Founder's Story

Daniel Robbins interviews Hervé de Malliard about the manufacturing mindset he learned while building industrial projects in China from 1994 to 1999 and how that shaped his approach to building complex engineered systems in healthcare. Hervé shares why Maison MGA focuses on integrating robotics and instrumentation into cleanroom environments to support life science workflows, and why TechBio will redefine medicine through personalization, diagnostics, and continuous patient feedback loops.

Key Discussion Points:
Hervé describes how Chinese manufacturers had clear long term plans and executed factory builds with extreme speed, noting that today’s outcomes were “already written in the plan” when he left in 1999. He explains how his career evolved from chemical reactors and greenfield factories to designing complex bioprocessing plants and eventually bringing robotics into life sciences where adoption was once minimal. Hervé defines TechBio as engineering applied to biology, shifting from large bioreactors toward individualized therapies like cell and gene treatments where one vial can mean one patient. He outlines the upside of AI and robotics curing diseases and improving lives, while warning that society must set ethical boundaries so technology remains a tool that protects humanity rather than compromising it.

Takeaways:
A core theme from the episode is that winning manufacturing and innovation comes from vision plus relentless execution, not just ideas. TechBio represents a major inflection point where robotics, instruments, and AI enable personalized care, better diagnostics, and faster iteration in treatment through real patient feedback. Hervé’s line in the sand is clear: progress must save lives and improve living standards, but it cannot become a race to exploit life extension or abandon ethics. Maison MGA’s work shows how “complex engineering” is becoming the backbone of biotech and healthcare sovereignty, turning labs and therapies into scalable, precise systems.

Closing Thoughts:
Founder’s Story captures the rare intersection of industrial strategy and human stakes: how we build faster, and why we must build responsibly. Hervé leaves listeners with optimism that the technologies now converging can uplift global living standards, cure diseases, and create a better future, as long as society chooses the right limits.

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Daniel Robbins interviews Rod Khleif about the crash that wiped out $50M of his net worth, the mindset tools that helped him rebuild, and the business mechanics behind commercial real estate syndications. Rod breaks down how he teaches students to take massive action, focus on cash flow, and design their lives with clear goals that push them through fear.

Key Discussion Points:
Rod explains how Tony Robbins reshaped his mindset around emotional mastery, learning, and giving back, including a pivotal moment watching Tony lead thousands of people during 9/11. He shares why vulnerability and “showing the dirty laundry” is the fastest way to build trust and remove the salesy barrier when leading an audience. Rod reframes failure as a “seminar,” warns against making a business your identity, and says fear regret more than failure. He then walks through why commercial real estate is a team sport, how syndications work, and how operators make money through fees, cash flow, and forcing appreciation by increasing net operating income.

Takeaways:
Your business is a vehicle, not your identity, and resilience starts when you separate who you are from what happened to you. Set goals with a clear why, because desire is what pushes you through fear, discomfort, and reinvention. Rod’s core lesson is simple: the people who win are not the richest, they are the ones who take massive action and build competence until confidence follows.

Closing Thoughts:
This episode is a reminder that the biggest comebacks are built on mindset first, strategy second. Rod leaves listeners with urgency to pick a vehicle, start learning now, and prepare for a faster changing future where adaptability matters more than certainty.

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Daniel Robbins interviews Minh Nguyen and John Avera of xOrbita about why space is becoming a major commercial frontier and why orbital debris is one of the biggest hidden risks in orbit. The episode explores how xOrbita is building affordable debris detection and smarter collision avoidance systems to help protect satellites and extend mission life.

Key Discussion Points:
Minh explains why cheaper launches and easier satellite access are driving a major wave of commercial space activity. He shares the story of how a debris strike on a university satellite pushed him to focus xOrbita on orbital safety. John describes how he discovered Minh’s work and saw a way to apply his experience in sensors, edge systems, and detection. Together, they explain why xOrbita is building an intelligence first system that turns debris data into real time maneuver recommendations.

Takeaways:
Orbital debris is not just a technical problem because it directly affects the economics and reliability of the growing space industry. xOrbita’s approach stands out by focusing on actionable safety intelligence, not just more raw tracking data. The episode also shows how mission driven founders from different generations can build a powerful partnership around a high stakes problem.

Closing Thoughts:
Founder’s Story turns a complex space infrastructure topic into an accessible and exciting conversation about what it takes to build the future safely. Minh and John make a strong case that solving orbital debris is a critical step toward a bigger human future in space.

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Daniel Robbins interviews KeyAnna Schmiedl of Workhuman about the growing fear of AI in the workplace and why leaders must stop treating AI as a workforce replacement strategy. KeyAnna shares a practical, human-centered roadmap for adoption, arguing that people are the true differentiator in a world where companies may all have access to similar AI tools.

Key Discussion Points:
KeyAnna explains that many organizations are making a foundational mistake by investing heavily in AI technology while barely investing in the people expected to use it, citing a 93 percent versus 7 percent imbalance discussed in the episode. She argues that leaders should involve employees in defining where AI can reduce friction in their day to day work, rather than forcing top down solutions tied to layoffs and short term margin pressure. The conversation also covers how CEOs can move from being “careful” to “thoughtful” with AI by allowing responsible experimentation, learning from real usage, and avoiding overrestrictive policies that slow progress. Daniel and KeyAnna then explore what great culture looks like today, emphasizing transparency, employee voice, and trust building during times of high skepticism. In a powerful personal reflection, KeyAnna shares how authenticity, humility, transparency, and curiosity shaped her leadership journey and helped her grow into a role she once viewed as almost unimaginable.

Takeaways:
This episode makes a strong case that AI adoption is ultimately a leadership and culture challenge, not just a technology rollout. KeyAnna’s message is clear: organizations that treat people as a cost center will miss the real opportunity, while those that equip and include people will create stronger innovation and better outcomes. Leaders can start immediately by sharing where AI is working, where it is not, and normalizing experimentation across teams. Her framework around thoughtful leadership is especially useful for executives navigating board pressure, layoffs, and uncertainty. The episode also offers a deeply human reminder that curiosity and consistent authenticity can open doors that once felt completely out of reach.

Closing Thoughts:
This Founder’s Story conversation stands out because it blends practical AI leadership advice with a deeply personal leadership philosophy rooted in trust and transparency. KeyAnna leaves listeners with a more optimistic view of the future of work by showing that the companies that win with AI will be the ones that invest in humans first.

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Samyr Laine joins Founder’s Story to share his unconventional path from Olympic athlete to operator inside some of culture’s most influential companies before launching Freedom Trail Capital. He reflects on what it was like working directly with Jay-Z and Will Smith, the discipline and communication patterns that define elite performers, and how those experiences shaped his investment philosophy around authentic talent-driven businesses.

Key Discussion Points:
Samyr describes how observing Jay-Z and Will Smith revealed a shared foundation of discipline, listening, communication, and clarity of objectives that drives sustained high performance. He explains how his career was intentionally designed as a series of learning environments to minimize weaknesses before entrepreneurship, mirroring the constant improvement mindset he developed as a triple jumper. The conversation highlights his realization that talent-led businesses were often built without rigorous investment thinking, which led to the creation of Freedom Trail Capital to pair authentic talent with strong companies solving real problems. He also emphasizes that celebrity alone does not create successful brands, noting that authenticity, operational excellence, and clear differentiation consistently separate winners from copycat ventures.

Takeaways:
This episode reinforces the power of designing your career as preparation rather than destination, intentionally stacking skills and experiences that compound over time. Samyr’s story shows that proximity to greatness offers learning opportunities only when paired with humility, curiosity, and disciplined execution. His framework for evaluating talent-driven brands highlights that fundamentals must precede influence, and that consumers quickly detect inauthenticity. Ultimately, his journey illustrates how an Olympic growth mindset can translate directly into business, investing, and leadership.

Closing Thoughts:
Samyr Laine’s path demonstrates that elite performance principles are transferable across arenas, from track and field to global entertainment to venture capital. His story serves as a reminder that long-term preparation, authentic storytelling, and disciplined communication remain timeless advantages in any field.

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