Self-Fueling Excellence with Mark L. Madrid

Mark L. Madrid welcomes Dennis Olympios -philanthropist, movement-maker, and LinkedIn trailblazer with over 5 million followers. From humble beginnings in Greece and Cyprus, Dennis and his wife Emily Pappas built LinkedIn Superpowers from scratch. Dennis shares how perseverance, mentorship, and consistent self-investment turned annual turnover into daily earnings and reveals his mission to positively impact 10 million professionals worldwide.

In this episode of Self Fueling Excellence, host Mark L. Madrid sits down with global business mentor Rajesh Tedla for a powerful conversation about transformation, grit, and the mindset that drives success. Raj shares how he turned personal challenges into bold goals and why adaptability is the true advantage for small businesses in a rapidly changing world.

Welcome to Self Fueling Excellence, a show now streaming on Roku and Amazon Fire, where we spotlight stories of resilience and innovation. Today’s guest is Lorenzo Gomez III—a San Antonio native whose journey took him from the city’s west side to leading tech companies like Rackspace, co-founding Geekdom, and becoming an acclaimed author.

Lorenzo grew up in a large family in inner-city San Antonio. Early experiences—like navigating gang violence at school—inspired his mental health book Tafoya Toro: Three Years of Fear. He credits mentors for shaping his path; friends encouraged him into technology jobs that led to pivotal roles at Gateway Computers and eventually Rackspace. There, he found not only career growth but also transformative relationships that championed his potential.

At Geekdom—the city’s first coworking space—Lorenzo fostered community by connecting innovators and entrepreneurs. Drawing inspiration from leaders like Graham Weston, he learned the value of seeking advice rather than pretending to have all the answers—a lesson that shaped both his leadership style and storytelling approach.

Storytelling became central to Lorenzo’s philosophy: “Everyone has a story worth telling,” he says. His four-part formula (simple idea—from/to—story) helps others craft narratives that move audiences emotionally as well as intellectually.

His latest book addresses online trolling, offering practical strategies rooted in personal experience for overcoming negativity on social media—a modern challenge affecting many today.

Now focused on Voice of San Antonio—a platform amplifying local voices—and writing new books about his beloved hometown, Lorenzo remains committed to helping others find their potential through mentorship, community-building, faith-driven purpose…and always storytelling.

In this episode of Small Business is Big Business with Mark L Madrid, recorded live at the Wall Street Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida – Mark sits down with Hall of Fame Speaker, author, and chairman of the C-Suite Network, Jeffrey Hayzlett as they discuss the importance of branding, values-driven business practices, and the evolving landscape of media and podcasting.

Jeffrey emphasizes the need for businesses to be grounded in their values, engage with customers directly, and adapt to the changing media environment to stand out in a competitive market. The discussion also touches on the significance of live conferences and the Hero Club’s mission to promote leadership values.

In this episode of Smart Small Business is Big Business, Mark L. Madrid sits down with Elizabeth Alegria at SXSW in Austin, Texas, to explore the intersection of mental health, technology, and entrepreneurship. From her humble beginnings in Laredo, Texas, to founding Gramercy Clinic and integrating AI to bridge healthcare gaps, Elizabeth shares her journey of resilience and innovation. With candid insights on leadership, self-care, and the challenges of equitable healthcare access, she empowers aspiring entrepreneurs—especially women—to embrace courage, authenticity, and limitless possibilities.

For more information on the host. visit: marklmadrid.com