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Fearless Founders

Fearless Founders

Written by: Midland Institute
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About this listen

Fearless Founders podcast is an audio adaptation of a live experience hosted for CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) Program participants across the nation each year. CEO is an entrepreneurship program provided by the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship that is transforming young people across the nation into entrepreneurial thinkers. A part of the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship’s ever-present mission to develop the next generation of thought leaders and innovators, this series was born out of a passion to share valuable life stories with these high school entrepreneurs and invite them to build their network on a national level. In this podcast, you’ll hear a collection of special conversations with highly, successful visionary leaders - from Olympic champions to New York Times bestselling authors - that touch on how they got there, the failures they overcame, and what they learned along the way. To learn more about the CEO Program, visit DiscoverCEO.com.

© 2026 Fearless Founders
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Self-Help Social Sciences Success
Episodes
  • Manda Goldberg | From Layoff to Agency: The Cella Gold Story
    Jan 23 2026

    In this episode, Ashton sits down with Manda Goldberg, Founder & Chief Strategist of Cella Gold Media, a social media agency based in South Florida serving real estate and service-based brands. After being laid off, Manda chose to build instead of job-hunting, a decision that would lead her to scale beyond 60+ brands and consult with agencies looking to sharpen their strategy and scale smarter.

    We talk about the shift from freelancing to agency building, the systems that make social media feel effortless for clients, and why founders consistently underestimate social while overestimating trends. Manda shares how to get your first five clients from zero, what she’d do differently, and where she believes social media for brands is heading next. Her mission is simple but profound: giving entrepreneurs back their most valuable asset — time.

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    59 mins
  • Elena DiStefano | Inventing Comfort with the Cozy Clip®
    Dec 2 2025

    In this episode of Fearless Founders, I sit down with Elena DiStefano, the founder and inventor of the Cozy Clip®—a groundbreaking redesign of the classic claw clip created to eliminate pain and prioritize everyday comfort. After years of loving the look of claw clips but experiencing constant discomfort—especially while driving—Elena realized the solution she needed didn't exist. So, she built it herself.

    Starting with a 3D printer prototype in her college dorm, Elena transformed a simple problem into a purpose-driven product that is now making an impact on women's everyday lives. Her story is one of creativity and believing in an idea before anyone else could see it.

    This is a conversation for every builder, dreamer, and doer who is ready to turn inspiration into action. You're going to love this one.

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    53 mins
  • Ashton Shultz - From CEO Student to Founder: The Story Behind Ashton Jo Marketing
    Oct 24 2025

    In this special episode, the mic flips — and host, Ashton Shultz takes over! 🎙️


    Hear the story behind Ashton Jo Marketing, from a high school CEO student with a dream to a full-time entrepreneur leading brands and mentoring the next generation. Ashton shares real, actionable marketing insights, lessons learned from the journey, and how the CEO Program continues to shape her both personally and professionally.

    Whether you’re a student, creative, or entrepreneur, this conversation is your reminder that starting small can still lead to something extraordinary.

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    51 mins
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