On this very special episode of Gen X Amplified, I am chatting with writer, 2x creative entrepreneur, and former multi-agency brand strategist Chauncey Zalkin.

As a podcaster, Chauncey is also the host of the groundbreaking podcast Actual People, which is an unfiltered exploration of individual and societal shifts in a world undergoing tremendous change.

During our conversation, Chauncey and I discuss her overall Gen X journey as storyteller, creator, brand strategist, and entrepreneur. And also Chauncey shares personal and professional insights on navigating today's world as a Gen X woman, particularly during midlife and mid-career.

In this episode, Chauncey and I unpack:

• Chauncey's inspirations and motivations for her writing and creativity
• Why Chauncey decided to launch the Actual People podcast
• Chauncey's experiences living in New York during the early 2000s and the golden age of hip-hop
• Why publishing a novel (or two) is her ultimate dream
• Chauncey's very candid and powerful "Suddenly 50: Where We Are & What's Next As Gen X" episode of her podcast
• Chauncey's passions for observing culture through a Gen X lens
• Why Chauncey prefers to work with startups as opposed to larger companies and career pursuits of becoming a CMO
• And more!

Chauncey's Personal Theme Songs

"Clean Slate" by M Ward

"The Final Countdown" by Europe (Honorable Mention)

About Chauncey

Chauncey Zalkin is a writer, 2x creative entrepreneur, former multi-agency brand strategist, and most recently VP then SVP of Marketing at tech startups establishing brand architecture, cross-channel, cross-funnel messaging and operationalizing marketing and building processes for success.

She is also the host of the groundbreaking podcast "Actual People", which is an unfiltered exploration of individual and societal shifts in a world undergoing tremendous change.

In this podcast, Chauncey opens up about her own experiences in order to dive into social and cultural phenomena, positive developments, and collective pain. Each episode is dedicated to meaningful conversations about the evolving landscape of our lives and the power of our own creativity and imagination to make magic.

Chauncey got her start observing culture as founder of a pre-blog era blog called Girl on the street, was nominated for a webby and got some press in places like Teen People, Trace magazine, NY Post, Daily News and then went on to join the ad world at the height of cripsin porter + bogusky's success, and went on to work at 2 other agencies over her career. going into advertising, she's not sure that was the right choice.

She is a writer first and foremost, former multi-agency brand strategist, owned a brand documentary agency which she loved and did for companies like beyond meat and timex, and then went on to be a senior executive marketer for startups. she's since leaned back into pure content and story for herself and select clients that she feels are meaningful in the context of today's culture and building the future.

Her substack is https://chaunceyzalkin.substack.com/ and her website is www.chaunceyzalkin.com.

Actual People can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

For this very special episode of Gen X Amplified, I have the pleasure of being joined by Ebony Flake, Business Journalist for ESSENCE. What makes this conversation extra amazing is that Ebony graciously featured me in a story she wrote last year as a full-page profile for their annual Men's print Issue.

The story was titled "Gen X Leaders Are Dominating the C-Suite" and it featured insights on how the middle generation is now holding the keys to the boardrooms and shaping the future of work for everyone.

Well, this episode is all about EBONY FLAKE, and her inspirational and intentional career journey. And I couldn't wait to feature her on the podcast, and spotlight her journey as a perfect example of true mid-career mastery.

In this episode, Ebony and I unpack:

• Ebony's discovery of her passion for writing that became the spark for her career path
• Some of the early inflection points and external advocates that helped propel Ebony for a successful career in journalism and writing for ESSENCE
• The various lessons from Ebony's corporate and leadership experience that became valuable throughout her journey
• Why she is a passionate advocate for the experiences and opportunities of the underrepresented, particularly black women in corporate and entrepreneurship
• Why Gen X is the generation that is well suited for meaningful leadership in today's ever-changing world of work
• And more!

Ebony's Personal Theme Song

"Sweet Life" by Frank Ocean

About Ebony

Ebony Flake is a highly acclaimed writer and business reporter covering leadership, careers, and entrepreneurship for ESSENCE. She has been on a passionate mission to also amplify the voices, experiences, triumphs, and challenges faced by Black women in the workplace and beyond.

Previously, as a C-suite reporter for Business Insider, Ebony explored the strategies and successes of high-level executives across various industries.

Before transitioning to journalism, Ebony gained over a decade of HR leadership experience, spanning the food and beverage sector with industry giants including PepsiCo and Tyson Foods to the innovative and agile startup world as HR Director at an Austin-based boutique firm.

Ebony's writings and perspective are grounded in insights gained into corporate culture, talent management, lean startups, and careers.

Additionally, as Entrepreneur-in-Residence with the Ford Foundation, Ebony co-founded and led Urban Content Studios, a content collective offering full-service media for nonprofit clients, including contracts with the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, the Sean Anderson Foundation, and Gleaners Community Food Bank.

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

We are back for another #FabulousOver40 edition of Gen X Amplified, featuring my chat with Sunny Bonnell, who is the co-founder and CEO of Motto — one of the top branding agencies in the country.

Sunny is also the co-author of the bestselling book RARE BREED: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different (HarperCollins), which has been hailed as one of the most unique business books of its time and used by global teams everywhere.

During our conversation, Sunny and I discuss her professional journey, her insights on thriving in mid-career, and also unpack the gems and nuggets of her book RARE BREED.

And as mentioned, Sunny also happens to be one of the phenomenal leaders previously featured in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn.

About Sunny

Sunny is a leadership and brand expert, speaker, and the co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of MOTTO — one of the top branding agencies in the country.

Along with her fellow MOTTO co-founder Ashleigh Hansberger, Sunny is also the author of the bestselling and highly praised book "RARE BREED: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different."

Through her agency and book, Sunny and team are on a passionate mission to create magnetic brand experiences for promising startups and companies, while also creating a world of rule-breakers and game-changers.

Sunny has a very inspriational and unconventional professional journey.

Growing up in the Appalachian mountains, Sunny started playing guitar at the tender age of eight, and also became a prominent bluegrass player by the time she was eleven.

During her 20s while she was in college, Sunny then stepped out on faith, and launched MOTTO with $250 in order to create a disruptive and differentiated branding agency unlike many others in the industry.

Through MOTTO, Sunny has worked with many top global brands such as Google, Microsoft, Hershey's, and Twentieth Century Fox.

A gifted storyteller and wordsmith, Sunny is a columnist for Inc. Magazine, and is a founding member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council.

She has also been featured by a number of media outlets including Entrepreneur, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Yahoo!, The Breakfast Club, and more.

Sunny is definitely thriving and winning during this meaningful stage in her career.

And the presence of her passion, along with her always visible fedora, will continue to be felt by those who truly choose to change the world.

 

Sunny's Personal Theme Song

• "Don't Kill My Vibe", by Sigrid

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

 

Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

For this episode of Gen X Amplified, we're back for another #FabulousOver40 Fireside chat edition, featuring Erik Moses, who is currently the Executive Director/CEO of the Fiesta Bowl.

He previously served as the President at Nashville Superspeedway, which is the largest concrete-only track in NASCAR.

Erik is is also one of the recognized leaders in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn.

As mentioned in his spotlight, when Erik was named president of Nashville Superspeedway in 2020, it marked a watershed moment for representation — as he became the first Black track president in NASCAR history. 

During this episode, Erik and I discuss his professional story, his thoughts on thriving as a seasoned professional in mid-career, and how he made race week at Nashville Superspeedway a "must-attend" destination in the Southeast Region.

• Please note that this interview was conducted prior to him being named the new Executive Director and CEO of the Fiesta Bowl.

About Erik

Erik Moses is the Executive Director/CEO of the Fiesta Bowl. 

Also notable is Erik made history in 2020 when he became the first African-American NASCAR track president.

Because of his successful leadership experience in the world of sports, events, and live entertainment, Erik was hired to revive and renovate the NASCAR track in Nashville— which had been closed since 2011.

One of Erik's grand achievements from the outset was hosting the track's first NASCAR Cup Series during Father's Day weekend in June.

Erik started his career practicing law as an attorney, but then shifted gears to a variety of executive roles in sports and city government within the Washington D.C. area.

Most recently, Erik served as the founding president of the DC Defenders, a member of the XFL professional football league.

Prior to the XFL, Erik was SVP, Managing Director at Events DC, where he develop valuable partnerships with the NCAA, National Hockey League (NHL), MLB, PepsiCo and others.

He also served as the CEO of the DC Sports & Entertainment, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development, and as Senior Counsel at AOL.

Erik is a graduate of both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Carolina and Duke University School of Law.

He is a member of the Washington Business Journal Leadership Trust — and was also named to its 2019 Power 100 list.

Erik has also served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Sports Industry Management Program for over 10 years.

For much of his life and career, Erik has been the consummate "builder."

Whether it is building relationships, business deals, or a legacy of inspiration — Erik is always striving to render the biggest impact on others.

And that includes building Nashville Superspeedway as not only the "must-attend" destination for NASCAR fans in middle Tennessee…

But also expanding the narrative of NASCAR within diverse communities around the world.

Erik's Personal Theme Song

• "Public Service Announcement", by Jay Z

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

For this very special #FabulousOver40 Fireside Chat edition of the podcast, I am having a conversation with the phenomenal and MACKnificent...Mack Mckelvey — who is the Founder and CEO of SalientMG, a strategic marketing firm focused on accelerating market position for growth stage tech companies...

And also who I had the pleasure of featuring in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn!

During this episode, Mack and I chat about her professional journey, her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, the importance of community, and the power of your "name."

 

About Mack

Mack McKelvey is the Founder and CEO of SalientMG, a strategic marketing firm focused on accelerating market position for growth stage tech companies, and also the executive presence and visibility for their respective leaders.

SalientMG's clients have included Rovio (Angry Birds), Etsy, Verizon, Starwood Hotels, UberMedia, Ogury, Caesars Entertainment, ExecOnline, Whitebox and Sparkfly.

A true catalyst of positive disruption at the highest echelon, Mack has been leading transformative teams throughout her 20+ career.

Prior to SalientMG, Mack was the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Millennial Media, from the company's start-up stage through its successful 2012 IPO.

Before Millennial, Mack held senior business and marketing roles at SIRIUS XM, VeriSign, CGI, and British Telecom; she began her career at Lucent Technologies/AT&T.

Mack is also a consistent and relentless advocate for diversity, inclusion, and representation in business, technology, and advertising.

As a thought leader, she is a contributor to Fortune, Entrepreneur, MediaPost, Luxury Daily, CMO.com, and other business and trade publications on leadership, diversity, visibility, management, and marketing innovation.

Mack worked with Business Insider to create the 2016, 2015 and 2014 lists of "The Most Powerful Women in Mobile Advertising".

In 2013 and 2012, Mack was named one of "The Most Powerful Women in Mobile Advertising" by Business Insider.

Mack is also a startup tech advisor, investor, speaker, and business/industry awards' judge.

She serves on the Advisory Boards of technology startups, including Real Atom, a commercial real estate fintech startup based in DC.

Mack is also on the Board of Directors for Creative Spirit, a non-profit which seeks to create jobs for the intellectually and developmentally disabled, and she participates in ACP's US Military Veterans Mentor Program.

 

Mack's Personal Theme Song

• "Return of the Mack", by Mark Morrison

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are excited to have another special Gen X Amplified LIVE conversation that's all about generations!

That's because I am  joined by Marcie Merriman, who is the Americas Cultural Insights & Consumer Strategy Leader at EY (Ernest & Young). And will be discussing not only her professional journey as a Gen X leader, speaker, and strategist for one of the largest professional services in world, but also the impact of Gen Z in both today's workplace and in the future of work.

Marcie Merriman is EY Americas Cultural Insights & Customer Strategy Leader. She is an internationally recognized leader in cultural anthropology and brand strategy, having her work frequently featured in news publications.

For over 25 years she has been working with teams to anticipate disruption and propel growth through human-centric strategies. She leads practices focused on helping organizations understand the nuances of human behaviors and the organizational implications that can be addressed through improved experiences, including the deployment of digital technologies.

Prior to joining EY, Marcie was an executive at a global fashion retail company and a successful business leader and entrepreneur.

Marcie earned an MBA from Case Western Weatherhead School of Management and a bachelor's degree in Social Science, International Studies, Anthropology & Sociology from Michigan State University.

(Above bio courtesy of EY.com)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Marcie on LinkedIn
• EY.com
• Gen Z Segmentation Study

Marci's Personal Theme Song

• "Right Here, Right Now", by Jesus Jones

Thank you for watching and listening!  

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are having another special conversation with speaker, author, champion for women, and the Chief Executive Officer of Ebony & Jet Magazine, Michele T. Ghee.

And we will be chatting about the power of nurturing strong relationships, and also how to be resilient during difficult and uncertain times. Such as the current coronavirus pandemic that all of us are going through right now.

Michele T. Ghee is a strategic force inside and outside the bounds of corporate america, having managed more than a billion dollars in revenue for some of the world's largest media companies including: CNN, A&E, The History Channel, The Weather Channel, and BET Networks/BET Her.

Michele now currently serves as the new Chief Executive Officer of the legacy brands Ebony and Jet. Both are iconic and legacy brands founded by John H. Johnson, that celebrate the life of Black America.

Michele is also the author of Stratechic: Life and Career Winning Strategies for Women, Stratechic 2.0: Her Plan. Her Power. Her Purpose, and SUCCESS On Your Terms.

Michele has received a host of honors including the ADCOLOR Change Agent Award, American Advertising Federation Mosaic Role Model of the Year Award, She Runs It Working Mother of the Year Award Class of 2018, and most recently, a Multichannel News 2019 Wonder Woman.

Over her 20-year career, Michele's passion for excellence has allowed her to master the following critical skills: leadership, diversity and inclusion, strategy, transformation (personal and professional), revenue generation, teamwork, work-life balance, and relationship building. And she has spent the last several years speaking across the country and sharing her knowledge with vast audiences.

She is also the proud wife to Tony and blessed mom of Taylor and Jordan.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Michele's Website
• Stratechic Alliance
• Michele on LinkedIn
• Michele on Twitter
• Michele on Instagram
• Stratechic 2.0: Her Plan. Her Power. Her Purpose
• Success: On Your Own Terms

Michele's Personal Theme Song

• "Blessings on Blessings", by Anthony Brown & group therAPy

Thank you for watching and listening!

On this very special episode of Gen X Amplified, we are featuring the video and audio from our premiere livestream event- Building Generational Bridges Through Crisis: A Candid Conversation about the Impact of COVID:19 on all generations, particularly Gen X.

And for this special conversation, Adrion is joined by two friends and phenomenal thought leaders and Gen X Amplified former guests: Lindsey Pollak, multigenerational work expert, NYT bestselling author, speaker, and Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2020, and Tara Jaye Frank, speaker, consultant, Founder at MORE THAN: A Movement, and former Hallmark Cards, Inc. executive.

Currently, we're going through one of the most unprecedented and challenging experiences in our lifetime. The coronavirus, specifically COVID-19, has shaken all of us. from every age, and every generation – both personally and professionally.

Especially for many of us that are in that "middle" such as Gen X, are sandwiched, and building bridges between the older and younger generations… both whom we care deeply for.

And we have a great conversation about it!

Remember, as all generations, we can definitely get through these challenging times. As long as we learn together, grow together, and build together.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Jon Fort of CNBC on Gen X Amplified
• Tara Jaye Frank's Interview on Gen X Amplified
• Tara Jaye Frank's Website
• Tara on LinkedIn
• Lindsey Pollak on Gen X Amplified
• Lindsey Pollak's Website
• Lindsey on LinkedIn

Tara Jaye Frank's COVID-19 Theme Song

• "Venus" by Bananarama

Lindsey Pollak's COVID-19 Theme Song

• "Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads

Thank you for watching and listening!

 

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion Porter is joined by Jon Fortt, who is the co-anchor of Squawk Alley on CNBC, and the host of the Fort Knoxx podcast. And they discuss not only Jon's professional journey as a business journalist and anchor, but also his thoughts on the current COVID-19 pandemic and its significant impact on people of all ages.

Adrion and Jon also spend time unpacking how Gen Xers are uniquely positioned to be very effective and powerful leaders that can build bridges across all generations - especially during challenging times such as these.

Jon Fortt is co-anchor of CNBC's "Squawk Alley" (M-F, 11AM-12PM ET) broadcast live from the New York Stock Exchange. Previously, he was an on-air editor based at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Fortt joined CNBC as technology correspondent in July 2010, working from CNBC's Silicon Valley bureau where he covered the companies, start-ups and trends that are driving innovation in the industry. He also contributes to CNBC.com.

He came to CNBC from Fortune magazine, where as a senior writer he covered both large technology companies— such as Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft—and trends, including cloud computing and the smartphone revolution.

Before joining Fortune in 2007, Fortt was a senior editor at Business 2.0magazine where he produced the "What Works" section.

From 1999 to 2006, Fortt wrote and edited at the San Jose Mercury News, Silicon Valley's hometown newspaper. There he contributed to several efforts that won awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

As a personal technology writer, his coverage duties included Apple, Palm and Adobe. He also served in roles outside the business department, covering education, editing local news and developing technology strategy. As the newspaper's senior Web editor, he helped develop a blog and podcast network, managed the creation of multimedia projects and served on the board of the Associated Press Managing Editors.

Fortt graduated from DePauw University as a Media Fellow, with a B.A. in English.

(Above Jon Fortt bio courtesy of cnbc.com)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Squawk Alley on CNBC
• Jon Fortt on LinkedIn
• Jon Fortt on Twitter
• Fort Knoxx Podcast
• Jon's Recent Interview with Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella

Jon's Personal Theme Songs

• "Power Trip", by Lecrae
• "Duck Down!" by The Roots
• "High Hopes" by Panic! At The Disco

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we have a conversation with advertising veteran, digital expert, thought leader, and awesome Gen-Xer... the one and only Ian Schafer, who joins Adrion to discuss and unpack his latest venture, Kindred, and its inaugural event Kindred 2020, which will be held on September 14-17 in San Diego.

Kindred, is an events-based startup that focuses on bringing together brands, nonprofits, and cultural leaders to accelerate sustainable, purpose-led business transformation. 

Ian Schafer has been named a "Media Maven" by Advertising Age, one of Campaign Magazine's "40 over 40",  and the "Best CEO on Social Media" by the Shorty Awards.

He has been at the forefront of media, content, advertising and marketing since 1997 - including being the founder, CEO, and Global Chairman of the influential advertising agency Deep Focus - which had been the winner of numerous accolades including Cannes Lions, Webby, and Emmy Awards.   However, Ian recently mad a major career pivot ,and is now focused on harnessing the collective power of culture to make positive impact in the world through his new venture as the co-founder and CEO of Kindred.   During this episode Ian talks about not only his professional journey as an entrepreneur, but also why his passion for making social change led him to launch Kindred. And why it's critical for businesses to join other companies, communities and cultural leaders, to embrace a purpose-led approach to accelerate solving the world's problems.   Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Kindred.live
• Kindred on Twitter
• Ian on Twitter
• Ian on LinkedIn
• Ian on Twitter
• Comic Relief USA

Ian's Personal Theme Song

• "Easy", by The Commodores

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, highly acclaimed journalist and author Ada Calhoun joins Adrion to discuss her latest book and New York Times best­seller Why We Can't Sleep: Wom­en's New Midlife Cri­sis – which is an expan­sion of her viral sto­ry for Oprah​.com and a ​"gen­er­a­tion-defin­ing explo­ration of the new midlife cri­sis fac­ing Gen X women. 

In Why We Can't Sleep, Calhoun opens up the cultural and political contexts of Gen X's predicament and offers solutions for how to pull oneself out of the abyss—and keep the next generation of women from falling in. The result is reassuring, empowering, and essential reading for all middle-aged women, and anyone who hopes to understand them.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ada Calhoun's Website
• "Why We Can't Sleep" on Amazon
• Ada's original article "The New Midlife Crisis" on Oprah.com
• Ada at The Milken Institute

Ada's Personal Theme Song

• "Unsatisfied", by The Replacements

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I have the pleasure of speaking with Melissa (McGhie) Proctor, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena.

Melissa joins me on the podcast to discuss her fascinating Gen X professional story – which includes beginning her career as a ball-girl for the Miami Heat, to her current role of leading the brand for the Atlanta Hawks.

Also at the beginning of this special episode, Melissa and I briefly spend some time talking about the unfortunate and tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna – and what Kobe meant not only to us personally, but also to our generation.

Listen!

Melissa Proctor serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of both the Atlanta Hawks and the State Farm Arena (the home facility of the Atlanta Hawks) .

In this role, Melissa oversees the day-to-day operations of the club's marketing, Hawks Studios, live experience and production, brand merchandising, creative services, corporate social responsibility, brand communications and basketball development teams. She also works closely with executive leadership to provide strategy for the organization.

Beginning her career with the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Melissa served in brand development and strategy positions for Turner Entertainment Networks (including TNT, TBS, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), truTV and Peachtree TV), Cartoon Network and Turner Media Group. Additionally, she helped to create the first Corporate Social Responsibility division in Turner's UK office.

Part of the NBA since high school, Melissa was the first "team attendant"/ ball girl for the Miami Heat organization, and in later years, returned to work for the Heat in the basketball operations division.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Melissa Proctor on LinkedIn
• Melissa's blog on Medium
• Atlanta Hawks' Official Website
• Jeff Hilimire on Gen X Amplified

Melissa's Personal Theme Songs

• "Wining Queen", by Denise Belfon
• "Vibes Cyah Done", by Machel Montano
• City Girls Official YouTube Channel
• "Do I Do", by Stevie Wonder

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I am joined by Stephen Bailey, Stephen is the CEO and co-founder of ExecOnline, a corporate training company that partners with the world's top business schools to offer leadership development on demand to enterprise organizations.

ExecOnline is on a mission to connect all leaders to their future potential by disrupting and democratizing corporate learning.

Some of ExecOnline's Partner schools include Stanford, Wharton, Berkeley Haas, Chicago Booth, UVA Darden School of Business, Columbia, Duke, MIT-Sloan, Yale, and others.

In this episode, Stephen and I unpack:

• Stephen's career journey from "recovered lawyer" to startup founder and eventually becoming the co-founder and CEO of ExecOnline
• The "aha moment" from Stephen's experience as the CEO of a previous startup that led to launching ExecOnline
• Many of the high-impact initiatives the ExecOnline team are currently focusing on
• Why there is a meaningful difference between mentoring and learning
• The impact of large language models and generative AI on the learning economy
• And more!

Stephen's Personal Theme Song

"Right Above It" (feat. Drake) by Lil Wayne

About Stephen Bailey

Stephen is the co-founder and CEO of ExecOnline, a B2B corporate training company that partners with the world's top business schools to offer leadership development on demand to enterprise organizations.

Its mission is to connect all leaders to their future potential by disprupting and democratizing corporate learning.

When Stephen launched ExecOnline, his vision was to combine the engagement of traditional on-campus and role-based applied learning — with the convenience and scale of an online experience—for all levels of leadership.

Therefore, creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive leadership pipeline within the world of work.

ExecOnline has been named to the Global Silicon Valley EdTech 150, and also recognized as a "Technology Company to Watch" by Forbes.

Prior to ExecOnline, Stephen served as the CEO of Frontier Strategy Group (FSG), a software and information services business.

He grew FSG from an early-stage start-up to a company that served nearly half the Fortune 500 across a range of international markets and business functions. Prior to his role as CEO, he was FSG's first Chief Product Officer.

Before joining FSG, Stephen was an associate in the venture capital and private equity group of WilmerHale.

Stephen is also the Board Chair of the Truman Center for National Policy and member of the Board of Prospect Schools, a charter school network in NYC.

He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Emory University and holds a JD from the Yale Law School.

Stephen has been an EdTech pioneer and champion of the "learning economy" ever since he recognized the vast leadership gap many years ago.

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I chat with Walter T. Geer III, digital advertising executive, multi-patent holder, biometric lab creator, and currently the SVP, Group Creative director at TBWA/WorldHealth.

Walter joins us on Gen X Amplified to discuss his viral LinkedIn post (Yeah yeah…40 under 40 and 30 under 30. I'm not impressed…), diversity and inclusion, and why we should all focus on eliminating ageism in the workplace.

Walter T. Geer III serves as the SVP, Group Creative director at TBWA/WorldHealth – which is a leading healthcare agency collective.

A veteran of the digital advertising space, Walter holds a total of six U.S Patents for digital ad formats, and has developed ad products and implemented creative strategies for a variety of publishers and leading technology and media companies including Google, Viacom, NYTimes and MySpace.

Throughout his twenty-year career, Walter has architected market-first usability labs, applying biometric research to the development of creative executions and minimizing risk by understanding how consumer emotions and demographics impact brand engagement.

Walter's passion also sits at the intersection of story-telling, design, technology, data, and research.

During this episode, Walter and I have a great conversation around age diversity and inclusion, and why there should be more opportunities to highlight the achievements and viability of individuals 40+. And we also get a chance to hear Walter discuss some very compelling stories of people over 40 who reached out directly to him following his post.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Walter on LinkedIn
• Walter's "40 under 40" post on LinkedIn
• Walter on Instagram
• TBWA/WORLDHEALTH

Walter's Personal Theme Song

• "HUMBLE.", by Kendrick Lamar

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I am joined by Lindsey Pollak, New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and one of the world's leading experts on Millennials and the multigenerational workplace.

Lindsey is here to actually discuss her latest book, The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace.  We are have a very detailed and fun conversation around generations in general, Gen Xers in politics, old movies, and just how awesome it is to be Gen X!

Lindsey Pollak is a leading expert on the Millennial generation and today's multigenerational workplace. Often called a "translator," she advises both young professionals looking to succeed in today's work environment and the organizations that want to recruit, retain and engage them.

Lindsey's latest book, The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace, is much needed guide for today's workforce. In it, Lindsey combines the most recent data with own original research, as well as detailed cased studies from Fortune 500 companies and other top organizations.

Lindsey is also the New York Times bestselling author of Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders and Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World.

Her speaking audiences and consulting clients have included over 250 corporations, law firms, conferences and universities, including Citi, Estée Lauder, GE, J.P. Morgan, LinkedIn, PwC, Shearman & Sterling, Yale, Harvard, Wharton and Stanford.

Lindsey's advice and opinions have appeared in such media outlets as The TODAY Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and NPR.

She is a graduate of Yale University and is based in New York City.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Lindsey's website
• The Remix (Book)
• Lindsey Pollak on LinkedIn
• Lindsey Pollak on Twitter
• Chip Conley on Gen X Amplified

Lindsey's Personal Theme Song

• "Don't Rain On My Parade", by Glee Cast

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, Ken Coleman, career expert, Ramsey Personality, and nationally syndicated radio host of The Ken Coleman Show joins us on Gen X Amplified to discuss his latest book, The Proximity Principle: The Proven Strategy That Will Lead To The Career You Love.

During our conversation, Ken talks about his journey of pursuing his passion for communication and how he decided to write his latest book to help other get unstuck and their career.

Ken unpacks some key nuggets from The Proximity Principle, and also provides insights on how Gen-Xers can get out of our own way, so we can achieve the professionals goals we truly desire.

Ken Coleman is a career expert, #1 national best-selling author, and nationally syndicated radio host of The Ken Coleman Show.

Ken is also the host of the Entreleadership Podcast, which is a top-rated podcast founded by the only and only Dave Ramsey. 

Pulling from his own personal struggles, missed opportunities and career successes, Ken helps people discover what they were born to do and provides practical steps to make their dream job a reality. 

The Ken Coleman Show is a caller-driven career show that helps listeners who are stuck in a job they hate or searching for something more out of their career.

Ken's second book, The Proximity Principle: The Proven Strategy That Will Lead To The Career You Love, with its practical and proven strategies, is designed to help people moving closer towards a career that they love. 

Key Takeaways:

• What exactly is the Proximity Principle?
• How Ken came up with the idea for the Proximity Principle framework
• Who are the (5) five people categories that people need to be in proximity to, in order to get and seize opportunities
• What are the key ideas you need to know in order to adopt the proximity mindset
• Why fear, doubt, and pride are the three lies that keep many Gen X professionals in mid-career stuck and stagnant
• Why cultivating key relationships is so key for career and professional success
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ken Coleman's website
• The Proximity Principle (Book)
• Ken Coleman on Twitter
• Entreleadership Podcast

Ken's Personal Theme Song

• "Runnin' Down a Dream", by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we're excited to have tech marketing expert and proud Gen Xer, Katrina Wong, who is the VP of Marketing for Hired (hired.com).

During our conversation, Katrina discusses her professional journey in the Silicon Valley tech world, leading up to her current role as Hired's head of marketing.

Katrina also gives us some key insights about how to navigate today's multigenerational and digital workplace as a Gen X leader. Which includes… why we all should lead by "influence" and not just by position, especially as Gen Xers.

Katrina Wong is true marketing expert with 15+ years in a variety of customer facing roles including marketing, go-to-market and revenue growth for both B2B and B2C SaaS / Enterprise software companies.

Katrina is currently the VP of Marketing at Hired (hired.com), which is a career marketplace that matches tech talent with the world's most innovative companies. Hired combines intelligent job matching with unbiased career counseling to help people find a job they love. 

At Hired, Katrina leads all marketing efforts, including: brand development, product marketing, demand generation, user acquisition, lifecycle and retention marketing, content marketing, and communications.

Prior to becoming hired…at Hired, Katrina worked in marketing leadership positions across a variety of large organizations and other start-ups, including Salesforce, Taulia, and SAP.

Key Takeaways:

• How Katrina's journey transitioned from studying the life sciences field to marketing
• Why Katrina felt the need to pursue a more purpose-driven career opportunity, which led her to Hired
• Hear some of Katrina's key lessons learned from working with some of the world's preeminent tech companies
• Why Gen X is at a critical and awesome stage in our lives as leaders, especially during this digital age
• Why being a "servant leader" and leading by influence is the key to managing effectively in a multigenerational workplace
• The value of peer-to-peer mentoring at work, particularly among Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Hired (hired.com)
• Bill Macaitis (former CMO of Slack) interview on Gen X Amplified
• Katrina Wong on Twitter
• Katrina Wong on LinkedIn

Katrina's Personal Theme Song

• "Independent Women", by Destiny's Child

Thank you for listening!

For this value-packed episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by Chris Hogan, #1 national best-selling author, dynamic speaker, and financial expert with Ramsey Solutions.

During this interview, Chris unpacks his latest book, Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth – and How You Can Too. And why having a strong belief, knowledge, and plan of action can help anyone be on the path to reach their financial goals.

Chris Hogan is a national best-selling author, podcaster, and dynamic speaker in the areas of personal finance, retirement and leadership.

A former all-American football player, he is now serving… for over 10 years…..as a trusted financial coach and Expert, working side-by-side with one-of the most world renowned leaders on money and business, Dave Ramsey.

As an author, his first book, Retire Inspired, has helped thousands of people learn how to change their current money situation and make wise investing decisions.

Chris's latest book, Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Lives – and You can Too, is based on the largest study of net-worth millionaires in the United States. ever conducted.

Chris also host the very popular podcast, The Chris Hogan Show, where he takes calls on retirement, investing and building wealth. With new episodes each week, Hogan educates, encourages and empowers you on your journey to becoming an everyday millionaire.

Key Takeaways:

• Why did Chris decide to join Dave Ramsey and Ramsey Solutions after a successful career in banking, etc.
• Why Chris and team decide to conduct largest study of millionaires ever
• What are some of those myths that people believe when it comes to millionaires.
• Why "sacrifice" is sometimes needed to achieve the financial goals you desire
• What are the three (3) action points of becoming an everyday millionaire
• Why Chris believes the best attack to budgeting and reducing debt is to attack the smallest debt first
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Chris Hogan's website
• Everyday Millionaires (book)
• Chris Hogan with Ramsey Solutions
• Retire Inspired (book)
• Chris on Twitter
• Ken Coleman and The Proxmixity Principle (book)

Chris's Personal Theme Songs

• "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough", by Michael Jackson
• "Don't Stop Believin", by Journey

Thank you for listening!

For this exciting episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by the one and only, Mario Armstrong, who is 2X Emmy Award winner, entrepreneur, podcaster, and the creator and host and the Never Settle Show.

During this value-packed conversation, Mario takes us along his journey from launching his career, elevating his entrepreneurial ventures alongside his wife, and also launching the first ever Facebook Watch show that has won an Emmy Award.

We also discuss chat about the challenges of entrepreneurship and the recommended solutions needed to make our dreams become a reality.

Mario Armstrong is a two time Emmy Award–winning talk show host, Digital Lifestyle Expert®, and a regular contributor on NBC's TODAY show, CNN, Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey, and Rachael Ray.

Mario is also the host of the Emmy winning Never Settle Show, the world's first crowd-produced, live-streamed talk show with live participation from the in-studio & online audience.

Mario focuses on positivity, motivation, and tactical advice to inspire people to take action pursuing their personal and professional goals, dreams and passions. He is also a brand influencer, and a public speaker listed with Daymond John's Shark Group Speaking Division.

His new daily podcast, entitled Wake Up and Level Up, kickstarts your day in under 5 minutes with a jolt of inspiration, advice and personal growth formulas.

When he's not playing host, contributor, and expert, Mario is living a balanced life, playing husband and father, devouring sushi, meditating, adding to his metal lunchbox collection, and taking his "sneaker head" status to borderline obsessive levels. 

Key Takeaways:

• Why Mario asked his wife Nicole to leave her corporate job to join him on his entrepreneurial journey
• What were the core entrepreneurial tenets that Mario and his wife embraced to encouraged them to keep going, and never settling during those times of struggle and uncertainty
• Hear the initial motivation and transformational moment that led to Mario launching the Never Settle Show, which is the very first Facebook Watch to win an Emmy Award.
• Why it is so critical to START, and not wait until something is perfect before you launch
• How passion, tenacity, and resilience are essential to achieving success and your dreams
• Why you should find something about your passion that gets you fired up to help you move forward
• Hear both Mario and Adrion's affinity for the Rocky movies, and why Sylvester Stallone's story is a great inspiration for entrepreneurs and/or leaders
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Mario Armstrong's website
• Wake Up and Level Up
• Mario Armstrong's Never Settle Show
• Mario's 2019 Reflection Action Plan
• Mario on Instagram
• Mario on Twitter

Mario's Personal Theme Songs

• "Gonna Fly Now" by Bill Conti
• "U Don't Know" by Jay-Z

Thank you for listening!

On this awesome episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by Chip Conley, bestselling author, hospitality entrepreneur, and strategic advisor to Airbnb.

During this great interview, Chip unpacks his latest book, Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder. Part manifesto and part playbook, Wisdom@Work outlines and amplifies a much needed conversation not only about ageism in the workplace, but also a rallying cry for those in midlife to unlock the virtues of this stage in the curve of life.

Adrion and Chip also discuss how Gen X is now in the prime sweet spot of midlife, and why that's a good thing! Especially being in the position to facilitate mutual beneficial relationships with younger generations, especially Millennials.

Chip Conley is a bestselling author, hospitality entrepreneur, strategic advisor to Airbnb, and the Founder of the Modern Elder Academy.

At the age of twenty-six, Chip founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality and turned it into the second largest boutique hotel brand in the world. After selling his company in 2010, he joined Airbnb and, as head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, Chip helped turn it into the world's largest hospitality brand.

Chip has also written numerous bestselling books including PEAK and Emotional Equations.

But his latest book, titled "Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder," was inspired by his post-50-year-old experiences as both a mentor and unexpected intern at Airbnb. And he is here to discuss not only his journey, but deep dive into this great book.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Chip decided to join a tech startup at this stage in his career, after successful leading his own business
• Hear the main motivation to write a manifesto that outlined his journey and stature at Airbnb as a "modern elder
• How to become a mentor and an intern at the same time
• Why the years of midlife as expanded since the term's inception over 40 years ago
• How Chip understood that soft skills and emotional acumen, generally found in elder generations, is much needed in the workplace in addition to digital skills
• The reason Chip created and founded the Modern Elder Academy
• How Gen X can embrace its place in the current modern multigenerational workplace
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Chip Conley's website
• Wisdom@Work (book)
• Modern Elder Academy
• Elizabeth White's website
• Chip on LinkedIn

Chip's Personal Theme Song

• "Beautiful Day" by U2

Thank you for listening!

On this awesome episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion has a great conversation with Tara Jaye Frank, leadership development expert, speaker, writer, and consultant.

During this chat, Tara walks us through her journey from writing greeting cards as part of the Hallmark Inc. team, to her current role as a leader and entrepreneurship.

We also discuss Tara's recent project of creating the #MoreThan movement, which purpose is to to facilitate deeper understanding between disconnected people.

Tara Jaye Frank is a highly sought-after speaker, thought leader, consultant, and Leadership Development expert.

As the president of TJF Career Modeling LLC, Tara helps leaders, groups, and companies define their vision and unleash human potential.

Prior to unleashing her potential and taking the leap into entrepreneurship, Tara spent 21 years at Hallmark Cards, Inc., where she was the youngest person the company's history to be promoted into executive management, and also became Hallmark's very first African-American female vice president.

Now as an author, in 2015 Tara published her first book titled Say Yes: A Woman's Guide to Advancing Her Professional Purpose– which was written as a tool to help emerging leaders reach their own professional higher ground..

What's even more fascinating is Tara's latest stroke of genius and platform for greater impact, is the launch of her new project, #MoreThan, which is a healing movement that was created to facilitate deeper understanding between disconnected people. .

Key Takeaways:

• How Tara began her 21 years working at Hallmark Cards, Inc. initially as a greeting card writer
• Why Tara's decided to shift her career trajectory at Hallmark due to a personal experience
• How Tara's extensive leadership  experience helped prepare her for her journey into entrepreneurship
• Why it's very critical to establish a digital footprint if you're looking build a strong brand
• How Tara allocate her business projects between speaking and consulting
• How Tara's own frustration lead her to to launch #MoreThan movement as a counter-narrative to the world's despair
• Why #MoreThan is also about peaking curiosity and igniting conversations to create impact
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Tara Jaye Frank's website
• More Than: A Movement
• Tara on Linkedin
• Tara on Twitter
• Tara on Instagram
• #MoreThan on Instagram
• #MoreThan on Facebook
• #MoreThan on Twitter
• Gretchen Rubin on Gen X Amplified (Episode 021)

Tara's Personal Theme Song

• "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyonce

Thank you for listening!

For the last episode before our season break, we are bringing you this special (BEST OF) episode, with our featured guest Jay Papasan, the co-author of the groundbreaking #1 Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today bestselling book, The ONE Thing.

 

Are you struggling with multitasking and prioritizing your most important projects - especially when it seems there are so many things to get done? Well, this episode is for you.

Jay Papasan, is the Vice President of publishing and Executive Editor at KellerINK, the publishing arm of Keller Williams Realty. He is best known for co-writing with his mentor, Gary Keller, a few best-selling books, including The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, which became a New York Times best-seller.

But their most recent book, titled The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, has been a nothing short of a "game-changer." It is a New York Times best-seller and has also reached #1 on the Wall Street Journal business best-seller list.

In the book, Jay and Gary outline in great detail why everyone should identify that area of your life where you want to be extraordinary (that one thing), and FOCUS on it - before you simultaneously take on other tasks.

To me, this is such a groundbreaking book. I actually put it in the same category as other watershed publications such as Good to Great by Jim Collins, Tribes by Seth Godin, and Simon Sinek's Start With Why.

During this value-packed episode of Gen X Amplified, Jay and I discuss his overall journey to becoming an author, the importance of "focus" as a leader, and why The ONE Thing is resonating with so many, even outside of the business world. This book is definitely a must-read, especially for Gen Xers with all of the opportunities and obligations we have during this power phase of our lives.

Key Takeaways:

• That pivotal moment when Jay decided to become an author.
• How the lack of focus can be your worst enemy for productivity.
• What is that "domino effect" you can experience when you identify your ONE thing.
• Why extraordinary people enjoy the overall journey in seeking mastery
• What is the 80/20 principle when it applies to the ONE Thing?
• Why saying NO can actually bring you better results.
• What is Jay's ONE Thing, both personally and professionally?
• Why the process of "goal setting" should start with the end in mind (e.g., 5 years from now), then work backwards from there.
• And so much more!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• The ONE Thing (book) by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
• The ONE Thing (website)
• Jay Papasan on Twitter
• KellerINK (Publishing arm of Keller Williams Realty)
• Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin
• AT-A-GLANCE Monthly Calendars
• Adrion Porter Speaking/Consulting (website)

Jay's Personal Theme Song

• • "Sabotage" by The Beastie Boys

Thank you for listening!

On this latest episode, I share what I call somewhat of a "rallying call" for everyone in that's currently in that mid-career, mid-life phase (basically Gen Xers), to start, right now, at this moment understanding that NOW is the perfect time to go for your dreams and create more impact on the world.

Many of us at this stage of our career and life, feel squeezed, unsure of our future, dissatisfied with what we have accomplished...or "not accomplished", etc. This is a normal feeling. What motivated me to record this actual episode, where a few conversations I was having with colleagues and friends recently about this exact situation.

But, I truly and strongly believe that we are now in the PERFECT TIME in our lives to now make more of an impact. Whether it's on your job, in your business, to start a business, or just better impact the lives of those you love.

Also in this episode, I talk about many Gen Xers and mid-career professionals that are doing game-changing things and making a significant impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Why "experience" is one of the most powerful virtues that Gen Xers and mid-career professionals/leader have at our disposal
• Why reinventing yourself is common..and important, especially at this stage in life
• The fact that right now, more than half, approximately 51%, of all leadership roles globally are now held by Gen X
• How to leverage new media platforms to tell your story and make an impac
• Why there are more successful startups and businesses created by Gen X more than any other generation
• Why it's again... it is NEVER too late to focus on your goals and your dreams
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Adrion Porter (business) website
• Adrion on LinkedIn
• Kobe Bryant's Granity Studios
• Ronnell Richards
• Cher Jones
• Nick F. Nelson
• Rodney Bullard on Gen X Amplified

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I am speaking with global leader, speaker, workplace strategist Daisy Auger-Domínguez, who is the author of the book "Burnt Out to Lit Up: How to Reignite the Joy of Leading People."

With years of experience leading global human capital practices at companies like Google, Disney and Vice Media, she equips managers and leaders with the skills they need to build high-performing teams and shift culture to drive performance without burning out.

In this episode, Daisy and I discuss:

• Daisy's inspirational professional journey to becoming a seasoned executive in media
• Daisy's own personal experience and motivation that sparked the desire to write Burnt Out to LIt Up.
• My Mid-Career Mastery LinkedIn newsletter article titled "Why Gen X Women Experience Burnout and What Companies Should Do About It" that spotlighted Daisy and her book
• The state of the overall burnout epidemic in today's world of work
• Daisy's key insights on how leaders should approach managing self-care, while also addressing the external systemic dynamics that are the cause of burnout for many professionals
• How the book is particularly relevant to mid-career and Gen X professionals.
• And more!

  Daisy's Personal Theme Songs

• "La Vida Es Un Carnaval" by Celia Cruz
• "Vivir Mi Vida" by Marc Anthony

  About Daisy Auger-Domínguez

Daisy's career spans across 20 years of shaping the future of work by transforming organizations with purpose and passion.

Recently, Daisy served as Chief People Officer at Vice Media, where she led diversity, equity, inclusion and social impact practices for global teams across 25 countries.

Previously, Daisy was the Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Viacom, where she led the strategic development and operational execution of talent acquisition across global properties.

Before her stint at Viacom, Daisy delivered her DEI magic as an executive at other leading brands including Google, Disney ABC Television Group, Warnermedia, and Moody's Corporation.

Daisy thought leadership and perspectives have been published in Harvard Business Review, IDEAS.TED, Hispanic Executive, The New York Times, Forbes, and Adweek.

Her professional and civic contributions have also earned recognition by multiple platforms including being named one of the "25 Most Powerful Women" in People en Español. She also received the New York City Council Leadership in Community Service Award.

Daisy is also an advisor to startups and social impact organizations. She serves on the boards of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, and St. Ann's Warehouse.

Daisy is a phenomenal, fabulous, and fearless leader of indomitable impact — who is determined to challenge all of us to elevate "inclusion" exceptionalism.

And her undeniable voice will continue to help create the equitable change the world needs — at this moment and beyond.

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

  Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

On this new episode of Gen X Amplified, we are welcoming back a familiar voice and friend to the show. Hall of Fame keynote speaker, business advisor, and best selling author…the one and only Jay Baer is joining Adrion once again on the podcast.

For this his second visit to Gen X Amplified, Jay and Adrion discuss and unpack his latest book titled: – Talk Triggers: The Complete Guide to Creating Customers with Word of Mouth, which he co-wrote with Daniel Lemin.

Jay Baer is an award-winner speaker, consultant, strategist and whose mission is to help businesses clone their customers. He is also a 7th generation entrepreneur, who has founded five multi-million dollar companies.

Jay is also the President of Convince & Convert, an advisory firm firm that works with the world's most iconic brands such as The United Nations, 3M, and Hilton.

A New York Times bestselling author, Jay has written six best-selling books, including: Youtility, and Hug Your Haters – which we discussed during his previous visit to Gen X Amplified on episode #027.

On this episode we chat about why brands (both business and personal) embracing the power of "word of mouth" as an intentional strategy, which is the premise of his latest book, Talk Triggers, co-written with Daniel Lemin.

Key Takeaways:

• That 50% of all purchases are influenced by word of mouth, up to 90% for B2B
• A talk trigger is defined a strategic operational decision that compels word of mouth
• Hear various examples and case studies of brands that have very memorable talk triggers
• Who is Goldie Chan and what is one of her very visible and "colorful" talk triggers?
• How to motivate your customers to become "volunteer" marketers for your brand
• What is the 6-step process and framework to build a compelling talk trigger?
• Why being and adequate and competent is not enough for brands today
• How Jay and Daniel incorporated their very own 'talk trigger' for the book
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Talk Triggers (with a bonus for Gen X Amplified listeners)
• Jay Baer's website
• Daniel Lemin's website
• Jay Baer's previous episode on Gen X Amplified (#027)
• DoubleTree by Hilton and their chocolate chip cookies
• Goldie Chan (LinkedIn video expert)
• Convince & Convert
• "Voices Carry" by Til Tuesday

Jay's Personal Theme Song (for now)

• "Everybody Talks" by Neon Trees

Thank you for listening!

During this latest solo episode of Gen X Amplified, I am introducing a new "theme" that I'm starting called "What I've Learned...". And for this episode I will breakdown the 5 key lessons that I learned from my time working at one of the most iconic brands ever… HBO.

I was employed at HBO from 2003-2008. And it was during that time (what many consider to be the "golden age' of HBO), I witnessed many of the inner workings of why HBO is such a successful brand.

There are many virtues I believe that are responsible for the greatness of the HBO brand, yet I wanted to focus on five (5) specific areas that are applicable to many elements of brand development in today's competitive marketplace.

So below are the 5 key lessons that I learned from working at HBO:

1. Stay true to your brand DNA  - because brands matter
2. Take big swings, be first, and/or disrupt the market
3. Provide an exceptional and inviting employee experience (EX)
4. Celebrate and deliver value to underserved markets
5. Focus on your personal brand management and peer advocacy

As Gen Xers, our unique and extensive experience gives us plenty of valuable nuggets and lessons to help guide us. Therefore we should be intentional about taking inventory of our experiences and our journey - both personally and professionally.

When we do this, we can cull out valuable lessons and insights that help fuel our ongoing personal growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Why the "Key Lessons I've Learned…" series is starting specifically with focusing on my experience at HBO
• What are the actual 5 Lessons I learned, and why they still apply for businesses and personal brands today
• How HBO On Demand was such a game changer in the world of subscription video on demand
• Why employee experience (EX) is a valuable element for a brand
• Why you (especially as a Gen Xer) should take self-inventory of your unique and vast experience to unlock key lessons learned
• Why the value of having a unique an acute focus on your brand DNA is critical
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• HBO.com
• 1983 classic HBO "Feature Presentation" promo
• Cinemax -Star Wars Double Trilogy in HD announcement
• Gen X Amplified episode #043 on How to Develop a Powerful Personal B.R.A.N.D.
• Adrion Porter's Website

 

Thank you for listening!

On this latest episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is once again joined by world-renowned author and communications coach Carmine Gallo.

During this chat, Carmine and Adrion discuss his latest book, Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great -  and why it is important for leaders, especially Gen Xers to sharpen their skills of communication and persuasion for today's marketplace.

Carmine Gallo is the bestselling author of Talk Like TED, The Storyteller's Secret, and The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs.

He is an influential communication advisor for the world's most admired brands that touch OUR lives actually every day, such as Google, Intel, Coca-Cola, Allstate, LinkedIn, and others to name a few.

A very popular keynote speaker, Carmine teaches CEOs and leaders to deliver dynamic presentations and share inspiring stories that sell products, grow brands, and motivate change.

Carmine has now released his latest book, Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get From Good to Great, in order to highlight and evangelize the art of persuasion in the business and leadership world. As the book states: communication is no longer a "soft" skill - it is the human edge that will make you unstoppable, irresistible, and irreplaceable, earning you that perfect rating, that fifth star. 

Carmine also writes for Forbes.com, Inc.com and is an executive education instructor at Harvard University.

Key Takeaways:

• Hear why Carmine decided to name his book Five Stars, and the inspiration behind the title
• How Aristotle's theory of persuasion is such a critical element for effective communication
• As the CEO of your career, why you must continually improve your skills, especially the art of communication
• Why the power of words can inspire an entire generation
• The reason why Gen Xers are now in the "sweet spot" of life and in a great position to lead through the skill of communication
• Why it's important to share your origin story, especially your failures, and also how you became transformed by those experiences
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Carmine's website
• Five Stars website
• Carmine on Gen X Amplified Episode #033
• Talk Like TED
• The Storyteller's Secret

Carmine's Personal Theme Song

• "Beautiful Day" by U2

Thank you for listening!

On this latest episode of Gen X Amplified, this is another solo round. And I'm getting very tactical and actionable with empowering and educational content to help you level-up at work, in business and in life.

During this episode, I am going to be introducing a framework I've created that outlines in detail what I consider to be the five (5) actionable tips that will help you develop a "Powerful" personal B.R.A.N.D.™, by using our 5-point framework. 

It's simply an acronym that actually spells out the word B.R.A.N.D. 

Build. Refine. Amplify. Nurture. Dedicate.

 

Are you looking to accelerate your career? Are you wanting to grow as a leader? Or perhaps you are urging to take that leap into entrepreneurship?

Well, as a professional in today's competitive marketplace, I strongly believe that the most critical action you must take to excel as a leader, to gain more visibility, and to maximize your impact is to laser focus on developing your personal brand.

Also, it's important to understand that "everyone is a brand."

The difference is how you choose for it to be truly defined…either by you, or by other people.

There are methods and strategies to help shape the perception of you and your story. It comes down to being "intentional", and the steps you take to influence how powerful and effective your personal brand can be.

So my goal was to demystify these steps, and provide a actionable framework that was simple understand:

 

1. BUILD the Key Elements of Your Brand DNA
2. REFINE Your Personal and Professional Narrative
3. AMPLIFY Your Unique Story and Ideas
4. NURTURE Your Network and Relationships
5. DEDICATE Your Time to Consistent Action

Key Takeaways:

• Learn why everyone has a personal brand and why it's mandatory for professionals in today's digital and competitive work environment to focus on their brand
• Why having a logo or a nice headshot does not totally define what your brand entails
• Hear what are the core elements of your Brand DNA (purpose, positioning, promise, values, and your brand expression)
• Why the success of an organization is the sum of the greatness of each individual employee. 
• Why Gen Xers should especially focus on nurturing and cultivating their relationships in the workplace
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Adrion's personal website
• Adrion on LinkedIn
• Work With Adrion 
• "5 Key Elements that Define Your Brand DNA"

Thank you for listening!

On this special "best of" episode of Gen X Amplified, we are replaying our very first interview and episode for the podcast! Yes, this is how it all started – with our great conversation with Chris Brogan, New York Times Bestselling author, consultant, speaker, and digital marketing expert.

Chris Brogan is president of Chris Brogan Media, offering business and marketing advisory help for mid to larger sized companies. He also helps small business owners through classes and webinars at Owner Media Group. Chris is a sought after keynote speaker and the New York Times bestselling author of nine books and counting. His next book is about how companies can extend trusted relationships using AI, blockchain, chatbots, IoT, and video.

Chris has spoken for or consulted with the biggest brands you know, including Disney, Coke, Google, GM, Microsoft, Coldwell Banker, Titleist, Scotts, Humana Health, Cisco, Sony USA, and many more.

He's appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, interviewed Richard Branson for a cover story for Success magazine, and once even presented to a Princess. Tony Robbins had Chris on his Internet Money Masters series.

Forbes listed Chris as one of the Must Follow Marketing Minds of 2014, plus listed his website as one of the 100 best websites for entrepreneurs. Statsocial rated Chris the #3 power influencer online.

During this episode, we discuss many valuable insights, including focusing on doing for others as Gen X leader, and the importance of writing multiple ideas, reading, and taking action as a business leader.  

We also get to hear Chris sneak in a line from a famous 1990s sitcom opening theme!

Key Takeaways:

• How branding is really about defining "who you are" and people relating to your personal story
• Why the best leaders are really "servant leaders."
• How instant gratification for content is now the norm – and why Gen Xers must pay attention
• Why people may be looking for even more real leadership than before
• Why generational labels can be important, but individuality should still co-exist
• What the generation after Gen Z may be called?
• The reasons why Chris'parents are not the typical Baby Boomer
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Chris Brogan's website 
• "Content Will Never Be King" blog post
• Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth
• Chris' Sunday email newsletter 
• His famous "Overnight Success" video 
• Chris' parents website    
• Rick Astley singing "Uptown Funk" in London
• Become an Idea Machine by Claudia Altucher
• Evernote

Chris's Personal Theme Song

• "99 Problems" by Jay-Z & Linkin Park

Thank you for listening!

On this latest, and very special episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is going SOLO. That's right. This is a very personal solo episode of the podcast, where Adrion is going to unpack a little about his background and what his overall mission and vision is not only for the podcast, but his personal purpose.

Adrion Porter is a brand strategist, advisor, speaker, mentor, and the founder and host of Gen X Amplified. And on this solo episode, he goes into detail on his personal story. Adrion talks about his professional experience working as a marketing executive at Citi, HBO, Turner/Cartoon Network, and iDisciple.

Adrion also spends time unpacking his overall mission and purpose for Gen X Amplified, and why he is dedicated to empowering and helping Gen X leaders and mid-career professionals.

Key Takeaways:

• Hear about the different professional experiences, especially work for big brands and media companies such as Citi, HBO, and Cartoon Network propelled Adrion to his current career
• Why the time is NOW for Gen Xers and mid-career professionals to make massive impact on the world
• How Gen X leaders can embrace their role as bridge builders in the workplace
• Why Gen X Amplified is actually more than a podcast, but also his personal purpose
• Why Gen Xers should mentor and motivate other generations, especially millennials
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Adrion's personal website
• Adrion on LinkedIn
• Adrion on Instagram
• Paul C. Brunson on Gen X Amplified
• Carmine Gallo on Gen X Amplified
• Marie Forleo on Gen X Amplified
• Alicia M. Morgan on Gen X Amplified
• Rodney Bullard on Gen X Amplified

Adrion's Personal Theme Song

• "The Power" by Snap!

Thank you for listening!

On this latest episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by Rodney Bullard, Vice President of Community Affairs at Chick-fil-A, Inc., and the Executive Director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation.

During this conversation, Rodney provides us with his story of growing up in South Dekalb Atlanta, GA, and becoming influenced by many life changing events that propelled him to greatness within a number of sectors – including the armed forces, law, politics, and philanthropy.

Rodney Bullard leads Chick-fil-A's community engagement and philanthropic strategy as Vice President of Community Affairs and Executive Director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation.

Before arriving to Chick-fil-A, Rodney served as an Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting complex criminal cases. For his service, the United States Attorney General presented him with the Department of Justice Director's Award.

Prior to this role, Rodney was selected as a White House Fellow, the nation's most prestigious public service Fellowship. As a White House Fellow, Rodney was placed at NASA working directly for the NASA Administrator. Rodney also previously served at the Pentagon as a Congressional Legislative Liaison in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

Rodney is an alumnus of the Air Force Academy, Duke Law, the University of Georgia and the Harvard Business School.

Now a published author, Rodney has recently released his first book, Heroes Wanted: Why the World Needs You to Live Your Heart Out.

Key Takeaways:

• How Rodney's childhood and community paved the way for his confidence and diligence in life
• Why it's never too late to act on your ideas and why we should focus on our own timeline for success
• How Rodney's first grade teacher went over and beyond to help him propel in school
• How the White House Fellowship program became a pivotal point in Rodney's life
• How working for Sally Yates, the former United States Attorney General, led to Rodney actually starting and leading the Chick-fil-A Foundation
• What Rodney calls the " 9 Cs of an Heroic Heart", which makes up the framework of the book
• Why the time is NOW for Gen Xers to create change and make  a positive impact on the world
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Rodney's Website and Book
• Chick-fil-A Foundation
• Rodney on Instagram
• Rodney on Linkedin
• Rodney on Facebook

Rodney's Personal Theme Song

• "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead

Thank you for listening!

On this latest episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by Jeff Hilimire, CEO and Co-founder of Dragon Army, a mobile and innovation agency, and the Co-founder of 48in48.

During this value-packed conversation, Jeff discusses his own extensive entrepreneurial journey from building websites in college, to co-founding and leading an award winning mobile agency. Jeff also provides some key insights on millennial leadership and also establishing a purpose for both your company and your personal brand.

Jeff Hilimire is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dragon Army, a mobile and innovation company that helps clients navigate today's connected landscape through the use of new innovations and technology.

Prior to launching Dragon Army, he founded and sold two additional marketing agencies, Spunlogic and Engauge, within a 10-year span.

Jeff is also the Co-Founder and Board Chair of a non-profit company called 48in48, where its mission is to build 48 nonprofit websites, within 48 hours in cities across the world.

A graduate of the 2013 Leadership Atlanta class and a member of the 2012 Atlanta 40 under 40 class, Jeff is also on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and chairs the board of Central Outreach & Advocacy Center.

In addition, Jeff is on the Leadership Council and Conservation Society for Zoo Atlanta and Executive Board of The Children's Museum of Atlanta.

In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending quality time with his wife Emily of 19 years, and their five children.

Key Takeaways:

• How Jeff began a career in entrepreneurship, particularly within the digital marketing and agency industry
• The reason Jeff created both his own personal mission statement
• Why participating in the Leadership Atlanta program was a transformational moment that changed his life
• The genesis and mission behind Jeff's recent non-profit organization, 48in48
• Why optimizing your time and what you focus on is key when it comes to starting and managing a business as a Gen X leader
• Why Dragon Army implements an open communication and inspirational workplace environment
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Jeff 's Blog
• Jeff on Twitter
• Dragon Army
• 48in48
• Leadership Atlanta
• Central Outreach and Advocacy Center

Jeff's Personal Theme Song

• "Begin the Begin" by R.E.M.

Thank you for listening!

 

On this great episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion has a great conversation with Alicia (A.M.) Morgan, STEM/STEAM advocate, TEDx speaker, and social capital educator.

During this interview, Alicia tells her compelling story from being a little girl that was empowered at a very young age to discover her unique gifts - to becoming a leader within both the corporate and non-profit sectors. We also discuss the importance of Gen X leaders encouraging positive and productive relationships across all generations.

 

Alicia Morgan is currently the Vice President of Education and Programs at the Frontiers of Flight Museum located in Dallas, TX, Where she is responsible for managing the development and execution of school and public programs through STEM outreach initiatives, aviation and spaceflight history exploration.

Alicia, is also an honoree for the Women of Color in STEM Conference K-12 Promotion of Education Award.

She is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Science Engineering and New Mexico State University with a Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering.

Alicia is also speaker, and has had the great opportunity to be a featured speaker at TEDx. Her signature topic involves preparing a global workplace that is not only academically ready but understands the importance of building social capital.

Alicia is passionate about helping others learn how "Leading With Your Strengths and Values" is the key to making your human capital the unique selling point that gets you hired through influential social capital.

Key Takeaways:

• What were the greatest gifts and principles that Alicia's parents gave her to propel her in the STEM field
• Why Failure CAN actually be an option, but it's what happens afterwards that counts
• Why getting fired from her first non-profit role turned into a blessing and a better opportunity
• How the movie "Hidden Figures" helped Alicia prepare to tell her personal story and eventually secure a speech at TEDx
• How telling what is unique and authentic about your story is proven success formula
• Why Alicia advises everyone, especially millennials, to focus on honing their social capital skills
• The importance of establishing mutually beneficial relationships across multiple generations
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Alicia's TEDx Talk
• Alicia's Op-ed article: "Bridging the Gap: Why Gen X are Critical to Success"
• Alicia on Linkedin
• Alicia on Twitter
• Alicia on Instagram
• Paul C. Brunson on Gen X Amplified

Alicia's Personal Theme Song

• "Free Me" by Joss Stone

Thank you for listening!

 

On this latest episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and champion for women— the wonderful Carrie Kerpen.

During this must-listen interview, Carrie takes us through her career leading up to becoming as a successful entrepreneur.

Carrie is also the author of Work It: Secrets for Success from the Boldest Women in Business, and during this conversation she provides many insights from this manifesto for women in business.

Carrie Kerpen is also the co-founder and Managing Director of Likeable Media, a 10Pearls company.

Kerpen transformed her company from a husband-and-wife start-up into an award-winning digital content studio. Frustrated with the traditional agency model, she invented a category that generates and distributes fast, custom content for large brands.

Carrie's leadership guided the Likeable team to new heights—landing global clients such as Century 21, StubHub, and Airbnb; achieving Crain's "Best Place To Work in NYC" for four straight years; and being named a Top 50 Ad Agency & Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned Businesses by WPO and American Express OPEN.

As a keynote speaker and columnist, Carrie's focus is the impact of the digital revolution on women's professional careers, personal lives, and overall senses of self.

In 2014, Carrie launched "All The Social Ladies" a podcast for women to share career advice and insight into how social media impacts their personal and professional lives.

Key Takeaways:

• How Carrie's internship with Radio Disney catapulted her career in Marketing and Media
• The great idea to have their wedding sponsored at a baseball game
• How Carrie and her husband Dave started their agency Likeable Media
• The moment when Carrie decided to "work it" and launch her podcast
• What are some of the key secrets to success, especially for Gen X women
• Why Gen X professionals must do a better job at telling their story in the workplace
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Work It: Secrets for Success from the Boldest Women in Business (book)
• "Work It Weekly" - Carrie's newsletter
• Carrie's personal website
• All the Social Ladies - Carrie's podcast
• Likeable Media
• "The Working Mom's Guide To Raising Kids In A Digital Age"

Carrie's Personal Theme Song

• "Work It" by Missy Elliot

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I am welcoming back serial entrepreneur Ian Schafer, repeat guest and friend of the podcast, for another round of "Gen Xceptional" wisdom and inspiration.

Ian is the President and Co-Founder of Ensemble, a next-generation branded entertainment studio that he co-founded with acclaimed producer, writer, actress, and entrepreneur Issa Rae.

Ensemble collaborates with brands, platforms, and publishers to produce and distribute epic content and activations that shape culture, engage audiences, and move product.

Ian, Issa, and the team at Ensemble is on a mission to make the creator economy more equitable for creators from underrepresented communities.

In this episode, Ian and I unpack:

• Ian's experiences and journey as a founder, particularly during the disruptive landscape of the 2020 pandemic
• The story of how Ian began his business relationship with Issa Rae and her team at HOORAE Media to launch Ensemble
• Why Ensemble's mission is focused on creators from underrepresented communities
• The overall state of the creator economy, especially in the age of AI
• Why mid-career professionals (i.e, Gen X) can thrive and create value in the creator economy based on their seasoned experience and expertise, coupled with deep knowledge and unique insights.
• And more!

Ian's Personal Theme Song

• "Electric Relaxation" by A Tribe Called Quest

About Ian Schafer

Ian is an award-winning global brand, marketing, advertising, and sports & entertainment entrepreneur and executive.

He is and currently the Co-Founder of Ensemble, a next-generation branded entertainment studio that he co-founded with acclaimed producer, writer, actress, and entrepreneur Issa Rae.

Ensemble collaborates with brands, platforms, and publishers to produce and distribute epic content and activations that shape culture, engage audiences, and move product.

Ian is also a strategic advisor to ROCK THE BELLS, the preeminent voice for classic and timeless hip-hop founded in 2018 by LL Cool J.

Also, Ian is the co-founder of ON_Discourse, owner of Queensboro FC, and an advisor to Accelerator.

Previously, Ian Co-Founder & CEO of Kindred, a membership organization that's on a mission to build a more equitable society by advancing the actions of today's leaders.

Prior to launching kindred, Ian was the founder, CEO, and Global Chairman of Deep Focus, a transformative advertising agency that eventually he sold to Engine Group in 2015.

Before he began his entrepreneurial journey with Deep Focus, Ian worked at Miramax Films as the VP of New Media, where he learned many lessons on the power of content and innovation.

Previously, Ian started his career as a Sr. Account Executive at i-Traffic, which was one of the first digital agencies in the world.

In 2015, he was inducted into the American Advertising Federation's Hall of Achievement, named one of "100 People Who Make Advertising Great" by the 4A's in 2017, and was also named named a "Media Maven" by Advertising Age.

 

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by software go-to-market leader and the former CMO of Slack, Bill Macaitis. During this awesome interview, they both discuss all things tech, marketing, brand strategy, and team building.

Bill Macaitis is considered one of the most prolific marketers within the SAAS industry. He has served as the leading go-to-market executive for 3 of the fastest ever growing SaaS companies: Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce.

At Slack, Bill served as both the Chief Revenue Officer and the Chief Marketing Officer, coming in as marketing employee #1, and building out the entire marketing, sales, customer success and customer support teams.

During his tenure, Bill was instrumental in helping Slack become the fastest growing B2B company ever hitting $100M in annual recurring revenue in just over 2 years.

Over his career, Bill has achieved a total of 5 exits . Now he enjoys helping other companies achieve hyper-growth with a unique customer centric approach. Bill is also passionate about working with CEO's to design, recruit, interview and build out world class marketing organizations.

Bill also is a strong advocate in mission driven companies who are changing the world for the better with innovative technology and business models.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Bill decided to pivot in career as a B2C and B2B marketing executive at Salesforce, Zendesk, and Slack
• What lessons Bill learned working some of the most iconic software brands
• How Bill and his team propelled Slack to become the fastest growing business software application ever
• Hear the importance of having a strong set of brand values and collaborative team dynamics
• Why focusing solely on lead generation is a short-term advantage and why focusing on your brand strategy better prepares you for long-term growth
• Why cultivating the common fiber that unites each generation in your workforce is the key to better team output
• And so much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Bill Macaitis on Linkedin
• Bill Macaitis on Twitter
• Slack
• 15Five

Bill's Personal Theme Song

• "Fight song" by Rachel Platten

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are chatting with reinvention strategist and life coach, Marshawn Evans Daniels. about her latest groundbreaking book: Believe Bigger: Discover the Path to Your Life Purpose.

During this very value-packed conversation, Marshawn and I discuss why she wrote this book as an inspirational guide for women ready to reinvent their lives and discover a higher purpose when life doesn't go as planned.

Marshawn Evans Daniels is a reinvention strategist and life coach mentoring women around the world to live bolder in life and business. As a serial entrepreneur, TV personality, creator of the Godfidence® movement and founder of SHE Profits®, she helps women turn ideas into income and inspiration into action.

A former sports attorney, Miss America finalist, and competitor on The Apprentice, she left a high-powered law firm and turned her passion for people into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Appearing regularly on CNN, Fox Business, and ESPN, her clients range from Rolls Royce, HPE, Nike, Home Depot, and Ernst & Young to everyday dreamers seeking to find their voice and maximize their potential.

Named Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the Atlanta Business League, she is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a Harry S. Truman scholar, and a former US Ambassador to the International Summit of Achievement in Dublin, Ireland. Marshawn is passionate about purpose, futurist thinking, manifestation, entrepreneurship, and traveling the globe with her husband Jack.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Believe Bigger: Discover the Path to Your Life Purpose (Marshawn's latest book)
• Marshawn's Personal Website
• The Godfidence School
• Marshawn's Facebook Page

Marshawn's Personal Theme Song(s)

• Put Your Money on Me – Ronald Isley
• For the Love of Money by The Ojays
• Roar by Katy Perry

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are going to discuss why personal branding is very important in today's social media world. And to help us unpack the key tips and tactics to use, we are chatting with a content marketing and social media expert, Erik Deckers.

 

Erik Deckers is a professional writer, professional speaker, social media expert, and content marketing strategist. He is the President of Pro Blog Service, a content marketing agency.

Erik is also the author of a few bestselling books, including The Owned Media Doctrine, No BS Social Media, and last but not least, one of my favorites - Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself.

During this episode, Erik discusses his professional journey, and how it led you to his current career as an author, speaker, and business owner.

Erik and I also unpack the latest edition of Branding Yourself, and why he and his co-author Kyle Lacy decided to update the book at this time.

Key Takeaways:

• When did Erik first decide to go into the marketing field.
• Why he advises people to first start a blog before tackling what social media platforms to engage in
• Why you must "fish where the fish are" to increase your chances of success for social networking
• Hear Erik explain which social media platform is his favorite.>
• The reason why you must focus on giving and providing value to others than receiving
• And so plenty more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself
• Erik's Company "Pro Blog Service"
• Erik's personal website
• Erik on Twitter

Erik's Personal Theme Songs!

• "The Typewriter Song" by Leroy Anderson
• "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin

Thank you for listening!

As a leader, do you want to inspire, motivate, educate, build brands, launch movements, and change lives? Then you MUST be able to package your ideas into a compelling and concise story.

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are actually going to talk all about the power of story.  And we could not have asked for a better featured guest, than master communicator and storyteller - Carmine Gallo.  

Carmine Gallo is a communications coach for the world's most admired brands. A former anchor and correspondent for CNN and CBS - Carmine's mission is to help business leaders craft compelling messages, tell inspiring stories, and share their ideas. He has worked with executives at Intel, Google, Disney, The Four Seasons, Cisco, LinkedIn, and many other global brands.

As a prolific author, Carmine has written several groundbreaking books that primarily focus on communication, including: The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, The Apple Experience, and Talk Like TED.

Now his latest book, The Storyteller's Secret: From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On and Others Don't, is a must read for any leader in today's marketplace. This very practical guide on the power of narrative, demonstrates how leaders of such powerful brands as Apple, Virgin, and Southwest Airlines have attracted valuable talent and achieved success by telling their stories well.

During the value-packed episode of Gen X Amplified, Carmine and I discuss why storytelling is the secret ingredient to business and leadership success. We also unpack many insights from the book, including specific examples of visionaries like Steve Jobs, Sheryl Sandberg, and others who create compelling stories as essential elements in their journey.

Key Takeaways:

• Why storytelling is the most underrated and under appreciated skill among leaders and entrepreneurs today.
• Did you know that the most successful speeches, presentations, and stories incorporate a familiar 3-act structure?
• Why Carmine write books not because of money, but because he believes in the "power of ideas" to change the world
• Having a "passion" for your topic is a must-have for great communication
• Hear why the most recent and successful movements such as the "ice bucket challenge"and Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In" were launched with powerful stories
• Understand why Steve Jobs was probably the world's greatest storyteller
• Companies that create a storytelling culture can increase profits and decrease employee turnover. Hear why.
• And so plenty more!

Awesome Resources from this Episode:

• Carmine's Website
• The Storyteller's Secret website
• The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs
• Talk Like TED 
• Carmine on Twitter
• Carmine on Facebook

Carmine's Personal Theme Song!

• "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi

Carmine's Recommended Tools/Resources

• Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
• Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull
• Evernote
• Runkeeper

Thank you for listening!

Peg Fitzpatrick is a speaker, author, blogger, and social media marketing expert. She is the co-author of the groundbreaking book, The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users. With over 100 tips and best practices - this essential guide presents a detailed strategy to create a compelling presence on the most popular social-media platforms.

Social media is not only Peg's passion, it's her job. Day-to-day, she works in the trenches of social media, marketing, and blogging. Peg has spearheaded successful social-media campaigns for Motorola, Audi, Canva, Google, and Virgin as well as having been a brand ambassador for Kimpton Hotels. She work with the best brands and make them even better!

During our conversation on this episode of Gen X Amplified, Peg and I chat about a number of fascinating topics - including her professional journey, how she built her brand as a "social media expert", how she starting working with marketing guru Guy Kawasaki, and many valuable insights on the state of social media.

This is definitely an episode that you do not want to miss. Especially if you want to up your game within the social media space!

Key Takeaways:

• How Peg started her career as a social media expert because of her early insights on how Facebook could help businesses with growth
• Why contrary to popular belief, millennials may not always be the best option to oversee digital marketing activities for companies
• How starting a book club on Twitter chats led to her business relationship with marketing leader Guy Kawasaki
• The reason why Peg decided to write a book that focused social media
• Why she chooses to master multiple social platforms instead of focusing on just one
• And so plenty more!

Awesome Resources from this Episode:

• Peg Fitzpatrick's Personal Website
• The Art of Social Media 
• Peg on Twitter
• Peg on Pinterest
• Peg on Linkedin

Peg's Personal Theme Song!

• "The Circle of Life" (from The Lion King) 

Peg's Recommended Tools/Resource

• Social Champ

Thank you for listening!

Do you ever dream about running your own business? Do you ever dream about more time with your family? Do you want to change the world?

Then you MUST listen to this value-packed and fun episode of Gen X Amplified with someone who has been named a "thought leader for the next generation by none other than Oprah Winfrey. I am joined by the wonderful and phenomenal Marie Forleo.

Marie Forleo is a quintessential entrepreneur, author, online tv host, and marketing expert. She is the creator and host of her award-winning web TV show, Marie TV - where she has interviewed some of the most phenomenal people such as Arianna Huffington and Tony Robbins to name a few.

Through her content and her overall brand - her goal and mission is to help you build a life you truly love, and use your gifts to change the world.

Marie is also the founder of the very popular B-School, which is an 8-week interactive video based training program that teaches smart effective online marketing strategies to business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to fuel higher profits and their higher purpose.

Having a passion for a mission-driven life, Marie has also mentored young business owners at Richard Branson's Centre of Entrepreneurship. And through her own "Change Your Life, Change The World" initiative - every product purchased helps support a person in need.

MarieForleo.com was also named by Forbes.com as one of the Top 100 Websites for Entrepreneurs, and her business has been listed as one of the Inc's 500 fastest growing companies.

During this fun-filled and value-driven chat with Marie, we discuss her fascinating story/journey from working at the New York Exchange, teaching hip-hop dance classes, to becoming one of the most revered entrepreneurs and personal brands in the marketplace.

We also unpack the many awesome details of B-School, and Marie shares plenty of golden nuggets on we are all actually getting younger because of this digital age. And it's now easier than ever before to take advantage of these new media tools to build a business and life we love.

 

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why did Marie decide to become a life coach at 23 years old?
• What was that transformational moment that Marie decided to become a life coach
• What were some of the entrepreneurial principles that Marie learned first hand from her parents
• Why cultivating key relationships is a priority for Marie throughout her journey
• Why Marie embraced video as her primary platform to amplify her brand and build an audience
• Hear why B-School is a very unique and powerful online training program
• Listen to why one her most famous catchphrases is "everything is figureoutable"
• Why Marie feels that everyone, especially Gen Xers should take advantage of these digital tools to build their brand in today's marketplace
• And so plenty more!

Awesome Resources from this Episode:

• Marie Forleo's Website
• B-School
• Marie TV
• Marie on Facebook
• Marie on Twitter
• Marie on Instagram
• FREE Download - "10 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in this New Media Marketplace."

Marie's Personal Theme Song

• "This is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan

Marie's Recommended Tools/Resource

• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Thank you for listening!

For this new solo episode of Gen X Amplified, I focus on how success, achieving your goals, and overall greatness can only happen, after you have truly put the work in . Particularly, what I call having some P.E.P. - preparation, execution, and patience.

 

Whenever we want to achieve a new goal, learn a new skill, or become successful in general - we tend to want to rush the end result. We want to be great, much sooner than later. We want success and we want it now!

Well that is a very unrealistic and ineffective approach. True success and true greatness doesn't happen overnight. It requires us to put the work in.

For example - think about a box of cake mix. On the front of the box, you see the nice picture of the finished product - the fluffy and moist cake. But in order to get to that finished cake, you have to turn the box over for the baking instructions and follow the recipe. You must take all of the essential ingredients, mix them together, turn up some heat, put it in the oven, and then wait for the cake to bake. This same principle applies when it comes to achieving greatness in life.

Key Takeaways:

• Why being intentional with preparation and taking action is key.
• Why achieving success and greatness is very similar to baking a cake.
• The importance of understanding how your experience, expertise, passions, insights, and relationships can be used to reach your goals.
• And so much more!

Resources from this Episode:

• My personal website - adrionporter.com 
• FREE Download - "10 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in this New Media Marketplace."
• Episode 029: Brian Solis on Designing Exceptional Customer Experiences

Thank you for listening!   Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast, and this special solo episode - Why Greatness Requires Preparation, Execution, and Patience (P.E.P.) There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

Do you know what makes a brand truly stand out and create advocates in today's economy? Well it goes beyond just products and services. It's all about how you define "experiences."

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are joined by one of the most renowned digital leaders in today's marketplace - futurist, author and speaker Brian Solis. He's here to discuss his personal journey, and his latest book X: The Experience When Business Meets Design.

Brian Solis is recognized as one of the most prominent thought leaders, speakers, and published authors in new technology and digital marketing. He is also a digital analyst, anthropologist, and futurist.

Brian is a best selling author of some of the most groundbreaking books that include What’s the Future of Business (WTF), Engage!, and The End of Business as Usual.

Brian is here on Gen X Amplified to discuss his latest book titled:  X: The Experience When Business Meets Design, which explores the importance of experiences, and how to design them for customers, employees and human beings everywhere.

This is definitely a great conversation with an awesome Gen X thought leader - so listen, learn, and be empowered!

 

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• How Brian actually defines (X) Experience?
• Why brands are now defined by not just their products and services, but by their customers’ experiences.
• The essential reason why creating great experiences is the key for success in this digital marketplace.
• Why this is a now great time for Gen Xers to be better leaders for the next generations.
• Why Brian modeled the book’s unique design to reflect the feel of a tablet.
• And so plenty more!

Awesome Resources from this Episode:

• BrianSolis.com
• Xthebook.com
• X: The Experience When Business Meets Design on Amazon
• Brian Solis on Twitter
• "Back in Black" by AC/DC
• FREE Download - "10 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in this New Media Marketplace."

Thank you for listening!   Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast, and hanging out with me and Brian Solis, author of the new book - X: The Experience When Business Meets Design. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

Are you looking for a more productive way to accomplish your goals this year? Well, this episode is definitely for you. That's because we are joined...again by our very first "repeat" guest. The one-and-only John Lee Dumas from the very popular EOFire podcast.

John revisits Gen X Amplified this time to deep dive into the virtues of successful goal setting, and also his latest passion project, The Freedom Journal!

John Lee Dumas is the Founder and Host of  EOFire, an award winning podcast that reveals the journey of today's most inspiring entrepreneurs - 7 days a week. He has actually interviewed more than 1,100 entrepreneurs since the launch of his podcast, and has over 1 million unique listens a month!

During John's previous appearance on Gen X Amplified, we spoke in detail about the overall story and journey of EOFire. But for his "repeat" visit, John is here to really FOCUS on his latest and greatest project - The Freedom Journal.

The Freedom Journal is John's new and (beautifully crafted) book, that he created specifically to help others set and accomplish their number one goal...in 100 days. During this conversation, John explained his motivation for creating The Freedom Journal and also provide many overall value bombs to help you dominate 2016!

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• What did John realize what is the number one secret to success for entrepreneurs?
• Why did John decide to launch a Kickstarter campaign for The Freedom Journal?
• The reason why written journals may be more effective than than app-based tools
• Why you should focus on setting S.M.A.R.T. goals
• The importance of both micro and long-term goal setting
• And plenty more!

Awesome Resources from this Episode:

• The Freedom Journal 
• EOFire
• Quotes on Fire
• John's previous appearance on Gen X Amplified- Episode 008 
• Mel Gibson's "Freedom Speech" from Bravehart
• FREE Download - "10 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in this New Media Marketplace."

Thank you for listening!

If you think you're good at delivering great customer service, then you will be surprised that your customers may not agree. Well, our featured guest on Gen X Amplified will explain why that is the case. We are joined by Jay Baer, who is a world renowned marketing and customer service speaker.

He is also the author of the forthcoming book Hug Your Haters, and he's here to explain why many brands are unfortunately embracing an outdated approach to customer service that does not meet the minimum threshold in today's digital media landscape.

Jay Baer a marketing and online customer service expert and keynote speaker who has advised more than 700 brands since 1994, including Caterpillar, Nike, Allstate, The United Nations and 32 of the Fortune 500. He is also considered the world's "most retweeted person" among digital marketers.

He is a renowned business strategist, keynote speaker and the New York Times best-selling author of five books including his newest publication - Hug Your Haters - the first truly modern book on customer service and customer experience.

Jay is also the founder of Convince & Convert, a strategy consulting firm that helps prominent companies gain and keep more customers through the smart intersection of technology, social media, and customer service. Also through his media division of his consulting firm, Jay oversees publishing a content marketing blog, a daily email newsletter and is the co-host of the top-rated Social Pros podcast.

Jay is here to deep dive into Hug Your Haters and why companies should not, and I repeat….NOT ignoring complaints from their customers, especially in this current digital and social marketplace. He also outlines his guiding framework on how to deliver outstanding customer service which will result in remarkable customer experiences.

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why getting involved in the internet during its infancy was one of Jay's best decisions he's ever made
• Understand why customer service is really the "new marketing"
• What are the new platforms of customer service in this digital world
• Why companies should answer every complaint, in every channel, every time
• Why Chick-Fil-A is a great example of company providing exceptional customer service
• What is the Jay Baer rule of "reply only twice"
• How the principles of Hug Your Haters can apply to personal brands and not just companies
• And plenty more!

Awesome Resources from this Episode:

• Jay Baer's website
• Hug Your Haters website
• Hug Your Haters on Amazon
• Convince and Convert
• "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift
• "Give It Away" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Blinkist
• Pana

Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we have a very special episode featuring an amazing "Gen Xceptional" chat with Denise Hamilton.

Denise is a nationally recognized Diversity & Inclusion leader, and is the Founder and CEO of WatchHerWork, a digital learning platform for professional women.

She is also the author of the bestselling book "Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future" During this episode, Denise and I spent time unpacking her professional story, the timeless gems from her book, and also her passionate call-to-arms for Gen Xers!

About Denise Hamilton

Denise Hamilton is an author, speaker and consultant who focuses on the people side of change. She is also the author of the bestselling book "Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future."

Whether it's remote work, AI or a diversifying workforce, today's leaders need new skills to navigate our rapidly changing world. Denise leverages her 25 years of executive experience with Fortune 500 organizations like AOL and CBRE to provide solutions that support employees and the bottom line.

Clients have said Denise's superpower is the ability to have the most challenging discussions and come out the other side with solutions and a positive direction. She uses this gift to lead workshops, design education programs, and coach senior leaders. The goal is to empower individuals and teams to mine and close the gender gap, understand differences, resolve conflict, and become better allies.

Her clients include household names, like Meta, Apple, ExxonMobil, Hines, Amazon, Shell, the United Nations, and the WNBA.

Denise has been featured on NPR, Forbes, FOX, Huffington Post, CBS, NBC and on many other outlets.

Denise's Personal Theme Song

• "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan

Thank you for listening!

Thank you so very much for listening to the podcast. There are so many other shows out there, so the fact that you took the time to listen in really means a lot!

Subscribe to Gen X Amplified!

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2016!

Yes, we are back with a brand new episode, and it is a VERY SPECIAL one. That's because we're going to take a "listen" back, and celebrate season one of Gen X Amplified.

For this special episode, we are going to showcase some of our most popular episodes, and even play some soundbites from the featured guests. I had such a blast chatting with each guest, and their were so many valuable nuggets and insightful stories that they shared.

Now because timing, I needed to narrow down the episodes selected for this recap. And this was very, very hard! That's because every guest, every interview, and every story shared was extremely valuable and golden.

So, I decided to primarily pick the episodes that were the most popular in terms downloads, feedback, shares, social media, etc. But again, it was very close, and at the end of the day - it’s really not about the number of downloads, It’s more about the impact that each episode and each guest delivers to YOU.

So definitely go back and listen to ALL of the episodes, from 1 to 25, at your leisure.

 

Featured Guests/Episodes (in order as played):

• Episode 021: Gretchen Rubin on Habits and Being Better Than Before
• Episode 001: Chris Brogan on Generational Leadership in a New Media World
• Episode 016: Jay Papasan on The ONE Thing That Matters Most in Business and Life
• Episode 003: Paul C. Brunson on Entrepreneurship, Relationships, and Focusing on Self
• Episode 002: Dorie Clark on How to Stand Out and Build a Following
• Episode 018: Michael Port on How to Steal the Show and Own the Moment in Life
• Episode 023: Scott Monty on Social Media Strategy and Thought Leadership
• Episode 010: C.C. Chapman on Content Marketing and Making Amazing Things Happen
• Episode 011: Chris Ducker on Personal Branding, Outsourcing, and Becoming a Youpreneur
• Episode 015: Lucrecer Braxton on Photography, Podcasting, and Serving Others
• Episode 008: John Lee Dumas on Podcasting and Finding Your Zone of Genius
• Episode 019: Todd Henry on Becoming Louder Than Words with your Unique Voice
• Episode 005: Hal Elrod on the Miracle of a Morning Routine
• Episode 022: Lamar and Ronnie Tyler on Building an International Brand and Movement
• Episode 017: Michael O'Neal on Being a Solopreneur and Proudly Unemployable

 

Thank you for listening!

How does someone leave their job as a lawyer in New Jersey, sell their house, pack their bags, and move with his family all the way to Florida -to pursue a career rooted in their passion for all things Walt Disney?

Well Lou Mongello did it, and he is CRUSHING it as an entrepreneur. And he is here on Gen X Amplified to talk all about his love and career as a Disney expert.

 

Lou Mongello is an author, historian, speaker, podcaster, and Disney Expert. For many years he was actually an attorney living in New Jersey - but he left practicing law to follow his dream of sharing his love for Walt Disney World.

He is now the host of the top-ranked podcast WDW Radio, which is dedicated to enhance the appreciation for the Walt Disney World parks - so visitors can be better prepared have an outstanding experience.  WDW Radio has also been awarded the “Best Travel” podcast for 9 years straight since 2006.

Lou is also the author of the book, 102 Ways to Save Money For and At Walt Disney World, which is both in print and digital formats.

In addition to his business activities, Lou founded the Dream Team Project to help grant the wishes children with serious illnesses to visit Walt Disney World through the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, and has raised more than $250,000 to date.

A social media pioneer and influencer, Lou connects with his loyal audiences (he prefers  to say “friends”) via a variety of online social networks, and also hosts monthly meet-ups in Walt Disney World and around the country.

As one of the leading authorities on Disney, Lou is frequently interviewed for his expertise - on outlets such as USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business, Parenting Magazine, and others.

We're so excited to chat with Lou as our featured guest on this episode of Gen X Amplified. During our conversation, Lou talks about his journey from being a lawyer, to trusting his instincts and embracing his knowledge and love for Disney - and then turning that into a lucrative career.

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• How Lou first became fascinated with the wonders and magic of Walt Disney World.
• What was the original name of Lou's Disney-related podcast?
• How you can stand out in a competitive market because of your unique personal brand and story.
• The reason why Lou puts more priority on the quality on content he produces and providing value, and does not focus on subscriber and download numbers.
• Why having the support of your family can be the best fuel as an entrepreneur.
• Why you should treat your audience and customers as true "friends".
• How everyone now has the tools to translate their passion, experience, and expertise into a business in this new media economy.
• And so much more!

Awesome Resources from this Episode:

• WDW Radio
• Lou Mongello's personal website
• 102 Ways to Save Money For and At Walt Disney World by Lou Mongello
• Lou Mongello on Twitter
• Lou Mongello on Facebook
• "The Best Time of Your Life (Now is the Time)" by Richard and Robert Sherman
• Evernote
• FREE Download - "10 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in this New Media Marketplace."

Thank you for listening!

 

When you think of “brand” or “branding” what immediately comes to mind? Is it a logo? Or the name of a business? Or colors? These are all important, but they only touch the surface of what a brand entails.

For this special solo episode of Gen X Amplified, I discuss why developing your brand is essential - even before you think about marketing, social media, etc. And, I break down what I consider to be the 5 key elements of what defines a brand.

 

As an entrepreneur or even a marketer -  you should not put all the weight of your brand on your logo. Your brand is the complete story of what you want to communicate about your business, and the perception that you leave in the hearts and minds of your audience.

That’s why before you even think about creative, logos, or marketing – you must have clarity on what your brand truly includes. So here are what I consider to be the 5 key elements of a brand:

1. Brand Purpose
2. Brand Positioning
3. Brand Promise
4. Brand Personality
5. Brand Identity

Other Key Takeaways:

• Why your brand positioning is all about claiming that unique space in the minds of your target audience and the marketplace.
• Why you cannot be all things to all people, and must narrow your target market down to your ideal customer.
• How your brand’s promise is a direct extension of your positioning, and the expectation that its sets.
• Why celebrating and expressing your unique brand personality will help you distinguish your brand from others in a similar niche.
• The mistake that many people make by associating brand identity with only visuals. Brands can be both identified and remembered not just from how they look – but also how they sound.
• And so much more!

Resources from this Episode:

• My new personal website - adrionporter.com 
• FREE Download - "10 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in this New Media Marketplace."
• Original Blog Post - "5 Key Elements That Define a Brand"
• "Start With Why" - Simon Sinek's Ted Talk
• Episode #12 with Jason Swenk

Thank you for listening!

As a leader in today's marketplace, you must be able to understand why new media platforms, including content marketing, and especially social media are very critical to your business success.

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are joined by someone who is very much considered a quintessential marketing leader and social media expert. The one and only Scott Monty is here to discuss his journey from becoming the global head of social media for Ford Motor Company, to his current role as an entrepreneur - launching his own strategic consultancy, Scott Monty Strategies.

Scott Monty is an internationally recognized thought leader in digital communications, social media and marketing. For six years, he was best known for being the global head of social media at Ford Motor Company - where he advised on social media activities across the entire company.

Scott also has a decade of experience at marketing agencies, where he worked with clients including Coca-Cola, American Airlines, T-Mobile, and IBM.

Now, he recently launched his own consultancy, Scott Monty Strategies, where he advises brands and agencies on strategy communications, influencer management, and the overall customer digital experience.

In addition to his professional duties, Scott is also an active blogger and podcaster - not only on his personal website - but also on a site and podcast called I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere, dedicated to none other than Sherlock Holmes.

He frequently speaks at events around the world, and has been featured on a variety of mainstream media, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg TV, NBC, NPR, CNN, and Fox Business.

As our guest today on Gen X Amplified, Scott brings his "marketing brilliance" to the podcast, and not only outlines his journey to becoming the head of social media for Ford Motor Company, but also provides some valuable insights on social media, marketing, and thought leadership.

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why did Scott decide to join the Ford Motor Company in such a prominent role, even after some initial hesitation?
• What was the reason Scott wanted to leverage his extensive expertise and launch his own agency.
• Why Twitter is such a wonderful social media tool, but not without its challenges.
• Why you must understand the key differences between Twitter, Facebook, and other social platforms.
• What are his recommendations on how to establish thought leadership in this digital landscape, especially for Gen Xers.
• What type of music genre does Scott really love? You may be pleasantly surprised!
• And so much more!

Awesome Resources from this Episode:

• Scott's Website
• Scott Monty on Flipboard
• Scott on Twitter
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
• "Symphony No. 7 " by Ludwig Van Beethoven
• Scott Monty's Email Newsletter
• Harvard Business Review App
• FREE Download - "10 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in this New Media Marketplace."

Thank you for listening!