The Axis Effect

This installment of The Axis Effect features Lorenzo Conti, Founder & CEO of Crover LTD. As the global population continues to grow, it's become more important than ever that companies can not only ensure maximum production of food products but minimize negative factors that can damage the quality of said food products. Enter Crover LTD., which was founded in 2018 to work with grain storage operators to help optimize conditions and maintain the smoothest possible supply chain processes.  Darr discusses how he singlehandedly grew Crover into the company it is today, scenarios where Crover's services are crucial, and why leaders need to have a true sense of passion and commitment before throwing themselves headfirst into a project. To learn more, tune in to "Granular Physics & Rhetology Behind Subterranean Drones."

This installment of The Axis Effect features Marshall Darr, CEO and Co-Founder at StretchDollar. Founded to help small businesses with their approach to healthcare, StretchDollar reduces costs and complexities for growing companies that can barely afford the time to worry about healthcare. In a world where health insurance is expected from employers, Darr and his fellow Co-Founder utilize their company to allow other leaders to ensure positive healthcare experiences for their teams without draining their funds to make it happen. Darr discusses how startup leaders can positively impact their customers and employees, the value of time, how businesses can retain employees by allowing them to bring their passions into play, and the process of how StretchDollar runs a smooth system that efficiently facilitates the creation of healthcare systems for small companies and relationships between those companies and their chosen healthcare providers. To learn more, tune in to “Health: Benefit vs Necessity.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Adam Schlenger, Ph.D. With a resume showcasing a true dedication to protecting the natural world, Schlenger has found himself on several teams looking to better the environment. As a decision modeling analyst at Lab to Land, Schlenger utilized biotechnology to optimize natural resource management and used many factors to maximize climate resilience. As a founder of NEXUS Global Summit, Schlenger works tirelessly to build relationships with leaders and find investors to solve global issues. As a senior ecologist at the EPA, Schlenger contributes to the EPA Ecosystem Service Model Library, which is intended to help facilitate the use of each model in real-world scenarios and contribute to a healthier world. Schlenger discusses anecdotes of working with nonprofits dedicated to saving the planet, how companies can find profitability while helping the planet, and the inspiration that pushed him to learn and work toward a better tomorrow. To learn more, tune in to “Sustainable Innovation.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Steve Bannerman, Head of Post-Production for International Movies at Amazon MGM Studios. As the entertainment world continues to further its transition into the streaming era, the decisions made by the industry’s key players have never been more impactful. But nothing is more important than creating exciting, new, and original content for all sides of the competition. Individuals like Bannerman understand that at the heart of content creation, the true goal is simple: to create and maintain customers in the most profitable fashion possible. Bannerman discusses how COVID-19 amplified the transition into streaming, the challenges many teams face in adapting, the aftereffects of the recent Hollywood strike, and the constant battle for space and resources to create new content. To learn more, tune in to “Embracing the Streaming World of Entertainment.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Shanil Ebrahim, Partner and the National Life Sciences and Healthcare Consulting Leader at Deloitte Canada. As the world’s emphasis on healthcare continues to grow, so does the importance of practical innovation, ensuring the best medical care available for all patients. To best deliver the future of medical care requires individuals with a multitude of experiences and education, which is what makes Ebrhaim, who currently holds a position as a joint professor at McMaster University in addition to his job at Deloitte Canada, experience as a researcher at Stanford, and received an MSc in Medical Science and Bioethics as well as a Ph.D. in Clinical Epidemiology, perfect for the job. While the world may often expect individuals with a background like this to become physicians, Ebrahim felt that while working directly with patients was meaningful, he could make a significantly broader impact as a researcher on a “population level.” Ebrahim discusses potential solutions for bringing high-quality healthcare to underserved countries, how different countries undertake innovation policies to advance the world of healthcare, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare going forward. To learn more, tune in to “Global Health Equity.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Joe Lynam, Vice President M&A at Corum Group Inc. As technology’s role on the world stage continues its decades-long exponential growth, so does the importance of how it affects each industry. For companies that fit under the definition of startup, leaders face an overwhelming number of possibilities, especially in the world of mergers and acquisitions. Companies like Corum Group Inc. use this as their bread and butter and have spent nearly 40 years as one of the world’s top M&A software firms. To this day, they’ve created over $20 billion in wealth with an impressive record of over 500 closed transactions. For top team members like Lynam, the chase for acquiring the best startups never ends, especially as the number of software companies only grows with the software world. Lynam discusses the importance of an exit strategy, some companies he’s helped Corum Group acquire over the years, what it means to be a quality leader for a startup, and helps explain the M&A process for software companies. To learn more, tune in to “Leading the World of Mergers & Acquisitions.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Rob Paterson, a leader in global hospitality. Hailing from Australia and spending much of his career in London, Paterson has recently transitioned to the United States in the last 3-4 years. Just before this, he faced one of the greatest challenges seen by the hotel industry: the COVID-19 pandemic. But the challenges of the pandemic only fueled Paterson, using his multi-decade experience in hospitality to convert Best Western hotels across Great Britain into hospitals for the peak of the lockdown, fostering an unprecedented sense of community and helping to make the world a better place for those in need. Currently, Paterson works tirelessly to return the hospitality industry to its heights pre-pandemic and find clientele for people looking to rent out castles for events.  Paterson discusses the challenges and successes of turning hotels into hospitals, upcoming challenges he expects to face in his industry, the budding industry of renting out castles, and why the fight to bring the world of hospitality back to its former state is more important than ever.  To learn more, tune in to “Changing the World of Hospitality.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Jeremy Toeman, CEO and Founder of AugX Labs. With a career spanning a variety of differently-sized companies in filmmaking, Toeman’s recently-founded AugX Labs utilizes AI for clients to create videos. After seeing his own experiences when making videos for marketing a podcast, Toeman saw an opportunity to simplify this process with AugX Labs, allowing users to utilize nothing but their words with artificial intelligence to create captivating videos in minutes. Toeman discusses his history with startups, the transition from Warner Bros. back to startups, how he founded AugX Labs, and the emphasis his company places on easily accessible experiences for video-making novices to make the production process more efficient than ever.  To learn more, tune in to “Letting AI Lead the Way to the Future.

This installment of The Axis Effect features Titus Walker, CEO of Ultimate Endgamers League (UEL). The world of eSports has grown exponentially over the last decade. UEL looks to bring all of the best facets of the industry to foster a positive community that allows all participators to shine, bringing the best out of each other, encouraging collaboration, creating competitions in over 30 video games, and offering thousands of dollars in cash prizes. From small beginnings, UEL is today known as NOVA’s #1 Black Owned Sports League. Walker discusses the importance of creating engagement among viewers, how UEL differs from other leagues, how to grow a fanbase, and how to make these communities more accessible for entry-level fans. To learn more, tune in to “Don’t Hate the Player Hate the Game.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Raphael Echemendia, a world-renowned cybersecurity expert. As technology grows with the world around it, so has the vitality of cybersecurity. Where numerous individuals look to utilize hacking to steal the information of others for a variety of purposes, Echemendia is known as an “ethical hacker,” using his skills to help protect clients and create a safer cyberspace for people. Despite its association with more illegal activities, Echemendia helps define the concept of hacking as a skill, making it clear that hacking itself is not harmful, but how people choose to use it can be. Echemendia discusses the misconceptions behind privacy on the internet, the risks behind leaving a trail and subsequent vulnerabilities on the internet, and how the cyber world continues to evolve. To learn more, tune in to “Cyber Chaos.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Nick Bogacz, President of Caliente Pizza and author of the Pizza Equation. Worth over $190 billion as of 2021, the pizza industry continues to grow as one of the country’s (and world’s) most popular foods. For Bogacz, the journey of being a leader in an industry defined by small businesses starts from the very bottom, working as a delivery boy at the age of 17 over two decades ago. Fast forward to the pandemic in 2020, and it's clear to see how well Bogacz understands not only the importance of the business but how a leader treats their employees. Despite the hard hits all restaurants took from the pandemic, Bogacz chose to double down on taking care of his employees, raising salaries, and adding 401k’s and health benefits, among other programs to ensure positive well-being for his employees. From the economic changes of price increases, Bogacz opted to grow, creating new streams of income, as they are now preparing to release about 11 new products throughout retail stores in their local Pittsburgh area. Even as a brand, they’ve expanded in a variety of ways, including becoming the official pizza of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since the pandemic began and his team opted to focus on growth, Bogacz has grown Caliente Pizza’s number of locations from 5 to 12.   Bogacz discusses the importance of building a bigger brand, how he’s continuously working to do this for Caliente Pizza, the key to making an amazing pizza, and why growing a company’s internal infrastructure for employees is crucial to growing said company outside as well.  To learn more, tune in to “Freezing out the Competition.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Daymon Bruck, Chief Creative Officer at The O Group. With over three decades of experience in branding, Bruck has led numerous advertising campaigns for some of the world’s most famous companies, including Microsoft, AT&T Wireless, and Nike. No matter the client, Daymon has dedicated thousands of hours to making each brand stand out and deliver a creative and original campaign that helps clients stand out and find new ways of marketing themselves to expand their businesses most effectively. Most recently, Bruck and his team at The O Group have seen a focus on industries like hospitality, jewelry, and home goods. With the evolution of technology in modern society, Bruck understands the niche of numerous luxury brands and how they each utilize technology in their unique approach. Bruck discusses how and why different industries emphasize virtual branding, the shift many people are making into industries vastly different from where they’ve begun, and the importance of building brand loyalty through telling a relatable story targeted toward the proper audience.  To learn more, tune in to “Brand Empowerment.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features the return of one of its most frequent guests: Jeffrey Hayzlett, Chairman & Founder of C-Suite Networks. In an era when conditions are uncertain on every front, leadership has never been more important. Having spoken with some of the world’s most notable economists on his own platform, Hayzlett has acquired knowledge from a variety of crucial viewpoints to best understand how companies fail or succeed through the navigation of volatile economy. Hayzlett discusses significant “unicorns” born in the fire of disastrous recessions, his personal experiences in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, hard choices he had to make for the better of his company at the time of the 2008 financial crisis, human sensitivity and the importance of mental health and communication in the wake of tragedy, and what he views as the defining criteria of a good leader. To learn more, tune in to “The Most Interesting Man in the Room.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Christoffer Sigshøj, Co-Founder of KiteX. Coming at a time when sustainability is more important than ever, KiteX is impacting the energy industry in one of the most innovative ways ever: utilizing the kites and drone technology to create portable wind turbines, pushing humanity along the path to make clean energy more accessible than ever. The impact spans further than delivering clean energy however, as their utilization of kites have allowed them to reduce waste and create a cost-effective energy source that utilizes minimal material. Sigshøj discusses the company’s short and exciting history, the specifics behind this groundbreaking technology, anecdotes on his personal experience with wind-power and kites, and the joy of being able to combine work and hobbies while contributing to a better tomorrow..  To learn more, tune in to “Sustaining Power & Balance.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Kimberly Klein, Founder of Sport Cryo. As one of the most revolutionary evolutions in the sports industry, Cryo Therapy acts as the newest way people can utilize the cold in the recovery process of physical exercise. With a wide variety of clients, Klein’s company offers many different services to customers, offering opportunities to reduce soreness in the body after strenuous activity, aid in weight loss, and even beauty, with a Cryo Facial sera ice to help preserve the skin and increase blood flow to the skin. Klein discusses the specifics of how different Cryo Therapy are pushing boundaries in the wellness industry, how her company’s services differ from more well-known practices such as ice baths, and what led her to founding Sport Cryo.  To learn more, tune in to “Freezing out the Competition.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Daphna Ziman, President & Co-Chairman at Cinémoi and the Founder & Co-Chair at Children United Nations. Helping to give a voice to underrepresented groups, Cinémoi acts as one of the only television networks truly led by women, as well as one of the top networks surrounding high fashion. Created with the goal of fighting the negative and hyper-sexualized portrayals of women in media, Cinémoi works to fix this systemic issue, elevating the image of women in the world and giving them the recognition and appreciation they deserve. But Ziman doesn’t limit herself to one company. Children Uniting Nations -which she founded- is a charity group dedicated to fighting child trafficking and giving a voice to the underprivileged children of the world. Most recently, she has also founded Justice for Women, a group dedicated to eliminating trafficking and violence towards Women and Children. Ziman discusses the problems faced by women in the world and how to fight these issues, how her companies are working to better the world, and how extreme poverty leads to greater negativity towards women specifically.  To learn more, tune in to “The Science of Beauty.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Heather Brown, Señor VP of Entrepreneurial Development at Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.  As one of the United States’ event capitals, Las Vegas is a center for innovation, technology, and entertainment. Brown works with the rest of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) to establish a community of startups and leaders around the city that fosters economic growth and collaboration for companies to grow within the Las Vegas ecosystem and reach new heights in their success. Brown discusses LVGEA’s goal of showing there is more to Las Vegas than gambling and casinos, the various industries they’re expanding the city to, the perception Vegas currently receives from the public, and how LVGEA is trying to change that narrative. To learn more, tune in to “The Economic Leadership of Entertainment.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Orit, CEO and Founder of The O Group. Since its founding in 1986, The O Group has stood at the top of the branding industry for 37 years, working with many clients, including Ritz Carlton Residences, Acqualina Resort & Spa, and The Pierre Hotel. Continuously reinventing themselves and their focus to fit the times, The O Group currently operates its focus and image as a consultant group for luxury lifestyle brands. Orit understands this industry better than most, going as far as removing her last name in the public space to make her character stand out and stay memorable to the whole industry, especially potential clients.  Orit discusses the importance of leaders standing behind their brand, knowing their audience, the unforgiving nature of mistakes in front of the public eye, and some of the most crucial mistakes made by leaders of startups looking to break into the luxury lifestyle industry. To learn more, tune in to “Brand Inspiration.”

This installment of The Axis Effect features Natalise Kalea Robinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Parallel Health. As pioneers of microbiome dermatology, Parallel binds the industries of health, beauty, and biotechnology to create a personalized skincare routine for each of their customers to look the best they can. Founded on the realization that many skin care products have harsh results that neglect the specifics of each user, Parallel creates products that target skin problems specific to microbiome types, with the hope of not only improving the customer’s skin but ensuring their microbiomes are not damaged by said product. Now, Parallel Health holds the most extensive skin microbiome data set that uses whole genome sequencing.  Robinson discusses the varying microbiomes in a person’s body, how they can analyze data to ensure everyone gets the correct product, and how her company’s paths led them to where they are today.  To learn more, tune in to “The Science of Beauty.”