Frederic Sautet joins us for this Christmas episode of Prosper. He is a scholar of economics and entrepreneurship who brings a thoughtful conversation on vocation, virtue, and the deeper meaning of business. He discusses his path from France to the Ciocca Center, his academic influences, and the spiritual dimension of work. As well as a rich economic and moral discussion of the movie, It's a Wonderful Life. Examining entrepreneurship, community, sacrifice, and the tension between false and authentic individualism in one of America’s most beloved films.
Frederic Sautet is currently reading:
Meet strategic marketing genius and professor John Egan. He teaches Marketing and Sales here at the Busch School of Business of The Catholic University of America. John Egan discusses his journey from Ireland to the United States, and the professional journey that led him to marketing and sales. He gives a shorter version of his fascinating course in marketing. Our conversation offers both practical insights and moral clarity for anyone who wants to start or grow a business.
In this episode of Prosper, host Andreas Widmer and co-host Rebecca Teti welcome Elise Crawford Gallagher, COO of J.C. Law and founder of Catholic Women in Business. Elise discusses her journey from marketing to law, her passion for empowering women in business, and the challenges she faced in building her marketing agency. The conversation also delves into her book, Holy Ambition, which addresses the integration of faith and ambition for women in the workforce. The episode emphasizes the importance of community, work-life balance, and the unique contributions of women in various fields.
We're proudly part of The Busch School of Business at Catholic University of America.
In this episode, we welcome Iqbal Quadir, founder of Grameenphone, to discuss the transformative power of connectivity in alleviating poverty. Iqbal shares his journey from Bangladesh to Wall Street, highlighting the importance of viewing people and what they can do as the source of economic growth. The conversation delves into the challenges faced in disrupting an industry's typical way of thinking, the power of a sudden flash of entrepreneurial insight, and what happens when you include new people in circles of productivity. Iqbal emphasizes that empowering individuals to utilize their resources effectively is key to powering development in under-developed countries, and innovation anywhere.
Iqbal Quadir is reading: The Silk Roads: A New History of the World
A book was written about Iqbal Quadir called You Can Hear Me Now: How Microloans and Cell Phones are Connecting the World's Poor to the Global Economy
Find out what the Ciocca Center can offer you at The Ciocca Center
Iqbal Quadir's email address: quadir@mit.edu
Meet the team from Hope Western Prison Education Program, who are bringing an entrepreneurial approach to prison education. It's not the typical job skills training, but an innovative liberal arts program that helps people find meaning and purpose, even within the walls of a prison. This is a hopeful example of how entrepreneurial alertness can solve serious social problems.
In this episode of Prosper, host Andreas Widmer and Rebecca Teti welcome Matt Hangen, CEO of Water4, to discuss his journey from a troubled youth in Alabama to leading a project that provides sustainable piped water solutions in Africa. The conversation explores the innovative business model of Water4, which combines philanthropy with entrepreneurship and the power of the free market to overcome the limitations of conventional NGO approaches while uplifting women and families. You won't want to miss this powerful episode.
Learn more about the innovative work of Water4.org.
Matt Hangen is reading The Courage to Be.
Join us for the Fall Meeting of the Family Business Consortium.
Find out what the Ciocca Center can offer you at cioccacenter.com
The Prosper Team welcomes Mary Katherine Wathen, co-founder of West of Perfection and author of Made for More. The topic: How to gain clarity in your mission without burning out or playing small. Along the way we'll talk about MK's "ordered life framework," how to challenge young people, and how to build an entrepreneurial culture at work and in your own family. This is a fun one!
Join Andreas & Rebecca as they talk to Matt and Elizabeth Marcolini about forming your workforce
Matt’s current read: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
Elizabeth’s current read: Humility Rules: Saint Benedict's Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem by J. Augustine Wetta
Find out about Catholic U's new MBA at mba.catholic.edu
The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick Lencioni
Join Andreas & Rebecca as they talk to Financial Analyst Pierre Ferragu about how he evaluates hi-tech companies and trends —and also the unlikely path he traveled to become producer of a highly successful new musical that he hopes to use as a new model for reviving live theater through telling beautiful stories.
Our co-hosts engage with Paul Zak, economics professor and expert in neuroeconomics, to explore the intersection of neuroscience and happiness. Zak shares insights from his latest book, The Little Book of Happiness, to illustrate the significance of virtue to enhancing well-being and how to leverage insights "high-value experiences" to ward off low moods. The conversation also delves into practical applications for entrepreneurs and businesses, highlighting the value of attending to employee satisfaction in the workplace.
Ciocca Center team stalwarts Andreas Widmer, Luke Burgis, and Rebecca Teti tell the story of the founding of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship and how to apply the mental models necessary for innovation in business and in life.
Whatever stage of life you're in, from student to business professional, explore Cioccacenter.com to find what we can offer you.
Also check out the Busch School's new MBA offering at mba.catholic.edu.
Find more about the CLUNY project at Cluny.org
Connect with the trio in this episode at their LinkedIn pages:
Join Andreas & Rebecca and Dr. Brandon Vaidyanathan to explore the concept of beauty in the workplace. Learn the importance of finding meaning and beauty in work and what employers can do to create a culture of beauty in work environments. Delve into cultural and personal factors affecting work engagement, the narratives, models and virtues that shape workplace culture, and the dimensions of beauty that can be found in all types of work.
Here are the resources referred to in this episode.
Meet Fr. Leo Patalinghug of Plating Grace
Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America. Check out the Ciocca Center's new website: CioccaCenter.com
Growthera founder Andrew Jacoby relates the seeming accidents that led him from street musician to sales whiz. You'll learn practical wisdom about how to know, as a founder, when it's time to relinquish leadership and how to hire well. You'll also hear how desire for beauty led Jacoby gradually from a hardcore secular existence into the Catholic faith.
Andrew Jacoby recommends: Benedictus
Find Jacoby's company at GoodShepherdStaffing.com
Find the Family Business Consortium
Learn more about Andreas at Andreas Widmer
Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America. Check out the Ciocca Center's new website: CioccaCenter.com
Our guest Dr. Catherine Pakaluk shares insights from her research on women who choose to have large families in the face of societal trends, emphasizing the personal motivations and faith that drive these decisions. The discussion also touches on the surprising connection between child-rearing and the entrepreneurial mindset, why "pronalist" policies to date have not worked, and why Economics always needs a realistic understanding of the sources of prosperity for families and societies to flourish.
Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America
Andreas & Rebecca welcome Andrew Abela, Dean of the Busch School of Business, to speak about his new book, "Superhabits: The Universal System for a Succesful LIfe." Dr. Abela speaks about his pre-academic career as a whiz-kid marketer at Proctor & Gamble and McKinsey. And then he leads listeners through how to improve their "human operating systems" with superhabits --and how to choose which ones to work on.
These resources were mentioned in this episode: By Dr. Abela:
Find here the Superhabit substack and click here for the referenced Anatomy of Virtue wheel.
You can also check out the GrowVirtue app, based on the Superhabits book.
Dr. Abela recommends What Happens Now? Reinvent Yourself as a Leader Before Your Business Outruns You.
To register for the free Family Business Consortium Meeting March 21, 2025, as advertised on the show, or to find out more, go to Family Business Consortium
Learn more about Andreas at Andreas Widmer
Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America
Guest Regina Bethencourt, CEO of Tenuto, details how, not liking what she saw at a top NY marketing firm, she created her own company to provide a flexible work environment catering to the needs of parents, particularly mothers, who want to do challenging, excellent work as they care for their growing families. You'll also hear insights on building a competitive advantage in business through human connection and finding the right talent for flexible work. The discussion also touches on the entrepreneurial journey, the importance of taking risks, and the support systems that can help individuals succeed and build a more humane workplace for everyone.
To register for the Dan Cellucci presentation on Feb. 27, 2025, please follow this link.
To learn more about The Busch School of Business' unique approach to Human Resources, please contact Prof. Tracy Phillips: phillipstr@cua.edu
Contact Regina's company at tenutoconsulting.com
Find out more about the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University's Busch School of Business at CioccaCenter.com
Resources mentioned in the conversation:
Prosper Podcast is a production of theCiocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America
Grady Connolly, founder of SocialThomist, shares his journey from student to entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of storytelling for Catholics in social media. He discusses the mission of his agency, which focuses on helping individuals and organizations share their messages effectively through social media. Grady offers valuable insights on creating meaningful content, knowing when to turn social media off, and the joy of connecting with others through beauty and remembering the person behind the "click."
Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America
Ismael Hernandez shares his remarkable journey from Fidel Castro's disciple to advocate for free market principles and individual dignity. He'll detail how coming to the U.S. caused him to re-evaluate free markets and human dignity —but also what it was like as a poor minority to be on the receiving end of charitable programs —and how we can and must do better.
Learn more about the Freedom & Virtue Institute
Hernandez's most recent book, Rethinking Charity: Restoring Dignity to Poverty Relief
Study entrepreneurship at Catholic University's Busch School of Business
Pursue a career in Church Management
Take our free video course, The Gospel of Work!
Learn more about Andreas at Andreas Widmer
Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America
Not every entrepreneur starts a business from scratch. Some find a model they can use and build on it. In today's episode, Robert Tunmire tells a great story about taking on a franchise when he was only 17 and how he rose in the ranks of Neighborly, coming to see business as an important way tol lift other people up. Learn how to build a company culture of support, the importance of having a strong personal "Why" —plus, the ins and outs of the franchise model, and how to choose a franchise that aligns with your goals and principles. PLUS: Robert's conversion and men's ministry!
Learn more about Neighborly, the company where Robert Tunmire made his mark.
Connect with Tunmire's men's apostolate, Heroic Men.
The two books Robert mentions are Scott Hahn's The Lamb's Supper and Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic, by David Currie (to whom apologies for misremembering his authorship in our conversation!)
Take our free video course, The Gospel of Work!
Thank you to our sponsor, The Church Management Program at The Busch School of Business
Learn more about Andreas at Andreas Widmer
Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America