Greg Larkin is am entrepreneur, author, and founder of the executive community Punks & Pinstripes, a curated executive community that gathers people who, as he says, are trying to climb their second mountain. Greg’s view of what defines success is a little different. And it is heavily shaped by his personal history. He found success very quickly, by being the first person to predict the 2008 subprime mortgage melt down. That early success skyrocketed him into high-profile roles — but also into a cycle of ego, addiction to recognition, and a sense of disconnection from his true self.

In our conversation, Greg walks us through how he hit that breaking point and what came after — the tough reflection, the discomfort of leaving the prestige behind, and the journey toward doing work that truly aligned with who he is. We talked about the difference between surviving and thriving, about leadership that comes from experience versus theory, and about building authentic community in a world obsessed with status.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

punksandpinstripes.com

Additional Guest Links:

Contact at:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/punks-pinstripes

Greg LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregilarkin

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Honest Mechanik: honestmechanik.bandcamp.com

Today's guest is Ron Browning, the CEO of IntelliBright, a performance-based digital marketing agency. Ron’s career is characterized by entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and a fierce commitment to accountability.

We talked about his unique journey—starting with his first business while still in grad school, diving into the early days of the dot-com boom (and bust), and ultimately launching IntelliBright, which he has now successfully led for over 16 years. Ron shared the key leadership lessons he learned from navigating both entrepreneurial highs and corporate frustrations, and how those lessons shaped the culture and values of IntelliBright.

He also offered some powerful insights on the importance of data-driven decision making, the value of clarity in communication, and how dressing the part can sometimes make all the difference.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

intellibright.com

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ronrbrowning

Instagram:

Twitter:

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Robyn Bolton is the founder and Chief Navigator of Mile Zero, an innovation consulting firm. Robyn’s story is a perfect illustration of the core belief that is at the core of this podcast: if you go through the process of intentionally defining your true values and make decisions accordingly, you will not only be happier but find the right professional success.

Robyn’s career started on a very traditional path: Procter and Gamble, an MBA at Harvard, consulting at BCG, and a stint at Innosight, a prestigious innovation firm. But at some point, she found herself questioning whether what she was pursuing was what she really wanted.

And when she started her own firm, she chose to avoid the traditional rules of having a growth plan. And that actually led to long lasting success, on her own terms.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

milezero.io

Additional Guest Links:

UnlockingInnovation.co 

linkedin.com/in/robynmbolton

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Today we talk to Rishi Bhatia. As CEO of Purple Carrot, a Massachusetts-based 100% plant-based meal kit company, Rishi leads the rethinking of plant-based food—making it mainstream for everyone. With over two decades of experience as a CTO and in product strategy, leadership, marketing, and innovation roles, Rishi has spearheaded customer-focused transformational strategies for both Fortune 500 companies and startups.

Rishi discusses his journey from India to the US, how he transitioned from technology and product to CEO, and how to manage relationships with private equity and venture investors. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[00:59] - Dino introduces today's guest, Rishi Bhatia, CEO of Purple Carrot, a plant-based meal company. Dino talks about Rishi's unique path and how learning has impacted his career.

[03:20] - Rishi shares his appreciation for Dino's holistic approach to life and talks about his journey from India to the US and his work at a startup in the healthcare space.

[05:16] - The challenges of transitioning from an execution-based skillset to a leadership role.

[05:53] - Rishi shares his love for learning and how cascading skills to a higher value proposition has helped him unlock his potential and that of those around him.

[07:38] - Rishi shares a story of a decisive decision he made to offboard a team member who wasn't pulling their weight, ultimately earning his team's trust.

[08:54] - Transitioning to high-growth, high-risk startups.

[10:07] - Rishi talks about how working in mid-size or growth-stage startups intensifies the pace of learning, innovation, (and failure).

[10:37] - Rishi discusses the key traits of the leader he aspires to be and his ongoing learning and focus on creating purpose-led massive impact. 

[10:53] - Rishi talks about his aspirations to scale Purple Carrot and describes the key traits of an effective leader who thinks BIG to capture potential.

[11:19] - Rishi discusses the importance of cultural attributes in leadership and letting the best ideas in the organization win.

[11:50] - Making decisions as a leader: the importance of combining intuition, data points, and business model metrics. 

[12:53] - The journey to becoming a CEO and mastering the human element.

[13:25] - Rishi shares the path of learning he took to acquire the human element of leadership

[14:39] - The importance of storytelling and emotional connection in marketing.

[17:25] - Rishi discusses how his definition of success has evolved to focus on impact and legacy.

[19:03] -Rishi explains how his personal values of plant-based eating led him to Purple Carrot because he appreciated their business model as it aligns with his mission of creating a more significant impact through a clear and defined mission.

[19:36] - Meal options for flexitarians and the importance of having a clearly defined mission as a North Star for an organization to have a bigger impact or purpose beyond just their business model. 

[20:12] - Balancing impact and profitability when running a business. 

[21:02] - The importance of paying attention to business model refinement: breaking down investor communication into three segments: when things are going really well, when things are going okay, and when things are not going well.

[23:20] - Rishi shares an example of a high-growth startup's decline in profitability and his experience with unaligned heavyweight investors.

[26:00] -The importance of paying attention to red...

Today we have a return guest: Christina Wallace who had joined me on EP55 of the podcast. Christina is an entrepreneur, musician, podcast host and professor at Harvard Business School. With all these interests she describes herself as a "human Venn diagram."

Christina is here to discuss her book The Portfolio Life”, in which she talks about how cultivating a number of different interests and skills is key to living a more fulfilled life and build a successful career in a rapidly changing world.

 In our conversation, Christina explains how she came up with the “portfolio life” concept, and then shares practical examples and steps that we can take to design our optimal portfolio life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[00:57] – Dino introduces today's guest, Christina Wallace, who is returning to discuss her new book, "The Portfolio Life," to be released on April 18.

[04:06] – Christina shares the evolution of The Portfolio Life.

[05:13] – How Christina’s double major and learning about portfolio theory during her finance classes in business school inspired The Portfolio Life. Plus, a long ago and forgotten conversation foretells the future years later.

[09:21] – Christina describes the three tenets of a portfolio life and why life changes require a rebalancing of your portfolio.

[11:29] – Christina emphasizes that a portfolio life isn't just about work and shares the other things it includes, plus how to think about life in chapters or seasons for a happy life.

[12:26] – You only have a certain amount of time you can balance—work is just a piece of it—why The Portfolio Life is about more than having a work–life balance.

[12:26] – How the portfolio life concept challenges traditional career paths and allows for a diversified approach to work, skill development, and life in general.

[14:11] – How Christina’s grandmother’s wisdom helped her create a mindset and a unique approach to her career that has fueled her success and has helped her counsel people as they're thinking about the career piece of their portfolio.

[15:35] – Tell them a great story about the experience you bring: Christina talks about the power of associating and the ability to connect seemingly unconnected ideas or industries or networks in a world where so much of what we think of as specialization can and will be outsourced to computers very soon.

[18:34] – Christina talks about the concept of a human Venn diagram and shares how she’s built her own human Venn diagram at the intersection of multiple identities, multiple experiences, skill sets, and identities to help others understand what she brings to the room in terms of unique perspectives and experiences.

[21:12] – Embrace your uniqueness and look for opportunities where you are the perfect fit, rather than carving off parts of yourself to fit in with a puzzle that doesn't quite fit so you can focus your energy on doing amazing work and contributing to the team.

[22:25] – Whether it's in your relationships or your career, why it's essential to find the rooms that want what you have to offer.

[23:10] – Christina shares the recipe for happiness in your current stage of life.

[26:25] – Art/Life Balance, Christina emphasizes the importance of building a business model that can provide the stability, income, and health insurance to support a sustainable art career.

[27:34] – Stop measuring the quality of your art

Today we talk to Anngelle Wood, a prominent figure in the Boston media and music scene who wears many hats, including host of the Boston Emissions radio show, producer and host of the Crime of the Truest Kind podcast, and organizer for the historical Rock & Roll Rumble , a 40 years old Battle of The Bands that is a Boston institution.

Anngelle shares the story of her journey in the music industry, how she became the organizer for the Rumble, and her mission to serve the local Boston music community by giving bands a platform to play and fans a safer experience, plus a peek into her true crime podcast.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[01:38] - Dino introduces Anngelle Wood, the organizer of the Rock & Roll Rumble, a local battle of the bands that has lasted for over 40 years and is a true institution for the Boston music community.

[03:56] - Anngelle introduces herself and shares that she's a Boston native with over 20 years of radio experience and how her background led to opportunities in the New England music scene, including hosting a show called Boston Emissions and organizing the Rock & Roll Rumble.

[05:29] - Anngelle shares the background behind Rock & Roll Rumble and the story of its roots dating back to 1979 at the legendary Boston venue called The Rat and how the competition works. 

[07:18] - Anngelle explains how the Rock & Roll Rumble can change the trajectory of a band and her work to make it more of a festival and showcase to help bands improve their performances and presentation.

[08:47] - A look at some of the more well-known bands who've participated in the event through the years. 

[10:27] - Dino notes that the Rock & Roll Rumble was a platform for bands to gain national recognition in the past and asks about the considerations they made while organizing the event in the current phase of the music industry.

[11:24] - Anngelle shares the mission of Rock & Roll Rumble and explains the criteria for selecting bands.

[13:31] - What does "taking it to the next level" look like for a Boston-based band?

[14:11] - Shaking things up: how Anngelle ensures a diverse lineup for the Rock & Roll Rumble.  

[15:39] - An electric atmosphere and a moment of transformation that changes everything for that band.

[17:13] - Anngelle describes their early experiences in radio, including working at independent station WFNX that focused on local artists, which carried over into her work now.

[20:22] - Stepping through an open door: A vacancy that led to an opportunity for Anngelle and rock and roll in Boston. 

[23:25] - Don't underestimate a band based on its previous performances: Anngelle shares the experience that caused her to change how the Rumble is run.

[25:12] - Anngelle shares what she's learned in managing such a diverse group of resources to pull off the event every year, including managing the different components such as finding a venue, accommodating bands for sound checks, hosting judges, and tallying numbers for the winner at the end of the night, including the wild cards. 

[27:25] - Anngelle shares what every band wants and gives us a behind-the-scenes...

Today we talk to Anthony "Nippy" Ames, a former member of the NXIVM cult (featured in the HBO documentary The Vow) and co-host with his wife, Sarah Edmondson, of the podcast "A Little Bit Culty".

Nippy shares his personal experience of being a member of the cult, including his journey of realizing the truth behind the facade and ultimately leaving the organization. We then talk about some recent cases of businesses that behaved like cults and how to spot corporate behaviors that may signal the use of manipulating techniques similar to the ones used by cults.

Finally, we discuss the importance of questioning our beliefs and the power of love in driving positive change.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[00:55] - Dino introduces the show and guest, Anthony “Nippy” Ames, who escaped the NXIVM cult with his wife and played a crucial role in taking it down, launching an FBI investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of the cult leader Keith Raniere. They discuss the connection between cults and toxic organizations in the business world.

[03:55] - Nippy briefly summarizes his background and his involvement with the cult.

[07:14] - Nippy discusses the appealing traits and behaviors of cults and how they attract people and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one's own susceptibility to these tactics.

[09:00] - Nippy explains why he personally became involved in one of these organizations and why he eventually left.

[13:56] - The vehicle to growth is through questions, and if an organization is not allowing that, it's already failing. Nippy shares the red flags to watch out for that a mission-driven organization may be behaving like a cult and what to be wary of.

[16:28] - Love bombing, reinforcing the mission, and toxic positivity are all mechanisms used to keep people in cults or similar organizations.

[18:56] - When you find out that you're part of an organization that may not be aligned or find out that there's something nefarious, there's an option just to walk away. The other path is seeking justice for the world.

[19:24] - Nippy shares his personal experience with the NXIVM cult, including his initial reaction to his wife, Sarah, being physically harmed and their decision to speak out against the organization despite potential legal repercussions.

[25:50] - Drawn in by a charismatic leader: Nippy shares the early days of his involvement in the organization and Keith Raniere as “a collector of souls.”

[27:06] - How the "A Little Bit Culty" podcast is helping others by turning a negative into a positive, and the duty Nippy feels he has to the "human team" and his hope to inspire others.

[29:27] - Dino and Nippy discuss how being in the organization robbed them of basic life skills and how they had to play catch up after leaving.

[31:35] The practical steps someone should take if they suspect something fishy is going on in their company and want to take action. 

[32:23] - Nippy explains that when he and Sarah decided to leave the organization, they started making decisions based on their own values and principles instead of running them through the organization. He believes that having good principles and making decisions based on them can bring positivity into one's life, just as having bad principles can bring negativity. 

[34:28] -The power of love: Nippy shares the most powerful moment from the first season of the HBO Series, "The Vow," that ultimately led to saving a life.

[36:41] - Nippy speaks about the power of love...

Today we talk to Ash Beckham, a speaker, author, corporate trainer, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

Ash shares her journey of self-discovery, the importance of building trust through authenticity, and embracing vulnerability as an ongoing two-way conversation, and reflects on the ripple effect of her TED Talk and her road to becoming an accidental activist.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[01:37] - Dino introduces Ash Beckham, a speaker, author, corporate trainer, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. 

[02:31] - Ash introduces herself and shares that she is a busy mom who also does virtual and in-person speaking, executive, and team coaching, and runs a family business putting on girls' fast-pitch softball tournaments in Ohio.

[03:52] - Dino discusses the universal experience of having hard conversations, noting how Ash's TEDx talk from 2013 about coming out of the closet inspired him to invite her to share her framework for authenticity.

[07:43] - Once Ash chose to be openly authentic, she found it difficult to live any other way, discovering that the potential backlash from living her truth was largely exaggerated in her own mind.

[08:31] - Ash believes that regardless of whether a threat is real or perceived, the fear response can still arise.

[09:19] - Ash emphasizes the importance of building trust by being authentic. And shares why she took responsibility for having difficult conversations for those who couldn't.

[10:45] - Ash stresses that we all live in the gray middle where we need to find commonalities through our similarities first, then open the door to conversation about taboo subjects.

[11:40] - Authenticity is not just something one does, but who they are, and that changes over time. 

[13:52] - Authenticity doesn't have to equate to constant struggle, but being true to oneself and figuring out what authenticity means in different circumstances

[15:28] - To be an effective advocate, it's crucial to evaluate the situation's context, desired outcomes, and personal motivations.

[17:01] -The importance of having a personal conversation about vulnerability while being aware that it can result in changed relationships.

[18:29] - Ash recommends three steps to dealing with potential pushback when embracing vulnerability.

[20:33] - When dealing with pushback when embracing vulnerability, it’s important to make it an ongoing two-way conversation rather than a one-time discussion.

[21:18] - Dino discusses the process of becoming authentic and evolving to fully embrace vulnerability. 

[22:49] - Ash shares her journey of self-discovery and what inspired her to become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

[26:34] - Courageously facing the uncertainty of letting go of prescribed life stereotypes and advocating for acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community while hoping for familial acceptance of her true self.

[28:28] - Dino praises Ash's empathy, citing her sister's wedding and her bravery in using her own experiences for advocacy while considering the opposing perspective.

[29:51] - Ash reflects on her past behavior of excessively expressing her identity while stressing the importance of self-acceptance and progress, even without full understanding.

[32:49] - Ash discusses the importance of meeting people where they are to help them understand and become allies.

[33:22] - The importance of authenticity

Today we talk to Jean Batthany, who started her career as a designer in an advertising agency, then made several stops in many significant Senior Executive Creative roles at agencies and at Disney. In her latest role, she served as Chief Creative Officer at Walmart until a few months ago, when she decided it was time to take a pause in her working life and publicly shared her reasons and heart in a beautiful LinkedIn post.

Jean shares insights on creative leadership and the challenges of transitioning from a creative doer in an agency to a C-suite leader in a major corporation, her decision to take a career pause and focus on priorities outside of work, and her motivation behind publicly sharing her reasons for doing so on LinkedIn.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[02:52] - Jean Batthany, ex-Chief Creative Officer at Walmart, discusses why it was important to her to make sure I'm a human being, not just a human doing, and discovering her in the next chapter of life while continuing to use creativity to make an impact for brands.

[03:58] - Jean shares the life-changing events that led her to make the deliberate choice to take a break and the motivation behind using her platform to go public with her decision. 

[08:02] - Tagging out: why it’s important for authentic leaders to show their true selves rather than putting on a brave face (and how sharing her truth helped others). 

[09:00] - Dino shares his own experience with tagging out so he could be more available to his family. 

[09:26] - Jean discusses the rational and emotional factors that make it difficult for people to take a career break and why it’s important to step out of the culture of busyness in order to prioritize self-care for physical, mental, and spiritual health.

[13:23] - How the desire to prove herself, a need for change, and grappling with imposter syndrome influenced Jean’s career.

[16:55] - The importance of fostering a safe environment for collaboration. 

[20:58] - Jean shares her perspective on leadership, her passion for ideas, and how the big brands embrace the concept of a servant leader. 

[21:45] - The challenges and benefits of moving from an agency to a brand-side creative role and the education process in proving the value of creativity.

[26:56] - Jean acknowledges the amount of work that goes into managing a brand's vision across multiple platforms.

[27:31] - Jean shares the biggest challenges of transitioning from the agency to the brand side as a Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and the vital importance of allies and relationships, both inside and outside of the company, to get ideas through. 

[31:39] - How the death of her father and discovering life’s finite nature upended Jean’s definition of success and led her to prioritize time, health, and purposeful impact over positions and possessions. 

[33:48] - Jean shares how she’s hitting her stride (age is just a number) and using positive manifestation and her creativity to achieve her personal and professional goals while making a positive impact on the world. 

[37:13] - Dino shares the advice he picked up on the power of belief from an interview between Rick Rubin and Malcolm Gladwell on the

We are sharing the Podcast Junkies episode where Harry Duran interviews Dino Cattaneo, host of Authentic Leadership for Everyday People. Harry Duran was a guest on episode 77 of Authentic Leadership for Everyday People.

Websites:

al4ep.com or authenticleadershipforeverydaypeople.com

harryduran.com

Other Harry Duran links:

Fullcast: FullCast.co/authentic

Podcast: Podcast Junkies

Podcast: Vertical Farming 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryduran/ 

Twitter: @HarryDuranFC 

Instagram: @harryduranfc 

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Harry Duran is the host of the Podcast Junkies podcast, the Vertical Farming podcast, and the founder of FullCast, a podcast agency. He also is a remarkable example of someone who has fully embraced his authentic self. 

In our conversation, he shared his journey from the corporate world to independent consultant to agency founder. We also talked about his decision to start sharing more publicly his full life and the impact that had on his business connections. Finally, we had a fascinating conversation about how he founded the Vertical Farming podcast, and we discussed what someone who wants to start a podcast should take into consideration.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[02:32] - Harry shares the story of his journey from the corporate world to becoming a podcast entrepreneur to starting his own agency, FullCast, and launching over 100 shows for clients.

[05:44] - How diving into "Digital Narnia" helped Harry gain the knowledge he needed to start his podcast agency.

[07:16] - Harry shares his journey to finding his true passion in podcasting and starting FullCast, where he helps podcasters focus on their genius by providing a "done for you" service for their podcasting needs.

[11:03] - On becoming "the cosmic conduit for awakened souls ready to transmit their message to a global audience."

[14:02] - Dino shares the importance of being explicit about one's values and making decisions based on those values to achieve success and happiness, with authenticity being the key to this process.

[14:43] - How Harry overcame his polished corporate image and fears of being vulnerable by sharing his personal journey and experiences, which has allowed him to connect with people on a human level and help others feel less alone in their struggles.

[18:43] - Why Harry believes that putting yourself out there and having faith in the universe will bring the right opportunities and people into your life.

[20:42] - Dino shares how being open and transparent about who you are may lead to fewer but more qualified leads, resulting in a more efficient system, but there's a caveat for it to work.

[22:43] - Harry explains how consistently writing about his experiences and passions without expecting anything in return resonates more strongly with him and those he hopes to connect with.

[25:16] - Dino expresses his gratitude to Harry for their past working relationship and his instrumental role in setting up his podcast systems and strategies (and how they've maintained a strong connection).

[26:06] - Harry shares some tactical and strategic advice on launching a successful podcast, from the four basic requirements to the importance of planning and commitment.

[31:11] - Harry and Dino discuss the importance of focusing on the content and sustainability when starting a podcast instead of just the tactical aspects like mic and software choices.

[32:02] - Harry discusses his experience managing a team and building an agency, emphasizing the most critical aspects of effectively leading a team.

[36:30] - How the book, "The Vertical Farm" by Dickson Despommier, inspired Harry to create the Vertical Farming podcast, a sponsorship-driven show that would appeal to...

Today we talk to Jeremy Goldman, the director of Marketing & Retail briefings at Insider Intelligence. Jeremy has been an authority on marketing and its intersection with technology for over a decade. He built and led a successful marketing firm, Firebrand, but ultimately decided to sell the firm and join the bigger Insider intelligence.  

We talked about the journey of an entrepreneur and why he pivoted into his new role, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), how it's changing the business landscape, and how executives can prepare themselves for this change and the future of social media.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[02:26] - Jeremy shares his circuitous route to get to where he is today and how his leadership style has changed. 

[04:31] - Jeremy shares what led to his no longer wanting to be a CEO and why he chose to make a more significant impact. 

[07:05] - Jeremy shares how his definition of success has shifted from personal gain to positively impacting society.

[08:34] - How a passion for his mission and making a significant impact sparks joy for Jeremy in his work. 

[10:33] - Why Jeremy's current role at Insider Intelligence provides him with the best of both worlds (for him): writing and managing. 

[12:14] - How Jeremy built Firebrand to empower his team and create a culture where everyone feels like they are working towards the same end goal.

[14:44] - Jeremy shares a story about the importance of surrounding oneself with people who think differently than you do. 

[16:16] - How his entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to question everything and try new things has served both him and his Insider Intelligence team.

[18:08] - Jeremy shares how you determine whether the company is receptive to entrepreneurial thinking when determining the potential for an entrepreneurial role within a larger organization.

[19:44] - The importance of assessing the degree of autonomy available in a potential role to determine if it aligns with your goals (regardless of whether or not there is a formal 'boss').

[22:42] - Why it's not all about the dollar—the money is a measuring stick—you've got to have passion. 

[25:21] - The key to success that will enable you to push yourself to give 100% effort.

[26:18] - Jeremy shares his take on the best use of AI and how you can use it to add value to your organization and connect with your audience. 

[30:15] - Yes, it's a transformative time, but new jobs will come out of the AI revolution, so familiarize yourself now for an advantage. 

[32:49] - Recognizing the limitations of AI now while keeping an eye on how jobs are changing as we march toward the future. 

[35:02] - Dino shares the parallels between what's happening with AI now and how the Internet changed our lives (plus how we can be sure we are still adding value going forward). 

[35:50] - Jeremy shares how to avoid taking two steps backward in a rush to innovate AI technologies in your organization. 

[35:50] - How to find Jeremy and his podcast called FUTUREPROOF.

[39:34] - Twitter is culturally important but less profitable than people think, and what Jeremy believes it needs to do to succeed now. 

[43:45] - Jeremy shares the project he likes to work on outside of work that allows him to make decisions about the content, placement, and topics and helps him stay in touch with his marketing side.

[46:01] - The two jargony phrases that turn Jeremy...

Brian Beckcom  is a philosopher, Computer Scientist, and one of the nation's top trial lawyers. He's also the founder and host of the "Lessons From Leaders" podcast, where he interviews military combat veterans, sports stars, judges, coaches, spiritual leaders, and more.

We talked about his transition from computer science and his journey to becoming a trial lawyer and how he and his partner built a firm where family comes first for both the founders and employees, and his insight on balancing your personal and professional life plus the top lessons he learned from other leaders through his "Lessons From Leaders" podcast. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[02:53] -Introducing Brian Beckcom, a fearless trial lawyer who stands up to powerful interests, fights for his client's rights, and personifies the heroic spirit of justice and truth.

[03:32] - The last line of defense: Brian shares why we desperately NEED trial lawyers.

[06:38] - Brian opens up about the transformative events that guided him from a career in computer programming to a life as a trial attorney. 

[06:38] - How a need for an outlet led Daniella to become a performer where she could use her creative force for good.

[10:06] - Brian shares what led him to break from the military tradition in his family and pursue a different career path. 

[11:56] - Discovering a true passion for reading, writing, and talking that led to pursuing a law degree. 

[13:22] - Brian shares why you should pursue your passions, not societal expectations, for a fulfilling career (and future success).

[15:10] - Brian shares Sylvester Stallone's take on college from "Tulsa King."

[16:46] - How losing a case forced Brian to realize that he was on the wrong side of justice.

[17:16] - Brian reveals the life-changing impact his mother's passing had on his career journey, leading him to fight for justice in an effort to make a meaningful difference in the world.

[18:10] - How Brian learned the difference between a great lawyer and used this knowledge to start his own firm based on his values and beliefs.

[20:00] - Prioritizing life design over job design for greater wealth and fulfillment.

[22:55] - Brian emphasizes the number one thing a leader can do to create a culture of teamwork and support within a company.

[25:53] - Making sure every client is a good fit for the firm. 

[28:23] - The necessary struggle for all business owners. 

[30:31] - Brian shares the importance of finding the right balance between having enough employees and negatively impacting the bottom line.  

[30:53] - The balancing act of being a lawyer with being a business owner.

[32:23] -Brian emphasizes the crucial role of trusting one's instincts in making effective decisions and highlights the transformative power failure has as a catalyst for learning.

[35:56] - Brian shares what he's learned about leadership through his “Lessons From Leaders Podcast” and his TOP five leadership principles.

[38:23] - Where to connect with Brian. 

[39:18] - Brian shares the life lesson his passion for Brazilian jujitsu (he's a purple belt) has taught him. 

[41:38] - Why it's the hard things in life that are the most meaningful.

[43:12] - Two business expressions...

Today we feature my appearance on The CEO Project Podcast, where I discussed the topics of Authentic Leadership and Branding. The host, Jim Schleckser, had been my guest on the podcast a few weeks before this session, so this conversation started from there.

We talked about how I work with leaders to help them be more authentic. Specifically, we discussed how to create definitions of values that can be very operational and can serve as guides in day to day business decisions. We also discussed how individual values can be seen as a parallel of branding, and how to be a company's brand pillars need be reflected in the whole experience, and not just in the communications.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

The CEO Project Podcast - Dino's Episode

Jim Schleckser on Authentic Leadership for Everyday People

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimschleckser

LinkedIn Corporate: linkedin.com/company/theceoproject

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Honest Mechanik: honestmechanik.bandcamp.com

"The mother as a leader is an underrepresented conversation. It's hard to articulate how much mothers impact society. And it's a messy job. But that child is going to be the leader of tomorrow. We're going to live in a world where that child gets to call the shots." - Daniella Rabbani

Daniella Rabbani is a mother, an actress, a singer, a voice-over artist, and the host of the Mom Curious podcast that explores the complexities and challenges of parenthood through open and honest discussions on everything from egg freezing to non-binary pregnancy and everything in between. 

We talked about how Daniella found her way and identity in acting, the power of persistence and the process of turning a creative endeavor into a profession, and what she has learned about herself and leadership from the mothers everywhere that she has featured on her podcast. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[01:42] - A special dedication of this episode: Dino offers insight into the impact his mother, Carla, who passed away recently, had on his life and made him who he is today. 

[03:35] - Introducing Daniella Rabbani, actress in movies like Ocean's 8, voice-over artist, podcaster, and storyteller. 

[04:38] - Daniella describes how becoming a mother sparked an interest in giving other mothers a voice and a platform to share the mostly untold stories of motherhood. 

[06:38] - How a need for an outlet led Daniella to become a performer where she could use her creative force for good.

[10:41] - Readers, do you recognize her voice? Daniella shares how she broke into voice-over work and her Barnes & Noble claim to fame.   

[11:22] - Knowing she's doing what the Creator created her to do keeps Daniella going when she gets rejected. 

[14:38] - Daniella shares how her financially challenged background and need for money led her to try to prove herself in the arts despite the risk. 

[16:31] - How her ADD brain led her to try many things and catapulted her to be honest about her gifts.

[18:40] - Daniella shares how her sense of self is not just an idea in her head but a whole-body feeling that lets her know what projects are for her. 

[21:40] - How her experience at NYU helped her develop a healthy attitude toward rejection.  

[23:24] - The one secret to Daniella's success as an artist. 

[24:38] - "I think about the world as a bell curve. And if we are optimizing that the only thing that matters is being in the top 1%, well, then we're training 99% of the population to be very unhappy." 

[26:05] - Being an artist looks very simple to the naked eye…but.

[27:41] - Mothers are cell-level whole being leaders, and it's an underrepresented conversation that Daniella is here for. 

[31:50] - Daniella shares some of the stories of the mothers she gives a voice to on Mom Curious.    

[35:02] - We're ALL different: how Daniella learned that it's okay to focus on your own needs in the moment. 

[37:57] - How podcasting has given Daniella a new avenue for self-expression and celebrating the lives of women. 

[39:21] - The glory of another person's humanity. 

[39:54] - Daniella leads us through what fuels her passion outside of work.

[41:26] - Daniella shares TWO cliches that she finds annoying.

[42:05] - How memories of her Iranian grandmother's soul-infused dishes feed her...

In today's episode there are no guests. I share a framework to assess a leader you are working for or are considering working for.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 [01:38] - The inspiration for this special episode. 

[03:11] - The ground rules to get the most out of this episode. 

[03:55] - The lens through which I formulated my thinking.  

[05:45] - The two most important things to evaluate about a company when considering a potential role. 

[06:24] - Where to source the behind-the-scenes information you won't get from your interview but need to make an informed decision about whether this is a leader you want to work for and with. 

[07:12] - Assessing a leader's strengths and how those skills are reflected in the company's culture.

[09:00] - Why it's crucial to ensure a mesh between what you bring to the table and how the company leader leads.

[11:17] - Understanding a leader's management style: what you need to ask."

[12:45] - Strategies to help you assess how an organization handles team building and individual career development.

[14:25] - How to determine if they are a stick or a carrot leader—and what that might mean for you if you join their organization. 

[16:26] - Key strategies for obtaining a clear picture of the financials when you embark on a senior-level role within a company. 

[17:35] - How the leader's communication style plays into your work style with them AND your success with the company. 

[18:37] - Some questions to ask when evaluating the CEO (Hint: this is especially valuable advice for those considering a high-level role at a start-up).

[22:15] - Did you find this special episode helpful? Do you have questions? Reach out on social or via email here.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Website: al4ep.com or authenticleadershipforeverydaypeople.com

 Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Work Hard Love Harder (feat. The Boxcar Lilies) | Susan Cattaneo 

The Hammer & The Heart | Susan Cattaneo 

Today we are tackling a topic that is crucial to the success of many companies when they go from startup to the next phase of growth. It’s the question that many founders especially technical founders or scientific founders who start as CEO's have to ask themselves at some point. When is it time to bring in a new CEO? How do you find the right CEO? And how do you set up the partnership for success.

To help us answer the questions we have Gil Blander, Founder and Scientific Officer of InsideTracker, and Rony Sellam, the CEO.

InsideTracker is a company that by tracking our biomarkers what's inside us, blood and DNA, leverages science and technology to provide personalized solutions that allow people to improve their overall quality of life and longevity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 [01:34] - How you find the right CEO for your company when you are a Founder. 

[03:12] - Gil introduces himself.

[03:39] - Gil shares his fascination with the aging process and the inspiration and concept behind InsideTracker. 

[04:30] - Rony introduces himself and shares his background and why he wanted to get involved with Inside Tracker.  

[05:57] - Gil shares some of the challenges—from financial to people management—of starting a business as a scientist and someone unfamiliar with managing a company.  

[06:42] - Gil shares the keys he held onto to be a successful leader when he was first starting InsideTracker. 

[07:31] - Rony shares the value of having mentors and how the lessons he learned from other captains of industry taught him the importance of vision, mission, and values.  

[08:43] - How a heavy dose of humility helps grow successful leaders. 

[10:29] - Gil explains that in the company's early stages, he emphasized the science making it the foundation of its activities while remaining profitable. 

[13:00] - Gil describes his goal of finding a CEO for the company from the start and the consideration he put into finding the right fit for that role.

[16:10] - The need for two different roles to take a company with a strong scientific backbone and turn it into an impactful business. 

[17:35] - Rony shares how his desire to work with a company that is helping people live better and longer played into his decision to become CEO of InsideTracker. 

[18:09] - How InsideTracker uses personalized, science-backed information to help individuals take control of their health from the Inside out. 

[20:49] - The significance of maintaining a solid scientific foundation within a science-based company.

[22:05] - Rony recounts the two things that impressed him the most when he initially met with Gil.

[25:04] - Gil highlights the two most important criteria he sought in a CEO for InsideTracker.

[26:03] - Sharing stories of the Sunday Scaries and how that doesn't apply to Gil and Rony's partnership.

[27:34] - Rony shares how they formulated the rules of engagement for their relationship, established trust, and the surprising key to solving more problems.

[31:35] - Rony shares why it's vital to establish and stick with the chain of command in a business. 

[32:01] - Gil shares how having a sounding board helped him transition the role of CEO to Rony (and why he continues to have a coach in his corner). 

[34:23] - The costs and constraints of upholding the values of being

Today we talk to mom, activist, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) expert, Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller. As the Chief Diversity Officer and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Leader at PTC, a Boston-based global technology company. Kameelah supports the company's full activation of opportunity in the DEI space.

We talk about the foundational tenets of genuine leadership and the difficulty of balancing high expectations with empathy in corporations. Kameelah also explains how deep and complex DEI work is when done properly, and how it requires a deep understanding of all areas of business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[02:20] - Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller gives us a first-hand look at her life as a mom and music lover. 

[04:09] - Kameelah shares the roots of her activism and how her past led her to focus on reaching out to make space for others. 

[06:46] - How an internship helped her make the seamless leap to activist work on a corporate level. 

[09:03] - How the major DEI players are laying the foundation for corporations to help individuals navigate their career paths.

[12:11] - How embracing her authentic self (natural hair and all) helped Kameelah step into her role as a leader.

[15:54] - Kameelah shares her philosophy for creating a life—and a leadership style—by design, not default. 

[18:15] - Embracing the challenge of igniting the light in the people in your sphere of influence to achieve great things. 

[19:36] - Dino shares the difficulty of balancing high expectations with an environment that promotes empathy and vulnerability on your team. 

[20:49] - Kameelah shares the importance of Amy Edmondson: How to turn a group of strangers into a team | TED Talk. 

[23:09] Why creating effective teams hinges on creating psychological safety for EVERY individual. 

[24:11] - Kameelah shares her journey into the academic space and the rewards of  creating a blueprint for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as an adjunct faculty member at Framingham State University.

[26:46] - Kameelah shares how the Black Lives Matter Movement nearly made her give up activism. 

[29:28] - Kameelah's philosophy on how great leadership begins.

[31:43] - Are we suffering from diversity fatigue? She explains why she believes DEI has taken five steps forward and two and a half back since 2020.

[33:35] - How can we plan for DEI in leadership roles at all levels of an organization?

[36:14] - Kameelah shares her goal of developing a path to create more diversity in leadership. 

[37:53] - "If we're not intentional about how we coach, mentor, and sponsor talent, then you end up with the same kind of profile that you typically get."

[38:19] - How Kameelah used her love for music to create a community for women in Rock. 

[42:27] - Kameelah shares the two hot business buzzwords that leave her cold.  

[44:04] - Kameelah shares how the Foo Fighters' music feeds her soul. 

Contact

Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

 Websites:

al4ep.com or...

We are in the beginning of the year, and for many of us, this is a time where we think about setting goals and making new plans. A big topic of the podcast is how we measure success. Over two years of conversations, my guests have given me many definitions of what success is to them – some are personal, some are business based, some are short term and some are long term.

In this episode, first I share some of my thoughts on how I think about success, and then I share some of the answers from my guest that I have found inspiring. Hopefully, their insights will provide a spark or maybe a different perspective to those of you who are going through the process of setting goals for the new year.

Featured guests: Armin Molavi, Francesca Gargaglia, Sean Fahey, Kathy Dyer, David Edelman, Jackie Hermes, Jason Greer, Jon Darbyshire, Christina Wallace

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Allison Bennie is a Creative Leadership and Life Coach at Does As She Pleases, an international coaching, facilitation, and training company that helps people in the performing arts who want to live by their own rules.

Allison and I were both diagnosed with Adult ADHD in. the past 3 or 4 years. Today she joins me to discuss our journey to being diagnosed, what the diagnosis has meant in our lives, and how we live successfully with Adult ADHD. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[00:59] - We’re starting year three of the AL4EP podcast. Thanks, listeners! 

[01:38] - How my Adult ADHD diagnosis changed my life.

[02:10] - Getting real about Adult ADHD with Allison Bennie.

[03:49] - Allison shares her background growing up in Scotland and her work with others to help them carve out their own path.

[04:27] - Allison shares the story of her post about the chicken and the egg on TikTok and how it made her feel seen.

[06:49] - Dino shares how seeing others he respected get diagnosed with Adult ADHD gave him the courage to pursue his own testing. 

[09:07] - Allison discusses how reading Fast Minds inspired her to explore testing.

[12:30] - Dino reveals what adults with Adult ADHD often struggle with.   

[13:23] - Dino shares an experience from his past that helped him pinpoint the patterns of ADHD in his life. 

[14:42] - The guilt aspect of ADHD for adults. 

[16:06] - Allison shares how a building designed to promote collaboration left her feeling like she was going mad.

[19:44] - Allison shares why it’s more common to have ADHD and autism than one or the other. 

[21:05] - How the ongoing “ADDinoed” joke turned into a health diagnosis for Dino. 

[21:22] - How after several misdiagnoses, finally being diagnosed with ADHD was like a weight being lifted, permitting Allison to, at long last, fully be herself. 

[24:10] - How seeing others face the challenge of ADHD and be successful offers a glimmer of hope for others who might be suffering in the same way. 

[24:51] - Dino shares how getting the ADHD diagnosis was like the shift from the minor 3rd to the major 3rd.

[25:53] - Why it’s NOT laziness. 

[26:50] - Allison shares her journey to making healthier dopamine choices. 

[29:37] - Dino shares how Christina Wallace helped him determine he could be BOTH a coach and a marketer.  

[30:34] - If you or someone you know may be living with Adult ADHD, there is help. Find out more at ADD.org.

Contact

Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com or...

Jamie Mittelman is the founder of Flame Bearers, the first and only global storytelling platform for women Olympians and Paralympians. Flame Bearears champions elite women athletes, using sport as a conduit for issues such as disability bias, mental health, and pay equity. We host a podcast with listeners in 47 countries, create short form video content, and host online and virtual events.

We have a conversation we talk about how she started the podcast, and then she shares with us one of her episodes.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[01:50] - Introducing Jamie Mittleman - host and founder of Flame Bearers storytelling platform.   

[02:27] - Listen as Jamie shares her story and why she started Flame Bearers. 

[04:10] - How did she end up at the Harvard Kennedy School and studying the intersection between business and government? 

[06:17] - Things she’s learned and challenges she’s faced navigating the world of business and government. 

[07:28] - Has she had any moments where she felt her work truly matters in the world? 

[08:44] - Did she go into her college education with a plan for what she wanted to do? 

[10:10] - Where did the shift from policy to mission-based work come from? 

[11:37] - Why pursue the Olympic committee? 

[13:04] - How did she decide on a podcast for her storytelling platform and how did she come up with the idea and format? 

[16:50] - Examples of the types of athletes they feature and the topics they speak on. 

[18:06] - Why they’ve been extremely fortunate due to the postponement of the games due to the pandemic. 

[19:07] - What has she learned through this process? 

[21:17] - Which of her athlete guests has she been most excited to chat with? 

[23:41] - Jamie introduces her podcast episode with Sarah Davies. 

[25:15] - Thank you so much for listening to the interview portion of this episode. 

[26:22] - Welcome to Flame Bearers with Sarah Davies, the barbell queen. 

[28:04] - Listen as Sarah shares her accolades and exceptional ability. 

[29:03] - How did she get into weightlifting and why does she love the team dynamic? 

[30:47] - What kinds of stereotypes does she face as a woman weightlifter and beauty pageant contestant? 

[33:43] - Learn about two of the women in Sarah’s corner who keep her motivated. 

[36:28] - How she’s working to change the IWF through her chair as the Athlete’s Commission and Executive Board. 

[38:54] - Corruption within the sport isn’t just impacting the sport in the U.K.

[41:52] - How did these doping issues become such a big problem in the sport? 

[44:10] - The video Sarah Davies filmed to speak out about corruption within the IWF. 

[45:33] - Learn how the anti-doping movement knows that Sarah is affecting change. 

[47:00] - Is there hope for change within the sport and the IWF? 

[49:29] - What does all this change mean for athletes like Sarah?

[52:05] - Sarah’s advice for women everywhere.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

flamebearerspodcast.com  

Other Jamie Mittleman & Flame Bearers links:

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/flame-bearers/  

Instagram:

Today we talk to Scarlet Keys, songwriter, author, podcaster, and Professor of songwriting at Berklee College of Music since 2003. 

Scarlet was a signed songwriter in Nashville and then evolved into one of the country’s top songwriting educators, aside from teaching at Berklee she is an in demand professor at songwriting camps and workshops across the country.

I her podcast What's in a Song.  you will hear some amazing in depth conversations on creativity, songwriting and music. It’s an opportunity to get an in depth look at how the sausage is made with some real music industry insiders.

In this episode, Scarlet talks about her story, takes us behind the curtains of the Nashville writing community and even gives us some songwriting tips. And at the end, I am sharing an excerpt form her podcast where she talks to Grammy winning songwriter Lori Mckenna.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[00:59] - Introducing Scarlet Keys - educator, songwriter, podcaster, and good friend.   

[03:22] - Scarlet shares her journey to Nashville and living the songwriting dream. 

[05:38] - The day-to-day life of a paid songwriter with Warner Brothers.  

[07:20] - Scarlet shares the moment the legendary Paul Williams welcomed her into the songwriting fold (and got her coffee). 

[09:48] - The moment her publisher gave her permission to step off of the roller coaster of writing songs as a career. 

[10:52] - How moving on to teaching helped her gain the tools she needed to become a master writer. 

[12:00] - Scarlet shares the inspiration behind The Craft of Songwriting. 

[13:56] - Scarlet explains her process of leading with intuition.  

[15:30] - How musicians use tone to portray the emotions of the lyrics in their songs.

[18:28] - How musicians create empathy and connection with the audience.

[20:49] - Scarlet shares what a topliner does.

[21:49] - How to stop chasing visibility and connect with those who resonate in your space. 

[22:31] - Scarlet introduces us to her podcast, What's in a Song. 

[23:01] - How Scarlet is using her podcast to educate, inform, and entertain and shares some of her favorite guests.

[25:00] - Scarlet shares the inspiration and excitement (and some help from Dino) that helped her launch her podcast. 

[26:38] - The three biggest things Scarlet has learned from starting her podcast and the guests on her show. 

[28:17] - How doing morning pages from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron helps clear away writer's block for many artists. 

[29:48] - How artists can use neuroscience to bypass the critics.

[31:05] - Scarlet shares the musician who most inspired her career. 

[32:00] - A little flavor of Scarlet's podcast, What's in a Song, with guest

Today's guest is Judi Fox, the Founder of LinkedIn Business Accelerator, the coaching program to help you network and position yourself to get the most out of LinkedIn and find new opportunities while building a solid support community.

We talk about how to build an authentic presence on LinkedIn by tapping into who you are as a leader and using that as a platform to create relatable content, make long-term genuine connections, and network in a way that's true to who you are.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[01:28] - Judi's pivotal role in helping launch this podcast  

[02:48] - Judi shares her career journey and how she used her LinkedIn business-building skills to launch LinkedIn Business Accelerator. 

[04:43] - Judi shares the encounter with a toxic leader that opened her eyes to her authentic self and what she wanted to do.  

[07:39] - Judi shares how a coach helped her see that relationship with a toxic management team through a new lens. 

[10:24] - How collaborating and connecting with other small businesses through strategic networking on LinkedIn helped establish Judi Fox Consulting. 

[12:29] -Judi shares the story of her transition from environmental consulting to creating the four-part model that became LinkedIn Business Accelerator. 

[14:40] - Being on a more intimate, impactful team at a woman-owned business helped Judi expand her vision, opening the door to an entrepreneurial future.

[15:47] - The tipping point that launched Judi's visibility and helped her put LinkedIn Business Accelerator into the public eye. 

[18:09] - How the LinkedIn Business Accelerator helped Dino network in a way that feels more authentic to who he is at his core.   

[19:08] - "You truly are a leader because you decide you are a leader in yourself': How to look within to create your inward leadership voice. 

[20:37] - How the story Acres of Diamonds helped Judi cement the idea that you already have the tools inside of you to be a leader. 

[21:49] - How to stop chasing visibility and connect with those who resonate in your space. 

[22:56] - How to take the first step in merging onto the "LinkedIn highway of content flow."

[25:18] - Judi shares her #foxrocks acronym for creating genuine, authentic, shareable, relatable, and valuable content. 

[28:33] - Judi shares how to create tipping point relationships in your industry on LinkedIn.

[31:38] - What's a touchpoint?

[33:03] - Judi shares the dos and don'ts of genuine LinkedIn networking.

[35:45] - Judi's template message to respond to unsolicited attempts to sell to you on LinkedIn. 

[37:11] - The BIG benefits of being open to everyone on LinkedIn. 

[38:44] - How to connect with Judi on the web (and follow the hashtag #foxrocks).

[39:42] - How being outside and hiking helped Judi to refresh.

[40:30] - Judi shares the business jargon that drives her crazy. 

[42:23] - How TikTok inspires Judi's love for interior design as art. 

Contact

Dino at:

Francesca Gargaglia is the COO and co-founder of Amity, a tech company that builds ready to use social features that companies can easily incorporate in their websites and app to create their own communities.

What’s unique about Amity is that even though the company was started very recently, it already has a very global feel: it has over 250 employees, of 30 nationalities, and it has offices in Thailand, Italy, the UK and the US. The companymirrors the personality and experience of Francesca. She is a relatively young founder, but she has lived and worked in four continents already.

In our conversation we discuss how her experiences working abroad in several countries have shaped her into the leader she is, and helped her face the challenges of building a globally distributed high-growth startup.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[01:36] - What makes Amity unique.  

[02:25] - Francesca shares how her travel led to the introductions that birthed Amity.

[04:05] - The travel experience that changed everything for Francesca. 

[06:20] - Francesca shares how the variety of experiences in her career and her travels shaped her as a leader. 

[08:00] - How the elements of being a passionate expert fed into her work at startup Amity. 

[09:56] - Francesca shares how studying law helped her provide a structured framework for the growing team around her. 

[11:17] - How her curiosity and desire to create a significant impact led to Francesca's entrepreneurial path.   

[14:08] - Amity's fast trek growth from its roots in Bangkok to Milan, London, and the US. 

[15:34] - How Amity grew from a group of passionate people who wanted to change the world of social networking to a company bound by a set of core values.

[18:00] - Francesca shares how the name Amity, meaning friendship, is embedded in the company's culture. 

[19:22] - Measuring success by measuring the impact of Amity's product on the end user and by personal growth.  

[21:30] - How being a woman in a male-dominated industry made Francesca more eager to keep pushing forward to prove herself. 

[23:46] - Francesca shares her secret sauce of leadership. 

[25:55] - Why she hires people with a focus on soft skills and a flair for accountability.  

[28:28] - Amity's mission to help organizations curate a positive social network to deliver a quality experience to their community. 

[31:13] - Where you can learn more about Amity and its mission to help companies worldwide use their technology to connect. 

[31:47] - How Francesca's background and love of travel feed into the multicultural diversity of Amity.

[33:20] -Francesca shares the business expression she finds the most inauthentic. 

[34:21] - Francesca shares her food obsession, that's a nod to her Italian culture. 

[36:41] - Credits

Contact

Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com or authenticleadershipforeverydaypeople.com

Today's guest is Ricardo Regalado, a serial builder and entrepreneur. Ricardo launched 5 companies and is a partner in a 6th. His ventures are in different industries, but his main two companies are all grounded in his deep expertise in the commercial cleaning industry. Rozalado Services, the first business he launched – a cleaning services company, and Route, his latest business, is a specialized technology platform for cleaning services companies.

In our conversation, Ricardo shares his story, and we touched upon three core elements of his leadership: how starting his career in sales impacted his approach, how to lead businesses integrating members of your family, and how he built a core foundation of expertise in an industry that is not considered very trendy, like commercial cleaning services, and used that as a platform to entrepreneurship, even launching a tech company.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

rickyregalado.com

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rickyregalado/

Facebook: facebook.com/ricky.regalado.39

Instagram: @rickyregalado

Corporate sites:

rozaladocleaning.com

getroute.com

Cleaning & Cocktails podcast on YouTube

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Wil Reynolds, is the Founder of Seer Interactive, one of the best digital marketing agencies in the country. 

Wil started the company as a solo practitioner and grew it to over 200 people. At some point, he realizedided that with the success of the company he had accumulated enough wealth for himself. Yet, he still wanted to grow the company, so he decided that from that point on all the company's growth was going to benefit his employees and his community.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 [02:40] - Wil shares how he took Seer Interactive from a one-person operation in 2000 to a thriving company with 200 team members across the U.S. today.

[04:20] -Wil shares how stripping away the financial aspect changed his approach to work. 

[05:39] - The things that have grown Seer Interactive to this point as a company differ from what will sustain its growth going forward. 

[07:27] - Wil shares how the company's most successful year surprisingly led to their most turnover ever. 

[10:29] - Building a business that's built to scale. 

[12:09] - Wil shares the learning curve of scaling and the business layers he's adding to catapult Seer's growth.

[15:22] - Learning the skillset of client/customer management at home in larger organizations.  

[17:09] - Deep insight into why humility is a liability as much as an asset.

[19:20] - The most challenging transition for entrepreneurs as they grow into company leaders.

[20:01] - Wil shares how he learned to lead and get out of the way.

[21:20] - How Wil transitioned into the role where he creates the most value in Seer Interactive.

[24:25] - Somebody who can operate a business needs a growing business to operate.

[25:59] - Wil shares how Seer is targeting the next level of growth. 

[28:00] - Beyond culture: building the tools into the business for successful teams.   

[30:06] - Will shares how he leads with intention to keep Seer from getting 'over their skis' in growth.

[31:21] - Transitioning from carbon copy hiring: when is it time to start bringing in people with different perspectives and skill sets as you grow.  

[34:10] - How Wil is using phantom equity to give back to his employees while reinvesting in the business. 

[37:40] - Pillars of the company, pillars of the community: Wil shares how his heart for giving back to his community is built into every aspect of Seers.

[40:30] - Employing the tools to help people find the time to serve their communities.

[42:26] - Sharing about the dangers and distractions of social media.

[43:47] - Wil shares his 12-year mission to support the Covenant House in Philadelphia through sleeping in the street for one night each year. 

[45:02] - Keeping your life in check through volunteering: how spending time with people facing real challenges builds empathy. 

[46:35] - Wil shares why runnning, self-growth and self-discipline are his main hobbies. 

[48:09] - Wil shares the business expression that drives him crazy. 

[48:55] - Fostering a belief in putting what you want to come back to you into the world. 

[50:14] - How the process of self-discovery helps Wil be a better father and leader for Seer. 

[51:50] - Why Wil doesn't like the idea of putting a business on a pedestal. 

[52:04] - Summarizing the AL4EP podcast. 

Contact Dino at:

This episode is part two of our look back at the start of the podcast through an anthology of leadership lessons from guests: Erin Barra, Dr. Steve Yacovelli, Rand Fishkin, and Marcel Quiroga.

We look at leadership from a broader point of view, tackling topic such as how do you build a music education program that gives access to underrepresented groups, the benefits of adding diversity to an organization, what founders should take into consideration when they build company values and the impact of being a woman of latina descent on the decision to start a wealth management company.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[00:08] - Introduction

[01:21] - Songwriter, educator, and creative entrepreneur Erin Barra, Director of popular music at Arizona State University, shares how she transitioned from artist to full-time educator.

[02:57] - Erin shares her profoundly ingrained sense of community service.

[04:41] - Erin shares why leaders who meet people where they are and create a safe space for people to be who they are, are more powerful.

[05:58] - Why excellence and empathy don't have to be mutually exclusive.

[07:24] - Erin shares why joy should be central to any creative journey. 

[08:18] - The delicate balance of constructive feedback and accountability that catapults growth.

[10:06] - Erin shares the probing questions she asks to garner constructive feedback.

[11:58] - Dr. Steve Yacovelli, Founder and Principal of TopDog Learning Group, discusses why self-awareness is the key to improving equity. 

[13:50] - Steve shares the three-point continuum he uses to introduce the diversity, inclusion, and belonging conversation with his clients to help people get on board.

[16:13] - Steve shares why a more diverse business culture is essential to profitability. 

[18:11] - The FOUR LAYERS OF DIVERSITY created by Gardenswartz and Rowe.

[19:31] - Steve shares his decision to lead from who he is - the Gay Leadership Dude™.  

[21:33] - Why Steve filters all of his branding through the lens of who he is. 

[24:48] - Rand Fishkin, Founder and CEO of SparkToro shares the pivotal moments in his leadership journey. 

[26:12] -Rand shares the catalyst that led him to write, Lost and Founder.   

[27:27] -" It's really terrible to have a set of stated values, of expressed values that you sort of put on the wall and the website that are not lived up to...

In this episode we look back at the start of the podcast and present an anthology of leadership lessons from the first four guests: Raj Kapoor, Katarin Dyer, Rishad Tobaccowala and Dave Edelman.

They talk about how they formed their own leadership style, what makes a great leader and how to build and run successful teams.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[00:53] - Rewinding the best of episodes focusing on leadership traits 

[01:01] - Raj Kapoor, former Chief Strategy Officer at Lyft, shares how his leadership style has evolved throughout his career.

[03:04] - Raj shares how failure helped him learn to step out of his ego for the greater good and more success. 

[07:08] - How Raj learned to reinvent himself as a leader, becoming a coach instead of a driver.

[08:15] - Raj’s top tips for becoming a more impactful leader.

[10:09] - Kathy Dyer shares the two biggest leadership lessons she learned while working with CARE.

[12:12] - Kathy shares an interesting story of how a team member depicted her leadership style using a boat analogy.

[13:47] - Kathy shares why she believes multidimensional leaders are more effective. 

[14:58] - The mistake Kathy has seen other leaders make when working with teams.

[17:13] - Kathy shares her top three leadership tips and why letting things go for better outcomes is vital.  

[20:00] - Why it’s important to open ourselves up to new ideas in order to find the ‘better way’ to do things in this day and age. 

[20:23] - Introducing Rishad Tobaccowala, one of the leading thinkers in the world of marketing and advertising. 

[21:13] - Rishad shares the five characteristics of a good leader.

[23:57] - Rishad describes the characteristics of the bad bosses: the narcissist, the micromanaging fiddler, the Oscar contender, and the double-crossing assassin.

[25:44] - Why good teams are like winning sports teams. 

[26:43] - How Rishad creates a culture of safety and freedom for his teams.    

[27:29] - How to empower any team.

[30:31] - Dave Edelman shares the two things that helped him advance into his leadership role.

[33:10] - Dave shares how his role at Digitas pushed him to engage with a broader scope of talent on a higher level. 

[36:43] - Dave shares why asking questions is the key to creating a more cohesive team.

[39:47] - Dave shares what he looks for in a good leader.

[41:32] - A good leader must be both in the moment and two steps ahead of the curve at all times. 

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast...

Chris Lynch is the Executive Chairman, and CEO at AtScale, the industry leader in data federation and cloud transformation. Sometimes known as the Punk Rock VC, Chris is a VC investor, operator, advisor, and mentor to dozens of entrepreneurs and startups. He has been in the founding team of Arrow Point, Acopia Networks and Vertica.

We talk about the influence of punk rock and the Sex Pistols on his approach to work, why connection is the key to success in any industry. Chris is also pushing for more transparency and disclosure in equity compensation in privately owned companies, especially in high tech and private equity/venture capital environments. So we talked about the changes needed, and most importantly, about what questions people should ask before accepting a job in a privately owned company where equity is a significant part of the compensation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[02:40] - Chris shares how he arrived at where he is today.

[05:01] - How work, love, and punk rock influenced Chris' business career. 

[08:23] - From dreams of playing bass in a punk rock band to inventing a persona that helped him 'fake it until he made it.'

[11:04] - Why connection and authenticity are the keys to success no matter what you are 'selling.'

[13:10] - How accepting failure as part of the process ultimately leads to success.

[16:21] - "Celebrating success is fine. But it doesn't make you more successful. Overcoming failure makes you more successful."

[19:41] - Chris shares how his definition of success has evolved over his career.  

[24:43] - What are the traits of a good Venture Capitalist (VC)?

[26:25] - Chris shares his answer to the 'trick question' that opened the door to him working with the Godfather of VC (and a top 5 IPO).

[28:50] - Chris shares the secret to his success and his message for those he mentors.

[30:18] - How to join Chris in his mission to create more transparency in the private equity market.

[34:57] - The most important questions to ask before joining a startup or a privately owned venture that features equity compensation. 

[37:51] - Why employees need to negotiate equity compensation the same way they would for cash. 

[39:47] - How to find more information about Chris and the types of investments he is   

[41:28] - Crowdsourcing the power of music and the tech entrepreneur ecosystem to do good through Tech Tackles X.

[44:13] - Why perfection is the enemy of progress.

[46:05] - Chris shares a question for listeners to answer for a special opportunity to meet with him via ZOOM. Jean dot O'Neill at escale.com.

[47:16] - Chis shares the VC jargon that leaves him empty.

[50:34] - Why we all need to stop fighting amongst ourselves to connect with what's real.

[53:04] - Chis shares his favorite meal and drink.

[53:50] - Why Chris believes the Sex Pistols changed the world with just one record.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com 

Websites:

al4ep.com

AtScale.com

reverbadvisors.com

Tech Tackles Cancer / Tech Tackles X: techtacklesx.org

Other Christopher Lynch links:

LinkedIn: 

Laura Cesaro is the Founder & CEO of Siriusgame, a gamified platform that helps high school students in Italy learn Latin. She started her venture during the pandemic, working across two continents as she was pursuing her Masters of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

We talked about the impact of her international experience, the inspiration behind Laura's passion project, the challenges of being a young founder, the influence of her entrepreneurial family, and how Siriusgame is putting a modern spin on a dead language, giving it new life for the next generation.  

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[02:46] - Laura shares how her formative years shaped her approach to collaboration in her company and career. 

[04:36] - How becoming an activist and volunteer creating programs during the refugee crisis in Greece opened her thinking to creating something of her own. 

[06:42] - Armed with a Master's in Education from Harvard and lineage from a family of entrepreneurs, Laura sets out on her mission of inclusive learning through Siriusgame. [09:34] - The three elements of Laura's passion project, Siriusgame.

[10:13] - How her own struggles with learning inspired her passion project.

[12:12] - How putting a modern spin on a 'dead language' gave it new life for the next generation of learners. 

[14:10] - "Life is the art of encounters" — the critical connections that helped Laura develop the project she'd had in mind since she was 17.   

[18:41] - How starting her project in the US gave her the confidence to be one of the first startups in the Italian EdTech ecosystem.  

[20:28] - What Laura learned from her father about being a founder that helped her develop her unique leadership style.

[22:36] - “For me, it's always been important to be upfront and open about my shortcomings and what could be my weaknesses and surround myself with people who can balance those out.” 

[25:26] - Laura shares the challenges and triumphs of starting her venture as a young entrepreneur during the COVID pandemic. 

[28:56] - Laura shares her desire to be a part of fostering the entrepreneurial spirit of the next generation.

[31:29] - Why Laura is focused on sustainability and impact rather than being the next 'unicorn.’

[34:01] - The biggest gift of being a founder. 

[37:34] - Where you can find Siriusgame.

[38:31] - Laura shares what defines who she is outside of work. 

[41:23] - The dish from Laura’s home city of Verona that is very dear to her heart.

[43:17] - Thank you and closing remarks.

[43:36] - Music: A Place Called Love by Susan Cattaneo

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

Siriusgame

cesaroassociati.it

Other Laura Cesaro links:

Facebook: facebook.com/heysirius

Instagram:...

Arielle Nissenblatt's is the community team manager at SquadCast, a remote recording software solution. Her obsession with podcasts began when she learned she loved being entertained by audio. An advocate and influencer in the podcast community, she founded EarBuds Podcast Collective in 2017. EarBuds is a weekly podcast recommendation engine that sends a newsletter with a theme and 5 podcast episodes on that theme, with each weekly issue curated by a different person.

Arielle is also a founder of Podcast Taxonomy, an international multidisciplinary effort to standardize roles and credits in the podcast space.

We talk about building a community as a long-term investment. Arielle shares her insight into what it takes to engage a community over the long haul successfully and how Arielle's podcasting influencer involvement is turning into a win-win for all.  

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[03:02] - Arielle shares the history of her longtime love of being entertained by audio. 

[04:42] - The passion that led Arielle to start the EarBuds Podcast Collective newsletter in 2017.

[06:42] - The bold move Arielle made that granted her entry into Podcast Movement and opened the door to a full-time job in the podcasting industry.

[07:47] - The questions Arielle and her team are asking to build a thriving community team at SquadCast.

[10:39] - Why community engagement and growth is a long-term investment. 

[12:08] - Digging in to successfully define community for an organization.

[15:30] - The key teams that make the SquadCast community a success. 

[17:15] - How SquadCast employs social content and feed drops to promote and determine the community's needs. 

[19:00] - How the product development team is leveraging the community's input to bring about big design changes. 

[20:00] - The advantages of employing your community as the human side of marketing. 

[21:30] - Arielle shares how her position as manager of the community team and her involvement in the podcasting community creates a win-win for SquadCast. 

[22:44] - The pivotal moments in her journey that helped Arielle prepare for her job as an influencer. 

[25:53] - Half the battle is just being aware of what's going on and having an opinion that you really believe and can back up. 

[27:08] - I asked Arielle when she learned to delegate. 

[28:37] - Arielle shares the growth journey of Earbuds Collective—from its upstart beginning to fully monetized. 

[31:35] - Arielle offers her insight into other ways podcasters can profit from their shows outside of a financial return to make their investment worthwhile. 

[34:23] - I ask Arielle to share some of her passions outside of work. 

[36:45] - Arielle offers up the one expression about podcasts she's tired of hearing.

[37:57] - Arielle shares her favorite book.

[38:30] - Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

The first half of Cindy Gallop’s career would have been enough for most people: she was instrumental in building Bartle, Bogle and Hagerty into a global advertising firm, opening and growing both their Asia and US offices. But for the past almost 15 years Cindy has blazed her way into a new uncharted territory.

Her company Make Love Not Porn is driving a really important conversation around sex, sex education and consent. In the process, Cindy has also become a powerful voice in support of women entrepreneurs and women equality in general.

This episode is marked as explicit because some of the topics discussed include sex.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[02:57] - The great tagline on Cindy's LinkedIn that piqued my curiosity and made me want to have her on the show.

[04:50] - Cindy shares her intro to advertising and why 'do interesting things, and interesting things will happen to you is her life's motto.

[06:37] - A leader puts their people ahead of themselves.

[07:46] - The influential bosses who championed Cindy's career in the male-dominated advertising industry.

[10:21] - To operate with authenticity, identify what you stand for, what you believe in, what you value, and what you're all about. And then live your life and operate your business accordingly.

[10:37] - Cindy shares the story of how she came up with her "I am the Michael Bay of business" tagline.  

[13:33] - The women supporting women's movement to build a female financial ecosystem. 

[15:30] - Cindy shares how Make Love Not Porn celebrates real bodies and real relationships to educate and change people's sexual attitudes and behavior for the better.  

21:07] - The TED talk that went viral pitting the porn world against the real world uncovering a huge global social issue that solidified Cindy's mission for Make Love Not Porn.

[23:41] - Cindy shares the obstacles to funding and advertising for an adult-based business. 

[26:49] - When you have a world-changing startup, you have to change the world to fit it, not the other way around.

[28:21] - The strategies Cindy has used to find investors and raise capital through social channels such as LinkedIn.

[31:20] - I ask Cindy to share her win-win brand-building model for businesses and investors.

[34:06] - Cindy clears up the misconceptions about owning a successful start-up as an over-50 entrepreneur. 

[35:33] - I ask Cindy the expression or business jargon that drives her crazy.

[36:58] - Food for the body or food for the soul.

[37:57] - Cindy shares her favorite cocktail.

[38:03] - Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

cindygallop.com

al4ep.com

Additional Cindy Gallop Links:

Cindy's Ted Talk: ted.com/talks/cindy_gallop_make_love_not_porn

Make Love Not Porn: makelovenotporn.tv/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindygallop/

Instagram:

Our guest today is Jackie Indrisano, General Manager of the Off Cabot comedy club. Jackie spent the bulk of her career in entertainment, booking music and comedy venues. She built not one but two college venues, one at Northeastern and one at Berklee College of Music. We talked about what it means to run a business where your team members are students, so your goal as a manager is to run a successful business while also preparing your employees for a long term career in the industry.

Jackie also had to overcome a series of personal tragedies, so her story is also an inspirational story of overcoming adversity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[02:43] – I shared with Jackie that I selected her as my birthday guest.

[03:59] - Authenticity is accepting who you are, being truthful to your core, and being willing to put yourself out there.

[06:07] - Jackie shares a little bit of her experience.

[08:06] - Being on campus is not where you would put somebody who's going to have a career in the music industry.

[10:24] - Jackie just got thrown into it, and she learned how to book in that environment.

[14:32] - The main thing is knowing your audience and constituents.

[16:47] - It was a team; it was a collaboration. Jackie elevated what she knew, but if she didn't know something, she would try to find out who did and learn.

[19:51] - Jackie was in constant research mode, but she was also a super fan.

[21:27] - The music industry or the music business is because those two words coexist. You can't have one without the other. You need to understand that it can't just be about talent.

[24:37] - Jackie shares a story about a New York City artist.

[26:44] - It usually boils down to the marketing and promotion of a show. It's all about that because the talent is there.

[30:21] - Jackie shares a part of her tragic story.

[32:50] - The support of people surrounding Jackie kept her persevering.

[36:52] - The way Jackie was received after being gone so long from the business surprised her.

[37:40] - It was people Jackie didn't even know who were paying attention and waiting for her to come back.

[39:32] - It is about being tenacious about the right opportunity, otherwise someone else would've gotten the job.

[42:14] - There are a lot of transferable skills for those trying to hire people.

[45:34] - Know who you are, know what kind of environment you want, and then add to that culture. And if you can't add to that culture, it's time for you to go.

[48:38] - Jackie shares the interests she has outside of work.

[50:35] - I ask Jackie the expression or business jargon that drives her crazy.

[52:38] - Food for the body or food for the soul.

[52:48] - Tell our listeners who are some of the comedians that they should listen to & look out for.

[54:42] - Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

offcabot.org

Additional Guest Links:

Jackie's Voiceover Site: rebelindrisano.icanvoice.com

LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/jacquelineindrisano

Twitter: twitter.com/jackiejustwait

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn:

Can there be such a thing as being authentic in sales? Our guest, Ronnell Richards is an entrepreneur who spent over two decades in sales. He has been a producer, has built and led sales organizations in tech and telecom, and he runs a very successful sales training business. His upcoming book, Shut The Hell Up And Sell puts forward a vision of selling that is based on building genuine relationships and meeting your client needs.

Ronnell’s belief is that successful long-term sales careers are based on constantly delivering more value to your clients than what you are getting in return, the exact opposite position of the traditional myth of the great negotiator as someone who captures an overwhelming majority of the value.

KEY TAKEAWAYS  

[02:32] – In general, salespeople often get a bad rap, and at its best, sales is one of

the most authentic disciplines.

[04:13] - I ask Ronnell to introduce himself, tell us where he came from, and where he

is now.

[08:26] - Ronnell had the opportunity to identify a very valuable talent.

[10:58] - Ronnell shares a brief story that comes from his new book.

[13:46] - As sellers, it's your job to always advocate for the customer and be on their

side.

[14:48] - The most successful sellers understand that it's all about connecting and

building relationships.

[18:07] - Sales happen organically when you are truly in service of your customer and

providing impactful solutions.

[21:58] - It took years for the lightbulb to go off and realized there was no repeat

customers.

[25:37] - The track to becoming a sales leader starts with becoming a successful seller.

[29:14] - You must start by managing and leading people as individuals. Get with

them on their level and understand what matters to them.

[31:52] - Ronnell encourages sellers to be active on social media and to be their

authentic selves on social media.

[33:08] - The key to long-term success in business, is connecting with people.

[38:21] - At the end of the day, it’s not just about what is good for the customer but also for your business.

[40:17] - It all comes back to building great relationships with people you have great alignment with.

[41:00] - I ask Ronnell if he has a hobby or interest outside his work.

[41:50] - Ronnell shares the business expression that drives him crazy.

[42:21] - Food for the Body or Food for the Soul.

[43:59] - Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

ronnellrichards.com

al4ep.com

Additional Ronnell Richards Links:

Business and Bourbon: businessandbourbon.live

Book site: shutthehellupandsell.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ronnellrichards

Instagram: @imabusiness.man

Twitter: @ImABizMan

Facebook: facebook.com/ronnellrich/

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People /...

Christina Wallace is a former entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience building companies, and and currently a professor of entrepreneurship and marketing at Harvard Business School.

She is writing a book about the Portfolio Life. It’s a concept that acknowledges that we all have multiple interests, and that given how business has evolved, the idea of a linear career no longer applies. In this world, we look at our life as a portfolio of experiences, that may or may not build on each other. And in a world with increasing speed, uncertainty and complexity, in the long run managing our career as a portfolio makes us happier and more effective.

In this episode, we also discuss Christina's experiences as an entrepreneur, the cost of failure and how to manage risk and create opportunities for second chances.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

 [02:34] – Christina shares her story with us.

[03:47] – One of Christina’s pressures is focusing on being just one thing.

[05:16] – Christina landed on a phrase that helped with introducing herself.

[08:22] – Giving the skill, that ability to see connections between currently unconnected ideas or unconnected, a name legitimized it and gave value to Christina. 

[10:28] – Christina feared that the business world would look at her background, think less of her, or not take her seriously.

[13:04] – If you can’t answer any of the “Why” questions, and if any of those answers are inauthentic, no one is getting on board.

[15:51] – Christina and her team got to have an honest conversation about what failure means and had the opportunity to teach it to the students at HBS.

[17:13] – It is only a question of, when, not if, that failure will be part of your story.

[20:47] – When taking advice from anyone, you have to filter for how much of it is relevant to your circumstances.

[23:53] - There are all of these different models that someone could use to prove themself and to gain some traction without the shoot for the moon approach.

[26:35] – Christina realized she needed to practice being bad at things if she wanted to be able to keep going down the path as an entrepreneur.

[28:20] - Control over her time became one of Christina’s primary metrics of success.

[30:46] – It is hard to walk the path that has been prescribed, but sometimes you have to make the best decision for yourself.

[33:06] – Christina shares some classroom advice: as you progress in your career, as you hit through these stages of success, you will always have two choices.

[35:17] - Be thoughtful about the operational model, or the business model, for the life that you set up.

[37:41] - The portfolio life is giving everyone a term to legitimize something that many of us are already doing.

[39:17] – A portfolio life is predicated on three ideas that Christina shares with us.

[42:42] - Someone who has other things that they do outside of the job means they're more likely to be a highly motivated, engaged employee on the job.

[44:57] – I ask Christina if she has a hobby or passion that she does outside of work that has helped influence her work.

[46:58] - Which business cliches, processes, or jargon drives Christina crazy?

[48:51] – Food for the body or food for the soul.

[50:45] – Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

christinawallace.com

Additional Christina Wallace Links:

Contact at:

Today's guest is Justin Buonomo, founder of Journey to Financial Freedom, a company specialized in personal financial education.

During our conversation Justin had a very honest discussion on the trauma that he went through in his youth and then talked about some of the key experiences that shape his mindset from being a Division One college athlete and learning how to play hurt to bringing the right mindset to his first job interviews and to finding the right mentors and support and then capitalizing on the opportunities that he was presenting.

At the end of the conversation Justin shared a number of steps and ideas that people can take to start getting their finances in the right shape and build a solid and safe financial future for themselves.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

 journeytofinancialfreedom.co

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justin-buonomo-a4bb56185/

Facebook: facebook.com/journeytofinancialfreedom.co

Instagram: @justin_buonomo

YouTube: youtube.com/@justinbuonomo

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Sean Fahey has been an entrepreneur his whole life. He spent the last 13 years building Vidcruiter, an HR tech company that uses software and video to significantly improve the recruiting process for organizations.

Sean shared his experience as an entrepreneur, the advantages and disadvantages of starting early and had plenty of helpful advice and suggestions for people who want to start their own business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[01:44] – I ask Sean to share his story and how he got there.

[03:42] - Sean reveals when his path started being an entrepreneur at the age of 19.

[05:31] - Being an entrepreneur is not something that you even hear about as a career path.

[08:15] - You need to be looking at and evolving your thought process in terms of, "what do I need to improve on the current status quo".

[11:15] - You need to find a way into the business that suits your lifestyle, your model, what you want to invest in, what your outcome is, and, you know, do you want a lifestyle business or not?

[13:59] - Sean expresses his views on investors, "If I can't convince someone to work for free on my idea and see if it's going to develop, why should I try to convince an investor to give me money on the idea?"

[15:33] - It's too hard to tell if someone's going to be good long-term within three coffee dates, but this share trade for work concept is what Sean recommends to everyone.

[18:44] - The goal is to have a win-win outcome. And so, the only way to do that is that everyone has realistic expectations about what the business is worth and where it is.

[19:15] - Sean didn't set out to be a leader instead he set out to accomplish something.

[22:17] - It's sort of like letting people decide the level of engagement that they want to have within the organization.

[23:46] - One of the most essential things Sean thinks a business owner needs to realize and have in their operational mindset, is that if something is not flowing perfectly, there's a process that's missing.

[24:45] - One of Sean's goals is to try and make sure everyone has fun at work. 

[26:04] - Sean realizes that walking into work with a happy mindset, makes for happy people.

[31:48] - If you want to be an entrepreneur, Sean recommends completing the grit test.

[33:25] - Sean fell in love with the process: the process of building the business and the process of improving the business.

[36:08] - Sean's definition of success is about being able to walk away and have the business keep growing and making an impact.

[39:35] - The pandemic has made video interviewing popular, or maybe not popular, but normal.

[40:35] - Sean shares his hobby or interest outside of work.

[40:50] - Food for the body or food for the soul?

[42:06] - Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

vidcruiter.com

al4ep.com

Additional Guest Links:

Contact at:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vidcruiter/

Facebook: facebook.com/VidCruiter

Twitter: @VidCruiter

YouTube: youtube.com/user/VidCruiter

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn:

Dr. Wayne Markman is is the co-founder and CEO of SYMBYX Biome, an Australian medical technology company developing light (photobiomodulation) therapies and devices for previously intractable, chronic diseases. One of their first applications, the treatment of Parkinson's disease, has proved to be revolutionary both in its approach and results.

Wayne's story is unusual, because he dropped out of a successful career in investment banking in his mid-forties returned to school in his forties to go back to medical school to pursue his passion in neuroscience. And it was his love for science and research in that area that ultimately led him to found SYMBYX.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[02:28] – Wayne and I have known each other for 30 years.

[03:58] - At 53, Wayne founded a business in Australia to commercialize laser therapy and medical lasers for Parkinson's disease.

[05:55] - Wayne went back to medical school at 43.

[08:24] - At the end of the day, Wayne's philosophy is you have to answer why you're here.

[09:40] - When you're in an area you love, all these possibilities can start to present themselves.

[11:47] - When somebody tells Wayne to go left, he goes right, just because it's not left. 

[13:47] - Just because you are good at something doesn't mean you should do it.

[16:17] - If you are clock-watching, that's a big red flag.

[18:02] - The skill of being the mediator or the person who pulls it all together, that skill ultimately makes a difference between things happening and not happening.

[20:42] - Do what you love because then you will love what you do.

[24:10] - Wayne didn't have a vision of where he wanted to be, but he knew what he'd enjoyed doing.

[26:40] - If you are prepared to invest in anything, you take more out of it than the person who is not.

[29:04] -Wayne learned what not to do, and that's not a good basis for managing or setting your principles and philosophy of management.

[31:57] - Wayne is a massive fan of doing what you're good at and leaving what you're not good at to other people who are good at it.

[35:08] - Wayne gives people clear instructions and then leaves them, and they either swim or sink.

[36:01] - Wayne is deeply influenced by his experiences on competitive teams and lives and dies by the team.

[37:57] - Passion, energy, and obsessive focus on a goal are not enough in the longer term to run a business. 

[39:16] - I ask Wayne to give us a non-science explanation of what he is trying to accomplish.

[43:56] - Why has there been no innovation in this medication?

[46:13] - The company has gone around the gatekeepers and directly to the consumer.

[50:18] - Wayne's company has been widely recognized as having a legitimate therapy for Parkinson's.

[51:02] - I ask Wayne if he has a passion or a hobby outside his work. And what impact has it had on his professional life?

[53:07] - Food for the body of food for the soul?

[53:28] - What is a business jargon or cliche that drives you crazy?

[55:32] - Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites

symbyxbiome.com

al4ep.com

Additional Dr Markman Links:

Dr. Markman

LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/dr-wayne-markman-83a35720

Twitter: @markman_wayne

SYMBYX Biome

PDCare Laser: 

Today's guest is Jim Young . My guest is my friend Jim Young, also known as The Centered Coach. Jim had a long career in tech, rising in his company until he was the president. And then, he experienced a serious burnout, that led him to a serious recalibration of his life and priorities. Now he is an executive coach, speaker and facilitator who specializes in Burnout and DEI work. His book, Expansive Intimacy: How "Tough Guys" Defeat Burnout, helps men create a roadmap for more fulfilling lives.

We had a very frank and candid conversation about his experience, and then what people and companies can do to prevent burnout and what to do when they experience it. And given that right now there is a big debate about so called “quiet quitting”, we also took a little bit of time to discuss our perspective on it.

KEY TAKEAWAYS  

[02:50] – Jim shares his story with us.

[04:36] – I ask Jim to share what challenges help develop his leadership style.

[06:35] – Jim recounts examples when he didn’t need to be the strongest voice in the room.

[08:22] – Giving up control when in a new leadership role starts with trust.

[09:42] – The key strategy for Jim was fostering a real sense of teamwork.

[11:45] – Jim gives an account of a setback in his career that helped him grow.

[13:04] – Jim voices some steps he took to pause and reset.

[14:42] – We talk about Jim's definition of success and how it has changed over time.

[16:04] – Jim talks about the drives him to succeed externally and internally.

[18:05] – The primary question Jim would ask is, what do I want?

[19:14] – I ask Jim how he defines authenticity.

[20:27] – Jim mentions the classic symptoms of burnout.

[22:49] – Asking uncomfortable questions is a way to assess the people around you.

[25:04] – People sometimes need to see a perspective reflected in them.

[25:34] – I ask Jim what some of the first places to seek help are.

[27:05] – Burnout is often happening because of the tone that’s being set by leadership.

[29:29] - Workload is one of the six factors that drive people into burnout.

[31:00] - Until you know your values, you might not know what decision to make.

[34:03] – I shift the conversation to the TikTok term, “quiet quitting."

[36:57] – We talk about the boundaries and expectations of the worker and the organization.

[40:38] – Leverage is a dangerous word that makes us more adversarial than a unit.

[42:51] - Thriving requires that all of us are doing well, not one or the other.

[43:09] – Jim tells us about his fun hobby.

[44:45] – I ask Jim which business express drives him crazy.

[45:30] - Food for the body or food for the soul.

[46:50] – Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

thecenteredcoach.com

Additional Jim Young Links:

Read a chapter and preorder the book at: thecenteredcoach.com/book

Contact at: thecenteredcoach.com/contact

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thecenteredcoach

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn:

Tonya Montella is a coach helps women manage their career. Often, when people look for help in managing their career, it’s when they feel the need to make a change. The reality though is that to have a successful career, you need to manage it proactively at every step. Tonya had great advice covering every aspect of career management, from making sure that you thrive and are recognized at your current job, to figuring out when it is time to change, and how to go about changing your job.

Key Takeaways

[02:12] – Let's introduce you to our listeners. What are you doing now? And tell us a little bit about your journey. What is relevant for them to know as to how you got here?

[04:16] - Is there a personal experience you'd be willing to share as to how you have applied these principles to your career thinking?

[05:32] - If you look back far back in your career, what was the first moment when you had to face a transition, and what were some of the challenges that you overcame in that situation?

[07:02] - At what point in your career did you start narrowing down? Sort of like consciously thinking of like, okay, this is what I like doing. This is sort of the passion that I want to pursue. And what were some of the aha moments into getting into there?

[08:41] - As you look back at sort of some of the experiences that may not be intuitively tied to this teaching. What is an example of something that didn't seem related to your passion, but ultimately helped you?

[10:07] - What was a challenging moment for you that maybe led to, you know, a turn or learning that you were not expecting?

[11:37] - How was the experience of working so closely with your husband as he was launching his own business? And how has that experience prepared you for your own business launch?

[13:05] - What was the experience of working with your husband? 

[14:41] - How do some of that dynamics translate in your work with your clients right now?

[16:28] - What are some of the steps that everybody should take? Whether or not they like their current job, you know, steps to be proactive in managing their career. 

[18:06] - What are some of the deeper, less intuitive questions; areas that you should work on in your work environment to kind like assess where you are and how your current position is playing out in your career overall?

[19:29] - What are some of the steps and what benefits could they get in working with a career coach even to stay within their company and progress within their company?

[20:57] - What is fair for somebody to expect out of the manager? And how should you assess the conversation in terms of the response that you get? So, you know, just to summarize. What should anybody expect to be able to ask their manager if they ask it in a polite and civilized way?

[23:46] - What are some courses of action that you can take if you still want to keep this job that you love where maybe you have a problematic relationship with your manager?

[25:52] - What are some things that you should do in case one, which is definitely not a place you want to work for in the long run?

[26:50] - What do you need to do to avoid making a mistake? Just because your decision is driven by the need to leave.

[28:29] - What are two or three things that you can say to somebody in that position to say, there's hope and don't give up?

[30:00] - What are some of the challenges that are unique to women in managing their careers? And what is some of the advice that you have for them?

[31:29] - What's a hobby or a passion that you have? And how has that shown up in your work?

[32:27] - What is the business cliche or expression or jargon that drives you crazy?

[33:03] - Food for the body or food for the soul?

[34:11] - Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at:

Today's guest is Zenica Chatman. Zenica was working in corporate America as a communication manager when she was the victim of a bullying episode at work. She took her own experience overcoming her situation and now she is a coach who works with women of color who have been bullied in the workplace.

In our conversation, we first focused on the problem of bullying in the workplace in general. We had a very practical conversation on what people can do to address and prevent the problem. Zenica had excellent specific advice from all perspectives, and she shared what victims, HR people, corporate leaders and peers can do. Then we zeroed in on the specific challenges that women of color face in the workplace, and why it is important to tackle the problem specifically for them.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[03:15] – Welcome, let’s start by giving my listeners, who you are and a little bit of what’s relevant in your story, and how you got to the point where you are.

[05:51] - What were some of the other drivers in your decision to leave corporate America and dedicate fully yourself to this?

[07:26] - I would love our listeners to hear a little bit more about your personal journey. You started your own business and was that in the middle of the pandemic or before?

[08:06] - As you thought about building your business, what were some of the steps that you took?

[09:51] - What were some of the factors that helped you find the courage?

[11:50] - If you think back about your journey up to, you know, when you started experiencing the bullying, what were some moments in your life that you. Helped you prepare for making that transition?

[14:38] - What were some of the key experiences that helped you get to that point?

[17:12] - What was it like to get the first client?

[18:00] - When was the moment that you knew that it was actually going to last?

[19:31] - What are some of the examples of bullying in the workplace? And if you're an employee that's on the receiving side of it, what may be some early warning signs?

[21:30] - Is there a way when you are looking at a potential employer to start screening for this type of things to say like, oh, maybe that's really a place where there's a higher risk?

[24:53] - What are some steps that HR departments can take to start preventing this type of behavior?

[27:48] - What can a leader of a big team or a department, or even a CEO, what should they be looking for, looking from the top to find and prevent instances of some of their subordinates, some of their middle manager, et cetera, be bullies? What are some of the steps that they can take to prevent that?

[30:01] - What do you do if you are a peer of the person that's being bullied and you witness that happening?

[31:42] - How do you recommend a bystander take action?

[34:30] - What makes the bullying of women of color unique and what makes it so relevant?

[37:15] - What are some of the other elements and common themes that you've heard from your peers? Who’s gone through similar experiences?

[38:58] - What are some additional steps that relate specifically to bullying of people and, then specifically women of color?

[40:53] - Have you encountered places that have an example of a great practice that is actually helping and creating impact?

[41:26] - Have there been cases of some of your clients that have been able to overcome this and then been in a mentoring position and been effective at mentoring to prevent other people in the same situation?

[42:45] - What are two or three actions that you would want somebody who's listening now, to be like I can take these steps and make the environment better in my company?

[44:27] - What is an interest or a hobby or a passion that you have that is not work-related and has in any way, shape, or form also influenced the way that you work?

[45:55] -...

Governing, running a city, a state or a country is an increasing complex job, and we need specialists who are passionate about that job if we want our society to thrive. Kim Driscoll comes very close to that ideal: she is smart, pragmatic, and she is truly following a calling. She was part of a team that turned around the city of Chelsea in Massachusetts after it entered receivership, and then went on to become mayor of Salem, an office she has held for for 16 years. Currently, she is running for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.

This interview is focused more on Kim’s journey and her experience in public service than her campaign, so even if you don’t agree with her politics, you will find a lot of helpful and practical advice.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[02:41] – Kim, welcome to the show, tell us about yourself and where your journey started, and what led you to choose at some point to enter into public service?

[05:09] - What drew you initially to, you know, urban planning to working for the city? Was there something that was in your interest or was it more like an opportunity out of college?

[06:43] - What were some of the early lessons for you as you were progressing from intern to urban planner? Like what really, what it took to get decisions made?

[08:54] – What are some of the lessons and qualities that help move things along with your peers and colleagues?

[10:14] - When did you start thinking about who you were as a civic leader and what were the qualities that you were trying to model and you know how to embrace it? Were there people who were mentors or inspirations to you and what did you learn from?

[12:48] - Was there a moment that was like a particularly challenging situation that you had to navigate? And what did you learn from it?

[14:30] - What are some of the examples of the programs in a situation that goes from “a community that is not showing up” to “a community that decides to participate”? And what are some of the lessons that can be drawn out of that?

[16:22] - What made you decide to make the jump into sort of the elected path? How does that happen for somebody to decide, to get involved in politics?

[17:55] - How did you start thinking about what else you needed in order to be successful in that process and to make the decision to actually tackle that?

[20:06] - How do you think about and how did you prepare yourself for having difficult conversations?

[21:52] - How does one find that balance and how long does it take before you're in a place where you're really comfortable that you are in the right spot?

[23:14] - How do you think about your leadership style and who you want to be as a leader?

[25:59] - What do you think you brought into who you are right now from your experiences resettling every few years?

[28:14] - What is the attractiveness of the Lieutenant Governor role?

[30:04] - How do you think about your sort of career past the Lieutenant Governor? Do you have bigger political aspirations in the long run?

[31:44] - If you were to think back at what has helped you be successful and were to distill two or three leadership tips that people can apply in any area of their professional life, what are the two or three most important things that you say people would use?

[33:42] - Do you have a hobby or an interest outside of work and government that is important to you and maybe how has that influenced the way that you work and govern?

[34:39] - What is the one cliche or expression that makes you crazy?

[34:58] – Food for your body or food for your soul.

[35:58] – Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

Today's guest is Erin sharoni who right now is the Chief Product Officer at Foxotech. Erin had a fascinating journey to her current position. She left a 6 year career on Wall Street to become a sports reporter for NBC, CBS, Showtime, but after 5 years she decided to leave that field too and followed her passion for science and wellness. She decided to go back to school for science and she is in the process of getting her second scientific Masters at Harvard.

We spent a lot of time discussing how to find one’s passion, and the trade-offs in pursuing it. And since she is an expert in longevity and epigenetics, we closed our conversation talking about what we can learn from epigenetics and what decisions we can make in our daily life to improve our health and longevity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[02:58] – Give us a little bit of your background and then we can talk about what drove some of your choices.

[04:56] - What were the drivers of those decisions to leave the field and restart from scratch?

[09:40] - Was there a moment when you started realizing that these are the important things for me and how was that moment? When did you transition into making decisions more intentionally in alignment with whatever the values were?

[14:10] - What was the moment when you started saying, okay, I want to serve my purpose, and then identifying what the purpose was and started making decisions, chasing whatever the purpose was?

[19:31] - What drove the decision to go back to school at that point? And what were some of the challenges that you faced?

[22:57] - What are some of the things you did before that could make the transition successful in the experience, less daunting?

[25:54] - You look at where you are now and, and how you are working now, what part of your overall experience coming back and saying, hey, that helped more than I thought at the time.

[28:04] - What is your leadership style and what have you taken from the different environments that you've been working through?

[32:31] - What is epigenetics? What are the core elements of the science of longevity and maybe what are some things that people can look into as they try to leave longer or just better?

[38:28] - Are there other examples of this type of application that come to mind and you're aware of?

[42:41] - What are some of the main areas of intervention that people can start thinking about?

[45:36] - Is there an interest or a hobby outside of your regular work that is important to you and how has that impacted your life at work?

[47:40] - Every era has expressions or business cliches, or pieces of jargon that are so overused, that they lose, meaning, which is one expression that drives you crazy?

[50:01] - To work hard and push something doesn't mean that that's a mindset you need to be in all the time.

[51:12] – Food for your body or food for your soul?

[52:47] – Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

foxolife.com

erinsharoni.com

Additional Guest Links:

Corporate web site: foxotechnologies.com

Foxolife Instagram: @foxolife

Foxolife Twitter: @FOXOLIFE

LinkedIn:

Ever since Eric Ries published The Lean Startup in 2011, conventional startup wisdom has been to adopt the MVP (minimum viable product) approach in building a new company. Our guest today, Jon Darbyshire, founder and CEO of SmartSuite, decided to take a different approach, and build the whole product before launching. In this episode, he explains why he chose that path, and how founders can figure out when the MVP approach works for their companies and when it doesn't.

Jon is a seasoned entrepreneur, as he had already successfully built Archer Technologies, a SaaS business he later sold to EMC (now Dell). Prior to founding Archer he also had a full career in technology consulting, becoming a partner EY. We discussed how starting later in life made him an effective entrepreneur, how his leadership and management style was informed by his previous experience. We also talked about how a disciplined sales strategy, holding out for the right customers upfront can be crucial in building a successful business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[03:07] – Jon welcome, it’s great to have you here on the podcast. Why do we start and have you introduce yourself to our listeners, what you’re doing now, and your journey that took you here?

[05:55] – what was the logic behind your decision to not go down the MVP path?

[07:28] – If a founder starts a business, they have an idea, what are some of the questions they should ask themselves before deciding whether to go the MVP route or whether to build a little more?

[09:03] – Were you funded by the VCs in these three years or did you start with angel investors? What is the strategy to make sure you have the ability and the control to roll it out the way that you want it?

[10:08] – Assuming that you fall a little bit in-between, what are some of the things that a founder could do to manage that pressure and be able to get to the product that they want to launch?

[13:42] – What are some of the benefits of taking the entrepreneur leap, later in your career?

[14:54] – How did you start forming your vision of who you wanted to be as a leader and as a manager? What were some of the key moments? And then if you are comfortable, share what are your leadership principles?

[19:25] – What was the process of installing the discipline and creating the comfort in the sales team of saying no?

[22:11] – When you turn down a client, how is that conversation happening? And how are you keeping that salesperson motivated?

[23:31] – How has your perspective on being the leader shifted across this role and how are you living the role of the CEO now versus earlier on in your career?

[25:18] – How has your definition of success changed over the years and what is success to you now versus what it was when you started Archer or even Ernst & Young?

[27:08] – What were some of the moments you realized this is great but it is not what I am looking for right now?

[25:03] – When did you realize that was your passion and was there a specific moment? What was the journey there?

[30:35] – Let's talk about the problem you’re solving now with SmartSuite. What is it and how did you go about solving it?

[33:20] – What were some of the main challenges that companies are facing, in that specific arena?

[36:26] – You have been working with some sample clients before the big launch?

[37:23] – In terms of who you are selling to, it is a little bit of the opposite than say Archer where you wanted the top 30 whereas here it is maybe smaller and medium size businesses?

[38:40] – What are some of the success stories and maybe some strategies that could be successful for anybody who is onboarding a team to a big new tool that requires a significant shift in the way that people are working that you have seen with some of your larger clients?

[41:07] – Do you have an interest outside of work or a passion that has...

Today's guest is Matt Sawyer. Matt and I worked together a long time ago, and he taught me a lot about how to develop successful partnership with people who have a different work style or strengths. I still consider him a great mentor and friend. After a long and successful career as a marketing leader, Matt now divides his time between consulting and teaching at NYU and Columbia University. He is also the author of the upcoming book Make It In America, a book that explains the success factors and considerations for international companies interested in entering the US Market.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[04:03] – Matt Sawyer introduction

[07:16] – What are some of the ways that you drove transformation through this organization? And what can we learn from that?

[09:45] – As you think about your style as a leader and sort of what you admire and respect in leaders, what were some of the key moments in your career? What are some of the key traits you see as fundamental when you are your best self as a leader?

[11:33] – What made you decide to fully dedicate yourself to communicating and teaching?

[15:30] – What are some of the lessons, a leader in a corporate world, can take and be successful in a classroom?

[18:57] – How has your definition of success changed over the years?

[19:40] – You have just finished writing a book, which is coming out in December.

[21:58] – What are a couple of interesting areas that are unique to the American system that people need to be aware of?

[24:56] – Is there another case study you can share?

[27:55] – Is there any case of something that you see as a great best practice from a company that is coming into the US or is the book focusing on the topic of explaining what can go wrong?

[30:24] – What are the three or four key things for someone who is starting a business to think about?

[31:30] – What are some of the best practices for a company to maintain its own culture while also embracing the local culture?

[33:45] – Are there some best practices processes that you have seen in some of your case studies?

[34:52] – Are there lessons that can apply the other way, to American companies that want to go abroad?

[35:57] – Is there an interest outside of your professional interest or hobby or a passion that you have? And how has that helped you in your professional world?

[37:10] – What is the business expression or jargon that drives you crazy?

[38:04] – Food for the body or food for the soul?

[39:21] – Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

matthewleesawyer.com

Additional Links for Matt Sawyer:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthewsawyer

Facebook: facebook.com/MakeItInUSA/

Twitter: @MattS124

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook:

This s the second and final part of the conversation with Susan Cattaneo about the writing of her latest album All Is Quiet. Susan is one of Boston's best Americana singer-songwriters. You can also listen to the first part of this conversation in episode 41.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[03:10] - Let’s talk about the song Borrowed Blue, and discuss the mother-daughter bond.

[04:50] - Listening to a snippet of Borrowed Blue.

[05:47] - A discussion on the song Blackbirds, and the song’s origin.

[08:11] - The song wrote itself.

[10:06] - Sometimes you need to let go of an idea to get to an idea that fits the context.

[12:50] - Listening to a snippet of Blackbirds (special appearance by the Lonesome Seagull).

[14:05] - A discussion on the song Broken Things, and the process of co-writing a song.

[16:34] - What is the beautiful story behind Broken Things?

[19:12] - Listening to a snippet of Broken Things.

[21:18] - A discussion on the song Diamond Days, and the right to happiness.

[24:15] - Listening to a snippet of Diamond Days.

[26:38] - A discussion on the song No Hearts Here, and the connection to human rights.

[28:50] - Listening to a snippet of No Hearts Here.

[30:50] - A discussion on the song Hold Onto Hope, and how to organize song ideas.

[33:28] - Listening to a snippet of Hold Onto Hope.

[34:51] - A discussion on the song Follow, and following intuition.

[37:49] - A talk about mutual support.

[38:55] - Thank you and closing remarks.Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

susanmusic.com

Additional Susan Cattaneo Links:

Click here for streaming links: Apple Music Spotify

Bandcamp: susanonbandcamp.com

Instagram: @susancmusic

Twitter: @susancattaneo

Facebook: facebook.com/susancmusic

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

We celebrate the end of the year by sharing some of the NFL conversations we had in the 2024 season.

First, my analysis of the leadership lessons from the fall of Bill Belichick.

Then my conversation with Greg Bedard, founder of the online sport magazine Boston Sports Journal, where I asked him a few hypothetical questions.

And finally, from my recent conversation with former NFL player Marques Ogden, his predictions for the end of this season.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Website:

al4ep.com

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Our guest today is Cody Hall, CEO and founder of Octiva. Cody is a marines veteran who after spending time in larger organizations decided to start a company that solves a big healthcare issue: the transition care of patients post hospital dismissal.

In our conversation, Cody talked about how the different experiences he had, from the military to working in companies like Apple led him to the insight that he needed to operate in nimbler and more entrepreneurial environment. He also shared how he is building a company culture that emphasizes the need for employee self-care even in a fast paced start-up environment.

Finally, we discussed some of the upcoming trends in healthcare, specifically, the impact Value Based Care will have on all stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

[02:29] - Let’s talk about what you are currently doing, and what’s the journey that led you to where you are now.

[03:42] - How did you start defining yourself as a person in your work environments?

[05:37] - Everyone has a voice.

[07:18] - An example of a constructive team discussion.

[09:23] - What support does Octiva give to clients?

[11:12] - How do you come up with a business idea?

[12:34] - What is success?

[13:56] - Is there a balance between purpose and finances?

[15:01] - The company must survive in order to make the desired impact.

[16:12] - Finances are finite.

[17:44] - I think being the most genuine version of myself gets a lot of credit from the team.

[19:27] - I don’t break the rules, and I don’t violate who I am.

[20:25] - Understand when you’re not the right person for the job.

[21:42] - What is value-based care, and what are the advantages?

[23:08] - Make everyone invested in the patient’s success.

[25:03] - What is the infrastructure that will support value-based care?

[27:16] - Leadership starts from taking care of yourself.

[29:34] - The team knows how to manage what we need to achieve alongside taking care of themselves.

[30:49] - I focus on my relationships.

[31:48] - Disruption has collateral damage.

[32:25] - I have a routine to take care of my physical health and mental health.

[33:37] - Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

octivahealthcare.com

Additional Octiva Links:

Contact at: octivahealthcare.com/contact/

Facebook: facebook.com/Octiva.healthcare/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/octivahealthcare/

Crunchbase: crunchbase.com/organization/octiva-inc

Cody on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/codhal/

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook:

This is the second annual 4th of July Holiday Special - Best of Business Jargon that Drives You Crazy. It compiles all the answers to the question: "What is the business cliche, jargon or expression that drives you crazy?" that were given in the past 12 months.

Key Takeaways

[01:07] –It’s my second annual “best of the business jargon that drives you crazy show”.

[02:00] – Vikrant Shurya, episode 15.

[05:34] – Kristin Yoshida, episode 32.

[07:27] – Mike Horne, episode 28.

[08:48] – Kristen Standish, episode 33.

[09:15] – Bill Prinzivalli, episode 40.

[10:29] – Roger Brown, episode 30.

[12:45] – Kurt Landon, episode 39.

[14:38] – Debora Spar, episode 18.

[15:39] – Mo Hamzian, episode 34.

[16:40] – Dino Cattaneo, episode 21.

[18:22] – Susan Cattaneo, episode 36.

[19:12] – Matt Wigler, episode 14.

[21:30] – Brandon Harding, episode 27.

[22:25] – Dorie Clark, episode 22.

[22:57] – Randy Wilburn, episode 19 

[24:23] – Jason Greer, episode 31. 

[25:27] – Jackie Hermes, episode 24.

[26:11] – Jonathan Jacobs, episode 35.

[27:45] – Maryalice Morro, episode 29.

[28:36] – Marzio Schena, episode 37.

[30:52] – Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

This is a special episode, produced in partnership with Enspira HR. Human capital and HR experts Kurt Landon and Jenna Cohen discuss the actions and steps corporate leaders need to take in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

How should leaders consider whether to take a public stance on either side of the topic? What is the best way to communicate the stance? Which resources are necessary? Which areas of the company are impacted? What are the challenges and the risks?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[03:06] – We are going to have a conversation today on how the turning over of Roe vs Wade impacts corporate leaders.

[03:47] – Let’s start from the beginning.

[04:12] – What are some of the steps a leader, who has not taken a stance, should be taking?

[06:22] – Depending on what kind of industry, sector, or subsector you are in, there could be additional factors to consider.

[09:24] – What are the steps you can take before you roll out the communication to ensure that is successful within the company?

[12:39] – Who are the people and what are the conversations that you should be having? What are the questions you should be asking to get ready?

[14:20] – Jenna shares the three things that need to coexist.

[15:33] – Really determine how will the leadership of the company will align on complex topics.

[17:50] – Kurt shares a very important boundary when running a business.

[19:30] – Examples of challenging topics companies have had to deal with in the past couple of years

[23:50] – The choice of language matters.

[25:19] – What are the risks of taking or trying to stay neutral?

[28:05] – Silence is a message. Neutrality is a message.

[29:18] – Is there anything that we haven’t discussed that people should know or think about?

[33:20] – Create permissions, as a leader and organization, to not have all the answers to a complex topic like this one.

[34:55] – What is the minimum sets of actions that a leader should be thinking about this week in order to navigate the aftermath of this decision and to prepare for the complexity that lies ahead on this specific topic and issue for their organization?

[37:55] – Thank you and closing remarks.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

Download Roe vs. Briefing Document from Enspira: enspirahr.com/downloads

Additional Guest Links:

Contact at: enspirahr.com/about/contact

LinkedIn:

Kurt Landon

Jenna Cohen

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp