He fainted in a hospital hallway. Quit law school after just two weeks. Got robbed—twice—on his way to high school. And for a while, he sold jewelry just to pay rent. So how did that guy end up helping Apple launch the Macintosh, becoming one of the most influential voices in tech, and helping Canva grow into a global design powerhouse?

In this episode, I sit down with Guy Kawasaki, a man whose life defies the clean-cut success stories we often hear. Born and raised in Hawaii in a lower middle-class family, Guy’s journey took off not because of privilege—but because of grit, curiosity, and the occasional wild twist of fate.

We dig into the pivotal moments that changed everything: the joyride in a Porsche 911 that sparked his ambition, the winding road through college majors and a short-lived attempt at law school, and the serendipitous friendship that opened the doors to Apple—no résumé polish required.

We also talk about his career after Apple: from venture capital to writing bestselling books, and most recently, his work with Canva—a company that reignited his passion for democratizing access to powerful tools.

Whether you’re just starting out or feel like you’ve taken a detour, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn’t linear—and the messiness might just be the point.

In this episode:

• (00:00) Growth mindset & grit
• (12:41) Dropping out & MBA journey
• (15:09) Sales experience & Cutco lessons
• (20:58) Networking, relationships & “nepotism”
• (25:04) Working at Apple & Steve Jobs
• (39:29) Signal platform & secure communication

Hawke Media

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/
• https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en
• https://hawkemedia.com/
• https://twitter.com/hawkemedia
• https://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/

About Our Guest

Guy Kawasaki is a marketing executive, author, speaker, and entrepreneur best known as Apple’s original Macintosh evangelist and Chief Evangelist at Canva. A psychology major turned tech visionary, Guy helped define how products get adopted and movements are built. He’s written 17 books including The Art of the Start, Enchantment, and Think Remarkable. Today, he hosts the podcast Remarkable People and continues to inspire creatives, marketers, and entrepreneurs around the globe.

Guy Kawasaki

• Guy Kawasaki's Website
• Guy Kawasaki LinkedIn
• Guy Kawasaki YouTube
• Remarkable People Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Kaisa Levine, founder of NoseFrida and the woman behind one of the most recognizable baby products on the market.

We talk about how she went from working on ambulances in New York City to launching a startup out of her garage, without any background in manufacturing, retail, or e-commerce. Kaisa opens up about how discovering NoseFrida on a trip home to Sweden sparked an idea that would lead to an international business, why she was so confident the “snot sucker” would work in the U.S., and how she scrapped her way into doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and eventually major retailers like Target, Amazon, and Whole Foods.

We also discuss the emotional decision to bring on a CEO, the challenges of letting go after scaling the business, and how she’s using her time and resources now to support causes close to her heart, like wildlife rescue, foster care, and music education.

If you’re building a brand from scratch, trying to solve a real problem, or wondering what it takes to go from idea to acquisition, this episode is packed with insight.

In this episode:

• (00:00:00) Lessons from EMT work
• (00:05:13) Realizing new paths
• (00:10:02) Discovering NoseFrida in Sweden
• (00:16:07) Early sales and market reception
• (00:17:58) Breakthroughs and media attention
• (00:19:26) Scaling up and major retail partnerships
• (00:20:37) Inflection point and product expansion
• (00:21:19) Stepping back and selling the company
• (00:22:37) Overcoming business challenges
• (00:23:59) Current nonprofit and community work
• (00:27:34) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

Hawke Media

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/hawkemedia/
• https://www.instagram.com/hawkemedia/?hl=en
• https://hawkemedia.com/
• https://twitter.com/hawkemedia
• https://www.facebook.com/hawkemedia/

About Our Guest

Kaisa Levine is a Swedish-American entrepreneur, former EMT, and the original U.S. importer of the NoseFrida snot sucker—now a must-have baby registry staple. With no formal business training, she grew a scrappy side hustle into a household brand sold in Target, Amazon, Whole Foods, and more. After exiting the company, Kaisa redirected her energy to nonprofit work focused on animal rescue, foster care, and music education. She lives in Miami and continues to be a fierce advocate for causes that uplift families, children, and wildlife.

Kaisa Levine

• Frida Website (formerly NoseFrida)
• Frida Baby on Instagram
• Baby on YouTube
• Frida Baby on LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.