Pam Marrone ’78 is a Serial Entrepreneur, she's sold 3 companies and took 1 public!! we chatted about:
- how her new startup protects ecosystems from invasive species, by discovering microbes that kill the species!
- the biologic pesticide industry trends, the distribution channels, sales processes!
- her career trajectory, from PhD in entomology to serial entrepreneurship!!
(0:00) What are invasive species? (6:16) The science behind discovering new products (11:34) How her startups get better each time she founds a new one (14:52) Pesticide industry trends (20:07) Distribution of the pesticides (28:31) Career trajectory (32:57) Investor dynamics (36:03) Taking a company public with IPO (38:34) Thought leadership in industry (39:45) Closing question

Deborah Muller ’87 is Founder and CEO of HR Acuity, the leading employee relations HR software!! we chatted about:
- the exciting HR function of employee relations, how every F500 company has an employee relations function now
- working with Private Equity firms, how growth equity can help grow the company!
- how she started the software business, transforming from consulting services to a software business!
(0:00) What is employee relations? and HR Acuity? (6:00) Employee relations best practices (13:11) Positioning the software business (15:16) How Deborah started the business (21:24) Transition from consulting to technology (26:59) Venture capital and private equity funding (33:00) Importance of capital in growing businesses (34:37) Leading the employee relations function (39:22) Closing question

Eli Lehrer ’98 is cofounder of a Think Tank in Washington, DC!! we chatted about:
- what is a think tank? how to develop policy ideas
- how to build expertise, and build credibility with policy makers
- how to grow a think tank to 80 full-time staff
(0:00) What is a think tank? (5:37) Policy areas to cover (10:31) How to build expertise (15:59) Expertise and influence (19:26) Example of influence on AI policy (26:42) How to grow a think tank (32:50) Financial side of a think tank (39:12) Closing question