#124 Waverly Deutsch’s Coaching Wisdom: 22 Years of Love, Logic, and AI at Chicago Booth

Ever had a mentor who became more than just a coach, someone who changed your perspective and your path? This is Part 2 of “Love and Logic,” our special three-part Pride Month podcast series celebrating authenticity and transformation. Waverly Deutsch, a proud LGBTQ advocate and champion of women entrepreneurs, shares her incredible journey—from theater enthusiast to PhD, STEM major to MBA professor, and now, a venture-building coach and founder of WyseHeart Advisory. Known for her candid yet constructive feedback, Waverly’s tough love inspires transformative growth for entrepreneurs worldwide. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Blending Heart and Head “Whether it’s calming executives’ cautious approaches or reining in overly ambitious young entrepreneurs, success lies in balancing heart (vision) with head (practicality). It’s about building a compelling story that resonates with both emotions and logic.” Executives: Breaking the Incremental Mold “Executives often pitch ideas that feel safe but lack innovation. They’re so aware of corporate barriers that their creativity gets stifled. My role? Push them to think beyond incremental improvements and aim for groundbreaking changes that truly stand out.” “Executives often present highly calculated plans—‘$5 million investment for $7 million returns.’ While safe, it doesn’t excite investors. Encouraging them to aim higher, to envision $50 million, injects the passion and ambition their pitches often lack.” Unleashing Undergraduate Imagination “Undergraduates are brimming with ideas because they haven’t yet encountered the roadblocks of the corporate world. The challenge is teaching them the process—how to take their boundless creativity and add logic, research, and structure to turn dreams into sustainable ventures.” Overzealous Optimism Meets Reality “On the flip side, young entrepreneurs brim with optimism, promising billion-dollar outcomes for modest investments. The challenge? Bringing logic into their bold dreams—helping them see the steps, resources, and realistic pathways to scale.” The Power of Experimentation “Sometimes, all it takes is encouraging an entrepreneur to think bigger—just as an exercise. That simple shift in perspective can unlock enormous potential, as it did with Simple Mills, now a model for blending passion and pragmatism to scale innovation.” _________________________ Connect with Us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Waverly Deutsch ______________________ -- Chief Change Officer -- Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself. Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs, Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts. 6 Million+ All-Time Downloads. Reaching 80+ Countries Daily. Global Top 3% Podcast. Top 10 US Business. Top 1 US Careers. >>> 100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.<<< --Chief Change Officer-- Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself. Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep, Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts. EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist. 20 Million+ All-Time Downloads. 80+ Countries Reached Daily. Gl