Tech PR pro Jay Kolbe on why Milwaukee still struggles to own its innovation story.

Tech PR pro Jay Kolbe on why Milwaukee still struggles to own its innovation story.

From Experience Milwaukee by Experience Milwaukee, LLC

May 3, 2026 · 34 min · Season 9 · Episode 1

About this episode

Jay Kolbe discusses Milwaukee's challenges in owning its innovation narrative.

Jay’s bio: Jay Kolbe , a Milwaukee area resident, is a 20-year communications pro and co-founder / managing partner of Impact Partners , a New York-based strategic communications and growth advisory firm. He works closely with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, investors, and emerging technology companies. Jay also advises a wide range of technology and media-related brands and is known for helping founders, firms, and leaders create sharper, more ownable narratives around who they are and why they matter. In this episode, Jay offers a sharp outside-insider perspective on Milwaukee and Wisconsin: a place with real substance, pride, and values, but one that too often under-owns its wins, hesitates to tell its story, and leaves too much room for bigger coastal markets to define the conversation instead. Steve and Jay also get into one of the most uncomfortable but important tensions in the region’s tech ecosystem. Sponsored by Concurrency and Secure Compliance Solutions .

People in this episode

Guest: Jay Kolbe

Topics covered

  • innovation
  • technology
  • communication
  • Milwaukee
  • storytelling
  • ecosystem

Keywords

  • Milwaukee
  • innovation
  • technology
  • communication
  • storytelling
  • ecosystem
  • Impact Partners

Sponsors

Concurrency, Secure Compliance Solutions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Impact Partners

Places: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, coastal markets

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