TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - From reporting the news in East Texas to building technology companies with a global footprint, Phil Burks has spent a lifetime embracing opportunity, innovation, and, perhaps most importantly, failure.

A former KLTV reporter who went on to become a successful entrepreneur, author, and mentor, Burks' journey has taken him from local newsrooms and broadcast towers to software companies serving clients around the world.

Today, he's focused on investing in the next generation of business leaders and sharing the lessons he's learned along the way.