The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project

Why do students become less engaged the longer they are at school, which greatly diminishes their critical thinking skills? Tony Wagner, Senior Research Fellow at the Learning Policy Institute, is advocating for a complete education reform and vastly revamping the future of learning. He joins Gary Schoeniger to discuss how to reinvent learning approaches to make school less boring and disengaging for young people. He also talks about what it takes to move beyond grades and credentials to pay more attention to fostering curiosity, creativity, and purpose. Discover how to restore agency to learners and meaning to education, ultimately leading to highly empowered entrepreneurial thinking. 

If entrepreneurs are inspired, empowered, and genuinely love what they are doing, their efforts can lead to profound economic development. Gary Schoeniger speaks with his longtime friend Thom Ruhe, President and CEO of NC IDEA. Together, they discuss what it takes to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems – not just programs or funding pipelines, but cultures of agency, inclusion, and possibility. Thom also explains why mindset may be the missing piece in economic development and how to put entrepreneurial thinking at the heart of education, workforce, and economic growth. Tune in and discover why entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful forces for unlocking human potential.

Gary Schoeniger delves into the amazing life journey of Keith Johnson, whose authentic energy and resilient mindset led him to become part of Morgan Freeman’s blues band. He looks back to his childhood in Mississippi, his greatest rejection in HR, and how he fully embraced his musical talents. From singing gospel songs at his local church, forming a high school quartet, to bringing his unparalleled energy to every music gig, Keith breaks down the most important lessons that shaped and transformed his life. Learn how to take calculated risks, welcome rejection, and start showing up consistently in this eye-opening conversation.

A true entrepreneurial mindset is not just about earning a profit but also creating genuine human relationships and experiences. In this episode, we dive deep into the ecosystem of Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec), one of the most entrepreneurial university systems in the world. Geraldina Silveyra León, a transformative leader at Tec, discusses how the university has embedded entrepreneurship into the DNA of its entire system, transcending traditional academic boundaries. Sharing powerful stories about challenge-based learning, she talks about their culture centered on identifying incredible opportunities, creating positive change, and making meaningful contributions to society.

Here’s the thing that still puzzles me: We all know entrepreneurship drives innovation, creates jobs, and fuels economies. We know that. But, it's still not a core part of how we educate, how we train, how we think about the future of learning and work.Today’s guest is Jonathan Ortmans, who is, in my opinion, one of the loudest, clearest voices pushing to change that.As the founder of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, he is one of the few true global thinkers, leaders, and doers when it comes to promoting entrepreneurship as a means of both economic and human development.And it all started as a result of his own entrepreneurial journey. After starting and exiting several companies, he recognized the need to encourage and support entrepreneurship as a means of “economic gardening.” And, as an entrepreneur, he decided to do something about it.In this episode, we talk about ecosystems, policy, culture, and most importantly—how we activate the potential in ordinary people to solve problems and create value.

As technology, culture, and creativity reshape how we grow, the future of learning lies in moving beyond compliance to true curiosity and capability. Learning strategist Nick Briere shares how organizations can design experiences that do more than check boxes, empowering people to think, build, and innovate. Drawing from years of designing learning systems that balance human connection with measurable results, Nick reveals how leaders can shift mindsets, foster engagement, and turn every learning opportunity into a catalyst for transformation. He also explores how organizations can cultivate environments where learning feels less like an obligation and more like an invitation to grow, adapt, and create lasting impact across teams and industries.

Today’s conversation stuck with me long after we hit stop. My guest is Elan Gelfand, a 20-year-old college student and podcaster who caught my attention almost immediately because of his superpower – self-directed learning. From the moment we connected, I could tell he is not your typical college student. He is not waiting for other people to tell him what to learn and do in order to be successful. He is taking ownership of his learning, asking the hard questions most people avoid, and doing the internal work that rarely shows up on a transcript. Instead of chasing grades, credentials, or social media likes, he chases insights. We talk about the quiet burden of being different, the hard moments that shaped him, and the deep sense of purpose that fuels him. This is not just a story about another Gen Z-er trying to become an influencer, but about a young man determined to make the most of his life.

Dr. Matt Lee started out studying criminal homicide. But after his career took some unexpected yet fascinating turns, he found himself leading research at Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program. He joins Gary Schoeniger to reflect on how he made this career shift and is now pushing the boundaries of traditional academia. Dr. Lee unpacks the connection between entrepreneurship and human flourishing, emphasizing why this intersection is more than just business. He also shares insights on teaching young people about the sociology of love and explains why action-oriented love is the driving force behind meaningful innovation.

Entrepreneurship is not always about building and earning the biggest – sometimes, it is simply about getting started and doing consistent work. Gary Schoeniger sits down with Erik Pedersen, president and COO of Network Kansas, who shares how he builds statewide ecosystems centered on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. Together, they discuss what it takes to build these grassroots communities from the ground up and help people see themselves as capable of creating change as highly equipped entrepreneurs. Erik also explains why entrepreneurship should be taught to children as early as elementary school, making it less overwhelming and demanding yet more thrilling and fulfilling.

Today’s episode is a little different—and honestly, it’s one I’ve been looking forward to for a while. I’m joined by someone who really gets it. Not just the mechanics of leadership or the theory behind entrepreneurship—but the deeper stuff. The mindset. The attitude. The way of seeing the world that changes how we show up every day.Dr. Dan Walden is the superintendent and president of Victor Valley College. But what makes Dan stand out—what really sets him apart—is that he doesn’t see entrepreneurship as just something you do. He sees it as a way of being. A way of thinking and acting that empowers people at every level—not just to do their job, but to take ownership, to lead, to build something that matters.Dan’s entrepreneurial journey started at the age of ten, selling seeds and mowing lawns as a way to pay for new shoes. These early entrepreneurial experiences led him to transform a dying church into a thriving community. Today, Dan is using that same mindset to lead one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the country.What I love about Dan is that he’s lived this. It’s not just theory to him. It’s who he is. And in this conversation, we explore how he’s bringing mindset-driven leadership into higher education, not just to drive institutional change, but to empower students, staff, and the broader community. Dan’s story is a powerful example of what happens when purpose, humility, and entrepreneurial thinking come together to create real impact.

Today I’m joined by John Dearie — founder and president of the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonpartisan policy and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.As the policy director at the Financial Services Forum, a CEO-led industry association, John had a front-row seat to the 2008 financial crisis. In the wake of that upheaval, he began to realize something critical: Washington’s traditional stimulus playbook was no longer working. Policymakers were out of fresh ideas for how to spark real economic growth and job creation.That insight led him to a powerful revelation: entrepreneurship is the engine of the American economy — and it’s profoundly misunderstood.In our conversation, John offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the economy really works — and what most people, including policymakers, get wrong about entrepreneurship. We explore the surprising data that changed his perspective, the policies that could unlock innovation, and why mindset — not capital — is the most important entrepreneurial resource.If you’ve ever wondered how everyday entrepreneurs can reshape our economy and our future — this episode is for you.

Serial entrepreneur Doug Hardman went through a lot to achieve his current success. His story is all about ambition, resilience, and hard-earned humility, shaped by his determination to jump back from many failures. In this enlightening conversation, he looks back on the ups and downs of his career and life that taught him patience, commitment, and perseverance. Doug also talks about the importance of financial literacy and a proper support system in entrepreneurship, how to unlock your entrepreneurial self, and the right way to handle success when it comes your way too fast.

“Did you make this yourself?” was the question that inspired Kelsey Carter to turn her small hustles into an actual entrepreneurial venture. In this inspiring conversation with Gary Schoeniger, she shares her journey from selling candy, comics, and jewelry to building her soul food venture Carter’s Kitchen in her college dorm room. She talks about her mission to teach her community to eat healthier and create deeper connections with their food. Kelsey also opens up about the role of curiosity, resilience, and reflection in shaping her entrepreneurial mindset, allowing her to navigate rejections and celebrate her self-worth.

There is no single path to entrepreneurship success – one person may do it in the most traditional way, while others may take an even more unorthodox path. The latter proved to be true for Marshall Taulbert, who became a fashion designer in the most interesting way possible. He looks back on how he grew up mostly around entrepreneurs and how it taught him creativity, persistence, and resiliency. Marshall shares the origins of his company Danzy Design Studio, which was born out of his profound love for fashion. He also talks about the importance of constant feedback and the willingness to learn in the life – and success – of an entrepreneur.

Pain will always be a part of life. You will always find countless hurdles and roadblocks in your journey, and sometimes they will pull you down and hurt you. But you have to do everything in your power to not stay on the ground and get back up. Hakeem Croom’s story embodies this mindset, which he explores in this conversation with Gary Schoeniger. Before becoming an educator, life coach, author, and speaker, he was shaped by the harsh realities of his hometown Harlem, surrounded by poverty, addiction, and uncertainty. Hakeem shares how basketball became a lifeline for him, pulled him away from the streets, and brought him to Military School that forever transformed his life. Tune in on this story of grit, growth, and grace.

Hello and welcome to another episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, where I tease out the hidden logic that enables ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things through finding solutions. In this episode, I’m speaking with Dr. Meena McCullough, a physical therapist who became an unlikely entrepreneur. Frustrated by the limitations of the medical system, she found herself constantly complaining. Yet she was motivated to take action after a friend challenged her with these simple words, "Put your money where your mouth is." This pivotal moment challenged her to shift her mindset towards solution-driven thinking in a way that ultimately led her to start her own business. She began with a simple solution—creating flashcards to help caregivers who worked with patients who were suffering from dementia. Once she saw that her idea actually worked, she was inspired to address larger challenges for those who suffered from chronic pain. Today, she has a thriving practice of her own, one that is revolutionizing physical therapy. Dr. Meena’s story is a master class in entrepreneurship: look for problems to solve, try things on a small scale, and continuously learn and adapt. And, rather than taking big risks, she began by experimenting in the margins, after work and on weekends, building prototypes and refining her ideas through customer feedback. She also described the difficulty of overcoming self-doubt and dealing with negativity as well as the value of persistence, passion, and embracing uncertainty. What I love about Dr. Meena’s story is the simplicity of it all. Look for problems in your everyday life. Stop complaining and start solving. The ability to identify and solve problems is something anyone can do. So, without any further ado, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Meena McCullough.

Welcome to another episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, where I tease out the hidden logic that enables ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. In this episode, I’m speaking with Rick MacLennan, who happens to be the Chancellor of the Ventura County Community College System. Why am I interviewing a community college chancellor you might ask? As I have often said, an entrepreneurial mindset confers an enormous advantage to those who understand and embrace it, and Rick’s story provides a great example. Watching his parents transform a struggling service station into a thriving business left an indelible impression on Rick, one that would enable him to thrive within the community college system. In our conversation, we covered a lot of ground, including the importance of focusing on improving the customer (student) experience, the role of a community college in supporting entrepreneurship within a given community, and the challenges of convincing leadership to adopt new approaches. We also discussed how he embraced an entrepreneurial mindset to transform a modest maker space into a thriving hub of entrepreneurial development that spread throughout the community. So, without any further ado, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Rick MacLennan.

Today, I’m thrilled to speak with Kathy Boyd and Kim Goodwin, two inspiring leaders from the Orange County Department of Education, who have embraced this entrepreneurial mindset to make a real difference. We covered a lot in this conversation, and I was blown away by their energy and enthusiasm, as well as the innovative ways they’re using entrepreneurial thinking to improve the student experience. One standout example is their collaboration with a local entrepreneur to create Spyder Lab, a student-run business generating over a million dollars annually for the school district while preparing the next generation of innovators. Even more exciting, the students are asking for more! Kathy and Kim embody entrepreneurial leadership by piloting ideas on a small scale before going big, collaborating across teams, and pushing boundaries while respecting the necessary guardrails.

Change is a constant force in both personal and professional growth. Join us for another episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project as we sit down with Richard Boyatzis, a renowned psychologist and leading expert in emotional intelligence—an essential aspect of the entrepreneurial mindset. Drawing from his latest book, The Science of Change, and over 50 years of research, Boyatzis explores the five core elements of lasting change. Together, we discuss how his Intentional Change Theory connects to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the power of vision in driving transformation and the pitfalls of conventional goal-setting.

In this episode, we speak with Adam Pearson, co-founder of Fortunato No.4, a family-owned business producing some of the world’s finest chocolate. Their journey—from the streets of San Diego to the jungles of Peru—is an adventure you won’t want to miss.After losing their family business, Adam, along with his father and brother, had to start over. Selling parts for mining equipment led them to a successful chocolate business serving global customers. Through perseverance, they discovered a rare cacao breed thought extinct. Today, their company produces premium chocolate and supports hundreds of cacao farmers in Peru.Learn more in Adam’s book, Finding Fortunato. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Adam Pearson.