Entrepreneurship Lab

Hosted by Nevena Bazalac

Business Entrepreneurship

Website RSS feed

Episodes

136

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Welcome to Entrepreneurship Lab! A space for all Entrepreneurs who want to start, grow and sell their business. In this podcast, we will cover different topics of entrepreneurship; from starting your business, finding your clients, and branding yourself. You will be learning everything about marketing, finance, and scaling your business. As your host, Nevena Bazalac I am welcoming you to my Lab where we will together create, learn and grow!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 7, 2026Episode 13625 min

Building a Company Employees Love

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab, I sit down with Dean Mathews, an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience building products, teams, and companies. Dean shares the journey behind growing OnTheClock from a simple idea into a business used by thousands of companies around the world, but this conversation is about much more than software. We explore the realities of entrepreneurship, the mindset required to keep growing through different stages of business, and the leadership decisions that helped Dean build a company with near-zero employee turnover and exceptional employee satisfaction. He opens up about creating a culture where people feel valued, defining company values that are actually lived every day, and balancing business growth with long-term relationships and trust. This episode is a powerful reminder that sustainable success is not only about revenue or scaling fast. It is about people, purpose, consistency, and building something meaningful that lasts. If you are an entrepreneur, founder, manager, or anyone building a business for the long term, this conversation will give you practical insights and a fresh perspective on what lasting success really looks like. 🎙️ Tune in to hear Dean Mathews’ entrepreneurial journey and the leadership lessons that helped him grow both the business and the people behind it.

July 29, 2026Episode 13424 min

Why Human Insight Beats Data

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab, I sit down with Johanna Faigelman, Founder & CEO of HumanBranding, the consultancy trusted by global brands including Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Visa, and Logitech to uncover what truly drives human behavior.Johanna didn’t raise venture capital, follow a startup playbook, or enter an established industry. Nearly 20 years ago, she identified a massive gap in how companies were trying—and failing—to understand people. She created her own methodology, Applied Anthropology Thinking (AAT), and turned a one-woman consultancy into a thriving multi-million-dollar global business.In this conversation, we explore:* How Johanna bootstrapped HumanBranding from scratch* Why data alone often leads companies in the wrong direction* How to build brands and messaging that genuinely resonate* What female founders need to know about credibility, visibility, and impact* Why empathy, intuition, and cultural insight are becoming the most valuable leadership skillsThis is an unfiltered, high-energy conversation about entrepreneurship, human behavior, leadership, and the future of business.🎧 Listen now and discover why understanding people is still the ultimate competitive advantage.

July 15, 2026Episode 13424 min

Now Is The Best Time To Become An Entreprenuer

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab , I sit down with Lou Shipley —3x tech CEO, investor, Harvard Business School professor, and creator of HBS's first sales curriculum. We discuss why there has never been a better time to become an entrepreneur and how today's opportunities are opening doors for people from all backgrounds. Lou shares insights from his new book, co-authored with MIT Sloan's Patricia Favreau, featuring inspiring stories of unlikely entrepreneurs who turned ideas into thriving businesses. Whether you're thinking about starting your first business or looking to take your company to the next level, this conversation is packed with practical advice on entrepreneurship, sales, resilience, and building a business that lasts. Tune in for actionable insights and inspiration that could change the way you think about entrepreneurship.

June 25, 2026Episode 13120 min

Fixing the "Leaky Bucket" Problem

Why do so many businesses invest heavily in lead generation only to see opportunities disappear before they become customers? In this episode, I sit down with Jason Kramer, founder of Cultivize, to uncover the hidden reasons sales funnels leak revenue and what business owners can do to fix them. Jason shares his process-first approach to growth, explaining why technology alone won't solve your sales problems and how aligning your sales, marketing, and customer journey can dramatically improve results. We dive into the "5 Why's" framework for diagnosing conversion issues, the key to getting teams to actually adopt new processes and technology, and how to perform a simple tech stack audit to identify tools that are costing more than they're contributing. If you're tired of losing leads, struggling with team adoption, or wondering why your growth efforts aren't delivering the expected return, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can implement immediately.

June 12, 2026Episode 13226 min

Turned $20K Into $250K

What happens when a corporate layoff becomes the catalyst for financial freedom? In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab, I sit down with LaKiesha, Yale MBA, former aerospace executive, and founder of Profitable Trader's Academy. After being laid off from her senior leadership role, LaKiesha didn't panic—because she had already built a powerful income-generating skill through trading. She shares how she turned $20,000 into nearly $100,000—twice—and how trading provided the financial security and confidence to navigate a major career transition on her own terms. Featured in Forbes and The Wall Street Journal, LaKiesha brings a practical, no-hype approach to building wealth through disciplined, rules-based trading. We discuss: • How entrepreneurs and professionals can create a "second salary" through trading • Why risk management matters more than chasing profits • The biggest mistakes new traders make • How to start with small amounts of capital and clear rules • Using financial independence to create more freedom and career options Whether you're an entrepreneur, employee, or someone looking to build additional income streams, this conversation offers valuable insights on creating resilience and financial security in an unpredictable world.

June 2, 2026Episode 12825 min

How To Successfully Network

What separates great networkers from everyone else? It’s not having the biggest contact list—it’s knowing how to build genuine relationships, communicate effectively, and create lasting connections. In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab , I sit down with Robert Kennedy III, communication expert, speaker, and storyteller, to explore the art and science of successful networking. Robert shares practical strategies for building meaningful professional relationships, making memorable first impressions, and turning conversations into opportunities. We also discuss the power of storytelling in business, how effective communication can increase influence and sales, and the role technology plays in helping entrepreneurs connect and grow in today's digital world. Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, sales professional, or simply looking to expand your network, this episode is packed with actionable insights that can help you communicate with confidence and build stronger professional relationships. Tune in to learn how networking done right can transform your business and open doors you never expected.

May 25, 2026Episode 12826 min

Reinventing Hourly Work

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab , I sit down with Arjun Vora and Tito Goldstein to explore how AI is reshaping the future of hourly work. After leading product for Uber’s driver app and speaking with thousands of drivers, Arjun realized that millions of hourly workers—from nurses and factory workers to event staff—were being overlooked by modern technology. That insight led to the creation of Teambridge, a company backed by General Catalyst that is transforming workforce management for the “forgotten workforce.” Today, Teambridge supports more than 500,000 hourly workers across 200+ organizations, including Express Healthcare Staffing, Amerant Bank Arena, and Levi's Stadium. We discuss entrepreneurship, scaling a startup, the future of AI in workforce management, and why flexibility, accessibility, and profitability are becoming essential for the modern workforce. Tune in, and you will get inspired by these two incredible entrepreneurs.

May 13, 2026Episode 12923 min

From Biochemist to Entrepreneur

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab, we sit down with Mireille Toulekima — PhD biochemist, former biotech executive, and founder & CEO of VGAM — to explore the powerful intersection of science, health, and entrepreneurship. Known as the pioneer of Skin Science 3.0, Mireille is redefining how we think about skin: not just as a surface, but as a living system deeply connected to hormones, stress, trauma, and life experiences. Featured in ELLE Magazine, HuffPost, and Dragon's Den, Mireille shares how personal challenges — including her son’s brain tumour, her mother’s leukemia, and her own skin struggles — became the driving force behind her mission to simplify complex biochemistry into science-backed solutions that empower women with clarity and peace of mind. This conversation dives into entrepreneurship, resilience, women’s health, the future of skincare, and the art of turning deeply personal experiences into purpose-driven innovation.

April 22, 2026Episode 12824 min

AI Is Rewriting Entrepreneurship

What if success in the AI era isn’t about working harder—but thinking differently? In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab , Silicon Valley innovator and AI pioneer Kevin Surace returns to unpack how artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the way businesses are built, scaled, and led in 2025. From his early work influencing technologies like Siri and Alexa to his latest insights in The Joy Success Cycle , Kevin shares why joy, creativity, and adaptability are becoming the ultimate competitive advantages in a rapidly evolving world. This conversation goes beyond the hype. It’s about how entrepreneurs can actually leverage AI today—while staying human, relevant, and ahead of the curve. If you're building, leading, or reinventing your business, this episode will challenge how you think about success in the age of AI.

April 14, 2026Episode 12721 min

Execution Over Perfection

What if the real key to solving climate change isn’t innovation—but execution at scale? In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab , I sit down with Owen, a climate entrepreneur and founder of Shine, a company reinventing how multifamily properties generate revenue through solar energy. With nearly $100 million deployed across real estate and technology, Owen operates at the intersection of finance and sustainability—bringing a practical, results-driven approach to climate impact. His philosophy is clear: don’t wait for perfect solutions. Deploy what works, improve along the way, and scale fast. We break down how he’s making clean energy both accessible and profitable, why the biggest opportunity lies in bridging the gap between investors and environmentalists, and what founders can learn about building companies that deliver both returns and real-world change. If you're looking to build, invest, or scale in a way that actually matters—this episode is your blueprint.