Career Conversations with Chris

Josh Bennett: Director of CU Boulder's Lab Venture Challenge

In this episode of Career Conversations with Chris, we explore the winding path from mechanical engineering to running one of the most exciting tech commercialization programs in the country with Josh Bennett, Assistant Director of Licensing at CU Boulder's Venture Partners. Key themes in this conversation include: * The power of stepping back: Why Josh quit a high-paying director position at 28 to start over, and why it was the best career move he ever made * CU Boulder's startup explosion: What transformed the university into a top startup-producing school and why other institutions are missing the mark * Patents vs. trade secrets: When to protect your IP and when to keep it locked away (hint: Coca-Cola got it right) * Lab Venture Challenge behind the scenes: How Josh runs a nearly $1M grant competition on zero budget * The researcher's blind spot: Why brilliant PhDs have no idea how to commercialize their work, and how basic education changes everything * Music as the ultimate outlet: How playing gigs and running a home studio keeps Josh grounded outside the startup grind Join Chris and co-host Alejandro Montgomery as they talk with Josh Bennett about building a career rooted in curiosity, community, and the courage to take unconventional risks.

Josh Wolkon: Owner of Steuben's & Ace Eat Serve

In this episode of Career Conversations with Chris, I’m joined by Josh Wolkon, the force behind some of Denver’s most iconic spots: Vesta, Steuben’s, and Ace Eat Serve. Key themes from the conversation: * From frat parties to full dining rooms: how early instincts sparked a career in hospitality * Corporate structure vs. soul: what big F&B taught him (and why he left) * Butts in seats: the mix of word-of-mouth, social media, and a little Food Network magic * When the wheels fall off: service crashes, guest recovery, and lessons learned * Denver’s food story: from a handful of kitchens to a true culinary city * Creativity at scale: ping-pong tables, modern Asian menus, and 500 covers a night * Staying power: building culture, delegating, and finding balance outside the kitchen * What’s next: wing sauces, coffee bars, and exploring new outlets for creativity Join Chris and Josh for a fast-moving conversation on restaurants, resilience, and why hospitality still feels like throwing the best party in town.

Peter Adams: Venture Capitalist & Author

In this episode of Career Conversations with Chris, Peter Adams shares his journey from philosophy student to dorm-room PC founder to leader of the oldest angel group in the United States. We explore how he reinvented Rockies Venture Club with a focus on education, rigor, and founder-friendly structures, creating a collaborative model that flips the traditional “Shark Tank” script. Peter breaks down how to value pre-revenue startups, why team matters more than the idea, and how founders should design for acquisition from day one. This episode is a masterclass in building smarter investors, stronger startups, and a future-ready venture ecosystem. We cover: * From philosophy student to founder and investor * Revitalizing RVC with education, diligence, and process-driven investing * “Venture-omics” vs. economics: teaching founders and investors the same tools * Thinking like a futurist: defensible gaps beyond today’s AI race * Valuing pre-revenue startups with clarity and rigor * Why team > idea, and how to think like a futurist about new technologies A wide-ranging chat about ditching the “Shark Tank” drama, teaching investors and founders to speak the same language, and how to spot the startups that will actually shape the future.

Ned Rollhaus: Family Office Partner

In this episode of Career Conversations with Chris, we dive into the world of family wealth and unconventional career paths with Ned Rollhaus, Partner at Matter Family Office. Key themes in this conversation include: * From investment banking to the restaurant business: Why career pivots can open unexpected doors * Managing the San Francisco Opera’s endowment: Lessons in diversification and resilience during 2008 * Family wealth beyond the balance sheet: Why the real assets are the people, not just the money * Avoiding the pitfalls of wealth: How families can align across generations and preserve legacy * Navigating career transitions: Advice for engineers and nontraditional backgrounds entering finance Join Chris as he talks with Ned Rollhaus about building a career that doesn’t follow a straight line and why embracing variety, people, and purpose can lead to lasting impact.

Anushka Pashel: Ex Model and Owner of Bloom by Anuschka

In this episode of Career Conversations with Chris, I sit down with Anuschka Pashel, a model and founder of Bloom in Denver. From winning Ford’s Supermodel of the World at 18, to a career-altering crash, to building a life around flowers, travel, and handmade design, Anuschka’s story is one of reinvention and resilience. We cover: * Refugee roots, to Paris runways, to U.S. culture shock * The accident that reset her path * Building Bloom: flowers, jewelry, and one-of-a-kind treasures * Why handmade still matters in an AI world * Travel, painting, and finding freedom in creativity * Flowers as fleeting miracles and why they still move us A candid, colorful conversation about risk, beauty, and making a life by making things.