When to Pivot, When to Quit
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, Denise Silber HBS MBA welcomes Professor Daniel Elfenbein, a triple Harvard alumnus and entrepreneurship researcher at Olin Business School. Together, they explore the delicate balance entrepreneurs must strike between confidence and overconfidence, commitment and detachment, and the hard truth of knowing when to pivot—or when to quit. Dan shares insights drawn from his own entrepreneurial journey, research experiments, and global teaching experience. From biotech boardroom standoffs to mathematical models of founder behavior, he unpacks how emotions,...
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Meet Our Co-host: Philip Guarino
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
Meet Our Co-host: Philip Guarino An interim executive and growth consultant to technology firms, Philip Guarino has over 25 years of experience as an executive and entrepreneur, having worked in over 50 countries and traveled to more than 120. Philip is the Chair of HarvardAE’s Paris Chapter. Fluent in five languages, he is a graduate of Harvard College and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
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Meet Our Co-host: Denise Silber
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
Meet Our Co-host: Denise Silber Denise Silber, a digital health pioneer and opinion leader, is the founder of Basil Strategies consultancy, of Doctors 2.0 & You conferences, and a new venture in Virtual Reality, VRforHealth. A multi-cultural American in Paris, Denise’s contributions to the development of digital health globally led her to receive France’s highest civil award, the Legion of Honor. A graduate of Smith College and a Harvard MBA, Denise is also a keynote speaker, author and vice president of Harvard Club of France. In this episode of HAE Invites meet our hosts, Denise...
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AI and the Future of Retail
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of the HAE Podcast, host Philip Guarino sits down with James Sutherland, Founder & CEO of Autonomo Technologies, to discuss the rise of autonomous retail, the convergence of AI and consumer behavior, and how automation is reshaping global retail economics—from labor shortages to dynamic pricing and customer experience. GUEST BIO: James Sutherland is Founder & CEO of Autonomo Technologies, Europe’s leading autonomous retail company. James began his career at Mars Inc moving into large-scale food factory construction. After Harvard Business School he...
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Matchmaker!
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host Denise Silber sits down with Shannon Lundgren — HBS MBA, entrepreneur, and founder of Shannon’s Circle — to explore what it means to build a business in one of the most personal industries: love. Shannon’s path didn’t follow the usual arc. After the Business School and a pivotal chapter working directly for Warren Buffett — where what impressed her most was his extraordinary kindness, and how he brought out the best in everyone by talking about their best qualities — Shannons Lundgren transitioned from corporate strategy to executive...
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Thought Leadership & the Start-up
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Denise Silber sits down with Michaela Horvathova, co-founder of Beyond Education and alumna of Harvard's Graduate School of Education, to explore how building an innovative company demands more than a great product — it requires becoming a thought leader. Michaela’s journey is as global as it is inspiring. Despite not fitting into the traditional school system in Slovakia, Michaela earned a tennis scholarship to the U.S., graduated from Harvard, advised the Prime Minister of Slovakia, and co-founded a bold edtech startup helping schools adapt to...
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From Founder to Leader: Mastering the Scaleup Journey
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: Scaling a startup brings exciting opportunities—but also the challenge of increased complexity, slower decision-making, and the creeping risk of bureaucracy. In this episode, Artus de Longuemar joins host Philip Guarino to reveal how founders can delegate with confidence, maintain agility, and empower teams without losing control. They explore the psychological barriers to delegation, the shift from hands-on execution to strategic leadership, and how clear autonomy frameworks can drive success. Artus also highlights the power of inspiring content creation for platforms like...
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Digital Health: ROI is King
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In a change of pace, host Denise Silber delves into her professional field, digital health, as she invites fellow Harvard alumna Dr. Ariel Dora Stern. Together they explore Dr. Stern's extensive and unique, research-based findings on what drives successful business models in healthtech. Dr. Stern combines her Harvard PhD, insights from her decade on the HBS faculty, and her prestigious position as Alexander von Humboldt Professor at Germany’s Hasso Plattner Institute to provide listeners with unparalleled expertise in the digital health business across the...
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Dancing with Robots : A New Entrepreneurial Frontier
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: Host Denise Silber sits down with Harvard alumna Dr. Merritt Moore, who is a quantum physicist, ballet dancer, educator and entrepreneur all at once! They explore her unique multi-disciplinary journey at the intersection of dance and robotics. Dr Moore reveals the challenges and triumphs of merging her two passions, and how her work offers deeper insights into human-machine interaction. Dr. Moore shares how she is creating a new industry by coding robots and performing as a professional ballet dancer on global stages. Dr Moore’s innovative teaching approach in...
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Empowering Success for Early-stage Ventures
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of the Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs podcast, host Philip Guarino speaks with Bede Moore, an HBS alumnus and the Chief Commercial Officer at Antler, a global leader in pre-seed venture investment. Moore shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his successful e-commerce venture to his current role at Antler, where he leads a team operating in 27 cities worldwide. The conversation explores Antler's mission to empower aspiring founders at the earliest stages of company formation. Key topics include the challenges of scaling, the importance of community and...
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In this episode, our host Philip Guarino is joined by Dr. Eric Dawson, CEO of RIVET, a company which channels the economic power of young people to fund their work as social innovators.
Representing over three trillion dollars in consumer spending, today’s youth are a powerful economic force that is ever more committed to social causes. They don’t lack ideas- they lack resources. Eric discusses the vast potential and creativity of today’s young generation and how RIVET’s innovative microfinancing program empowers them to effect change.
This inspiring conversation highlights the potential of today's young minds in shaping a better future.
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Dr. Eric Dawson has led organizations and research at the intersection of youth culture, social innovation, and brands. Currently, he serves as the CEO of RIVET, the world’s first consumer-facing, social impact brand that leverages the collective consumer power of GenZ to fund young social innovators through a micro-financing platform. Dr. Dawson holds three degrees from Harvard University: a B.A in social studies; M.Ed in human development psychology; and an M.Div. in pastoral care and counseling. His doctorate is in Leadership and Innovation from New York University; his research focused on founder transitions and the relationship between founders and their successors