Evan Nierman

Red Banyan

Red Banyan is a strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, crisis management and marketing.  Red Banyan Group combines creative thinking, steady judgment shaped by experience and a relentless commitment to achieving results for its clients.  Red Banyan offers a wide array of services, including: media relations, crisis management, marketing, corporate communications, litigation support, social and digital media, copywriting and editing and media training.

Founder and CEO

Entrepreneurs'​ Organization

Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Member 

Green Bullion Financial Services

Director of Public Relations

Saylor Company

Principal

AIPAC

Editorial Director and Executive Editor of Near East Report

Communications Associate and Managing Editor of Near East Report

Communications Assistant

Founder & CEO, Red Banyan PR | Author of Top-Rated Newsletter on Communications Best Practices

My team and I are focusing on STRATEGY and RESULTS. I lead an international PR and crisis management firm that exists to press the truth.  We empower clients to achieve business goals using strategic communications. We specialize in crisis management, high-stakes PR, and complex assignments requiring creative thinking, steady judgment shaped by experience and a relentless commitment to exceeding expectations.

Red Banyan Group is a strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, crisis management and marketing.  Red Banyan Group combines creative thinking, steady judgment shaped by experience and a relentless commitment to achieving results for its clients.  Red Banyan offers a wide array of services, including: media relations, crisis management, marketing, corporate communications, litigation support, social and digital media, copywriting and editing and media training.

Titles change. Companies reorganize. Projects end.
But your mission is what stays.

I see this every day in crisis PR.

People who attach themselves to roles, personalities, or status lose direction the moment pressure rises.

People who attach themselves to a mission stay steady even when the narrative falls apart.

In high-pressure situations the difference is striking:

a.) Leaders who cling to titles look for protection.
b.) Leaders who cling to purpose create solutions.

When a leader centers their compass on a goal instead of ego, the team immediately knows how to respond under pressure.

This shapes reputation from the inside long before the outside world sees it.

If you want stability in difficult moments, start here:

Anchor yourself to values, not positions.

Positions shift. Integrity remains.

Focus on mission, not personalities.

Preferences crack under pressure. 

Mission keeps direction.

Build a culture where purpose leads and titles follow.

This creates a team that holds together even when the silence gets uncomfortable.

In crisis PR, purpose is the most reliable navigation tool.

Reputation begins at the point where you choose to attach yourself.

Follow Evan Nierman for insights on crisis PR, leadership under pressure, and reputation management.

A reality check for any leader: 
Your crisis plan is only as strong as the person who goes first.

Most teams assume a crisis will activate responsibility automatically.

They think the plan will guide everyone.

They expect people to step in at the right moment.

But crises do not work that way.

The real breakdown happens when every person waits for a signal that never comes.

Hesitation does more damage than the crisis itself.

A crisis-ready team runs on four behaviors:

1. Awareness → People notice early signs instead of assuming “it will pass.”
Awareness stops problems before they spread.

2. Initiative → Someone steps forward even if it is not part of their role.
Initiative prevents escalation.

3. Communication → Information moves quickly and clearly.
No gaps, no guessing, no confusion.

4. Follow-through → What starts gets finished.
No loose ends for the public to fill with their own narrative.

Without these behaviors, plans stay on paper and the crisis gains control.

With them, the team acts with clarity and the situation stabilizes before it spirals.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis leadership and responsible communication.

In every crisis, the same problem appears:
everyone waits for someone else.

Most crises don’t escalate because of external pressure.

They escalate because of internal silence.

In organizations without a clear chain of responsibility, the same pattern emerges: everyone assumes it’s “someone else’s job.”

And while that pause drags on, the internet becomes the spokesperson.

A vacuum in a crisis never stays empty.

If you don’t fill it, the narrative will.

Leadership in a crisis isn’t delegation.

Leadership means the first sentence, the first move, and the first signal come from you not from the chaos around you.

The most dangerous phrase in crisis PR is: “I assumed.”

When a crisis hits, it must be unmistakably clear who speaks, who leads, and who owns the response because while the team hesitates, the reputation burns.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis PR and reputation management.

Reputation is what people believe about you. 
Character is who you are when no one is watching.

You can shape reputation.

You choose your message, control the narrative, and manage how you appear in public.

Character is different.

It is built in the unseen moments.

In choices that cost you something.

In how you treat people who cannot offer you anything in return.

Here is the truth many leaders learn late:

Reputation without character looks strong until pressure hits. 

Then it collapses.

Reputation is external. 

Character is internal.

When they do not align, that gap becomes the crisis.

You can polish reputation.

You cannot fake character.

People may believe the image for a while.

But character shows itself over time in patterns and consistency.

Character is what survives the crisis.

If it is real, you rebuild.

If it is not, everything falls apart.

Leaders who last are not the ones with the best PR.

They are the ones whose private behavior matches their public words.

Reputation may open the door.

Character is what keeps you in the room.

Follow Evan Nierman for weekly insights on leadership, integrity and what endures.

The way you treat people when no one’s watching
says more about your leadership than any title ever could.

I’ve seen this in boardrooms, startups, and crisis situations.

The leaders who earn trust under pressure are the ones who lead with respect, not authority.

Reputation doesn’t begin with public perception.

It begins in private moments how you speak to assistants, interns, or colleagues when stress peaks.

Those quiet interactions shape culture. 

And culture shapes how your organization responds when challenges appear.

If you want lasting trust, start here:

1.) Respect without hierarchy.
People notice how you treat those who can’t advance your career. Respect creates loyalty that outlasts titles.

2.) Listen before reacting.
When pressure rises, the instinct is to speak first. Listening shows discipline — and builds confidence in your judgment.

3.)Treat every role as essential.
No crisis is solved alone. When people feel valued, they take ownership — and that’s where real resilience begins.

Leading with title earns compliance.

Leading with respect earns commitment.

Reputation is built on how people feel in your presence, not on your résumé.

Follow for weekly insights on leadership, crisis PR, and reputation management.

A client once told me: "I don't want to apologize. I want to win."
That's when I knew we had a problem.

He was furious.

The media was running a story he believed was unfair.

The facts, in his view, were being twisted.

And his instinct was to fight back. Publicly. Loudly.

To "set the record straight."

To win.

I understood the impulse.

When you're being criticized—fairly or not—the natural reaction is to defend yourself.

To prove you're right.

To make everyone see your side.

But here's what I told him:
"You can win the argument and lose everything else."

Because in a crisis, winning isn't about being right.

It's about being trusted.

And trust doesn't come from fighting.

It comes from how you show up when things go wrong.

Here's what happens when ego drives crisis response:

You focus on being right instead of being heard. 

People don't care about your ten-point rebuttal. 

They care whether you understand their concern.

You turn critics into enemies. 

When you fight back, you escalate. 

And escalation rarely ends in your favor.

You lose the people in the middle. 

The ones who were willing to listen? 

They stop listening when you start swinging.

The conversation I had with that client wasn't easy.

But eventually, he understood:

The goal isn't to win.
It's to resolve.

To move through the crisis with your reputation intact.

To show humility when humility is called for—and strength when strength is needed.

We didn't issue a combative statement.

We acknowledged the concern. 

Clarified the facts calmly. 

Focused on what we were doing moving forward.

No victory lap. No "gotcha" moment.

Just accountability and action.

The story faded.

The relationship with his stakeholders held.

And he learned something more valuable than winning an argument:
In crisis, ego is a liability.

Strategy is what saves you.

Follow for weekly insights on strategy and leadership under pressure.

The verdict doesn't matter if you've already lost in the court of public opinion. Litigation PR has changed.

It used to be simple: Don't comment on pending litigation. 

Let the lawyers handle it. 

Stay quiet until the judge rules.

That strategy doesn't work anymore.

Because while your legal team is preparing motions, the other side is shaping the narrative on social media, cable news, and in the press.

And by the time the case settles or goes to trial, public perception is already locked in.

Here's what's different now:

The court of public opinion moves faster than the courtroom.

A lawsuit gets filed. 

Within hours, it's trending.

You can't wait 18 months for discovery to tell your side of the story.

The damage is happening now.

Silence reads as guilt.

"No comment" used to be safe.

Now it looks like evasion.

If you're not telling your story, someone else will and their version will stick.

Juries Google.

Even when judges instruct them not to, jurors search for information.

What they find online influences how they interpret the evidence in court.
Settlements don't erase headlines.

You can settle the case. 

You can't settle the reputation damage.

If the narrative is "they did something wrong and paid to make it go away," that story lives forever.

What effective litigation PR looks like today:

1. Legal and PR working together from day one. Not as adversaries. As partners with a shared goal: protect the client.

2. Proactive messaging that tells your side without compromising the case. You can communicate strategically while respecting legal boundaries.

3. Stakeholder management beyond the courtroom. Employees. Investors. Customers. They're making decisions now based on what they see—not waiting for a verdict.

4. Digital reputation management. Ensuring your narrative isn't buried by the opposition's spin.

The goal isn't to win the PR battle and lose the legal one.

It's to protect your reputation while you fight the case—so when it's over, you still have a business to run.

Litigation PR isn't optional anymore.

It's essential.

Because even if you win in court, losing in public can cost you everything.

Follow for weekly insights on litigation communications and reputation protection.

If you're delivering bad news over email, you've already lost the relationship.
I see it all the time.

The termination notice sent at 5 PM on a Friday.

The policy change buried in a mass email.

The apology that reads like it was drafted by legal and approved by no one with a pulse.

Leaders hide behind screens when things get hard.

And it always backfires.

Because bad news delivered without presence feels like cowardice.

And cowardice destroys trust faster than the bad news itself.

Here's why email fails in crisis:

1.) It removes accountability. You can't see the person's reaction. 

You can't answer their questions. 

You can't adjust based on how they're receiving it.

You just send it—and hope it lands okay.

2.) It feels transactional. Email says: "This is a task I needed to complete."

A conversation says: "This matters enough for me to show up."

3.) Tone gets lost. What you meant as direct reads as cold. 

What you meant as professional reads as detached.

And in a crisis, tone is everything.

4.) It invites misinterpretation. People fill in the gaps. 

They read between the lines. They assume the worst.

Because when you're not there to clarify, they're left to imagine your intent.

The hard conversations—the ones that matter most—deserve your presence.

Not your inbox.

That means:

→ A phone call when you can't be there in person.
→ A video meeting when you need to see their face.
→ A real conversation—not a one-way broadcast.

Yes, it's uncomfortable.

Yes, it takes more time.

Yes, it's harder than hitting "send."

But leadership isn't about efficiency.

It's about integrity.

And integrity shows up.

Even when—especially when—the news is bad.

Follow for weekly insights on communication, presence, and leadership.

Five words that never work in a crisis:
"It was just a joke."

I’ve heard this defense after an offensive tweet, a tone-deaf comment, or a video that “wasn’t meant seriously.”

Every time, it makes things worse.

Intent doesn't matter. Impact does.

You may have meant it as humor, but if it landed as hurtful or dismissive, that is what counts.

Explaining your intent doesn't erase the impact. 

It only sounds like avoiding accountability.

Humor doesn't land the same for everyone.

What is funny to you may be insulting to someone else.

Sarcasm gets lost. Tone gets misread.

And you do not get to control how people receive it.

"Just joking" sounds like minimizing.

People hear:

"You're overreacting."
"You're too sensitive."
"I'm not responsible."

That never ends well.

The internet doesn't care about your intentions.

A joke that fails in a room is awkward.

A joke that fails online is permanent.

Screenshots keep the words, not the tone.

What to do instead:

Own the impact.

"I meant it as humor, but I see how it landed, and I'm sorry."

Skip the justification.

Don't explain why they shouldn't be offended. 

Acknowledge that they are.

Know your audience.

Not every joke fits every context.

The best communicators understand this:

You don’t decide how your words are received.

You only decide whether you'll stand by them or own the mistake.

Follow for weekly insights on communication, accountability, and reputation.

Microsoft just bought a 27% stake in OpenAI.
On paper, it's a business deal. In reality,

it's a power shift that changes everything about who controls the future of AI.

And most people aren't paying attention.

Here's what just happened:

OpenAI—the company that gave us ChatGPT—was structured as a nonprofit with a mission: develop AI that benefits humanity, not shareholders.

Now it's becoming a public benefit corporation.

With Microsoft holding significant equity.

Translation: the guardrails just got weaker.

And the profit motive just got stronger.

This isn't just a tech story.

It's a reputation and accountability story.

Because when innovation moves faster than regulation, trust becomes the only thing holding the system together.

And trust is fragile.

Here's what this deal reveals:

Power and accountability are diverging.

Microsoft gains influence. OpenAI gains capital.

But who's accountable when something goes wrong?

When AI makes a harmful decision, who answers for it—the nonprofit mission or the corporate investor?

The structure just got more complicated. And complexity is where accountability dies.

The narrative is shifting before the public realizes it.

Most people still think of OpenAI as the "good guys" in AI development.

Independent. Mission-driven. Different from Big Tech.

But this deal quietly erodes that distinction.

And once the public catches on, the backlash will be swift.

Innovation is outpacing oversight.

AI development is moving at a pace regulators can't match.

New models. New capabilities. New risks.

And the companies building it are writing their own rules—because no one else can keep up.

That's a reputation time bomb.

Three lessons for communicators navigating the AI era:

1.) Transparency isn't optional anymore.
The days of "move fast and explain later" are over.

If your company is pushing boundaries in AI, you need to communicate what you're doing, why, and who's accountable—before someone else defines it for you.

2.) Mission statements won't protect you.

Saying you're committed to safety and ethics doesn't mean anything if your structure prioritizes profit.

The public is learning to look past the messaging and examine the incentives.

3.) One misstep reshapes trust overnight.

AI mistakes don't just hurt your brand. They reshape public perception of the entire industry.

When trust is the only thing preventing regulation or backlash, you can't afford to get it wrong.

This deal is a signal.

The AI race is accelerating.

And the companies that win won't just be the most innovative.

They'll be the ones who figured out how to build trust while everyone else was just building technology.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis management in the age of rapid innovation.

The video went viral within hours.



Erratic driving. Swerving across lanes. 

Tailgating. Confused explanations.

Britney Spears is struggling and the people who should be protecting her brand either can't reach her, or aren't there.

This is what happens when crisis management fails before the cameras start rolling.

Her family, once accused of micromanaging under conservatorship, is now reportedly uninvolved. She's entirely on her own.

That absence is a brand liability playing out in real time.

For public figures, a functioning support system is essential reputation management. Without close advisors and a competent crisis team, minor incidents escalate into viral PR disasters.

What every crisis team should learn:

1. Act before the cameras roll.

Warning signs were there—erratic posts, fractured relationships, behavioral shifts insiders likely noticed months ago.

Waiting until damage goes viral is a fatal mistake.

2. Build a network, not an audience.

Fans aren't advisors. Real stability comes from legal, emotional, and strategic professionals who can say "no."

If no one in the inner circle has that role, the inner circle is the problem.

3. Control the narrative—or be controlled by it.

Her Instagram follow-up was confusing, rambling, unsupervised. It made things worse.

Messaging needs to be intentional. Not every thought belongs online.

4. Understand the cost of visibility.

Britney Spears is a brand with cultural equity, legacy value, and commercial interest.

When celebrities become unstable in public, they jeopardize the long-term viability of their brand.

5. Have a comeback plan before the crisis hits.

Image rehabilitation must begin in calm moments, not after public collapse.

The Reality:

Once the video goes viral, you're not managing a crisis.

You're managing the aftermath of one that's been building for months.

When public figures lack a clear PR strategy, one misstep becomes an irreversible spiral.

Public life offers rewards, but also risk.

When the spotlight turns toxic, survival depends on having the right people, the right plan, and the ability to act fast.

Because if you don't manage your reputation, someone else will.

Follow for weekly insights on crisis intervention and reputation protection.

The House passing the Epstein files bill 427 to 1 is not the headline.
The real headline is what happens next.

Many people assume the release will simply reveal names and fuel public outrage.

They think the narrative will unfold on its own, driven by the documents alone.

It won’t.

The truth is that the decisive moments will unfold in the first 24 to 48 hours.
 
That is when teams move, stories shift and reputations are either protected or permanently damaged.

Here is the pattern that crisis professionals recognize immediately:

• rapid distancing from implicated networks
• controlled statements designed to anchor early perception
• coordinated messaging to shape how the public interprets new information
• quiet legal positioning before narratives harden

With preparation, reputations can be stabilized.
 
Without it, the public forms conclusions that become nearly impossible to reverse.

For a fuller breakdown of what the next phase will look like, see my crisis communications analysis on CBS LA:

https://lnkd.in/eNcjD88i

Excited to be a guest speaker at Broward College today. Sponsored by Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, this event highlights the importance of kindness in our lives and the impact each of us can make. #guestspeaker #browardcollege #education #kindnessmatters #leadership

Red Banyan has once again been named an Inc. Magazine Power Partner—recognized back-to-back as one of the top B2B firms in public relations. PROUD of the work we do, the IMPACT we create, and the TEAM that makes it happen. Grateful to the leaders who count on us when the stakes are highest. Recognition like this is earned by showing up, staying sharp, and delivering when it matters most.
#IncPowerPartners #RedBanyan #Leadership #CrisisPR #ReputationMatters

Open article: Red Banyan Named 2025 Inc. Power Partner | Red Banyan by redbanyan.com

Red Banyan Named 2025 Inc. Power Partner | Red Banyan

Even the most successful entrepreneurs have blind spots. 
I wrote this piece for Entrepreneurs'​ Organization's Inc. Magazine channel after seeing how often leaders overlook issues that quietly grow beneath the surface—especially when things are going well. Big takeaway? Success doesn’t erase your weaknesses. It often hides them. Staying aware is what separates leaders who grow from leaders who stall. 
Read the full article here:
https://lnkd.in/ei3ysW-x
#Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Growth #ReputationMatters

Open article: 5 Blind Spots That Sneak Up on Successful Entrepreneurs by inc.com

5 Blind Spots That Sneak Up on Successful Entrepreneurs

It’s not every day your work helps put a client in the dictionary. 
But that’s exactly what Red Banyan did.

Through focused media relations and strategic advocacy, our client’s insights were quoted by Merriam-Webster and cemented into the official definition of “radicalism.” A defining voice on a defining issue—with national impact.
This kind of influence doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of precision, consistency, and the right message delivered at the right time.

This is the power of strategic communications.
This is the power of Red Banyan.

See the dictionary citation: https://lnkd.in/eFzcmDE7
#StrategicComms #MediaRelations #ThoughtLeadership #CrisisPR #ReputationMatters #Authority

Glen Powell understands that reputation is the most valuable asset. He is smart and strategic about his every move, and it's paving the way to new levels of superstardom. My take in the Us Weekly cover story.#celebrity #publicrelatons #strategy

Open article: How Glen Powell Balances His Career, Dating and Life in Texas (Excl) by usmagazine.com

How Glen Powell Balances His Career, Dating and Life in Texas (Excl)

When a crisis occurs, customers shouldn’t be left to solve it themselves. 
As I shared with Business Insider, hospitality companies earn goodwill by removing the burden, not adding to it. Relocation, refunds, and clear guidance aren’t perks. They’re the basics. Read the full story:

Open article: Hilton's CEO says problem-solving keeps guests coming back by businessinsider.com

Hilton's CEO says problem-solving keeps guests coming back

Leadership means staying grounded when everything around you is uncertain.

I recently contributed this piece to EO on how today’s leaders can build resilience that actually lasts. Especially when times are turbulent, the habits you form before the crisis often define how you lead through it.
Grateful for the chance to share these ideas with the EO community—and would love to hear what’s worked for you. Read the full article here:
https://lnkd.in/eU_n8UCG
#Leadership #Resilience #Entrepreneurs #CrisisPR #StrategicComms

Open article: Developing Resilient Leadership Habits for Uncertain Times by eonetwork.org

Developing Resilient Leadership Habits for Uncertain Times

Learning about diplomacy, debate and ideally compromise, collaboration and problem-solving. Critically important business and life skills. Proud of my daughter Noa Nierman for participating in Model U.N. as a diplomat from Jordan!

Student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas | Teen Leader |

The past two days, I’ve been honored to participate in BULLSMUN 2025 as a delegate for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This is a Model UN conference for high school students where we use parliamentary procedure, give speeches, and collaborate to solve current global diplomatic issues. I participated in the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) committee, where the bloc I led developed a logistical and fair economic and legal framework addressing climate change and managing the effects of global hunger. I was honored to be named Outstanding Delegate by the committee chair, as well as my school being named best large delegate with the most amount of wins! Grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with other students, practice my public speaking, and craft detailed resolutions to real life issues. I am also excited to announce that I have officially joined the MSD Model Un club officer team as the social media manager. Looking forward to the next conference already!

Jeremy Prasetyo

TRUSTBYTES (Techstars Web3 '25)

Smart Treasury for Internet Capital Markets (ICM)

TRUSTBYTES turns behavioural analytics into capital efficiency for wallet-based businesses.
‍
☑ Capture opportunities
☑ Comply effortlessly
☑ Command your crypto treasury operations

We believe that internet/institutional capital markets (ICM) should be proactive, not reactive.
‍
In 24/7 crypto markets, your treasury, compliance and operation teams can't be awake around the clock fighting fires.
While traditional finance sleeps, crypto never does.
Why losing money on idle capital, failing compliance checks, and burning out their teams with manual processes, when there is a different way?
‍
The cost of inaction is measured in Billions per month.

We replace static rules with intelligent, dynamic policies.

Instead of threshold-based systems that trigger alerts at 3:11 AM, we use predictive intelligence to:

☑ Anticipate liquidity needs before they become urgent
☑ Automatically rebalance wallets during the most optimal time windows
☑ Maintain compliance ratios proactively, not reactively
☑ Transform your existing wallet infrastructure into a smart, learning system 

TRUSTBYTES works 24/7 so your team doesn't have to.

CEO & Co-Founder

QUIP - Quantum Technologies at Fraunhofer ITWM

Mentor

Keynote Speaker to National and International Audiences

Jeremy is able to tailor short talks, long presentations or workshops for any specific audience whether the focus is to inspire to perform and outperform, break patterns to innovate, empower leadership, increase sales or overall business. As a high-performance trainer, he presents his ideas extracted from interviews and individual coachings with industry icons, world champions and thought leaders of multiple disciplines with eye-opening facts, humor and easy-to-follow, practical concepts and applications that any audience member can immediately apply and achieve results.

Personal and Professional Performance Specialist

Diverse Organizations, incl. NobleProg, Innolea, Letuja, DOSB, DTV, ADTV, Masai, etc.

Trainings and Workshops on Artificial Intelligence, Business Applications, Cybersecurity, Leadership, Communication, Sales & Marketing

Independent Trainer

AI Strategy Consulting 

Innolea Institute

Mentor for post-graduate studies “Certified AI Consultant”

LETUJA GmbH

Linkfluence - a Meltwater company

AI-enabled consumer intelligence for global brands

+ Enterprise AI SaaS solution used by 200+ global brands for Trend Detection, Consumer Tribes segmentation/profiling or Brand Equity tracking in Real-time.
Key customers include Nike, Danone, General Mills, Estée Lauder, Kering, LVMH, Porsche, Toyota,...

+ Built and managed a team of professionals including Key Account Management, Business Development, Marketing, and Demand Generation to successfully meet and exceed sales targets and corporate goals

+ Designed and owned a strategic plan to grow the account portfolio and acquire new logos aligned with the company’s vision and roadmap

+ Collaborated with product, insights, and solution teams to improve customer experience
Developed and implemented a comprehensive demand generation strategy including Account-Based-Marketing, resulting in acquiring new global enterprise organizations

+ Conducted market research and developed a comprehensive competitive intelligence strategy to fuel repositioning with a new Go-To-Market

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Blockpool

Business advisory for Blockchain Startups

European Blockchain Expert

E-Learning Startup

Our company is a next-generation ecosystem made up of a leading education platform for people in AI, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, combined with a powerful marketing platform with a comprehensive set of tools for independent business owners.
The ecosystem is continuously expanding, subsuming new technologies, products and services in order to offer a one-stop space for those dedicated to learning and growing.

Jeremy's philosophy of education and self-empowerment is woven into the fabric of the company. As CEO and co-founder, Jeremy was taking the start-up from a compelling idea to a truly global company. Serving over 32,000 entrepreneurs, and powered by Blockchain and AI technology, it is enabling a new generation of learners and independent business owners within a single ecosystem of EdTech Platform and integrated Apps.

CEO and Co-Founder

World Champion turned Cyberpreneur | Building an AI SaaS company to $1M ARR and sharing my insights along the way | Co-Founder & CEO, TRUSTBYTES

While everyone's talking about AI, the Agentic Web and Web3,
few understand how to turn them into competitive advantage, 
even fewer into institutional advantage.
That's where I come in.

I'm a former World Champion turned Tech Founder and Emerging Technology Strategist who decodes tomorrow's tech for today's leaders. 
Through my unique ability to break down complex technologies into actionable strategies, I help organizations transform uncertainty into opportunity.

As CEO of TRUSTBYTES and an internationally recognized keynote speaker, I bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and real-world implementation. 

My expertise spans:

→ Emerging Tech Translation
- Transforming AI and blockchain complexities into clear strategic advantages
- Converting technological uncertainty into market-leading opportunities
- Building innovation flywheels that compound over time

→ Leadership Acceleration
- Mentoring the next generation of tech-savvy leaders
- Guiding institutional transformation with practical frameworks
- Creating bridges between legacy systems and emerging technologies

→ Strategic Innovation
- Designing AI-driven business flywheels that scale
- Developing institutional-grade technology strategies
- Engineering frameworks for sustainable growth

Through high-impact keynotes, executive mentorship, and hands-on leadership, I empower decision-makers to turn technological complexity into market dominance. 

My approach merges deep technical insight with battle-tested business acumen, helping organizations thrive in rapid change.

Tech moves fast.
Markets move faster.
But institutional transformation?
That's where most leaders get stuck.
I'm here to change the game.

Follow me for actionable insights on emerging tech, leadership, and exponential growth. 

Let's build tomorrow's advantages today.

FIGHTING CYBERCRIME LIKE IT'S 2030
Find more bugs in less time while saving up to 80% of cybersecurity resources.

HOW IT WORKS
TRUSTBYTES secures exponential technologies like Web 3.0, AI or Quantum TECH with its advanced AI that delivers unparalleled accuracy. By deploying self-learning AI agent swarms that adapt to evolving threats we protect systems with superior vulnerability detection and mitigation.

THE PROBLEM
$8 Trillion in Damages
Cybercrime Damages did cost the world $8 trillion USD in 2023.
Until now, global cybercrime costs grew by 15 percent each year.
But this number will grow exponentially, as hackers start using AI or even Quantum TECH.

Threat to Humanity
Warren Buffett calls cybercrime the biggest problem facing humanity - a threat exceeding nuclear weapons.
The answer lies in fighting fire with fire through AI counterforce.
TRUSTBYTES is that enabler for CISOs - an advanced AI system augmenting human experts to proactively remediate cyber threats before damage occurs.

OUR SOLUTION - SECURING EXPONENTIAL TECHNOLOGIES

➝ Web 3.0 - Smart Contract Auditing Suite

➝ Securing AI Systems

➝ Securing the Quantum TECH era


For more details visit: trustbytes.io

Nobody's betting on you - until you make it impossible not to.⤵


1/
➠ You don’t get funded. You get noticed.

➝ Markkula wasn’t hunting startups.
➝ Jobs hounded his way into a meeting.
↳ 150 calls to Valentine forced the door open.

➝ Most founders wait to be discovered.
➝ The bold demand to be seen.
↳ Obsession always beats talent waiting quietly.

➝ Investors chase proof of belief.
➝ Hustle is the first product.
↳ Persistence is louder than pitch decks.


2/
➠ The garage wasn’t a liability. It was proof.

➝ They had traction - six stores already.
➝ Apple II wasn’t vaporware.
↳ Launch was close enough to taste.

➝ Resource-starved but progress-rich.
➝ Not built to impress.
↳ Built to ship.

➝ The myth: start perfect.
➝ The truth: start moving.
↳ Results raise eyebrows, not resumes.


3/
➠ Markkula didn’t just invest - he calculated.

➝ $90K seed at $300K valuation = serious skin.
➝ Asked for a $250K credit line.
↳ 10% interest. Paid post-revenue.

➝ Investors protect upside.
➝ Smart money isn’t charity.
↳ Terms matter as much as dollars.

➝ Founders focused on “enough.”
➝ Markkula focused on “what’s next.”
↳ He knew scale eats capital.


4/
➠ The pitch didn’t win the day. The look did.

➝ “I’ve seen that look. I had it myself.”
➝ Markkula bet on the fire.
↳ No spreadsheet for conviction.

➝ Investors sense belief.
➝ They smell desperation.
↳ Vision makes you unforgettable.


5/
➠ Build something that makes “no” look stupid.

➝ No one believed in Apple.
➝ Until one man saw the future.
↳ Then everyone saw it.

➝ Don’t just get in the room.
➝ Make the room remember you.
↳ That’s how legends are built.


Think it through...

▶ What if they never made those 150 calls?
▶ What if the garage was enough?
▶ What if no one said yes?


That's the mindset you have to have.
That's the mindset we as founders are adopting at TRUSTBYTES (Techstars '25).

Let's go! 🚀 


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World Champion turned Entrepreneur | Follow me for emerging tech, leadership and growth topics | Co-Founder & CEO, TRUSTBYTES (Techstars '25)

Unpopular opinion:
Work should fit into Life - not consume it.
⤵

You’ve been sold a lie.
"Work harder. Hustle longer. Sacrifice now."

But here’s the truth:
You don’t get a trophy for burning out.

Work is a tool - not your identity.
It belongs inside your life, not wrapped around it.

 
1/
➠ When Work Becomes Life

When work takes over, life gets boxed in.
➝ Rest feels wrong
↳ You see it as lazy

➝ Loved ones feel intrusive
↳ You call it "distractions"

➝ Joy gets postponed
↳ Always chasing the next win

You’re not fulfilled.
You’re just drained.


2/
➠ When Life Is Bigger Than Work

Now flip it.
Make life the frame. Let work sit inside it.

➝ You still care about work
↳ But not at life’s expense

➝ You rest, recharge
↳ And show up sharper

➝ You celebrate wins
↳ With people who matter

You’re no longer sacrificing.
You’re thriving with clarity.


3/
➠ Why This Matters More Than Ever

Everything changes fast.
Your title isn’t forever. Your wellbeing should be.

➝ Careers shift
↳ Roles vanish

➝ Companies change
↳ Titles fade

➝ Health, peace, love
↳ That’s the real legacy

Invest in what actually lasts.


4/
➠ Two Simple Power Moves

Don't overthink balance.
Build it into your daily routine.

➝ Guard your "Life anchors"
↳ Treat them as sacred meetings

➝ Create a daily work stop
↳ Define your off switch

Discipline in boundaries
creates freedom in life.


Final Thought:
Work is part of your life.
Not the point of your life.

If your life is a circle,
Make sure work isn’t the whole thing.

▶ What if burnout is self-inflicted?
▶ What if rest is the cheat code?
▶ What if “balance” isn’t soft, but strategic?

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Growth happens in the space between who you are
and the person you were meant to be.
 ⤵

Before anything else, here’s the angle most people miss:

You’re not competing with the world.
You’re competing with the next version of you.

And that competitor never gets tired...

That’s why the chase matters more than the milestone.

That's what Matthew McConaughey knew well an led to more than "just" an Oscar win:


1/
➠ The future self that never stops moving

 ➝ Your hero stays ten years ahead
 ↳ Always further
 ↳ Always better
 ↳ Always out of reach

We start here because this is the foundation: the future version of you isn’t a trophy. It’s a target that refuses to stand still.


2/
➠ Time reshapes who you want to become

 ➝ Growth shifts your definition of “ideal”
 ↳ New standards
 ↳ New clarity
 ↳ New goals

And as time moves, so do you.
Your definition of “better” evolves because you evolve.


3/
➠ Self-reflection keeps you honest

 ➝ Checking progress reveals the truth
 ↳ What’s working
 ↳ What’s missing
 ↳ What’s next

This is where the internal audit comes in.
No sugar-coating. 
No excuses. 
Just a clear view of where you stand.


4/
➠ The unattainable target is the useful one

 ➝ You’re not meant to catch your hero
 ↳ It stretches you
 ↳ It humbles you
 ↳ It disciplines you

The point isn’t arrival.
The point is pursuit.
The chase creates the growth.


5/
➠ Who you chase shapes who you become

 ➝ Aim at a version worth becoming
 ↳ More aligned
 ↳ More intentional
 ↳ More fulfilled

Because in the end, the future you becomes the architect of your present decisions.
And that’s where real transformation happens.


The standards of your future self
slowly become the standards of your current life.

If the person you were meant to be is still ahead of you,
what does that demand from you today?


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8 Small Shifts That Will Solve 80% Of Your Problems
⤵


Sometimes, we look for big solutions when it’s the small tweaks that unlock the biggest doors.


These shifts aren’t radical. 
They’re practical. 
And that’s why they work.


Let’s break them down - one shift at a time:


1/
➠ Assume People Have Good Intentions
➝ You can’t read minds
↳ So stop acting like you can

➝ Bad assumptions drain peace
↳ Good ones open connection

➝ Choose belief over suspicion
↳ It hurts less


2/
➠ Avoid Using Negative Words
➝ “I can’t” is mental trash
↳ Stop repeating failure

➝ Language programs mindset
↳ Every word counts

➝ Talk trash - live trash
↳ You’re better than that


3/
➠ Celebrate More Frequently
➝ Wins deserve space
↳ Big or small

➝ Acknowledge before you rush
↳ Growth needs pause

➝ Clap for yourself
↳ Even quietly


4/
➠ Decide You Must Achieve Your Goals
➝ “I’ll try” gives you a backdoor
↳ Close it

➝ Use “I must” instead
↳ Power lives there

➝ Remove wriggle space
↳ Clarity follows


5/
➠ Define “Failure” as “Failing to Take Action”
➝ No action = real failure
↳ Movement matters

➝ You control effort
↳ Not outcome

➝ Stop fearing results
↳ Start moving


6/
➠ Don’t Waste Energy on Hate
➝ Hate is self-harm
↳ Drains your life

➝ Fix it or drop it
↳ No middle

➝ Forgive. Forget. Move.
↳ Heal faster


7/
➠ Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously
➝ Laugh at yourself
↳ Or others will

➝ Humor builds influence
↳ People follow lightness

➝ Lighten up
↳ Power lives here


8/
➠ Don’t Try to Win Every Argument
➝ Not every battle is worth it
↳ Let some go

➝ “Winning” is ego
↳ Choose strategy

➝ Ask what’s next
↳ Then lead


Big shifts start small.
Start here. Start now.


▶ What shift have you avoided the longest?
▶ What would change if you only applied one?
▶ What would happen if you applied all eight?


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