Beyond High Street

Christie Currie: Founder, Zandaland

Our first active Miami student on the pod! Why? Because Christie Currie is so darn impressive. She is days away from graduation and about to hit the world with a newly created business. She identified a problem in the real world through her own personal experience with cancer and is all-in to solve it. Enter Zandaland, a holistic digital platform and virtual world for Children’s Hospitals that educates, connects, and distracts inpatient pediatric cancer patients. Zandaland uses fun, play and technology to empower young patients through knowledge and engagement. We spend a great deal of time on the pod discussing the benefits of sharing the entrepreneurial experience with peers (and she has some classmates that are part of the new team). Check out Zandaland and all the inspiring things that Christie and her team are doing, and you can support them at their GoFundMe.

Mark Lacker: Professor, Miami University

Mark Lacker took a circuitous route to his current role as an entrepreneurship professor at Miami’s Farmer School of Business. He is a self-described accidental professor. While building and scaling businesses, he connected back with Miami to get help from students as an occasional guest lecturer. His interest, excitement and long-term love for Oxford grew and grew until he moved out of the business world and into full-time teaching. His real world experience gives him a unique perspective to share with his students. We focus parts of the conversation on the importance of establishing why you want to do something, before identifying what you want to do. He is practical with his thoughts and direction. Mark was the first current employee of the University we have had on the pod. And remember this, if you are an alumni who wants to get involved and engage with the entrepreneurship program, click here to find out how.

Tim Sweetwood: President, C3 Presents

While Tim Sweetwood has always been passionate about music, it wasn’t until he graduated from Miami and experienced the entrepreneurial side of the business that he knew he could make a career out of it.  In the years since he has been involved with just about every aspect of music entertainment – from recording, to booking events, to his current role organizing and running entire music festivals. It’s fascinating to hear how the progression of his early successes - throwing parties with emerging local bands – motivated him to keep finding new and bigger opportunities within the industry. And while he originally gravitated to this field because of his passion for music, he is quick to remind the artists he works with that it is a business first. I think his advice to young people looking to get into the music industry is equally applicable to all industries - “be a dork about it and absorb it.”

Jon Podany: CEO, Arnold Palmer Enterprises

Jon Podany has the unique challenge and awesome opportunity to manage the legacy of one of sport’s most revered figures. Podany was appointed the CEO of Arnold Palmer Enterprises, managing every use of the legend’s name, image, signature, and properties worldwide in the Fall of 2018. He is also the President of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation. It is staggering to hear Jon list all of the touchpoints Mr. Palmer has around the globe. From licensing, to events, to charitable giving, Jon’s role is incredibly demanding and equally rewarding. It’s also clear he is driven by Mr. Palmer’s example and the core values he embodied – integrity and respect for others.

Jeff Brunka: Global Alliance Lead, Amazon Web Services

It takes a lot of courage to drop everything immediately post college and move to a foreign land without a lick of the local language. This week’s guest Jeff Brunka did just that and has been taking calculated risks ever since. His first job in Germany was helping out at a horse ranch, four hours away from Munich.  Brunka has a lot of great stories and insight, from his first months in Germany to his time down under in Australia and now in his current role as Global Alliance lead for Amazon Web Services. His story about how he learned the local language – including a brief detour into accidentally learning Polish – is a must-listen. 

Susan Canavari: Global Head of Brand Experience Development, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Susan Canavari, the Global Head of Brand Experience Development at JPMorgan Chase & Co is a rockstar. She has had an incredible business career which began on the other side of the house, the agency side. We focus much of the conversation on the differences between the two sides and how they can help each other succeed. We dig into her daily habits, from what time she wakes up to how she stays current on relevant news. We dig into her daily habits, from what time she wakes (it’s 5am), to her email tendencies and how she stays current on relevant news. Her advice is appropriate for all - "work really hard and be flexible”. 

Andy Blackburn: VP New Business, Marquee Sports & Entertainment

Andy Blackburn is the VP of New Business at Marquee Sports & Entertainment, which is the hospitality and marketing arm of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, and other iconic properties. Every day, he aims to improve the in-game experience for anyone who steps foot into Wrigley Field, from team sponsors to once-a-year fans, and everyone in between. He talks about the dramatic facelift Wrigley Field, and the surrounding neighborhood, has gotten over the past few years, and how that transformation has helped modernize the team’s approach to sponsorship and hospitality. His team has created a new PGA TOUR Champions event for 2020 which is so smart with MLB spring training right there. I love that his first crack into sports was a lead through a Miami professor. Power of not just who you know, but who knows you. That job, which was selling Detroit Pistons tickets via cold calls, is the only break he needed.

Jeff Berding: President & General Manager, FC Cincinnati

The MLS season is just getting underway, and we’re lucky to have on the pod this week the President and General Manager of the league’s newest team. Jeff Berding was instrumental in the awarding of FC Cincinnati, and he provides some fascinating insight on the pod about the process of getting his beloved city that franchise. You can hear in his voice the passion he has for Cincinnati. He also talks about how sports are like politics in terms of meeting deadlines and putting your product out to be judged by your consumer. I really appreciated his approach to work and life – “Be stubborn on vision, but flexible on journey.” That’s great advice for anyone, no matter which stage of their career they are in. Enjoy!

Steve Carlin: Global Brand Strategist

From a geology major to an uber-successful business leader, Steve Carlin has spanned the industries of soap and cosmetics to video games and robotics over 20+ years of work. Our conversation covers all sides of his business career and is rooted in some key themes – leadership, business creation, and networking. He has successfully weaved his way forward using key attributes and learning to propel into career-advancing jobs. He is smart, articulate and his perspective is well thought out. I can’t believe we haven’t talked live in more than two decades. It felt like we were in an IFC meeting senior year on campus. And to the students listening on the pod, his statement about school is so true – “college is about learning how to learn”. Hope you enjoy it!

David Fleming: Senior Writer, ESPN The Magazine

David Fleming is a senior writer for ESPN and has written numerous stories for The Magazine and espn.com. He has also authored two books – Noah’s Rainbow (a father’s memoir) and Breaker Boys (the stolen 1925 NFL title). The passion in his voice when talking about Miami is infectious. He uses that same passion when writing too. If you haven’t read his work, search for it. It’s worth your time. In the pod we spend time talking about the art of listening, relationships, and how to earn trust, be it with your writing subject or even family, friends or peers. When asked about Miami, he starts by saying “and when I got to campus”…what’s incredible is that everyone who went to Miami nails that sentence. There is something special driving into Oxford that keeps you there. Lastly, check out the book Noah’s Rainbow. It’s written for parents who are grieving the death of a child and is particularly geared towards fathers but it’s broad enough to appeal to anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one or who cares about someone who is grieving. It will also serve anyone searching for perspective or hope in life.