Lifetime at Work: Finding the Meaning in Our Careers
Your career is more than just a job—it’s a chance to create an impact and find personal fulfillment. This podcast explores the journeys of business leaders, uncovering how work shapes our lives, the world, and what makes a career truly meaningful.
Hosted by Greg Martin, a Toronto-based investment banker and M&A advisor, the show dives into the deeper questions behind our careers—why we work, what drives success, and how our professional lives shape the world around us. In an era of AI, career freedom, and globalization, the meaning of work is evolving, leaving many to question its true purpose.
Through conversations with founders, business leaders, and investors across private equity, public markets, and venture capital, the podcast uncovers insights from those who have built, grown, and influenced some of North America's most successful companies. It also features advisors, consultants, and investment bankers who help shape the future of business, sharing lessons from their wins, losses, and defining career moments.
Lifetime at Work: Finding the Meaning in Our Careers
A Comedian, A Salon Business and A Software Geek with Erika Wasser
Episode 73. In this episode of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Erika Wasser, co-founder of Prospr, a software tool designed to manage frontline employees across multiple locations.
Erica shares her journey from starting a salon chain to co-founding a software company, discussing the challenges faced by non-technical founders, the social importance of salons and barbershops, and the common issues in managing deskless workforces. The conversation delves into the significance of well-informed teams for customer experience, the power of culture-building tools, and strategies for overcoming communication barriers in large-scale businesses.
Erika also provides insights on the role of AI in frontline operations, the importance of inclusivity and flexibility for employees, and her personal experiences with failure and resilience in entrepreneurship.
- 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
- 00:16 Meet Erica Wasser: From Standup Comedian to Entrepreneur
- 01:09 The Birth of Prosper: Solving Frontline Communication Challenges
- 02:19 Real-World Examples of Communication Breakdowns
- 05:23 Building Prosper: A Non-Technical Founder’s Journey
- 07:49 Erica’s Career Journey: From Entertainment to Salons
- 12:12 The Role of AI and Technology in Frontline Work
- 17:51 Engaging Frontline Employees: Strategies and Insights
- 22:58 The Chipotle Effect
- 23:38 Challenges in Building a Business
- 25:15 The Software Industry Transition
- 26:53 The Unique Salon Experience
- 29:47 Navigating Growth and Marketing
- 32:29 The Future of Venture Capital
- 36:30 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- 38:34 Conclusion and Contact Information