In this episode of When Science Speaks, Mark talks with Gerrit McGowan, a lifelong entrepreneur and former competitive whitewater kayaker. Gerrit shares valuable insights on overcoming networking dread, gaining buy-in from stakeholders, and creating value for customers. Learn about his journey from competitive kayaking to founding a venture-backed marketing tech company used by global brands like Coca-Cola and JetBlue Airways. Discover essential principles for entrepreneurs such as curiosity, authenticity, reciprocity, and empathy, and hear inspiring stories about building successful enterprises and navigating the unpredictable world of startups, drawing fascinating parallels to the lessons learned from whitewater kayaking. 00:00 Introduction and Networking Dread 00:55 Introducing Gerrit McGowan 01:55 Key Principles for Entrepreneurial Success 03:42 The Power of Human Connection 07:18 A Story of Persistence and Innovation 14:01 Focus on Value Creation 19:28 Effective Networking Strategies 22:20 Lessons from Whitewater Kayaking 25:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts