Up this month is Neal Sales-Griffin, best known around town as co-founder and CEO of the Starter League. Over the past few years Neal’s been making waves at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and education. October’s installment of CreativeMornings is happening on October 17th, in the midst of Chicago Ideas Week, and we can’t think of a better speaker to join us! Here’s some insider insight into Neal.

What drives your desire to create?
I am passionate about solving problems for people that I care about. It’s my fuel.

How does Chicago influence you or your work?
I’m a south sider born and raised. I love this city. I think the culture here is still malleable. It influences my work because I believe I can contribute to shaping it. I want more people to start bootstrapped businesses in Chicago.

What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the many alumni of The Starter League who have taken the plunge to start their own businesses, regardless of failure or success.

What may people not know about you?
I’m actually not 100% black. My mother is half Filipino and half Honduran.

What does this month’s theme—crossover—mean to you?
“Chemistry is the study of matter. But I prefer to see it as the study of…change.” - Walter White (Breaking Bad)

Hit him up @nealsales to talk code, video games or Breaking Bad.