Transformation: From Insolvency to a $3 Billion Multinational
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
Release Date: 11/04/2020
Don’t Launch your Startup Without these 3 Things
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host Denise Silber sits down with Matheus Riolfi HBS MBA and YC alum, the very grounded and yet visionary Co-founder and CEO of Tint. Matheus Riolfi who hails from a small city in Brazil, has developed an ability to observe, analyze and put into practice which has enabled him to build a success story, step by step through the learnings from his past failures and victories. Catch the pearls he distills about what it takes to launch a first-in-class startup, through this captivating episode featuring a dynamic founder with a very human touch....
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From Serial Entrepreneur to Global VC
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode our host, Philip Guarino, is joined by Jahn Karsybaev, a Managing Partner at Big Sky Capital, a VC for B2B enterprises in emerging markets. Together they discuss Jahn’s journey as an immigrant from entrepreneur to venture capitalist, his firm’s unique focus on emerging markets and how founders can best navigate the challenging funding environment. In this installment, Jahn sheds light on what he looks for in founders and how the right venture capital firm, board and advisors can play a crucial role in accelerating growth. Jahn discusses the importance of...
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Design your Business to Fit your Life!
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode our host, Denise Silber, is joined by Jenny Woo, alumna of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and founder/CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, a company that was born at the renowned Harvard Innovation Lab. Together they discuss how Jenny Woo designed and built her company to not only generate income but also, and amazingly so, to solve many of the pain points she identified in her own life and in the business world. How did Jenny Woo achieve what seems to be impossible? What does it mean for you? Incredible as it sounds, Jenny Woo created her business and...
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Tech for a Healthier Self and Planet
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host, Philip Guarino, is joined by Vanessa Westphal, the co-founder of Choosy. Together they talk about the trends in food consumption, sustainability and biodiversity, and how artificial intelligence can help us make better decisions for our health and that of the planet. Consumers are paying more attention to what they eat. Although this isn’t a new trend, with the food industry responsible for over 1/3 of CO2 emissions, consumers are more conscious than ever of the environmental impact of what we eat. There is a shift towards consuming more...
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He’s Bringing Transparency to the Art Market
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode our host, Denise Silber, is joined by David Kusin, Harvard MBA, a man whose passions for art and capital markets, led him to found Kusin & Company, the first ever established art economics firm. Together they discuss how his company is bringing liquidity and transparency to the art market, by painstakingly collecting millions of data points on valuable art assets and building a 21st century trading platform. The global art market is traditionally known for its opacity, innumeracy, and lack of data. And although they said it couldn’t be done, David...
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The Key to a More Collaborative Workforce
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host, Philip Guarino, is joined by Juan Betancourt, the CEO of Humantelligence, an HR enterprise software solution. They discuss how the pandemic has greatly affected how employees think and behave amidst a significant rise in employee dissatisfaction with work. The rise of work from home and hybrid work and an increased reliance on technology has provided many opportunities but it also poses new challenges. How can leaders encourage engagement and improve productivity in an increasingly diverse and virtual workforce? Humantelligence aims to...
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Can her AI software forecast your next deal?
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode our host, Denise Silber, is joined by Harvard Law School alumna Heidi Messer, a serial entrepreneur who successively co-founded Linkshare and Collective [i]™, and made successes of them despite the critics who said it could not be done. Together they discuss the benefit of using AI-powered software to significantly reduce the time that sales people devote to data entry and forecasting and not actually selling. By re-allocating this valuable 70% of work-time previously spent on data entry and forecasting, Heidi’s technology allows businesses and sales people...
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Sustainable Fashion: Creating Value, Reducing Externalities
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: There has been an increasing level of attention paid to the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry. And as consumers increasingly seek out brands that are environmentally conscious, change is in the making. In this episode our host, Philip Guarino, is joined by Stephanie Sarka CEO & Co-Founder of 1 Atelier. Together they talk about these trends and how her innovative handbag company is addressing this increasing opportunity- and delighting customers. 1Atelier’s is out to build a stronger connection with their market by extending the joy of creation. Their...
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Are You a Gender-Savvy Entrepreneur?
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode our host, Denise Silber is joined by Françoise Bouyer, a Harvard Business School Amp alumna, a self-described gender-free entrepreneur, with expertise in the luxury industry and in HR. Together they discuss how gender inclusivity and understanding in the workplace has become crucial for the entrepreneur interested in building a richer sense of self, engaging a more fulfilled and successful team, and producing relevant goods and services for the customer of today As CEO of BeThe1, an international consulting firm in human relations and...
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Succeeding as an Independent Consultant
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: With an evolving business and societal context more and more people are seeking to become independent professionals. One industry that has undergone significant changes is management consulting. In this episode our host, Philip Guarino, is joined by Will Bachman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Umbrex. Together they share the trends, opportunities and challenges that come with being an independent consultant. Independent consultants are in ever higher demand. Will explains why it takes a global community to thrive as an independent professional, and the resources available...
info_outlineMark E. Watson III is an entrepreneur who has been investing in innovative companies for over three decades.
In 1998, he founded Aquila Capital Partners to back transformational companies. Among his early investments was Argo Group, in the specialty underwriting sector. When Watson became CEO of Argo in 2000, it was a regional, $300 million underwriter nearing insolvency. In 2019, Watson left Argo as a thriving public company with $3 billion in revenue and clients in 60 countries.
Today, Watson is fully dedicated to Aquila, investing in promising entrepreneurs.
He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, University of Texas’ School of Law and the Harvard Business School Young Presidents Organization.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Although COVID-19 is unquestionably the most serious crisis we have faced in recent times, the world has experienced several significant economic shocks- Black Monday, the tech crash of 2000, 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008. Mark Watson III, Founder and Managing Partner of Aquila Capital Partners is no stranger to crisis. In this episode he discusses how he overcame these economic shocks in order to transform a $300 million company nearing insolvency into a $3 billion multinational firm.