• The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas.

  • Written by: Bela Musits
  • Podcast

The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas.

Written by: Bela Musits
  • Summary

  • Explore how to build and grow your business in today’s global marketplace. In each episode, we try to capture and share the essence of how interesting people often take unconventional paths to build their business, some of whom succeed, some who do not. The hosts for this podcast series are Bela Musits, former business school professor, venture capitalist, and entrepreneur based in upstate New York, and Mike Wasserman, professor of international management at the University of Applied Sciences in Münster, Germany.
    Bela Musits
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Episodes
  • EP-178 - Reviving American Watchmaking with RT Custer of Vortic Watch Company
    Feb 6 2025

    In this episode, Bela Musits sits down with RT Custer, the founder of Vortic Watch Company, to explore his journey of bringing American watchmaking back to life. Vortic has carved out a unique niche by creating custom, hand-crafted watches that incorporate vintage American pocket watch movements. From humble beginnings to revolutionizing the watch industry, RT shares the challenges, triumphs, and the passion behind crafting high-quality timepieces that celebrate American heritage.

    In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

    • The Origins of Vortic Watch Company:RT explains how Vortic was born from his desire to combine American history with precision craftsmanship. He shares how he and his team revive antique pocket watches to create modern, custom wristwatches.

    • The Intersection of Art and Engineering:The process of turning vintage pocket watch movements into functional wristwatches requires a deep understanding of both mechanics and artistry. RT talks about how Vortic has created a unique manufacturing process to preserve the integrity of these historical movements while making them wearable.

    • Challenges of American Manufacturing:RT opens up about the difficulties of bringing manufacturing back to the United States, including sourcing materials, creating partnerships with skilled artisans, and maintaining high-quality production standards.

    • The Importance of Craftsmanship and Legacy:Discover the philosophy behind Vortic’s commitment to craftsmanship and the importance of preserving American-made watchmaking. RT discusses how Vortic’s watches serve as a tribute to American industrial heritage while providing a modern twist on a timeless tradition.

    • The Vortic Customization Experience:Vortic offers customers the opportunity to customize their watches, selecting from a variety of vintage movements and designs. RT describes how the company works with customers to make each watch a truly one-of-a-kind piece.

    • Building a Brand and Overcoming Obstacles:Learn about RT's journey as an entrepreneur, the hurdles he faced in growing Vortic, and the importance of staying true to a mission of quality and innovation.

    • Vortic Watch Company Website: vorticwatches.com

    Our podcast is now available on a variety of platforms to suit your listening preferences. You can find us on YouTube, where you can watch the recordings of our episodes, as well as on your favorite podcasting app. Simply search for "The Unconventional Path" to subscribe and never miss an episode.

    We're always on the lookout for interesting guests to feature on our show. If you know someone who has an inspiring story, unique perspective, or valuable expertise to share, please let us know. We're eager to connect with potential guests who can bring fresh insights and engaging conversations to our audience.

    We also love hearing from our listeners! Your questions, comments, and suggestions are incredibly valuable to us. Send us an email at bela.and.mike@gmail.com with your thoughts, and we'll do our best to address them in a future episode. Whether you have a question about a specific topic, feedback on a recent episode, or ideas for future content, we want to hear from you. Your engagement helps us shape the show and deliver content that resonates with our listeners.

    Thanks for listening,

    Bela and Mike

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    50 mins
  • EP-179 New Product Development and Introduction - I Need That - Laurier Mandin
    Jan 17 2025

    In today's episode of the podcast, we have the pleasure of welcoming Laurier Mandin, a distinguished figure in the realm of product innovation. Laurier wears two hats: he is the founder of Graphos, a company that specializes in assisting businesses with product development and launch, and he is the author of the insightful book "I Need That."

    Laurier's expertise lies in shepherding new products from the conceptual stage to successful integration into the marketplace. Throughout the episode, he generously shares his wealth of knowledge and experience, providing listeners with actionable insights on how to navigate the complexities of innovation.

    One of Laurier's key points that is sure to resonate with aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders alike is his assertion that new products need to be significantly superior to existing solutions in order to achieve market success. He believes that a new product should aim to be at least 10 times better than its competitors to truly capture consumer attention and drive adoption. This bold statement underscores the importance of not just incremental improvements, but of groundbreaking innovation that fundamentally transforms the user experience.

    You can find out more about Graphos here:

    https://graphosproduct.com/

    Our podcast is now available on a variety of platforms to suit your listening preferences. You can find us on YouTube, where you can watch the recordings of our episodes, as well as on your favorite podcasting app. Simply search for "The Unconventional Path" to subscribe and never miss an episode.

    We're always on the lookout for interesting guests to feature on our show. If you know someone who has an inspiring story, unique perspective, or valuable expertise to share, please let us know. We're eager to connect with potential guests who can bring fresh insights and engaging conversations to our audience.

    We also love hearing from our listeners! Your questions, comments, and suggestions are incredibly valuable to us. Send us an email at bela.and.mike@gmail.com with your thoughts, and we'll do our best to address them in a future episode. Whether you have a question about a specific topic, feedback on a recent episode, or ideas for future content, we want to hear from you. Your engagement helps us shape the show and deliver content that resonates with our listeners.

    Thanks for listening,

    Bela and Mike

    Show more Show less
    45 mins
  • EP-178 Mastering Marketing Analytics with Jeff Greenfield: From Clicks to Impressions
    Dec 13 2024

    In this podcast episode, Bela Musits delves into the world of modern marketing with Jeff Greenfield, a seasoned entrepreneur whose current venture, Provalytics, is dedicated to helping businesses navigate the complexities of marketing spend optimization.

    The discussion underscores the stark contrast between the traditional marketing landscape and the multifaceted digital environment that businesses operate in today. Gone are the days when a simple ad in the Yellow Pages, newspaper, or radio could suffice. The sheer number of available channels to reach potential customers has exploded, creating a complex challenge for businesses to discern which strategies are truly effective and which are simply draining resources.

    Provalytics steps in to address this challenge, offering tools and expertise to empower companies to make data-driven decisions about their marketing investments. By providing insights into the performance of different marketing channels and campaigns, Provalytics helps businesses allocate their budgets strategically, ensuring maximum return on investment.

    The conversation likely explores the various challenges businesses face in the modern marketing landscape, the evolving role of data and analytics in marketing decision-making, and the innovative solutions Provalytics offers to help businesses achieve marketing success. It may also touch on the broader trends shaping the future of marketing and the importance of adaptability and agility in a rapidly changing environment.

    You can find out more about Provalytics here:

    https://provalytics.com/

    Our podcast is now available on a variety of platforms to suit your listening preferences. You can find us on YouTube, where you can watch the recordings of our episodes, as well as on your favorite podcasting app. Simply search for "The Unconventional Path" to subscribe and never miss an episode.

    We're always on the lookout for interesting guests to feature on our show. If you know someone who has an inspiring story, unique perspective, or valuable expertise to share, please let us know. We're eager to connect with potential guests who can bring fresh insights and engaging conversations to our audience.

    We also love hearing from our listeners! Your questions, comments, and suggestions are incredibly valuable to us. Send us an email at bela.and.mike@gmail.com with your thoughts, and we'll do our best to address them in a future episode. Whether you have a question about a specific topic, feedback on a recent episode, or ideas for future content, we want to hear from you. Your engagement helps us shape the show and deliver content that resonates with our listeners.

    Thank you for being a part of our podcast community. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to bring you inspiring stories and thought-provoking conversations on The Unconventional Path. Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with your friends and family. Together, we can explore the endless possibilities that lie beyond the conventional.

    Thanks for listening,

    Bela and Mike

    Show more Show less
    51 mins

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