Twenty years ago this month, Henry Dubroff threw caution and reason to the wind and – after quitting his safe job as editor of the Denver Business Journal – headed west to California to launch his own, independent, weekly business newspaper.

Dubroff’s Pacific Coast Business Times defied the long odds, and today, with the largest full-time team devoted to business and financial news on the central coast, serves readers in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties, including, of course, Oprah Winfrey, just one of many prominent area residents.

The secret of his survival, and that of all successful entrepreneurs, Dubroff tells host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart, is to know the community of customers who you serve and become an integral part of it.

[The conversation with Dubroff is adopted from the Business News Visionary Awards oral history of Dubroff, recognizing him as one of 52 journalists whose foresight and efforts have transformed the journalism profession during the past two decades. For additional information, visit http://www.newsluminaries.com/.]

Photo: Henry Dubroff, Pacific Coast Business Times
Posted: March 23, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 56:59

The coronavirus is wreaking havoc on businesses large and small, curtailing travel, sporting events, and gatherings of all manner; even weddings.

For many owners and entrepreneurs, it portends financial disaster.

But this week’s guest this week, Evan Morgenstein, a veteran talent agent who specializes in representing social media mega-stars, sees a path for companies to not only survive coronavirus but to thrive.

As Evan points, all the people who are confined to their homes, working from home, or planned to attend now-canceled conferences and entertainment events, will almost certainly be surfing the internet and watching more television than ever.

That makes this the perfect time, Evan contends, for companies to use strategic influencer programs to bolster their brands and their revenues in ways that will continue to serve them long after the current health crisis passes.

Join host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart for a timely examination of influencer marketing.

Photo: Evan Morgenstein, CelebExperts
Posted: March 16, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 50:52

When some of America’s most successful blue chip investors and securities analysts want to increase their exposure on CNBC, Fox Business Network, Bloomberg TV, and other financial broadcast networks, Zach Leibowitz is their go-to PR guru.

Zach is executive vice president and head of broadcast operations at Dukas Linden Public Relations.

In the past year alone, Zach and his colleagues have landed their clients on more than 600 broadcast segments. That’s an incredible track record.

Zach’s proprietary formula for getting TV producers to showcase his clients is applicable to any business seeking visibility, whether it operates on Wall Street or Main Street. This week, Zach gives host Dean Rotbart an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of what makes TV producers say, “Yes.”

To subscribe to Monday Morning Radio on Apple Podcasts click here.

Photo: Zach Leibowitz, Dukas Linden Public Relations
Posted: March 9, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 38:28

Growing a business from one employee to more than 3,000 in three decades is a notable achievement, regardless of what field you’re in.

Journalist and entrepreneur Matthew Winkler did just that at Bloomberg News.

When billionaire businessman and 2020 presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg had the idea of starting a financial news organization back in 1989, his first hire was Winkler, who at the time was a reporter with The Wall Street Journal.

Winkler signed on as editor-in-chief in February 1990 and proceeded to build Bloomberg News into a global news and money-making juggernaut.

Host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart joined Winkler at Bloomberg’s Manhattan headquarters earlier this month to talk about Winkler’s journey and what other entrepreneurs can learn from his experience.  

Dean’s interview with Winkler was conducted as part of Dean’s special “News Luminaries” project, honoring journalists who have had – or are having – exemplary careers. Beginning on Thursday, March 12th, and each week thereafter, Dean will post an oral history with a prominent 21st century journalist at www.NewsLuminaries.com.

Other journalists participating in the oral history podcast include: Andrew Ross-Sorkin of The New York Times and CNBC; Randall Lane, chief content officer of Forbes; Steve Adler, editor-in-chief of Reuters; Maria Bartiromo of Fox Business News; and Charles Duhigg, best-selling author of The Power of Habit, and now a writer for The New Yorker.

If your company or professional practice would like to help support www.NewsLuminaries.com, contact Dean directly at 303-296-1200 or email him at dean@mondaymorningradio.com.

Photo: Matthew Winkler, Bloomberg News
Posted: March 2, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: One hour and 22 minutes

Ever attend a large conference, with 10,000-plus registrants, and have one of the presenters blow your mind – and knock your socks off?

Host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart did just that in January, and Dean came back raving about speaker Ramon Ray, an effervescent small business evangelist, entrepreneur, public speaker, and author of The Celebrity CEO – a book that spells out in detail how any owner or entrepreneur can effectively build a strong, profitable, personal brand and influential network.

“There is nothing quite like seeing Ramon in person. He’s funny, he’s quick on his feet, he jumps off the stage, he jumps back on the stage, he engages members of the audience, and he delivers a bulls-eye message tailored to small business owners and professionals,” Dean says.

But for those who don’t have the opportunity to see Ramon live, his appearance on this week’s podcast is the closest thing. It’s what you’ll be talking about for hours, days, and weeks to come.

For more information on Ramon, visit his website, SmartHustle.com.

Photo: Ramon Ray, Smart Hustle
Posted: February 24, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 55:21

Nearly two-thirds of all employers now offer a work-from-home option, at least for some of their employees.

But few employers provide their staff instructions on how to be most productive and satisfied working remotely, and most employers don’t know how best to manage their far-flung team members.

Teresa Douglas, who has worked from home since 2010, recently co-wrote a book, “Working Remotely,” to help employees and employers alike navigate the shoals of off-site workers. She shares her best insights this week with host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart.   

Photo: Teresa Douglas, Working Remotely
Posted: February 17, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 34:15

Star Wars fans and collectors are legion, but among them “The Force” is undoubtedly strongest with Steve Sansweet, who spent more than 27 years as a reporter and bureau chief with The Wall Street Journal.

Steve is, as certified by Guinness World Records, the owner of the world’s largest private collection of Star Wars memorabilia, and President and CEO of Rancho Obi-Wan, an independent non-profit museum in Petaluma, California that houses part of his cache. (He loans his collection to the museum but continues to own it privately.)

As Steve explains to host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart, he began collecting in 1976 as a passion, and in November 2011 “retired” to open and operate the museum. Although Steve doesn’t say so directly, Dean estimates his Star Wars collectibles are worth many millions of dollars, far more than if he had invested his available funds on Wall Street.

Dean’s interview with Steve is an edited excerpt from his extended conversation with the Star Wars memorabilia Jedi that will be available later this year as part of Dean’s “News Luminaries” project, honoring journalists who have had – or are having – exemplary careers. Beginning on Thursday, March 12th, and each week thereafter, Dean will post an oral history with a prominent 21st century journalist.

Stay tuned to Monday Morning Radio for more details on the journalism honors program.

You may also enjoy these past editions of Monday Morning Radio, featuring other successful entrepreneurs and professionals who’ve launched their own amazing non-profit projects:

• The UnBusiness Story Behind Chapel Dulcinea: A Special Episode Featuring Pennie and Roy Williams
• All Kids Bike® Aims to Teach Every Kindergartener in America to Ride

Photo: Steve Sansweet, Rancho Obi-Wan
Posted: February 10, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 43:38

What if employers spoke less and listened more?

In the case of Kevin Hancock, Chairman and CEO of his family’s sixth-generation Maine lumber business, there was little choice after he was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological speaking disorder that made verbal communications difficult. So he let his employees do most of the talking.

Eight years on, Kevin says that the employee-centric model that he instituted at Hancock Lumber, founded in 1848, has generated more profitability since his diagnosis than in the previous 160 years combined.

Kevin’s voice is still halting but his message to host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart is crystal clear: Shared leadership generates more employee satisfaction and greater profits.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Kevin’s new book, The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey into the Business of Shared Leadership. The book is a bold call for a new form of management where power is dispersed, leadership is shared, and every voice is heard.

Photo: Kevin Hancock, Hancock Lumber
Posted: February 3, 2020
Season Eight, Episode: 32
Monday Morning Run Time: 37:40

Some of the most entrenched business problems that owners face have nothing to do with sales, marketing, employees, venders, or regulations. They have to do with “Mom.”

Unresolved childhood issues often creep, surreptitiously, into adult decision-making and can be a huge hindrance to successful goal-setting.

Dr. Patti Ashley, a psychotherapist, international speaker, and author calls her approach to resolving lingering childhood and adolescent problems, Authenticity Architecture. Only by casting off the misguided vestiges of our upbringing, Dr. Ashley tells host and award-winning reporter Dean Rotbart, can entrepreneurs realize their most heartfelt business goals.

[Pick up a copy of Dr. Ashley’s new book, Living in the Shadow of the Too-Good Mother Archetype.]

Photo: Dr. Patti Ashley, Authenticity Architecture
Posted: January 27, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 40:22

When Jackie Jenkins-Scott was appointed president of the historic Dimock Community Health Center, whose roots in Boston date to 1857, the bankrupt institution was shopping its architecturally magnificent campus to real estate investors for redevelopment.

Instead, Jackie revived Dimock, as she did 21 years later when she stepped in as president of failing Wheelock College.

Jackie believes that many dying businesses and nonprofits can turn their fortunes around if their leaders will embrace the approach she dubs, “Responsive Leadership.”

Jackie boils down her method of turning around troubled organizations to seven secrets. She shares them with host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart on this week’s edition of Monday Morning Radio.

Order a copy of Jackie’s new book: The 7 Secrets of Responsive Leadership: Drive Change, Manage Transitions, and Help Any Organization Turn Around 

Photo: Jackie Jenkins-Scott, JJS Advising
Posted: January 20, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 33:45