In this episode we sit down with Dennis Diokno, founder and CEO of FirstMed, to unpack a 30-year journey of building trusted healthcare for expats across Europe. From launching a single clinic in Budapest to expanding into Rome, Milan, and beyond, Dennis shares lessons on perseverance, customer care, scaling with culture, and knowing when to focus. The conversation also explores the power of the Thunderbird network, hard-earned entrepreneurial mistakes, and how AI and telemedicine are shaping...
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In this episode we sit down with Dennis Diokno, founder and CEO of FirstMed, to unpack a 30-year journey of building trusted healthcare for expats across Europe. From launching a single clinic in Budapest to expanding into Rome, Milan, and beyond, Dennis shares lessons on perseverance, customer care, scaling with culture, and knowing when to focus. The conversation also explores the power of the Thunderbird network, hard-earned entrepreneurial mistakes, and how AI and telemedicine are shaping...
In this episode we sit down with Dennis Diokno, founder and CEO of FirstMed, to unpack a 30-year journey of building trusted healthcare for expats across Europe. From launching a single clinic in Budapest to expanding into Rome, Milan, and beyond, Dennis shares lessons on perseverance, customer care, scaling with culture, and knowing when to focus. The conversation also explores the power of the Thunderbird network, hard-earned entrepreneurial mistakes, and how AI and telemedicine are shaping...
In this engaging conversation, I spoke with May Busch, a former COO of Morgan Stanley Europe and author of the book 'Visible'. We discussed May's journey from a challenging corporate career to becoming an entrepreneur and author, emphasizing the importance of visibility, relationships, and integrity in career advancement. May shared formative experiences from her upbringing, insights on leadership, and practical advice for navigating the corporate world without compromising one's values. The ...
In this episode, we speak with Jim Groo — a Thunderbird alumnus whose international journey is anything but conventional. From frying chicken in Connecticut to launching Ray-Bans in post-communist Europe and leading AI-driven MarTech out of Switzerland, Jim shares how embracing uncertainty opened doors across 50+ markets and six countries. With stories ranging from eating a questionable fish in Egypt to close a deal, to starting a band during the dot-com crash, Jim reflects on the personal an...
In this episode, I spoke with fintech entrepreneur Sanghita Dey, co-founder and CEO of Solus Finance, a company making crypto derivatives more accessible through gamified, social trading. A Forbes 40 Under 40 honoree and former founder of YourMocha (acquired), Sanghita shares her journey from a small town in India to becoming a global fintech leader. She opens up about growing up with limited access to education, building resilience, navigating entrepreneurship solo, and how she secured her f...
In this conversation, Michael Johnston shares his fascinating journey from strategy consulting and private equity to becoming a hospitality entrepreneur. He discusses his early travels, the impact of his Peace Corps experience in Ukraine, and the challenges of navigating the Ukrainian economy while working in private equity. Michael also delves into the founding of Aspen Company, his vision for luxury boutique hotels, and the innovative strategies he employs to enhance guest experiences and o...
Eduardo Donnelly spent nearly a decade helping build Uber in Latin America—from launching Uber Eats and scaling it 7×, to leading operations across 18 markets and overseeing half of the company’s global trips. But at the height of his career, he made a surprising decision: he stepped away. In this episode, Eduardo shares the story behind that choice, the lessons he learned from a failed startup, and how a powerful commencement speech—given by his late father at Eduardo’s own Thunderbird gradu...
In this conversation, Joe O'Dowd discusses his transformative gift to establish the O'Dowd Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ocean Diplomacy and Leadership at Thunderbird. He explains the significance of ocean diplomacy, the blue economy, and the importance of addressing environmental issues. Joe shares insights from his career in international business, his experiences living in Medellin, Colombia, and the lessons he learned throughout his journey. He emphasizes the value of situational awareness a...
In this conversation, Maria Botta shares her unique journey from a multicultural childhood as the daughter of Cuban refugees to a successful career in film, television, and startup advising. She discusses the challenges of adapting to different cultures and languages, the lessons learned from her experiences in TV and film production, and her transition to helping entrepreneurs find clarity and success. Maria emphasizes the importance of communication, service, and creating a personal manifes...
In this conversation, Bill Goodwin shares his extensive experience in leadership and business transformation, discussing his journey from a young worker in various jobs to becoming a CEO and eventually a leadership coach. He emphasizes the importance of operational speed, understanding customer dynamics, and building a strong company culture. Bill also reflects on his experiences with Walmart during an acquisition and offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesse...
In this conversation, Carter Looney shares his extensive experience as an entrepreneur, discussing his journey from a successful exit in 2010 to his current focus on helping businesses grow through mergers and acquisitions. He emphasizes the importance of building a company that can operate independently of its founder, the significance of hiring the right people, and the lessons learned throughout his career. Carter also reflects on his childhood influences, education at Thunderbird, and the...
When Laura Libman left a successful aerospace career, she didn’t plan to start a nonprofit. But a summer of field research in rural Mexico after graduating from Thunderbird changed everything. In this episode, she shares the incredible and inspiring story of how the Tia Foundation was born—from horseback surveys and homegrown health worker training to empowering women like Juana, who used her training to save lives and spark change in her village. Today, Tia Foundation is on track to reach on...
Join us as we delve into the fascinating global marketing journey of Shawn Gallegly, a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience. From driving growth for iconic brands like Coca-Cola and Carlsberg to his adventures in Lagos and beyond, Shawn shares captivating stories and insights. Discover how his curiosity and strategic vision have shaped his career, and learn about the lessons he's gathered from working across diverse cultures and markets. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that ...
Rabie Zahri didn’t speak a word of English when he arrived in the U.S. at 18. Fast forward to today — he's the CEO and co-founder of Positon, an AI platform transforming the M&A lifecycle from deal origination to post-close integration. In this episode, we dive into Rabie’s founder journey — from Casablanca to corporate development at Hewlett Packard, to building an AI-native startup backed by early believers and growing into the enterprise space. https://positon.ai/#company https:/...
In this conversation, Marco Molinari shares his extensive experience in global business, highlighting his successful marketing campaigns at Goodyear, including a notable celebrity endorsement with Wayne Gretzky. He reflects on his upbringing in Sweden, his education at Thunderbird, and the lessons learned throughout his career, particularly at Goodyear and HNI Corporation. Marco emphasizes the importance of understanding local markets, the value of international business, and the need for con...
In this conversation, Suzanne Martens, founder of Adesse New York, shares her journey from a childhood in Pennsylvania to becoming a leader in the clean beauty industry. She discusses her entrepreneurial spirit, the challenges of starting her own business, and the innovative use of AI in product development. Suzanne emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and the role of cultural awareness in business. She also reflects on her personal growth as an entrepreneur and offers va...
What happens when a childhood dream, a vintage convertible, and a tight-knit Indian family collide? You get the incredible journey of Daman Thakore—a businessman, tennis champ, and explorer at heart—who drove 13,000 kilometers from Ahmedabad to London in a 73-year-old car named Lalpari (Red Angel), alongside his father, wife, and daughter. In this inspiring conversation, Daman shares the origin of his love for vintage cars, the bedtime stories that planted the seed for this expedition, and th...
In this episode, Aquiles Gatas shares his incredible path from growing up in poverty in Venezuela to leading marketing at PepsiCo and managing billion-dollar investments at Koch Industries. He talks about his transition into entrepreneurship, launching ventures like Eco Wash and Centrum, and his latest company BizzMD, which helps small businesses thrive through remote CEO consulting. Aquiles also reflects on cultural challenges, lessons from failure (including opening a café just before the p...
In this engaging conversation, Glenn Michel shares his multifaceted life journey, from his passion for Japanese whiskey to his experiences in martial arts and his transformative time at Thunderbird School. He discusses his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of starting a business, and the importance of intuition in decision-making. Glenn also emphasizes the significance of community involvement and philanthropy, while offering valuable insights into the financial advisory landscape and l...
Andreas Sigl joins the show to talk about his global career in branding and marketing. He shares stories from working in Japan, leading Formula One sponsorships, helping launch Infiniti in Europe, and even advising the International Olympic Committee. Andreas also talks about writing his upcoming book and what young marketers should focus on in an AI-driven world. Packed with real stories and honest advice, this episode is a great listen for anyone interested in international business and bra...
Join us in this captivating episode as we sit down with Nimrod Kovacs, a seasoned entrepreneur and wine enthusiast, who shares his incredible journey from growing up in post-war Budapest to becoming a successful businessman in the United States. Discover how Nimrod navigated the challenges of a communist regime, his adventurous escape to freedom, and his eventual rise in the corporate world. We delve into his passion for winemaking, the philosophy behind his craft, and his advice for young pr...
In this episode we sit down with Dennis Diokno, founder and CEO of FirstMed, to unpack a 30-year journey of building trusted healthcare for expats across Europe. From launching a single clinic in Budapest to expanding into Rome, Milan, and beyond, Dennis shares lessons on perseverance, customer care, scaling with culture, and knowing when to focus. The conversation also explores the power of the Thunderbird network, hard-earned entrepreneurial mistakes, and how AI and telemedicine are shaping...
