SYNG: Recent Episodes
Paul Syng
Over $1Billion in sales đ | From gelatos to large-scale transformations, I help people (B2B or B2C) sell. Curious about humans | 30 under 30 đ
Andrea Guertin is a seasoned design strategist and innovation leader currently heading Design & Co-creation at Kyndryl Vital Canada. With a Master's in Social Design, she has held key positions at Bridgeable, Deloitte, and Gensler, specializing in bridging business strategy with design thinking. Guertin's expertise lies in facilitating executive-level workshops, driving organizational transformation, and implementing human-centred design approaches across various industries. From her early days as a design strategist to her current role as a transformational leader, Andrea Guertin has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation and design in business. Her journey includes founding a B2B market research firm, teaching service design at the college level, and advising executives on inclusive design. Guertin's career is marked by a commitment to solving complex challenges through creative problem-solving and co-creation, leaving a significant impact on organizations ranging from startups to global consultancies.đđŒ DOTS PODCAST ON ALL OTHER PLATFORMSSpotify, Apple, Anchor & more: â https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNGâ đđŒ SUBSCRIBE TO SQUAD â A WEEKLY DIGESTDive deep into business, brand and strategy every Tuesday.https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/114937/68230051490956385/shaređđŒ READ PLATONIC BLOGhttps://paulsyng.com/blog/đđŒ NEED HELP WITH A COMPLEX CHALLENGES? https://paulsyng.comđđŒ SPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng:https://x.com/paulsynghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsyng/Guest, Andrea Guertin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaguertin/ đđŒ CHAPTERS00:00:00 Modelling gig story00:01:36 How do you say 'Guertin' by the way?00:03:14 Who is Andrea Guertin?00:06:50 A designer who no longer designs00:11:27 Where GREAT designers and consultants overlap00:22:41 Telling people vs taking them along00:29:02 Be confident in being the dumbest person in the room00:32:26 Embrace the messy nature of the work00:36:01 Curiosity over conclusions00:44:28 Why consulting gets a bad reputation?00:50:44 Secrets of facilitation no one talks about00:58:15 How quality of your questions builds trust01:08:44 USA vs Canada01:20:22 The 'S' word (strategy)01:23:43 Andrea shares personal stories about being a mom01:39:32 What led to Andrea leaving her job as the CEO01:45:03 Nerd out on strategy02:08:34 What the client is asking for vs what they need and want02:16:12 Role of curiosity in your job search and advice for women02:24:43 3001 Questions all about me02:32:33 Final words, closing remarks
Tom's work focuses on long-term strategic visioning and implementation, executive management, board management, team building, stakeholder relations, storytelling in digital media, and government relations. He is a proud human rights advocate, an experienced consultant, and formerly a journalist and entrepreneur.At the Arctic Research Foundation, Tom develops and implements long-term strategy, oversees hiring, budgeting, communications and the management of relationships with community, government, corporate and university partners; seven research vessels; five renewable-powered Arctic-hardened laboratories; and ARF's ArcticFocus website and Arctic Research Database.As a Senior Political Consultant, Tom led the federal Green Party's Rapid Response Team in the 2018 federal election and advised Annamie Paul during her successful campaign for GPC leadership. Tom was also Director of News and Digital at VICE Canada, an editor at the Toronto Star, and a reporter at Maclean's Magazine. He also worked as the Executive Director of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, which protects the right to free expression in Canada and worldwide.Originally from New Brunswick, Tom has consulted on and helped pass crucial legislation in Canada and Ontario. This includes reforming Bill C-51, successfully lobbying for Canadaâs first Press Shield Law, and passing Ontarioâs anti-SLAPP legislation. He helped fight against a major crackdown on the free press in Croatia, a fight which had a major part in the formation of a new, democratically elected government. Tom has successfully advocated for the release of jailed journalists worldwide and has facilitated the disbursement of dozens of life-saving grants to journalists in distress throughout the globe. As a journalist, Tom covered everything from food insecurity, resource extraction, serial killers, and the Toronto International Film Festival. Heâs also launched numerous digital and print products, including Canadaâs first national Web TV program, Macleans: TV, and the Toronto Starâs Small Business Section and Star Business Club. A former videographer and small business owner, Tom has also designed, patented and licenced innovative products for shooting video with digital SLRs.SPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng: â â https://linktr.ee/paulsyngâ â Guest, Tom Henheffer: â https://www.arcticfocus.org/â EPISODE LINKSSpotify, Apple, Anchor & more: â â https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNGâ â 00:00:00 Who is Tom Henheffer00:03:48 Tom's career in journalism00:07:44 Decline of journalism00:15:30 The business of journalism00:24:01 Canadian media and social media00:28:17 What is the Artic Research Foundation?00:39:29 Blackberry CEO Jim00:41:11 Politics and planet00:49:44 Procurement and the planet00:53:44 How to get involved with ARF00:58:15 3001 Questions all about me
Throughout his career, Bill has been obsessed with helping businesses discover their true purpose â and turning that insight into exceptional experiences that bind brands and their customers together.
Whether helping launch the CarFax Vehicle History Report to the consumer market, positioning Delsey as North Americaâs lightweight luggage leader or preparing start-ups like Bleep CPAP to disrupt their category, Bill has been passionate about turning consumer insight into category leadership.
He believes that every brand has the potential to dominate their category â to create a contagious, market-shattering impact on their customers and competition.
Since 1998, Bill has created brand strategies and creative campaigns for more than 300 brands around the globe. He has engaged audiences for brands like EverBank, Music & Arts, Delsey Luggage, Red Hot & Blue, Dennyâs, Precision Tune and Enterprise Rent-a-Car, to name a few. On their behalf, Bill uncovered unique insights into the consumer set, created campaigns that positively disrupted their categories and caused countless competitors sleepless nights.
Bill is an optimist at heart. He believes that every good idea has a passionate message standing behind it.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: â https://linktr.ee/paulsyngâ
Guest, Bill Harper: https://brandbosshq.com/
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: â https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNGâ
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Welcome to the show, Bill!
00:05:17 What is a brand?
00:11:20 Breaking the myth of B2B vs B2C
00:19:30 Tow truck story
00:27:13 Helping clients get out of their own way
00:31:27 The creative genius Rolodex
00:40:53 From toxic relationship to true partner
00:56:00 Are you willing to be great?
01:07:02 The right person and the right vision
01:23:02 Eight powerful ideas
01:33:51 Brand is agnostic to what and how you do it
01:38:12 How to bring internal and external stakeholders on the journey
01:44:02 When internal adoption fails
01:57:10 How to build an audience by being irrelevant
02:06:00 What to do with negative comments
02:12:05 Haters grow your brand and audience
02:16:23 How much time Bill spends on making content
02:22:05 3001 Questions all about me
02:23:52 Summarizing the second half
02:32:08 Closing remarks
Sheeba has become a voice of insight and encouragement within the health community, especially on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where she openly discusses the complexities of thyroid disorders. With each story she shares, Sheeba shines a light on the unique array of symptoms that people with these conditions experience, both in diversity and intensity. Her own personal journey with the disorder is marked by a vivid recollection â the day fatigue overwhelmed her after a seemingly normal work routine with clients. This poignant memory of utter exhaustion led to a realization that she was battling more than just physical tiredness; it was a sign of severe depression intertwined with her thyroid condition. Her raw and personal narratives not only raise awareness about the condition but also serve as a beacon of hope and understanding for others navigating similar health challenges.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Coach Sheeba: https://www.tiktok.com/@xsheebax
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Welcome to the studio, Marc Jacobs
00:02:13 Who is Sheeba
00:04:21 Thyroid TikTok taking off
00:05:54 Inspiration behind talking thyroid
00:08:47 Mental and physical symptoms of thyroid
00:12:24 Handling hateful comments on social media
00:14:21 What is a thyroid and what does it do
00:16:16 Early success on YouTube
00:20:52 YouTube audience don't like change
00:25:56 Three things to know about your thyroid
00:33:28 Paul's protocol part one
00:48:05 Thyroid and depression
00:51:58 Paul's protocol part two
00:54:25 How to get started on your superhuman journey
01:00:49 Harmful effects and downside of TRT
01:08:54 Keeping up with the latest in thyroid research
01:11:24 Summary and final advice on thyroid and health
01:15:45 3001 Questions
01:16:24 Closing remarks
John LePore is a highly skilled professional known for blending creative innovation with pragmatic thinking. His career is marked by his ability to inspire excitement about the future through consulting with organizations, leading teams, or directing innovation. With a rich background as the Principal/Chief Creative at Perception, LePore has excelled in motion design and user experience and has over a decade of leadership, direction, and strategy. He is an accomplished public speaker who captivates audiences worldwide by demystifying popular films and products. LePore distinguishes himself in consulting, offering concentrated value to overcome specific challenges, inspiring leadership and forging new competencies within organizations. Based in the NYC Metro area, he consults globally, contributing to film, technology, automotive, and more, and is accessible through various social media platforms and professional networks.SPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyngGuest, John LePore: https://twitter.com/JohnnyMotionEPISODE LINKSSpotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG_F1 + Apple Vision Pro Concepthttps://youtu.be/y9FpgxNeWJk?si=4_TlkNgxwNvbhMbUTIMESTAMPS00:00:00 Greetings00:01:53 Who is John?00:13:46 How John thinks about his work with Marvel Avengers00:24:34 What it means to have genuine empathy00:30:22 What it means to get curious00:38:13 Meeting clients where they are00:46:47 John's Black Panther story00:52:44 Detaching from the outcome00:58:13 The holy trinity question by Paul01:01:07 How John thinks about Digital Product Design01:07:55 John's hot take on the Apple Vision Pro01:10:04 John's F1 concept was viewed over 55 million times01:14:49 A simple way to understand "The Metaverse'01:20:13 Why do automobile interfaces suck01:29:46 What Hanz Zimmer & Linkin Park and cars have in common01:35:05 John's involvement with top-secret projects01:39:29 Working in digital product vs automotive company01:51:45 What John's race instructor dad taught him02:03:35 John's design of the Porsche instrument gauge cluster02:17:02 Designing for the future vs futuristic design02:28:07 John's on a mission, and you should hire him02:34:38 3001 Questions all about me02:37:44 Paul summarizes key takeaways02:39:25 Closing remarks by John
Jen was a full-cycle Enterprise Sales rep for 18 years. As a seller who made every mistake in the book, she believes sellers donât need to be motivated; she feels they need to be empowered.
Jen teaches the strategies and tactics to earn buyer attention and trust. She has sold $50M+ to C-level Sales, Marketing, and Strategy executives while at Corporate Executive Board, Gartner, and Challenger Inc. (the company behind The Challenger Sale). Jen was a Relationship Builder who learned to sell like a Challenger.
Jen has hosted the Winning the Challenger Sale podcast (growing the audience from 2k to 20k listeners per month) and created the role of Chief Evangelist at Challenger. This Is when she fell in love with speaking at SKOs to help Sales and marketing teams rethink their beliefs and assumptions about how to earn buyer attention and trust and defeat the status quo.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Jen Allen-Knuth (aka DemandJen): https://demandjen.com/
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Warming up and stretching
02:14 Who is Jen, and why she can't stop rescuing animals
03:49 Jen is not your guru (*wink Tony Robbins)
06:10 Lead Gen (Sales 101 with email and social)
09:04 How to know your client's problems
12:33 How to write a crispy email
15:25 Who do you email at a company?
18:04 Don't make this rookie mistake
19:47 Showing up like a boss to the first booked meeting
22:42 How to compound your upfront research by getting curious
24:17 Jen's LinkedIn strategy
27:09 Knowing your client's priorities
28:54 How to show up on social media
31:36 Another reason why you should be personable online
32:36 Bite-sized summary by Paul
33:15 Wisdomous last words by Jen
33:48 Josh Braun fan club
34:21 3001 questions all about me
36:04 Closing remarks
Andrew Hegarty has ten years of experience working in and advising startups in Toronto. Heâs an active mentor to designers and product managers, sharing his experiences and lessons learned from growing an early-stage startup and design practice. He's passionate about mentorship, team empowerment, continually improving product development processes, and building strong organizational cultures.
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EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Getting started, our common friend
00:06:29 How Andrew got into design
00:14:23 Andrew's first paid client
00:17:35 Developing a problem-solving approach
00:19:35 Getting serious about a design career
00:21:06 Andrew's true passion
00:24:36 Skating helped Andrew step out of his comfort zone
00:28:20 Isolation parallel to remote work
00:31:56 Advice for people in 0-1 stage companies
00:39:47 Early career, education and first job
00:42:59 To defend the work or not is the question
00:53:49 Choice and signs of maturity
00:56:32 Windows vs Mac
00:58:33 A decade at Street Context
01:03:03 Killing your darlings
01:07:02 Throwing yourself into the deep end (beginner's mind)
01:13:45 From design to product
01:20:00 Design decisions based on where you are
01:25:23 Fintech rebrand, behind the scenes
01:37:22 Why Andrew moved into a product role
01:44:46 Shy kid in basement to talking to clients and loving it
01:52:23 3001 Questions All About Me
01:56:51 Be the dumbest person in the room
01:58:03 Closing remarks
Dann Petty is a renowned freelance designer and entrepreneur, widely recognized in the design and tech industries for his expertise in UI/UX design. He is the founder of Epicurrence, an innovative event blending creative discussions with outdoor activities, aimed at fostering community and inspiration among designers. Known for his advocacy of freelance work and remote lifestyles, Petty shares insights and experiences to help others succeed in the freelance world. His career includes collaborations with various startups and major companies, where he has left a significant mark with his user-centric design approach. Petty is also a public speaker and mentor, sharing his knowledge at design conferences and through online platforms. His influence extends across social media, where he actively engages with the design community, offering mentorship and insights into his creative process.SPEAKER LINKSHost, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyngGuest, Dann Petty: https://twitter.com/DannPettyEPISODE LINKSSpotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNGJoe Stewart on design doing https://youtu.be/MOrWV-LOwUY?si=a39gU1TGinlpc_FyCHAPTERS00:00:00 Who is Dann Petty?00:01:08 How we know each other00:03:32 The power of asking questions00:08:22 Overcoming rejection00:10:05 The unexpected shy kid00:15:26 Dann, the cartoonist00:16:57 Why Dann loves teaching00:20:49 Role of teachers in stifling or nurturing creativity00:28:58 Finding mentors and leaning in00:33:26 How Dann became a designer00:43:47 How to be self-taught without structure00:48:15 Great vs average creative folks (do vs think)00:55:21 Joe Stewart on design doing vs design thinking01:09:17 How Dann got hired at Medium01:20:00 Dann's Y-Combinator story01:26:05 What Dann learned from his adventures in SF01:31:04 Role of creative / designer today01:37:27 Putting yourself out there (fear of rejection)01:40:36 Going where the clients are01:45:27 What is on Dann's plate today01:47:34 Final words from Dann01:49:40 Closing remarks and farewell
Yousuf Afridi is the Head of Strategic Design & Product at PwC. He helps companies define new product and service offerings and close gaps in customer experience.
Yousuf loves to build things â brands, products, services, and culture â from the ground up. His unconventional thirteen-year journey from brand designer to management consultant has taught him how to:
» Navigate big ambiguous problems, create order, and lead people through change
» Invent new digital products and service experiences that address unmet customer needs and take them to market
» Flex into different roles and oscillate between big-picture thinking, detailed execution, and management
» Deploy elegant user experiences that have a measurable business impact and continually improve them based on feedback
» Work collaboratively and inclusively with cross-functional teams to create alignment across an organization
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SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Yousuf Afridi: linkedin.com/in/afridi
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Yousuf on writing his LinkedIn bio
00:02:06 How we met
00:07:01 When a Pakistani studying at British School in Dubai
00:20:40 Immigrating to Canada
00:27:30 Being self-taught
00:30:00 Skateboarding and emulating
00:36:28 Starting a creative business at the age of fifteen
00:44:18 Mentorship and learning the business of design
00:49:41 What Yousufâs mentor taught him
00:57:36 Asking questions vs having answers
01:03:05 How consulting firms differ from agencies
01:11:00 Coffee and creative career paths
01:19:03 Business case vs creative brief
01:21:50 Can agencies swim upstream?
01:38:36 First year in consulting as a creative
01:48:04 What working WITH clients looks like
02:00:32 What consulting and agencies have in common
02:16:23 What creative people do in consulting
02:25:59 Being authentic as your MOAT
02:34:08 Ways of working and how approaches differ
02:53:52 Curious creative consultant over conclusions
02:59:34 What is Yousuf focused on now
03:06:08 3001 Questions and final thoughts
03:09:52 Closing remarks
Talica's sales career has spanned over two decades. She has expertise in selling products and services ranging from high-end apparel, investment management, high ticket coaching programs and consulting services. She has led business development and revenue growth strategies for top-performing wealth advisory teams and run sales departments for start-ups and established entrepreneurs.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Talica Davies: talicadavies.com
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Who is Talica Davies
(03:39) Closing $750,000,000 in sales
(05:23) Lessons from closing 9-figure deals for individuals
(10:22) How to become the person that closes 9-figure deals
(13:05) Discomfort and uncertainty in sales vs regular 9-5 folks
(16:20) What advice would Talica give to her younger self
(19:17) How to care about and believe in what youâre selling
(24:24) How to step into the shoes of your customer or client
(27:27) Language vs intelligence
(29:59) What is sales?
(33:23) Onboarding: Training, scripts and frameworks
(38:18) The power of questions
(40:24) How to start your coaching business without a website
(47:05) Warm vs cold lead. Doing outreach right
(52:18) How to build an offer
(56:16) Pricing: common mistakes
(58:28) Reframing: what youâre selling vs what they are buying
(01:07:24) Sales 101: Presenting your compelling offer
(01:13:24) What are buying signals and how to look for them
(01:18:09) Asking for money
(01:22:50) How to control the sales conversation without being needy
(01:28:37) Summary and 3001 Questions
(01:33:35) Final words from Talica
Anchal is a Certified Somatic Sexologist from the Institute of Somatic Sexology, Australia.
In addition to this, she is also a certified counsellor and Art Based Therapist and provides emotional support at sex and intimacy festivals all around the world.
Her mission is to support individuals and couples (of all genders and relational styles) to become an authority over their bodies and pleasure.
Using somatic embodiment tools, she guides you to develop a deeper connection with your body and sexuality, assisting you to let go of shame, conditioning and unhelpful patterns and open to more pleasure, purpose and choice.
She leads with an open heart & facilitates with knowledge, integrity, & wisdom.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Anchal Kaushal on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/anchal-kaushal-1482a61
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integratedsexuality/
Calendly: https://calendly.com/anchal-integratedsexuality/somatic-inquiry
1st book recommendation: https://a.co/d/0tdNnq7
2nd book recommendation: â https://a.co/d/bgi0bOTâ
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
CHAPTERS
(00:00) What is a Somatic Sexologist
(10:11) Early career as an Art Director working in an agency
(12:39) Relationships, sexuality and story of anguish
(21:34) The Birds and the Bees: society, family, talking taboo subjects
(34:56) Focus of society on the internal vs the external world
(38:48) Watching blue films (and their impact on thinking and beliefs)
(43:03) First-time encounters were pretty bad (weâve all been there)
(47:55) Sharing your desires and listening to your body
(54:53) How males and females use sex (selection, attraction and scripts)
(01:10:20) With great power comes great responsibility (+intrinsic vs extrinsic)
(01:15:14) Daddy or mommy issues
(01:17:37) Anchal shares observations and common questions people ask
(01:34:56) How selection criteria vary for a short-term vs long-term mate
(01:37:32) The role of the head, heart and gut (awareness exercise)
(01:45:43) What fetishes, kinks and preferences say about us
(01:50:15) How and where to start your somatic journey (recommendations)
(01:53:58) Concluding notes and final thoughts
Eric Almquist has 44 years of experience in management consulting, focusing on customer strategy and marketing to help companies with their toughest management challenges. He has brought the best ideas from numerous fields to help clients better understand their customers. He created the first advanced customer analytics capability in the consulting industry, focusing on segmentation, demand modelling, brand strategy, and customer relationship management. His team pioneered the commercialization of discrete choice models, latent class analysis, and other tools, creating new customer segmentation, CRM, and in-market experimentation approaches.
As a partner in Bain & Companyâs Boston office and leader of Bainâs global Customer Insights and Analytics capability, Eric has worked in various industries, including retail, consumer products, financial services, and telecommunications. He is an expert in applying advanced analytics to help companies improve their value propositions, marketing, customer experience delivery, and customer retention. He has extensive experience with new customer acquisition, brand strategy, and product/service development.
Eric has also contributed to several publications and regularly speaks on customer, demand management, and corporate brand strategies. His most recent research is on the Elements of Value, both B2C and B2B, published in the Harvard Business Review.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Eric Almquist: linkedin.com/in/eric-almquist-993898
HBR article: https://hbr.org/2016/09/the-elements-of-value
Bain & Co: https://www.bain.com/insights/the-elements-of-value-hbr/
Vermicular Pots: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Vermicular&ref=bl_dp_s_web_0
Balmuda: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=BALMUDA
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Welcome to episode 11, Ericâs origin story
(06:41) Applying to a blind AD, first job
(08:52) Early days at Lippincott, growing it into a behemoth
(18:37) Statistics, the average person and big data
(26:48) OpenAI, language models and data (Have a POV)
(36:08) What Dyson, Vermicular (high-end rice cookers) and the iPod have in common
(41:59) Origins of The Elements of Value, NPS (Net Promoter Score) & HBR article
(55:32) Using TEoV to build empathy and other use cases
(58:17) Using TEoV in a sales cycle to understand the buyers (B2C vs B2B)
(01:09:59) TEoV is perfect for positioning work (brand strategy)
(01:22:15) Having meaningful conversations and measuring buyer sentiment
(01:31:39) The biggest misconception about The Elements of Value
(01:38:02) Summary and concluding thoughts
Jessica Guzik is a Senior Brand Lead at Shopify in Berlin, Germany. She has over 5 years of experience in digital and brand marketing. She is also a licensed attorney. She has experience coaching teams, establishing partnerships and leveraging relationships with international and remote teams to drive brand awareness. She has also led creative teams and has experience in video marketing and social media management for Oberlo. Prior to joining Shopify, she has worked as a consultant, a dinner party host, a manager for strategic partnerships and events, an associate director for strategic content, and a judicial law clerk. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Classics from University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Jessica Guzik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaguzik/
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
Jessicaâs Oberlo YouTube videos
https://youtu.be/w1j0bdLlAkY
https://youtu.be/H-BhkIteerc
https://youtu.be/jfwUsQ2Y1lg
Jessicaâs book: Let's Take Berlin: Essays on Expat Life
https://a.co/d/aLZoFKl
Book Recommendations
Crucial Conversations: https://a.co/d/7DjyYUS
How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen https://a.co/d/3ZjWPjU
Inspiration
Colin & Samir: https://www.youtube.com/@ColinandSamir
Neil Patel: https://twitter.com/neilpatel
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Theme of the conversation
(02:22) How we know each other
(05:59) Jessicaâs life before Berlin: Writing, co-living & feeling lost
(12:05) Only looking back the Dots connect: From law to YouTube
(17:48) How Jessica got into practicing law
(20:15) Lessons and takeaways from law
(21:30) The master curator: organizing house parties and dinners
(25:39) Why Jessica organized events
(33:14) Staring into the eyes of a person or a screen (lost skills)
(41:50) Loneliness and dealing with it at different stages
(49:00) Getting a job at Shopify: Tips on standing out to get hired
(55:33) Jealousy and how Jessica wrote a book about Berlin
(01:01:30) Do this one thing and the hiring manager will hire you on the spot
(01:06:38) Initial days at Shopify
(01:11:45) Advice for YouTubers on how to grow fast (Oberlo lady tells all)
(01:20:24) Life beyond fame and being on camera
(01:25:45) Babies, mat leave around the world (going down the rabbit hole)
(01:29:18) Fun story about Berlin and Mayonnaise
(01:34:24) Leadership, difficult conversations and giving feedback
(01:49:29) 2 great books on communication for adults and kids
(01:54:40) Closing remarks and thoughts
(01:58:24) 3001 Questions All About Me
(02:01:21) Jessicaâs message to the audience
(02:02:46) Bonus question
Erik Host-Steen is an expert in sales, marketing, and product development who helps business leaders improve their revenue trajectory and satisfaction at work. He has cross-functional leadership skills and specializes in sales processes, funnel management, strategic marketing, product management, business development, and digital transformation. He has expertise in water, environmental monitoring, specialty materials, measurement systems, process control instrumentation, IoT, wind energy, wind turbines, and drones.
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SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Erik. Host-Steen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikhoststeen/
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EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
â
Fix culture without fixing people
https://www.smpalignment.com/blog/2021/7/fix-culture-without-fixing-people
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TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Who is Erik Host-Steen
(05:38) Talking to the customer from their perspective vs your own
(08:47) Peanut butter, camping gear and mental models for simplifying ideas
(16:04) Fixing culture without fixing people
(22:28) NASCAR and common mistakes leaders make in designing orgs
(32:42) Why metrics, dashboards and obsession over data is pointless
(33:28) How brand and business strategy can often become dumpster terms
(38:07) Tour of duty, adaptability and employability
(42:21) Connecting the dots between outcome hierarchy and the round canoe
(48:10) Building a house vs The blind men and the elephant
(55:01) Scenarios: How to build a culture of curiosity (order taker to advisory)
(01:04:51) Coinbase, Twitter and final thoughts from Erik and Paul
(01:11:36) 3001 Questions All About Me
(01:14:39) Closing remarks
Daniel Stillman designs conversations for a living and insists that you do, too. As an executive coach and facilitator, he works with clients of all shapes and sizes on leadership and team dynamics as well as on product and organizational innovation. He also hosts The Conversation Factory podcast (a top 100 Management Podcast) and is the author of âGood Talk: How to Design Conversations that Matterâ a handbook for changemakers and innovators.
Daniel has worked with Fortune 500 organizations like Accenture, Cisco, Google and Visa and non-profits and government agencies like The Institute of International Education, UNICEF and The NYC Public School Innovation Lab to help them put people at the center of change.
Daniel has a BS in Physics from the City College of New York and a Masters in Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He lives in Harlem with his wife and a grumpy black cat.
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SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
đđŒ Guest, Daniel Stillman:
Podcast: https://theconversationfactory.com/listen
Book: https://theconversationfactory.com/good-talk
Personal Site: https://www.danielstillman.com/
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielstillman/
Connect on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dastillman
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EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
Listening Triangle
Making Conversations
Mastering Virtual Presence
Power of Leader Humility
Sales Metaphor
Problem Framing
Indigenous Thinking
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BOOKS
Humble Inquiry: Link
Helping: Link
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TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Meeting at a bar in New York and the story behind the book, Good Talk
(04:21) Who is Daniel Stillman?
(10:51) The art of communication as a critical skill
(17:21) Conversations in our head to complex conversations
(28:44) Perspective-taking, biases and uncovering the true challenge
(35:41) Deep listening, frameworks and mental models
(46:22) Expert listening, coaching vs advisory
(58:50) Humble inquiry, thinking partner and early conversations to build trust
(01:15:35) The client doesnât know what they want (the abstraction ladder and Conversation OS)
(01:26:47) How to get clarity and intention when you express yourself
(01:38:32) From peer to boss. Leadership and how to handle difficult conversations
(01:48:27) Final words from Daniel
Stephen helps people generate revenue with persuasive videos and automated systems to distribute content at scale. After Stephen sold the tech company, he grew to 2.6 million/year. He looked back and knew it could have been done even faster. He got into video and social mediaâwhen he ran into all the challenges, he used his tech skills to streamline the process. People started noticing his solutions and wanted to buy his systems, but now thatâs all he does.
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SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Stephen G Pope: https://tiktok.com/@stephengpope
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RESOURCES
Content Matrix Worksheet: https://bit.ly/3TBd3au
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TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Stephen G Pope's story and crossing 36000 followers on TikTok
(03:05) Where to start, whatâs the first step and why video
(06:45) What do I say on video and overcoming fear of failing publicly
(11:40) How to get started with your webcam or phone
(16:15) Repeating yourself and what kind of content gets more views
(21:30) Understanding the big picture and keeping it simple
(26:00) How to find ideas on making content by listening to your customers
(28:40) How to pick a platform to start your video journey
(32:20) How to build your audience and what to avoid
(34:54) The âglassesâ and showing your personality
(38:20) How Stephen helps and coaches his clients
(40:15) 3001 Questions all about me and Stephen plays âIn a sentimental moodâ
(42:10) Final words and close
Shwetank Dixit has broad experience in product management, technology strategy (including AI strategy), corporate innovation, engineering management, program management, developer relations, technology evangelism, web standards, browser extensions, technical documentation, and conference organization and public speaking. He often acts as a bridge between the pure tech and business realms.
EPISODE LINKS
Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Shwetank Dixit: https://twitter.com/shwetank
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Shwetank's talk at JSConf on Adblocker Circumvention
https://youtu.be/Vk9bPDaZELQ
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Articles by Shwetank
Table stakes, KTLOs and Differentiators
https://www.getrevue.co/profile/shwetank/issues/table-stakes-ktlos-and-differentiators-955701
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Dealing with change: NIH Syndrome, institutional exceptionalism and isomorphic mimicry
https://www.getrevue.co/profile/shwetank/issues/dealing-with-change-nih-syndrome-institutional-exceptionalism-and-isomorphic-mimicry-955519
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Ambitious Leadership
https://www.getrevue.co/profile/shwetank/issues/ambitious-leadership-955518
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Book Recommendation: Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0465062881/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_RFAM2WP0GYT8N043T499
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Sundar Pichai's OKR tweet
https://twitter.com/sundarpichai/status/1543328071532523521?s=20
-
Ad Filtering Dev Summit
https://adfilteringdevsummit.com
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TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Optimism and raising kids
(05:39) Zero to one efforts
(09:58) Doing things that donât scale (Airbnb story)
(14:09) Behind the scenes: Opera (How browsers work and the future)
(24:02) Browser rendering engine monopolies and privacy, user data and cookies
(38:00) How online ads help prevent a class system on the internet
(42:20) People behind ad block services and their philosophy
(48:29) Leadership and future value mindset to tactics
(57:36) Ambitious leadership: Voyages, Marathons and Sprints
(01:08:06) Being strategic and preparing a business case for executives
(01:17:57) Diverse teams and assembling the right people (+ challenges)
(01:26:42) Learn how your company makes money and incentives (+ KLO)
(01:34:28) OKRs, NIH Syndrome and dealing with conflicts (org dysfunctions)
(01:42:34) Different teams and building culture
(01:50:28) Giving feedback the right way and understanding team dynamics
(01:55:34) Isomorphic Mimicry
(01:58:52) Summary by Paul
(2:04:45) Advice on how to show up and get hired (remote first)
Isha is a Transformation and Change Management Coach with extensive experience in introducing change and driving adoption with people. She is skilled at structured design and implementation of large-scale complex change initiatives while focusing on a smooth transition from the current state to the target state by providing thought leadership, coaching and training. Outside of work, she is a loving daughter, mom and wife who enjoys spending time with her family. She likes to meditate and focus on holistic health in her quiet time.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Isha Singh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishasingh-5221/
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
Watch on Youtube
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Galaxies and spirituality
(10:57) How do we know each other
(14:50) Memories and lessons learned from college
(19:32) Boeing 777 campaign story
(24:03) Ishaâs current role as a transformation coach
(25:10) Understanding macro and micro, connecting strategy with initiatives
(28:22) How and when do transformation coaches get involved
(32:26) How to get buy-in at the leadership level
(38:46) Understanding and knowing incentives that drive behaviour
(43:16) Advice on how to navigate a dysfunctional organization
(59:12) High five diffusion in management consulting
(01:02:12) Cognitive empathy, speaking in grade eight language and asking stupid questions
(01:17:10) Ishaâs backstory, early years and influences
(01:33:12) Radical candour, self-awareness and cultural differences
(01:51:57) Who moved my cheese
(02:04:04) Learning zone and growth mindset
(02:05:02) How coaches and SMEs help leadership navigate a dysfunctional org
(02:13:30) Tactical steps leadership can take to address dysfunction and get alignment
(02:23:29) 3001 questions all about me
(02:24:46) Final words and close
Gayle is a Sales Enablement leader with a demonstrated record of success and extensive experience driving cross-functional collaboration, customer and partner engagement and loyalty, and revenue and market share by empowering sales teams with the right coaching, tools and training to maximize productivity. When she is not working, she is a loving daughter, wife and mother trying to live her best life while caring for those in her life who mean the most.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Gayle Charach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gcharach/
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
CHAPTERS
(00:00) How Gayle and I met
(02:08) Gayleâs current role as Global Head of Sales Enablement at vArmour
(03:34) From Winnipeg to Toronto
(07:07) Teamwork, collaboration, and other lessons learned from camp
(11:02) Driving results with the STAR methodology
(13:54) Trip to Israel and emotional regulation as a leadership skill
(19:20) Speaking in Eight grade language for domain experts
(23:33) Not fitting into a box and Gayleâs car buying story
(32:52) Leading with a story to invite people into the conversation
(38:38) Helping logical minds tell emotion-led stories
(43:06) From strategy to initiatives, change management and the role of collaboration
(52:16) Improving communication bandwidth between people and teams
(01:03:25) Building trust and bringing people on the journey by knowing what drives them
(01:10:13) Culture and behaviour as a result of incentive structures
(01:15:23) Connecting the people at the bottom with the top
(01:22:43) How Gayle got into sales
(01:28:08) Imposter syndrome, limiting beliefs and trusting yourself
(01:33:14) Advice for women looking for a career in sales
(01:40:06) Paulâs summary and learnings
(01:42:58) 3001 Questions all about me
(01:45:23) Closing remarks
Nicole is a former Marketing Executive turned Founder, Marketing Consultant & Business Coach. Nicole rapidly grew her corporate career in just eight years, from earning $55k as a Marketing Specialist in 2013 to earning $240k as a VP of Growth in 2021.
In addition to consulting, Nicole is also a Mentor in a few Toronto Accelerator Programs, where she coaches a variety of early-stage start-ups on how to grow their businesses.
When Nicole isnât working with clients, she is building her own e-commerce company, Tall Size â the first-ever online shopping platform for tall women. As a tall woman, she was sick and tired of how hard it was to find clothes that fit her body, so she set out to solve the problem herself.
Nicoleâs sole mission in life is to empower 1 million women to step into their most confident and comfortable selves in both business and in life, and she will not stop until she does.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Nicole Murphy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemjmurphy/
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/PAULSYNG
Youtube: https://youtu.be/jnifJfG9YqM
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) How we know each other
(03:00) Who is Nicole Murphy (Founder & Coach)
(05:25) What is Tall Size
(08:32) Growing up in a small town
(13:13) Influence of family
(16:33) Being the tall one out from an early age
(20:00) Finding her superpower and community
(27:00) Funny dating stories of a tall girl (advice for men)
(34:09) Moving to the big city
(39:49) Getting hired at Well.ca (Lesson on how to apply for a job)
(49:22) What kind of company you should apply for fresh out of school
(57:40) Role email marketing played in Nicoleâs career
(01:06:52) Obvious things that hold people back in their career
(01:08:48) What it was like to become an executive
(01:13:13) Leading vs managing the work
(01:24:05) Individual contributors vs managers (Org incentive structure)
(01:31:58) Leaving the executive role and microdosing
(01:44:26) Starting to live life for yourself and closing the first deal
(01:56:23) How to show up to client meetings and getting them to open up
(02:09:35) Being curious and coach-like (and also hiring her first coach)
(02:19:13) Finding her voice and not being obsessed with metrics
(02:30:05) Whatâs better than having a website when starting out on your own
(02:32:49) Becoming a coach and coaching other women
(02:40:52) Starting and building Tall Size
(02:46:32) How to find your customers and build an email list
(02:57:47) Whatâs next for Tall Size
(03:02:54) Paul summarizes Nicoleâs story
(03:06:20) Closing remarks by Nicole
Karan is a Sr. Product Manager (External Ecosystem group) at TD Bank with a focus on Digital Identity. He is an Ex Management Consultant who has spent the last 10 years in Banking in Canada with exposure to Mid-Market Lending, Personal Banking, Product Management and Innovation.
SPEAKER LINKS
Host, Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Guest, Karan Puri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karan-puri-0342039
EPISODE LINKS
Spotify, Apple, Anchor & more: https://anchor.fm/paulsyng
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Karanâs backstory (India)
(09:40) Dreams of becoming a fighter jet pilot
(13:00) Suiting up, long walks, reading books and mental health
(19:45) First interview and introduction to media planning
(22:50) Client presentation and being coached by inspirational leaders
(28:53) Work culture, making mistakes and feeling safe
(36:51) Being a generalist and following your curiosity
(39:09) Lacoste shocker and Nielsen data (inside joke)
(48:20) People donât know what they want
(51:49) Being a visible minority in India and Canada
(57:02) Building resilience and work-life balance
(01:05:51) Leaders vs managers (vision and focus on outcomes)
(01:08:05) Radical candour and giving feedback (India vs Canada)
(01:16:35) Working at the bank (the first 6 years)
(01:37:53) Present role at the bank (External Ecosystems group)
(01:45:20) Key learnings (marketing, product mindset, business case)
(01:52:00) Digital identity, fintech and bringing perspective
(02:02:20) Important lessons and cultural differences (India to Canada)
Shwetank Dixit has broad experience in product management, technology strategy (including AI strategy), corporate innovation, engineering management, program management, developer relations, technology evangelism, web standards, browser extensions, technical documentation, and conference organization and public speaking. He often acts as a bridge between the pure tech and business realms.
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SPEAKER LINKS
Paul Syng: https://linktr.ee/paulsyng
Shwetank Dixit: https://twitter.com/shwetank
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Listen to this podcast on other platforms: https://anchor.fm/paulsyng
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 How we know each other
02:28 Shwetank on how he got started
03:48 How Shwetank got hired by Opera
08:02 Schools, markers of success and making mistakes
11:59 Building a search engine for academic content
13:00 The role of the education system and pursuing your curiosity
14:18 From shy introvert to a public speaker (contrarian view)
22:05 What does a web evangelist do?
26:30 Lesson on reaching out to people on Linkedin (building relationships)
29:10 Humans are suspicious of salesy behaviour
33:30 First stint as a product manager (working on Opera extensions platform)
37:16 Browser extensions, platform monopoly and the risks
39:48 Parallels between product and service-based companies (bringing features or people in-house)
42:16 Role of distribution and client buying decisions
45:52 Sales-led model vs Product-led growth (PLG)
52:20 Future of sales: PLG coupled with sales
56:00 The role of communication in becoming a leader and bridge
01:01:07 Difference between an engineer and senior engineer
Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/IhrE3HZp-W0
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulsyng
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulsyng
Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/XEUCP_BuJp8
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulsyngâ
How to lead with curiosity: https://youtu.be/9Ptc4TzP1cYâ
"How to get rich" on Twitter https://twitter.com/naval/status/1002...â
"How to get rich" on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...â
Follow me on Twitter: @paulsyng
Also, follow Chris Do and David C Baker âÂ
Watch this episode on YouTube