Of Note

Many enthusiasts dream of starting a business around their obsessions. Greg Higgs is one of those entrepreneurs that actually did it. After a wild ride in Jakarta, Indonesia fresh out of college, Greg had laid the groundwork for Fab Fours, an auto customization company specializing in bumpers for outdoor enthusiasts. Year after year, Greg has fully delivered on innovative ideas and designs that have shaken up his industry. With a strong track record and plenty of gas left in the tank, Greg wants to keep growing his business. Joseph and Laura talk with Greg about the challenges behind scaling a company from a cultural standpoint — detailing hiring from within vs. outside the company, how to maintain culture as you grow, and the effects culture can have on day-to-day operations. Greg also dives into his philosophy on product design, managing competition, and advice for enthusiasts looking to start their own company. "Of Note" is an original production by Scribble (http://scribblesc.com) and Designsensory (htt

Sherine Chan and her business partner are developing compounds that could potentially treat severe neurological diseases, such as epilepsy and Parkinson's. As a lifelong scientist, she's now entered the unfamiliar world of business pitches, grant writing, and fundraising. Playing two roles — researcher and entrepreneur — is no easy task. See how she aims to bring her innovative ideas to the big stage and what you can learn from her journey. This is Of Note.

Electric vehicles, connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles — we're all familiar with the innovations currently happening in the automotive space. However, in the future world that Dr. Srikanth Pilla dreams of, cars will be fully recyclable with all of their parts being totally reusable. Through his background in biocomposites, or new materials created from both natural and synthetic sources, Srikanth aims to bring the circular economy concept to the automotive industry.

How do you translate a lifetime in academia to the world of entrepreneurship? Jack Peck, CEO of FastFetch Corporation, has spent nearly five decades in the world of computer science—even starting the department for it at Clemson University. And now, he's leveraging his background to solve some of the biggest problems in the evolving world of order fulfillment.

There are plenty of things you might think are unteachable. Like empathy, or the act of invention and innovation. But John DesJardins would disagree. We talk to John about how he teaches his students at Clemson University the secret skills that are invaluable to entrepreneurs. This is Of Note.

Here's the truth, that company culture you're trying to build? It can't be architected. But it can be supported. Jon-Michial Carter and his brother built their company, Chartspan, on the back of one key thing—failure. They learn from it, embrace it, and even celebrate it. And it's lead to big things. Like Chartspan being named one of the most innovative companies in America. This is Of Note.

Picture this: A young entrepreneur with national product distribution and global sales who has been in the game for just shy of a decade. Now, meet Gabby Goodwin, a 12-year-old CEO and that exact entrepreneur. She and her mother Rozalynn founded GaBBY Bows, a successful hair care company, that stands for girl power, confidence, and entrepreneurship. This is Of Note.

What do you do when you unwittingly start a successful business? Run with it. That's what accidental entrepreneur Philippe Herndon of Caroline Guitar Company did, and musicians like Nels Cline and Jason Isbell are probably pretty happy he did. Phillipe discusses the importance of the "process of editing" and the value of constantly creating. This is Of Note.

Repeatedly named one of the Most Powerful Women in Technology, Chief Technology Officer Mary Beth Westmoreland helps to keep Blackbaud diverse, innovative, and ever impactful. What keeps a leading cloud software company moving forward and looking ahead? And how can your work affect the greater social good? This is Of Note.

Rocket scientist turned serial entrepreneur and inventor Krissa Watry proves that you don't need giant labs and millions of dollars to be innovative and try to change the world. You just need some know-how and the space to be creative. This is Of Note.