Built for Founders, By Founders
Join us on The MBA Founder Podcast as we explore the journeys of student and alumni founders juggling entrepreneurship, academia, and life.
Recent Episodes
In this episode of the MBA Founder Podcast, Njeri and Sandeep sit down with Dontrell Johnson, founder and CEO of Debonaire Vision – a luxury eyewear brand intentionally designed for Black people and people of color, “the faces that were never considered.” We go deep into Dontrell’s story: growing up as a military kid, being surrounded by creatives, the legacy of a grandfather who built one of the very few for‑profit Black‑owned hospitals in the United States, and how all of that shaped the vision, lifestyle, and legacy behind Debonair Vision. --- In this conversation, we cover: - What is Debonaire Vision? - From idea to ecosystem - Family, legacy, and entrepreneurship - The MBA Founder journey - Creative roots and media - Black fashion and aesthetic - Mindset, risk, and pivoting - Belonging, representation and culture - Advice for founders --- Connect with Dontrell & Debonaire Vision - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/debonairevision https://www.instagram.com/debonairetrell - *Reddit* u/Debonaire Vision --- Connect with the hosts - Connect with Sandeep - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-gl - Connect with Njeri & follow the founder journey LinkedIn newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/mba-saas-founder-7378793594956148736/ LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=njericooper --- If you’re a current or aspiring founder, especially someone navigating a 9‑to‑5 while building something of your own, this episode is for you. Hit *like*, *subscribe*, and drop a comment about your biggest takeaway or the pivot you’re currently wrestling with.
How AI is influencing Future Founders, Walking through the experience from two aspiring Entrepreneurial MBA students Sandeep and Njeri who started their Founders journey from August 2025 and performing market demand testing. Sandeep, interested in B2C, trying to understand how to improve a home owner's life by using his technical expertise. Njeri building a SaaS as part of Entrepreneurial MBA. Links: Sandeep's Home owner app Landing page: https://homemanagerapp.base44.app/Welcome Sandeep's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-gl/ Njeri's Construction SaaS Landing Page: https://bit.ly/L-Cult Connect with Njeri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/njericooper/
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