EXPERT CONNEXIONS: Startups and Community: Purpose-Driven Leadership
EXPERT CONNEXIONS: Startups and Community: Purpose-Driven Leadership
What if the secret to breakthrough innovation lies in embracing failure as your greatest teacher?
In this episode from Startup Grind Conference 2025, host Julie Holton Smith sits down with Pastor Tom Arthur of Sycamore Creek Church, a leader who’s revolutionizing how we think about community building, risk-taking, and sustainable growth.
From launching church campuses to running food business incubators, Tom shares unconventional wisdom that will transform how you approach your next venture.
What You’ll Discover:
✅ Why “failing fast” isn’t just for tech startups, it’s essential for any growing organization
✅ The power of cross-industry networking
✅ How to apply billion-dollar acquisition strategies to potential partnerships
✅ Why […]
CLIENT STORY: Communities in Schools of Michigan – Advocate of the Year: Ms. Wurie
CLIENT STORY: Communities in Schools of Michigan – Advocate of the Year: Ms. Wurie
In every school, there are people who go beyond their job descriptions—who become lifelines for students and families in moments of need. For the 2025 **Communities In Schools of Michigan Advocate of the Year Award**, that person is Ms. Wurie. Known for her deep compassion, tireless commitment, and genuine human connection, Ms. Wurie has become much more than a staff member. She is a trusted adult, a consistent presence, and, for many, a safe haven.
Her impact is most powerfully seen in personal stories. One grandparent shared how her granddaughter Caitlin was struggling at school and […]
The Davies Project: Driving Inspiration, One Ride at a Time: A Closer Look at Their Deucey Award Win for Most Inspirational Video
The Davies Project: Driving Inspiration, One Ride at a Time: A Closer Look at Their Deucey Award Win for Most Inspirational Video
In a world that often feels weighed down by headlines and hardship, some stories cut through with a reminder of human kindness. That’s exactly what The Davies Project delivered when they won the Deucey Award for Most Inspirational Video of the Year. But their story goes far beyond a video—it’s about what happens when a community comes together to make sure no child misses a medical appointment because of transportation.
Founded by Pam Miklavcic, The Davies Project is a nonprofit rooted in compassion. Their mission is simple but […]
EXPERT CONNEXIONS: The Hypeman’s Playbook: Art of Pitch Power
EXPERT CONNEXIONS: The Hypeman’s Playbook: Art of Pitch Power
Tired of pitches that fall flat? Ready to become the ONLY choice instead of just another option?
In our next episode from the Startup Grind Global Conference 2025, host Julie Holton Smith sits down with Rajiv ‘RajNATION’ Nathan, the Chief Pitch Artist and mastermind behind the Que PASA Elevator Pitch Formula® that’s helped founders raise as much as $20 million and crush their sales quotas.
What You’ll Master:
✅ Why “Don’t be the best, be the ONLY” transforms how investors see you
✅The fatal mistake 90% of startups make in their pitch decks (hint: it’s not about features)
✅ How to make your audience feel […]
CLIENT STORY: Lansing Sports Commission – Discover the Capital City Family BMX Track
CLIENT STORY: Lansing Sports Commission – Discover the Capital City Family BMX Track
Located on Lansing’s north side, the Capital City Family BMX facility is the perfect location for next your BMX event.
It offers the only USABMX sanctioned track in the region and a newly added pump track. Amenities include convenient access to water, restrooms, electronic scoreboard system, concessions and more.
MISSION CONTROL: A Deep Dive with Joseph Yang of Boys & Girls Club of Lansing
MISSION CONTROL: A Deep Dive with Joseph Yang of Boys & Girls Club of Lansing
Joseph Yang’s path to becoming President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing reads like a modern success story—one that weaves together technology, law, and an unwavering commitment to community service. His journey demonstrates how diverse experiences can converge to create decisive leadership in the nonprofit sector.
Yang’s story begins in an unlikely place for a future nonprofit leader: hunched over a computer in the early days of DOS commands and dial-up modems. Growing up in a computer lab, he developed a deep appreciation for technology that would later influence his approach […]