Connecting Business: Recent Episodes
Kinetic Business by Windstream
Connecting Business is what we do every day. We peel back the technical complexities and dig into emerging trends and some amazing solutions in business technologies. We’ll visit with experts who know how to talk with business people, and we will explore how your business can better connect with your customers and with the right solutions that fit your needs as well as the unique demands of your business. Connecting Business is our mission.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light that no matter what resources you could afford we all faced the same reality of being stuck at home for various lockdowns. The demand for change in accessible healthcare, patient rights, healthcare directives and health equity began before the pandemic and was only brought to the forefront since. We sit down with CEO of Virtual Emerging Technology Solutions (V-ETS) and Founder of 360HEALTH Network, JaLisa Johnson to discuss healthcare technology in today’s environment and leveling the playing field in health equity.
For companies both large and small, there’s always one lingering question: what’s coming in the future and how do I get my business there? The future is predictable, but the outcomes are not. As we kickoff 2022, we sit down with Business Futurist, Cecily Sommers to discuss business trends, habits of mind, organizational needs and more to help your business stay the course no matter what the future holds.
As we look back on the year–and what a year it was– Connecting Business brought insightful conversations on how businesses have thrived and pivoted when it matters most.
Through challenging times, our guests brought their A-games. We sat down with independent retailers, LinkedIn employees and a chief human resources officer to discuss remote work, businesses’ responses to the pandemic, and had open and honest conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion and black entrepreneurship, just to name a few.
Here’s a look back at where we’ve been. We can’t wait to see what 2022 holds!
Every brand has a story. From Green Beret soldiers fighting in Afghanistan to award winning bourbon, the team behind Horse Soldier Bourbon uses authentic storytelling and shared values to market their all-american spirits. In this episode, we sit down with Scott Neil, COO of Horse Soldier Bourbon. We talk about the story behind the brand, the importance of unique and meaningful details, and how they use their core values to make their brand stand out.
Cybersecurity, identity theft, data backup. If you’re plugged in, these are all terms you should familiarize yourself with as cyber-attacks are on the rise with hackers continually getting more creative. In this episode, cybersecurity experts from all over the US talk about how cyber-attacks got started, what makes you the most vulnerable, and what you should do to protect your home and business from a breach.
Chromebooks, Smartboards and ClassDojo. Long before the pandemic, technology was becoming a staple and enabling students, teachers and parents to engage in new and exciting ways beyond the classroom. Last year, technology kept students and educators connected with remote learning solutions. Now, as schools are back in session for in-person learning, we sit down with Adam Hooker, business manager of the Laurel County School District in Laurel County, Kentucky to talk about how technology in education has redefined learning.
A LinkedIn editor and a Chief Human Resource Officer - What do they have in common? A passion for people. Jordyn Dahl, Entrepreneurship Editor at LinkedIn and Mary Michaels, Chief Human Resources Officer at Windstream Communications discuss how the past 18 months of hybrid workspaces have impacted the way we will do business for years to come. Christina Munoz leads the discussion as Dahl and Michaels share the unprecedented challenges faced in 2020… keeping employees socially connected… managing employee expectations… helping teams find a healthy work-life balance… all while remaining committed to employee wellness and to changing the way leadership approaches internal communications.
Cookie dough and stationery. They’re not typically associated with retail success through digital transformation. So how did Kelsey Moreira of Doughp: Legit Cookie Dough and Chandra Greer of Greer Chicago find themselves on top of the retail game - without a storefront - in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic? By already having strong and successful e-commerce businesses. Host Christina Munoz leads the discussion as Greer and Moreira share the keys to building a strong independent retail e-commerce business - focusing on direct communications with customers, listening to their feedback, and evolving your brand to meet their needs.
Join host Christina Munoz as she discusses the importance of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) with Blake Woolsey, Chief Communications and Development Officer at Heartland Forward, and Michael McCathern, Executive Director at the John Maxwell Team. Supporting DE&I efforts improve the bottom line and create a better work culture for all employees. Leaders who invest in DE&I see positive ROI through a more productive workforce and better employee retention. Inclusivity allows people with different backgrounds to have a voice, creating a culture where everyone feels valued. Businesses benefit from understanding that the cost of not supporting a culture of DE&I is much greater than the cost of doing it.
In honor of Military Appreciation Month, Host Christina Munoz leads a panel of current and retired military personnel to share the benefits of being a Military Friendly Employer. Her guests, Sergeant First Class Kris Perkins – Principal Lewisburg HS, AR Army National Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Mason– Arkansas National Guard and Gary Wynn – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, discuss a variety of topics ranging from the importance of education and working with people from all walks of life to being mission focused and how to be a military friendly business. What can businesses expect when they hire military personnel? Why is it important for business owners to be aware of rules and policies that support employees who participate in the Army and Air Force Reserves or National Guard? The panel’s experience shows how military training provides invaluable skills, such as efficiency, leadership, and team building, that help achieve success in the business world.
Join host Christina Munoz for her conversation with Maggie Young, President of Southwest EAP about helping employees manage their mental health and work stresses. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are one of the most cost-effective benefits a business can provide, with a 10 to 1 return on investment for the business. Businesses who offer EAPs, with counseling, self-care resources, and training, to their workers see improvements to business productivity, morale, and company culture.
Join host Christina Munoz for her interview of Jennifer Lindsey, Director of Sales for Kinetic Business Kentucky. Jennifer discusses the importance of mentors and professional development as keys to being a successful sales leader. Ms. Lindsey shares how strong women and great mentors shaped her sales leadership career. She explains how the values her mentors instilled--work-life balance, continuous learning, coaching and teaching, being a good listener, and accountability--helped her achieve success in her career and let her prioritize nurturing her team members’ professional growth
Join host Christina Munoz as she interviews Dr. Fitz Hill, Executive Director of the Scott Ford Center for Entrepreneurship. Dr. Hill discusses the importance of relationship building between African American owned businesses, banks, lending institutions, government, and businesses in the community. Dr. Hill emphasizes the importance of supporting black entrepreneurship, which empowers the community through investment in local businesses.
Join host Christina Munoz as she interviews Jesse Purcell, director of the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance in Kenton, Ohio. Munoz and Purcell talk about how small businesses need to pivot to be successful without the benefit of face-to-face networking and in-person events that come with participation in Chamber-sponsored activities. With businesses concerned about return on investment, it’s important that an organization gets value from professional associations and Purcell shows how the Chamber has developed new programs to support businesses, including virtual networking and collaboration events. By advocating for all businesses in the community, Purcell discusses how the Chamber supports the business community regardless of membership status. At a time when businesses need help the most, the Chamber offers programs to encourage businesses to join, engage, and thrive, despite the restrictions on in-person events and gatherings.
Join host Christina Munoz as she interviews entrepreneur Renee Sobotka for insights on how True North Technology of Lincoln, Nebraska, grew despite the pandemic. Hear Sobotka share her journey from financial analyst and banker to technology business owner. She explains how in the hectic and dynamic pace of a start-up she leveraged communications technologies and learned how to “fail fast” by recovering quickly from mistakes to put her business on solid ground.
Host Christina Munoz interviews Lorenzo Clark, National Vice President of Inside Sales and Account Management at Kinetic by Windstream, for his insights on how his business successfully moved to remote work as the Coronavirus pandemic forced Kinetic to support the communications and IT security needs of hundreds of employees working from home. Clark discusses how businesses overcome three biggest fears in supporting a remote work environment: maintaining performance, culture, and security.