Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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Who have you actually watched build the startup you're trying to build?
Saeed Amidi makes a point about Stanford I keep coming back to: the reason so many students there start companies is that they grow up seeing it as normal. A graduate feels they could just as easily go build the next Google as go get a job at one. He points to the poster children — Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Bill Hewlett, Dave Packard. When you can see people like you doing it, building becomes something you can picture yourself doing.
I launched the startup incubator at San José State, where I still teach. Same engineering talent as anywhere. Far fewer startups. The gap isn't intellect... it's whether or not students believe they can do it.
The same dynamic runs for anyone starting a business. What you believe you can attempt is shaped by the peers you can watch attempting it. That's why community isn't just encouragement — it's the infrastructure your belief runs on.
Watch Saeed make the point himself here: https://youtu.be/bb9n-CnDGVA
Who in your peer group has already made this leap? And if you can't name anyone... is that why you're hesitating?
#IndependentConsultant#Coaching#Consulting…more
Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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People ask what the catch is on the free 30 minutes. Fair question. So here's exactly how it goes.
You talk. I listen. That's most of it, honestly.
Bring one specific challenge let's spend the time on that. I'll give you honest feedback, including the parts that are hard to hear, and together we find one or two concrete moves you can make this week.
Why free? Because the best conversations tend to lead somewhere for both of us, and I genuinely like helping people. If it turns out you're a fit for my coaching program, we can talk about it, but that follows the conversation, it doesn't drive it.
You'll get the most out of it by coming prepared: a real challenge, a clear top priority, and a willingness to act on what we land on. The people who get huge value come with something specific and go do the thing we talked about.
That's it. No pitch, no catch.
So here's my genuine question... if you had thirty minutes with someone who'd just listen and give you a straight read, what's the one thing you'd want to work through?
Book it whenever you're ready — link in the first comment.
#IndependentConsultant#Coaching#GoingIndependent#Positioning…more
Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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Everyone building something of their own is told to be the visionary. Set the standard. Be the culture. Tom Shen spent nearly 20 years running SDI and holds almost the opposite as a core principle of building something that lasts.
His point: build a culture that can push back on you. Every person you bring in should enrich the culture, not just fit it. And the ones worth having are the ones who will say, plainly and kindly, "I know you believe that — but here's why you're wrong."
Here's why it matters. If you're the ceiling, a single bad decision can bring the whole thing down. A culture that can correct you is insurance against your own worst call.
It's easy to file this under big-company problems. It isn't one. If you're running a small practice, you may not have employees, but you have advisors, partners, and communities you've chosen to surround yourself with. The real question is whether any of them can actually tell you no.
Tom put it better than I can, in Episode 7 of the Inspiring Founders podcast: "The culture needs to be better and richer than the founder." Worth a watch — link in the first comment.
So here's mine to you: who in your world will tell you plainly when you're wrong? If you can't name someone, that's the gap to fill.
#IndependentConsultant#Coaching#GoingIndependent#ThoughtLeadership…more
Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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If you’re rethinking startup mentorship and founder coaching, here’s the next step I recommend.
Shift from passive learning to a mentor-led, hands-on project that proves you can move outcomes.
Practical framework:
1) Pick a specific user problem and one measurable outcome.
2) Ship an MVP in 4 weeks that tests a single hypothesis.
3) Pair with a founder/operator to run the experiment and iterate.
Want a short template and a mentor match for a 4-week project? Send me a message. …more
Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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Join new Cabrillo President Dr. Jenn Capps and leaders in Workforce & Economic Development at the Cabrillo College Career Education Summit 2026 on Friday, April 3, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. From launching programs at startups, I learned that mentorship paired with concrete next steps is what moves careers forward. If you are mapping a path into product, operations, or startups, this summit is a practical place to connect and collect actionable frameworks. Send me a message. #CareerEducationhttps://www.santacruzworks.org/news/cabrillo-college-career-education-summit-2026…more
Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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AI is reshaping the job market. Universities must do more than prepare students for jobs; they should act as incubators for entrepreneurship, teaching critical thinking, curiosity, ethics and product skills.
I’ve seen first hand how SpartUp at SJSU has helped students, the university and the community. From launching programs and startups, three practical lessons stand out: use project-based coursework, embed experienced mentors, and run low-risk pilots that let students ship and learn.
If you’re an early-career professional aiming for product or operations roles, start by building a short project, finding one mentor, and proposing a campus pilot.
https://www.santacruzworks.org/news/the-case-for-universities-as-startup-incubators…more
Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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Inspiring Founders Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts. If you want to learn from other founders, check it out.
I learned early that a good idea rarely guarantees survival. After launching early initiatives I found two practical levers that matter: repeatable operational rhythms and access to mentors who help navigate inevitable pivots.
The Inspiring Founders Podcast digs into these realities with founders who share what actually worked and what didn’t. If you want practical takeaways, subscribe and listen. If you want to get more involved in the startup ecosystem, send me a message. #foundershttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inspiring-founders-podcast/id1847207641…more
Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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SJSU students: this is a practical way to get involved and experience entrepreneurship while you're in college. If you're an early-stage founder or curious about startups, join SpartUp Founder Fiesta on 3/12 for a panel discussion hosted by the SpartUp Incubator.
As a founder and long-time mentor, I've learned that early customer feedback and mentorship shape are the fastest way to go to market.
Want to connect there? Send me a message. #startupshttps://luma.com/nnxlhtzj…more
Founder at Radi8 // Executive Coach // Host of the Inspiring Founders Podcast
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Looking for experienced professionals and entrepreneurs to mentor early-stage teams as they prepare for Launchpad on May 13, 2026 at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Mentors will help sharpen pitches, validate ideas, and build founder confidence before the live competition and job fair.
I'm also building my list of Mentors for Santa Cruz Accelerates Cohort 7 (mentoring seed-stage startups with traction)
From my experience, targeted feedback early brings clarity and faster decision making for teams and fresh perspective for mentors. If you can help, send me a message. #mentorshiphttps://www.santacruzworks.org/news/launchpad-2026-mentors-needed…more
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