Russell Steinberg is the Founder & CEO of FARMZER0, where he leads the company’s mission to transform food systems through innovation and sustainability. Before FARMZER0, he founded StarFort Financial in 2012, a Chicago-based strategic life insurance advisory firm helping business owners and high-net-worth individuals with advanced life insurance planning. Russ combines his entrepreneurial vision with financial expertise to guide FARMZER0’s growth and make a meaningful impact on the way we produce and access food.

In this episode, Philip and Russell Steinberg discuss: 

• Growth through shared insights
• Turning crisis into opportunity
• Problem-solving and authentic networking
• Innovation at the system level

Lightbulb Moments:

• Learning from diverse perspectives fosters both personal development and organizational evolution, showing that wisdom often emerges through dialogue and reflection.
• Moments of disruption can serve as catalysts for innovation, as challenges often reveal hidden pathways to new ventures and transformative solutions.
• Asking meaningful questions and cultivating genuine connections builds networks that open doors to collaboration, growth, and sustainable impact.
• Lasting change arises not only from new products but from building repeatable systems that can redefine industries and reshape communities.

“Food, water, and energy are a team. If you don't have one of those three, you got major problems, especially if you're in a densely populated urban environment.” - Russell Steinberg

Connect with Russell Steinberg: 

Website: www.farmzerochicago.com 

Connect with Philip: 

Website: https://www.fornarolaw.com/ 

Podcast Website: https://lbmpodcast.com/ 

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