Coffee with a T-bird hosted by Alex Rozenfeld
Grab a cup of coffee and join Alex Rozenfeld, Thunderbird alum and founder of Freshwater Investments, as he sits down with fellow T-bird graduates who are making an impact in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features open and insightful conversations that explore the pivotal moments, personal motivations, and lessons learned on their journeys.
From building companies across continents to leading global teams, these stories highlight the drive and mindset behind success. Whether you're a student, alum, or someone passionate about business and personal growth, you'll walk away with fresh ideas and real-world perspective.
This is more than a podcast—it’s a platform for connection, storytelling, and celebrating the global spirit of Thunderbird.
This podcast is sponsored by www.freshwaterinvestments.com
Episodes
22 episodes
From Small-Town in India to Forbes 40 Under 40: Sanghita Dey's Startup Playbook
In this episode, I spoke with fintech entrepreneur Sanghita Dey, co-founder and CEO of Solus Finance, a company making crypto derivatives more accessible through gamified, social trading. A ...
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Episode 23
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52:26
Scaling Mountains and Hotels: Michael Johnston's Journey from Private Equity to Hospitality and Beyond
In this conversation, Michael Johnston shares his fascinating journey from strategy consulting and private equity to becoming a hospitality entrepreneur. He discusses his early travels, the impact of his Peace Corps experience in Ukraine, and t...
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Episode 22
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1:01:42
The Speech, The Scale, The Shift: Eduardo Donnelly on Leading Uber LATAM—and the Transition to Executive Coaching
Eduardo Donnelly spent nearly a decade helping build Uber in Latin America—from launching Uber Eats and scaling it 7×, to leading operations across 18 markets and overseeing half of the company’s global trips. But at the height of his career, h...
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Episode 21
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56:23
From Scuba Diver to CEO: How Joe O’Dowd Turned Global Adventures into Purpose-Driven Leadership
In this conversation, Joe O'Dowd discusses his transformative gift to establish the O'Dowd Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ocean Diplomacy and Leadership at Thunderbird. He explains the significance of ocean diplomacy, the blue economy, and the impo...
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Episode 20
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48:25
From Executive TV Producer to Startup Advisor: The Many Lives of Maria Botta
In this conversation, Maria Botta shares her unique journey from a multicultural childhood as the daughter of Cuban refugees to a successful career in film, television, and startup advising. She discusses the challenges of adapting to different...
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Episode 19
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33:46
How to Sell Your Company to Walmart: Insights from Bill Goodwin
In this conversation, Bill Goodwin shares his extensive experience in leadership and business transformation, discussing his journey from a young worker in various jobs to becoming a CEO and eventually a leadership coach. He emphasizes the impo...
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Episode 18
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56:01
From IBM to Entrepreneurship: Carter Looney on Scaling, Hiring, and Raising Millions
In this conversation, Carter Looney shares his extensive experience as an entrepreneur, discussing his journey from a successful exit in 2010 to his current focus on helping businesses grow through mergers and acquisitions. He emphasizes the im...
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Episode 17
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40:34
Laura Libman: Building Health, Hope and Human Dignity One Community at a Time
When Laura Libman left a successful aerospace career, she didn’t plan to start a nonprofit. But a summer of field research in rural Mexico after graduating from Thunderbird changed everything. In this episode, she shares the incredible a...
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Episode 16
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51:42
Coca Cola lessons and global adventures with Shawn Gallegly
Join us as we delve into the fascinating global marketing journey of Shawn Gallegly, a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience. From driving growth for iconic brands like Coca-Cola and Carlsberg to his adventures in Lagos and beyond, S...
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Episode 15
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1:01:35
From Casablanca to Startup Founder with Rabie Zahri
Rabie Zahri didn’t speak a word of English when he arrived in the U.S. at 18. Fast forward to today — he's the CEO and co-founder of Positon, an AI platform transforming the M&A lifecycle from deal origination to post-close int...
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Episode 14
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41:58
Goodyear, Gretzky, and Global Growth: Inside Marco Molinari’s Leadership Story
In this conversation, Marco Molinari shares his extensive experience in global business, highlighting his successful marketing campaigns at Goodyear, including a notable celebrity endorsement with Wayne Gretzky. He reflects on his upbrin...
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Episode 12
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1:01:15
Clean Beauty, Big Dreams: How Suzanne Martens Built Adesse New York from Scratch
In this conversation, Suzanne Martens, founder of Adesse New York, shares her journey from a childhood in Pennsylvania to becoming a leader in the clean beauty industry. She discusses her entrepreneurial spirit, the challenges of startin...
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Episode 11
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45:37
From India to England in a 73-Year-Old Car: Daman Thakore’s 13,000 KM Family Road Trip
What happens when a childhood dream, a vintage convertible, and a tight-knit Indian family collide? You get the incredible journey of Daman Thakore—a businessman, tennis champ, and explorer at heart—who drove 13,000 kilometers from Ah...
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Episode 10
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41:34
From Caracas to Pepsi and Koch Industries: Aquiles' Journey of Resilience and Reinvention
In this episode, Aquiles Gatas shares his incredible path from growing up in poverty in Venezuela to leading marketing at PepsiCo and managing billion-dollar investments at Koch Industries. He talks about his transition into entrepreneur...
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Episode 9
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38:00
Glen Michel on Japanese Whisky, Big Asks, and Building a $200M AUM Firm
In this engaging conversation, Glenn Michel shares his multifaceted life journey, from his passion for Japanese whiskey to his experiences in martial arts and his transformative time at Thunderbird School. He discusses his entrepreneurial journ...
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Episode 8
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1:00:40
From Formula One to the Olympic Flame: Andreas Sigl’s Playbook on Leadership & Marketing
Andreas Sigl joins the show to talk about his global career in branding and marketing. He shares stories from working in Japan, leading Formula One sponsorships, helping launch Infiniti in Europe, and even advising the International Olympic Com...
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Episode 7
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48:13
Cable Deals, Pinot Noir, and a Life Well Lived with Nimrod Kovacs
Join us in this captivating episode as we sit down with Nimrod Kovacs, a seasoned entrepreneur and wine enthusiast, who shares his incredible journey from growing up in post-war Budapest to becoming a successful businessman in the United States...
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Episode 6
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40:49
A Crazy Job Offer, a War Zone, and a Global Mission: Kellie Kreiser’s Unplanned Journey
In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Kellie Kreiser '04, a pivotal figure at Thunderbird Business School. From her unexpected start at Thunde...
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Episode 5
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58:00
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Building Business Across Borders: Egor Musatov’s Journey in Emerging Markets
SummaryIn this conversation, Egor Musatov '04 shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the Soviet Union to becoming a successful director at
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Episode 4
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47:34
Global Expansion and Cultural Intelligence: Gbemi Disu's Leadership Story
SummaryIn this conversation, Gbemi Disu '06 shares her journey from launching a new campus for George Mason University in Korea to her current role as Vice Preside...
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Episode 3
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46:00
