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In a world that seems to favor top performers, we often overlook the mindset and the methods of everyday entrepreneurs—the underdogs and the misfits who have no particular advantage in life—yet somehow manage to succeed.

Author-and-entrepreneur Gary Schoeniger has traveled the world interviewing entrepreneurs and exploring the research to expose the hidden logic that exposes opportunities, optimizes engagement, and unleashes human potential. Whether you want to start a business, engage your team, or reinvent your career, this podcast will show you how an entrepreneurial mindset can empower ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

Gary Schoeniger is an internationally recognized thought leader in the field of entrepreneurial mindset education. As the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI) founder and CEO, Gary’s work has influenced a broad audience – from aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to academic and organizational leaders worldwide. These include the Kauffman Foundation, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, Tecnolólogico de Monterrey, the European Commission, and the U.S. State Department.

Gary, along with Pulitzer nominee Clifton Taulbert, is the co-author of Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur, an international bestseller described as “required reading for humanity.” He also led the Ice House Entrepreneurship Programs’ development. The Kauffman Foundation has recognized the Ice House Programs as “redefining entrepreneurship education in classrooms and communities around the world.”

In this podcast, Gary explores the entrepreneurial mindset as a cognitive framework essential for individuals and organizations to adapt and thrive in today’s rapidly changing world.

Episode Blogs

The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project | Richard Boyatzis | Change
  Change is a constant force in both personal and professional growth. Join us for another episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project as we sit down with Richard Boyatzis, a renowned psychologist and leading expert in emotional intelligence—an essential aspect of the entrepreneurial mindset. Drawing from his latest book, The Science of Change, and over 50 years of research, Boyatzis explores the five core elements of lasting change. Together, we discuss how his Intentional Change
The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project | Adam Pearson | Finding Fortunato
  In this episode, we speak with Adam Pearson, co-founder of Fortunato No.4, a family-owned business producing some of the world’s finest chocolate. Their journey—from the streets of San Diego to the jungles of Peru—is an adventure you won’t want to miss. After losing their family business, Adam, along with his father and brother, had to start over. Selling parts for mining equipment led them to a successful chocolate business serving global customers. Through perseverance,
The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project | Jaime Casap | Learning And Work
  In this episode, we talk with Jaime Casap, former Chief Education Evangelist at Google. We discuss the evolving nature of learning and work, and why all students need to develop entrepreneurial attitudes and skills. Jaime challenges us to rethink how we prepare students for today’s world, shifting the question from “What do you want to be when you grow up?” to “What problem do you want to solve, and what do you need to
The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project | Bob Kramer | Successful Entrepreneur
  In this episode of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, we dive into the extraordinary journey of Bob Kramer, a master bladesmith and founder of Kramer Knives, known for crafting some of the world’s finest cutlery. Bob’s path is anything but conventional—ranging from clown college to oceanography and the culinary arts. Through undiagnosed dyslexia and a relentless spirit of adventure, Bob’s story is a testament to the unpredictable yet rewarding nature of discovering opportunities and oneself.
The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project | Dan Thorenson | Calculated Risks
    In this episode of The Entrepreneurial Mindset Project, we talk to Dan Thorenson, a former Navy mechanic who became an unlikely entrepreneur. Dan grew up in a small town in North Dakota and floundered in school until he discovered an auto shop program that took him from the very bottom of his class to the top. After high school, he joined the Navy, where he became an airplane mechanic, a skill that led