Author
The Celebrity CEO
Ramon writes about personal branding, visibility and using your expertise to build a business people remember.
Entrepreneur · Author · Speaker · Media host
Meet Ramon Ray.
A small-business expert, entrepreneur and author who believes you can build a business that works without letting it take over your life.
Ramon has built five businesses and sold three. Through speaking, coaching, books and media, he shares the practical lessons he’s learned along the way with entrepreneurs and small-business owners.
From the Midwest to New York
A curious kid who never stopped building.
Ramon was born in the Midwest, where he loved tinkering with electronics and reading. As a young teen, he moved to Brooklyn, New York. He describes himself as part well-mannered Midwesterner and part action-oriented New Yorker.
After studying business administration, Ramon began his career as a temporary clerical staff member at the United Nations. He served there for more than 10 years, eventually becoming an administrative officer managing the administrative functions of a New York office for an agency headquartered in Asia.
While working at the UN, he started small businesses, attended networking events and began producing events of his own. His passion for entrepreneurship kept growing until he left his full-time job to build businesses full time.
An entrepreneur, for the long run
Building a business—and a life around it.
Ramon’s companies have included a small technology consulting business, the Small Business Summit event company and SmallBizTechnology.com, a well-known small-business blog. He co-founded the summit with Marian Banker, later sold the event company and sold SmallBizTechnology.com to a publisher in 2019.
Today, Smart Hustle Media brings together Ramon’s love of entrepreneurship and small-business success. He continues to build a small team, serve customers, support causes he cares about and share practical strategies through his work.
“Although I walked and rubbed shoulders with diplomats from around the world, my passion was entrepreneurship.”
— Ramon Ray
On stage, in print and in conversation
Business is personal. The best work starts with people.
Ramon has shared stages with Seth Godin, Simon Sinek and Gary Vaynerchuk, and interviewed all five original Shark Tank investors: Daymond John, Lori Greiner, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec and Mark Cuban.
Media host
The Rundown with Ramon
Daily tips, fun and conversations to help business and life thrive.
Watch the show on YouTube ↗Community
Small-business advocate
Ramon uses his platform to connect founders, experts and business owners with ideas and relationships that help them move forward.
A little about Ramon, beyond business
Family
Ramon has been married for more than 27 years and has two adult children.
Professional community
His affiliations have included the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, BITS Consulting and Akimbo B Corp, founded by Seth Godin.
Personal ethos
Steady growth, better clients and freedom matter alongside revenue.