Valerie Roth
Owner and FounderFire Brew
The Mistake: I would’ve done what I’m doing now 20 years ago. I always knew that I loved product and branding and design and food products. When I...
If I Knew Then...
Even born leaders have learning curves. In this feature, local insiders share their wisdom and talk about mistakes that shaped their business philosophy.
Tod Hynes
Co-founder and CEOXL
The Mistake: The mistake was waiting too long to learn as much as we could about our potential customers' buying habits. XL is a fleet...
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Fire Brew -
Al Danto
Managing partner
The Danto GroupThe Mistake: I didn’t seek out the power of wisdom. When I was young, I thought I knew it all. It’s like listening to your parents and not realizing...
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Patrick Steel
Chief Executive Officer
POLITICOThe Mistake: The mistake was enduring certain relationships for too long when your values don’t align. One of the things I wish I knew sooner is that...
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George D. “Bo” Bragaw, III
Managing Director
Alex. BrownThe Mistake: The mistake was not pausing to consider whether a new opportunity was the right fit. I’ve been in the brokerage industry for 30 years,...
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Kris Foss
Managing Director, Disability Solutions
Ability BeyondThe Mistake: Because my early work building a model to hire talent with disabilities with PepsiCo had gone so smoothly, five years ago, I expected...
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Ben Ow
Co-founder and owner
StoAmigoThe Mistake: Not simplifying a good idea. As someone who likes to invent things, I'll always have a cool idea and say, "What about this? Let's do...
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Scott Bowden
Regional Director of Project Accounting
Skanska MidwestThe Mistake: Early in my career, in trying to fit into the corporate world, I think I was trying to be someone that maybe I wasn't, and instead be...
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Peter Dunn
Principal
Activate HealthcareThe Mistake: Underestimating the power of the team. Years ago, I was a brand manager overseeing my first P&L of a business and a team. We were...
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Sierra Smith
co-founder
ZorpadsThe Mistake: Early on, I had a hard time filtering advice—and knowing that advice is just that, it’s advice. It’s not a command, it’s not a "you must...
