The Tomasz Show
41 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 37 ratingsWelcome to The Tomasz Show, a podcast hosted by Tomasz Kwiatkowski, Director of Business Development at projekt202, a connector, content creator, and speaker. On this podcast, you will find interviews with community leaders, executives, and influencers who generously share their inspiring stories as well as many personal and professional growth pillars that helped them to get where they are today. Tomasz has been fortunate to develop relationships with many inspirational people on the daily basis on his journey as a 1st generation immigrant and documents that journey for the benefit of the next generation. Enjoy the show!
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Episodes
Philip Farmer - On Coaching Bryan Brothers & Life On and Off the Tennis Court | Tennis Coach | Former D1 Athlete | Keynote Speaker
September 21, 2020 21:56 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBPhilip Farmer is a dear family friend of many years. I love his energy and light-hearted spirit. He played Division 1 tennis at Oklahoma University and after graduation, quickly identified his gift for coaching. Under his leadership, former #1 World Ranked Bryan Brothers (2003-2005, 2017) won 4 Grand Slam titles and advanced to 4 Grand Slam Finals. In addition, he trained former #1 Corina Morariu (2002) to reach 2 Grand Slam Titles. Today, he is a public speaker promoting mental toughness an...
Ineyes Wright - An Artistic Look Into Self-Care | Author | Photographer | Fashionista
August 31, 2020 19:37 - 49 minutes - 45 MBIneyes Wright got her BFA education from the Art Institute of Dallas. 2 years after she landed her 1st corporate job as a Junior CAD artist, she was laid off along with many others wondering what to do next. Soon after, was introduced to a Steve Harvey's challenge to write down 500 things that she would like to accomplish in life. In addition to crossing things off her list, she decided to create her own fashion line, become a photographer & write a book - Take It Off: An Artistic Look Into ...
Bryan Griffin - The Tennis Player Turned Social Media Marketer and Fashion Insider | Former Professional Tennis Player | GQ Insider | Social Media Influencer
August 10, 2020 20:57 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBBryan Griffin is originally from Columbus, OH and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2011. Yes, he is yet another fellow Mustang! Bryan is an expert in digital content creation, personal branding, fashion, and lifestyle content production. Featured in multiple leading US and British fashion publications, he has been commissioned by brands such as GQ, Mr. Porter, Christian Louboutin, Macy’s, Samsung, Swatch, Pernod Ricard Spirits, and VF Corporation. I am excited to share his sto...
Robert Nyakundi - The Life After Basketball | Former Professional Basketball Player | SMU Alum | Physical Therapist
August 03, 2020 03:58 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBRobert and I go back to 2007. We were basketball teammates at SMU in Dallas, TX. He is like a brother from another mother to me. He has been to my home country of Poland, we traveled to Africa together. We were fortunate to create countless memories and have stories to share for a lifetime. In this episode, Robert provides a lot of insights from his basketball career in Europe and his goal to become a licensed physical therapist in the nearest future. I am super pumped to share this with you...
Kelvin Beachum - It's Bigger than Football | NFL Professional Football Player | Philanthropist | Investor
June 01, 2020 21:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBKelvin Beachum, a Mexia Texas native, graduated from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 2010 with a BA in Economics and a minor in Sports Management. In 2012, he completed a Master of Liberal Studies in Organizational Dynamics and delivered the commencement address for the Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Beachum was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012 where he served as the starting left tackle until suffering a torn ACL during the 2016 season. He signed with th...
Byron Sanders - Facilitating a Creative Path for Kids | CEO, Big Thought | Community Advocate | Presidential Scholar
May 18, 2020 04:57 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBByron Sanders is a committed advocate for education, economic development, and creating equitable communities throughout Dallas, Texas. As the President and CEO of Big Thought, he works each day to explore innovative ways to narrow the opportunity gap for children. Big Thought connects people and organizations to prepare youth and children in under-resourced communities for tomorrow’s creative economy through quality in-school, after- school and community-partnership experiences. Byron...
Sadaf Haq - Making an Impact from Bronx, N.Y. to Frisco, TX | Public Health Expert | Community Advocate | Fashionista
April 10, 2020 17:26 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBSadaf Haq is a Public Health professional by trade who currently works for Pain Management of North Dallas. She’s an avid business developer and marketer for the practice and in her spare time, manages 3 determined daughters 13 and under. However, her true passion is community service, building bridges and fashion! She and her friend debuted a clothing line last year called Arzu. She is heavily involved in the social services of her city if Frisco, TX and has aspirations to serve in a bigger...
April Melton - How to Navigate the Single Mom Life | Single Mother | Staffing Sales Expert | Personal Trainer
March 30, 2020 22:48 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBIn this episode, I visited with a good friend, April Melton, Staffing Sales professional at Peyton Resource Group. We touch on many challenges associated with her being a single mom of a 5-year old daughter. What does April do on a daily basis to get it all done? How does she manage her busy schedule? Plus the latest on coronavirus, April's impressive fitness journey since she played Football in Duncanville, TX, her podcasting gig with Kimberly Shapiro and more - you do not want to miss this...
Hersh Gosar - Creating Content Online to Help Others | Content Creator | Youtube Influencer | Software Developer
March 18, 2020 22:27 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MBHersh Gosar is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas. He is a software developer by day. By night, he creates content online to help thousands of students to apply and get admitted to universities, how to network and get their jobs. Hersh loves to help other people. His level of energy and passion make him a joy to be around. In this episode, we jump into many topics and some of them include his meeting with Gary Vee, his YouTube channel, the importance of LinkedIn and what's next ...
Arianna Akinwunmi - The life after graduating from the Boys & Girls Clubs | Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County Alum | UTSA student
February 24, 2020 05:01 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBArianna Akinwunmi joined the Frisco Boys & Girls Club when she was 5 years old. The journey helped her instill a mindset to dream big. She was selected as the 2018 BGCCC Youth of the Year & Charles Schwab National Brand Ambassador - an example of the life-changing effect of BGCCC programs. She is now studying Finance at the University of Texas in San Antonio. After graduation, she wants to start her business with a focus on community service and help young people reach financial freedom. C...
Zahra Jahanyfard - Connecting to the Community through Art | Artist | Freelancer | Art Teacher
November 11, 2019 05:01 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBI had a big pleasure to visit Zahra Jahanyfard's studio in Frisco, TX to record this episode of the podcast. She was born in Iran and moved to the U.S. in 2007, when her husband got a job in Lexington, Mo. She could not speak English however, she was able to connect to the local community through painting and her art work. Her goal is to establish an art residency program between Iran and the U.S., allowing artists from both countries to travel and make connections with people, countries, cu...
Mark Metry - Impacting & Influencing others through Self-Evolvement | Host @ Humans 2.0 Podcast| Entrepreneur
October 07, 2019 16:09 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MBMark Metry is originally from Egypt. He is a Forbes featured speaker and host of Humans 2.0 Top 100 podcast, interviewing entrepreneurs, NY Times bestselling authors and world-class human beings. Once upon a time, he couldn't make direct eye contact with anyone and suffered from social anxiety from health issues & not living life he was strategically designed to live. Outside of his podcast, he speaks and consults start-ups, individuals, and businesses to help them scale in the competitive m...
Aaron Zack - Helping Professional Athletes Build Their Personal Brands | Co-Founder @ Revolving Mind Media| NFL Marketing Agent
September 30, 2019 19:16 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBAaron Zack's has built his professional career in marketing and sales. He became the youngest NFL agent in the business in 2015 and soon after, launched a Marketing and PR firm, Revolving Mind Media. His business focuses on helping brands scale in addition to representing a wide range of NFL athletes such as Jaylon Smith from Dallas Cowboys from the marketing perspective. "What better way to market your clients’ needs than in a world aimed at spreading information at an exceedingly high rate...
Bashar Alhuneidi - What Does it Mean to be a Gentleman Today? | Founder @ Adam Aleksander| Retail Executive | Leader
September 23, 2019 04:01 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBIn this episode, I had a pleasure to visit with Bashar Alhuneidi, Founder and Creative Director of Adam Aleksander, a luxury men’s fashion brand that recently opened at The Star in Frisco, TX. Bashar is a 20-year veteran of the fashion industry. He has worked for some of the biggest brands in the world such as Louis Vuitton or Bloomingdale's. He played basketball in college and came to the U.S. as a 1st generation immigrant. We dive into his humbling story and what has inspired him to launch...
Mike Simpson - Enabling All Young People to Reach Their Full Potential | CEO @ Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County | Activist | Leader
September 16, 2019 04:01 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBIn this episode, I had a privilege to interview Mike Simpson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County (BGCCC). He served on the Frisco City Council from 2000-2008 and is a former Mayor of Frisco, TX from 2002-2008. Mike and his wife Sandy moved to this area in 1997 and both have been actively involved in the community ever since. Under his leadership, BGCCC currently serves over 10,100 children each year through its after-school, summer and outreach programs with branches in Frisco, McKin...
Dr. Ger Graus OBE - Developing Cities Where Children are in Charge | Global Director of Education @ Kidzania | Educationalist | Leader
September 03, 2019 17:57 - 1 hour - 71.6 MBDr. Ger Graus OBE is a renowned figure in the field of education, where, since March 2017, he holds the position of the first Global Director of Education at KidZania. The organization, where children aged 4 to 14 can experience the world of work through role-play, is designed to inspire and empower: “from inspiration to aspiration”. Since its inception in 1999 in Mexico City, KidZania now has a presence in 27 cities in 21 countries on 5 continents, with 1st U.S. location coming to Frisco, T...
Chelsea Cunningham - Transforming Vehicle Title Services | Owner @ The Title Girl | Entrepreneur | Leader
August 13, 2019 13:28 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBChelsea Cunningham of The Title Girl entered the auto world at the age of 21. She jumped in with both feet and began buying cars from auctions then retailing and wholesaling them. Once she relocated to Texas, the dream of The Title Girl began to form. The business provides vehicle title concierge services and prides itself in reducing time dealers spend on managing cars already sold and enabling them to focus on new sales. In this episode, Chelsea shares many valuable insights into her inspi...
Jake Melton - Driving Awareness to Tourette Syndrome and Mental Health | Consultant | Minimalist | Speaker
August 04, 2019 22:33 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MB"A Regular Guy Trying to Make Good Things Happen in the World". - Jake Melton, Owner at The JB Melton Group. While maintaining a huge level of humility, Jake helps organizations create sought-after workplace environments. He possesses a very diversified set of skills and experiences in the areas of consulting, coaching, speaking, minimalism. In this interview, we dive in-depth to his journey with Tourette Syndrome, LinkedIn and how he built a large following of over 30K, overcoming adversity...
Divy Shrivastava - Deploying Drones to 911 Calls to Help First Responders | Entrepreneur | Innovator | Leader
July 29, 2019 04:01 - 53 minutes - 49 MBI had a blast interviewing Divy Shrivastava, CEO & Co-Founder of Paladin Drones. Divy is a 1st generation immigrant, originally from India. After almost 2 years studying engineering at UC Berkeley, he dropped out and launched the firm with his friend Trevor Pennypacker. They use autonomous drones to give first responders a live overhead view of an emergency before they arrive, allowing them to respond to emergencies quickly and safely. After raising $1,3MM in the seed round, they are off to ...
Peter Burns - Paying it Forward to Transform Our Youth | Community Servant | US Army Veteran | PMP Certified Leader
July 22, 2019 06:06 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBI had a privilege to interview Peter Burns, PMP Certified Executive at Nokia. Peter was born and raised in Jamaica. At the age of 12, he and his family moved to New York to begin the second chapter of their lives. 6 years later, he joined the US Army and after two decades of service all over the world, he moved to Frisco, TX in 1999. Through his selfless actions, he quickly became a well-respected local leader, mentoring and advising many students, and children. "I am just paying it forward"...
Brittany Colberg - The Significance of the Title Insurance Industry | Community Servant | Title Industry Expert | P&Z Commissioner
July 15, 2019 04:01 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBI had a tremendous amount of joy interviewing Brittany Colberg, Vice President at Republic Title in Frisco, TX. She is an experienced Escrow Officer with a demonstrated history of excellence in the title insurance industry. She is dedicated to community service and work on the Frisco's Planning & Zoning Commission as an only woman. We get insights into her life as a mom of two beautiful daughters and wife to her husband Erich as well as talk about why title insurance is so critical in the re...
Bill Pasha - Diversifying Hospitality, Media and Entertainment Sectors | Media Producer | Restaurateur | Entrepreneur
July 08, 2019 05:01 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBBill Pasha has made a career in media production and programming working for organizations such as CBS before transitioning to entrepreneurship and business advisory full-time. Today, he leads a diverse U.S. holding company consisting of four subsidiaries that provide unique products and services to the Hospitality, Entertainment, and Media sectors. After helping open several restaurant concepts in Frisco, TX, he and his wife Debbie are bringing Nusr-Et aka Salt Bae Steakhouse to Dallas' Art...
Erik Treutlein - Automating the Legal Landscape | Visionary Leader | Entrepreneur | Tech Innovator
July 02, 2019 04:50 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBErik Treutlein, President & CEO at LegalInc in Frisco, TX is one of the most down to earth people that you can ever meet. He is an Air Force veteran and a very charismatic, fun to be around guy. When it comes to business, he keeps himself and others accountable to the highest standards while leading with passion, authenticity and exceptional business acumen. His team at LegalInc strives to change the way legal services are executed & delivered by automating mundane tasks that hold legal team...
Vontoba Terry - Revolutionizing Skincare Industry with a Social Impact | Entrepreneur | Strategist | Skincare Pioneer
June 25, 2019 03:59 - 50 minutes - 46.6 MBWhen I first met Vontoba Terry, I had a feeling his story must be very unique. A former executive in the financial services industry that decided to pursue the entrepreneurial dream full-time after learning from retail experts and distributors such as Daymond John. Today, Vontoba and his wife Psyche own UI GlobalBrands, a supplier for over a dozen Fortune 500 retailers. Its core brand, Urban Hydration is sold in more than 7000 stores across the nation and they make a donation for every produ...
Hirbod Bigvand - Geofence: Deploying Modern Technology for Your Community | Entrepreneur | Strategist | Visionary Leader
June 17, 2019 04:01 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBI am very pumped to share with you all the story of Hirbod Bigvand, CEO at Surfboard. He came to the U.S. with $300 in his pocket from Iran at the age of 16. He hustled his way through high school and college learning about entrepreneurship and developing two mobile applications. They became valuable learning experiences and over time, he launched the third app. Today, he and his staff are helping its users to capture their adventures freely within their respective communities utilizing geof...
Lila Smith - Helping People Say Things Better | Communications Expert | Entrepreneur | Messaging Consultant
June 10, 2019 04:01 - 1 hour - 61 MBLila Smith' story is one of a kind. She moved to Texas from the home state of New York, because of the LinkedIn community support and encouragement to find a new job. She found her calling through engagement on LinkedIn with people in posts and comments section. Utilizing her background in theatre and Intentional Communication methodology, she lights up entrepreneurs and business leaders to identify and express their true brand value. She helps people Say Things Better. You can connect wit...
NéAndré Broussard - Changing The Narrative in Men's Fashion | Insurance Expert | Narrative Changer | Entrepreneur
June 03, 2019 23:35 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBNéAndré Broussard, Founder of Black Menswear, started his career in financial services before transitioning to the insurance field. As a hobby, he developed a passion for fashion. His mission is to encourage positivity behind the African American male image which often is showcased negatively in media. NéAndré contributes it to his ability to make connections with people of all backgrounds. We sit down and discuss how Black Menswear became a thriving community from extensive efforts on socia...
Ali Mirza - Strategic Utilization of Social Media | Growth Marketer | Startup Advisor | Entrepreneur
May 27, 2019 05:01 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBAli Mirza, Founder of i Social You, came to the U.S. from Pakistan 9 days before the 9/11 attacks. As an entrepreneur and a business owner, he utilizes data analytics to help businesses grow their social media presence and generate sales. Beyond, he focuses on creating an engaging social presence for his clients. We highlight his unique background in engineering and how that degree has helped him to transition to the marketing field over time and go over why small steps lead to achieving big...
Amine Bentahar - Voice Technology: The Paradigm Shift | Digital Strategist | E-Commerce Expert | Voice Tech Adept
May 20, 2019 05:59 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MBAmine Bentahar came to the U.S. from Morocco. He is the Chief Digital Officer at Advantix Digital, one of the premier digital agencies in Dallas, TX serving many domestic and international brands. He speaks 4 languages and travels extensively to develop new business partnerships and to speak at various digital events worldwide. We discuss his humble beginnings in marketing and e-commerce, highlight his book: "Voice Search: The New Search Engine" and touch on the significance of this technolo...
Ashley Miller - A Louisiana Native Helping Women Now | Community Leader | Philanthropist | Connector
May 13, 2019 14:48 - 52 minutes - 48 MBThere isn’t a soul in Frisco, TX that doesn't know Ashley Miller, Director of Community Relations at the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Her humble Louisiana beginnings lead her to Texas just a few days after graduating college. Since then, her impact on the local community has been huge. We discuss how she developed her work ethic and what it meant to her growth as a professional over time, her skills as a connector and community influencer and why she took an inbound vendor call that no...
Jason Croft - When Producing Content is a Way to Live Life | Credibility Craftsman | Media Producer | Connector
May 06, 2019 08:03 - 1 hour - 51.8 MBJason Croft is the Owner of Croft Media and the Host of The Jason Croft Show. He has spent almost 30 years in video and media production. He wanted to produce film and movies full-time so badly, that he was ready to drop out of college his freshman year. We dive into many aspects of his life: practicality and getting your hands dirty early on, passion for social media, how he became a great networker as an introvert, the importance of publishing video content and his journey as an entreprene...
Ana Rodriguez - Why Diversity & Inclusion Matter? | Diversity Expert | Philanthropist | Community Leader
April 29, 2019 04:01 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBSuper pumped about this episode with Ana Rodriguez, Managing Director, Business Development & Latino Leadership Initiative at Southern Methodist University. We dive into Ana's passion - diversity & inclusion and what type of incredible value she provides to students and Fortune 1000 companies on a daily basis. We touch on her journey as a mom of 3, her mission to get her family out of poverty and why failure isn't an option! Connect with Ana HERE.
Jake Thompson - Competing to Be Better Every Day | Entrepreneur | Keynote Speaker | Consultant
April 22, 2019 04:01 - 1 hour - 45.8 MBJake Thompson started his professional career as a freelancer during the recession doing marketing and branding consulting. As an athlete and a former football player, his competitive mindset led him to entrepreneurship and launching Compete Every Day brand where he helps active people stay motivated to reach their career, fitness, and life goals. We sat down to talk about his journey from corporate to launching his own business, growing organic social media presence and having a Cleaner's m...
Chris Sprague - Building Businesses without Collegiate Education | Self-Thought Entrepreneur | Business Owner | Investor
April 15, 2019 04:01 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBChris Sprague truly breathes and bleeds entrepreneurship. He made a name for himself early on in his career as an auto/collision and repair technician. Over time, he realized he hit a ceiling and decided to move to Texas with his family to become an entrepreneur. He bought a book on Amazon for $11 that lead him to become a pharmacy tech and a co-founder of a pharmaceutical wholesaler. Today, he owns multiple businesses and thinks about launching a few others. More importantly, without colleg...
Sam Roach - Setting up the Commercial Real Estate Foundation in Frisco, TX | Historian | Community Servant | Real Estate Broker
April 08, 2019 04:01 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBSam Roach's family has been in the City of Frisco area since the late 1800s. He is a long-time resident and started his career as an engineer. Tables turned in the 1970s when he got a call from someone to rent a small part of his property. He then proceeded to get his broker license and the rest was history. I sat down with Sam to talk about his perspective on the City of Frisco today vs. his humble beginnings. We touch on 30+ years of his service to the local community and why giving back i...
Michael Sorrell - Turning a Troubled College Around | World-Class Leader | Community Servant | Philanthropist
April 01, 2019 04:01 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBI was fortunate to interview Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College (PQC) and Fortune 50 World's Greatest Leader. He took a job that nobody wanted and took a college from the brink of being shut down to a thriving Higher Education institution. Michael is implementing the new urban college model with plans to open Paul Quinn campuses nationwide. We touch on finding your fulfillment, overcoming challenges, the meaning of transparency and discuss the art of an ask. As a huge fan for t...
Judy Hoberman - Relentless Approach to Earn a Sale and to Succeed | Keynote Speaker | Best-Selling Author | Executive Coach
February 07, 2019 04:34 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBThis episode with Judy Hoberman, an expert in promoting and retaining women in leadership positions, will help you extract a lot of value. We take a deeper dive into her journey from college to a successful career in selling insurance. We critique 7th place awards for kids and put emphasis on getting out of our comfort zones. Lastly, Judy shares an amazing example where she earned to work from home after a week of employment. Connect with Judy HERE.
Richie Butler - Bringing People Together | Community Leader | Pastor | Investor
February 06, 2019 23:34 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBPastor Richie Butler, Sr. Managing Director at Prescott Advisors is one of my dear friends and mentors. He channels his genuine spirit through everyone he encounters. I appreciated the opportunity to visit with him and discuss his football days at Southern Methodist University (SMU), the journey of being a pastor and a real estate investor, Project Unity, service on the Board of Trustees for SMU and the value of education. Connect with Richie HERE.
Stephanie Knight - Navigating Conflict | Education Leader | Researcher | Professor
February 06, 2019 22:52 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBThis conversation with Dr. Stephanie Knight, Dean of Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University (SMU) brought me a lot of great memories. Dr. Knight discusses experiences as a teacher in U.S. and Middle East, highlights the SMU's partnership with Toyota and Dallas School District. Lastly, we talk about the value of the Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management graduate program. Connect with Stephanie HERE.
Chris Bhatti - The Impact of Being a Teacher | Edupreneur| Investor | Community Activist
February 06, 2019 22:11 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBPumped for this episode with Chris Bhatti, Assistant Dean for the Jonsson School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). Chris provides a ton of value as he walks through his journey as a scholar at Southern Methodist University and UTD. We discuss the impact of higher education on youth and highlight him as a teacher at all female school. Lastly, we touch on the importance of mentorship and having your "why" when connecting with people. Connect with Chris HERE.
Julian Placino - Trailblazing Your Own Pathway to Success | Recruiter| Entrepreneur | Podcaster
February 05, 2019 22:23 - 57 minutes - 52.4 MBLoved this interview with Julian Placino, Sr. Recruiting Lead at Bottle Rocket & Founder of the Pathways to Success Training Co. We have met 7-8 years ago and the recording with him, as one of my mentors, brought me a lot of joy. We talk about his journey from the University of North Texas to the corporate world, Social Venture Partners, his amazing podcast, the importance of Branding, Mentorship, Building a Network and Humility. Connect with Julian HERE.