Eddie Rishty is a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, where he represents some of the world’s most prominent real estate investors—including JP Morgan Asset Management, Carlyle, and one of the highest-net-worth individuals on the planet.
In this episode, Eddie opens up about his journey from getting waitlisted at Princeton to becoming a partner at one of the world’s top law firms. He breaks down what he looks for when hiring lawyers, how to stand out in competitive recruiting, and the habits that separate good attorneys from elite ones. Eddie also discusses faith, work-life balance, and how community service and character shape his definition of success.
Enjoy!
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(00:00) Coming up…
(03:14) Who is Eddie Rishty?
(04:10) Pre-college days
(05:56) Lessons from Eddie’s father
(07:38) Considering law as a young man
(08:51) What is a “strong work ethic”?
(10:30) “You have to be all in”
(11:28) Getting waitlisted from Princeton (his dream school)
(12:15) Going to NYU Stern
(15:18) What was the path you wanted to take?
(16:39) Eddie’s father passing away when he was a college sophomore
(18:28) The revelation that Eddie didn’t want to pursue finance
(20:00) Going into the billboard business
(22:40) Being a professional vs an entrepreneur
(23:36) Waitlisted at targeted law schools
(25:34) Transferring to NYU Law
(28:35) Recruiting for big law
(31:15) How to stand out while recruiting for big law / finance / accounting
(34:15) Choosing Debevoise & Plimpton
(41:42) Becoming a partner at Debevoise
(47:36) Traits that separate the elite
(48:54) Observing Shabbat in a 24/7 industry
(58:19) Have you gotten too comfortable?
(01:01:58) Representing JP Morgan Asset Management
(01:06:06) Representing one of the richest people in the world
(01:07:41) The making of a successful big-law interview
(01:09:50) Must-have skills to succeed in big law
(01:12:18) 2 candidates: which would you hire?
(01:18:31) Becoming the president of a nonprofit
(01:20:40) What is my legacy going to be?
(01:30:46) Momentum Moment
(01:35:32) Outro: 3 key takeaways
Samuel Krost is the founder of KROST, a mission-driven fashion brand now sold in Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Saks, and around the world.
In this episode, Samuel opens up about scaling his label into a multimillion-dollar business, the lessons he learned from getting caught inside the infamous Fyre Festival, and how his network and philanthropy have shaped the future of KROST.
Enjoy!
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(00:00) Coming up…
(03:05) Growing up in a family of doctors
(04:57) Living on a different path
(05:34) The pre-college days
(06:14) Bio, chem, burnout
(07:17) Dropping out of pre-med
(09:33) Switching to NYU Sports Management
(10:53) Discovering a passion for fashion
(11:55) Advanced Solar Solutions
(13:06) Internship at Onia
(15:59) Samuel's journey at Onia
(17:21) Getting a call from Andrew Rosen: CEO of Helmut Lang
(18:54) It's all about who you know
(20:38) The student/work life grind
(22:30) Working as much as possible while in college
(25:24) Ja Rule calls with an opportunity
(28:50) Building relationships with Bella/Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, and other celebrities
(31:17) Fyre Media before Fyre Festival
(34:06) Absorbing knowledge at Fyre
(37:44) The Fyre Festival
(42:24) Fyre Festival up in flames
(46:55) The aftermath of the festival
(49:33) Getting a call from the FBI
(51:19) Bouncing back from an all-time-low point
(53:07) An offer to replicate Fyre
(54:30) 3rd guest joins the pod
(55:10) Founding a fashion brand
(57:01) Setting yourself apart / unfair advantages
(58:41) COVID and social impact while launching KROST
(59:51) Driven by DNA to give back
(01:00:57) How Samuel runs his business
(01:02:40) Collaborating with FILA
(01:03:45) Kosher Media
(01:04:33) Choosing the direction for Krost to go in
(01:06:01) Momentum Moment - doubling down / leading his team
(01:08:19) The brand evolving with Samuel
(01:09:15) Principles for effectively leading a team
(01:12:05) Where to find KROST apparel
(01:12:49) Expanding into Paris
(01:14:02) The key to Samuel's success
(01:14:45) Advice for starting a fashion company
(01:16:30) Follow your passion? Or chase the money?
(01:19:27) The #1 characteristic of standout employees: work ethic
(01:21:29) Life is about what you can do for others
(01:23:42) Want to stand out? Master AI
(01:25:37) Closing Remarks
Abie J. Cohen is the founder and managing partner of Centre Street Partners, an NYC–based venture capital firm that’s backed dozens of startups with their latest $60M fund.
In this episode, Abie breaks down how venture capital really works, why he bets on people over ideas, and what thousands of startup pitches have taught him about success.
Enjoy!
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Check out Ezra Dweck on Momentum
Abie’s meditation recommendations:
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(00:00) Coming up…
(01:39) Introduction to Abie: investing in people
(02:26) Investing In People Vs Companies
(03:38) How do you feel out an individual?
(04:37) Not classifying himself as an entrepreneur
(05:25) Working at UBS for 13 years
(06:28) Pursuing finance at NYU Stern
(08:02) What Sales & Trading used to look like
(10:11) Rotating through UBS’s training program
(12:33) Interesting learning experiences
(14:17) Dating / getting married while working at UBS
(16:42) Switching to wealth management
(19:26) Building out his client list
(20:35) What does a wealth manager actually do?
(22:53) Deciding whether to stay or leave UBS
(25:04) Starting his own practice at UBS
(26:12) The partnership structure Abie had with UBS
(27:40) Running a solo operation at UBS
(28:18) How COVID affected Abie’s wealth management business
(30:02) Working from his bedroom during COVID
(31:16) Gravitating towards entrepreneurs/founders over high-net-worth individuals
(34:20) Conducting due diligence as an angel investor
(36:53) Going all in on Centre Street Partners
(38:04) Leaving UBS after 13 years
(38:59) Working on his VC company from home
(40:50) The depths Of VC funding
(42:40) Removing emotions from deals
(43:47) How many funds have you raised so far?
(45:59) How did you raise tens of millions of dollars?
(47:33) Timeline of fundraising, making investments, closing the fund, etc.
(49:13) Can someone be retroactively part of an already existing fund?
(52:23) Idea vs individual vs execution
(54:09) Shifting from startups to cash cow businesses
(54:56) A hybrid venture capital/private equity asset class
(56:28) Starting an official company and finding a business partner
(01:03:31) Making only 100 investments after hearing 5,000 pitches
(01:04:48) The power dynamic between VCs and startups
(01:07:48) Hard skills that every founder needs
(01:09:33) Does college matter?
(01:10:11) The Thiel Fellowship
(01:12:25) The type of founders Abie invests in
(01:13:28) Advice to reach Abie’s position
(01:15:32) Should people Follow Their Passion?
(01:16:52) Finding fulfillment in being a mentor
(01:20:35) Abie’s secret weapon: meditation
(01:24:05) Momentum Moment
(01:25:27) Outro and 3 key takeaways
David Dweck is the founder and owner of Camp Allsport, a premier summer camp in New Jersey. Each summer, he employs a staff of over 230, welcomes more than 850 campers, and manages a waitlist of 400.
In this episode, David opens up about his journey - from getting fired from his first camp counselor job to building a business that brings in millions of dollars while working just two months a year.
Enjoy!
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(00:00) Start
(01:46) Getting fired from his first camp job
(03:17) Elementary school days
(04:35) Giving sports lessons to younger kids
(06:16) Why he worked as a 15 year old
(08:18) Going to college / pursuing masters in social work
(09:36) College term paper
(10:14) Realizing he could do this himself
(11:39) Putting together the marketing report
(12:46) Presenting his idea to the school board
(14:45) Why didn’t you give up?
(16:40) Developing his passion for social work
(18:06) What was your end goal when working in community institutions?
(21:04) The inception of Camp Allsport
(22:44) Finally launching the camp with a breakthrough ad
(25:11) “The phone was ringing off the hook”
(28:37) What set you apart as a newbie?
(30:57) Day 1 of running a camp
(32:22) Hiring counselors/staff members
(34:06) Losing money for the first 3 years
(36:20) Working during the year after the first summer
(38:17) Getting fired from 3 jobs in 2008
(41:40) Expanding from 150 to 350 campers
(42:51) Running Sunday programs during the winter
(44:44) Camp Allsport hitting critical mass
(45:36) Growth plateauing
(48:10) Expanding into new camp grounds
(53:42) COVID changing the game
(1:00:46) Losing $1M in revenue
(1:02:32) Planning on moving to Israel - but he had no business
(1:06:42) Camp Allsport by the numbers
(1:07:08) Complacency
(1:07:42) The secret to making a living working 2 months per year
(1:09:28) Why didn’t you start another business in the winter?
(1:12:04) Pursue your passion or chase a lucrative career?
(1:17:07) Passions outside of work: Israel, Zionism, reading books
(1:21:38) Momentum Moment
(1:24:57) Outro and key takeaways
Cookie Falack is a serial entrepreneur who is best known as the founder of Cookie's Kids, the largest children's department store in America.
Enjoy!
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Check out Joe Shamie on Momentum
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SPONSORS:
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0:00 Coming up…
2:18 Intro to Cookie
3:48 His main business: Cookie’s Kids
5:25 E-commerce
7:03 Getting into 3PL - warehousing and logistics
8:54 Getting into Montana real estate
10:25 Connecting Montana real estate and photonic chips
14:30 Back to the beginning: working from age 14
16:38 College
17:31 Taking over the store
18:36 Driving his cousin to work and becoming his store manager
19:40 Opening his own store with a $15k investment
21:30 What it was like to open a store from scratch
24:15 Opening up the 2nd location
25:17 Gradual expansion
26:27 What was the vision?
27:33 Seizing opportunity
31:07 Being forced to close down retail locations
31:50 Period of intense failure
33:52 Did you ever consider going into real estate full time?
34:25 Being “too early” to the internet
36:23 Taking another shot at ecom
38:00 Domino effect
38:59 How do you expand your business into an entirely new industry?
40:03 Hiring vs promoting
41:20 Starting an Israeli humanitarian-focused fund
43:03 Have an open mind
45:01 Advice for hesitant young people
46:07 Negotiation tactics
48:11 Learn how to judge somebody’s character
49:27 Follow your passion?
50:43 The conflict of chasing money vs being an entrepreneur
51:58 Charity and giving back
52:47 Why go above and beyond?
54:17 Genesis’s charity requirement
54:37 Being at the forefront of the industry
55:21 Believing in God while putting in the work
57:14 Cookie’s name
58:57 Momentum Moment
Mordechai Salem is a hazzan (cantor) and wedding singer who’s led prayers in synagogues and performed at weddings and events around the world, from Brooklyn to Cabo to the south of France.
In this episode, he shares his journey from a 14-year-old hazzan in Israel to becoming the premier voice of our community, balancing family, faith, and a career that rarely leaves a free night.
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(0:00) Coming up...
(2:16) Intro to Mordechai and growing up in Israel
(4:16) Performing in front of 2,000 people @ 14 years old
(6:49) Moving to America
(8:21) His first hazzanut gig
(9:57) Incorporating English tunes into the prayers
(12:27) Hopping around to different synagogues
(14:34) Turning cantoring into a career
(16:16) Mordechai's insanely busy schedule
(17:22) Career explosion
(18:02) Yazdi Entertainment
(18:56) Why not aim for the big leagues?
(19:49) Singing in front of 20,000 people
(20:48) Did you ever think your career could turn into this?
(21:55) Work-life balance difficulties
(25:46) Putting his music on Spotify and Apple Music
(27:49) Mordechai's most popular songs - private concert
(29:28) Do what you love
(30:35) Giving back
(33:27) Do you listen to your own music for fun?
(34:05) Kosher Media
(34:52) Is it difficult to be this busy?
(35:33) Preparing to sing
(36:51) Pioneering an entirely new genre
(37:33) Recording in the studio
(38:45) Working from 5-9 as opposed to 9-5
(39:21) High Holidays
(41:13) Singing for Donald Trump
(42:51) Momentum Moment
(44:35) Takeaway #1: find a way to do what you love
(45:25) Takeaway #2: blue ocean strategy
(45:52) Takeaway #3: know when to scale back
David Mizrahi is the founder of Salt Restaurant Group, the hospitality company behind five restaurants on the Jersey Shore in just five years - including the world-famous Salt Steakhouse.
David’s story is anything but traditional. He dropped out of high school, made millions in real estate as a teenager, and then shifted into hospitality, where he’s now redefining what a kosher dining experience can look like.
In this episode, we dive into his journey - from building businesses at 16, to scaling Salt into a powerhouse brand, to the sacrifices and lessons he’s learned along the way.
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🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms:
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(00:00) Coming up…
(02:37) Making $100k at 16 years old
(04:52) Why David worked at pizza/falafel shops
(05:30) Dropping out of high school
(07:07) If you could go back in time, would you drop out of high school?
(07:24) Making millions per year at 18 in the foreclosure business
(09:53) Why didn’t you stay in real estate?
(11:24) Selling his foreclosure company
(12:10) Has anybody ever doubted you?
(12:55) Buying his first restaurant and turning it profitable
(16:32) Yazdi Entertainment
(17:26) Uncovering hidden value
(18:35) David’s playbook for opening profitable restaurants
(19:58) Receiving a piece of devastating feedback
(21:34) Opening up a restaurant during COVID
(24:03) Why didn’t you delay the launch until after the pandemic?
(25:20) David’s arrangement with Kushner Companies
(28:16) Investing other people’s money
(29:26) 5 restaurants in 5 years: at what point are you expanding too quickly?
(30:16) Competing with yourself
(30:56) Did you ever feel like you spread yourself too thin?
(32:00) How do you manage 5 restaurants?
(33:38) Partnerships and exit strategies
(34:57) Doing business with family and friends
(35:55) Biggest failure: not seeing his wife or 1st child
(36:54) Living apart from his family when first opening Salt
(39:51) Life Vault Films
(41:08) Behind-the-scenes restaurant nightmares
(44:52) Tips to get into the restaurant business
(46:45) 1st step to take if you want to open a high-end steakhouse
(48:44) Serving as a firefighter
(50:19) Giving back through his restaurants
(51:32) What’s next for you?
(52:51) Franchising kosher restaurants
(54:31) Momentum Moment
(55:36) Life’s challenges and failures
(58:47) 3 key takeaways
René Rofé is the founder of René Rofé Lingerie, a global lingerie company whose can be found in retailers across the globe.
In this episode, Rene shares his unlikely path from engineering and investment banking to “peddling panties,” how a napkin sketch landed him a Victoria’s Secret order, and the persistence that turned a discount-store hustle into a decades-long success story.
__________
Check out June Aboksis on Momentum: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7vK8ksjJawxFBs1GzeMFxM?si=hqju752KTKCIOjwMosCqiA
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SPONSOR:
Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group's factoring services can help power your business's financials: https://hedayacapital.com
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0:00 Coming up
1:44 Growing up in Egypt
5:19 Settling in America
7:41 Coming to America via boat
9:02 School in the USA
12:18 Were you always an entrepreneur?
15:53 The grind of investment banking
18:18 Joining his father’s business
19:26 Starting his own business
20:33 Rene’s entrepreneurial drive
23:09 Starting International Intimates
24:25 How did you set yourself apart?
26:49 Starting an apparel business before e-commerce/internet
28:09 Hedaya Capital Group
29:08 How did you grow the business?
30:14 The most difficult thing: finding a factory
33:15 Failures
34:47 Selling to big box retailers
36:48 Rene’s big break: Victoria’s Secret
39:45 Focusing on discount goods
40:32 Breaking into Marshalls/TJ Maxx
41:27 Pros & cons of working with a partner
42:24 Negative experience going into business with a partner
47:01 Skills you need to succeed
50:16 Sell yourself
51:43 Giving back/charity
53:10 Serving on Hillel Yeshivah Board
55:40 “Is God testing me?”
56:29 Preferred version of charity
57:26 Momentum Moment
1:00:15 Selling and buying back his company
1:02:13 Outro and 3 key takeaways
In this special episode of Momentum, I sit down with NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
He opens up about his childhood: getting bullied as the "dumbest student," working the streets squeegeeing car windshields, and the 5-second moment that transformed his life.
We also got into his fight for NYC: public safety, affordability, and his plan to take down Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa.
__________
Check out Joey Shamie on Momentum
__________
SPONSOR:
Goldburd McCone LLP, the tax law experts you want in your corner: https://goldburdlaw.com
__________
ABOUT MOMENTUM:
🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success.Be sure to subscribe on all platforms:
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(0:00) Coming up...
(2:04) The most impactful experience Mayor Adams has had
(5:21) Turning dyslexia into a strategic advantage
(8:05) From getting beaten by police to becoming an officer
(9:59) What made you think you could make a difference?
(11:34) "I'm not dumb, I'm dyslexic"
(13:03) The friction required to push policy forward as Mayor
(13:59) Mayor Adams's accomplishments
(15:21) Biggest regret/mistake as mayor
(16:54) NYC is not in its golden age
(20:06) Mayor Adams as the embodiment of the American
dream
(21:19) Mamdani's popularity is surging
(24:09) Eric Adams's campaign strategy
(25:38) The feeling that New York no longer represents the
American dream
(27:17) How does ur background in law enforcement offer a
pragmatic approach to safety?
(28:43) How do you deal with Curtis Sliwa?
(30:05) Has your campaign strategy shifted?
(31:00) Goldburd McCone LLP
(32:06) Cuomo said he will drop out if the city needs him to. Will you?
(34:25) Would you stay in the race if it guaranteed a Mamdani win?
(36:03) Why have you stayed in politics despite all that you've
been through?
(39:01) The indictment
(40:20) Fixing politicized prosecution?
(41:06) The importance of faith when leading NYC
(43:02) Mayor Adams's Momentum Moment
(45:03) Outro and 3 actionable takeaways
Ray Tawil is the founder of PREPT by Ray T, a hospitality business based out of Brooklyn specializing in high-end catering, events, and food delivery.
In this episode, Ray opens up about what it's really like to run a hospitality company–and it's not what you think.
__________
SPONSORS:
• Yazdi Entertainment, New York's premiere event production company. https://www.instagram.com/yazdi_entertainment/
yazdientertainment@gmail.com or (646) 765-5643
• Kosher Media, the #1 advertising network for Jewish communities worldwide: https://koshermedia.com
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ABOUT MOMENTUM:
🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success.Be sure to subscribe on all platforms:
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(0:00) Coming up...
(1:29) Ray T's catering/cooking accomplishments
(1:54) Starting a BBQing business at age 12
(3:42) Working at a restaurant
(4:24) Going to the #1 culinary school in the country
(6:35) State-of-the-art equipment in college
(7:48) What's culinary school like as a religious jew?
(9:51) Dealing with the prohibition of mixing meat and milk
(10:28) Were you concerned you wouldn't make money as a chef?
(12:30) What motivated you to start a business at 12 years old?
(13:54) Being different
(15:47) "Love what you do"
(17:30) Studying in culinary school for 4 years instead of 2
(18:50) Why pursue a 2nd degree in food science?
(20:14) Ray's parents' nuanced approach to education
(20:31) Yazdi Entertainment
(21:31) Expanding his business after college
(23:11) How to grow past the 1-man-band stage
(24:27) What it's really like to grow a business: skipping parties, sleepless nights
(26:18) "I was 2 weeks away from closing my doors"
(28:01) Being goal-oriented
(28:34) Turning himself into a high-line brand
(30:14) How do you scale a brand that requires YOU?
(32:28) Ray T's daily routine
(34:28) The 3 arms of Ray T's business
(35:49) Catering an event with Donald Trump
(41:54) Kosher Media
(42:41) Getting into catering trips (i.e. Passover, vacations)
(45:50) BBQing his 1st trip
(48:55) Opening up about how his business almost went bankrupt
(49:52) Ray T's marketing
(50:41) Increasing customer awareness through marketing
(51:24) The origins of "ooh ooh ooh"
(52:35) The moment he realized he may have to shut down the business
(55:28) Balancing business and family
(57:10) Work-life balance on vacation
(58:34) Advice to teenagers reluctant to pursue their passion
(1:00:00) Should people chase their passion?
(1:01:40) Momentum Moment
(1:03:29) Takeaway #1: say yes now, figure it out later
(1:04:09) Takeaway #2: be smart about following your passion
(1:04:31) Takeaway #3: diversify your income streams
(1:04:50) Outro
Haim Dabah is a serial entrepreneur who’s built and sold billion-dollar companies across fashion, venture capital, real estate, and healthcare.
In this episode, we break down the rise and fall of his billion-dollar brand Gitano, how he pioneered designer collaborations with mass retailers, and the mindset that’s kept him building ever since.
Help us build the Sephardic Mikveh of Gravesend: https://raisethon.com/gravesend
Book your free Pivot & Prosper strategy call with Jeff Sitt: https://jeffsitt.com
Check out Joe Shamie on Momentum: https://open.spotify.com/episode/08I7cEj8hFAjNS5ApHCWn5?si=gjSeTcwST0GctCBi96Bzog
00:00 Intro
02:14 Growing up in Israel
05:38 How the 6 Day War affected Haim’s childhood
06:40 Going to Yeshivah after moving to America
08:09 Haim’s 1st job in America
10:21 His father started a wholesale business
12:15 Stories of working with his father
14:05 Launching Gitano
14:43 “Gitano University”
16:12 “I wasn’t a good dad.”
16:36 Working With Walmart
16:51 Working for Sam Walton undercover
18:28 Sephardic Mikveh of Gravesend
19:20 Gitano’s wide-ranging wholesale approach
20:48 How Gitano set itself apart
21:37 Gitano’s unique selling points
22:42 Expanding Gitano’s product types
23:16 Challenges of surpassing $1 billion in sales
24:29 Haim’s thoughts about college
25:12 Company fails when Haim is 40 years old: what now?
26:09 Starting a new business: Regatta
28:46 Bringing Vera Wang to Kohl’s
29:44 Buying out his partner in Regatta
30:03 Selling Regatta to a $20B conglomerate
31:48 Having a boss for the first time in his life
33:48 Book a call with Jeff Sitt
34:50 Support the Morris I. Franco Cancer Center
35:44 The insane grind of building a company
36:22 Not dedicating enough time to his family
37:25 Beginning to prioritize family over work
39:08 Leaving the wholesale business after selling his company
41:03 Finding fulfillment in investing
41:48 How to identify great founders as an investor
43:26 Getting into industrial real estate
46:22 A unique approach to law
46:40 Launching Box Equities with his sons
49:51 Getting into the mental health space
51:00 Haim’s farm
53:31 Taking a PARTIAL step back from business
54:31 Haim’s philanthropic activities
55:22 Serving as president of PROPEL
56:44 Recapping Haim’s journey
57:56 Momentum Moment
1:00:06 Closing thoughts - success is the only option
1:01:38 Outro
June Aboksis was kicked out of school and told she’d be “nothing in life.” Then she went on to build Junee, the largest modest-wear clothing brand in the world, with stores across NY, NJ, and Israel.
In this episode, June opens up about how she turned rejection and hustle into a global empire.
Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group's factoring services can help power your business's financials: https://hedayacapital.com
Check out Rachel Ostroy on Momentum: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rRU3W2PZsN6dhifv2PLQ9?si=5933745eae574845
🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success.
Be sure to subscribe here and on these platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMomentumPodApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/momentum/id1762657981Instagram: http://instagram.com/momentumpodcast_
(0:00) Coming up…(2:41) June’s early days as a misfit child(4:36) “I felt dumb as a child”(6:38) Going to public school after getting kicked out of Yeshivah elementary school(7:40) Dropping out of school at age 16 to work(9:10) Working for her dad in retail(10:42) Learning about her learning disabilities later in life(11:03) Finessing the Board of Education for her kids(13:41) Working in the apparel business: “I was a gangster”(14:24) Street smarts and confidence(16:55) Selling pajamas to help out her husband(20:36) Opening the first store(22:49) Why June opened a store(25:16) How June’s husband jump-started her business(27:36) How did you build a premium brand image?(29:46) Making customers feel good(30:36) Growing from 1 store to worldwide (Brooklyn, Lakewood, Israel, and more)(31:32) Expanding the business to wholesale(33:07) Losing her right-hand-employee: “I felt betrayed”(34:42) When June’s sidekick decided to go out on her own(39:22) Family-work balance – working 20-hour days while raising 6 kids(41:35) Expanding into new verticals (wholesale, retail, ecom)(42:48) June’s current schedule: working at the store during busy season(43:47) Starting a new line because “I was bored”(45:05) Why June’s company gives charity(46:38) Junee’s is “always there to help”(47:32) Donating towards disaster relief in Texas(48:39) The #1 mistake young entrepreneurs make(49:43) Don’t be arrogant(50:28) The traits young people NEED in order to succeed(51:42) Is “follow your passion” good advice?(52:17) Momentum Moment(54:13) What it’s like to open a store in Jerusalem(54:52) Closing thoughts: June’s nonchalant approach to business(56:21) Outro and key takeaways
Jack Aini is the founder of Aini & Associates, a thriving law firm in New York. He served as President of SBH (Sephardic Biker Holim) and is currently President of his shul, SLC (Sephardic Lebanese Congregation).
Help us build the Sephardic Mikveh of Gravesend: https://raisethon.com/gravesend
Partner with Kosher Media, the premiere advertising network for Jewish communities worldwide: https://koshermedia.com
Check out Erwin Dweck on Momentum
(0:00) Coming up…
(1:53) Intro to Jack and his law firm
(3:11) Growing up in the retail business
(4:44) Being scared to try, in case he might fail
(7:12) Deciding to go to law school over a game
(10:47) Graduating law school: an entrepreneur becoming a professional
(12:36) Not knowing what he wanted to do after law school
(14:02) Starting at Cadwalader after graduating
(16:32) Working 2 all-nighters IN A ROW
(21:02) Failing a personality test
(25:58) Getting recruited to Wells Fargo
(27:39) The struggles of being an Orthodox Jew in big law
(28:35) Getting rebuked for taking off for Jewish holidays
(31:56) How to stick to your values
(34:36) The Arabic call that started Jack’s business
(37:53) When his “moonlight business” surpassed his day job
(41:14) The fear behind quitting a steady job with 4 kids at home
(42:08) The entrepreneurship grind: late nights
(43:30) Sleeping 4-5 hours per night
(44:10) What type of law are you in?
(44:58) Hitting a growth ceiling at Wells Fargo
(48:32) Jack’s charitable activities (Sephardic Bikur Holim, Sephardic Lebanese Congregation)
(49:12) What inspires you to get involved?
(50:30) Getting involved in SBH
(52:22) Becoming President of Sephardic Lebanese Congregation
(52:51) The #1 lesson: build a TOP TIER TEAM
(54:26) How do you make time to give back when you run a thriving business?
(56:30) SBH wedding story
(59:13) You don’t have the time, you MAKE the time.
(1:01:15) Should people follow their passion?
(1:03:48) Getting confused for a pro tennis player
(1:05:40) Being chosen for campus recruitment
(1:08:50) Momentum Moment
(1:11:28) Outro
In this special episode, Marshall Mizrahi (my 3rd-ever guest) interviews me (Victor Braca, aka your host) about my journey starting and growing Momentum.
I open up about how my “cute side project” changed my life, how I went from idea to execution in just 5 days, and some of the funniest stories from my time hosting Momentum. Plus, Marshall puts me on the spot with a challenge to match memorable quotes to the guests who said them.
Enjoy!
Check out Marshall’s interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/24rwBJKDZPPbQnyRhazJ4f?si=5ed486b728954100
(0:00) Coming up…
(1:25) Intro: putting Victor in the hot seat
(3:11) Getting to know Victor Braca
(4:15) Why did you start a podcast?
(7:29) Cold calling his first guest
(9:13) Publishing his first episode
(11:04) Working on Episode #2
(12:36) Why Victor chose Marshall as the 3rd guest
(14:43) The pivotal episode: Joe Cayre
(15:31) Nervously approaching Joe Cayre
(18:14) Losing all of his notes before his biggest interview
(21:31) Momentum viewership stats
(24:38) The #1 thing: start before you're ready
(26:08) Being too embarrassed to show his face online
(27:02) Cold emailing 10,000 people for an internship
(28:57) How many people have asked you to come on the podcast?
(29:52) Which guest surprised you the most?
(32:06) Marshall quizzes Victor with random guest quotes
(32:40) Quote #1
(33:09) Quote #2
(34:40) Quote #3
(35:38) Quote #4
(35:55) Quote #5
(36:38) Quote #6
(37:50) Quote #7
(39:06) Quote #8
(40:00) Quote #9
(41:14) What if nobody watches this episode?
(42:11) Quote #10
(43:29) Discussing the meaning of success
(48:24) Key takeaways
(49:48) Reflecting on Season 1 of Momentum
Avi Akiva has closed over 3,500 commercial real estate leases and transacted hundreds of millions of dollars worth of real estate. All before turning 30!
Avi is Partner and Executive VP at TriState Commercial Realty, where he leads the sales team, which he helped grow to over 60 agents.
Explore smarter insurance solutions for your real estate portfolio: https://www.elicohenagency.com
Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://amzn.to/44aJ5B3
Impact Players by Liz Wiseman: https://amzn.to/4laAx3Y
(0:00) Coming up…
(1:57) Intro to Avi Akiva
(4:11) Growing up as a 1st generation American
(6:07) Starting to work at 13 years old
(8:53) Learning the art of sales as a high school student
(11:10) Sales is not a zero-sum game
(13:14) Pivoting from medicine to real estate after high school
(14:43) Closing a deal in his first month
(15:36) "'I just made $10k in 2 weeks'”
(17:21) Working full-time while in college
(18:07) Motivating himself to work 18-hour days
(19:44) Working as a real estate broker during college
(21:00) Getting lucky / God’s hand in business
(22:38) Incremental improvements over time
(24:58) Facing a career shift when he had a family to feed
(27:08) "'It took me 8 months to make that decision'”
(29:15) 1st day at TriState Realty - what was it like?
(32:10) What set you apart to become the 21-year-old company VP?
(36:40) Growing the business to a 60-agent team
(38:02) Impact Players: doing the job that needs to be done
(39:18) How do you hire A+ players?
(43:25) Training his team to close hundreds of leases per year
(45:20) Avi’s unique advice for young adults
(47:53) Enjoy the journey
(49:35) Biggest failure of his career
(52:31) How to capitalize on being young while networking
(53:43) How can young people make connections?
(57:09) Avi’s unique approach to giving back
(59:23) Opening a shul to inspire young guys to love prayer
(1:02:07) Momentum Moment
(1:04:26) Closing thoughts: give the credit to others
(1:05:47) Outro
Jack Ezon built 2 of the world’s largest luxury travel companies. Most recently, he founded Embark Beyond, a $250M+ business with over 300+ employees that plans unbelievable getaways around the world.
In this episode, Jack opens up about quitting big-law to chase his passion, renting out private islands for $40 MILLION parties, and how he launched a travel business just 6 months before COVID.
Brought to you by Goldburd McCone LLP, the very best that tax law has to offer: https://www.goldburdlaw.com
Check out the Faks Brothers on Momentum: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1m1HCaHe0w4JoZne17EOCK?si=g-w3h6IUSjS_q00CKkIi_g
(0:00) Coming up…(1:56) How do you describe what you do?(2:47) Growing up and struggling in school(4:21) How community service taught Jack fundamental lessons(5:46) Incorporating travel into community service(6:50) Stuck in a big-law career that he hated(7:55) Launching a FAILED tech startup in 1999(11:15) Struggling to network in law school(14:02) Getting into travel consulting after his failed startup(16:42) Becoming a travel agent BY ACCIDENT(18:59) Reputation is everything(19:46) Building a business from $0 to $400 MILLION(21:31) Starting his own travel business 6 months before COVID(22:59) Turning COVID into an opportunity to grow(23:45) Developing relationships with the press(26:24) Sleeping 3 hour nights when growing the business(28:09) Coolest destinations/events ($40M wedding, renting out private islands, private concerts)(29:29) The $200k mistake when trying to expand the business(31:35) Struggling to network at event conferences: “it was humbling”(34:28) Exclusive trips that exploded Embark’s business(35:49) Hanging out with the CEO of Dior and Hermes / incorporating luxury brands into travel(37:41) Clienteling - making people feel special(40:38) Should people follow their passion?(41:27) Qualities noticed in A+ players(42:29) Scaling a service business(44:06) Giving back to the community(45:03) True happiness is not enjoyment, it’s fulfillment: reflecting on community values(48:20) Momentum Moment(49:32) Closing thoughts(50:47) Outro
Simon and Morris Faks are 2 of the top DJs in New York. They’ve performed for thousands of people, worked with celebrities like Marshmello and Alesso, and played sets all over the world—from France to Morocco to Italy.
Pitch your business idea today: https://pitch-place.com
Follow Simon and Morris on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/faksproductions
https://instagram.com/djsimonfaks
Check out Yaakov Shwekey on Momentum
__
(0:00) Coming up…
(2:40) Who are Simon and Morris Faks?
(3:14) Immigrating to America at age 16
(4:20) "I couldn't read and write"
(5:53) Buying DJ equipment for fun
(8:30) Grinding to establish themselves as the go-to DJs
(10:03) 20-hour days: working full time and DJing on the side
(11:26) Introducing party lighting to their experience
(12:10) Going all-in on DJing
(13:01) Did you have to deal with competetion?
(15:17) Working 72 hours straight
(17:57) Building up a premium brand image
(18:50) Nightmare scenarios: equipment failures, power outages, and explosions
(23:51) Working with Justin Bieber, Marshmello, Alesso, and more celebrities
(25:50) Work-life balance (or lack thereof)
(28:22) Coolest events and destinations (Anguilla, Paris, Rome, Saint-Tropez, Casablanca…)
(29:28) Shipping their own equipment across the world to Anguilla
(30:31) DJing in Game of Thrones, 11 days of 3 parties a day
(31:25) Performing with Alesso in the center of a mountain
(31:48) DJing with Marshmello
(32:29) Do you take requests?
(33:48) The sacrifice DJs need to make: “it’s a hard business.”
(38:47) Bringing on more DJs to expand their operation
(39:31) Getting into music production?
(40:11) Learning the back end / admin work
(41:12) Being honorable in business
(42:38) Why you need a good attitude in the service business
(43:53) Should people follow their passion?
(46:22) What's it like being business partners with your brother?
(48:27) Donating their services to underprivileged families
(50:12) Momentum Moment
(51:29) Closing thoughts
(53:51) Outro
Erwin Dweck is a partner at Milbank LLP, where he leads the firm’s real estate practice and serves on the Global Executive Committee—a select group of just seven partners entrusted with shaping the firm’s strategy and steering its global operations alongside their legal work.
His work reflects not only the practice of law, but the business workings behind a firm with over $2 BILLION in revenue and 2,000 employees.
Book your free Pivot & Prosper strategy call with Jeff Sitt: www.jeffsitt.com
Explore smarter insurance solutions for your real estate portfolio: www.elicohenagency.com
So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport: https://amzn.to/4jjS48r
Our Crowd by Steven Birmingham: https://amzn.to/4kAWU2d
The Grandees by Steven Birmingham: https://amzn.to/4dvoueO
(00:00) Coming up…
(02:16) Who is Erwin Dweck?
(03:33) Erwin’s role at Milbank
(04:36) Leading a $3.9 BILLION deal
(06:19) “I just wanted to be able to pay my bills”
(09:55) Transactional law vs litigation
(12:46) Erwin’s first jobs at big law firms
(15:33) Taking his first entrepreneurial leap
(17:05) Entrepreneurship inside a big law firm
(19:32) Why every successful lawyer needs to be entrepreneurial
(23:02) Being elected to Milbank’s elite Global Executive Committee
(24:32) Why you need work-life IMBALANCE
(29:05) Sponsor - Jeff Sitt Consulting
(30:04) Sponsor - Eli Cohen Insurance Agency
(30:51) Characteristics you need to succeed in big law
(33:40) Traits noticed in A-players
(36:33) The BIGGEST mistake young people make
(39:19) Turning setbacks into billion dollar opportunities
(43:03) Learning how to manage people
(43:43) “I wish I made more time for my family”
(44:59) Why you should NOT follow your passion
(49:38) Observing Shabbat as a lawyer
(52:41) How has faith guided you in business?
(54:21) Why is giving back important to you?
(57:47) The ripple effect of kindness
(59:13) How can young adults network effectively?
(1:00:40) Ask and you shall receive
(1:03:51) Erwin’s all-time favorite books
(1:07:33) Erwin’s favorite podcasts
(1:08:17) Momentum Moment
(1:10:46) Closing thoughts
(1:11:12) Outro
Abie Rosow is the founder of Rosow Elite Performance, a basketball training company which runs clinics in multiple cities and works with thousands of kids every year.
In this episode, he opens up about the struggles of scaling a company that delivers individualized service, what he's learned from his time in business, and the #1 thing you need to succeed.
Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group’s factoring can help power your business’s financials: https://hedayacapital.com
Melanie Kishk runs Century 21’s top-grossing team in New York. With 20 agents and over $1 billion in volume, Melanie shares her incredible story.
Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group’s factoring can help power your business’s financials: https://hedayacapital.com
Check out Melanie on the web: https://www.mkrealtyny.com
Never Split the Difference: https://amzn.to/3GQNd0Y
How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://amzn.to/3GO5hZL
(0:00) Coming up…
(2:11) Melanie’s accomplishments
(2:52) Was real estate always the goal?
(4:36) The college class that changed Melanie’s life
(8:18) Discovering her passion for sales
(9:59) Starting a barret business at 16
(11:38) Working for her father
(13:24) Early retail work experiences
(16:10) Working for her father after college
(16:56) Be creative
(18:53) Timeless lessons from her father
(20:23) "I got into real estate by accident"
(21:47) Being a real estate agent before the internet
(23:53) ZERO sales after 9 months, while 7 months pregnant
(27:59) Becoming agent of the month on her 1st deal
(29:27) Starting her own real estate company
(30:16) Exploring franchising
(32:10) Growing from 5 to 20 agents
(33:06) Melanie and her team’s accomplishments
(34:08) Adapting to COVID
(35:44) The importance of home ownership
(37:36) Advice to overwhelmed young people
(39:44) Where do you take inspiration from?
(40:56) What people can do TODAY to put themselves ahead
(41:59) Don't quit too early!
(42:38) Never Split the Difference
(44:24) Becoming a community matchmaker
(46:16) When real estate and matchmaking cross paths
(48:35) Turning negative experiences into opportunities to
serve others
(49:32) How to leverage your community while giving back
(50:18) How to Win Friends and Influence People
(52:32) Impactful quotes to live by
(53:42) The importance of faith in business
(54:46) Momentum Moments
(55:52) Closing thoughts
(58:02) Outro
