The Entrepreneurial Journey

From Big Law to a $100M Coffee Business | The Entrepreneurial Journey

What happens when a high-powered Wall Street attorney walks away from the predictable path and bets everything on coffee in Colombia? On this Tuesday's episode, Dave sits down with Adam Jason, Co-CEO of @The Green Coffee Company, Colombia’s largest coffee producer and a vertically integrated farm-to-cup business reshaping the global coffee market. Adam shares how he traded IPOs and Fortune 500 clients for mountain farms, language barriers, and high-stakes entrepreneurship in a foreign country. What followed was scaling to over 10,000 acres, 10 million coffee trees, and raising more than $100M from investors while building a pre-IPO company from the ground up. This conversation is about risk, conviction, and the reality of building something meaningful when nothing is guaranteed. From navigating cultural challenges and fragmented markets to leveraging the iconic Juan Valdez brand and building a direct farm-to-consumer advantage, Adam breaks down what it really takes to scale globally. If you have ever thought about leaving the safe path, entering an emerging market, or building something bigger than yourself, this episode is your wake-up call.

Stop Sucking at Presentations | The Entrepreneurial Journey

Do you have a message you want to get out about your business, service, or product, but struggle to connect with people when you pitch it in a room? In this episode of The Entrepreneurial Journey Podcast, Dave sits down with Fern Chan, CEO and Founder of Fern Chan Ventures, to unpack what it really takes to stand out, be heard, and make people care. Fern has spent 15+ years helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators become the kind of speakers people cannot ignore, from stages at the United Nations to intimate mastermind rooms. Her philosophy is simple. If you create a real connection, people will remember you. This conversation dives into the realities of entrepreneurship, from walking away from a stable career to betting on yourself, navigating fear, and building a business around what people already come to you for. Fern breaks down why most presentations fail, how storytelling changes everything, and the simple shifts that can instantly make you more impactful in any room. From ditching bullet points to opening with something unexpected, the goal is not perfection; it's a connection. As a bonus for listeners, Fern is offering a free downloadable copy of her book, How to Not Suck at Presentations. You can grab your copy here: https://lnkd.in/gKRD8q3b [https://lnkd.in/gKRD8q3b] If you have ever struggled to communicate your value, connect with the right people, or confidently show up as yourself, this episode will challenge the way you think and give you a better way forward. Join us this Tuesday at 9:15 am PST for this lively and entertaining conversation!

Stop Wasting Ad Spend | The Entrepreneurial Journey

Most businesses aren't losing money on ads because ads don't work. They're losing money because they don't understand how to use them. In this episode, Dave talks with Andy Janaitis, Founder and Chief Strategist at PPC Pitbulls, to break down why so many companies waste ad spend and what to do instead. Andy shares how to simplify paid ad strategy, focus on the metrics that actually matter, and build campaigns that are driven by profitability, not guesswork. From recognizing real demand to avoiding common traps in Google and Meta ads, this conversation is a practical look at what separates wasted spend from scalable growth.  If you are running ads or thinking about it, this episode will help you stop burning budget and start making smarter decisions

The Small Bay Strategy | The Entrepreneurial Journey

Anthony Scavo has spent nearly three decades in real estate development, construction, and operations, and today he is helping lead one of the most interesting plays in commercial real estate. As President and Partner at Basis Industrial, Anthony helps drive a fast-growing platform focused on multi-tenant small bay industrial and self-storage. What began as a self-storage development strategy evolved into something much bigger when Anthony and his team saw a shift in the market and made a smart move. Instead of forcing one path, they paid attention to what tenants needed, what the numbers were saying, and where the demand was going. In this episode, Anthony and Dave dig into the business of industrial real estate, the value of flexibility, and what it really takes to scale a company in a competitive market. Anthony shares how Basis grew from a small team into a multi-market operation with millions of square feet under management, why small bay industrial has become such a powerful asset class, and how customer service can become a real competitive advantage even in commercial real estate. They also discuss: • Why being adaptable matters more than being rigid • How to recognize when the market is telling you to change direction • The difference between chasing a deal and sticking to disciplined underwriting • Why tenant retention and service matter more than most owners realize • How to scale a team without losing accountability • What it means to be a good steward of investor capital Anthony brings an operator’s mindset to everything. He knows the numbers, understands construction, and stays close enough to the business to see problems before they grow. His perspective is practical, grounded, and shaped by years of experience in both institutional real estate and hands-on operations. And Anthony’s closing message is one worth remembering: Be kind.

Capturing a Legacy | The Entrepreneurial Journey

Chance McClain is the founder of Heritage Films, a storytelling company that has produced more than 800 feature-length documentaries capturing family stories and life legacies. What started as a creative experiment eventually turned into a mission: preserving the voices, values, and memories that families wish they could keep forever. Before Heritage Films, Chance’s career bounced across the creative world. He worked in sports radio, wrote music and theater, produced commercials, and even created a Streamy-nominated project along the way. But everything changed when a friend asked him to film his father’s life story. That single interview became the first Heritage Film and opened Chance’s eyes to the power of documenting real lives. In this episode, Chance and Dave explore what happens when storytelling meets purpose. From filming hundreds of life histories to sitting with people at the most reflective moments of their lives, Chance shares the lessons he has learned about family, faith, leadership, and what really matters. They discuss: • How a creative side project became a business built around legacy • Why authenticity always wins over polished messaging • What hundreds of life stories have taught him about leadership and values • The surprising wisdom that comes from interviewing people near the end of their lives • Why entrepreneurs should document their own stories before it is too late Chance believes every family deserves to preserve its story. The real goal is not just recording memories, but capturing the values that shaped a life. His advice is simple and powerful: live a life that makes your kids want to remember your story.