Dare to Disrupt

Turning Principles into Leadership with Patrick Kinney

ked5354@psu.edu (Ryan Newman, Katie DeFiore, Patrick Kinney, Arnav Aggarwal) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:20:13 +0000

Patrick Kinney, CEO of Keystone Agency Partners, shares his remarkable journey from hitchhiking to Penn State Hazleton without a dollar to his name to leading transformative growth in the insurance industry. What began as a determined search for any job—despite not even knowing what insurance was—turned into a 30+ year career at Travelers, where he rose to Executive Vice President and developed a product that generated $5 billion for the company.

Growing up in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Patrick built his career on resilience, resourcefulness, and a deep commitment to people-centered leadership. In this episode, he reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his path, including a life-changing job interview that set everything in motion.

After retiring from Travelers, Patrick entered an entirely new chapter—stepping into the startup world as CEO of Keystone Agency Partners. He shares what it’s like to transition from a large corporate environment to a high-growth, entrepreneurial company, and the guiding principles he’s carried with him along the way.

Later in the episode, current Penn State student Arnav Aggarwal joins the conversation. Arnav is a freshman at Penn State in the BS/MD accelerated medicine program. With mentorship from Happy Valley LaunchBox, Arnav is developing Campus Cabs, a student-run mobility solution aiming to provide safer, more affordable campus transportation. Arnav and Patrick discuss how Patrick’s 22 guiding principles apply in practice, the insurance and liability considerations founders should keep in mind, the value of an MBA, and the advice Patrick would give his younger self.

Episode Chapters

0:00 - 4:49 A challenging start in Kensington, PA

4:49 - 9:44 Patrick's mother convinces him to go to college, experience at Penn State Hazleton

9:44 - 11:15 Becoming a logistics major at Penn State University Park

11:15 - 20:18 A life-changing job interview with Travelers

20:18 - 24:17 Applying street smarts to the insurance industry

24:17 - 25:43 Putting pen to paper on 22 guiding principles as a reflection on his career

25:43 -29:57 Jumping into the startup world with Keystone Agency Partners post-retirement

29:57 - 34:56 How Keystone Agency Partners is disrupting the insurance industry

34:56 - 37:07 Rapid Fire Round

37:07 - 50:38 Student Section

37:56 - 40:50 Adopting a strategic mindset as a founder

40:50 - 43:41 Insurance risks to consider for Arnav's startup

43:41 - 46:13 Proving a concept in a way that attracts long-term partners

46:13 - 47:50 The value of an MBA

47:50 - 50:38 Advice for Patrick's younger self

About Patrick Kinney

Patrick Kinney is the CEO of Keystone Agency Partners, the nation’s first broker network Patrick graduated from the Penn State Smeal College of Business with a bachelor’s in business logistics, and received his MBA in finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

About Arnav Aggarwal

Arnav Aggarwal is a freshman at Penn State in the BS/MD accelerated medicine program. He is the founder of CareForAll, a nonprofit that mobilizes doctors across India to deliver free healthcare to underserved communities. During high school, he also launched LendingLibrary, a B2B platform now deployed nationwide, coordinating book exchanges within gated communities across India. More recently at Penn State, with mentorship from Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, Arnav is developing Campus Cabs, a student-run mobility solution aiming to provide safer, more affordable campus transportation.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Leading a High-Impact Nonprofit with Jackie Foor

ked5354@psu.edu (Jackie Foor, Ryan Newman, Edward Amoah) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 16:43:44 +0000

Jackie Foor is the Executive Director of the Consortium for Public Education, a nonprofit that connects schools with partners and resources to help students prepare for their futures.

In this episode, Jackie shares what it takes to run a successful and impactful nonprofit, reflects on how the collapse of the steel industry shaped the Pittsburgh region, and discusses the growing role of AI in education. She also explains how the consortium works to bridge the gap between what students learn in school and the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and in postsecondary education.

Later in the episode, recent Penn State graduate student Edward Amoah joins the conversation. Edward recently earned his doctorate in ecology with a dual title in international agriculture and development and is currently a postdoctoral researcher and ICDS Rising Research Fellow. He is President of Nyansapo Labs, whose mission is to expand equitable access to targeted teaching and personalized learning through AI-enabled teaching and learning systems. Edward participated in the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps short course program, won the Nittany AI Challenge, and participated in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program in the College of Engineering. Edward and Jackie discuss how the consortium goes about building relationships with workforce, as well as AI-adoption across schools and different industries.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 - 4:50 Growing up in Pittsburgh during the collapse of the steel industry

4:50 - 5:58 Penn State experience

5:58 - 10:45 The importance of grant writing

10:45 - 15:07 The mission of the Consortium for Public Education

15:07 - 20:55 Bridging the gap between workforce and education

20:55 - 26:13 What it means to lead a nonprofit as a social entrepreneur

26:13 - 31:08 The future of education

31:08 - 32:05 Advice for someone wanting to start a nonprofit

32:05 - 33:57 Rapid Fire Segment

33:57 - 47:35 Student Questions

35:03 - 39:58 Building trusting relationships with workforce

39:58 - 45:33 How AI can and should be implemented into the classroom, augmenting the workplace

45:33 - 47:35 Re-inventing K-12 education with work-based learning opportunities

About Jackie Foor

Jackie Foor is the Executive Director of the Consortium for Public Education, a nonprofit that connects schools with partners and resources to help students prepare for their futures. Jackie graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s in secondary education from the College of Education, and received her master's in organizational leadership from Carlow University.

About Edward Amoah

Edward recently earned his doctorate in ecology with a dual title in international agriculture and development and is currently a postdoctoral researcher and ICDS Rising Research Fellow. He is President of Nyansapo Labs, whose mission is to expand equitable access to targeted teaching and personalized learning through AI-enabled teaching and learning systems. Edward participated in the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps short course program, won the Nittany AI Challenge, and participated in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program in the College of Engineering.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Bringing Dermatology to your Doorstep with Curology Co-founder Nancy Satur

ked5354@psu.edu (Nancy Satur, Ryan Newman, Katie DeFiore, Maya Anderson) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Dr. Nancy Satur is co-founder and medical director emerita of Curology, a skincare brand delivering personalized prescription treatments straight to customers’ doorsteps. Dr. Satur earned her undergraduate pre-medical degree from Penn State, and her medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. A board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Satur worked as a private practice dermatologist before becoming co-founder, medical director and dermatologist at Curology full-time.

On this episode, Dr. Satur shares her experience growing up on a dairy farm in central PA, her path to becoming a dermatologist, and how she and her sons ended up building Curology, which has now served over 5.5 million patients nationwide.

Later in the episode, current Penn State student Maya Anderson joins the conversation. Maya is a senior studying biotechnology in the Eberly College of Science. She is the founder and CEO of Vayla, a hair‑accessory brand engineered for durability, curl compatibility, and eco‑conscious materials. She won third place at the Happy Valley LaunchBox Pitch Fest and is currently a participant in the Happy Valley LaunchBox FastTrack Accelerator program.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 - 5:18 Growing up on the dairy farm eldest of 6

5:18 - 9:14 The rigorous 5-year Penn State - Jefferson College medical program experience

9:14 - 12:48 Project USA, the ER, and working towards specializing in dermatology

12:48 - 18:02 The launch of Curology

18:02 - 21:46 Compounding prescription formulas in-house

21:46 - 24:40 Expanding Curology's reach

24:40 - 26:46 Rapid Fire Questions

26:46 - 35:35 Student Questions

27:27 - 28:37 Learning to delegate

28:37 - 29:29 Startup finances

29:29 - 31:24 Building customer trust

31:24 - 32:45 Ensuring alignment across your team

32:45 - 33:46 Making decisions without all the answers

33:46 - 35:20 Handling shifts in customer expectations

About Dr. Nancy Satur

About Maya Anderson

Maya is a senior studying biotechnology in the Eberly College of Science. She is the founder and CEO of Vayla, a hair‑accessory brand engineered for durability, curl compatibility, and eco‑conscious materials. She won third place at the Happy Valley LaunchBox Pitch Fest and is currently a participant in the Happy Valley LaunchBox FastTrack Accelerator program.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Building Community on Broadway with Marathon Digital Founder Mike Karns

ked5354@psu.edu (Mike Karns, Teagan Jai Boyd, Katie DeFiore, Ryan Newman) — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000

Mike Karns is a Tony Award-winning theater producer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Marathon Digital, Broadway's premiere social media agency, which creates content and cultivates communities for some of Broadway’s biggest shows, non-profit arts organizations, and live entertainment brands around the world, including Hamilton, Hadestown, The Outsiders, and more. In 2024, he also co-founded The Season, a new producing and marketing company, alongside Broadway marketing executive Steven Tartick.

In this episode, Mike shares his path into Broadway production, his early work across a variety of theater-related roles, and how—through networking, timing, and persistence—he landed the opportunity to manage social media for Hamilton. He explains how that experience sparked the creation and growth of Marathon Digital, and reflects on building two innovative companies, producing award-winning theatre, and what the future holds for Broadway marketing and emerging artists.

Later in the episode, current Penn State student Teagan Jai Boyd joins the conversation. Teagan is a third-year BFA Acting student who recently appeared in the Centre Stage production of Rhinoceros and is currently in rehearsal for The Glass Menagerie. A member of the Presidential Leadership Academy, she and Mike discuss the importance of community when building a startup, making difficult decisions, handling burnout, and how Penn State provides hands-on experiences that prepare students for careers in the arts.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 – 6:03 Growing up in Erie, developing a love for theatre

6:03 – 12:33 Choosing Penn State, working theatre-adjacent internships

12:33 – 18:58 Breaking into Broadway production with an informational interview

18:58 – 21:16 The Hamilton phenomenon

21:16 - 26:38 Building Marathon Digital, the entrepreneurial nature of Broadway

26:38 - 31:51 Producing on Broadway, launching The Season

31:51- 33:30 Navigating AI in social media industry

33:30 – 36:05 Rapid Fire Questions

36:05 – 47:50 Student Questions

36:05 – 37:35 The importance of community in building company culture

37:35 – 38:46 Refueling and staying organized

38:46 – 39:58 How Mike overcame his most difficult business decision

39:58 – 42:47 Managing uncertainty and patience

42:47 – 45:08 Incentivizing audiences to come see a Broadway show

45:08 – 47:50 The value of the hands-on experiences at Penn State

About Mike Karns

Mike Karns is the founder and CEO of Marathon Digital, Broadway's premiere social media agency; co-founder of The Season; and a Tony Award-winning theater producer. He graduated from the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Stage Management & Lighting Design.

About Teagan Jai Boyd

Teagan is a third-year BFA Acting student who recently appeared in the Centre Stage production of Rhinoceros and is currently in rehearsal for The Glass Menagerie. She is also a member of the Presidential Leadership Academy.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

LIVE from The Global Impact Forum: Leveling Up Education Tech with Techademics Founder Al Motley

ked5354@psu.edu (Al Motley, Katie DeFiore, Ryan Newman) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:30:00 +0000

Al Motley is the founder and CEO of Techademics, a technology company driving innovation in education, social impact philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector.

In this episode, Al shares his journey from working at Penn State’s Center for Academic Computing as a student to leading an international tech company transforming the education and social impact sectors. With offices in Philadelphia, Buenos Aires, and Botswana, Techademics delivers digital solutions and strategic guidance to schools and nonprofits around the world—impacting hundreds of thousands of students, educators, and community leaders.

Al discusses his path in education, how Techademics helps schools and nonprofits build effective tech infrastructure, what’s next for the edtech industry, and how mission-driven entrepreneurship can create lasting change.

Episode Chapters

0:00 - 5:20 Moving from school to school growing up

5:20 - 10:26 Choosing Penn State and getting heavily involved as a student

10:26 - 11:34 Knowing technology was the path for him

11:34 - 12:57 Al's time with Mastery Charter School in Philadelphia to learn change management and scale

12:57 - 18:40 The inspiration behind launching Techademics

18:40 - 22:57 Positioning schools to be successful in evolving technology landscape

22:57 - 24:21 Advice for his younger self

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

LIVE from Penn State Brandywine: The CTDI Story with Co-founder Jerry Parsons

ked5354@psu.edu (Jerry Parsons, Ryan Newman, Katie DeFiore) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:08:38 +0000

This special live recording of the Invent Penn State Dare to Disrupt podcast, presented by Brandywine LaunchBox powered by Penn State, features CTDI founder and chairman Jerry Parsons.

Jerry shares how he and his family launched CTDI from a garage-based startup and scaled it into a global leader in the communications, mobility, and consumer devices service industries.

The conversation explores the early days of building CTDI, key moments of disruption and growth, and Jerry’s insights on leadership, innovation, and building a family-run business that thrives on the global stage.

At the end of the recording, in-person attendees had the chance to ask Jerry their own questions during a live audience Q&A session.

Episode Chapters

2:12 Fishing, budding love for electronics growing up

5:43 Choosing Penn State Brandywine, college experience

10:06 First job out of college at DuPont

11:30 Dad pitches Jerry on a small repair business

14:12 Acquiring first customers

17:07 Innovations and technological breakthroughs

18:29 Expanding nationally

19:52 Adapting to industry changes

26:11 The importance of tech testing

27:21 Family legacy and mentorship

29:26 Company culture and values

30:20 International expansion and growth

35:21 Advice for future generations

36:39 Rapid-fire questions

38:11 Audience questions

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Disrupting Arterial Disease Treatment with AVS Co-founder Robert Chisena

ked5354@psu.edu (Robert Chisena, Marzia Momin, Ryan Newman, Katie DeFiore) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:19:51 +0000

In this episode of Dare to Disrupt, host Ryan Newman speaks with Robert Chisena, co-founder and CTO of Amplitude Vascular Systems (AVS). AVS is a medical device company focused on safely and effectively treating severely calcified arterial disease. Robert shares his journey from growing up on Long Island in a family of physicians, to discovering his passion for research and entrepreneurship at Penn State, to co-founding an innovative medical device startup.

Robert reflects on formative experiences at Penn State, including joining the Schreyer Honors College, diving into biomedical engineering research, and participating in Invent Penn State’s first cohort of the Summer Founders Program. He then traces how his graduate work at the University of Michigan—collaborating closely with physicians—led to the development of AVS’s intravascular lithotripsy technology, a novel approach to restoring blood flow in hardened arteries.

Along the way, Robert discusses the challenges of taking research from lab to market, securing venture capital, and convincing physicians of a new device’s safety and efficacy.

Later in the episode, Penn State Ph.D. Candidate Marzia Momin joins the conversation. Marzia is working on a neuro-tech startup developing personalized, 3D-printed neural implants for neurological disorders, with applications in therapy and brain-computer interfaces. Marzia recently participated in both the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps regional short course program and the NSF I-Corps National Teams program. She asks Robert about how to build the best startup team, raising funding as a research-based startup, and what advice he'd give to his younger self.

This episode gives an inside look at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and entrepreneurship — and how Penn State alumni are driving innovation in healthcare.

Episode Chapters

1:30 No avoiding a medical-based career

3:25 Choosing and navigating Penn State

05:42 Exploring research as an undergrad at Penn State

8:24 Launching first medical device startup at Penn State, Summer Founders Program

11:54 Moving forward with startup through graduate school at Michigan

14:43 Meeting co-founder, learning about the tech behind AVS

16:07 The potential to create tremendous impact in cardiovascular disease treatment

19:43 Translating and commercializing research out of a university

20:49 Where AVS is today, looking to the future

22:45 Rapid Fire Round

24:27 Student Section

25:13 Building the right startup team

27:15 Filling in the blanks of business acumen

28:04 Advice for securing early funding

29:57 Navigating FDA regulations

31:02 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

About Robert Chisena

Robert Chisena is the co-founder and CTO of AVS. He graduated from the Penn State College of Engineering with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with honors from the Penn State Schreyer Honors College. Robert went on to receive his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan.

About Marzia Momin

Marzia Momin is a Ph.D. candidate in the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department at Penn State, specializing in neural engineering. She is working on a neuro-tech startup developing personalized, 3D-printed neural implants for neurological disorders, with applications in therapy and brain-computer interfaces. Marzia recently participated in both the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps regional short course program and the NSF I-Corps National Teams program

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Charting the Future of Sales Compensation with QuotaPath Founder AJ Bruno

ked5354@psu.edu (AJ Bruno, Paul Allen, Katie DeFiore, Ryan Newman) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

AJ Bruno is the founder and CEO of QuotaPath, a leading sales compensation management platform that has secured significant investments, including a $41 million Series B. Serving roughly 1,000 customers, QuotaPath helps organizations align company goals with incentive plans to drive winning sales behaviors.

Before QuotaPath, AJ co-founded TrendKite, which was acquired by Cision for $225 million in 2019. He also co-hosts Topline, a podcast on revenue growth and sales leadership.

In this episode, AJ shares the stories behind launching TrendKite and QuotaPath, his passion for flying, and his perspective on integrating AI into workflows as a founder. He reflects on his days as a Penn State student, studying abroad in Italy, his first job at Meltwater, and how a terrible boss inspired him to start his first company.

Later in the episode, recent Penn State grad Paul Allen joins the conversation. A participant in the Invent Penn State Summer Founders Program, Paul asks AJ for advice on raising venture capital, making first hires, and navigating the challenges of early-stage entrepreneurship.

Episode Chapters

02:13 - 07:06 Growing up in Pittsburgh, acting and flying

07:06 - 12:17 Choosing Penn State, squash club, studying abroad

12:17 - 15:38 First entrepreneurial venture at Penn State

15:38 - 22:48 First job in sales, advice to students and parents

22:48 - 29:15 Terrible boss as a catalyst for TrendKite

29:15 - 33:02 The problem that inspired the launch of QuotaPath

33:02 - 40:33 Navigating AI and future of QuotaPath

40:33 - 43:51 The crazy story that led to AJ launching a podcast

43:51 - 45:24 Rapid Fire Insights

45:24 - 55:20 Recent student Paul Allen interviews AJ

About AJ Bruno

AJ Bruno is founder and CEO of QuotaPath. He graduated from the Penn State Schreyer Honors College with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Smeal College of Business in 2007.

About Paul Allen

Paul is a spring 2025 graduate of the Penn State College of Engineering. He completed the 2025 Invent Penn State Summer Founders Program with his startup, Reflex Technologies. Reflex is building a wearable electromyography (EMG) sensor that provides real-time muscle activation and fatigue insights to athletes and trainers.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Exploring 3D Printing and Industrial Art with Anne Pauley

ked5354@psu.edu (Anne Pauley, Ryan Newman, Irena Potochny, Katie DeFiore) — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Anne Pauley is a technical program manager at Google, implementing world-class manufacturing processes for the Google Pixel smartphone. In this episode, Anne shares her expansive experience in additive manufacturing, industrial art, and engineering design, as well as a mission to bring more diversity to the hands-on fabrication space.

In this episode, Anne shares her journey from Penn State to leading innovative projects at Google. She discusses her dual interests in mechanical engineering and music technology, her experiences at Penn State, and her professional journey through various companies including Disney, Meta, and Google. Through her work creating massive art pieces with the Flaming Lotus Girls art collective and her personal art studio, Cognitive Flow Design, she aims to disrupt the industrial design industry. Toward the end of the episode, Penn State rising senior Irena Potochny joins the conversation. Irena and Anne discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in engineering, and Anne offers advice for future engineers.

Episode Chapters

0:00 - 3:58 Growing up in State College

3:58 - 8:03 Pursuing engineering and music at Penn State

8:03 - 9:09 Participating in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program at Penn State

9:09 - 12:02 Understanding additive manufacturing

12:02 - 13:17 Experience in the Blue Band

13:17 - 16:47 Pursuing a Master's Degree at Penn State in mechanical engineering

16:47 - 18:20 Building animatronics at Disney; learning about different types of companies

18:20 - 19:26 Working at Meta's Reality Labs, becoming a technical program manager

19:26 - 23:21 Innovating the Google Pixel phone, the complexities of designing consumer products

23:21 - 24:12 Achieving sustainability in manufacturing through 3D printing

24:12 - 29:39 Creating large-scale art installations for Burning Man with Flaming Lotus Girls

29:39 - 31:17 Creating innovative light art projects through her studio Creative Flow Design

31:17 - 40:08 Student section

21:17 -34:38 More efficiently using recycled materials for art

34:38 - 36:15 Advice for women entering the engineering field

36:15 - 37:07 Selecting materials for art projects

37:07 - 39:30 What classes Anne would want to come back to Penn State to take

About Anne Pauley

Anne is a technical program manager at Google. Anne graduated from the Penn State Schreyer Honors College with dual bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering (College of Engineering) and music technology (College of Arts and Architecture) before pursuing a master’s degree with a focus on mechanical design, mechatronics and additive manufacturing.

About Irena Potochny

Irena is a rising fourth-year materials science and engineering student with a minor in sustainability leadership. She is a past participant of the Idea TestLab program at Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank. Irena created an upcycled fashion show as a capstone project, and she is in the process of starting a small business to sell upcycled products. Post-graduation, she plans to pursue a master's degree in textile engineering.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Tapping into Niche Media Markets with Industry Dive Co-founders

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 27 May 2025 12:50:52 +0000

Sean Griffey and Ryan Willumson are the co-founders of Industry Dive, a digital media company delivering business news and original analysis through targeted newsletters. Covering sectors like healthcare, energy, transportation, retail, and more, Industry Dive serves over 14 million North American users and partners with major clients including Amazon, Salesforce, Uber, IBM, and American Express. The company is known for producing some of the most respected journalism in the business world.

In this episode, Sean and Ryan discuss how they met while working at FierceMarkets, a B2B e-media startup, and what inspired them to launch Industry Dive. They share how they bootstrapped the company, built a loyal audience, and grew the business to $100 million in revenue before its acquisition by Informa in September 2022.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

LIVE from the Venture & IP Conference: Innovating the Future of EV Infrastructure

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 12:00:24 +0000

Dare to Disrupt LIVE: Innovating the Future of EV Infrastructure brought together three Penn State alumni at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry's future. This live episode features an engaging discussion with Benjamin Birnbaum (Keyframe, Terawatt), Zander Isaacson (Xeal), and Diallo Powell (Stak Mobility) as they share insights on EV infrastructure, charging technology, and the role of innovation in accelerating adoption. Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or EV enthusiast, this conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders driving the future of electric transportation.

Benjamin Birnbaum is co-founder and partner at Keyframe, a New York City-based investment firm focused on the energy transition’s impact on industry. Prior to Keyframe, he founded Terawatt, an infrastructure developer, owner, and operator for large-scale EV charging. Terawatt has raised over $1 billion and provides fleet charging for companies like Pepsi and Waymo. Ben is a graduate of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Diallo Powell is co-founder and CEO of Stak Mobility, which addresses urban mobility challenges with an automated vertical carousel system for vehicle storage and EV charging—combining smart software with space-saving infrastructure. Diallo graduated from the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts.

Zander Isaacson is co-founder and CEO of Xeal, a technology-first EV charging company at the intersection of proptech, energy, and the Internet of Things. Xeal partners with more than 70 of the largest real estate companies nationwide. Zander, a Penn State Smeal College of Business graduate, is also our first-ever repeat guest on Dare to Disrupt.

Together, Ben, Diallo, and Zander discuss the broader trends and challenges shaping the EV landscape, how their companies are uniquely tackling these issues, strategies for scaling and financing capital-intensive projects, and their predictions for the future of the industry.

Episode Chapters

0:00 - 7:09 The EV industry landscape at large, building infrastructure

7:09 - 16:35 Fleet vs. consumer charging, offline charging, and urban charging

16:35 - 27:10 Scaling capital-intensive companies

27:10 - 36:38 The future of the EV industry

36:38 - 45:19 Advice for entrepreneurs entering this industry

45:19 - 50:33 Audience questions

Dare to Disrupt is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Bringing Research Lab Innovations to Your Toilet: The Story of spotLESS Materials

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:53:41 +0000

Birgitt Boschitsch is the co-founder and CEO of spotLESS Materials, an advanced materials company and Penn State spinoff commercializing highly repellent anti-fouling coatings.

In this episode, Birgitt shares how her passion for helping others through research led to her co-founding spotLESS Materials. She discusses her formative experiences, academic challenges, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career path, including her time at Princeton and her decision to pursue graduate studies at Penn State.

She discusses the original inspiration behind the idea for a toilet coating that repels sticky waste, as well as the challenges of transitioning from lab work to startup life. She shares the importance of community support and the impact of media exposure on sales.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Redefining Curly Haircare with the Sisters who Co-founded OCOA

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:00:23 +0000

Sisters Cory Varona-Corniel and Nicol Varona Cancelmo are the cofounders of OCOA, providing clean, natural, curly haircare products.

In this episode, Nicol and Cory share their inspiring journey from the Dominican Republic to the United States. They detail how they were able to overcome language barriers, build a community at Penn State Berks, and launch into each of their professional careers. They discuss their close bond as sisters, the influence of their family, and how their family roots in the Dominican Republic inspired not only the name but also the ingredients and mission behind OCOA.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Electrifying Urban Mobility with Revel Co-founder Paul Suhey

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 13:00:25 +0000

Paul Suhey is the Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Revel, where he drives the company’s mission to accelerate electric vehicle adoption in U.S. cities by focusing on fast-charging infrastructure.

In this episode, Paul shares Revel's journey from its beginnings as an urban electric moped sharing startup to a company focused on building the EV charging infrastructure for the largest cities across the US.

At the end of the episode, current Penn State student Michael Slesarevich joins the conversation. Michael is a first-year mechanical engineering student and the founder of Shade Shift, an electrically controlled variable tint film for vehicles. He recently participated in the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank Idea TestLab, and is a member of the Penn State Car Club. Michael and Paul discuss overcoming the challenge of securing that first investment, as well as how Revel views would-be competitors as potential future customers.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

LIVE from The Nittany Lion Inn: Scholar Hotels Founder Gary Brandeis

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:00:40 +0000

Gary Brandeis is the CEO and Co-Founder of Scholar Hotels, a hotel ownership and management group with a focus on properties close to major college and university campuses. Gary acquired his first hotel in 2006 and has since been directly involved in the hospitality business as an investor, developer, and manager. Scholar Hotels made its State College debut in March 2017, when it opened the 165-room Hyatt Place State College. Since then, the group has expanded its State College properties to include the Scholar Hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott, the Residence Inn by Marriott, The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, and, of course, The Nittany Lion Inn. Gary graduated from the Penn State Smeal College of Business with a degree in accounting.

In this live episode recorded in the 1855 Lounge at The Nittany Lion Inn, Gary shares how his background in accounting prepared him for the real estate industry, the details of the Inn's renovation, as well as how he thinks about and manages risk.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Delivering Empathy at Scale Using AI and Data with Mario Ciabarra

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:00:47 +0000

Mario Ciabarra is the CEO and founder of Quantum Metric, a customer-centered digital analytics platform for today's leading enterprise organizations. Since its founding in 2015, Quantum Metric's approach to in-depth customer understanding has seen rapid adoption from Fortune 500 companies. The world's largest airline, telco, retailer, healthcare, bank, and more have adopted the Quantum Metric platform.

In this episode, Mario shares valuable lessons on integrity and communication learned during his college years. He discusses launching and exiting his first startup in just 11 months, a success that allowed him to briefly retire and travel the world. Mario also explains how Quantum Metric enhances visibility into customer friction points for major industry leaders and how the company integrates generative AI into its solutions. Finally, he reflects on how he approaches building his legacy.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Simplifying Solar Investments with Enact Co-Founder Deep Chakraborty

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 12:00:55 +0000

Deep is the co-founder and CEO of Enact Systems, a leading software platform revolutionizing the solar and energy storage industry. Deep co-founded Enact in 2014, driven by the vision of creating a scalable and impactful solar solution. Deep has led Enact through exponential growth, nearly quadrupling its staff and expanding its reach to over 35 countries.

In this episode, Deep discusses his journey in building a North American subsidiary of CentroSolar, a German solar company, from the ground up. He also explains how Enact serves diverse customer segments by providing innovative software solutions that streamline the solar implementation process. Additionally, Deep shares his predictions for the future of alternative energy sources and how Enact plans to adapt to industry shifts and trends.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Transforming the Real Estate Landscape with Peter Cocoziello

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:01:12 +0000

Peter Cocoziello is chairman, founder, and CEO of Advance Realty Investors, a company specializing in real estate development, construction, and property management. In this episode, Peter shares how he launched Advance with only $5,000, and then both entered and eventually dominated various real estate verticals in the northeast. He also discusses how the Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation is supporting cross-disciplinary collaboration, and what technological innovations mean for the future of the real estate industry.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Developing the Future of AI with poolside Co-founder Jason Warner

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 12:00:21 +0000

Jason Warner is co-founder and CEO of poolside, a generative AI company building the world's most capable AI for software development & the applications to unlock the potential of developers. Prior to founding poolside, Jason was the Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures. He also served as the CTO at GitHub, where he was responsible for bringing products like GitHub Actions, Packages, Advanced Security, Connect, and Codespaces to market.

In this episode, Jason discusses the business challenges and successes he experienced as GitHub's CTO and delves into the unique hurdles faced by a generative AI company. He also shares his philosophy on the future of AI and its potential impact on various aspects of our lives.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Inventing Dazzle Dry Nail Polish with VB Cosmetics Founder Vivian Valenty

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 12:02:44 +0000

Vivian is founder and president of VB Cosmetics, a fully integrated manufacturing company with global brands of clean, nature- and science-based, functional and proprietary beauty products. Its transformational product, Dazzle Dry, a quick-dry nail polish system, is revolutionizing the nail industry. After 17 years on the market, Dazzle Dry now still has no equal in performance.

In this episode, Vivian shares stories from her upbringing in the Philippines, overcoming discrimination and harassment in the workplace, acquiring nine patents as an accomplished bio-organic chemist and inventor, and inventing the foundation for what would become Dazzle Dry.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Pioneering Predictive Manufacturing Maintenance with Jeremy Frank

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 12:00:16 +0000

Jeremy is co-founder and CEO of KCF Technologies, a technology company based out of State College PA. KCF Technologies provides proprietary machine health optimization hardware, software, and services to industry and military clients. Under Jeremy’s leadership, KCF has pioneered advancements in wireless vibration sensing and machine health monitoring. Today, the company is a global leader […]

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Building the Content Marketing Community with Joe Pulizzi

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 21 May 2024 12:00:38 +0000

Joe Pulizzi is the founder of multiple startups, including content creator education site, The Tilt, Content Entrepreneur Expo, and the Content Marketing Institute, which he successfully exited in 2016. He is the bestselling author of seven books including Content Inc. and Epic Content Marketing, which was named a “Must-Read Business Book” by Fortune Magazine. Joe is a professional public speaker, having spoken over 400 times in 20 plus countries on content marketing, the creator economy, and entrepreneurship. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s in communications in 1995, and from Penn State with a master's in communications in 1997.

In this episode, Joe shares his experience building the Content Marketing Institute, the failures he endured along the way, his strong commitment to goal-setting, and his association with the color orange. He also talks about jumping into writing a thriller novel to challenge himself creatively. Joe also shares his insights around the difference between content creators and content entrepreneurs, and why he believes it's an important distinction.

At the end of the episode, current Penn State student Riley Auer joins the conversation. Riley is the founder of Bootleg Boomerangs, which sells high-quality hand-made wooden boomerangs. Bootleg Boomerangs has a large focus on content creation, with over 31,000 subscribers on YouTube. Riley talks through some challenges he faces in growing his business with Joe, who gives advice regarding ad placement in video content, finding the true super fans through exclusive giveaways and experiences, and striking the balance between being a business and being a place for fun content.
Episode Chapters

0:00 – 3:49 Intro and journey summary

3:49 – 4:43 Growing up next to Cedar Point Amusement Park

4:43 – 6:42 Undergrad at Bowling Green – Do I have to declare a major?

6:42 – 9:32 Graduate student at Penn State, teaching speech class

9:32 – 12:12 Struggling on the job search

12:12 – 15:16 The evolving business model of content marketing

15:16– 19:30 The inception of Content Marketing Institute

19:30 – 22:11 The moment he realized he had made it

22:11 – 24:34 What’s the deal with Joe’s orange self-branding?

24:34 – 28:36 Setting goals and exiting CMI

28:36 – 30:41 Taking a sabbatical

30:41 – 31:59 Becoming a thriller author

31:59 – 33:45 Launching the Tilt and Content Entrepreneur Expo

33:45 – 35:54 The difference between Content Creator vs. Content Entrepreneur

35:54 – 37:50 Defining the Tilt’s audience

37:50 – 38:32 How to get connected to Joe

38:32 – 40:01 The Orange Effect Foundation, providing access to speech and play therapy for autistic children

40:01 – 55:51 Student Questions – Joe gives actionable advice to Riley Auer, Bootleg Boomerangs founder

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Exploring Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) with Former NFL Player Omar X. Easy

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 8 Apr 2024 17:15:15 +0000

Omar Easy is the recently appointed director of the all-new Penn State Brand Academy, which is designed to support student-athletes to manage and leverage their personal brand, name, image and likeness (NIL), and support their entrepreneurial interests more successfully. In this episode, Omar shares lessons learned from his time as a student-athlete at Penn State as well as his time in the NFL, where he played as a running back for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders. He then discusses his vision for The Brand Academy and how it will serve student-athletes in building and leveraging their personal brand.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

LIVE from State College: honeygrow Founder Justin Rosenberg

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:59:03 +0000

Justin Rosenberg is Founder and CEO of honeygrow, a fast-casual stir-fry and salad concept founded in Philadelphia in 2012. With a mission to create a unique, spirited brand focused on simple, wholesome foods, Rosenberg has led the company's creation and growth, which currently has 41 locations.
In this special LIVE episode recording, which took place during Penn State Startup Week powered by PNC on Wednesday, March 20, Justin shares his story of perseverance and eventual success with honeygrow.

Justin first pitched honeygrow 93 times to investors before finally landing a deal and opening the first location in the Rittenhouse neighborhood of Philadelphia. Since then, the company has raised over $80 million in equity financing and has grown into the Boston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington DC and the New York City metro areas.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Windows of Opportunity: Navigating Growth with MITER Brands CEO Matt DeSoto

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:05:09 +0000

Matt DeSoto is the President and CEO of Harrisburg-based MITER Brands, a family of leading window and door brands designed for residential projects in the new construction and remodeling markets. In this episode, Matt talks about his experience working for Student Painters as a student at Penn State, enduring the Great Recession of 2008, how he and his team maintain top-quality products and service, as well as how he prioritizes giving back to the communities they work in through the MITER Foundation. Be sure to come to our upcoming LIVE podcast episode recording with honeygrow CEO & founder, Justin Rosenberg! Learn more and register: https://sched.co/1YQOk

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Scaling a Stress-free Home Remodeling Business with West Shore Home Founder B.J. Werzyn

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 12:00:20 +0000

B.J. Werzyn is the founder and CEO of West Shore Home, one of the largest direct to consumer home remodelers in the nation.
In this episode, B.J. talks about how he is revolutionizing a traditionally fragmented and tech averse industry. He talks through how West Shore Home mapped out the 67 processes of home remodeling, removed inefficiencies, and implemented streamlined processes empowered by technology to ultimately make the easiest, quickest, most stress-free customer experience.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Winter Break Message II and January Episode Preview – West Shore Home

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 14:01:30 +0000

We are taking a break this December, but we'll be back in late January with an episode featuring B.J. Werzyn, the founder and CEO of West Shore Home, one of the largest direct-to-consumer home remodelers in the nation. Listen to this episode for a quick preview of the interview. Happy holidays!

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Putting the ‘Care’ in Home Care with Norm Potter

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:19:39 +0000

Norm Potter is the co-founder and co-owner of Allegiance Transportation, as well as the owner and Executive Director of the Winston Salem branch of Griswold Home Care. Allegiance Transportation is a non-emergency medical transportation provider, specializing in wheelchair and ambulatory transport services. Griswold Home Care provides non-medical home care to elderly adults by referring professional caregivers for personal care, homemaking, and companionship services.

In this episode, Norm talks about why he decided to make a career switch from banking to higher education to now running two businesses in the non-medical home care and transportation industries. He also shares his journey battling cancer and how it has changed his outlook on life.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Special Commemorative Episode – Daring to Disrupt with Ryan Newman and James Delattre

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:00:46 +0000

This is a special crossover episode of Dare to Disrupt and Following the Gong, a show that features conversations with Penn State Schreyer Scholar Alumni sharing advice on how to make new connections with a strong network of Scholar Alumni that blazed the trail before you. Following The Gong host Sean Goheen interviews Goldman Sachs Managing Director and Dare to Disrupt host Ryan Newman, ’01 and Associate Vice President for Research and Director of the Office of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization James Delattre, ’97, both Scholar Alumni, about the entrepreneurial scene at Penn State. This episode commemorates Dare to Disrupt passing 50,000 total downloads.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Anticipating the Waves of Change with Google’s Global Director of Solution Sales Ash Ashutosh

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 16:00:39 +0000

Ash Ashutosh is a serial entrepreneur and the Global Director of Solution Sales at Google. His data management startup, Actifio, achieved a valuation of over $1B and was acquired by Google in 2020.

In this episode, Ash talks about anticipating and advancing alongside what he calls the waves of change, in reference to the surges in innovation and technology that occur over time. His entrepreneurial journey reflects those technology surges - he started out in the silicon industry, then moved onto data storage software development. His most recent startup, Actifio, was in the business of managing and securing data.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Making a Deal on Shark Tank with FlexScreen Inventor Joe Altieri

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:15:56 +0000

Joe Altieri is the president, CEO, and inventor of FlexScreen, the world’s first and only flexible window screen, as seen on season 11 episode 10 of ABC’s Shark Tank. In this episode, Joe talks about how he started his career as an independent sales representative in the window industry and quickly became frustrated with the flimsy aluminum frames found in traditional screens. He shares his experience pitching FlexScreen on ABC's Shark Tank, and how he walked away with a deal with American television personality, inventor, and entrepreneur, Lori Greiner, "Queen of QVC”.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Diving into Fintech with Denim Social CEO Doug Wilber

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 1 Aug 2023 21:09:47 +0000

Doug Wilber is the CEO of Denim Social, a leading provider of social media management software that empowers marketers in regulated industries to manage organic social media content and paid social media advertising on one platform. A financial services veteran, Doug served in leadership roles with Assembly Payments, PYMNTS.com, Discover Financial Services and Market Platform Dynamics.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Rapidly Failing, Scaling, and Succeeding with Serial Entrepreneur Bill Seibel

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Wed, 5 Jul 2023 18:52:59 +0000

Bill Seibel is a serial entrepreneur, and has played a role in 14 startups: five as founder and CEO, five as CEO, and another four as an operating executive. He is currently the Founder and CEO of Gumball, an advisory firm that has helped more than 80 CEOs scale their company rapidly by ensuring that their strategy, customer value proposition and go-to-market model are aligned to achieve their growth goals.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Cheering On Women Warriors with Haley McClain Hill

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 23 May 2023 13:45:44 +0000

Haley McClain Hill is the CEO and Founder of TORCH Warriorwear, a subscription, direct to consumer military apparel and lifestyle brand that celebrates, empowers, and serves current and future women warriors. She shares her experiences leading a 300-person Air Force squadron during the pandemic, cheering in the NFL, and launching her apparel company.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

From Wall Street Trader to Facial Authentication Innovator with Ryan Owen

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:34:42 +0000

Ryan Owen shares his experiences as a Wall Street trader, the unique internship opportunities Penn State connected him to as a student, as well as his experience being in the World Trade Center on 9/11. He then shares the twists and turns that led him to founding his two current startups: Wicket, a software company that specializes in facial authentication solutions for venue operators and facility managers, and Cast Iron Media, a premier sports and entertainment streaming solutions company.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Increasing Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment with Doug Leech

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 18:17:52 +0000

Doug Leech is the Founder and CEO of Ascension Recovery Services. ). Through his own struggles with addiction and subsequent recovery, Doug developed a passion for helping those suffering from the disease of addiction and set out to increase access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment across the country.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Empowering Underserved Communities with Former NFL Player Garry Gilliam

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 13:37:07 +0000

Garry Gilliam is the Founder and CEO of The Bridge Eco-Village, a sustainable, mixed-use community ecosystem in Harrisburg, PA. The Bridge Eco-Village will feature solutions to many of the problems facing underserved communities. Prior to founding The Bridge, Garry played in the NFL for five seasons for the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Making Sustainability Convenient with Zander Isaacson

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 16:00:17 +0000

Zander Isaacson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Xeal, a technology-first electric vehicle (EV) charging company operating at the intersection of real estate, mobility, clean energy, and IoT. The company secured $40M in Series B funding in November 2022 after closing an $11M series in 2021 by leading proptech and climate tech VC funds, and has already partnered with 70+ of the largest real estate companies including Lincoln Property Company, Camden, Greystar, Related, UBS, and Brookfield. Zander graduated from Penn State's Smeal College of Business.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Winter Break Message and January Episode Preview

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 15:25:51 +0000

We are taking a break this December, but we’ll be back in late January with an episode featuring Zander Isaacson, the co-founder of Xeal, a company that is disrupting the electric vehicle charging industry. Listen to this episode for a quick preview of the interview. Happy holidays!

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Empowering Patients with Ro Founder Rob Schutz

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 14:55:50 +0000

Rob Schutz is the Chief Growth Officer and Co-founder of Ro, a direct-to-patient healthcare company providing high-quality, affordable healthcare without the need for insurance. Rob guides Ro's growth, marketing and communications functions to tell Ro’s story of putting patients in control of their health. He applies his extensive experience in consumer marketing to ensure Ro is resonating with patients by directly addressing their healthcare concerns. Under Rob’s leadership, these functions have helped propel Ro into one of the fastest growing companies in the country, achieving unicorn status in 2020. Rob earned his B.S. in Management Information Systems from Penn State University.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Rejecting the Label of Disabled with Susan Robinson

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:06:01 +0000

Susan Robinson is a speaker, consultant and leader making an impact on the world in a truly unique way. Through her corporate and conference keynote, commencement addresses, workshops, client initiatives and writing, she masterfully blends over 25 years of multi-sector leadership with her experiences being legally blind to shift thinking, elevate potential and inspire action. She has worked with global firms and Fortune 500 companies, top not-for-profit organizations, leading universities and the United Nations. She presented a TED Talk in 2017 entitled “How I Fail at Being Disabled,” which has over 1.5M views.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Innovating the Environmental Insurance Business with David Rosenberg

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:47:37 +0000

David Rosenberg is the former Executive Vice President and Principal at Environmental Compliance Services (ECS). David and his two partners grew ECS from a small 12 person, $5 million in annual written premium agency to a 500 person, $200 million in annual written premium agency and a leader in the environmental insurance business. ECS was sold to XL Capital Inc., a publicly held company in 1999.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

On the Forefront of Digital Advertising with Infolinks Media CEO Robert Regular

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 12:13:15 +0000

Robert is a serial technology and media entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in digital media and marketing. Robert received his bachelor's degree in communications and business from Penn State.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Gaming your Health with Litesprite Founder Swatee Surve

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 12:30:23 +0000

Swatee Surve is the founder of Litesprite. She received her MSME in Control Systems and Biomechanics from Penn State.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Revolutionizing the Real Estate Industry with Sean Black

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 31 May 2022 16:36:56 +0000

In this episode of Dare to Disrupt, we speak with Sean Black, the Co-founder & CEO of Knock.com, and part of the founding team for the online real estate marketplace site Trulia.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Disrupting the Mattress Industry with JT Marino

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 12:56:20 +0000

In this episode of Dare to Disrupt, JT Marino describes how he and his co-founder determined all the pain points of buying a mattress to create their customer-first, mattress-in-a-box solution called Tuft & Needle, which they grew to over $250M in sales.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Building Weebly with Founder David Rusenko

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 15:35:51 +0000

In this episode of Dare to Disrupt, we speak with David Rusenko, the Head of eCommerce at Square and founder of Weebly, which was acquired by Square in 2018 for $365M. He graduated from Penn State in 2007 with a degree in Information Sciences & Technology.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Connecting Consumers and Local Businesses with Bruce Aronow

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 7 Mar 2022 19:06:00 +0000

In this episode of the Dare to Disrupt podcast, Penn State Smeal College of Business alum Bruce Aronow shares how he built eLocal, a leading performance-based advertising company.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Shaping Cultural Change with Jess Weiner

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 22:00:14 +0000

Jess Weiner is a cultural expert and creative who has spent 26 years researching and educating on cultural trends in order to help people feel seen, heard + understood. She is a bestselling author, podcast host and speaker who has connected with audiences from the White House to Wall Street. In this episode, Jess discusses […]

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

A Pioneer in Tech: Building the Interviewing Cloud with Mo Bhende

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 19:00:46 +0000

Inspired by his love of hiring, Mo Bhende built Karat to unlock opportunities and transform the interviewing process by conducting highly predictive technical interviews for clients. In this episode, Bhende talks about his international travels, how he took advantage of Penn State resources, lessons learned while working for Microsoft Xbox, and how all those experiences led him […]

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Riding the Founder’s Wave with Matt Brezina

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 13:00:40 +0000

Matt Brezina, a 2003 Schreyer and College of Engineering grad, shares the stories behind starting software company Xobni and greeting card company Sincerely.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Teaser: Dare to Disrupt

ked5354@psu.edu (Invent Penn State) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 13:43:56 +0000

This podcast is about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, and the stories behind their success.

The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.