In this live conversation with Cee Ng, Raj Iyerr, CEO and co-founder of Signal + Strain, shares insights from his journey in the advertising and healthcare industries. He discusses the importance of trust in business partnerships, the dynamics of business strategy, and the significance of creating a co-creative environment for success.
Raj highlights the role of emotional intelligence in leadership, maintaining focus on profitability, and navigating challenges effectively. He emphasizes that while industries and technologies evolve, the needs of people remain constant, and effective leadership depends on empathy, strategic insight, and collaboration.
In this live conversation with Cee Ng, Anton Buchner, Business Director at Trinity P3 and Marketing Strategist at Front Foot Marketing, explores the evolving landscape of marketing and consulting, emphasizing the importance of unit economics, ROI, and customer-centric strategies. They discuss how consultants can act as coaches rather than just advisors, the significance of understanding customer metrics, and how personalization and the human touch enhance customer experience and loyalty.
The conversation also covers the incremental measurement of ROI, navigating marketing metrics, and building strong customer relationships. Anton shares insights on digital marketing, brand strategy, and effective communication, offering practical guidance for marketers, business leaders, and consultants navigating today’s complex marketing ecosystem.
In this conversation with Cee Ng, Andrew Peterson, Founding Partner at Aviso Ventures, explores the complexities of the cybersecurity industry and the importance of building robust evaluation frameworks for customers.
They discuss the challenges faced by CISOs, the impact of AI on security, and the role of transparency and trust in business relationships. The discussion also highlights how startups can leverage agility, balance innovation with practicality, and align solutions with customer priorities to drive success.
In this live conversation with Cee Ng, Michael Brett, a leader in quantum technologies at AWS, shares his journey from aerospace engineering to the forefront of quantum computing. He discusses his role in connecting AWS customers to quantum technology, the types of early adopters he works with, and insights from his experience in the startup ecosystem.
Michael also highlights the importance of community and collaboration, including his involvement with the Australian American Chamber of Commerce in the Pacific Northwest, and explores the economic and cultural ties between Australia and the Pacific Northwest, emphasizing the potential for innovation and growth in the region.
In this conversation, Sarah J. Schwartz shares her journey from architecture to product design, highlighting the importance of customer experience and behavioral design. She reflects on her work at DoorDash, creating a unique pickup experience, and at Twitter (X), focusing on understanding user interests and motivations.
Cee Ng and Sarah dive into the intricacies of product design, exploring the role of product designers, the importance of cross-functional collaboration, and the challenges of creating intuitive user experiences. They discuss how effective design can enhance user engagement, particularly in the FinTech sector, and emphasize continuous learning, strategic communication, and the value of teamwork in building impactful products.
In this thought-provoking conversation, Cee Ng and Dr. Owen Richfield, PhD, explore his mission to eradicate kidney disease and the growing global impact of kidney health challenges. Owen shares insights from his journey through academia and scientific publishing, highlighting the intersection of mathematics, bioengineering, and AI in advancing kidney research.
They discuss how predictive modeling and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems are reshaping treatment possibilities, as well as the unique role of engineering principles in medical innovation. Owen reflects on his experiences at Yale, emphasizing how constraints can drive creativity, and underscores the urgent need for new technologies to improve patient outcomes worldwide.
In this in-depth conversation, Cee Ng and Jim Firestone dive into the art and strategy behind powerful brands. They explore the intersection of collaboration, customer understanding, and the evolving influence of AI in shaping effective marketing.
Drawing from his extensive experience as Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Signal + Strain, Jim shares how successful brands adapt to shifting markets, navigate challenges, and stay rooted in their core identity.
The discussion unpacks the essential role of storytelling, strategic consistency, and cultural relevance in building lasting brand equity—offering actionable insights for business leaders, strategists, and creatives alike.
In this live conversation, Cee Ng and VP of Partnerships John Kwarsick discuss the foundations of building winning teams through empowerment, trust, and alignment. They explore how adaptability and energy management influence leadership and performance, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and shared goals in fostering collaboration and growth.
Join Cee and John as they break down what it takes to create high-performing, connected teams in today’s dynamic business environment. Perfect for leaders and team members alike, this episode delivers actionable insights on leadership, culture, and sustainable success.
In this live conversation, Cee Ng and Steve Zalewski explore the evolving role of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) — and how the position has evolved from a purely technical role to a core strategic business function. They discuss the balance between technical expertise and business acumen, the importance of aligning cybersecurity strategies with organizational goals, and the challenges of managing security across diverse industries.
Steve shares his journey from a technical CISO to a business enabler, offering actionable insights on understanding business risk and the critical role cybersecurity plays in protecting an organization’s brand, workforce, and partner ecosystem.
WeDO Relationships Co-Founder Richard “OB” Obernesser joins Cee Ng for a live conversation on leadership, vulnerability, and personal growth. Together, they explore the loneliness often faced by executives in male-dominated spaces, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the journey from isolation to connection.Richard shares personal experiences and practical frameworks for navigating adversity, building trust, and fostering meaningful relationships. Tune in for a masterclass in leadership and self-discovery — one that challenges the lone wolf mentality and redefines what it means to lead with authenticity.
Aviso Ventures’ Founding Partner Andrew Peterson joins Cee Ng for an insightful conversation on leadership, decision-making, and the art of conflict resolution. Together, they explore the challenges of balancing personal and professional life, the role of communication in effective leadership, and the importance of transparency and trust when working with teams and investors.Andrew shares real-world lessons and experiences from his journey as both a founder and investor, offering valuable takeaways for anyone navigating high-stakes business environments.
Join serial entrepreneur Craig Eisler and Cee Ng for a live conversation on Craig’s transformative journey in tech — from pioneering Microsoft DirectX to leading innovative projects across global organizations.
He shares hard-won insights on tech leadership, startup fundraising during economic downturns, and building diverse, high-performing teams.
Discover how a seasoned tech executive balances ambition, innovation, and personal growth, and take away actionable lessons you can apply to your own career, startup, or leadership journey.
In this live conversation with Cee Ng, Miles Ward shares his journey from being a startup founder to becoming the Chief Technology Officer at SADA. He discusses his experiences with AWS and Google Cloud, highlighting the challenges and successes in scaling businesses and managing enterprise relationships. Miles emphasizes the importance of leadership, adaptability, and understanding both technical and business aspects to drive innovation and growth.
In this conversation, Cee Ng and Fred Wilmot dive into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity leadership and the multifaceted role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
They explore the CISO’s journey, the importance of communication and collaboration across departments, and how reporting structures shift as organizations scale. The discussion underscores the value of building relationships, managing risk effectively, and leveraging community support through the CISO Society.
Fred shares practical insights on vendor management, articulating business cases for security investments, and integrating security into overall business strategy. Together, they also examine the intersection of CIO and CISO roles, operational resilience, and the ongoing challenges of detection engineering and cybersecurity tool onboarding — highlighting the critical need to stay adaptive and focused on solving real-world security problems.
In this conversation, Cee Ng and Mary Brodie explore the intricacies of digital experience strategies, emphasizing the importance of people and emotional connections in business.
They discuss the similarities and differences between startups and Fortune 500 companies, the significance of customer journeys, and the role of community and trust in marketing. The dialogue highlights the necessity of listening to feedback, building consensus within teams, and the impact of empathy on customer engagement.
Mary Brodie and Cee Ng explore the complexities of team dynamics, communication, and the human element in B2B sales. They discuss the importance of creating a safe space for honest conversations, the necessity of acceptance within teams, and the challenges faced by startups in navigating legal and procurement processes. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of understanding roles, building trust with investors, and leveraging community for startup success. They also highlight the critical role of CRM systems in managing customer relationships and the need for effective communication strategies in sales.
Meet my alumni friend, Toby Zhang, who’s been passionate about basketball since forever. In 2014, he joined a hedge fund to help launch their VC arm as Partner. From $38 million to $1.3 billion, he steered returns over a 10-year tenure at CRCM. In 2017, Toby was recognized as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30. One of his notable exits was Musical.ly, which was acquired by ByteDance (now TikTok).
Toby brings a unique perspective on the entrepreneurial landscape, with experience as both a venture partner and a startup founder. Despite his success, his character remains unchanged from our college days—rooted in humility, integrity, and curiosity.
Toby and his wife, along with their two children, live in San Francisco. He adores and credits his spouse for her unwavering support when they had their first child and for believing in his ambitions. From starting out in a one-bedroom apartment while raising a new family to figuring out how to let go of a supercar that doesn’t fit a baby seat, to enhancing his impact on the world with his experience—Toby will share his personal journey on topics like:
A lifelong sports fan, Toby’s dream day would be spent shadowing a sports team GM. He’s also working on his strength training through rock climbing and enjoys intellectually exploring quant funds. With a background as a software engineer at Microsoft, an MBA from Wharton, and a deep commitment to entrepreneurship, Toby has valuable insights to share—whether you’re a founder, investor, mentor, advisor, or consultant.
Cee you inside the Cee-suite with Toby! 👋
Join me LIVE with KT Eisler as we discuss her mentorship for startup founders and the critical role of home life, shaped by her experience as a founder’s spouse. We’ll explore the highs, lows, and how she and her partner navigated the biggest risks and highest stakes—together as a team.
The 3x topics we will be talking about are:
This conversation is for anyone directly supporting a startup founder—because the right mental environment can be the key to thriving through the toughest challenges.
Like whatDavid S. Rose, book author of Angel Investing: The Gust Guide to Making Money and Having Fun Investing in Startups, said on page. 72:
"I don't know any entrepreneur who works less than 60 hours a week, and many work much longer hours. Entrepreneurship is an all-in sport... which means that real founders are work on—or at least thinking about—their ventures 168 hours a week (yes, that's 24/7). This is *not* conducive to having the same work/life balance as in a normal job. That's probably why another critical component of a successful entrepreneurial enterprise is spousal support."
Join me LIVE with Daniel Grzelak, Chief Innovation Officer at Plerion, as we dive into the latest in Amazon Web Services (AWS) Security, with a special focus on Identity and Access Management (IAM). We’ll be venting on 3x key topics👇
You won’t want to miss this candid discussion! And if you watched Daniel and I's first podcast episode together, you'll know we're pretty frank and direct. Cee you inside the room! 👋
Join me LIVE with Katie Kutskill, Business Operations & Strategy at Is It Leather? as she shares her expert insights on the current state of the global leather industry and how it impacts B2B across key sectors like automotive, fashion/apparel, and furniture/upholstery. We’ll dive deep into these critical topics:
Katie brings extensive experience in the leather and manufacturing industries, offering valuable takeaways on how businesses within this ecosystem can navigate sustainability, cost-efficiency, and ethical sourcing. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the top experts in the field! The insights Katie shares will be crucial for your next boardroom meeting as a decision-maker, make sure you’re in the know!
Join me and Rose Mills, President & Founder of Rose Mills Influencer, LLC, on a LIVE candid chat about navigating marketplace activity for even the most unlikely technical operators who understand the WHY but need help unlocking the HOW of building a strong online presence👇
If you’ve been unconsciously engaging with social media as an end user instead of a marketer—and bringing that same mindset to the investment table when discussing budget allocation—this conversation will challenge your perspective.
Discover how the pros leverage these platforms to deliver measurable results in a world where online connections and societal search habits can no longer be ignored. Game recognizes game 🔥