and lessons learned (00:22:06) Working in the film industry after college (00:38:49) Challenges and ultimate failure of the movie "Taking Five" (00:48:26) Stepping back from work to focus on family and early motherhood(00:54:20) Health issues leading to switch from wine to infused tequila (01:03:08) Recognizing the market opportunity for elevated infused tequila (01:13:06) Launching 21 Seeds with her sister and co-founder in 2019 (01:15:58) Choosing Diageo as the acquirer for 21 Seeds (01:21:58) The intensive due diligence process leading up to acquisition (01:24:10) The emotional impact of the exit and concern for the team (01:30:40) Advice for building an excellent team with separate swim lanes(01:34:40) Dealing with copycats and the importance of speed to market(01:38:13) Reflections on the 21 Seeds journey and future plans
 
Episode Links
 
21Seeds (company co-founded by Kat Hantas): www.21Seeds.com21Seeds Instagram: www.instagram.com/21seedsKat’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathantas/Kat’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-hantas-ba0621163/
 
 
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From Startup To Selling To Starbucks With Peter Thum

Peter Thum is the Co-Founder and CEO of Muse, an AI-powered website builder and collaboration platform. He was previously the Founder of Ethos Water, which he successfully sold to Starbucks in 2005. Thum has also founded Fonderie 47, a company that transforms AK-47 assault rifles from African war zones into high-end jewelry and accessories, and Liberty United, which employs a similar model to reduce gun violence in the United States.
 
In this interview, Thum shares invaluable insights and experiences from his entrepreneurial journey, particularly the challenges and triumphs of building Ethos Water from a $10,000 startup to a major acquisition by Starbucks. He discusses the importance of bootstrapping, resourcefulness, and unwavering commitment to one's mission, even in the face of adversity. Thum also highlights the significance of strategic partnerships, as exemplified by his collaboration with Howard Schultz, which amplified the impact of Ethos Water and brought clean water access to millions of people in developing countries.
 
For young entrepreneurs, founders, MBA students, and managers, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Thum's journey illustrates the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and the potential for businesses to drive positive social change. His experiences serve as a roadmap for navigating the complexities of building a mission-driven business while simultaneously making a meaningful impact on the world.
Episode Outline
(00:00:00) Introduction and overview of Peter Thum's background
(00:05:17) Peter's childhood in Korea and parents' careers
(00:09:39) Impact of losing his father at age 14
(00:14:01) Playing college football and being a team captain
(00:20:47) Early career at Gallo Winery and desire to move to Germany
(00:27:56) Decision to attend Kellogg School of Management
(00:32:39) Working at McKinsey & Company after business school
(00:44:43) Inspiration for Ethos Water during McKinsey projects
(01:03:21) Bootstrapping and launching Ethos Water
(01:18:27) Getting Ethos Water into Whole Foods and Starbucks
(01:32:13) Selling Ethos Water to Starbucks
(01:43:40) The social impact of Ethos Water with Starbucks' reach
(01:50:45) Founding Foundry 47 to transform AK-47s into luxury items
(01:56:03) Creating Liberty United to reduce gun violence in the US
(01:58:58) Co-founding Muse, an AI-powered no-code platform
(02:05:01) Muse's vision to democratize tech for all skill levels
Episode Links
 
Ethos WaterStarbucksFonderie 47 (founded by Peter Thum)Liberty United (founded by Peter Thum)Muse (current company, co-founded by Peter Thum)McKinsey & Company (former employer)Gallo Winery (former employer)Kellogg School of Management (alma mater)
 
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