Entrepreneurship Lab

Hosted by Nevena Bazalac

Business Entrepreneurship

Website RSS feed

Episodes

132

Latest episode

Jun 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

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 optionsWhether 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.

April 1, 2026Episode 12623 min

Playing The Long Term Game

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab, I sit down with Erik Dodier—lifelong entrepreneur, former CEO, and EOS Implementer—whose journey proves that true success isn’t built overnight, but over a lifetime of intentional decisions.From co-founding PixelMEDIA at just 24 and scaling it into a global Salesforce commerce leader (later rebranded as RafterOne), to leading a team of over 500 people and navigating a successful acquisition, Erik has experienced the full arc of entrepreneurship. But what makes his story truly powerful is what came next.After stepping away from the CEO role, Erik asked a deeper question most founders avoid: “What does a good life actually look like?” That moment sparked a shift—from chasing growth at all costs to designing a life and business rooted in clarity, longevity, and purpose.Now, as an EOS Implementer, Erik helps founders build companies that don’t just scale—but sustain. In this conversation, we explore the mindset of playing the long game, avoiding burnout, and creating systems that support both business success and personal fulfillment.If you're building something meaningful and want it to last—not just win fast—this episode will challenge how you define success and show you a smarter way to grow.

March 21, 2026Episode 12522 min

The System Behind Great Hires

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab, we sit down with Kevin Downey—recruitment leader, entrepreneur, and master of building scalable growth systems.From his early days in the golf industry, working with brands like Slazenger Golf and Callaway Golf Company, to leading a multi-million dollar executive office project, Kevin’s journey is rooted in relentless execution and an entrepreneurial mindset shaped by his immigrant family’s success.In 2014, Kevin founded his recruitment agency with a bold principle: outwork and outperform every competitor. Since then, he has helped companies scale faster by building high-performing teams through data-driven hiring systems and powerful B2B email marketing strategies that consistently generate inbound leads.In this conversation, Kevin breaks down what it really takes to build predictable growth—from creating repeatable hiring frameworks to leveraging email as a high-converting sales engine. If you’re a founder, operator, or sales leader looking to scale smarter, this episode is packed with practical insights you can implement immediately.Tune in to learn how discipline, systems, and execution separate average businesses from elite performers.

March 12, 2026Episode 12429 min

Brand Idea Built for Scale

In this episode of Entrepreneurship Lab, I sit down with Dima Zelikman, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Unbound Merino, the premium apparel brand redefining minimalist, high-performance clothing for modern travelers.Dima shares how a single product launched through a successful crowdfunding campaign evolved into an eight-figure global brand generating more than $40 million in sales.We dive deep into the 10 principles of email and SMS retention that actually work, how to transform a crowdfunding launch into a long-term brand, and the key pillars behind scaling a successful direct-to-consumer business.Dima also reveals how strong storytelling, data-driven marketing, and an exceptional customer experience helped build a fiercely loyal community of customers—all while operating with a fully remote team.Enjoy the episode!Don't forget to like, share and subscribe!

March 2, 2026Episode 12227 min

Stop Trading Hours

What if you could turn your professional expertise into a high-profit, low-maintenance education business that runs 24/7, 365 days a year? Today’s guest, Justin Allan Montgomery, did just that—starting and scaling an 8-figure course business and now he is helping others do the same through ProCourseStart. He’s here to bust myths, share frameworks, and challenge the “just build a funnel” crowd. Justin Allan Montgomery is the founder of ProCourseStart and a proven expert in turning professional expertise into scalable, high-margin continuing education businesses. A former nurse practitioner, Justin built and scaled The Elite Nurse Practitioner, an 8-figure education platform, giving him firsthand experience in what works—and what doesn’t.If you’re a skilled and licensed professional who is tired of trading hours for dollars, this episode will change your mindset.