In this episode of The Girl Dad Show, Young Han sits down with TJ Schier, founder and CEO of SmashSwing, to unpack building a new category in golf entertainment, validating an idea against real customers instead of your own conviction, and what eighteen years at Chuck E. Cheese's taught him about designing experiences. TJ traces his path from Chuck E. Cheese's, where he left as VP of Field Support, through two decades as a speaker and consultant in franchising and competitive socializing, to COO of BigShots Golf, and now founding SmashSwing. He shares why he insists the product is something other than a golf simulator, how he worked through early resistance to a product people had no reference point for, and what long-term strategy looks like when you're selling something the market doesn't have a category for yet. The conversation also gets personal. TJ talks about involving his family in the business, why he'd rather give his kids experiences than things, and his approach to parenting: set the guardrails, then let them do their own thing. He draws the line himself between that and delegation — the instinct that makes a good manager is the one that makes a good parent. Expect a practical view of market validation, a non-traditional career path worth studying, and a working definition of success from someone who has built inside large companies and from scratch. 🔗 CONNECT WITH TJ SCHIER 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjschier/ 💻 Website: https://tjschier.com/ 💻 SmashSwing: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smashswing-immersive/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 💻 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show 📚 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together.

In this episode of The Girl Dad Show, Young Han sits down with Rob LoCascio, founder of LivePerson and now Uare.ai, to unpack building AI that serves people instead of replacing them, surviving the failures that come with three decades of running a company, and raising kids who can stand on their own. Rob traces his path from founding LivePerson and taking it public on NASDAQ, through nearly thirty years as its CEO, to launching Uare.ai and KID Company — ventures built on the idea that an AI model should be trained on a real person's life story rather than the whole internet. He shares what the hardest stretches actually taught him, why he thinks human-centered AI is the only version worth building, and how he learned to treat constant change as the operating condition rather than the disruption. The conversation also gets personal. Rob is direct about putting God at the center of his life and how that reframes decisions that used to feel like his alone to carry. He talks about relocating his family to Silicon Valley, the values he's tried to hand his kids, and why he sees his job as a parent as uplifting their independence rather than managing it. Expect a grounded read on where personal AI is actually headed, a usable way to think about resilience after something you built doesn't work, and a reminder that family and faith tend to outlast whatever's on the calendar. 🔗 CONNECT WITH ROB LOCASCIO 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlocascio/ 🐦 X: https://x.com/RobLoCascio 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roblocascio/ 💻 Uare.ai: https://www.uare.ai/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 💻 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together.

In this episode of The Girl Dad Show, Young Han sits down with Jessica Yarmey, president of Squeeze Massage and seasoned franchise leader, to unpack building brands, trusting teams during acquisitions, and balancing career with parenthood. Jessica traces her path from global brand roles to founding and scaling KickHouse Fitness, then leading Club Pilates marketing, and now accelerating Squeeze’s national expansion. She shares how passion kept her going after a career setback, the playbook for rebuilding franchise systems, and why relationship trust is the core of successful acquisitions. The conversation also gets personal. Jessica reflects on commuting through her child’s early years, the tradeoffs of pursuing professional goals while parenting, and a proud moment when her son created a sizzle reel for her agency. Expect practical frameworks for work life integration, ways to create trust quickly in business deals, and actionable habits for leaders who want growth without losing family connection. 🔗 CONNECT WITH JESSICA YARMEY 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicayarmey/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicayarmey/ 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.yarmey.98/ 🐦 X: https://x.com/JessicaYarmey 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 💻 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together.

In this episode of The Girl Dad Show, Young Han talks with Drew Chalfant, VP of Legal & Compliance at HomeFront Brands and co‑owner of HAWKs Charlotte–Lake Norman, about work‑life integration, franchise ownership, and parenting with purpose. Drew shares the risk that reshaped his family life, the discipline behind choosing the right hard things, and how unstructured outdoor play is helping his kids become confident leaders. Expect practical lessons on building systems for business, nurturing entrepreneurial kids, and creating community through meaningful work. Key takeaways include that work and life are interconnected and true balance is integration, choosing your hard builds discipline, children learn more from example than words, pursuing challenging but manageable goals creates fulfillment, and community is central to lasting happiness. Connect with Drew Chalfant 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewchalfant/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewchalfant/ 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drewalanchalfant Connect with Young Han 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com Connect with The Girl Dad Show 💻 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together.

n this episode of The Girl Dad Show, Young Han sits down with Vijay Rajendran—executive coach, entrepreneur, investor, startup advisor, UC Berkeley instructor, and author of The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding with Confidence. Drawing from more than 20 years of experience helping founders grow into effective CEOs, Vijay shares valuable insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, raising capital, and balancing the demands of family life. From supporting startups in over 80 countries to coaching leaders through pivotal moments, Vijay offers a unique perspective on what it takes to build successful businesses while remaining present at home. Young and Vijay discuss why leadership is one of the most valuable resources in any organization, how entrepreneurs can develop resilience and grit, and the importance of communication with both business partners and family members during challenging seasons. They also explore how AI is changing the way professionals work and how founders can leverage technology to focus on higher-value activities. Whether you're a founder, business leader, parent, or someone striving to balance ambition with family, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and actionable takeaways. In This Episode: Why leadership is the ultimate competitive advantage Lessons from coaching hundreds of founders and CEOs Building resilience as both an entrepreneur and a parent The role of communication in strong relationships and teams How AI is reshaping work and creating new opportunities Strategies for balancing business growth with family life 🔗 CONNECT WITH VIJAY RAJENDRAN 🌐 Website: https://startupsystem.substack.com/ 🌐 Website: https://www.mystartupsystem.com/ 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayarajendran/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan_ 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 🌐 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGirlDadShow 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show

In this solo episode Young Han reflects on a recent family trip to Hawaii and a clear epiphany he had when he gave himself permission to be bored with his kids. Without scheduled activities or constant optimization, Young noticed how unstructured time reveals creativity, problem solving, emotional growth, and who his children are becoming. He explains why efficiency and overplanning can block connection, how small moments of downtime produce the most honest conversations, and practical ways leaders can protect time to be present. Young shares what it felt like to stop working while on vacation, to sit on the beach and invent games, and to watch his kids demonstrate risk tolerance, fairness, and independent thinking. He contrasts this with his usual tendency to optimize every minute and describes the intentional tradeoffs he is making as his five year sprint winds down and family becomes a higher priority. All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together. 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 💻 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show

In this episode of The Girl Dad Show, Young Han talks with Brian Samson, founder of Plugg Technologies, about building repeatable businesses, the strategic advantages of nearshoring Latin American talent, and his family journey from fostering to adopting a baby girl. Brian has spent a decade focused on nearshoring, lived as an expat in Argentina, and grown three separate companies from $0 to $4M ARR each. He also served as VP of talent for multiple San Francisco tech companies through an IPO and an acquisition and holds an MBA from UCLA. This conversation mixes tactical hiring and scaling advice with deeply personal reflections on parenting, adoption, and social impact. Expect practical takeaways on nearshore hiring, building systems that scale, and how family priorities shape leadership. 🔗 CONNECT WITH BRIAN SAMSON 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/ 📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plugg_technologies/ 💻 Website: plugg.tech 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 💻 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show ✨ All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together.

This solo episode kicks off Season 6 of The Girl Dad Show. Young Han reflects on six years of the show and how fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and intentionality have evolved together. He covers moving from San Francisco to Texas, the five year sprint and its impact on family, the shift from playful parenting to deliberate guidance, and why honesty and role modeling matter more than perfection. Expect practical takeaways on showing up consistently, curating your child’s influences, and building a life that teaches by example. Key takeaways: → Your kids are more resilient than you think and good intentions matter more than perfection. → Model the behaviors and values you want your children to adopt. → Bring your children along on your journey and share both successes and struggles. → Be selective about who influences your children and expose them to positive environments. → Consistency and persistence in showing up matter more than being perfect. 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 💻 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show ✨ All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together.

In this rerun episode of The Girl Dad Show, host Young Han sits down with Pete and Ryan, owners of Alpha Roofing, for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and what it takes to build a legacy-driven business while staying grounded as parents. Pete and Ryan share how their childhoods, early exposure to hard work, and experiences in sports shaped their discipline, resilience, and leadership styles. Ryan reflects on growing up in the roofing industry from a young age, while Pete discusses the importance of truly understanding insurance and advocating for homeowners. Together, they open up about the challenges of modern parenting, teaching determination in a world of comfort, and why failure is often the best teacher. The conversation also dives into building strong company culture, taking bold risks in business, and why legacy for them means more than revenue. It means raising kids with character, creating opportunities for their families, and enjoying life along the way. ✨ All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together. Takeaways Ryan has been in roofing since he was 12 years old Pete emphasizes understanding insurance and protecting homeowners Childhood influences shape long-term work ethic Sports helped build discipline, resilience, and teamwork Teaching determination to kids is harder in today’s world Failure is one of the best teachers Strong culture is built on teamwork and support Building a business is about creating a family legacy Communication matters in parenting and leadership Time outdoors helps them recharge and stay grounded 🔗 CONNECT WITH PETE & RYAN (ALPHA ROOFING) 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alpharoofingtexas?igsh=dzdpbnhyZzU2bmU4 💻Website: https://www.alpharoofingtexas.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22459121660&gbraid=0AAAAABjODiL3hCQAqG3_8JNaXgHujtJbD&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-v3H4aCskgMV1nJ_AB3jzBbgEAAYASAAEgKx_vD_BwE 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 🌐 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGirlDadShow 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show Thanks for watching! If this episode resonated, please like, subscribe, and share it with a parent or entrepreneur who could use the message.

In this rerun episode of The Girl Dad Show, Young Han sits down with Stephen Mellott, CEO of EPTI and President of HSI, for a grounded conversation about leadership, family, and what it really takes to build a meaningful legacy. Stephen operates a manufacturing business serving refineries and power generation systems, but his story starts far from boardrooms. He was raised in the middle of nowhere on a working ranch, the only boy among three sisters, with a father who was often away for work. That upbringing shaped how he parents today: understanding, but firm, and deeply intentional about presence. As a dad to two daughters, Lilly (14) and Madeline (almost 12), Stephen talks openly about how parenting is not one size fits all. His girls are completely different humans, and that reality has forced him to adapt, listen more, and lead differently at home just as he does at work. Throughout the episode, Stephen emphasizes a few non-negotiables: Integrity cannot be compromised, whether you are leading a company or raising kids. Respect matters in every role, father, husband, leader. And partnership is everything. Stephen is clear that while single parents can absolutely succeed, his ability to operate at a high level in business is directly tied to the support of his wife. She is his partner in all of it, carrying the load when he cannot and helping keep the family grounded. His advice is simple and honest: work with your partner, do not freak out, and trust that it will be okay. After all, our parents did not have it all figured out either. This conversation is not about perfection. It is about persistence, humility, and showing up with integrity even when you are learning in real time. ✨ All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis, helping founders go further, together. 🔗 CONNECT WITH STEPHEN MELLOTT 🌐 Website: http://www.hsi-llc.com 👥 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-mellott-2688571b/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan_ 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 🌐 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGirlDadShow 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show

In this rerun episode of The Girl Dad Show, host Young Han sits down with Joel Flory, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of VSCO (Visual Supply Company). Joel shares his journey from professional photographer to tech founder, and how his approach to leadership has evolved alongside his role as a father of two teenage daughters. From stepping down as CEO to embrace a new chapter as executive chairman, Joel reflects on what it means to lead with humility, balance ambition with family, and stay grounded in purpose. The conversation explores the lessons of fatherhood, the importance of listening, and how community, feedback, and continuous growth shape both his work and his life. All episodes of The Girl Dad Show are proudly sponsored by Thesis — helping founders go further, together. Takeaways Parenting is a team sport that requires listening Professional and personal growth often mirror each other Work-life balance starts with prioritizing health and family Feedback is a cornerstone of continuous improvement Transitioning from CEO to Executive Chairman demands humility Leadership is about service, not control Community involvement leaves a lasting legacy Executive coaching fuels purpose and growthnthood requires grace, empathy, and adaptability Family goals can be structured like business OKRs Success means building a significant business while being present for family 🔗 CONNECT WITH JOEL FLORY 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelflory/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH YOUNG HAN 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younghan/ 🐦 X: https://twitter.com/younghan_ 💻 Website: https://www.alwayshan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GIRL DAD SHOW 🌐 Website: https://thegirldadshow.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGirlDadShow 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirldadshow 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-girl-dad-show