Tag Archives: entrepreneurship
Jim Confalone Goes From Art School to Business Cool
Jim Confalone’s journey from fine arts to founding a successful B2B marketing firm is marked by tragedy and a timely eye for opportunity.
Jim, the founder of B2B marketing agency Modicum, shares the evolution of his career, from his initial passion for painting to servicing blue chip clients like Google and Qualcomm. Modicum specializes in creating powerful visual designs that help businesses make distinctive and lasting impressions on their customers, especially at big product launch events. His big breakthrough came when he solved a key problem most business people encounter at some point: Microsoft’s PowerPoint is an awful canvas for visual design.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Jim’s career evolution from a fine arts background to founding a successful B2B marketing firm – and the entrepreneurial qualities both careers require.
His marketing philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of substance and truth in marketing, avoiding unnecessary bells and whistles.
The therapeutic role art has played in his life, through painting and other creative activities that have helped him navigate tragedy.
The Amherst classmate he wants me to interview next
Note: This episode touches on suicide.
To get in touch with Jim, email him at jconfalone@gmail.com, and visit his agency’s website: http://www.modicum.agency.
Howard Chung’s Journey from Amherst College to Main Street & YouTube
Howard Chung talks about his life as a main street entrepreneur, a streaming and digital video producer-promoter – and how Amherst College prepared him for his career. In the last 20 or so years, Howard has owned or co-owned restaurants, a construction company, and even a concert promotion outfit. These days, Howard runs a bike shop and a business built around famed maker, YouTube personality, and soon-to-be Netflix star, Jimmy DiResta.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How a personal loss on 9/11 motivated him to leave a career in finance for main street – and how the events of that day still motivate him
Advice he would give Amherst College students and alumni about going into business for themselves
Why he never puts his job title on his business cards
To learn more about Howard, visit:
The Bicycle Planet (Syosset, NY) Instagram, YouTube, and website
The Amherst College alumni database (login required)
Jimmy DiResta YouTube channel and Netflix trailer for Making Fun, coming March, 2022
Jenelle Manzi, Ballerina And Startup CEO, Soars Beyond Injury And Into Entrepreneurship
Jenelle Manzi is an elite performer who dances professionally with the New York City Ballet. She’s also an entrepreneur with big ambitions and a passionate team behind her.
I’ve been eager to share Jenelle’s story ever since I heard it for the first time. I think that’s because there are so many different ways to connect and relate to it. She touches on universal themes that include chasing down a huge dream, suffering significant setbacks, and bouncing back with everything she has.
In this episode, Jenelle talks about her passion for ballet, the importance of family and friends in the pursuit of her goals, and how she discovered a big idea for a business venture while recovering from a severe injury. Listen and you’ll learn what it’s like to commit fully to something much bigger than yourself and how to rebound when adversity throws you off-course.
Note: this was the first in-person recording I’ve ever done for my podcast. Perhaps, then, it won’t surprise anyone to discover that a few times during our conversation, the audio quality isn’t the best. I chalk that up to being a podcast rookie, but I don’t think it will detract from your enjoyment of Jenelle’s story.
Jeremy Snead, Filmmaker, Helps The Video Game Industry Find Its Voice
he video game business yields billions of dollars annually, but generally it has lacked the mainstream acceptance and respect that film, television, and theater command. Entrepreneur and filmmaker Jeremy Snead is out to change that. He has directed and produced both an original documentary and television series that reveal how video games have shaped American culture over the last 50 years. His work celebrates the industry, the pioneers who helped build it, as well as the visionaries who are driving it forward today. His company, Mediajuice Studios, also produces TV commercials and trailers for some of the successful gaming and entertainment companies in the world.
Jeremy and I worked together from 2002-2004, and since then he has become one of my closest friends. In this episode, Jeremy describes his entrepreneurial journey, his creative process, and how leading with passion opens doors and attracts world class talent.
Matt Collins' Blog 