PODCAST

What does it take to scale an idea from a small startup to a $650M exit — and then shift gears into building a nonprofit that changes lives? Felipe Sommer’s journey from Argentina to Silicon Valley, from Accenture to Nearpod, and now to Bloom, is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, leadership, and purpose. His story blends resilience, strategy, and heart in ways few founders openly share. Felipe began his career in economics and consulting with Andersen (Accenture), later moving to California during the dot-com boom. After launching several ventures in Miami, he co-founded **Nearpod**, one of the most successful edtech platforms of its time, ultimately serving tens of millions of students and exiting in a landmark $650M acquisition. Today, Felipe mentors entrepreneurs, advises companies, and leads **Bloom**, a nonprofit empowering neurodiverse young adults. In this episode of the Leading Peers Podcast, you’ll learn: ✅ How Felipe recognized the “hay algo” moment that sparked Nearpod’s success ✅ The role of co-founders in surviving the entrepreneurial roller coaster ✅ Why he chose to build a fast-growth company with an exit in mind from day one ✅ The frameworks and mindset shifts that helped him navigate luck, timing, and the pandemic ✅ How purpose and impact now drive his leadership philosophy through Bloom If you’re a CEO, founder, or leader seeking inspiration and actionable insights, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. --- 📌 Chapters 00:00 - Intro & $650M Exit 01:41 - From Argentina to Silicon Valley 07:17 - The “Hay Algo” Moment 11:00 - Co-Founders & Roller Coaster Lessons 17:43 - Reverse Engineering the Playbook 20:56 - Luck, Timing & the Pandemic 25:43 - Knowing When to Exit 29:47 - Culture, Focus & Experiments 34:11 - Intuition & Product Vision 38:16 - Advisor, Mentor & Angel Investor 47:18 - Coaching Entrepreneurs 50:23 - Why Leading Peers Matters 59:46 - The Grade 13 Problem & Bloom 1:04:36 - Why Microgreens? 1:07:28 - People Above All --- 🎙 Hosted by Leo Popik on the Leading Peers Podcast 🔥 Subscribe for more leadership journeys and growth lessons 📢 Learn more at www.leadingpeers.com #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #ExitStrategy #PeerLearning #EdTech #StartupGrowth #LeadingPeersPodcast

Franck’s story is anything but ordinary. Born in France and raised between South Africa and the Congo, he went from working with Cartier, Tiffany, and Pandora to building his own advisory firm dedicated to helping family businesses grow, transition, and leave a legacy. In this deep and inspiring episode of the Leading Peers Podcast, Franck opens up about: ✅ What he learned from political uprisings, family factories, and corporate boardrooms ✅ Why he walked away from high-level corporate roles to reclaim control of his life ✅ How EOS and exit planning became the tools for his mission ✅ The power of peer accountability and the moment that changed everything ✅ What it means to lead with high standards—and a heart If you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or leader thinking about your next chapter—this episode is for you. 📌 Chapters: 0:00 – Global upbringing & family business roots 7:58 – Corporate career with Cartier, Tiffany, Pandora 14:23 – The entrepreneurial pivot 22:26 – The leadership lesson that changed his life 26:50 – The 10x business plan challenge 48:43 – EOS, exit planning & building a legacy 🎙 Hosted by Leo Popik 🔥 Subscribe for more stories from the leaders who lead with heart. 📢 Learn more at: https://www.leadingpeers.com/ #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #EOS #FamilyBusiness #Legacy #PeerBoards #CEO

More Information about Leading Peers: https://www.leadingpeers.com/ From undocumented teen to law firm founder and Pan-American jiu-jitsu champion—Larissa Salvador’s story is about grit, purpose, and leadership with heart. In this episode of The Leading Peers Podcast, host Leo Popik sits down with Larissa to explore her journey from the slums of Rio to becoming a U.S. citizen, business owner, mother of two, and resilient leader. She opens up about: - The trauma and clarity that came with discovering her undocumented status at 16 - Building Salvador Law after unexpectedly losing her job - Facing the chaos of the pandemic with a newborn and a new business - Leading her team like a soccer captain—through vision, ownership, and trust - Her unwavering belief in family-first leadership and faith-driven purpose Whether you're a business leader, a parent, or someone in transition—Larissa’s story will stay with you long after the episode ends. #TheLeadingPeersPodcast #LarissaSalvador #Leadership #WomenFounders #ImmigrationLaw #BusinessWithPurpose

More Information about Leading Peers: https://www.leadingpeers.com/ In this inspiring episode of Leading Peers, host Leo Popik sits down with Gonzalo Fernández—self‑made entrepreneur, family man, and CEO of Chamonix Yacht—to uncover how he went from cleaning bed sheets and parking cars to building a multi‑marina empire. You’ll learn: - Grit & Gratitude: How Gonzalo’s childhood hustle at age five and his grateful mindset carried him through nine months with zero income. - Calculated Leaps: The story behind “I will only do it if you sell it to me,” and how he financed his first marina. - Leadership Evolution: Why he shifted from micro‑managing to empowering his team and the power of asking great questions. - Massive Self‑Investment: The six‑figure personal development budget—from masterminds to mindfulness—that fuels his growth. - Work–Life Integration: How he protects Sundays for family, rides a motorcycle “caress to the soul,” and plans for a life with no regrets. Whether you’re scaling a small business or leading a team, Gonzalo’s journey is packed with actionable insights. Hit Subscribe, leave us a review, and join our community for more real‑world leadership lessons.

Welcome to The Leading Peers Podcast — Where Leaders Go to Grow. In this short trailer episode, host Leo Popik shares why he created this podcast, what you can expect from each episode, and how it’s designed to help CEOs and entrepreneurs grow through real stories, deep conversations, and leadership insights. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or simply seeking growth, this podcast is your space to learn from exceptional peers—and to become one. Subscribe now and join us on this journey.