Ross Kogon, Pull-A-Part CEO + DeLorean DMC-12

Today on Riding Shotgun the Techrides Podcast, host Edwin Marcial rides with Shep Ogden, CEO and co-founder of Offbeat Media. Shep and Offbeat are pioneers in the Web3 and the virtual influencer space. Edwin and Shep are diving deep into Web3, NFTs and the Metaverse . They discuss the origins and principles of Web3, how NFTs play a valuable role in the new ownership economy, and what this means for brands navigating the evolving Metaverse. They also discuss virtual influencers. Come along for the ride in Edwin's 2015 Porsche 911 GTS.     In this episode: What is Web3The motivation for Web3 and the ownership economyWhat is an NFT and what is the role of an NFT in Web3How are NFTs are being leveraged in the MetaverseHow are brands like Nike and McDonald's are using NFTs and staking out their own space in the MetaverseHow the early evolution of the Internet led us to blockchain and the new Web3 worldYou can watch the full video of this episode and the ride in Edwin Marcial's 2015 Porsche 911 GTS at https://techrides.io/episodes/41Video highlight clips from this and all episodes now available at https://techrides.io/shorts***************Announcing Ticket to Ride NFTs. https://techrides.io/nftTechrides NFTs give holders access to special digital content along with in person events, and will also support the continued development of Techrides content.           

Ever have a low battery on your cell phone and wish you could just swap it out for a fresh one with a full charge? Imagine if you could do that same thing with your car battery when it was running low? That's exactly what EV car maker NIO, Inc. has pioneered - battery swap technology that will replace a  depleted car battery with a fresh one. This is just one of the innovations that I'll talk about with Ganesh Iyer, Global Chief Information Officer (CIO) for NIO. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, NIO was started in 2014 by founder and CEO, William Li. NIO is a pioneer in China’s premium EV market driving innovation in connectivity, autonomous driving,  and charging solutions. So come along for the ride and get to know Ganesh and NIO, Inc. as we roll in a 2021 NIO ES8 and discuss:The future of EV drivingProprietary built in artificial intelligence (AI)Battery swap stationsBattery as a Service (BAAS)The NIO ES8Autonomous DrivingThe NIO EP9 (featured in the Xbox game Forza Horizon 5 and now on display at the Peterson hypercar museum in Los Angeles)The EP9's autonomous world speed record set at COTA in Austin, TXGo to https://techrides.io to watch the full episode, see pictures of our guests and cars, and watch short highlight clips. 

Dr Ebbie Parsons is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur and the founder and managing partner of Managing Director of Yardstick Management. Ebbie started Yardstick Management, a management consulting firm with a goal of improving the opportunities for underserved minorities in corporate America. Today Yardstick is a leader in management consulting solutions for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) as well as Executive Search. Yardstick clients include some of the largest names in business including Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, and LinkedIn.Today on Riding Shotgun, Edwin and Ebbie discuss:Ebbie’s career path, and how his desire to make a difference in the lives of underserved minorities led to his founding YardstickHow corporate culture impacts diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)How the killing of George Floyd and the Great Resignation have changed the DEI landscape in Corporate AmericaAdvice for minorities seeking to break into corporate leadership positions and corporate boardsThe biggest lessons Ebbie has learned as an entrepreneur The launch of the Yardstick Management InstituteTo see the images of our guests and featured cars, and become a techrides member, go to https://techrides.io

Techrides host Edwin Marcial rides along with serial entrepreneur and investor David Cummings. David is the founder of the Atlanta Tech Village (ATV) — the United States’ 4th largest tech hub. David built ATV after selling his marketing automation software company Pardot for $100 million dollars. He is also the founder of Atlanta Tech Ventures through which he has invested in several of Atlanta’s hottest startups including Calendly,  SalesLoft and Terminus.Join Edwin and David as they ride in David’s 2017 Acura NSX and discussDavid’s early career in entrepreneurship including starting a software business in High School and building another Hannon Hill while a student at Duke.Founding and selling Pardot for $100 MillionWhy he built the Atlanta Tech Village, one of the largest startup work spaces in the USWhat he looks for in the companies he is looking to invest inThe characteristics he thinks make a successful founderKey mistakes that lead to startup failuresHow startups should think about raising moneyHow Atlanta’s startup ecosystem has changed post pandemicAdvice he has for those just getting started in entrepreneurship or thinking about getting startedThe Atlanta startups companies he is most excited aboutTo see the full video for this episode and other episodes, along with images of our guests and featured cars, go to https://techrides.io 

Listen as Edwin discusses:Dropping out of college and going back to focus on his passion - Computer ScienceNavigating through rejection early in his careerWhy he left a large engineering company, and chose to work for a startupTransitioning away from an individual contributor to a manager/leader and CTOHow ICE built a culture of high performance includingSetting big goalsThe importance of giving employees equity in a young companyEmotional intelligence - understanding the people you manage.Getting the ‘right people on the bus’, motivating them and removing your worst performersManaging your culture, not your peopleInnovating by thinking differentlyDeveloping a process to identify and recruit the very best peopleCompeting as a team vs competing against each otherBuilding a diverse team through a focus on skillsEmerging tech industries he is most excited aboutCompeting with EnronLeadership in one word

Hear how:The nursing shortage inspired the origin story of SnapNurseSnapNurse answered the bell of the COVID-19 battle, and put its business into hyperdrive in the processHow SnapMedTech has pivoted to offer payments and a SaaS platform to it's offeringsTechnology has enabled SnapNurse to leverage its growthA nurse strike in California led to a tremendous opportunity and responseSnapNurse grew their business despite being turned down by just about every VC they spoke toThe tenacity of the founders has put SnapNurse into a position to succeedTheir journey has led to key entrepreneurship lessons

Host Edwin Marcial goes back in time to learn about the Delorean DMC-12 and then interviews Pull-A-Part CEO, Ross Kogon, about his company’s culture and success. Join us as Ross and Edwin ride in a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 and discuss a few topics including:The history of the DeLorean DMC-12The trouble and mistakes of founder John DeLorean that led to the demise of his companyHow Pull-A-Part got its start as a side business that grew into 25 locations across 12 U.S. statesWhat makes the Pull-A-Part business model so uniqueHow Ross got his start in the business, how he handles company culture, and his vision for leadership for the companyHow Ross sees his company playing a vital part in the self-repair industry even after electric cars overtake traditional combustion enginesAnd more!

Adam Ghetti is the Founder and CEO of Ionic Security, a data security firm that uses a holistic approach to prevent information silos and backdoor hacks. Join us as Adam and Edwin ride in a 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible and discuss a few topics including:How Adam got his start in TechWhy Adam dropped out of high school and how that helped him launch his companyOpinions on Tesla and the future of EVs and self-driving trucksHow ridesharing is changing travel as we know itThe importance of data security and the Equifax Data BreachHow AI could eventually write and build its own softwareWhat brain data backup could mean for the future of humanity and consciousness as we know itAnd more! 

Five million young adults in the U.S. do not have a stable career pathway to well-paid jobs. Meanwhile, 12 million jobs that require post-secondary education will go unfilled in the next decade. Year Up is a non-profit organization that enables underrepresented young adults ages 18-24 to move from minimum wage to meaningful careers in just one year. In this podcast episode, host Edwin Marcial interviews three alumni from Year Up Atlanta: Carmen Buezo, Emanuel Romero, and Kevin Ngunjiri. Learn their background, their challenges, and obstacles within the traditional education system, and how Year Up Atlanta was able to provide them incredible opportunity for the future of their careers!Come along for the ride as Edwin and the gang discuss a few topics including:The importance of Year Up as it prepares students to enter corporate environments and empowers them to effect change in their own lives How companies like Aaron’s, Autotrader, Cox Automotive, and more are investing in Year Up through in corporate partnerships and are offering internships to alumniYou’ll also get to hear specifics about each of the three alumni: Carmen: left Honduras after political unrest and is starting college soon. What Carmen is learning through Year Up:Impact of working in a corporate environmentImproving consumers’ ability to obtain products through data analysis and automationBuilding reports to send to partner companies Emanuel: learning how to code and develop software as a DACA recipient from MexicoWhat Emanuel is learning through Year Up:Learning how to project confidence when speaking in front of other people Can now speak in front of larger groups in business settingsKevin: an immigrant from Kenya is driven by a desire to understand web developmentWhat Kevin is learning through Year Up:Learning how to build and maintain websites and has a knack for accomplishing the features that customers requestUnderstanding how to work with teams when conflict arises

Gil West is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Delta Air Lines and has been with the company for 12 years. His background in engineering led him to an early career at Boeing but now he oversees the day-to-day operations at Delta, ensuring the airline is safe and reliable.Come along for the ride as Edwin and Gil West discuss a few topics including:Gil's passion for cars particularly the spectacular 2020 Ford GTDelta’s industry-leading response to the COVID-19 pandemicThe safety of current aircrafts and how Delta has led the charge to make airplanes as safe and sanitary as a hospital operating roomGil's thoughts on Boeing’s issues with the 737 MaxInnovative startups working with Delta to transform the flight experienceThe future of aviation including electric planes and hypersonic flightKeys to Gil's tremendously successful careerAnd more!