It's More Than Grit

In this episode of It’s More Than Grit, Mariana is joined by Jim Hake, the founder and CEO of Spirit of America. Mariana and Jim pay tribute to the show's late co-host Andrew Schwartz, who was a close friend of Jim and Spirit of America. Jim discusses the origin and mission of Spirit of America, how the U.S. is perceived around the world, and his journey from tech entrepreneur to non-profit founder.

In this episode, Mariana speaks with Peggy Yu, founder and Executive Chairwomen of DangDang, the largest e-commerce book seller in China. They speak about how China has changed from a country that had very little to a country filled with competition and ambitious entrepreneurs fighting in a saturated market. They also discuss the challenges she faced while starting DangDang when credit card penetration was very low to the different obstacles she faces today to stay relevant and sustain market share. Peggy describes some of the mistakes she made along the way and how important culture is to create loyalty among employees. They also discuss how she is using AI and how businesses like hers could benefit from the technology.

Mariana and Andrew are joined by Gopi Kallayil, Google’s Chief Business Strategist for AI, to explore what he calls “the most profound technology ever created by human beings.” Gopi shares how AI’s evolution is reshaping industries while amplifying human cognition and creativity. They discuss the tightrope between AI’s promise and risks, including the need for new “checks and balances” and emerging defenses against malicious AI. Gopi offers a nuanced take on AI’s impact on jobs, the skills future generations need, and why uniquely human traits will always matter. He also reflects on AI’s explosive rise in public awareness and the trillions in economic value it could unlock—offering an optimistic vision of a smarter, more prosperous world

Mariana sits down with Arnaud Vaissié, co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of International SOS, a leading provider of health and security services around the world. Arnaud shares how he and a childhood friend founded the company in the 1980s and reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped its growth. Mariana and Arnaud also explore the advantages of remaining a private, independent company after 40 years, the role of innovation in staying ahead, and the regulatory challenges facing business owners in Europe.

This is part-two of Mariana's discussion with Evan Greenberg—Chairman and CEO of Chubb Insurance, a CSIS Trustee, and her husband. The pair breaks down the state of the insurance industry, Evan's experience operating in China, his experience as an entrepreneur, and his outlook for the future.

In this episode, Mariana sits down with Evan Greenberg—Chairman and CEO of Chubb Insurance, a CSIS Trustee, and her husband. They discuss Evan's journey from cook to CEO and how he built Chubb into what it is today. Evan dives into the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise, recognizing market conditions, and the critical role of having a great team. Stay tuned for part two with Evan, coming soon!

Mariana sits down with Andrés Díaz Bedolla, the CEO and Co-Founder of Yumari, a B2B platform connecting international buyers to manufacturers in Latin America, and the recent winner of the Early Stage Entrepreneurship World Cup 2024 in Riyadh. They discussed Andrés’ journey from a young entrepreneur inspired by the offshoring boom to an advocate for sustainable, value-driven regional integration in Latin America. Drawing from his experience working with Alibaba and learning from Chinese entrepreneurs, Andrés shares how those lessons shaped his mission to help Latin American manufacturers join and compete in global supply chains. Together, they explore the challenges of nearshoring, the need for technology transfer and investment in local talent, and the transformative potential of building a more integrated and resilient North American manufacturing hub.

In this episode, Mariana is joined by Sarah Calhoun, founder of Red Ants Pants, a Montana-based retailer meeting the needs of working women across the country. Together, they discuss the power of serendipity, the value of mentorship, and the experience of starting a business in a state with more entrepreneurs per capita than any other in America. They also delve into the challenges of expanding from rural Montana—navigating the dilemma of manufacturing abroad, transitioning from brick-and-mortar to digital platforms, and raising sufficient capital. Additionally, they reflect on mistakes made along the way and examine the profound impact a single person can have in strengthening a community.

Mariana and Andrew are joined by Billy Blaustein, the co-founder and COO of Vammo, a Brazilian electric mobility company. The trio discusses Billy’s journey from consulting to entrepreneurship, his experience launching a business in Brazil, and his mission to electrify the vehicles of Latin America.

Andrew and Mariana sit down with Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of Acumen, a pioneering nonprofit venture capital fund. Jacqueline shares her journey from Wall Street to working in Africa’s most underserved communities, offering insights on how entrepreneurship, combined with the power of markets and philanthropy, can drive meaningful and lasting change in the fight against poverty.

In this episode, Mariana and Andrew are joined by the "mother" of cognitive experience design, Joanna Pena-Bickley. Joanna is a design engineer who created one of the first video streaming players, invented AI-powered Alexa devices for Amazon, and recently founded her own company, Vibes.AI. The group discusses Joanna's journey to becoming a pioneer in generative AI, her outlook for the future of artificial intelligence, and her advice for aspiring Latina entrepreneurs.

In today's episode, Mariana speaks with Moses Lo, the founder and CEO of Xendit, a leading fintech company known as the Stripe of Southeast Asia. They discuss the growing entrepreneurial landscape in the region and the importance of resilience when building a business.

In this episode of It's More Than Grit, Eduardo della Maggiora, Founder and CEO of Betterfly, joins Mariana to discuss his journey of driving social change through Betterfly, a life insurance platform which helps individuals manage their well-being. He shares insights into the challenges entrepreneurs face in Latin America and talks about balancing Ironman training with leading his company. Eduardo is the Founder and CEO of Betterfly, a leading technology company in the fintech and insurtech space, which became the first social unicorn in Latin America in 2022. He began his career at J.P. Morgan before moving to Tanzania to volunteer teaching English and Mathematics to primary school students. In 2022, he was awarded "Entrepreneur of the Year" in Chile by Ernst & Young; in 2022 and 2021 he was recognized among the 500 most influential people in Latin America by Bloomberg; in 2020 he was named “Entrepreneur of the Year 2020” by UDD; and in 2014 he was named one of Chile’s “100 leaders under 35” by El Mercurio. He has also represented Chile in six occasions at the Ironman World Championships.

In this episode of It's More Than Grit, Mariana and Andrew sit down with Adolfo Babatz, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Clip. He discusses the early days of founding Clip, the challenges of attracting and retaining talent, and the efforts to promote financial inclusion in Mexico. As the founder of Mexico’s first payment unicorn, Adolfo also offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Adolfo Babatz is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Clip, Mexico's leading commerce and digital payment platform. Clip enables merchants in Mexico to accept all forms of payment, empowering them to engage and transact with their customers in a better way. Previously, Adolfo led the team that opened PayPal in Mexico before becoming Customer Engagement and New Product Development Manager for PayPal Latin America. Babatz currently sits on the board of Endeavor Mexico, the leading global community dedicated to catalyzing high-impact entrepreneurship in Mexico.

In this episode of It's More Than Grit, Mariana and Andrew sit down with Dr. Parag Khanna, Founder & CEO of AlphaGeo. They discuss Southeast Asia's dynamic entrepreneurial landscape, highlighting Singapore as a global startup hub. Dr. Khanna also analyzes the intersection between entrepreneurship, AI, and climate. Dr. Parag Khanna is a leading global strategy advisor, world traveler, and best-selling author. He is Founder & CEO of AlphaGeo, an AI-powered geospatial predictive location analytics platform. Dr. Khanna was named one of Esquire’s “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century,” and featured in WIRED magazine’s “Smart List.” He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics, and Bachelors and Masters degrees from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He was born in Kanpur, India and grew up in the United Arab Emirates, New York, and Germany.

In this episode of It’s More Than Grit, Mariana and Andrew sit down with Raj Koneru, CEO and Founder of Kore.ai, to explore Raj’s entrepreneurial journey. Raj discusses the challenges facing entrepreneurs in India, as well as the opportunities and risks associated with AI. He also offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the technology landscape. Raj Koneru has been at the forefront of innovative solutions for global enterprises for more than 25 years. He is the CEO and Founder of Kore.ai, a leading provider of advanced AI technology. Before starting Kore.ai, Raj was the CEO and founder of Kony, a leader in cloud-based mobile app development. He also co-founded iTouchPoint, Seranova, and Intelligroup. Raj studied at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani.

On this episode of It's More Than Grit, Linda Rottenberg, Co-founder and CEO of Endeavor, joins Mariana and Andrew for a discussion on Linda’s journey to Endeavor. She highlights the qualities of a good entrepreneur and the regions she is most optimistic about. As a leader of the global entrepreneurship movement, Linda also shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Linda Rottenberg is one of the world’s premier voices on global entrepreneurship, technology, and business transformation. As Co-founder and CEO of Endeavor, Linda helms the leading global community of, by, and for entrepreneurs. Endeavor selects, supports, and invests in founders across 40 countries. Linda also serves as President of Endeavor Catalyst, the rules-based investment arm of Endeavor, with $500M in AUM.

In this first episode of It's More Than Grit, Mariana and Andrew sit down with Bill Ford, Chairman and CEO of General Atlantic. They discuss Bill's journey to General Atlantic, the entrepreneurial ecosystem, mistakes he has made, the importance of AI as a transformational technology, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.  Bill Ford is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic, with three decades of experience investing in and helping build leading growth companies. Under his leadership, General Atlantic has expanded its global presence, increased its capital base, and deepened its capabilities to identify and partner with high-potential growth companies across multiple business sectors and geographies. Bill is a member of the CSIS Board of Trustees, and prior to joining General Atlantic was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. Disclaimer: “Ada” is not a voting member of General Atlantic’s investment committee, but a resource used as needed.

Entrepreneurs are crucial participants in the global economy and play a pivotal role in a country’s economic security. Their ventures drive innovation, create new industries and employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and foster competition. It’s More Than Grit delves into the untold stories of entrepreneurs, highlighting how their success is shaped not just by grit, but by the economic, policy, and social environments of where they live. Through conversations with entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and industry experts from around the world, hosts Mariana Campero and Andrew Schwartz explore the stories of both triumphs and setbacks and learn how their guests leveraged every resource they had to find success.