{"podcast":{"title":"B Student Podcast","slug":"b-student-podcast-7163471","podcast_index_feed_id":7163471,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6478661/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/b-student-podcast--6478661","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/5d1b904ad5ce54f3998017d132dbd2e1.jpg","author":"Winter Park Chamber of Commerce","episode_count":53,"summary":"The B Student Podcast is hosted by Betsy Gardner, the President and CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. The podcast focuses on exploring the \"B side\" of influential and dynamic professionals. Just like the B-side of a record, where deeper, more personal passions often live, this podcast highlights the less publicized yet deeply impactful aspects of these individuals' work and lives. Betsy brings her extensive experience as a CEO, speaker, consultant, and executive coach to dive into conversations with experts from diverse fields. The goal is to provide listeners with actionable insights, strategies, and inspiration to help them succeed and create meaningful impact in their own careers and communities. Each episode introduces listeners to unique perspectives and lessons on topics like leadership, emotional intelligence, community building, and personal growth—empowering the audience to \"be\" more successful and impactful in their own lives. About the host: Betsy Gardner is a dynamic leader with a diverse professional background. Since January 2017, she has served as the President and CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, where she has been instrumental in modernizing t…","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/b-student-podcast-7163471"},"episode":{"title":"44. From Apple to Entrepreneur: Surviving COVID, Closing the Digital Divide & Leading with Empathy | David Collins","slug":"44-from-apple-to-entrepreneur-surviving-covid-closing-the-digital-divide-leading-with-empathy-david-collins","published_at":"2026-04-01T11:00:32+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/b-student-podcast-7163471/44-from-apple-to-entrepreneur-surviving-covid-closing-the-digital-divide-leading-with-empathy-david-collins","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/b-student-podcast-7163471","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44-from-apple-to-entrepreneur-surviving-covid-closing-the-digital-divide-leading-with-empathy-david-collins--71011443","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71011443/ep44_guest_david_collins.mp3","summary":"In this episode of the B-Student Podcast, we sit down with David Collins, CEO of Aeras Technologies and Aeras Foundation, a 26-year veteran of the software and telecom industry and a former Apple executive who helped launch the original iPhone into the carrier market. David shares the behind-the-scenes story of leaving a successful corporate career to start his own company—only to launch it three months before the global pandemic. Instead of retreating, David and his team leaned into the chaos with a simple philosophy: “We weren’t selling. We were helping.” From navigating crises like 9/11, the 2008 financial crash, and COVID-19, to building a company culture rooted in empathy and service, David explains how resilience, relationships, and values-driven leadership have shaped his entrepreneurial journey. We also dive into the powerful impact of the Aeras Foundation, a nonprofit tackling the digital divide by repurposing donated technology and providing devices to students and nonprofits across Central Florida. If you’re building a business, leading a team, or navigating uncertainty in your career, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: the best businesses start with service. Time Stamps: 00:00 – Meet David Collins (CEO of Aeras Technologies) 06:12 – The “Burn the Boats” Entrepreneur Mindset 09:28 – Launching a Company 3 Months Before COVID 12:41 – From Selling to Helping: The Sales Philosophy That Worked 16:05 – Lessons from Past Crises: 9/11, 2008, and the Pandemic 19:24 – Building an Empathy-Driven IT Company Culture 22:46 – Hiring for Values First, Training Skills Later 26:03 – The Importance of Team Strengths in Leadership 29:08 – Community Leadership and Leadership Winter Park 32:18 – The Birth of the Aeras Foundation 35:54 – Closing the Digital Divide Throu…","meta_description":"In this episode of the B-Student Podcast, we sit down with David Collins, CEO of Aeras Technologies and Aeras Foundation, a 26-year veteran of the softwar…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2365,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/b-student-podcast-7163471/episodes/44-from-apple-to-entrepreneur-surviving-covid-closing-the-digital-divide-leading-with-empathy-david-collins/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/b-student-podcast-7163471/44-from-apple-to-entrepreneur-surviving-covid-closing-the-digital-divide-leading-with-empathy-david-collins.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}