Forward Obsessed

The Future of Information Technology with Ari Santiago

Join Pete and David as they dive into the world of technology and entrepreneurship with Founder and CEO of Compass MSP, Ari Santiago.
Ari’s story is truly inspirational, from his childhood days of when he started his first business selling bubble gum, to becoming paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 13 due to a skiing accident. The journey of overcoming adversity led to Ari’s passion in computers, which solidified the foundation of his career in information technology at the age of 14. 
Despite these setbacks, Ari’s entrepreneurial instincts and his unflappable spirit enabled him to build a multi-million dollar company that received a spot on Inc Magazine's list of fastest growing privately held companies in the US, as well as recognition from Marcum Tech as one of the Top 40 fastest growing technology companies in Connecticut.
Learn about how Ari was able to overcome the trauma of his accident, and turn a disability into an empowering cornerstone of his career. Ari also explains the number one secret to his success has been experimentation, experimentation, experimentation - and that taking the L.E.A.P could change the course of your career. 
Find out more about Compass MSP: https://compassmsp.com/
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Books our guest swears by: 
The Dip, by Seth Godin
Drive, by Daniel Pink
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Visit us at Forward Obsessed and join the conversation. 
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We Design Demand. Learn more about Digital Surgeons 

The Future of Tequila with Kat Hantas

Join Pete and David as they dive into the world of infused tequila with Founder and CEO of 21 Seeds, Kat Hantas. Kat explains her entrepreneurial journey of working in the television and film industry, transitioning to becoming a full-time mother, then discovering a massive product opportunity in the tequila industry through her own life experiences. 
Learn about Kat's journey & origin story of founding 21 Seeds.  This conversation outlines Kat’s methods of observation and market research that allowed her to find an unserved demographic in the alcohol industry. She also shares her perspective on building a team and raising capital from a new idea, and how her ability to follow her instincts led to growth & overall success for the brand.
In this interview, listeners will learn about how to connect with a specific target audience demographic, how to use personal experiences and cultural observation to find customers by tapping into trends, and how becoming a CEO is not about gaining control of a company, but about letting that control go to a team you trust. 
Find a 21 Seeds product at a store near you: https://www.21seeds.com/ 
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Visit us at Forward Obsessed and join the conversation. 
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We Design Demand. Learn more about Digital Surgeons 

The Future of Thrift Shopping with Topper Luciani

Join Pete and David as they dive into the twists and turns of the direct-to-consumer thrift clothing industry with Topper Luciani, founder of Goodfair. Learn about how the rising popularity of thrift shopping has unveiled the harmful effects of the clothing industry that fast fashion has created for our society and planet. Topper dives into why he's dedicated his life (and created Goodfair) to save the planet through thrifting.
Learn about Topper's journey, from buying and reselling used ties on Ebay, to building the skills of a savvy entrepreneur in the clothing industry.  Topper’s successes and failures led him to founding Goodfair, an online used clothing store with a mission to "save the world with thrift."In this interview, Topper explains his perspectives on branding as a form of communication, his insights on essential tools that every direct-to-consumer brand should utilize, and his personal philosophy that guides his life as well as his business.
Entrepreneurial Tools for the Road: 
Klaviyo: A marketing platform that helps eCommerce store owners deliver a more personalized experience for their customers through automated email and SMS pathways. 
ShipStation: A shipping software for eCommerce fulfillment, exceptionally efficient at syncing, managing, and shipping orders with detailed analytics. 
CartHook: A private Shopify application which enables online vendors to build customizable one-page checkouts and post-purchase one-click upsells. 
Kustomer: A new type of CRM for customer service that uses data-driven processes so clients can resolve conversations quickly across a wide variety of platforms. 
Books our guest swears by: 
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
Principles, by Ray Dalio
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We Design Demand. Learn more about Digital Surgeons