On the Schmooze - SoundSage

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Today’s guest is known as the Step It Up Queen. She is on a mission to empower entrepreneurs who in turn, will better the world. She helps her clients have more clarity, more profits, and more fun. With over twenty years of experience as a business coach and speaker, she has worked with thousands of people to just finish the damn project. Specifically, she coaches thought leaders through writing and publishing their transformative books. Despite struggling to learn to read due to her debilitating dyslexia, she is the award-winning author of more than 30 books. Her latest book is “The Most Common Entrepreneurial Mistakes and How to Avoid Them." Please join me in welcoming Lisa MacDonald.

Lisa MacDonald shares her journey from overcoming dyslexia to becoming a prolific author and empowering entrepreneur while delving into her insights on leadership and personal growth. In this episode, we discuss: 🪜 Lisa's dedication to empowering entrepreneurs with the belief that their success can positively impact the world. She helps her clients achieve greater clarity, profitability, and business enjoyment. 🪜 Her resilience and ability to overcome challenges, like having dyslexia, and not letting that stop her from authoring over 30 books. 🪜 Her journey from writer to thought leader started with her being a passionate reader with dreams of being a writer. By embracing opportunities, Lisa has moved through author branding and public speaking to now being an international thought leader in her field. 🪜 Through her experience surviving domestic violence and helping others through similar situations, she has become an inspirational figure to those around her.

Tune in to discover how Lisa's journey from "learning to read" to "leading the way" can inspire you to conquer challenges and step up your entrepreneurial game.

Links

Lisa MacDonald on LinkedIn and Instagram.

www.stepitupqueen.com

Books mentioned in this episode:

“The Most Common Entrepreneurial Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” by Lisa MacDonald

Other Resources

Learn more about Jack Canfield.

Learn more about Toastmasters.

Learn more about BNI.

On the Schmooze is a podcast that features interviews with talented professionals who have overcome challenges to achieve success. I ask probing questions, and guests share untold stories about their leadership journey and how they built and sustained their professional network. Subscribing (or following) and leaving a rating and review wherever you are listening helps this podcast be discovered.

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Today’s guest defines success as using your authentic skills to serve others without depleting yourself. She’s a catalyst for positive change, a certified executive coach, a professional speaker, and a productivity consultant who has dedicated her life to the intersection of productivity and inclusivity. She believes that exceptional leadership and nurturing environments can bring out the best in everyone. She inspires individuals to design for well-being and cultivate sustainable performance while avoiding exhaustion and burnout. She encourages leaders to design inclusive performances to invite the richest contributions from every team member, a topic she explores with innovators as host of the Happy Space Podcast. She is a sought-after media contributor to news and lifestyle shows including the Huffington Post, Fast Company, the Globe and Mail, and CBC Radio. Whether speaking to one person or thousands, she loves inspiring massive shifts by inviting you to pay attention to little things that make a big difference. Please join me in welcoming Clare S. Kumar. In this engaging episode, Clare S. Kumar shares her journey from embracing sensitivity to redefining leadership and work environments, offering unique insights into authenticity, courage, and the power of positive change. During our conversation, we discuss: 📍 Leadership is About Becoming Compelling: Clare believes that leadership is not about having all the answers, but about becoming a compelling person to follow. Leadership involves being the guiding force that encourages others to move forward and take the next steps. 📍 Embracing Courage for Great Leadership: Her journey as a leader began early when she was a Brownie, asked to step up into a leadership role. She emphasizes the importance of courage as an integral part of being a great leader and encourages others to embrace it. 📍 Honoring Sensitivity and Resilience: Clare's experiences of attending ten different schools contributed to building her resilience. Discovering that she is a highly sensitive person led her to understand the importance of honoring her sensitivity and learning to work with it. 📍 Reclaiming Autonomy and Redesigning Work: Clare's passion for productivity and inclusivity led her to explore how workplaces can be redesigned for well-being and sustainable performance. She believes in the significance of reclaiming autonomy and redesigning work to create nurturing environments that bring out the best in everyone. 🎙️Listen to this episode and discover how Clare's insights will help you "organize" your leadership approach, making your journey from chaos to clarity a joyful one. 😃

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Forbes named today’s guest the premier expert on standing up for yourself at work. She trains some of the brightest minds on leadership development at places like The World Bank, Microsoft, Under Armour, Pfizer, and Nestlé – helping emerging leaders enhance their presence and self-confidence. She is an internationally known leadership speaker and 3X author, TEDx speaker, and an award-winning journalist. Her advice has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Oprah.com, Today, The LA Times, and ABC and NBC television. She has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Inc., The Today Show, and NPR. Today she's a columnist for NBC News Know Your Value. She is the author of the brand new career guidebook "Quick Confidence" and also wrote the bestseller "Pushback" and "The Next Generation of Women Leaders." Please join me in welcoming Selena Rezvani.

Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration!

In this engaging podcast episode, Selena Rezvani, a renowned leadership expert and author, unveils her unique journey and insights into leadership, empowerment, and the transformative power of authenticity. In this episode, we discuss: ► Leadership as Curiosity and Experimentation: Selena defines leadership as having a curious mindset and being open to experimentation, especially when conventional approaches aren't practical. ► From Craigslist to Dream Job: She discovered her dream job through an unexpected source, Craigslist. This highlights the importance of keeping an open mind and exploring various avenues. ► Empowering Women and Girls: Selena's interactions with influential figures, including Rosemary Price of UPS, inspired her to empower women and girls. She recognizes the significance of sharing experiences and insights to uplift others. ► Turning Personal Challenges into Strengths: Her background as the youngest of four siblings and her multicultural heritage influenced her resilience and desire for belonging. Her experiences of loss, advocating for herself, and pursuing education have shaped her journey and perspectives on leadership.

🎙️ Tune into this episode and discover how Selena Rezvani spills the "confidence beans" on mastering leadership with a splash of curiosity, a dash of experimentation, and a whole lot of self-belief. Don't miss out on unleashing your inner leader with Selena's expert insights! 🌟

Links

Selena Rezvani on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

www.selenarezvani.com

Books mentioned in this episode:

“Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself” by Selena Rezvani

“Pushback: How Smart Women Ask--and Stand Up--for What They Want” by Selena Rezvani

“Next Generation of Women Leaders, The: What You Need to Lead but Won't Learn in Business School” by Selena Rezvani

“Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo

Other Resources Listen to my episode with Dorie Clark. On the Schmooze is a podcast that features interviews with talented professionals who have overcome challenges to achieve success. I ask probing questions, and guests share untold stories about their leadership journey and how they built and sustained their professional network. Subscribing (or following) and leaving a rating and review wherever you are listening helps this podcast be discovered.

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Today’s guest has a natural talent for connecting with people and absorbing the processes and nuances of residential real estate. He is on a mission to build mutually beneficial relationships. He is a seasoned real estate agent with over 20 years of experience specializing in REO and short sales. He is adept at assisting both traditional and distressed buyers and sellers. He is currently #9 among the Top Remax Agents in Pennsylvania & Delaware, consisting of over 12,000 agents. Known for his creativity, he is a passionate content creator who shares insightful community highlights through video. Definitely check out his Youtube channel! Please join me in welcoming Chris Nelson. Get ready to be inspired by real estate expert Chris Nelson as he shares his journey, leadership insights, and the power of authenticity in the industry. In this episode, we discuss the following: 🏠 Building Mutually Beneficial Relationships: Chris is a seasoned real estate agent with over 20 years of experience. He has a natural talent for connecting with people and prioritizes building mutually beneficial relationships with his clients. He is known for his creativity and passion for content creation, where he shares insightful community highlights through video, showcasing his commitment to engagement and meaningful connections. 🏠 Leadership with Passion: Chris's perspective on leadership is to be just as passionate about helping others reach their goals as he is about his own. This mindset influences his interactions with clients and extends to his role as a leader at work and under his roof. His personal experiences, including almost losing his house, have shaped his leadership style, emphasizing empathy and support. 🏠 Authenticity and Uniqueness: Chris embraced his uniqueness and authenticity in the real estate industry. He decided to be himself, wearing a backward hat, showing his tattoos, and engaging with clients as if having coffee with a friend. This approach allowed him to connect more deeply with his clients and stand out in the competitive real estate market. 🏠 Mentorship and Growth: Chris values mentorship and acknowledges the impact of his mentor, Dave McIntosh, who encouraged him not to play the victim during tough times. This positive outlook has been instrumental in navigating challenges and achieving success. Additionally, Chris's dedication to continuous growth is evident in his role as a coach for real estate agents, where he helps others succeed while maintaining a focus on his own real estate business. Listen to this episode to discover how Chris Nelson navigates the twists and turns of real estate like a pro! 🏠

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Today’s guest is a compassionate and analytical problem solver. Some say it’s her superpower. She’s an influential figure in the SaaS startup landscape and a pivotal player in transforming the customer experience. Having accrued seven years of experience in the Customer Success world, she is an expert at navigating the often-complex terrain of SaaS startups. Her portfolio is a testament to her hard-earned expertise, boasting profound knowledge in value-based selling, customer retention, and renewal. She’s not just an expert in her field; she is a force of change and a symbol of compassion in the corporate world. Please join me in welcoming Jasmine Reynolds. Join us as we dive into the world of SaaS startups and customer success with Jasmine Reynolds, a compassionate problem solver transforming the customer experience.

In this episode, we discuss the following: 📣 Jasmine as an influential figure in the SaaS startup landscape, with seven years of experience in the Customer Success world. Her expertise lies in value-based selling, customer retention, and renewal, making her a pivotal player in transforming the customer experience. 📣 Her belief that leadership is about being a coach and a cheerleader. Her experience leading cheer and dance groups for over 15 years has shaped her nurturing approach to her personal and professional life. 📣 Despite not actively seeking out leadership opportunities, Jasmine has always stepped into the nurturer role in her friend groups. Her innate compassion and willingness to support others have made her a symbol of compassion in the corporate world. 📣 Her success in sales is driven by her belief in what she's selling. She emphasizes the importance of being proactive rather than reactive in customer success, and she takes pride in her ability to support her customers to the highest levels by staying organized and up to date with technological advancements in the SaaS world. Get ready to cheer Jasmine on as she leads us through the world of SaaS startups and customer success with her superpower of compassion and analytical problem-solving!

Links Jasmine Reynolds on LinkedIn.

Other Resources

Listen to my episode with Stephanie Chung.

Learn more about Toastmasters.

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Today’s guest is a gentle disruptor. She knows work is changing, but the beliefs still hold true. People want to do work that matters. For over 20 years, she has worked with organizations and executives who want to make a positive difference in the lives of those they lead and serve. She is the founder of WorkMatters, Inc., a leadership expert, author, speaker, and trailblazer in her field who helps CEOs and executives shape corporate culture and inspire change. Executives turn to her when they want to explore reinvention as a means to grow their organization in a fast changing environment. She is the author of the award-winning book, “Take the Bull by the Horns” and the creator of “The Leadership Journal.” Her podcast CEO on the GO is designed to inspire leaders who like to learn on the go. Please join me in welcoming Gayle Lantz. In this week's On the Schmooze episode, we are diving into the essence of leadership and the evolving work landscape with a visionary expert who sparks transformation, Gayle Lantz.

In this episode, we discuss the following: 🌟 Gayle's belief that work is changing, but the desire to do meaningful work remains strong. She has spent over 20 years working with organizations and executives who want to make a positive difference in the lives of others. 🌟 Her leadership expertise as an author, speaker, and founder of WorkMatters, Inc. CEOs and executives turn to her when they want to navigate reinvention and drive change in a rapidly changing environment. 🌟 Gayle's award-winning books "Take the Bull by the Horns" and "The Leadership Journal." She also hosts the podcast CEO on the GO, designed to inspire leaders who prefer learning on the go. 🌟 Her background in psychology and her start as a career coach. Gayle's curiosity about fear, decision-making, and helping others shaped her approach to working with leaders and companies. Discover the bull-iant insights and leadership wisdom that will have you charging towards success in the ever-changing work arena!

Links

Gayle Lantz on LinkedIn and Twitter.

www.workmatters.com

CEO on the Go podcast

Books mentioned in this episode:

“Life Work Planning Workbook: Get What You Really Want in Your Life and Work” by Gayle Lantz

“Leadership Journal: A Must Have Goal-Setting Guide For Leaders - Second Edition” by Gayle Lantz

“Leadership Journal: A Must Have Goal-Setting Guide For Leaders” by Gayle Lantz

“The Mastermind Groups: Quick Launch Kit” by Gayle Lantz

“Take the Bull by the Horns: The Busy Leader's Action Guide to Growing Your Business...and Yourself” by Gayle Lantz

“What Color Is Your Parachute?: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success” by Richard Boles

“The Quarter-Life Breakthrough: Invent Your Own Path, Find Meaningful Work, and Build a Life That Matters” by Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky

Other Resources

Listen to my episode with Dorie Clark.

Learn more about Toastmasters.

Learn more about National Speakers Association.

Learn more about Innovation Women.

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Today’s guest helps adults transform their lives, be more creative, and regain joy with purposeful play. He is the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and author of the book “Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play.” Featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform, he has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world, as well as nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. He uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Please join me in welcoming Gary Ware. In this week's On the Schmooze episode, Gary Ware shares his playful approach to unlocking creativity, fostering better communication, and transforming workplaces, inviting listeners to embrace the power of purposeful play for personal and professional growth.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

Gary emphasizes that leadership involves listening, inclusivity, and championing the people in one's care, creating a supportive environment.

His experience of building a mastermind group in elementary school highlights his early inclination towards collaboration and shared learning.

Through therapy and reflecting on his childhood, Gary embarked on a journey of self-discovery, aligning his passions and talents with his career choices.

As a multi-potentialite, Gary's varied interests, including science, naval service, and music teaching, demonstrate the value of exploring different paths for personal and professional growth.

Listen to this episode to "play their way" to success with Gary Ware as he shares how incorporating purposeful play and the power of improvisation can unlock creativity, boost communication, and bring joy to the workplace.

Links

Gary Ware on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

www.BreakthroughPlay.com

Other Resources Listen to my episode with Jeff Harry.

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Today’s guest believes you can master the art of connection and engagement through the power of strategic storytelling. She is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, and motivational speaker. Her wacky wit and powerful stories have charmed hearts and tickled funny bones for nearly two decades. She was a featured entertainer for Holland America Cruise Lines, keynote speaker for the International Toastmasters Convention, and has keynoted numerous major conferences and corporate events. In 2022, she was inducted into the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame. She is the host of Prides Hollow Podcast and has written several books, including “Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale,” “The Land of If Only,” “The Story Formula,” and “The Gutsy Girls Pocket Guide to Public Speaking.” Her one-woman show Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale is being booked all over the U.S. Please join me in welcoming Kelly Swanson. In this week's On the Schmooze episode, unlock the power of storytelling and learn how to create deep connections and influence through the art of strategic storytelling with award-winning storyteller and comedian Kelly Swanson. In this episode, we discuss the following: Kelly believes that leadership is not limited to a specific position but can be anyone with moments of influence. This perspective highlights that anyone can make a positive impact through their actions and words. The healing power of storytelling: Kelly initially wrote and shared her stories without realizing their profound impact on healing and creating emotional connections with others. Her personal experiences and wacky wit helped her forge deep connections with her audience. Her childhood experience of being bullied led her to seek solace in books and stories. This early connection with storytelling significantly shaped her career as a storyteller, comedian, and motivational speaker. Kelly discovered her passion for storytelling while attending a writing class in college. This discovery led her to visit different schools to share stories with children. Joining the National Speakers Association (NSA) and building a network of speakers further propelled her career and opened doors for new opportunities. Join the laughter-filled journey with Kelly Swanson and learn how to "story" your way to success because when it comes to connection and engagement, she's got the perfect "plot" twist for you! On the Schmooze is a podcast that features interviews with talented professionals who have overcome challenges to achieve success. I ask probing questions, and guests share untold stories about their leadership journey and how they built and sustained their professional network. Links

Kelly Swanson on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

https://motivationalspeakerkellyswanson.com

www.storyimpactnetwork.com

Prides Hollow Podcast

Books mentioned in this episode:

“Affirmation Journal for Positive Thinking: Prompts and Inspiration to Help You Harness Peace and Joy” by Kelly Swanson

“Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale?” by Kelly Swanson

“Small Town America: Stories From the Bank” by Kelly Swanson

“Story-Libs: Templates For Crafting Strategic Stories in Business” by Kelly Swanson

And more ...

Other Resources Learn more about Jeannie Robertson.

Subscribing (or following) and leaving a rating and review wherever you are listening helps this podcast be discovered.

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Today’s guest has guided hundreds of people toward making deeper connections, lasting impressions, and developing friendlier, more lucrative products and services. For over a decade, she has harnessed her Hulk-like disdain for hard sales, tacky self-promotion, and overly competitive sleazeballs as inspiration to help people find better ways to grow their small businesses. She is the Founder of The Non-Sleazy Sales Academy & Quirk Works Consulting, the author of “The Coach Who Would Not Sell,” and the host of the podcast Too Legitimate to Quit: Instantly Actionable Small Business Strategies with a Pop Culture Spin. Please join me in welcoming Annie P. Ruggles.

In this week's On the Schmooze episode, Annie P. Ruggles shares her inspiring journey of embracing authenticity, overcoming resistance to sales, and helping others find better ways to grow their small businesses, emphasizing the importance of leadership, personal growth, and building meaningful connections. In this episode, we discuss the following: 🎭 Her perspective on leadership as the willingness to go first and recognizing that one is not alone in the journey. 🎭 The influence of theater in shaping Annie's understanding of leadership and the realization that people can lead from behind. 🎭 The impact of growing up with a motivational speaker mother and the lessons Annie learned as a short, shy child. 🎭 Her journey from being a Marketing Assistant at a theater in Chicago to becoming a coach and helping others market themselves, highlighting the importance of networking, diversification, overcoming resistance to sales, and nurturing her network. Listen to this episode to "sales into success" with Annie P. Ruggles' expert guidance on authentic marketing strategies, overcoming sales resistance, and building lucrative connections, all while leaving behind tacky self-promotion and sleazy sales techniques.

Links

Annie P. Ruggles on LinkedIn and Twitter.

www.toolegitimate.com

Too Legitimate to Quit podcast

Other Resources

Learn more about Kathleen Pasnisi.

Learn more about Lois Creamer.

Learn more about National Speaker Association.

Learn more about Jodi Kringle.

Learn about Vinnie Potestivo.

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🚨 New episode alert! 🚨 In this week's On the Schmooze episode, Rob Lawless shares his extraordinary mission of meeting 10,000 people, highlighting the power of human connection, the importance of making others feel seen and heard, and the unexpected opportunities that arise when we open doors without a specific reason.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

💯 Rob's perspective on leadership emphasizes the importance of making others feel seen and heard, getting to know people, and gaining their buy-in. 💯 His experiences organizing events since high school, including blood drives and school tours, and the influence of a friend named Kurt on his ambitions and success. 💯 Rob's journey from his initial ambitions of becoming an NBA player to his first jobs and the experiences that shaped his future, including the influence of Penn State alums and his exploration of different career paths. 💯 His mission to meet 10,000 people, starting in 2015, and the monetization of his unique endeavor through sponsorships, media features, and partnerships, as well as his efforts to offer connection-based programs to his network and sustain relationships with the outer levels of his network.

Listen to this episode listen to this episode to unlock the secrets of human connection with Rob Lawless, as he embarks on his mission to meet 10,000 people and shares insights on making meaningful connections, opening doors, and discovering the potential that lies in every interaction.

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Today’s guest is solving employee disengagement and retention issues in the workplace. As an international keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and executive speech/acting coach, she works with leaders who need to learn how to create teams that find solutions by parking their egos, playing nice, engaging, and retaining employees. She is an award-winning actor, author, filmmaker, and nurse. She co-founded a stand-up and improv comedy company in the San Francisco area and has taught improv since 1995 to students of all ages and stages. She’s the author of “Improv to Improve Your Leadership Team: Tear Down Walls and Build Bridges,” a book where you can QUICKLY discover how to use the principles of applied improvisational exercises from the arts to help teams effectively connect and communicate. As an actor, she's just back from an off-Broadway run with her 3rd solo show, An Evening With Florence Nightingale: The Reluctant Celebrity. Please join me in welcoming Candy Campbell.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is less about the slogans and acronyms. Those things don’t change the culture. Leadership is changing culture; the only way to do that is to risk being vulnerable and be authentic.”

Why she believes changing culture has to start at the top.

Candy’s perfect origin story is about a fun rivalry that led to something much bigger.

How she came to be the first editor of the school newspaper.

Her unofficial role as her 4th grade’s class resident film critic.

“I feel like I’m at the psychiatrist’s office.” Candy takes us on a journey from being the oops kid and why she didn’t consider herself a leader.

Her love of riding horses and being paid to be in the saddle.

She got a full scholarship to college in speech communications and could keep it after switching majors if she participated on the debate team. …And then she gave it up.

How she got a full-time scholarship in Acting after performing in spring theater at her school.

Why she gets so much joy from being a goofball.

A moment she stood her ground and quit acting for over a decade over the inappropriate behavior of her costar.

How she came to work for PanAm, a different sort of acting.

How she combines her nursing and acting skills to help others.

What she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

Links

Candy Campbell on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

www.candycampbell.com

www.FlorenceNightingaleLive.com

Books mentioned in this episode:

“Improv to Improve Your Leadership Team: Tear Down Walls and Build Bridges” by Candy Campbell

“Good Things Come In Small Packages: I Was A Preemie” by Candy Campbell

“Improv to Improve Healthcare: A System for Creative Problem-Solving (ISSN)” by Candy Campbell

“Channeling Florence Nightingale: Integrity, Insight, Innovation” by Candy Campbell

“Improv to Improve Healthcare: A System for Creative Problem-Solving” by Candy Campbell

“My Mom is a Nurse” by Candy Campbell

“Mi Mama Es Una Enfermera (Spanish Edition)” by Candy Campbell

“My Grandma is a Nurse” by Candy Campbell

Other Resources Learn more about the National Speakers Association.

Subscribing (or following) and leaving a rating and review wherever you are listening helps this podcast be discovered.

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Today’s guest is on a mission to create opportunities and connections for others.

She is the Founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, a full-service marketing agency specializing in digital and integrated marketing services and public relations for authors, business leaders, coaches, trainers, speakers, and thought leaders.

Her firm has provided a wide range of services to help clients launch nearly 200 books, enabling authors to build their brands, acquire more business customers, and increase book sales.

She is the author of “Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause.” The book takes an in-depth look at what it takes to achieve the greatest possible influence, provides valuable advice for targeting key audiences, offers a variety of practical steps for cutting through the noise, shares best practices for cultivating community, and reveals practical strategies for growing an online presence.

She is also the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast, where she shares actionable advice to help authors achieve their goals to reach more readers and enhance their brand.

Please join me in welcoming Becky Robinson.

In this episode, we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is choosing to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Becky’s beginnings from being a “big, nerd kid” to being a leader today helping people convene.
Why she wanted to be a pediatrician.
Discovering what she wanted to be when she grew up at age 40.
How she chose to start writing after evaluating if she could make a career from it.
Her time working for a leadership consultant and helping them launch their books. More and more people kept coming up to her to ask her to help them launch their books.
How Jessie Lynn Stoner changed her career through an introduction to Whitney Johnson.
The importance of her uncalculated decision to show up and connect without an agenda or trying to sell something.
The importance of thinking about marketing your book as one is writing it.
Getting comfortable with talking about your book.
How to prioritize and execute a strong launch.
The most important metric during a book launch … JOY.
How she schedules and plans to get Amazon reviews.
What she has planned for the year ahead.

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com

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Today’s guest is healing workplaces through play and positive psychology.

He believes fully embracing your nerdy genius gives you the power to make a difference and change lives. We already have many of the answers we seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn, help to create a better world.

He helps teams build psychological safety and assist individuals in addressing their most significant challenges by embracing a play-oriented approach to work.

He was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers and has been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, Huffpost, Shondaland, & Wired. He has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff infuse more play into their daily lives.

As he says, “Work sucks, but it doesn't have to.”

Please join me in welcoming Jeff Harry.

In this episode, we discuss:

His thoughts on leadership: “The leader is the person everyone gravitates towards. They are the person you want to follow. Almost always, this is not the person with the leadership title.”
Why he found trying to be cool exhausting and turned his life towards games and how that connected to his life today.
Feeling unseen in the 7th and 8th grades.
Starting a leftist magazine while in college at Tufts University.
Creating mischief to inspire belonging.
Being fully present was how he connected with others.
His experience attending a party where he felt the loneliest he ever felt in his life even though he was in the space of acceptance.
How he ended up working for a toy company in New York.
Why he wants to heal the hardest situations through play, including how to heal your inner critic.
How he tried to unionize the flagship Toys R Us store in Manhattan.
How he found potential through a Craigslist ad job.
Why his bowtie reminds him not to take things seriously.
How he picked the different curriculums collaboratively. “We would listen to everyone’s opinion.”
His time spending five years travelling with Lego.
How he started his TikTok during the pandemic and that led to him experimenting with pitching himself to podcasts.
How he started getting paid for speaking gigs.
How he nurtures and sustains the outer levels of his network.

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com

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Today’s guest supports visionary entrepreneurs looking to make the world better than they found it.

She’s a first-generation American and first-born daughter who has been solving problems her entire life. She’s a fixer and can fill many different roles in your business and creates a safe space for her clients to be seen and heard as they are.

She founded Pey Pey the VA, a virtual assistant company, which provides transition support and visibility strategies for those ready to break generational cycles, build wealth, and live the life they’ve always wanted (but didn’t know was an option).

She’s also been my virtual assistant since February 2020 and has had a front-row seat in the rollercoaster of my business over the last three years. I can’t imagine my business without her.

Please join me in welcoming Peya Robbins.

In this episode, we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is creating through the chaos. The moment you step into your day, and something is going wrong, it’s what you create at that moment that determines the kind of leader you are.”
“If you’re a first-born daughter, you’re in charge of people.”
Peya’s experience growing up as a first-generation American and the responsibility of helping her mom raise her siblings.
Her dreams of being an immigration lawyer as a kid being inspired by helping her family fill out documents as a young kid.
Being the mastermind and the person that knows how to get things done and not wanting to be perceived by the world.
Working so hard to get good grades to get into University because that was the life plan, and then realizing it was not for her.
The alternate plan after deciding that University was not for her after two years of living at school.
Creating an alternate plan and getting different retail jobs stumbling on business card design as a side hustle. That side hustle grew to become the full-time plan.
The gig opened her eyes to see the world in a new way and the possibilities that were available to her.
How finding out, she was pregnant changed her business operation to a free-for-all of learning new things and trying out new offers and a flurry of sales.
Her motivation for helping others and why her love language (for giving love) is acts of service.
Why she works with visionary entrepreneurs and why they hold such a special place in her heart.
Her experience of being my virtual assistant and her take on the inner workings of my business, including how my third book came to be.
How she practices networking, and why people shouldn’t live in secret.
Her big dream for the next year!

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com

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Today’s guest helps organizations and individuals get from where they are to where they want to go. She engages employees, develops leaders, and helps people find meaning on a daily basis—a concept she calls “breadcrumb legacy.”

She is a speaker, teacher, and coach. After a 30-year career as a college professor of business management and leadership, she built her own business to share what she’s learned.

She is the host of the podcast "Becoming a Sage," which interviews thought leaders about life and work wisdom, and writes a column for Training Magazine called "Leading Edge." She is the author of six books, her latest book is “Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering.”

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Jann Freed.

In this episode, we discuss:

Her thoughts on leadership: “A leader is someone in the position to influence the lives of others, positive or negative - this includes parents, teachers, pastors.”
Jann’s small-town roots while growing up in a tiny town in northern Iowa.
Growing up with a heavy influence on her education from her parents, along with the friendly “threat” from her dad to prioritize finishing college before getting married.
Her rebel streak and love for social justice. She was married in 1982 and kept her maiden name, surprising no one that knew her.
Jann found her path by getting her degree, “falling into” banking, and realizing it wasn’t the right fit for her.
“I enjoy teaching because I’m passionate about learning.”
Why she decided to go back to school and get her doctorate.
Trying to understand promotions that didn’t pay more money but provided tenure - another moment where her justice streak was at the forefront of her career.
When she started thinking about leaving the role or moving on to bigger things, her sons were almost at university age, but she had an itch to create a different path.
Her struggles with marketing and figuring out where she should be spending her time.
Landing her TEDx talk through Marie Incontrera.
The impact of meeting Dorie Clark.
How she networks and stays connected with the different layers of her network, including 30 years of past students.

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com

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Today’s guest is all about REAL-ationship building.

He has created a unique twist to networking that transforms how and why professionals meet one another. After years of successfully growing his business through networking, he and his wife, Carol, founded Zero to 100™, an inclusive networking movement that operates on a global scale.

Focused on fostering a sense of belonging and gratitude and rooted in developing genuine and authentic connections in business and in life, the movement includes books, networking events, and a proprietary digital platform.

He has been recognized by the business community locally and abroad through numerous publications and awards, most recently Marquis Who's Who in America. He made history in 2021, becoming the first African American in St Charles, Missouri's 250-year history, to receive the Key to the City for his accomplishments and contributions to the well-being and success of the business community.

Please join me in welcoming Joseph Luckett.

In this episode, we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the ability to gain followers. It is the ability to speak and do something and having those two things working congruently.”
The impact “The Purpose Driven Life” had on him and how he influenced his family.
“If you have no purpose, then what do you have?” The importance of knowing your purpose.
Realizing that he needed to direct his energy and passion through the context of having to take Ritalin as a kid.
Why he questioned the path he was on in school.
How being adopted and being raised in a two-parent home really changed how he looked at the world.
His love of video games and how they influenced his life.
The opportunity he was given to go to California to teach breakdancing, only leaving that behind to go back home and help his mother.
Developing an interest in business networking and realizing that the rooms he was walking into didn’t have people that looked like him.
Understanding business networking even when running a coffee sales business and having customers seek networking advice.
His refreshing outlook on coaching vs. consulting.
The origin story of starting his current business with his wife.
Why he values building a B.I.G. business - Belonging, Inclusive, Gratitude.
How he has made an impact through the pandemic and race issues in the past years.
What led him to write his book in the middle of the pandemic.
How he nurtures and sustains his networks through double dates and gym invitations.

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com

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Today’s guest wants to journey to success without compromise. She is an ambitious woman with big goals and the unrelenting grit that has turned them into reality.

She is a two-time Inc 500 winner, 18 times 2 Comma Club winner, and a retired $100M entrepreneur. She has had to fight through the male-dominated business world and gain an education in finance and business.

She has experienced the highest highs of entrepreneurship and the most dangerous lows, including the stress and anxiety resulting from the destructive hustle culture. She learned the hard way that every decision can change the path of her life and business and that success at the cost of her health and well-being is not true success.

After hitting rock bottom, she discovered a better way to build businesses that prioritize the well-being and impact of women. Through her company, Financially Fearless Women, she now helps others to build a life and business that surpasses their dreams without sacrificing their health and well-being.

Please join me in welcoming Jocelynn Harward.

In this episode, we discuss: her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is responsibility.
Having someone say, ‘I will follow you, I choose you as my leader,’ is such a gift.”
Her childhood nickname, “Bossy Jocey,” - clearly a leader from the very beginning.
Learning about seniority when she became editor-in-chief of the newspaper and yearbook early in high school. This later turned into a journalism scholarship in college.
Her favorite part of being a leader - a team.
Her first business is selling performance car parts online and leveraging her knowledge of Photoshop and HTML to sell those parts.
Her first business went under because they tried to take on too much, including two completely different business models. She recovered by going back to designing websites and selling decals on eBay.
Discovering how her customer’s minds worked and how she could sell more products based on their buying habits.
How she got into global supply chain management and loved what she was doing.
How she became a nine-figure business owner. YES! 9!!
How hoverboards changed everything.
How the pandemic affected everything, starting with her suppliers in China in 2019.
Taking her responsibility seriously and ensuring people could maintain their employment, their income, and the basics (like toilet paper).
The unhealthy habits that she developed to cope and how everything fell apart.

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com

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Today’s guest is a dynamic leader and social justice advocate.

She is a highly sought-after social justice thought partner recognized for her passion, activism, and unapologetic talk around anti-racist community building and healing.

With a diverse background spanning industries like college administration, media, public relations, government service, television/radio production, and entrepreneurship, her work has touched countless lives - locally, nationally, and internationally in Ghana and South Africa specifically.

Melannie is the Creator and Executive Producer of both The People's Gathering: A Revolution of Consciousness Conference and The People's Golf Gathering: Out of Bounds Conversations About Race - both professional development learning experiences that focus participants on anti-racist skill building.

In 2018, she was awarded the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize for her lifetime achievements in racial reconciliation. Her documentary about her trip to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, "Peace Queen," won a 2021 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Northwest Emmy®.

Please join me in welcoming Peace Queen-Melannie Denise Cunningham.

In this episode, we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “When I think about leadership, I think about followers. Who wants to follow me? I am thinking about creating possibilities to inspire people to follow me.”
Her experiences with leadership while in high school with community building and crossing cultures.
Why she’s having a blast “making stuff up” as she goes along.
How she came to be a founding member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc.
How she started the first indoor celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life in Tacoma (and now it’s still the most prominent indoor celebration of its kind).
Different ways to maximize the use of every single day.
How we can all center ourselves and our actions around joy.
Her initial goal of being a pediatrician, and when she decided that was not for her, and switching her major to General Studies.
Her experience of heading down to the unemployment office and getting hired at General Electric’s marketing department (and getting fired from that job for being a few minutes late a few times).
How she negotiated herself into being laid off in 1997. She didn’t know what path she needed to take, but she knew she was not on it.
How she helped open the first McDonald’s in South Africa (and the second and third)!
The awakening and how she stays focused and determined on anti-racist work.
How she repurposed the boxes on the US Census form to gather people and start healing through race and knowledge.
The difference between offering a “safe space” vs. a “supportive space.”
How working with me as their Zoom Producer has added a relational component to The People’s Gathering.
How she nurtures and sustains her network.
Her chile farm in Ghana!!

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Today’s guest is an expert in developing relationships for strategic success.

He is the world's leading authority in maximizing customer loyalty through radical generosity. While becoming the #1 performer out of 1.5 million sales reps for one of the world's most recognizable brands, he developed a system of using generosity to gain access to elite clients and generate thousands of referrals. He and his firm, Giftology, now help automate this process for individuals and organizations like UBS, Keller Williams, the Chicago Cubs, and Caesars Palace.

He is the author of “Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Retention” and has been featured in Fox News, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and New York Times.

Please join me in welcoming John Ruhlin.

In this episode, we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership starts with self-leadership. Leadership is creating the future for others.”
His goals of wanting to go to medical school and taking a sharp left into sales with Cutco Cutlery.
When he found his ability to influence others using sales.
His “typical” upbringing as a farm kid and how he achieved good grades in school.
His uncommon skill of being able to ask for help.
How he joined a country club in his early 20 “through the back door” and how that helped increase his Cutco sales.
The importance of leaning in and being open to new opportunities.
Why you should surround yourself with people that are not afraid to fail.
Why the things that were the most painful in his life were the most important to him.
How he started closing 9 out of 10 sales, and each sale provided him with 10-12 leads.
How he wowed CEOs and why he spent six months getting “punched in the face” to get there.
The importance of gifting the right gift, and how he got people to remember his name without using it.
How he nurtures and sustains his network.

Listen, subscribe, and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com

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Today’s guest is passionate about helping coaches, authors, and speakers leverage their expertise. She uses simplicity as a growth strategy.

She is the creator of Coaching Genie, a coaching platform that allows coaches to deliver programs and scale their businesses with simplicity. She is the author of two books, “Coaching Millions” and “Simplicity Entrepreneurship.”

Please join me in welcoming Milana Leshinsky.

In this episode, we discuss:

Her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership before meant being on stage and people listening to me, respecting me, and recognizing me as the authority.” As an introvert, she couldn’t picture herself as a leader.
How she discovered a new definition of leadership– she could lead through ideas. She could inspire others by sharing her ideas (channeled through Seth Godin).
Finding her confidence as a kid through music.
Growing up under the threat of Communism, finding music as her outlet, and shining through that confidence.
Her dream of becoming a music teacher, instead of working in a factory, was the only option she could see growing up in the Soviet Union.
Becoming the first web designer in her city and being featured in her local newspaper.
Having her computer programming goals dashed by a colleague and received his advice that she would make a great manager away from computers.
Her pivot into coaching and how she could leverage her internet and computer skills to create a large coaching community.
Her credit on Wikipedia for coining the term “telesummit”. Yes. Seriously. Check that out here.
Why she created Coaching Genie and the impact she wanted it to have in the world.
Deciding how to market her software to the people that could really use it– her “perfect fit customer.”
Her best advice for introverts– “If you don’t like going to events, create your own.”

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Today’s guest dreams of a world where email marketing is fun and everybody wins.

She teaches email marketing skills to online businesses, digital course creators, and freelance service providers. She came up in her career writing copy for popular programs in the online marketing space. She very soon created her own programs teaching business owners how to write story-powered emails and sell using the principles of persuasion.

For the last three years, she has been slowly dismantling her 7-figure boss-babe empire and unlearning the systems of influence and indoctrination taught her as a new business owner. She is keenly aware of how the use of Cialdini's principles of persuasion can cause harm, especially in the coaching industry. She has now dedicated her work to undoing that harm and teaching sales strategies that leave space for conversation and critical thinking.

Please join me in welcoming Tarzan Kay.

In this episode, we discuss:

Her experience leading a mastermind and realizing she was not a leader. “I thought that I had a right to be leading these people. It was privilege.”
When she learned writing was going to be her future, so she went to music school, then law school.
The importance of really wanting something as the base momentum to achieving it.
Why she left school while on a trip to visit her sister in Australia.
The origin story of her business as a copywriter.
Her strategy about taking courses and enrolling in programs.
The importance of her early hire of her virtual assistant.
Why she talks to her virtual assistant before making a spending decision.
The concept of persuasion being weaponized as an online business owner.
Her laying off all her employees and only keeping her virtual assistant.
How she nurtures and sustains her network.

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Today’s guest is a writer and speaker committed to fighting for social justice. He has written over one hundred essays and articles about racism, mass incarceration, politics, gender, tech, and business.

His latest book, “Straight Dope: A 360 degree look into American drug culture” explores why drugs are so entrenched in America’s society.

He is a three-time TEDx speaker, his first talk, “How I overcame my fear of stuttering,” has been viewed over 320,000 times. His work has been featured in Salon, Black Enterprise, Harvard Business Review, and Al Jazeera.

Please join me in welcoming LeRon L. Barton.

In this episode, we discuss the following: His thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is being able to inspire, being able to listen, and being able to usher people towards a positive direction. It’s being a model for people.” When he knew he was a leader. The people who influenced him at a very young age. His early dreams of being a stuntman, an astronaut, a race car driver, and a writer. Who inspires him in his career, mainly ballet dancers and race car drivers, and why that connection makes sense to him. “I am not envious of writers because I can do what they can do.” His journey into IT because his mom was worried about his future if he pursued writing. Studs Terkel has had an incredible impact on his life and how he shows up as a writer. His connection to Cheryl Crow and how his early journey could be described by her song “Every Day is a Winding Road.” His dream of wanting to do a TED talk. How delivering a TEDx led him to hire a coach and the effect of that decision. How he nurtures and sustains his network. “Relationships need to be nurtured.”

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Today’s guest is a people sculptor.

Bringing an innovative, straightforward approach, she pushes individuals to leave their “Subject Matter Expert” mindset behind and become relationship-oriented leaders that drive their organizations into the future. With a keen talent for anticipating and responding, she helps her clients create actionable plans that mitigate risks and open new avenues of opportunity.

She has worked in operational risk management as a health & safety advisor and in financial risk management at a derivatives trading desk. Today, she centers her career around transformational risk management, where she partners with clients to develop leadership resilience and design foresight strategies for deployment.

Please join me in welcoming Ebony Smith.

In this episode, we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “A leader is a person who knows the next best move.”
The difference between being the leader in the hierarchy and being the subject matter expert.
The importance of respecting the people in the industry, predominantly your team, and how that can change the working experience.
How spending the summers at her grandmother’s developed her leadership at a young age. Her grandmother had a rule that you were responsible for yourself and the kid directly younger than you.
Her mother gave her independence over her grades and education when she was eight years old, which made her a planner.
How she ran experiments with young children to get them interested in science.
Your clients and colleagues will always tell you something you can’t see about yourself.
The very apparent impact of her mother in her life.
Her first coaching client was while she was still in coaching school.
Why the concept of reciprocity is essential to her. “When you give, give, give when you have an ask, they will joyfully help you.”
How she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of your network as an introvert.
What she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

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Today’s guest is known as the LinkedIn Whisperer.

An experienced sales trainer, she has extensive knowledge of traditional sales techniques and has adapted them for LinkedIn. As CEO of Social Sales Link, she guides professionals to establish themselves as a thought leader with a subject matter expert brand. She helps them find and engage their target market by leveraging clients and networking partners for warm introductions to qualified buyers.

She is the co-host of the Making Sales Social podcast and author of “The LinkedIn Sales Playbook: A Tactical Guide to Social Selling.”

Please join me in welcoming Brynne Tillman.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is leading a group of people from a business perspective, a family perspective, etc.”
She selected to go into training because she didn’t want to be a leader.
All of the things she wanted to be when she grew up. “Who wouldn’t want to be a dolphin trainer?”
Why she enjoys running her business by allowing someone else to run it for her.
When she officially became a salesperson.
Her desire to be valuable and helps others rather than make sales.
The difference between actual social selling and ‘connect and spam’ selling.
Her start in banking and how that led to launching a training company.
How one can feel entrepreneurial while working in sales.
How she landed a contract with Aramark by using a shared connection on LinkedIn, by leveraging the same tool she wanted to teach them. That led to being introduced to someone at Comcast, who also became a client.
Her definition of social selling.
QUICK TIP! 85% of your LinkedIn connections are weak ties.
How she nurtures and sustains her network, including the weaker ties and connections.
What she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

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Today’s guest believes you can achieve anything you want in life with the right strategy.

He went from being a person who was afraid of public speaking to becoming a certified Google Trainer and training 10,000 business owners. He is the CEO of Ajax Union, a company he started in January 2008 and grew to number 178 on the INC 500. Currently, his focus is supporting B2B companies with marketing funnels, sales enablement, and lead generation.

He is the author of 6 books, including “High Energy Networking: Get anything you want in life while building meaningful relationships that last a lifetime.”

Please join me in welcoming Joe Apfelbaum.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about taking responsibility. What you do, what you say, and how you behave matters.”
How he learned the balance of leading through coaching and action and listening to others and leading himself.
His most recent endeavor of becoming a poet.
His six little side hustles in his twenties were based on his curiosity and being obsessed with learning more and more things.
Not being able to go to college due to being part of a big family.
His love of building businesses and supporting other people. “The secret to living is giving, not waking and taking.”
His transparency through all his “side hustles” and businesses.
His first product which brought him recurring revenue and how that changed his life.
Why the equivalent of the original version of SEO is LinkedIn.
How he became a Google trainer and the journey to learn how to bust through his limited beliefs and understanding how his brain worked. This led to Joe developing himself.
The bad advice he received from a life insurance guy to spray and pray his business card at an NYC bar during a networking event.
How he nurtures and sustains his massive network.
What he’s looking forward to in 2023.

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Today’s guest is a sought-after speaker and writer. She works with people and organizations that want to lead with authenticity to create happier, more effective teams.

Described as the confidence fairy godmother we all need, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies and professional associations from across North America. She has shared her insights in over 150 articles in publications including Huffington Post, Forbes, and Harpers Bazaar.

Her book “You Got This: The Ultimate Negotiation Guide for Professional Women” provides a fresh and instantly applicable toolkit for anyone ready to develop their authentic voice in negotiation.

Please join me in welcoming Lelia Gowland.

In this episode we discuss:

Her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about authenticity and getting increasingly clear about who I am and how I want to show up in the world.”
How talking about really difficult things in her life is not something to be ashamed of but the universal human experience.
“You never misbehaved.” We learn about what Lelia was like when she was a kid from the source, her loving parents.
How she learned to quiet the people-pleasing voices in her head.
The three factors that help her define the alignment of her strengths and figure out how she wants to live her life.
Her being a strong, curious kid AND also being aware of what people wanted from her.
All of the things she wanted to be when she grew up and the song she created to help her remember. YES! She sings it on the show.
How she achieved all of her life goals while wanting to “be a doctor during snack time.”
“I only cry once a day, I think I’m doing great.” The justification she gave her college boyfriend to describe how she was thriving in college.
How the New Leaders Council affected her life and life trajectory.
Her first speech in Florida and how successful it was even with a huge tech glitch.
How she made space to grow and serve the people she is called to serve.
How she came out to her newsletter community with the fear that she would lose her community.
How her business evolved when she came out.
How she nurtures and sustains her network.
What she’s looking forward to in the next year.

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Today’s guest can help you network your way to more friends, more adventures, and way more success. She knows two key things–the people you meet will change your life and networking is how you meet those people.

She is a motivating, high-energy speaker, teaching the importance of networking, and why you are your best business development tool.

She is the author of “This Sh!t Works: A No-Nonsense Guide to Networking Your Way to More Friends, More Adventures, and More Success”, a book dedicated to making networking easy, accessible, and fun, as well as the host of This Sh!t Works a podcast dedicated to all things business development.

Please join me in welcoming Julie Brown.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is up to each person to define. Anyone can be a leader. It’s not a title or years of experience. You can be a leader every day by influencing others, empowering others, and taking risks.”
Her dream job of being in GLOW - Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.
Her desire to be seen, heard, and respected.
Her college experience was wanting to be a lawyer, she got a degree in science with a minor in business.
How the world led her to architecture and business development.
How she met her classically trained architect husband, I promise it’s not what you think!
When she decided to be in charge of her employment after losing a job and an impending pandemic.
How she discovered the parts of entrepreneurship that she enjoyed.
The ability for a business to change. “Just because you’re doing this now doesn’t mean you have to keep doing this forever. Your business can change.”
How she found the National Speakers Association.
The challenges she faced trying to speak on stages.
Why she invested in a videographer to record her initial speeches to learn from them.
Why she encourages others to make mistakes, “That’s how you learn from them.”
How she nurtures her network.

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Today’s guest is living proof that one can pursue one’s passion in life, and do so while making a profit.

He’s worked with some of the top companies and entrepreneurs on the planet such as Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington, Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, Kim Walsh Philips, Ryan Levesque, Michael Hyatt, Claire Diaz-Ortiz, Lewis Howes, Brian Tracy, Jeff Walker, and more.

He’s here to help you on your quest to turn your passion and message into a profitable and growing business. He’s been through the startup phase multiple times in the past two decades and has built a following from scratch. Today, he lives out his passion for helping others find their purpose, passion, message, and path to profitability.

He’s the host of The Affiliate Guy Podcast, your source for affiliate marketing news, tips, and strategies to take your online business to the next level.

Please join me in welcoming Matt McWilliams.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership isn’t easy. It’s being one step ahead of your audience and understanding that you don’t need to be 2 miles ahead.”
His belief that leadership has nothing to do with you and everything to do with your avatar, ideal client.
Why he considers himself an “acting extrovert” and how he recharges after social interactions.
How his social life changed when he began living with his mom, then his dad.
His realization while visiting Dolly Parton’s house at 12 years old.
His dreams of playing professional sports as a career.
The love of his first job at 22, working with his dad, and how that developed his love of networking.
How he discovered network marketing and realized its impact after a $7,000 sales day while watching TV.
When he decided that he could teach what he had learned about marketing and networking.
His experience running for public office and what he learned about people.
How he ran his first affiliate program when there was nothing in the world that existed about affiliate marketing.
How he became a recognized expert in affiliate marketing.
What he’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

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Today’s guest helps launch new companies, create new brands, and refresh existing identities by bringing strategic expertise to design and marketing. Her studio, Agency Bel, helps companies launch and grow by creating their identities, from strategy to logos, websites, and social media. She is known for coining the concept of Conscious Branding, helping her clients succeed by focusing on being responsive and responsible to their customers and communities. She has worked with both Fortune 50 companies and startups. She served 10 years on the Boston Board of Directors of AIGA, a professional design organization. And currently serves as the executive officer of the board for the New Art Center and as the marketing chair for a national health advocacy organization. Please join me in welcoming Laura Sauter.

In this episode, we discuss:

Her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is really plugging in. It’s wanting to be at the source of the action. It’s a connection between playing (engaging) and moving things forward.
Why she feels comfortable being part of the group that moves things along.
The influence her mom had on her upbringing as a single mom and head of household.
How she landed a prestigious internship right out of high school and how it prepared her for new opportunities across the world.
How she wasn’t discouraged by the stack of “no, thank you’s” she received very early in her career.
The importance of doing internships in different places and how learning and experiencing different areas and cultures can be so enriching.
How her 6th grade English teacher opened her eyes to advertising.
Finding her “home” in advertising in high school and making commercials.
Her first job working with Town & Country in an advertising world that had only just begun to transition to computers when she had graduated college.
The roots of her entrepreneurship journey.
How she found her first clients through the people she already knew in Boston.
Why she has chosen to focus on clients who are from health and home.
How she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.
Why she feels that professional and personal development are so important.
Her nimbleness moving through the world.
What she’s looking forward to.

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Today’s guest believes that healing, awareness, empathy, and engagement are critical in today’s increasingly connected, yet polarized world. Her work aims to support deeper connections and mutual understanding among different groups, toward a more equitable society. She is a diversity, equity, and inclusion specialist, coach, and international keynote speaker. She has worked with organizations across all sectors on DEI, intercultural communication, supplier diversity, and employee engagement. Her expertise has been featured in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, NPR, and the Washington Post.

Her latest book “The Power of Employee Resource Groups: How People Create Authentic Change” shares how to build ERGs to empower underrepresented employees and positively impact diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within organizations and society.

Please join me in welcoming Farzana Nayani.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is finding yourself and knowing who you are and using that to reach people.” the importance of being a model of leadership to those around you.
how sports played a large role in her leadership journey and how that experience even helped her get comfortable around other genders.
her path from grad school to becoming an entrepreneur.
the traumatizing moment as a mom that catapulted her decision to be an entrepreneur.
the impact of all that she is on her business.
why she considers herself as a cross-pollinator with her clients and the benefit of being industry agnostic.
the impact that the murder of George Floyd had on her business and how it inspired her to write “Raising Multiracial Children.”
the importance of strategic volunteering.
how she builds connections and maintains that to grow her network by speaking pro-bono or at a lower rate.
how she nurtures the outer levels of her network.
what she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

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Today’s guest works with organizations to design relationship marketing strategies that are measurable and implementable.

He is a technology trends expert who uses his passion for technology, sense of history, and business strategies to help organizations use remote video and streaming technologies to build marketing that achieves business goals. He is a communicator who shares his knowledge as a speaker, virtual presenter, interviewer, author, and coach.

Since 1983 he has been a marketing and communication advisor. He earned his Certified Speaking Professional designation and is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He also received the National Speakers Association's highest award, The Cavett—given to only one recipient per year.

Please join me in welcoming Terry Brock.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is bringing out the best in the people around you. It’s inspiring them to be the best that they are willing to be.”
when he learned to focus on other people’s goals and how he could play a role in their achievement of those goals.
his inquisitive nature and how that serves him now, even though it may have annoyed his parents in his childhood.
the many things he wanted to be when he grew up.
what prompted him to get his MBA while he was working in a radio station.
how he navigates technological advances and where he thinks the speaking industry will be very soon.
how he secured a computer lab before he had a computer and taught himself how to use spreadsheets and later leveraging them to work with real estate professionals.
the years he spent being mistaken as a CPA.
his early speaking engagements and how that fueled his desire to be an entrepreneur.
how he joined the NSA and what sparked him to immediately volunteer to make the organization better.
how he started Stark Raving Entrepreneurs.
the three words he uses to make decisions.
how he shifted his audience and transitioned to entrepreneurship.
his tools to nurture his network.
Terry’s Costco approach to marketing.
What he’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

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Today’s guest knows that no one ever wishes they'd spent more time at the office or pines for work that didn’t inspire them.

Her specialty is making sales fun as she helps women heal their relationship with money. She has spoken at women's conferences all over the world and has helped hundreds of women start and grow businesses they LOVE.

She spent 15 years navigating the male-dominated world of tech. Along the way, she worked at Lifetime Television's New Media department, worked hand-in-hand with Marianne Williamson on her community site and digital offering—The Miracle Matrix—and worked at IAC where she managed a P&L worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

She’s the voice behind the Game On Girlfriend Podcast, and she's known for her weekly "Sarah Uncut" TV show on YouTube and LIVE "Coffee With Coach" streaming video conversations on Monday mornings.

Please join me in welcoming Sarah Walton.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is anything that inspires action.”
growing up Mormon in Utah and how that shaped her upbringing, and how she broke the mold of possibility.
her being the first girl student body president in middle school.
how she went from Utah to attending UCLA and living in NYC.
how volunteering to build houses and tutor differently-abled children in France opened her eyes to diversity and possibility in her life.
her first job in a bank and how she was offered the opportunity to build websites that later turned into a really strong technological skill on top of her English degree from college.
how she was ‘coaching’ people on how to have great relationships with their colleagues before she knew what coaching was.
showing her boss how to fire her so that she could become an entrepreneur.
starting her business while seven months pregnant and in the middle of a recession.
how she predominantly works with women although she has coached a few men.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.

what she’s looking forward to in the following year.

      **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com**

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Today’s guest believes inclusion is more than a moral obligation; it's a competitive advantage. Her presentations on “blameless” inclusion spark not just inspiration but action as well.

Her firm has extensive experience and a proven reputation for driving better business

outcomes through innovative and inclusive strategic planning. They bring deep expertise in improving profitability and innovation, boosting team and organizational performance, and optimizing inclusion strategies.

She is the author of “The 7 Simple Habits of Inclusive Leaders” and has been featured in publications such as Forbes Magazine, Smart Meetings, and The Meeting Professional.

Please join me in welcoming Melissa Majors.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is motivating others. Leaders are people who use their influence and power to help other people thrive.”
Her predisposition to taking on leadership roles throughout her education.
Her experience growing up as the youngest of nine children.
The realization (right on the show) that her speaking career really began as the salutatorian in high school.
Her desire, from a young age, to understand how people behave.
The transformative moment when she learned that her dad did not know how to read and how that sparked her love of inclusive education.
How she was recruited to join the Nationwide Insurance family before starting her own family.
Why she feels so free and grateful to share her gifts with others.
How the pandemic helped her rethink and repackage herself and the opportunities she found along the way.
The importance of really understanding human needs in the context of business.

How she nurtures and sustains her business.

      **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com**

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Today’s guest believes being human is your competitive advantage.

He is a renowned business strategist, global keynote speaker, executive trainer and coach, investor, and Forbes contributor. As President and co-owner of PureMatter, a Silicon Valley global marketing agency and CEO of H2H Companies, he sparked the Human-to-Human H2H global movement that aims to humanize business through simpler communication, empathy, and celebrate our imperfections.

He’s the two-time best-selling author of “There Is No B2B or B2c: It's Human to Human #H2h” and “Shareology: How Sharing is Powering the Human Economy.”

Forbes calls him a “Zen Master to Digital Marketers” and his TED Talk featured a TED first allowing mobile devices during the event to illustrate his belief that even a small inspirational share holds the power to change the world for the better.

Please join me in welcoming Bryan Kramer.

In this episode we discuss:

His thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is helping someone else grow. It’s not about yourself, it’s about others. If you’re not growing someone else, you’re not a leader. Full stop.”
The influence his parents had on him, including encouraging him to put himself out there whether it was running for office through high school or becoming an eagle scout.
How he mingled between all the cliques in high school as an ambivert. “I was able to hang out with everyone. I found it really neat to bring people together.”
Why he doesn’t believe in popular vs. unpopular, people are either connected or not connected.
Why he wants to surround himself with people who mean something to him, are good, and light him up.
His experience being a firefighter and the class that turned him towards communications instead of the medical field.
How an F on a jazz test changed the trajectory of his entire life. “Who knew an F on a paper was going to lead me down this road?”
His out of college experience of building websites and computer programming and how that led to Bryan building his own agency.
How he met his partner in both life and business.
Why he believes marketing changes every 2-3 years.
Why companies loved the creativity of personalized results and Bryan’s “Human 2 Human concept.”
Why he maintains so many subscriptions to many different things.
Why he loves Flipboard and how it helps him see the world the way he wants to see it.
How a conversation with his 12-year-old son completely rocked his world and prompted him to close his agency.
How he nurtures and sustains the outer levels of his network.

What he’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

     **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com**

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Today’s guest is a champion for women in sales.

She has spent her career helping Fortune 500, midsize, and SaaS-based companies grow repeatable revenue, hire better, and improve sales culture to one that is inclusive and healthy. She helps fix sales team issues as a master connector.

She is the founder of three brands created to improve B2B sales culture - Score More Sales, Women Sales Pros, and the She Sells Summit. She is the author of “She Sells: Attract, Promote, and Retain Great Women in B2B Sales” and host of the Conversations with Women in Sales podcast.

Please join me in welcoming Lori Richardson.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is paving the trail. It’s knowing who you are and what you stand for even when you’re uncomfortable with the title.”
Lori’s initial goals of wanting to be a teacher and her very early entrepreneurial endeavors like having a lemonade stand and selling girl scout cookies.
her experience teaching two-year-olds and having to pivot to technology sales in order to support her family.
the skills she learned from watching her grandmother sell clothes to people at a young age and how that coupled with her sales experience in selling cookies.
the experience of joining a company as the first woman in field sales and being passed over multiple times for promotions.
turning her former employer into her first client after she was forced out due to downsizing.
her first company ‘Smile and Dial Revenue Generation Services” and why she changed the name to ‘Score More Sales.’
how she widened the scope of her mission and reach with the murder of George Floyd and the pandemic.
the importance and her passion for people not only talking about inclusion and equity but taking action to be more inclusive and equitable.

how Lori stays in touch with her network.

    **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com**

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Today’s guest can show you what to say, and when to say it, in a way that feels comfortable and confident to you and to your potential client.

With over 25 years of selling experience, entrepreneurs and small business owners now hire her to show them how to sell successfully and authentically. She is the CEO of Sales Maven and has the unique ability to positively transform the often misunderstood selling process.

Nikki has written 3 books including “The Selling Staircase: Mastering the Art of Relationship Selling” and hosts the Sales Maven podcast.

Please join me in welcoming Nikki Rausch.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is holding the outcome in mind. It’s trusting the team and empowering them while keeping the forward momentum.”
why Nikki thinks it’s so important to remove ego from leadership.
her early responsibility of handling fundraising for her HS dance team so the team could go on trips.
how she grew up with a misogynistic father and how that shaped her young life.
the support she received from her dance teacher and her aunt and uncle during high school.
her determination to not only attend college, but finish her education - something that was not expected of her.
how having a “commission component” in a job at a mall kiosk, led her to think, “Wait, I can make money doing this?!”
realizing that her effort in selling directly correlated to the amount of money she was making.
how she found her mentors and why this has been an important part of her journey.
discovering NLP and how that changed the way she showed up in sales.
figuring out that she had built relationships and was surrounded by only people she knew and how that led to her wanting to meet new people.
“Who would pay me money to teach them how to sell?” Nikki’s immediate response to someone asking her why she wasn’t charging for showing others her natural skill.
Nikki being inspired by being in a room with 100 businesswomen.
who Nikki wants to work with.

how she stays in touch with her network.

   **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com**

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Today’s guest is known as a “human development investigator.”

He is a strategist who shares how to use Adult Development Theory to dramatically change how you can effectively build connections with others, understand yourself more deeply, and positively influence those around you.

He is a best-selling author and host of the Disney+ Show "Family Reboot," who has spoken in 48 states and 5 countries to over 750,000 people. He has extensively studied human dynamics and relationships. He has been invited to speak at the White House twice and has been quoted in media outlets like The New York Times, USA Today, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Huffington Post, and is a contributor to TV shows like The Doctors.

He’s also a fellow dad joke enthusiast.

Please join me in welcoming Arel Moodie.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership develops over time into different definitions. Leadership means something different at each stage. Right now, it means empowering people without becoming the bottleneck.”
so many bad dad jokes!
why he didn’t have the confidence to enter leadership roles until college.
why he considered college as his way out of inner-city Brooklyn.
his pre-college experiences really fed his desire to go to college.
a book that changed his life, and not just because it was the only book written in English at the Shanghai airport.
his introduction into entrepreneurship and his first business.
his first steps into speaking and why he chose speaking about student success.
the three key factors of speaking: the craft of speaking, the message of speaking, and the business of speaking and why you need all three.
how he learned stage presence.
the observation that we don't count ourselves and instead uplift others.
the importance of curiosity and how that can lead to wonderful things.
why he joined the NSA.
how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.
the importance of deepening connections with his network.
why Arel thought a TV producer was going to steal his kidneys.

his challenge to all On the Schmooze listeners.

  **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest has a mission; to inspire a more connected, compassionate and collaborative world.

She shows people how to have better conversations with themselves and others – so they can make an even bigger difference in our world. Through the power of authentic connection and strengthening our mental fitness, she knows we can build even better businesses, communities and nations together.

She is a mentor, speaker, and certified mental fitness coach. She’s written for regional and national magazines since 2006 and has published several books, including “DO Talk To Strangers: How to Connect With Anyone, Anywhere”, the “DO Talk To Strangers Travel Toolkit,” and “How to Talk to Strangers: to decrease anxiety, build confidence, and make a bigger difference in the world.”

Please join me in welcoming Kerrie Phipps.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is showing up and being human. It means creating a ripple effect on those around you.”
her experience growing up on her dad’s farm and inviting friends over, having to work hard in order to play hard.
how a bullying experience as a young girl inspired her to protect people from bullies (even though she didn’t know how to stop the bullies).
why she chose to leave school at 15 with a desire to begin her “grown up life”.
her first job at a dental surgery office and then a bank where she discovered her love of helping teenagers.
her experience being very sick and hitting a wall shortly after becoming a mom and dealing with chronic sickness.
the global level of stress Kerrie experienced in the moment and how that compares to our global stress now.
finding out her grandfather had studied the Dale Carnegie books as she was researching her coach training.
the importance of getting coached even if you are a coach.
how she broke into the new coaching industry and the experience of being compared to other well known coaches and the impact of her first coaching clients.
how she began her author journey.
when she stepped up and stopped being “just a country girl”.
her travel to Singapore and speaking about coaching to large audiences.
meeting veterans who found networking intimidating when they have charged into much harder situations.
how shifting the shoulder is all it takes to be open to meeting new people.
what she’s looking forward to in the next year.

how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.

 **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest is The Referral Diva and has more than two decades of experience generating business by referral.

She is the founder of Master Connectors, Inc and the creator of Referrals On-Demand®, a program that teaches solo entrepreneurs how to turn their network into a referral-generating machine. She calls her process Referral Alchemy. When fully implemented, it can infuse tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars into your business without a single dollar in ad spend.

She is passionate about increasing prosperity across the globe and uses her business to further the efforts of Ten By Three, an international non-profit creating economies of scale in Third World countries by turning artisans into entrepreneurs.

Please join me in welcoming Virginia Muzquiz.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is relationships. You manage processes but through the context of relationships.”
her realizing the difference between being a leader and a manager through empathy and influence.
how a children’s book she read to her daughters led her to becoming ‘the benevolent queen bee’ that allowed everyone to exist.
her process of breaking generational trauma.
her need for emotional connection and how that helped her development.
when she self-diagnosed as a sociopath based on a leadership assessment (spoiler alert - she is not a sociopath).
her love of Spanish and why that became her major and her job as a Spanish teacher.
how she structured her Spanish classroom to provide choice for her students and taught them by creating novelas.
the influence of her father who was an entrepreneur and the experience of living off the land.
how she became the #1 salesperson in 90 days for Mary Kay after declaring she would not sell anything.
how she found commonalities with influencers and how that helped her make a difference.
how she landed attention from BNI (Business Network International).
how she nurtures and sustains her network.

what she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

**Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest can be found at the intersection of impact and collaboration.

He is a consultant that works with institutions of higher education and their partners in communities, government, and business to achieve economic and social impact goals. He's worked with institutions like The Ohio State University, Indiana University, University of Oregon and others to develop strategies for collaborative community and regional transformation.

He is the founder of Venn Collaborative, a professional development, networking, and services organization that offers online courses and other opportunities to higher education leaders and to community, economic, and workforce development professionals.

Most recently he launched his podcast, The Collaborative Effect, to speak with people from all walks of life and work about how they want to leave an impact in the world.

Please join me in welcoming Jim Woodell.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership listening more than telling and guiding more than directing. Leadership is being in service to others.”
how moving a lot as a child helped him learn how to adjust quickly.
when Jim found out while in college that he had skills that could be leveraged and how the roles he played gave him so much satisfaction.
his initial plans to work in Hollywood but deciding not to be in it after experiencing shallow behavior from people in the industry.
reaching his goal of working at PBS right after college and then deciding to go to Harvard for his Masters in education.
Jim’s commitment to K-12 teachers and their lives in their careers.
what led him to Penn State to get a PhD in higher education.
how he learned how much impact universities impact their communities through talent, innovation, and place.
how he adapted the way his systems were working as a “great observer” and how that helped him create more impact.
where his business is going and his strategy of finding the smart people and building a network he can tap into to grow.
the great opportunities that people can take advantage of to leave an impact.
the importance of listening and why that is important for outreach.
how Jim nurtures and sustains his network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest empowers the dreamers, partners with the doers, educates the thinkers, and inspires the aspiring.

She has the very unique bragging right of being Etsy’s first attorney and their 17th employee overall. For over nine years she helped Etsy scale from an inconspicuous startup to a publicly traded company. After that, she joined Vroom as its first General Counsel.

Apart from being a startup attorney, she is a jeweler, investor, board member, and speaker. She won The New York Law Journals 2018 General Counsel Impact Award and created America's Ugliest Necklace. She is a playwright with a hilarious new show, Dirty Legal Secrets.

Please join me in welcoming Sarah Feingold.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is noticing the lightbulb goes out, replacing the lightbulb, and then ordering more lightbulbs just in case.”
her origins being an art student and not feeling like a leader.
when she knew that she wanted to work with artists but after a brainstorming session in a business class decided law was a better answer.
what prompted her to reach out to Etsy to offer suggestions on their policies. This led to her booking a ticket from Rochester to NYC and telling the CEO that she was going to interview with them to be their in-house attorney.
her reflection on the risks she was taking back then that she couldn’t imagine taking now.
how she built a community of lawyers to network with in New York City.
how she ended up joining a board after attending a seminar and being welcomed in by in-house attorneys at Macy’s while still being the new kid in town.
how she ended up leaving Etsy for Vroom mostly due to curiosity.
why she decided to collect legal stories and released them as a play.
why she prioritizes her solo theater dates.
the story behind creating “America’s Ugliest Necklace.”
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.
what she’s looking forward to in the next year.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is on a mission to help small businesses and creative entrepreneurs tell better stories, find more customers, and create new revenue streams.

She helps small business owners craft video content to showcase their products and services and to grow their customer base with YouTube strategies designed to meet their business needs.

She left her job in marketing and advertising to build a company of her own. She is a bilingual podcaster (English and Mandarin Chinese), the creator of Feisworld Media (a monetized YouTube channel with 17K subscribers and over 50K views per month), Feisworld Podcast (with over 200K downloads worldwide), and Feisworld Documentary Series on Amazon Prime. She also teaches how to run better Zoom Meetings and Webinars and own and monetize content on YouTube via Feisworld Academy.

Dorie Clark has featured her in her best-selling book, “Entrepreneurial You” and Harvard Business Review.

Please join me in welcoming Fei Wu.

In this episode, we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership means kindness. It means empathy and the willingness to learn and to fail - to fail hard and get back up again.”
how she was the “creative director” for her friends growing up - including making Transformer costumes for her friends out of newspaper.
her dream to create her own private school with fantastic uniforms. This came out of her disappointment with how the schools did not teach everyone to be successful but instead focused on one bad grade setting the tone for the student’s future.
how she came to the United States right before her senior year of high school and the shift at such an important year, academically, for her.
the wonderful impact her mom has had on her being a successful artist in a world that did not support that dream.
the jobs she had to take in order to be sponsored and stay in the United States and how this helped her really start focusing on the teams supporting these very large brands like Tom Ford and Burberry.
the difference between active income streams vs. passive ones.
how she designed websites for clients and started her business while consulting for her firm.
the decision to launch her business as an LLC as a way to protect herself and her business.
her biggest challenge in running her business.
the myth of independence.
the importance of community.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network, including the software she uses.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Back in the summer of 2015, when I first started to seriously work on this podcast, I had a goal of reaching 100 episodes. Since I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, that felt like a big hairy audacious goal. By the time I reached episode 100 I loved this medium, but almost gave up the show and started a new one. Fortunately, I stuck with this show and today, I’m recording episode 300!

To help me mark this milestone, I’ve invited my friend Blake Fly to interview me. At his core, he believes that appreciation is rocket fuel to create lifelong business relationships and he has built his career around this single idea. I interviewed him in episode 258.

We always have a fun conversation, I’m really looking forward to this.

Blake, thanks for joining me from your place in Toronto. Where do you want to begin?

In this episode:

we take a journey back to episode one and how Robbie’s bio has drastically changed since then.
Robbie reflects on why he started On the Schmooze back in 2015 and the podcast that inspired him to do so.
Robbie shares some unexpected surprises while hosting his podcast.
Blake gives behind-the-scenes insight of what happened when Robbie interviewed him on episode 258.
listen to Robbie’s secret about having a successful podcast.
learn why Robbie numbered his first episode 000.
we dive into Robbie’s work ethic and how he acted and reacted to the first few months of the pandemic.
Robbie shares a few regrets about the people he’s interviewed already.
Robbie explains why he interviews 2 women for every man.
we find out what’s in store for Robbie and On the Schmooze in the future.
listen to Robbie’s process of handling pitches.
how his interviews dive deeper than what a guest has planned to talk about.
Robbie’s advice to his future self when he reaches 400 episodes.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest has been dubbed authentic with a touch of badass.

She brings her infectious energy through storytelling and powerful, inspirational tips on and offline. She has served as an emcee and speaker on numerous stages and is the host of #tishatalks LIVE.

She is the Chief Experience Officer of Tisha Marie Enterprises, founder of the real estate company Property with Personality, a personal brand builder, founder of Social Connect PHX and Connecting through Community events, an international business mentor, and author of “What Are the Odds?: A mom shares her good, bad, and what the f*ck moments in life & business.”

Please join me in welcoming Tisha Marie Pelletier.

In this episode, we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is not about you. Leadership is about bringing people together.”
trying to figure out how to find herself again after becoming a mom and being an entrepreneur.
how joining drama club helped her build her confidence.
knowing she was going to go into broadcast journalism even in high school when she was asked to do the announcements.
understanding that she wanted to have a family and be there with them instead of living the typical journalism life.
why the biggest shift was going from a W2 employee to having to take a few clients to small claims court for non-payment.
her experience of working with business coaches.
how she nurtures and sustains her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest believes that authors change the world.

She works with professionals and thought leaders who want to write a book as a business growth strategy. She is the author of 11 books, including “On Your Mark: From First Word to First Draft in Six Weeks,” “Blog2Book: Repurposing Content to Discover the Book You've Already Written”, and “The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches,” written with co-author Lois Creamer. She has helped over 200 professionals become published authors.

Through her creative energy, she helps her clients identify the right book to write, and develops a community of supportive, like-minded individuals who want to change the world--through the written and spoken word--one word at a time.

As a professional speaker with the National Speakers Association, she provides engaging programs and workshops to help audiences find their creative voice. She is adept at delivering high-engagement virtual programs and in-person workshops and retreats.

Please join me in welcoming Cathy D. Fyock.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is a combination of things. One is being a good visionary (having a vision of success). Another is having a strategy. The final thing is having a sense of impatience.”
how she has been pulling things together and leading others since childhood.
her very cool connection to Diane Sawyer and how she became a fan of hers in the third grade.
her many jobs before stumbling into Human Resources, a career she held for 20 years, before becoming an entrepreneur.
how she was referred to and later joined the National Speakers Association.
how she was forced to develop the program on her process to write a book and how she got her first book coaching clients.
how she found her business through exploring her passion and developing her skills.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers in her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest understands the struggles of leveling up a business while simultaneously keeping lots of other plates spinning.

She is a CEO, podcast host of “Greenroom Central”, and founder of Live Event Academy™—a learning experience for starting or scaling events.

She has spent the last two decades helping business owners to leverage virtual, hybrid, and in-person events to reach more dream clients, build customer and employee loyalty, and make sales.

Please join me in welcoming Sarah Fejfar.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is influencing others to ‘keep the ship moving’. It all comes down to influence.”
her official leadership start in college in the resident director program and how she made herself visible enough to land that role.
why she chose Accounting as a college major– it’s not what you think!
her ‘terrible decision’ to become an Executive Assistant (or so she was told).
how her career pivoted to events and how that changed her business.
the event that opened her eyes and how that changed her career and opinion of the online business space.
the impact Brendon Burchard had on her.
how being online and running events online changed how she feels about networking.
the perils and benefits of in person networking vs online networking.
the importance of trying things out.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest helps his clients be heard, recognized, and respected.

As a professional networker and strategist, he helps entrepreneurs supersize their business and income by breaking through all the noise in the marketplace. He connects them to the right resources and people.

He is an expert in getting business owners "unstuck," and increasing ease and joy in their lives through creating alternative income streams and developing proven wealth strategies. With him, you will learn how to apply the principles of the Law of Attraction to improve your life, relationships, and business.

For 20 years, he’s been in the upper 1/10 of 1% income earners in his profession. He’s been elected to the Multi-Level Marketing International Association (MLMIA) Hall of Fame and was on their Board of Directors for 20 years. He is currently on the board of the Social Networking Association.

Please join me in welcoming Robert A. Butwin.

In this episode, we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership.”
playing sports in college and working at his family business helped him develop his leadership skills.
how being defiant played into developing his leadership skills.
now networking has changed from when he started his career.
how he met his wife and first bookkeeper.
his early experience with network marketing.
the importance of trial and error, finding the right product, and finding the perfect people to sell it to.
the importance of surrounding oneself with like-minded people.
how recognizing the pain points of others is a great way to build a business.
his ideal customers are C.A.S.H. - coaches, authors, speakers, and holistic practitioners.
the 18 pieces needed to grow a business and why he gives that information away for free to anyone who asks.
L.U.C.K = Laboring Under Correct Knowledge
how he nurtures and sustains the outer levels of his network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest believes sales is about helping people, not being pushy or icky.

For over 20 years, as the CEO of Changing the Sales Game, she has helped business owners, leaders, and sales teams build powerhouse organizations using her high-energy and heart-centered approach to creating a profitable sales team culture.

Her teaching, transformational tools, and content ensure that business owners and salespeople grow their revenue streams through enhanced communication skills.

She shares her process in her book, “ESP (Easy Sales Process), as a speaker, and as the host of two podcasts, Changing the Sales Game and Enlightenment of Change.

Please join me in welcoming Connie Whitman.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about taking someone from where they are and move them to where you need them to be while keeping their career path intact in a healthy way.”
the connection between being an effective salesperson, great leadership, valuing connections and how having love, care, and respect for potential clients can help you excel.
her natural ability to have welcoming energy since childhood, “it feels good to be around you.”
the start of her career and how she quickly grew and excelled.
what the tipping point was for her to run her own business, the business she had written a business plan for 5 years prior.
the importance of the follow-up, including a potential client Connie followed up with and built a relationship with for five years before she landed a sale with them.
her CPR method in sales - Consistent, Persistent, & Respectful sales.
her sales follow-up process and why respectful follow-ups are worthwhile for her business growth.
How she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.

What she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

                **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest believes sales is about helping people, not being pushy or icky.

Her teaching, transformational tools, and content ensure business owners and salespeople grow their revenue streams through enhanced communication skills.

She shares her process in her book, “ESP (Easy Sales Process), as a speaker and the host of two podcasts, Changing the Sales Game and Enlightenment of Change.

Please join me in welcoming Connie Whitman.

In this episode, we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about taking someone from where they are and move them to where you need them to be while keeping their career path intact in a healthy way.”
the connection between being an effective salesperson, great leadership, valuing connections and how having love, care, and respect for potential clients can help you excel.
her natural ability to have welcoming energy since childhood, “it feels good to be around you.”
the start of her career and how she quickly grew and excelled.
what the tipping point was for her to run her own business, the business she had written a business plan for 5 years prior.
the importance of the follow-up, including a potential client Connie followed up with and built a relationship with for five years before she landed a sale with them.
her CPR method in sales - Consistent, Persistent, & Respectful sales.
her sales follow-up process and why respectful follow-ups are worthwhile for her business growth.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.

what she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

               **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest saw a need and filled it.

He found no automation tool, CRM, or analytics software that was built with management and sales leadership in mind. He understood people needed the type of tool that provides an exponential return for the time invested and that makes managers powerful by driving individual performance and raising the level of the entire team. So he and his partner built it.

He is a managing director of ClozeLoop and has consulted with some of the world's leading companies including Salesforce, Box, and SurveyMonkey. He's an award-winning trainer and co-author of seven books. He thrives on sales frameworks that create fast-growth and measurable progress. He is also a co-founder of his new software company, CoachCRM.

Please join me in welcoming Hilmon Sorey.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “A leader influences and inspires others to action in every aspect of one’s life.”
why he considers himself a benevolent control freak and why that’s not a bad thing.
his first company, KidCo, and its connection to Jeff Bezos.
how he learned about extortion at a young age during a fateful Halloween.
his initial dream careers and how the call to entrepreneurship always existed inside him.
why he attended so many different universities and why that experience bored him.
his childhood plans to be the next Andrew Carnegie - having the foresight and the fortune to create the majority of libraries and learning opportunities for all.
why he believes that if you follow your passion, the money will follow.
the concept of “pure authenticity” and how that creates energy, fuel, and passion in all the aspects of his life.
why he marvels at the ingenuity of human kind and why that leads him to consider his legacy.
why inserting yourself into history is our duty.

how he nurtures and sustains his 2nd and 3rd level connections and his “little winks.”

              **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest urges leaders to stop using 2019 behavior to address 2022 workplace challenges.

She is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, speaker, and author of “Leading Inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel.” It is a groundbreaking guidebook for corporate leaders who want to build inclusive organizations from the top down.

She has spent decades advising and coaching business leaders, including some in the Fortune 500, building healthy organizational cultures and measuring employee opinions. As a noted voice on human-centered leadership, she has written for Harvard Business Review and has been quoted in Forbes, Fast Company, BBC Worklife, and other national media.

Please join me in welcoming Gena Cox.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about relationships and understanding how to help a group accomplish something.”
how a passing conversation with a former employee made Gena realize she was not a very good leader by not being accessible.
how anyone can see and value life experiences even if you have not personally experienced them.
the impact her maternal grandmother had on her and how she encouraged Gena to learn about new things.
the three careers she wanted growing up were psychology, journalist/reporter, meteorology, and the journey that led her to psychology.
her experience working for a newspaper in Barbados covering business stories and politics.
how growing up on a small island changed her perspective on the world.
why she decided to move to the US for college and her experience of taking a class taught by Arthur Ashe.
how she learned that she was Black only after coming to the US and a few experiences where she was called the n-word which was quite jarring. [CONTENT WARNING - racial language]
how she built her own practice in an effort to have more time with her daughter and only returned to work after her daughter went to college.
the big decision she made in 2020 after the murder of Breonna Taylor was to pivot and help organizations with DEI in organizations instead of only being focused on the human experience in the workplace.
why she believes that companies should stop asking for data and instead listen to the stories within their organizations.
how she nurtures the outer layers of her network.
what she is looking forward to in the year ahead.

why she says she “came out as Black” and the importance of those words for her.

              **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest believes growth requires both vision and action.

Her goal is to change the trajectory of people's lives and careers for the better. She works with C-level executives and other senior leaders who want to expand their professional and personal capacity; tackle bigger, more complex challenges; grow as humans so they can grow as leaders; to cross new thresholds of performance.

As an expert in executive coaching and career development, she coaches C-suite executives and other senior leaders across the globe. In addition to several venture-backed startups, her clients have included Clorox, DocuSign, Dropbox, and Google. She is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes.com.

Please join me in welcoming Rebecca Zucker.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is caring enough to step up.”
why she believes empathy is a huge part of leadership.
the restrictions she grew up with for being born female.
not being taken seriously as a woman in finance, including transferring to an international office within the company.
how she used her network of university and business school alumni all pre-internet.
how she navigated France as an ex-pat when she transferred to an investment banking career.
her year off, living in France, and becoming a gig worker, and how that led her to entrepreneurship.
how she began her coaching business in earnest after her current job was going under.
how she and her business partner, Heather, complement each other in business.
why she enjoys mentoring people and is always on the lookout for quality talent.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.
how she accomplished getting published consistently in Harvard Business Review.

what she’s looking forward to in the next year.

             **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest believes you can find inspiration through honest conversation.

Before becoming the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Inspired Purpose Coaching, he was a finance and strategy executive working with some of the worlds leading life sciences companies. Along his journey, he also managed small businesses and ran a financial consulting company.

He is a trusted advisor, coach, experience creator, author, podcast host, and speaker. He brings together over 25 years of business and management experience, formal training, and extreme curiosity to elevate leaders and equip them with the tools to navigate through change and unlock their true potential.

He is the host of The Virtual Campfire podcast and the author of “Climbing The Right Mountain: Navigating the Journey to An Inspired Life.”

Please join me in welcoming Tony Martignetti.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is serving others with compassion, courage, and curiosity.”
leading with your heart.
the world unlocks when you realize that the people you admire are not infallible.
how he grew up as an artistic kid and created worlds throughout his childhood.
how freeform play shaped his childhood and creativity.
switching gears in college from pre-med to business.
a quick deep dive into the three businesses he has started.
making the realization that he couldn’t do everything on his own.
how Tony built up his network and community.
his favorite quote is “amateurs compete and professionals create” and how that propelled him to build tribes.
his ideal client and his best referral.
the importance of not niching down at the beginning of the entrepreneurship journey.
how he feels supported by his network “success happens where opportunity meets preparation and connection.”
how he nurtures the outer layers of his network.

what he’s looking forward to in the next year.

            **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest is a serial entrepreneur and conscious explorer.

During the pandemic, she launched Quantum Surfing, a powerful mix of neuroscience, quantum mechanics, and applied enlightenment—spiritual principles grounded in science so they're repeatable. She helps visionary entrepreneurs predictably create lucky outcomes, get the clarity to execute swiftly, and have the mindset to step into next-level impact. It’s a revolutionary method for success in life and business.

She has also founded Tavola Villa in Fiji—her living dream of a global sanctuary for people to be recharged by the wild and soulful islands that have captured her own heart. There she hosts Stillness Retreats, combining the mysticism of Fiji, the rebel spirit of Silicon Valley, and the transformative inventiveness of the story.

Please join me in welcoming Monica Laurence.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is not only leading yourself but having a vision where you’re inviting others to be on the journey with you in a way that brings them to life.”
how setting people free to make choices and how that creates an amazing leadership experience.
her first taste of leadership from being the oldest child and the oldest grandchild of 25.
the perspective of leadership as a young girl and being called “bossy”.
her desire to be a fashion designer and how she ultimately became a computer scientist.
her passion for connecting with people and how that led to her returning to business school focusing on strategy and entertainment.
how she seized an opportunity to work at Lucas Films.
how working in a startup let her create a structure of working that worked for her and her family.
why she created Quantum Surfing, a mindset training for entrepreneurs.
the many different influences on how she has created her framework.
the connection between mindset work and surfing.
how “unusual experiences” can begin to make sense.
how she bought a resort right before the pandemic and ended up staying in Fiji for almost two years.

what she’s looking forward to in the next year.

           **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest was forced to figure out how she fits in the world.

She started her second career as a means of survival. Fighting discrimination, harassment, and homelessness she found employment as a part-time associate and then rose to national VP of Diversity and Inclusion in less than 5 years at PNC Bank. She captured this process of career development in her new award-winning book and online course called “Empowering Differences.”

She has worked tirelessly to promote awareness and acceptance of gender identity and expression. She serves on the Corporate Advisory Council for the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and is the immediate past chair for NGLCC’s global TGX Initiative. In 2019, she was voted on the National Board of Directors for GLAAD.

She speaks locally and nationally about her transition, workplace equality, leadership, change management, and empowerment. She has also been interviewed in several publications and media outlets, including Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Business Journal, ABC, and CBS.

Please join me in welcoming Ashley T Brundage.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is someone who drives empowerment for people. They understand the APP of empowerment; authority, power, and how that connects to people.”
the importance of empowering others and yourself.
how she spent most of her youth hiding.
her start in the restaurant business to avoid going to college and being seen in the world.
her losing her job, and house, and how being homeless changed her outlook on life.
how she came out as trans to her children when they were 5 and 3.
the journey of trying to find a new job after coming out and how that led to her research in empowerment.
how she used her own story and connected it to her research while working at PNC Bank.
her goal to replace her PNC salary by creating a solid exit strategy.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network, including some fantastic LinkedIn tips on growing your network.

what she’s looking forward to in the next year.

          **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest loves solving the hardest puzzles, from crosswords to jigsaws to the meaning of life.

He is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, including "The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World" and "The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible."

His TED talks have been seen more than 10 million times. He writes for popular publications, including The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, and New York magazine. He has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and CNN.

Please join me in welcoming A.J. Jacobs.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is a suitcase word - it can mean a whole bunch of things. My favorite kind of leadership is mentorship.”
tips on how to engage a mentor, including adding a bit of humor.
how curiosity and openness made him a better leader.
the experience of being friends with and navigating very different social circles.
his origins of wanting to be a writer and his start as an author.
his journey of reading the encyclopedia Brittanica to try and learn everything.
the process of pitching his first book, including almost not pitching it.
how relationships and networking led to his first TED talk, and how he almost deleted the invitation.
finding his 12th cousin - another email where a “crazy email” led to something great.
how he pitched “sex advice from the bible” to Glamour and not only did it get accepted but received millions of views.
his cadence for creating projects in his life and business.
the need for social interaction and why it’s so important.
how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.

what he is looking most forward to in the next year.

         **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest considers herself an accidental advocate, motivating others to embrace the kind of social behaviors that trigger societal shifts.

Experienced in fostering open dialogue in professional settings, she helps build awareness and visibility of equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultural competencies that serve as a foundation for improved collaboration, cooperation, and communication.

She is an inclusion activist whose TEDx Talk “Coming Out of Your Closet” became a viral sensation. Her intrepid, relatable, and intrinsically comical style has made her an in-demand speaker, including events at Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, and keynoting an LGBTQ Conference at Harvard University.

She is a speaker, equality advocate, and author of “Step Up: How to Live with Courage and Become an Everyday Leader.”

Please join me in welcoming Ash Beckham.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is both a willingness and an ability to be the example.”
how she learned to be an example of leadership while playing basketball in high school. “Heart doesn’t score baskets.”
understanding the world outside of our responsibility.
finding greatness in a supportive role.
her desire to work in corporate America because her parents were entrepreneurs.
how she learned that there wasn’t only one way to be.
her first business owning a vegan Indian food cart.
what she learned at her first Ignite event about being passionate while delivering a message.
how to support and be visible authentically as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and avoid paralysis of politeness.
how Ash nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.
how she incorporates networking into the micro moments of her day.

what she’s looking forward to in the next year.

        **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest is a maven, passionate about learning and sharing what she’s learned.

She is an accumulator of knowledge with an emphasis on technology, communication, and organization. She wants her team and her community to have access to the tools, resources, and information that will make their lives and jobs easier. She believes there is nothing better than helping someone else feel empowered with a new skill and newfound confidence.

Relationships are important to her, and working in a collaborative team environment excites her every day.

On a personal note, today’s guest is also my wife. My business success is possible because I have her ongoing support and encouragement.

Please join me in welcoming Jess M. Samuels.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is knowing what kind of leader to be. It’s being organized to see other people’s visions come to fruition. I lead from the middle.”
her experience in school learning academics through the creative process.
her college experience and going in undecided while following a science path just in case that’s what she wanted to do.
how she became involved in Residence Life in her second year in college.
her learning how to speak out in more creative ways.
discovering how to make a plan to dive into Residence Life.
the confidence Jess built in the position.
the experience of nurturing her network in a big city (Boston, MA).
what she learned during her 12-year position at Simmons College.
how she transitioned into EdTech.
her strategy of using her network to connect with people in the EdTech field.

how she grows and nurtures her network.

       **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest is a Certified Virtual Event Professional who clears the tech headache from virtual events so his clients can deliver an engaging message.

As the founder of Calm Clear Communications, he produces virtual events for professional organizations. He has over 25 years of experience supporting business communication and technology strategy and has worked with corporate executives, compliance officers, and small businesses. He excels at engagingly conveying complex concepts.

He is involved in TEDxDetroit and Toastmasters, and hosts “Calm Clear Conversations” a LinkedIn Live interview show. To round out his modern Renaissance man talents, he is also a professional voice actor.

Please join me in welcoming Christopher G. Johnson.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the ability to teach, engage, nurture, and help others to grow.”
how being engaged changes the way he shows up.
why he selected Architecture as his focus of study in high school and how that led to finding his passion in technology.
his throughline of helping people with technology issues and how that is the cornerstone of his leadership style.
his start in a local radio station and how that sparked a journey into learning about sports.
when the pandemic shuttered his IT auditing business.
how having a deep understanding of technology helped to build his confidence when starting his own business.
realizing that supporting his clients is not the only part of running a business - he had to be the CEO.
why he chose to sign up for Robbie’s Wake Up Your Network Mastermind.
the difference between yes, no, and nuance when asking questions.
why continued learning is his favorite part of being an entrepreneur.

how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.

      **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest is on a big mission to change the academic culture from negativity and chronic stress to one where people express their unique brilliance and live a joyful, happy life.

She grew up in Berlin, Germany, and completed a Ph.D. in Neuroscience in Munich before relocating to the US to pursue her passion for brain research. She is an Associate Professor at an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center in the US. She is also the founder and head coach at Team Leadership In Research, a business that delivers leadership and management training programs for academic research teams.

She became a personal development and leadership nerd during her postdoctoral training, initially to increase her competitiveness for faculty appointments. She discovered she could use these strategies to create a happier, balanced life, AND increase her chances of success. That led her to train as a life coach to help other academics to achieve similar results.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Stefanie Robel.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership means having a vision and taking responsibility to get there. Leadership starts with leading yourself.”
when she discovered her leadership capabilities during riding lessons in her teens.
the importance of communication in entrepreneurial relationships.
how her parents influenced her studies in the sciences.
how she found her people - entrepreneurs and business owners - after moving to the US.
her finding out that the overwhelm she felt was completely within her control to change once she learned to change her mindset.
the joy she gets from empowering others.
how she learned to sell, which helped her build her confidence and her business.
the mastermind that helped her build relationships outside of academia and in entrepreneurship.
how she turned contacts into thriving relationships and connections.
why she loves having and is always on the lookout for new mentors.
her personal policy of helping someone before she needs to ask for help.

how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.

     **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest specializes in small business and entrepreneurship.

She’s an independent journalist and author who has contributed to publications such as Fortune (where she has written the David vs. Goliath column), Money, CNBC, Inc., Forbes, AARP Life Reimagined, Crain’s New York Business, Dr. Oz, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, and a variety of other outlets on the topics of entrepreneurship and careers. She is also a ghostwriter and collaborative editor.

She was twice nominated for the National Magazine Award for her features and edited the magazine’s website, building its traffic from 2 million to 5 million page views per month. She is co-founder of the $200KFreelancer blog, a site to help independent professionals earn a good living, and of the editing service EmergencyEditor. She is the author of “Tiny Business, Big Money,” and “The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business.”

Please join me in welcoming Elaine Pofeldt.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is being able to put the good of the group above all else. It’s also being open to what others’ gifts are.”
the importance of trust in the growth process.
being a freelancer and having to build our own communities through networking.
mastering the business side of creative entrepreneurship.
how her career has evolved over the years and the big break of working with Fortune Small Business.
her thoughts on the idea of being an “overnight success”.
the difference between freelancing and entrepreneurship.
how she “accidentally,” wrote her first book by writing profiles on small business owners.
publishing her first book with Random House after being denied by 19 other publishers.
the pain points of freelancing and growing to the point of having to take on a team.
the importance of finding the best way to communicate with your teams. There is a lot of wiggle room to curate your own life.

tips on how to nurture and sustain the outer levels of her network.

    **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest is inspired by seeing others harness what makes them extraordinary as human beings.

He teaches people how to navigate the challenge of leadership. He draws on his 25-year career in the Royal Air Force and over 14 years of partnering with businesses around the world. He has worked in a wide range of sectors including aviation, oil & gas, construction, mining, banking, television, film, and media.

Today he is a keynote speaker and facilitator presenting around the world and virtually. He co-authored his first book “Find Your Why” with Simon Sinek and David Mead. Published in September 2017, it has been translated into more than 25 languages and has sold over 420,000 copies. He was a founding Igniter at Simon Sinek Inc. working with Simon for over seven years.

His latest book, “Leading From The Jumpseat: How to Create Extraordinary Opportunities by Handing Over Control,” delivers the message that leadership is about lifting people up and giving them the space they need so that, when the time is right, they can take the lead.

Please join me in welcoming Peter Docker.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the ability to lift up others so when the time is right, they can take the lead.”
being selected as an officer in the Royal Air Force.
specific examples of times leaders need to give up control.
the difference between leading from a place of love rather than a place of fear.
the people in his early life that helped to shape him to be the man he is today.
his initial plans to go to university prior to joining the Royal Air Force.
the values he holds deeply important in his life.
how he began working with Simon Sinek.
the importance of having trust in others.
how he supports and nurtures the outer levels of his networks.

the relationship between feeling a sense of belonging and innovation.

   **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest helps people be better humans.

She is an accidental marketer, ex-corporate executive, and multi-potentialite with a smart mouth and a willingness to shout what most will only quietly think. She spent much of the last two decades working in marketing for startups and large organizations, and left that world in a blaze of glory, on a mission to get the business world to focus on the humanity of their teams and put people over profits.

She works with new leaders and visionary experienced execs who want to transform their workplaces into humancentric powerhouses by implementing lucid leadership and people-first practices and policies.

She is loud, proud, heavily caffeinated, and usually not safe for work, although she will try to be for this interview.

Please join me in welcoming Anne Bono.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is creating simplicity while managing complexity.”
how being thrust into a leadership role helped her develop her leadership skills.
her desperate desire to be kind to others.
how she’s always been pulled into situations to lead and support others.
her experience attending Yale and feeling like an underachiever.
how she accidentally set herself up into being a CMO.
how her first agency helped authors market their book launches
the pressure of perfection when one is a marketer.
her transition from corporate to coaching and consulting.
how getting fired set her on a path to open her current company.
who her dream clients are.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.

her passionate answer of where she sees herself in one year.

  **Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest believes relationships are at the heart of everything she does.

She knows that you can't be successful in business, or in life unless you are successful in cultivating winning relationships.

She is a sought-out executive coach and leadership expert who helps leaders achieve outstanding results through the power of their professional relationships. At last count, she and her company, SkyeTeam, have supported the development of more than 10,000 leaders from 20 countries and on 6 continents.

She’s the award-winning author of three books: “Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships,” “The Future-Proof Workplace,” and her latest book “You, Me, We: Why we all need friends at work (and how to show up as one!).” She's recognized by Thinkers360 and PeopleHum as an HR Thought Leader to Watch.

Please join me in welcoming Morag Barrett.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership means being the best I can be in this moment in order to help you be the best you can be so that we can succeed together.”
the moment she decided to hold her head up high physically and metaphorically.
the awe she still feels when being called a thought leader.
recognizing imposter syndrome in her personal life and business life.
how she seized the opportunity and moved her family to the US.
how seizing the moment helped to skyrocket her finance and banking career.
her bridge from being a numbers person to being a people and relationships person.
how being fired from her job propelled her to start her own business.
how and why she named her company SkyeTeam
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.
her three-step process for life and business - look up, show up, and step up.
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Today’s guest has made a career of making the very complex awesomely simple.

He has spent the last three decades helping companies and people be more successful. He serves his clients as an executive coach, training facilitator, keynote speaker, and strategy advisor. Recognized as one of the top business thought leaders and leadership development experts in the world, he was named by the American Management Association as one of America's Top 50 Leaders to Watch along with Sergey Brin and Larry Page of Google and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.

He has been a guest lecturer at more than 90 colleges and universities, including MIT,

Stanford, Cornell, and the Wharton School of Business. He has been the owner or CEO of five companies and currently serves as a board member or adviser to several organizations.

Please join me in welcoming John Spence.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is when you become a living example of what you hope your followers will one day become.”
how being selected captain of his football team helped him establish himself as a leader.
how he went from extreme success in high school to failing out of college.
the three key points that changed the trajectory of his college career.
his first job and becoming CEO of that organization shortly thereafter.
the impact of his parents on his life and entrepreneurship goals.
the three things he believes are the essence of excellence - focus, discipline, and action.
the actions he takes to grow his network and stay connected with them.
why doing things you enjoy is such an important trait in business.
how he finds and chooses mentees and the assignment he gives each potential mentee.
his thoughts surrounding adaptability and how important it is.

an incredible statistic he learned about reading.

**Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.**

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Today’s guest has reinvented herself many times.

She is a best-selling author, executive communications coach, motivational speaker, podcast host, and Emmy award-winning journalist. Her television career spanned 28 years and featured many memorable highlights including one-on-one interviews with prominent figures ranging from professional athletes to global political leaders including President Barack Obama as well as cultural icons such as Oprah Winfrey. She also co-anchored the #1 rated 6 pm newscast at WCVB-TV, NewsCenter 5, and the ABC affiliate in Boston.

She is the author of “Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams into Your Next Chapter.” In this book, she shares that every experience—good or bad, every career step we’ve taken all adds up to experience and skills. All of it is valuable knowledge and can be used to re-create one’s next chapter...if one is willing to think differently about their experiences and can connect the dots, discover the themes and patterns that exist.

Please join me in welcoming Liz Brunner.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “There’s a leader living within all of us. We are not born knowing how to lead, we learn it. Leadership is a journey.”
her one-time political adversary, Charlie Brown.
how her ancestry has influenced her life.
her humble beginnings of being a high school music teacher.
the bravery it took for Liz to quit her safe job and apply for her first television job.
how she connects the themes and patterns of all the different jobs in her life.
an interesting exercise she does as personal development and waking up her network.
her many mentors, how she finds them, and the lessons she has learned about herself in the process.
her love of networking events and the importance of networking.
a LinkedIn tip to clarify the job you’re looking for.
how she stays in touch with her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest teaches women how to be badass entrepreneurs! She believes women have the power to change their financial picture by building profit in their business.

She specializes in supporting successful six-figure service-based business owners to make profit a priority using her proprietary CRUSH Formula. She is a profit coach and money-making strategist with over 14 years in PR & marketing, finance strategy, and business development.

She is the host of “She Needs Grit” a podcast for entrepreneurs to explore, learn about, and implement actionable takeaways in each of the four pillars of business success - grit, confidence, strategy, and simplicity. Each client she works with has a different story, but her heart lights up when she sees her clients truly understand they are able to create the reality of their dreams.

Please join me in welcoming Samantha Varner.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is leading by example. It’s demonstrating skill and inviting them to follow your example.”
the first time Samantha found herself in a position to lead and motivate others at a mere 20 years old.
how her birth order prepared her for future leadership roles.
her initial desire to work in law but finding communications in the process.
her experience moving from Canada to Australia to Texas.
growing up with an example of entrepreneurship from her father.
the value of community and how to use it to your advantage.
how she started in the finance world and why she empowers women to look at their finances.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest has been called "The da Vinci of visionary leadership".

Named among the top eight global experts in leadership and shortlisted for the Distinguished Award in Leadership by Thinkers50, he is a global thought leader, author, business educator, consultant, and C-suite coach.

He is helping companies to create and execute their vision, and achieve superior business performance. You can find him on Global Gurus Top 30 in Leadership and is the #1 Global Leading Coach (Marshall Goldsmith Thinkers50).

His research identifies entrepreneurs’ and managers’ strategic needs in the areas of leadership and helps leaders to become the masters of the future and achieve new levels of success. He is the author of five books including “The Vision Code,” “LEADEROLOGY,” and “Corporate Superpower.”

Please join me in welcoming Oleg Konovalov.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is not about solving for today. Leadership is defining what the future will be and how to lead people into that future.”
Oleg’s focus on thinking forward and how to unlock your mindset to be a better leader.
why it’s OK to be a troublemaker.
his focus on being of service to those around him.
why his favorite saying is “if you are the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room” and why that’s important to him.
Oleg’s interesting take on accolades and awards vs. always working hard.
his collaboration with his colleague, John Spence, who I will be interviewing in a future episode.
Oleg’s definition of coaching and why he only coaches people in specific topics.
how he uses time zones to his advantage for connecting and engaging with others.
how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.

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Today’s guest helps leaders and teams become the best of who they are and what they do.

She is the founder and owner of Cognitas, an executive and team coaching firm. Her clients include premier brands such as Adobe, Netflix, PwC, Gap, Dropbox, Stripe, and numerous high-growth start-ups. She specializes in helping her clients lead and thrive in fast-paced, constantly changing, and uncertain environments.

Earlier in her career, she was a management consultant with PwC and led numerous teams and projects to help companies scale and implement large-scale strategic change. Following that, she held executive-level positions at both a digital marketing agency and a private equity firm.

In her coaching practice, she helps leaders and teams create adaptive solutions that address their most pressing challenges, enhance their effectiveness, and capitalize on opportunities.

She is a regular contributor to HBR, Fast Company, and Forbes, writing about leadership and strategies for high performance.

Please join me in welcoming Dina Denham Smith.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is a choice or a stance, not a title. Leaders inspire others to follow through free-will, not authority.”
her mentors throwing her to the “deep end” in her job and how that affected her leadership skills.
the lessons her dad has shared with her, including the power of purpose.
growing up at an all-boys boarding school where her parents taught.
how she chose her field in college and all the things she had considered being entrepreneurially-minded.
how an internship and experience at PwC led to a full-time offer.
her dedication for wanting to improve people’s experience at their jobs because they spend the majority of their time working.
her tips on equipping oneself with a toolbox to be the very best at anything.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.
why she feels networking is a loaded word and should be rebranded.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is passionate about helping thought leaders, business leaders, and podcast hosts design and elevate their podcast presence.

She is a podcasting coach & consultant with deep experience in podcasting and content creation. She built Spartan's podcast from zero to over 35 million views and downloads and has worked on a range of projects from social media advisor on a gubernatorial campaign, to creating the documentary film "Flood Bound", to directing TV ads for Vermont Lottery.

On her podcast "Grounded Content" she explores what works, what drives customer actions, and where the lines are between persuasion and manipulation.

Please join me in welcoming Marion Abrams.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is keeping everyone focused on the ultimate goal.”
how growing up in a small town instilled some very important values in her life.
the best library story you might ever hear in your life.
her college experience, including transferring to three different schools in 3 years.
her love of film, and eventually, podcast.
the circumstances around why and how she started a podcast.
the importance of knowing and understanding goals along with the resources available to you.
her passion for directing the podcast experience.
how to create a truly engaging experience for both your podcast guest and your audience.
how she nurtures and sustains her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest knows the power of mentorship and self-development.

He started his first company right out of college in advertising. He eventually pivoted from advertising into technology and now is a business automation consultant. He is big on self-development and loves to inspire people to get out of their comfort zone, through speaking engagements or coaching and mentoring.

He is a master connector with over 17,000 contacts on his phone and over 13,000 connections on LinkedIn. He contributes much of his successes to a strong work ethic, a can-do, never-quit attitude, discipline, integrity, and fearlessness that he cultivated in the martial arts. He does a LinkedIn Live broadcast every week called the Master Connections Series.

Please join me in welcoming Steve Spiro.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “My leadership is a work in progress. Leaders empower and develop people instead of managing them.”
the two biggest sources of his experience; working at his dad’s store and karate.
his experience not being the guy that was picked for things and how that contributed to his growth and his empathy.
how he reinvented himself at camp because he had the freedom of being around people that didn’t know him.
his education experience and his shift from childhood anonymity to being a master connector.
a life-changing trip to Ireland during his advertising career and how he met his mentor (his GPS).
understanding the impact of relationships and connections.
his deep mission for wanting to impact others.
solid advice for how to get started with any mentor.
the difference between coach & mentor.
how he nurtures and sustains his vast network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest’s mission is to open event leaders' minds and hearts to the possibility within them.

She is a 2x TEDx speaker and host of the popular podcast From Fear to Fire. She stimulates vibrant energy, focus, and action for those who want to collaborate effectively, lead change, and achieve massive results. She is an international speaker, behavioral expert, author of several books, including “Where's the Office?: Moving Today's Leaders from What IS to What CAN BE.”

With expertise in virtual, hybrid, and live events, as well as her focus on helping individuals and companies break through fears, judgments, and blocks to reach sales and leadership success, her innovative keynotes are in high demand during these changing times.

Please join me in welcoming Heather Hansen O'Neill.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the ability to lead oneself in a way that comes from character and showing up so that it inspires and energizes others to be better leaders.”
why she asks her teams how would they solve a problem.
the importance of embracing who you are in order to move forward.
how she had to calm herself down growing up and learned to express herself through dance and using her body as her voice.
the importance of being grounded and going deeper inside oneself.
her college experience and making a huge decision honoring herself and what she wanted and needed.
the end of her dance career and deciding on entrepreneurship as the next step.
the journey of finding a mentor and following through on his advice and building her business.
her strategies in networking.
how she nurtures and sustains her network along with some great suggestions to nurture your own network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest believes in the importance of building strategic partnerships.

She is a virtual and in-person networking trainer and an international speaker. As an expert in business networking and relationship marketing for 15+ years, she has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs at TEAM Referral Network in Southern California teaching them how to network in the most lucrative way.

She is the author or co-author of five books including “High Level Networking: Strategies to Build Referral Relationships and Joint Venture Partnerships, and Grow Your Email List.” Today, she works with professionals with borderless boundary businesses from all of North America, the UK, Australia, South Africa, and beyond.

Please join me in welcoming Terilee Harrison.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is when you show up in a group/team context and show up with your giftings (tech, facilitator, consistency).”
her experience in 6th grade that set her on her leadership trajectory.
what her initial plans for her career were when she was in college.
her initial career in collections.
how she unlocked her audience after discovering her passion for networking.
why she feels referral networking is hardcore networking.
the importance of growing your email list.
how we met and although we serve different niches, our ideas work in tandem.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest wants you to know that he can relate if you feel queasy about networking and hate to sell yourself.

Through study, practice, and lots of trial and error, he has transformed himself into a genuine networking professional — a transformation he would like to help all entrepreneurs make.

He coaches individuals, trains staff, and presents to associations and other groups to develop their skills and systems to build better connections and robust networks. He works with audiences to get past their networking reluctance to establish better relationships and increase bottom-line results.

He is the author of "Hello and a Handshake," the host of the "Third Generation Networking Podcast,” and author of the acclaimed blog, “The Reluctant Networker.” With his mom and his wife, he is the co-founder of the family business "Third Generation Networking."

Please join me in welcoming Greg Peters.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “A leader sees that something needs to get done and takes action to get it done.”
why he thinks children are born leaders.
the tools and freedom his mother provided him which led him to entrepreneurship.
his decision between staying at his computer programming job or leaping into entrepreneurship.
the challenges he faced deciding to be an entrepreneur.
growing up with his mom who taught networking and how they’ve combined their businesses.
the evolution of his business and discovering his ideal client.
his belief that almost every business problem is a networking problem.
the importance of networking intentionally and listening to your audience.
how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.
the importance of reconnecting with people on a regular basis.
his connect 5 system which helped him network.
making things as easy as possible for others to take action to help you.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest’s life’s purpose is to be a catalyst for inspired action.

She is a relationship marketing coach helping micropreneurs find their microinfluencer magic so they attract the right clients for the products and services.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in 1998 when she and her husband, Shane, pioneered online custom furniture sales. They quickly grew into a nationwide operation working with world-renowned interior design firms, Fortune 500 executives, plus music and film celebrities.

In 2012, she was introduced to a network marketing company that offered a relationship marketing service her custom furniture business needed. She joined the company as an independent referral partner and is now one of their Top 100 affiliates.

She is also the host of the Gratitude Geek, a relationship marketing podcast that celebrates the benefits of living a grateful life. For her, this includes being a metastatic breast cancer thriver since being diagnosed in 2014. As she says, “Stage IV is just a small piece of my story, not the end of it.”

Join me in welcoming Kandas Rodarte.

In this episode, we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “A true leader is approachable and leads from the back.”
three examples in her own life always make her think about her definition of leadership.
how being called bossy at a young age helped her embody that in her life.
how she organized a large Star Wars festival in her town on a whim.
how to make people feel included when asking them to volunteer.
exploring her ancestry and finding entrepreneurship in her family’s history.
selling her husband’s furniture and setting up the initial business structure.
a mini deep-dive into AOL and how she marketed her business then.
the importance of collaboration.
how she stays in touch with people including her top 100 list.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer tiers of her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest creates big value for business owners by connecting them with their ideal customers and clients using creative, strategic, and authentic digital advertisements.

In 2021 she managed over $50,000 worth of ad spend on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest helping about 20 small business owners expand their reach and explode their sales with digital ads.

She is a CPA who spent the first 6 years of her career with PWC. The combination of her experience: Big 6 accounting, small business ownership, and advertising for 100s of locally owned Miami businesses proved to be perfect to create her new Facebook and Instagram Ad Strategy and Management Agency.

Please join me in welcoming Meredith Kallaher.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is influencing others to use their expertise and skill to create value for the world.”
her experience in elementary trying to find opportunities to be in a leadership role.
how she found permission to ask questions from her high school mentor.
her thoughts on how crippling it can be to care about what others think.
her morning gratitude practice which has changed how she looks at her life.
her initial plan of becoming a doctor before deciding on accounting.
her experience owning a franchise selling baby announcements.
her decision to leave PWC after 6 years while working abroad in Switzerland.
her second franchise of a high-end magazine and her experience learning the Facebook and Instagram platforms.
her experience running her business after Hurricane Irma and what caused her to pivot.
her desire to keep her customers as authentic as possible in their ad messaging.
her advice for sticking with the social media platform that you like.
how she nurtures and sustains her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is a serial entrepreneur that has started over 30 business ventures. While most didn’t work out he did find his passion as a mobile notary and loan signing agent.

He finds the work fulfilling because as a notary he is with people on their best days or most difficult days. He believes it takes someone special to tap into empathy and compassion while striving to build a business that has the power to change lives.

He learned the hard way that knowledge without consistent implementation is practically worthless. That’s why he became a notary coach teaching others how to start and grow their own successful notary businesses.

He's is the CEO of NotaryCoach.com and author of two bestsellers, “Sign & Thrive: How to Make Six Figures as a Mobile Notary and Loan Signing Agent,” and “SuperCharge Your Notary Business with LinkedIn.” He is also the host of the SideHustle Lounge Podcast.

Please join me in welcoming Bill Soroka.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership starts with self. True personal leadership comes down to taking 100% responsibility for results and aligning your thoughts, words, and behaviors.”
how solopreneurs can be impactful leaders despite working alone.
the traps he fell into as an entrepreneur because he didn’t have the right tools in place.
the importance of taking ownership of the things you are responsible for.
his experience growing up pretending to be a businessman but not a very social kid.
how learning the enneagram helped him understand himself.
him being the shy introvert who was always motivated to be team captains by his peers.
his desire from childhood to always be a businessman (including carrying a briefcase to school every day).
the significance of Thanksgiving weekend for him and his business.
his college experience and changing majors a few times.
why he shares his vulnerabilities.
his discovery of the notary business world.
how he has been changing the way he thinks about the notary business to inspire others.
how systematizing his business helped him nail his business so that he could scale it into what it is today.
how he nurtures and sustains his network using network stacking.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is all about building rock-solid relationships and exceeding people’s expectations.

Having an innate curiosity, she has leveraged that into building business relationships and teaches others how to do the same. Her passion is working with people who want to build their businesses through relationship marketing and networking. She shares online and offline strategies to build and sustain solid relationships with past, present, and future customers that lead to more sales and more referrals.

She is the host of the Relationships Rule podcast, interviewing people who share her value of the importance of relationships - and nurturing them.

Please join me in welcoming Janice Porter.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is being able to teach people and influence them through teaching.”
the distinction between leading and coaching.
the dynamic of being the older child as it relates to expectations put upon her.
her first teaching job and realizing what an enormous responsibility it was.
her bravery in challenging a colleague and standing up for what she believed in.
her transition from teaching to corporate training due to finding teaching became too political.
how she started her entrepreneurship journey after being a contractor for many years.
how she learned to be a good networker and that experience helped her on her entrepreneurship journey.
how she finds her ideal clients for LinkedIn strategy and how she helps her referrals.
how she sells her services to different professional clients as opposed to Solopreneurs.
her thoughts on LinkedIn and how it changed over the years.

how she nurtures and sustains her network.

          ***Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.***

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Today’s guest’s passion lies in helping clients build profitable businesses rooted in purpose and impact.

He is a strategy entrepreneur, author, and speaker. He has built and scaled companies in Europe and Canada, and led client projects across the world. He believes a solid strategy is key to leaving a business legacy.

His forthcoming book, “The Strategy Legacy” presents a framework called "The Nine Elements of Organizational Identity" to help you build better businesses.

I’m honored to have been invited to be interviewed by him for LEGACY: The Premier Strategic Business Event that he is organizing in February 2022.

Please join me in welcoming Alex Brueckmann.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is collaborating with people even if you don’t have a leadership title, authority, or position. Leadership is influence.”
his experience as a child of directing the games and wanting things to go a certain way even while playing.
his gratitude for growing up without being officially diagnosed or medicated with ADHD but instead having the space to explore and use his energy.
his admiration of Axel Rose’s (Guns N Roses lead singer) energy and how he showed up in the world.
his initial passion for music and why he did not pursue that in his career goals.
his nights of only sleeping 4 hours a night and realizing that while it was fun, it was not healthy.
his journey into corporate and getting his first taste of entrepreneurship.
the freedom he felt when deciding to release himself from “the golden handcuffs” and striking out on his own.
how he helps organizations leverage their entire leadership organization to be strategically savvy.
how he is building a legacy.
his passion for strategy and why he believes every entrepreneur should have a vision for the destination of their business journey.
how he honed in on his niche and how that developed how he reached out to people and served them.

how he continues to evaluate and nurture his network.
his Legacy event in 2022.

         ***Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.***

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Today’s guest believes thoughtful planning can lead to great success in business.

For the past two decades, he has helped individuals and organizations build and grow revenue streams through designing and growing their thought leadership platforms as well as acting as a guide and advisor for increasing business to business sales of thought leadership products.

His clients come from a diverse set of backgrounds and specialties. They include New York Times bestselling business book authors, members of the Speakers’ Hall of Fame, recipients of the Thinkers50 award, CEOs of public and privately held companies, and academics at prestigious institutions such as Yale, Wharton, Dartmouth, and London School of Business.

He is the host of the “Leveraging Through Leadership” podcast where he explores how independent thought leaders bring their ideas to scale within the business world.

Please join me in welcoming Peter Winick.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the ability to get others to voluntarily want to follow you using a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic tools.”
his college experience and trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.
the influence of watching his father being an entrepreneur who owned his own limousine business in New York.
what caused him to never want to work for someone else ever again.
his first business venture creating a food delivery service.
how he met Keith Ferrazzi and how they worked together as he was starting his business.
the importance of maintaining relationships vs. popping up to ask for a favor out of nowhere.
using the recession as an opportunity instead of a stopping point.
his prediction for the future of public speaking.
his strategy during the pandemic and being forced out of his comfort zone.

how he nurtures and sustains his network.

        ***Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.***

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Today’s guest believes marketing and selling are two different things. She knows the problem is that selling to new clients feels uncomfortable and salesy, especially when you've never had to do it before.

She is a three-time business owner who started her career in corporate marketing. She didn’t learn to sell by being a commissioned salesperson. She taught herself everything she could about selling, overcame selling shyness, and created a sales approach that feels comfortable, builds strong client relationships, and gets results. In weeks, she teaches women what took her years to learn.

She is a sales coach for women who run B2B consulting and coaching businesses, the founder of Smart Gets Paid, and the host of The Smart Gets Paid podcast.

Please join me in welcoming Leah Neaderthal.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about enabling others to do something in a better way or be their better selves. It’s leading side-by-side.”
being bullied growing up and not realizing she had leadership skills.
how her first boss was a quiet leader and her realization that there are different kinds of leaders.
how coming out empowered her to really step out into the world.
everything she learned about being an entrepreneur stemmed from her corporate world.
her entrepreneurial role models as a child.
developing businesses and selling them to embark on a new journey.
she explains her theory of “show me how you make friends and I’ll show you how to network.”
how she nurtures and sustains her network.

what she’s most looking forward to in the year ahead.

       ***Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.***

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Today’s interview is a bit of an experiment as we met for a live interview that was streamed to LinkedIn and Facebook.

This was the first of a series of conversations I’m having with entrepreneurs who read my latest book, “Small List, Big Results: Launch a Successful Offer No Matter the Size of Your Email List” to find out how they’re implementing the strategies in the book to grow their business.

We dig into what mindset junk came up while reading, what aha! moments they experienced, and what steps they are now committed to taking.

My first guest in this series has had access to this material for longer than anyone else and her feedback along the way has helped me shape the book’s content and how it was marketed.

She has been supporting my business in a wide variety of ways since February 2020, which means she has had a front-row seat to the wild journey I’ve been on over the last 20 months.

Please join me in welcoming my assistant, Peya Robbins.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on Robbie’s new books and why she believes it’s a quick read that took her a long time to read.
her very visceral responses to some of the contents of the book and how that fueled new ideas for her.
the importance of having a support system when being an entrepreneur.
the headtrash of being an entrepreneur.
discovering that her network she needed to workshop ideas with already existed.
why people do not ask for help or take advice.
the behind the scenes on launching Robbie’s newest book.
the real reason for an email list.
the implementation of the Big Results Toolkit.

her daily morning habit of asking herself “How will I complicate my day today?”

      ***Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.***

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Today’s guest is a multi-passionate Renaissance woman with an incredible knack for shining the spotlight on the people and projects she cares about.

She runs a thought leadership consulting agency to help her clients leverage their online presence through engaging social media posts, getting invited to speak on TEDx stages, and being booked on podcasts.

She is the author of two books: “Social Your Book Launch” and “Spread Your Idea,” and hosts two podcasts: Coffee With Entrepreneurs and From The Wings. She has spoken on two TEDx stages and organized her own TEDx event.

As a creative professional, she has written and produced two plays, "A Very Queer Holiday" and "Two Anxious Bisexuals".

Please join me in welcoming Marie Incontrera.

In this episode we discuss:

his/her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is how you show up in the world. We are all leaders whether we know it or not.”
how Dorie Clark got her thinking about her band as a startup and that changed everything.
how skipping the 8th grade forced her to grow up and really hone in on being a high achiever.
how being offered a profession in music early in her career shaped her journey.
how she thought about growing her team after leaving her career in music.
learning the ins and outs of running her business to a team of 12.
her commitment to diversity and inclusion when she hires new people on her team.
the importance of putting our values out there for potential clients and referral partners.
her plans for the future in her business.
the organic growth of her business and how trying new things allowed her to be firmly established for new clients to reach out to her.
how she nurtures and sustains her network and how getting to know her clients quickly in a short amount of time is an asset in relationship building.

how her life and business changed due to the pandemic.

     ***Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.***

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Today’s guest believes human beings just want to be appreciated.

He believes that appreciation is rocket fuel to create lifelong business relationships and has built his career around this single idea. To that end, he is an 8-Time TEDx speaker and the producer of a 55-year event series for entrepreneurs, called Thank U Live. The annual gratitude experience for entrepreneurs to look back on their year, celebrate their progress, and appreciate their people.

Because of his unique approach to appreciation he has been hired to deliver keynotes on over 1,000 stages and invited to work with companies like Lululemon, LinkedIn, and Microsoft.

Please join me in welcoming Blake Fly.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is a willingness to speak to people in an impactful way.”
how winning the heart award at graduation impacted him because it wasn’t linked to grades but more his character.
how listening to a training presentation in his first part-time job sparked a love for being a keynote speaker.
his detour after college before becoming a professional speaker.
how he prepared for his valedictorian speech for high school and the lens of appreciation that came from prepping for that experience.
his passion for transitional moments between high school and college.
his takeaway during the global pandemic and his scoreboard theory.
how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.
the importance of appreciating others and the strategy he uses to practice appreciation in his life.
the importance of taking thoughtful risks in your business.
what he’s looking forward to in the next year.
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Today’s guest is one of the best-connected people in the social good world.

She is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact, providing storytelling, partnership creation, and visibility to corporations, NGOs, and social enterprises.

She has 25+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry conferences, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company, and Elle Magazine.

She is the author of “The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships” reminding readers that we should connect on a human level and build authentic relationships beyond securing a new job or a new investor for your next big idea.

Please join me in welcoming Susan McPherson.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leaders know your followers work with you and not for you.”
how she bases her company on compassion and kindness.
her natural inclination to want to be around people and organizing activities, even as a child.
her strategy of supporting non-profit organizations to meet people while being socially conscious.
her experience working for Ted Kennedy’s campaign and realizing she didn’t want to work in the government.
her first job at USA Today and how much that influenced her current business.
how she contacted all of her contacts via email when she started her company asking for referrals.
her advice to entrepreneurs to hire people to do the things they are not good at or love doing.
what inspired her book and the importance of making connections.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.
the joy she gets from showcasing others.

what she would do if she had an extra five hours a week.

   ***Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.***

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Today’s guest has launched a children’s brand that inspires young minds.

She has over twenty-five years in marketing and branding, including FM/AM radio broadcasting, and as the host of The Business Experience Show. She is a speaker, songwriter, and award-winning author of the book series, Unicorn Jazz™ - she’s written a total of 17 books.

After interviewing 13 notable entrepreneurs on what makes for a meaningful, happy, and prosperous life she was inspired to launch her own multi-media brand, starting with a book about a shy unicorn. The book series offers social-emotional learning components (empathy, kindness, love, belonging, believing in others, feelings, and more).

When the pandemic began, she knew she had to do something outside the box to continue creating and developing her characters for children. She launched Unicorn Jazz Presents The Thing I Do which is available on Amazon TV/Prime. What’s really neat is kids can send in their own video content, music, and talent to be part of the show!

Her work has been featured in Forbes, ABC, CBS, and USA Today.

Please join me in welcoming Lisa Caprelli.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is helping others to create and do more with their innate ability.”
her curiosity about how to best help young kids start developing strong ideals for happiness and not just lucrative careers.
the impact her grandmother and her 1st-grade teacher had on her at a young age.
the origin story of why she created Unicorn Jazz.
how she mastered the art of writing.
her thoughts on why it’s so important to compliment others and help them develop.
how she navigated the world being really, really shy.
how the recession in 2009 led her to start her first marketing business.
her decision to create a children’s brand and how easy it was to make that choice.
her thoughts about “million-dollar ideas”.
how she nurtured her network and was able to build from the people she already had connections with.
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Today’s guest believes relationships are the assets that always yield the greatest returns - maximizing lifelong happiness and fulfillment.

With his background in cognitive science & psychology, he understands knowing how to initiate quality relationships is a must for any professional, particularly when searching for a job, recruiting new talent to your workplace, exploring acquisition opportunities, building new sales relationships, and so on.

He is the founder of Cogent Connections, a young sales consulting and marketing firm that helps businesses build genuine, thoughtful, and productive professional relationships. He helps you connect with the right people, initiate productive conversations, and nurture your network.

Please join me in welcoming Chris Gittings.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is something that requires a bit of courage and the ability to take risks.”
his experiences growing up being picked last and experiencing harassment/bullying in school.
his love of watching and learning about history.
finding his mentor in his high school history teacher.
his developing love of human behavior and how there is still so much to explore.
his work at The Cleveland Clinic with kids struggling with ADHD.
how the relationships he has built allow him to take risks in trying new things.
his strategy about asking people for help when he needs it.

how he nurtures and sustains the outer levels of his network.

***Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.***

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Today’s guest has discovered the secret to tapping into your authentic self and turning it into a superpower at work and in life.

She has spent the last 14 years traveling the globe, training senior execs and teams from Fortune 100 companies like Google, Pepsico, Uber, and Disney. She's turned technologists into creative forces, bankers into storytellers, and has brought a serious dose of badass-ness to boardrooms everywhere.

She is a former TV host turned trainer, speaker, and Swagger coach. She’s the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of “Swagger Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want.”

Please join me in welcoming Leslie Ehm.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about anyone in service of growing other humans. It’s the intention to help others grow.”
how she learned to be a leader by realizing that she did not have leadership skills and using her deficits as her inspiration.
her experience growing up and remembering it as a difficult time.
her journey to find a platform to communicate with others.
how growing up with entrepreneurial parents gave her the freedom and security to build her own business.
how living in the UK for many years and returning home to Canada made her feel about her network.
her belief that people are already everything they need to be to be successful.
the untruths associated with building a business.
her experience taking a chance with a new business partner and she began losing her swagger.
the evolution of her Combustion virtual training company.
her dream for the Swagger Revolution.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest believes in celebrating and embracing diversity.

With a unique and practical approach to diversity and inclusion, she helps leaders and teams promote a more inclusive work environment. She brings a fresh and uniquely positive approach to diversity keynote talks, while still challenging the status quo.

Her work has been featured in USA Today, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Fast Company. She's appeared on CNN, the Today Show, the BBC, and National Public Radio. She has been named one of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives by Crain’s Chicago Business and one of the Top 25 Women in Meetings by Meetings and Conventions Magazine.

She is the CEO of Equality Institute and an award-winning author of 4 books including “Inclusive 360: Proven Solutions for an Equitable Organization.”

Please join me in welcoming Bernadette Smith.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is someone inspiring and guiding a team towards a shared sense of purpose and goals.”
how she used her vision to get into Woodstock ‘94 with her friends and raise money for Habitat for Humanity.
how she found her voice in her late teens.
the origin story of her event planning business focused on gay weddings during the start of the fight for marriage equality.
how event planning for LGBTQ couples led to a DEI-focused transition.
how the universe humbled her at the precise moment she wasn’t being true to herself.
how writing a weekly newsletter can be a great way to build relationships.
how she nurtures and sustains her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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For today’s guest, the joy in real estate sales is forging genuine relationships with her clients.

Since 2010, she’s worked closely with home buyers and sellers of all stages of life, guiding them to intelligent, winning decisions. She’s closed over $100 million in sales in nine years and 85% percent of her business is from referrals or repeat clients.

I’ve mentioned more than once on this show how I have had less than stellar encounters with pushy real estate professionals whose marketing strategies can best be described as spray and pray. Their whole focus is giving me their business card and getting mine so they can send me spam emails. That’s why I’m thrilled to interview today’s guest because she exemplifies what is possible in real estate when the focus is relationship-building and not the sale.

Please join me in welcoming Melony Swasey.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “What makes someone a leader is their ability to listen and pay attention. The way I think about it and appreciate it best is to listen deeply.”
what it was like being the 7th out of 8 siblings and how taking care of her younger brother gave her a sense of responsibility from a young age.
how she came to value quality because of her parents and how quality and leadership go together.
how she built a highly successful real estate business during “the worst possible time” in 2008.
some of the struggles she has faced in developing a business without a blueprint.
her incredible networking strategies and mindsets.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is a Wall Street lawyer turned talk show host, social dynamics expert, and entrepreneur, whose affinity for social influence, interpersonal dynamics, and social engineering has led him to, and through, many unique situations.

He spent several years abroad, speaks five languages, and has worked for various governments and NGOs overseas. His travel took him through war zones and got him kidnapped twice. He will tell you the only reason he is alive today is because of his innate ability to talk his way into, and out of, almost any situation.

Now, after co-hosting a top 50 iTunes podcast for over a decade, achieving almost four million downloads a month during its prime, he has embarked on a new adventure: running his own podcast show, where he deconstructs the playbooks of the most successful entrepreneurs, celebrities, writers, and experts on earth to share their strategies, perspectives, and insights with his listeners.

Along with his podcast show, he is one of the best and most sought-after coaches in the world because of his business sense, extensive knowledge of the industry, and his contemporary approach to teaching.

Please join me in welcoming Jordan Harbinger.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is really just leading by example, showing up every day, making sure you eat last, being transparent and vulnerable.”
how his experiences led him to the place where he realized he was a leader.
his first leadership mentor, and how learned about earning respect and wielding power when necessary.
how being a foreign exchange student opened his mind and changed his life.
his experiences with being a podcast host when it was an entirely new medium, and how it has evolved.
the habits he has built into his daily routine to intentionally maintain connections with strong and weak connections.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest has held a wide array of leadership positions including, presidential campaign spokeswoman, nonprofit executive director, award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, and she received a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. And proving that she can do anything she puts her mind to two days before this episode originally aired she became a Grammy-winning jazz producer!

All of these experiences inform her work as a marketing strategy consultant, professional speaker, and frequent contributor to many publications including Harvard Business Review, TIME, and Entrepreneur.

Recognized as a “branding expert” by the Associated Press, Fortune, and Inc. magazine, she is the author of two books “Reinventing You” and “Stand Out.” For “Stand Out” she interviewed 50 of the world’s top experts to understand how they developed powerful ideas and got recognized for them. I’m pleased to share that I was one of the experts she interviewed. Stand Out was named the #1 Leadership Book of 2015 by Inc. magazine and was a Washington Post bestseller.

She consults and speaks for a diverse range of clients, including Google, the World Bank, Ford Foundation, Yale University, and the National Park Service.
She is also an adjunct professor of business administration at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Visiting Professor for IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.

She was recognized in Forbes as one of “25 Professional Networking Experts to Watch in 2015” and is quoted frequently in the worldwide media, including NPR, the BBC, and MSNBC.

Please join me in welcoming Dorie Clark.

In this episode we discuss:

her definition of leadership: “Being aware that your actions have consequences for other people and therefore not taking them lightly.”
how being an out gay woman, who is recognized as a business authority, is a form of activism
how changes in how media was created and consumed required her to keep changing her business focus
the advice she would tell anyone looking to stand out and build a following
her strategy of hosting private dinner parties to create networking opportunities

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is a sought-after speaker who has shared the platform with everyone from today’s business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President.

A prolific author of books on sales, marketing, and influence, for years he was best known for his book “Endless Referrals” - that is until he released “The Go-Giver” a business parable he co-authored. It joined The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek Bestseller lists, sold over 850,000 copies, has been translated into 28 languages, and inspired a book series. The most recent parable in the Go-Giver Series is The Go-Giver Influencer.

The American Management Association named him one of the Top 30 Leaders in Business and he was named one of the Top 200 Most Influential Authors in the World by Richtopia.

Please join me in welcoming Bob Burg.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is indeed moving people to a desired action but doing so in a way that you tie your goal into theirs.”
how he handled learning his first role in sales, and then his first role in leadership.
the emphasis he and many other leaders place on pull instead of push.
his view on how we are responsible to people but not responsible for people.
the difference between manipulation and persuasion.
three different surprises he has experienced with reciprocity.
his tips for what does work for networking at events.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest understands you can’t do it all yourself. Her clients are at a tipping point, launching the next phase of their life and business while creating multiple business income streams - which is why she’s their expert resource for finding the best virtual assistant for their needs.

Based on the positive response to her two books “Become a Successful Virtual Assistant” and “Hire the Right Virtual Assistant” she decided there was a need for an association to promote a high standard of excellence among VAs. Thus, she founded the Association of Virtual Assistants.

In 2017, she became location independent and traveled to 16 countries in 12 months while growing her business at a rapid rate. Since then, she has become a sought-after Remote Work Consultant, helping individuals looking for remote work, as well as those in need of better hiring and managing their remote teams.

Please join me in welcoming Melissa Smith.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is knowing your strengths and weaknesses and making sure you have the ability to have people pull them out of you while you also do that for them.”
how anonymous, random of acts of kindness with her dad and watching her mom as a soft-spoken but powerful “quiet” leader influenced who she is and how she operates today.
how she finds joy in seeing others get over the humps in their lives to achieve the greatness they are capable of.
the Association of Virtual Assistants she recently launched and what she loves about it.
how she knows when she needs to hire another Virtual Assistant.
her methods for networking and investing in relationships over the long haul.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Two decades ago, Business Week said today’s guest "may be the ultimate entrepreneur for the Information Age," because he’s as focused on spreading ideas as the ideas themselves.

He is a world-renowned speaker and author of 18 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 35 languages. Entrepreneur said his blog was “one of the most-loved marketing blogs on the internet.”

He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting leadership, and most of all, changing everything. Some of his most well-known books include “Linchpin,” “Tribes,” “The Dip,” and "Purple Cow.” His newest book, “This Is Marketing” was released this month.

He has founded several companies including Yoyodyne and Squidoo - and he is the founder of altMBA and The Marketing Seminar, online workshops that have transformed the work of thousands of people. In recognition of his ability to create and spread powerful ideas, he was inducted into the American Marketing Association's Marketing Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Please join me in welcoming Seth Godin.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is earning the trust to have people hear and believe you and the discernment to differentiate between the people who want to go there and those who don’t.”
how he learned to accept loss, discovered he is not good at getting elected, and ultimately learned how to be a great leader.
his belief that true marketers learn how to identify things that need to change in the world, come up with a solution to make change happen, and find the people who need that change.
his thoughts about how school has been designed to raise kids to be compliant, and the importance of parents to use the time with their kids to help give them the future skills they need.
how he does not view himself as a great writer. Instead, he has written over 7,000 blogs and 120 books because he learned to speak more clearly and to write what he was going to say.
his marketing strategy that asks “who’s it for and what’s it for?”
what status roles are and how important they have been in his life.
how he keeps a generous abundance mindset and thinks “how do I give them the most that I can?” instead of “how do I get the most out of them?”
his thoughts about “tit for tat” mindsets and networking with other people.
his mindset about people taking his ideas and running with them, and how it makes him happy to see people use his ideas to create positive change in the world.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest believes that communication and connection are the foundation of everything. She is known for her energetic, engaging, and authentic presentations and is an expert on workplace communications and relationships. She is an accomplished speaker, trainer, coach, and the author of several books including “The 11 Laws of Likability,” which has been translated into 9 languages and used by universities, Fortune 500 companies, and associations around the world. She has appeared on TV and radio shows across the country and was named by Forbes as one of the 25 Professional Networking Experts to Watch in 2015. Her next book, “The Connectors Club” will be available in March 2019. Her mission is to help people communicate and lead with confidence, clarity, and connection. Please join me in welcoming Michelle Tillis Lederman. In this episode we discuss: her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is a mindset and an approach to how you conduct yourself in your work. I believe we all have the innate skills to be a leader, it is just a matter of how we leverage them.” how many people have a confidence and comfort quality about them that other people recognize as someone they can trust to be a leader. her definition of the difference between networking and being a connector. some of the key concepts in her upcoming book about connection. her belief that “Diversity is important because it gives you a broader perspective and easier access to people and resources.” how she learned to reframe the negative “end of story” thoughts and what people can do to change the negative thoughts to affirming and powerful phrases. Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is the entrepreneur behind 3 multi-million dollar companies, having founded and sold two of them before reaching his 35th birthday.

He is a former small business journalist for The Wall Street Journal, and he is the author of “Profit First,” “The Pumpkin Plan,” and “The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur,” which BusinessWeek deemed “the entrepreneur’s cult classic.” His books have been translated into over 10 different languages.

A popular keynote speaker, he travels the globe as an entrepreneurial advocate, is an active partner in multiple companies, including an American manufacturer, a business growth consultancy, an augmented reality tech firm, and a certification organization for accountants, bookkeepers, and business coaching.

He also created the Profit First Formula, a way for businesses large and small to ensure profitability from their very next deposit forward.

Please join me in welcoming Mike Michalowicz.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “leadership is about reciprocity.
It is truly about the fact that we will get out of others what we put into others.”
how he believes everyone can be a leader and that they just need to embrace who they actually are and lean into it.
how humor and being the class clown grew him into the successful author he is.
his journey from writing a book with no sales on the launch day, to an author whose book was named the “entrepreneurs cult classic” by BusinessWeek.
his methods for maintaining connections with his readers and fellow authors and colleagues.
how he works to create diversity among people who serve his core listeners.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and associate professor of leadership and innovation at Oral Roberts University.

He has written several books, his first was “The Myths of Creativity: The Truth About How Innovative Companies and People Generate Great Ideas” and then he wrote “Under New Management: How Leading Organizations Are Upending Business as Usual,” which challenges traditional principles of business management and argues that many of them are outdated, outmoded, or simply don’t work.

His latest book,“Friend of a Friend,” takes a look at the science of human behavior and offers readers a new perspective on how to grow networks and build key connections.

His TED Talk, “Why you should know how much your coworkers get paid,” has been viewed over 1.8 million times. When he is not speaking or writing, he is in the classroom teaching students about organizational behavior, creativity and innovation, and strategic leadership.

Please join me in welcoming David Burkus

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is influencing people to move toward a mutually desired objective.”
how his attraction to leadership roles grew as he matured and became more self-aware.
his advice for managing your job while also building a business, requiring you to do both until one gets in the way of the other.
how he uses a combination of an app and a strategy to grow his network.
his belief that the lack of diversity is a networking problem, and how you can overcome it.
his strategy for connecting with people who are different from him.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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Today’s guest is an award-winning executive coach with more than 25 years of team management, business development, and sales leadership experience. Early in her career, she was recognized for her ability to negotiate multimillion-dollar contracts with senior executives of numerous Fortune 500 companies. Having mastered the art of high-ticket sales, she went on to mentor, coach, and develop some of the highest paid, most elite, sales professionals in the country who have sold well over 1 billion dollars and counting.

Every successful executive can cite a mentor or advisor who helped them bridge the gap from middle management to C-level leadership. Every business owner has relied on a trusted guide to make the jump from breaking even to breaking profit records.

Having successfully navigated each stop on the journey to elite executive status, my guest’s passion is in helping business owners, sales leaders and seasoned executives achieve the success they desire.

Please join me in welcoming Stephanie Chung.

In this episode we discuss:

how she defines leadership: “One word describes leadership – influence.”
her experience being a “professional new kid” and moving every two years taught her the importance of being adaptable and influenced her style of leadership
how her c-level executive clients have, by all outside measures achieved success, but still, strive to reach their full potential. Stephanie says, “It’s no longer about success, it’s about significance.”
challenges of being a woman and a minority in upper management in private aviation, which she moved through with her motto, “No excuse. Just produce.”
the steps she takes to recharge and replenish. “In order to give my best, I need to be my best.”her belief that networking is about being in service as she cultivates relationships. “At some point, the law of reciprocity will kick in.”

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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On this encore episode, our guest went from high school English teacher to Broadway producer in under two years. How? Relationships. He is a social catalyst who believes in the power of making meaningful connections for others. His success led him to develop a methodology that he teaches through his company Small Pond Enterprises which specializes in relationship design for founders, authors, and speakers interested in playing a bigger game. He works with thought leaders to curate, extend, and leverage their existing networks. He cemented his reputation as a connector by founding ConnectorCon, a conference for a powerful community of thoughtful connectors who recognize the power of living in a world of abundance rather than scarcity -- and he co-hosts the Access to Anyone podcast. Please join me in welcoming Michael Roderick. In this episode we discuss: how being a teacher taught him the art of truly understanding what another person is going through, and how important it is to offer empathy before focusing on your own wants and needs. his mnemonic device for adding value to other people’s lives: RISE-UP. his thoughts on diversity: “there are no diversity problems in interests.” If you connect with people around shared interests you can broaden the diversity of your network. how he separates his work environment from his home environment by not ever bringing his work stuff into the non-work areas of his house. his process for being a superconnector: how he uses a spreadsheet and analyzes conversations to help connect people who will bring value to each other’s lives. his views on connections, and how people often keep draining people in their lives for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. However, “we have complete control over who we have in our lives,” and when we let go of the ones who don’t fit, we make room for others who do. Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com.

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This week's On the Schmooze episode is the 250th episode – wow.

That means I’ve produced 50 episodes a year for five years. I almost gave this all up three years ago and I’m so grateful I stuck with it. The show has only gotten better since then and I learned it’s not about just meeting but surpassing milestones to experience my full impact on the world.

For this special episode, my virtual assistant Peya Robbins interviews ME. That’s right, the tables were turned so you can learn about the host behind the mic.

Please join me in welcoming today’s guest host Peya Robbins.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is showing up and adding value. It’s about moving forward.”
how and why Robbie hired Peya in February 2020.
how saying yes to something smaller can create opportunities for something bigger.
Robbie’s definition of success.
Robbie’s realization that he is actually an Emcee (and Peya’s shock that he did not know that before).
learn about how professional speakers abdicate their authority while speaking.
how Robbie’s ideal clients found him.
his experience with coaching and how he had the opportunity to work with a wide range of entrepreneurs on their pilot offer.
one of the biggest lessons during the pandemic.
why Robbie shares his knowledge and experience generously.
how hosting is his answer to how he nurtures and sustains his network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 250.

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Today’s guest wants women to live their most epic life every day.

She is a master facilitator, leadership trainer, joy instigator, and community strategist who first fell in love with transformational leadership as a camp counselor. Two degrees and 15 years of facilitation training later, she decided to give herself permission to be the Professional Camp Counselor she knew she was born to be.

She is the founder of The Magnetic Leader™ Collective, where she trains leaders and speakers to connect powerfully with their audience through creating EPIC and engaging meetings, workshops, and events. Her mission is to empower, inspire, and motivate leaders to cultivate confidence and create transformational experiences that change people's lives.

Please join me in welcoming Marli Williams.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is making something happen that wouldn’t already be happening. It is seeing what’s possible.”
her ability to bring people together, host, and build community as a kiddo on the playground.
her inclination to always be involved in school.
her 50-day experiment to find herself and how that led her to change directions and study Outdoor Education.
her path to grad school and how she incorporated getting outside with building community for incoming students.
how she decided on entrepreneurship.
how immersing herself into entrepreneurship and attending events led to her moving to Portland to be around her newfound colleagues.
her passion for helping women live in their power to share their gifts with the world.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network and community.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 249.

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I have a special treat for you this week. This is only the second time I’ve had a guest back on the show. Today’s guest is a super-connector who brings brilliant minds together.

You can read a long list of his accolades in the intro for episode 67, I’ll put a link in today’s show notes. For instance, he spoke at a TED@IBM event the day before his 20th birthday, was a delegate to President Obama's 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Malaysia, and has been featured in Forbes, TIME, Harvard Business Review, and Fortune.

His latest company, Meeting of the Minds, brings together "super-connectors" and subject matter experts at invite-only events. Members of the MOTM network include CEOs of 7, 8, and 9-figure businesses, creators of globally-recognized brands and social movements, New York Times bestselling authors, founders of pre-IPO tech unicorns, and c-suite execs from Fortune 500 companies.

He has written multiple books including the "#1 Entrepreneurship Book of 2015.” I’ve invited him back because he just released his latest book “How To Build A World-Class Network In Record Time.”

Please join me in welcoming Jared Kleinert.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is being a super connector. It is someone well connected and well regarded in their industry. It’s someone who shares value in any industry.”
his positive and negative experiences getting started in entrepreneurship in his teens.
how he planned for his business during the pandemic.
how he explored and deepened his current connections.
the importance of your network to gather information and learn new things.
the mindfulness he keeps about his clients, customers, and relationships and how that changes how he networks in certain situations.
how he builds his network.
his new lifestyle business venture and a sneak peak into his new book.
how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 248.

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Today’s guest believes that the sensible and practical side of life meshes perfectly with the woo-woo side of life.

As the Chief Technology Therapist at Sensible Woo, she teaches highly sensitive & neuro-divergent online business owners how to replace technological chaos with a harmonious technology system. Through programs like Digital Feng Shui, her clients optimize their business foundation from an emotional and intuitive perspective so that they can delegate and automate without wasting time, money, or energy.

She is an accredited librarian with a Master of Science in Information and set the foundation of her career as the first digital archivist for Disney Animation Studios. From there, she has worked with marketing agencies, entertainment technology companies, public libraries, fundraising organizations, and technology start-ups.

Please join me in welcoming Mary Williams.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “True leadership is the ability to say ‘I don’t know’. Real leaders are willing to admit there are things they don’t know yet.”
how her librarian background is the root to how she looks at business.
how living overseas during her early school years changed
how she looked at her introverted nature.
how being elected as a student council president inspired
her to want to make a difference in the world.
her brief stint as a standup comic and how much that taught her about addressing her doubts.
her experience of being in 1st grade in Taiwan, coming back to the US for 2nd grade, and how her teacher, Ms. Harman, held space for her during that transition.
her move to LA and her aspiration to be an actor or comedian.
how much she learned about business while working at Disney and how she compares it to getting a Master’s.
how she sees the pandemic as a gift.
her experience as a long time tarot reader.
how the woo woo fits into her business practices.
how she nurtures and sustains her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 247.

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Today’s guest helps leaders and organizations thrive with disruption as an expert on digital transformation and leadership.

For the past two decades, she has been helping people see the future. She is the Founder and Senior Fellow at Altimeter, a disruptive analyst firm acquired in 2015 by Prophet. She was named one of the Top 50 Leadership Innovators by Inc., and one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company.

Her work includes consulting and serving on boards, including the regional board for YPO, a global network of CEOs. She is a sought-after public speaker and has appeared at events ranging from TED and the World Business Forum to SXSW. She has appeared on 60 Minutes and PBS NewsHour and is frequently quoted by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Associated Press.

She’s the author of six books, including the New York Times bestseller, “Open Leadership” and co-author of the critically acclaimed book, “Groundswell”. Her latest book is the bestseller “The Disruption Mindset.”

Please join me in welcoming Charlene Li.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the ability to create change and bring people together to make that change.”
how she dropped pre-med in college to align with her desire to be a leader and make change.
her fearlessness in school as the only person of color instead of letting it make her a wallflower.
her college experience of entering Harvard as a sophomore (thanks to AP and summer credits) and declaring a major that didn’t exist (Neurobiology).
her exposure to racism and misogyny and how her parents tried to talk her out of going into the business world.
how she started her business during the recession and what her family looked like then.
her evaluation of the internet to determine where the change would be.
her reaction to being asked “How do you serve the world?”
how she rallied during the pandemic and how she still tried to serve others through that disruption.
her advice for a million dollar business.
how to get people that are clinging to the old idea of the world to embrace the new world idea.
the level of intimacy that living and working through a pandemic brought to the table.
her definition of success.
how she nurtures and sustains her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 246.

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Today’s guest can help anyone make networking an art, not an accident.

He is a principal consultant at Contacts Count, a global training and development firm that has developed 8 specific competencies, a mix of skills, behaviors, tools, and strategies, to teach individuals and organizations the value of networking.

He has worked with individuals in almost every profession and industry to improve their ability to build mutually beneficial trust-based relationships. Relationships that can help his clients improve their performance on the job, advance their career, and add value to their organization. These skills are also critical to success when seeking new employment opportunities.

An accomplished human resources professional, he has worked for over 25 years at organizations as diverse as Dunkin Donuts and the American Chemistry Council.

Please join me in welcoming Vern Schellenger.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is servant leadership. The dignity and respect around listening to people and having empathy. There is no leadership without followers.”
his first experience in management while working as a baker at Dunkin’ Donuts and how that led to a 25 year career with them.
how he discovered networking during a job search.
his journey through multiple job searches with resources from New Directions and learning about networking.
his experience of leading a group through Georgetown Law School to help the participants embrace the concept of networking.
how he includes networking in everyday conversations and offers to not only teach but give.
a quick tip to how to weave networking into everyday conversations.
how he made it possible for one of his colleagues to “visit Mars”.
how he nurtures and sustains the outer layers of his network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 245.

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Today’s guest helps ambitious people expand their capacity to handle more growth, wealth, and success.

For more than ten years, she has helped entrepreneurs, corporate executives, Academy Award nominees, and Nobel Prize organization candidates break through boundaries that have been holding them back from their next level. Her signature approach enables clients to reach their highest level of impact.

She has addressed thousands of people both on stage as a keynote speaker and as a podcast guest. She's also been featured on CNN, Yahoo! News, and The Huffington Post. She is the author of “Love Cartography”, a new kind of personal development book for soul leaders that uses daily rituals to reconnect you to your internal wisdom, explore the beauty within you, and remind you of who you really are.

Please join me in welcoming Lisa Fabrega.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership consists of 4 things to impact people positively, the 4 pillars of capacity; discernment, sovereignty, equanimity, and boundaries.”
how growing up in a dictatorship affected how she grew up mediating within her family.
how her excelling in school often led teachers to question her about cheating which caused a bit of anxiety around the thought of being successful.
the impact the pandemic had on her business and the businesses in her network.
her time as an actor and wanting to explore and work in a creative field.
her love of Oprah and her thoughts of “wanting to do something like that”.
how reading Tim Ferriss’ book made her realize she was undervalued at her job and lit her passion to want to change that.
her career starting as a health coach and how she discovered the coaching industry.
the memory of one client’s journey to pay for one of her early coaching programs.
her theory of Embodiment Capacity.
the first year of her business and how she was considered “high-end” at that time charging $200/month.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer levels of her network by showing up consistently by supporting and cheering people on.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 244.

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Today’s guest helps entrepreneurs tell economic stories that make dollars...and sense.

After nearly a decade in investment banking and having worked with Goldman, Lehman, and CSFB on over $5 billion of transactions, she rode the high tech startup rollercoaster in Europe, complete with angels, venture capitalists, and the coveted exit to a publicly traded company.

She then founded Finance-Ability, which upends traditional capital raising methods by providing entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and self-awareness to find the right kind of funding for their business. She has educated and mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs across three continents and has helped her clients raise over $30 million dollars in early stage capital.

She is the host of “What's Your Ask?” podcast where she talks to investors and entrepreneurs about the different ways they've asked and been asked for money, references, introductions and more. She is also the author of “Funding Your Business Without Selling Your Soul”.

Please join me in welcoming Stephanie Sims.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is equal parts inspiration and risks/action-taking.”
how a bad decision by some students in her high school led her to organize an event for her graduating class and set her on a leadership path.
her history of getting involved in school and using that as an opportunity to learn more.
her initial dream of being a doctor and how a class in her summer camp saved her 10 years of her life and changed her career trajectory.
her keen observation skills while choosing a path in her career.
how her parents selling their business opened her eyes to launching a new business.
her observations about how people pivot and jump on opportunities during the pandemic.
how she encourages people to shift their mindset from “I’m going to take a risk” to “I’m going to run an experiment”.
how having multiple revenue streams serves entrepreneurs.
how she nurtures and sustains the outer layers of her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 243.

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Today’s guest believes collaboration happens when conversations turn into action.

He is the creator of Idea Climbing™, the result of his 21-year case study interviewing and researching successful people and companies about collaboration and mentoring. He works with business owners and marketers to increase communication with their current clients while attracting new ones faster through interview content, virtual events, interactive media, and mentoring programs.

Along the way, he stumbled into the world of improv and discovered that improv ISN’T about being funny; it’s about collaboration. It’s an art, a science, and a lifestyle. Since then, he’s integrated improv rules into his business presentations and everyday life - it’s shifted his worldview.

Please join me in welcoming Mark J. Carter.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is creating a shared goal that aligns with a personal goal. It’s bringing people up.”
the clubs he created in 4th and 5th grades for his friends, ID cards and all.
when he discovered he could be a successful entrepreneur.
how Tony Robbins influenced him as a young adult.
his early years of cold calling high schools hoping to be hired to speak to their students.
his pivot from speaking to thoughtfully mentoring.
how he set up mentoring video meetings through agendas focused on advice, support, and connections.
his plan to reach out to people who talked about networking and relationships to lead to referrals = a business was born!
the importance of showing a genuine interest in people beyond just trying to get an ask fulfilled.
his strategy for networking with the different levels of his network including the format for his excel sheet.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 242.

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Today’s guest is on a mission to provide institutional financial support to the world’s most gender impactful strategies and entities, thereby enabling them to deliver value for the world’s women and girls.

She is the Founder and CEO of Women of the World Endowment, a global endowment focused on investing in and through women as drivers of solutions to today’s pressing challenges. She has made strategic large-scale contributions to the growth of the gender lens investing market, and is widely recognized for driving innovation and building sustainable global investment programs, with a focus on both profit and impact. She actively drives forward a capital system more inclusive of women and girls, and one that is racially diverse.

Please join me in welcoming Patience Marime-Ball.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership embodies 3 things; living your full potential (self-work), influencing others (multiply effect), and building an ecosystem (sharing with others).”
her internal conflict of being a gregarious child and not following her cultural path growing up in Zimbabwe.
how her grandfather saw as much potential in his daughters as he did in his sons and how he nurtured their paths and encouraged them all to live to their full potential with purpose.
her thoughts behind collaboration and how to essentially ‘find your people’ and share resources.
how being a voracious reader opened her mind to bigger ideas in the world.
the impact her mother’s experiences had on her.
her experience at law school and how one summer changed her trajectory during her higher education.
the creation of Women of the World Endowment.
how being intentionally uncomfortable is necessary to build an ecosystem and how that has helped her have an impact in the spaces she is a part of.
that leadership evolves from connecting your mind with your heart.
how she nurtures and sustains her network of people by being intentional and trying to make deep connections.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 241.

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Today’s guest is the leading expert on how to leverage podcast guesting for increased brand awareness, more leads, and higher profits.

She created the podcast booking industry in 2013 when she founded Interview Connections, recently named the Best Speciality Podcast Guest Booking Agency of 2021 by Corporate Vision Magazine. Along with her business partner, she has quickly scaled Interview Connections to multiple 7 figures in annual revenue by leveraging the power of podcast guesting. Their team of in-house booking agents is the powerhouse behind many successful entrepreneurs and businesses including Ali Brown, Perry Marshall, AWeber, USA Financial, and more.

She has done hundreds of podcast interviews both as a guest and co-host of Monetize the Mic. She is the co-author of the upcoming book, “Monetize the Mic: Transform Your Business with Visibility and Strategy” and has been a featured speaker at Podfest Multimedia Expo and FinCon.

Please join me in welcoming Jessica Rhodes.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is in me. To be a leader, you focus on your inner drive to achieve your highest potential and want to lead others to do the same. A leader is someone who leads by example.”
how she did her own thing as a kid and being the “odd kid out” helped develop her leadership skills.
how she draws inspiration from watching her parents be servant leaders.
her vision of wanting to be a star on Broadway and her memories of finding a home in theatre groups in school.
how her dad inspired her to launch her career with him being on a podcast and introducing her to the online space.
her start in podcasting inspired by her dad and Jerod Morris.
the importance of women investing in their visibility.
the importance of talking about money, especially with your children.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 240.

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Today’s guest empowers people who feel disconnected with the tools to start meaningful conversations and find their people. He creates tools and transformational experiences, so leaders and teams can feel heard, seen and valued, and create a culture of authenticity, trust and belonging.

He is the creator of ASK DEEP QUESTIONS, which started out as a deck of cards to help his friends connect on a camping trip, and is now being used to facilitate meaningful conversations through sharing personal and vulnerable stories on every continent around the globe.

His mission is to help people feel less alone. Through his workshops and programs he is fueling the movement for deeper human connection. His work has been featured on TEDx, CBC News, Breakfast TV, Cityline, and HuffPost. He is currently building a community of facilitators that design MAGICAL HUMAN MOMENTS online.

Please join me in welcoming Jan Keck.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is inspiring and encouraging others to learn new things and supporting them through that process.”
how attending summer camp as a kid in Germany inspired him to want to lead.
that good leadership is giving followers a good start.
his time abroad in Australia for one year and how it shaped his life.
his love for doing the uncomfortable thing in order to propel himself into his goals.
the beginning of his “Ask Deep Questions” deck of cards.
what “The Campfire Formula” is and the story behind it.
his process of playtesting the cards and categorizing their depth and validity in the deck across different situations.
his initial run of the cards and his Kickstarter campaign.
his goal of creating a culture of being top of mind within your network.
how he nurtures and sustains his network including the outer two layers that doesn’t necessarily add to your life and may actually be draining you.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 239.

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Today’s guest believes everyone can use their voice to impact the world. She’s found that to be true for her own career as an award-winning international professional speaker and as a publisher who helps experts become authors.

She has written several books and compiled compelling stories for several additional books. These include “REAL TALK: What Other Experts Won't Tell You About How to Make Presentations That Sizzle,” “A Collective Breath: Stories of Being Black in America and Visions of Change,” and her newest book “Upward: Leadership Lessons for Women on the Rise.”

She has served as a faculty member for the Texas A&M University System, a Certified Advanced Facilitator and faculty trainer for the University of Phoenix, and a professional development consultant. She has presented for companies and organizations such as Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Vanguard Investments, and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Please join me in welcoming Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the three H’s. Head, hands, and heart. Your followers know the objectives from your heads, have the tools you provided in their hands, and believe what is in your heart and are built up by your leadership.”
her early childhood days of having her nose in a book, copying definitions from a dictionary, and thinking her peers were lame.
her dream of being a news anchor and the passionate reason why that was her goal as a child.
her beginning of teaching professionals how to teach and how that evolved into being a professional speaker.
how publishing a book has helped to grow her network.
how knowing what people need and being able to deliver that can create new opportunities.
how she nurtures and sustains her network by pouring into others and sharing knowledge.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 238.

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Today’s guest brings a wealth of first-hand knowledge to growing tech firms using more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur, business leader, and angel investor.

She played principal roles in pioneering several B2B technology firms. As co-founder of SpaceWorks, an eCommerce software company, she facilitated its startup and growth to nearly $25 million in revenue; at America Online, she designed the PR program and investor roadshow for the IPO; at United Press International, she facilitated a turn-around strategy; and for LEXIS/NEXIS, she was instrumental in the creation and successful launch of a new division.

Since founding Best Marketing LLC in 2001, she has consulted with more than 90 early-stage and growth-stage tech companies on their go-to-market strategies. In 2018, she was appointed Chair of the National Women's Business Council, a federal agency that advocates for female founders. She is immediate past Board Chair of the Dingman Center of Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland.

Please join me in welcoming Liz Sara.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about seizing an opportunity. It’s filling a need or solving a problem. A true leader has excitement about their idea, product, or solution.”
her theory about 1st born children being predisposed to being leaders.
how one book in the 80s changed the trajectory of her life.
the realization that as entrepreneurs we never really plan the next step of our journey.
her desire to be in new emerging markets and help people in those spaces excel.
her advice for current college students and how they can take advantage of upcoming trends.
how she nurtures and sustains her network by blocking time in her calendar every week to do outreach via email or the telephone.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 237.

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Today’s guest is passionate about direct marketing. He believes that marketing isn’t everything--it’s the only thing.

For 34 years, he has followed a specific set of direct marketing principles that helped him build Boardroom Inc. into an iconic publishing company. During that time, he was mentored by, and worked with, a who's who of marketing legends and he worked side-by-side with the most prolific copywriters who have ever lived.

That experience led to him founding Titans Marketing, a direct marketing educational and coaching company, where he passes on these timeless fundamentals to the next generation of great direct response marketers through masterminds and master classes.

He is the author of two books, the most recent being “Overdeliver: Build a Business for a Lifetime Playing the Long Game in Direct Response Marketing”.

Please join me in welcoming Brian Kurtz.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is walking around on the inside with your colleagues and on the outside with your customers to see and know where everything is.”
how to get ideas from all areas of your organization.
the 100-0 concept of how to add value to those around you.
how important it is to be interested and not just interesting.
his theory about direct marketing scaling everywhere regardless of the product being sold.
how to create a living legacy by compounding interest in your current relationships.
the importance of the words we use and how that can impact our business.
how he nurtures and sustains his network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 236.

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Today’s guest believes everyone deserves to do what sets their souls ablaze and it’s her mission to help them do just that while not burning out.

She is a keynote speaker and virtual emcee aimed at helping people love their work, succeed on their own terms, and live a life they love. Her clients range from Fortune 500s to non-profit associations, with her keynotes focused on boosting success and happiness. Teams that want their profits to grow alongside their personal fulfillment and authenticity are drawn to her energy, style, and actionable takeaways.

She is a Certified Professional Behavior Analyst which means she pairs her executive leadership and sales experience with behavioral science to understand what makes people trust, buy and connect. That coveted knowledge is a powerful and often lucrative competitive advantage for her clients.

She knows happy people are successful people and is on a mission to help individuals become their own joy generators.

Please join me in welcoming Rachel Sheerin.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is very self-focused. It’s not about the others, it has to start with me. Leadership is a verb - having a title is not being a leader. Leadership is a journey.”
her love of being spontaneous
her acceptance that she could be many things and how that multifacetedness helped her become an entrepreneur.
her passion for bringing people together and celebrating moments.
her history of working for small businesses and how that has changed and helped evolve her own business.
the link between finding one’s joy and making that money generating.
her theory about sales and how it’s more about advocacy than actual sales.
how quitting her last job changed her and led her into a spiral of guilt and shame but also helped her find her true calling.
when she knew she had made it by believing in her rebrand.
her tips for nurturing and sustaining the outer levels of her network.
her boomerang tip for happy marriages. ;)
her mission of living the three C’s: when you see someone you Celebrate with them, Congratulate them on the good things, and Console them.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 235.

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Today’s guest believes that most stress is avoidable and that there is always a reason to be optimistic and have hope during tough times. She is the author of “Married My Mom Birthed A Dog: How to be Resilient When Life Sucks” a book that teaches us how to fight back and win. She is a speaker and coach that believes people need to shift their relationship with challenge and change. She's spoken for Fortune 500 companies since 2006 and coaches small business owners who are stuck and feel overwhelmed. To help others get out of their own way and step into their brilliance she created the Ultimate Resilience Program. Please join me in welcoming Allison Graham. In this episode we discuss: her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is self-leadership. How do you choose your path and use that to lead others? Leadership starts from within.” the importance of resiliency when leading yourself and others. how she would downplay her intelligence at school to be accepted by her classmates. how to share your joy humbly and how that resilience can inspire others. the power we have to inspire others not only with our highs but with our lows. her longing to be part of something bigger while still beating herself up and having fear to do what she dreamed. a conversation with a former boss and how that changed her career trajectory. her tips for nurturing your network and having deep conversations with your connections. how opening a Zoom room for an hour at noon has helped others connect. her thoughts on Clubhouse. Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 234.

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Today’s guest is a digital futurist keynote speaker who translates the trends of tomorrow to inspire change today. He has a gift for bringing people together online and offline. Prior to speaking, he worked for the Department of Defense where he managed a global team that deployed collaboration and cybersecurity solutions across all branches of the military. He then pursued his dream job helping companies embrace the rate of change and new ways to innovate. As the Founder of iSocialFanz, he has helped launch digital and influencer strategies with the world’s most iconic brands like Dell, EMC, Adobe, IBM, and UFC. He has worked in 76 countries, highlighting his passion for change, collaboration, and technology. He has been recognized as a Top 20 Digital Transformation Influencer; a Top 50 Most-Mentioned User by CMOs on Twitter, and a Top 25 Social Business Leader of the Future by The Economist. His followers on social media and podcast downloads rank in the hundreds of thousands, resulting in Brian being an influencer for 19 of the Fortune 100 companies. Please join me in welcoming Brian Fanzo. In this episode we discuss: his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is sacrificing for the greater good while shepherding people towards a direction they may not even know they need to go.” how having to accept an award for outstanding leadership was the first time he considered himself a leader. his journey of self-awareness and learning that being an extrovert and being confident does not equal self-awareness. the emotions when he quit his job at the height of his career. how he became self-aware about his own strengths and weaknesses as an entrepreneur. how meeting Jay Baer transformed his life as a speaker. how he landed an Adobe sponsorship after being told he wasn’t ready to launch his podcast. how he nurtures the different levels of his network by using a system he developed in 2005. Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 233.

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Today’s guest believes that helping people develop meaningful professional relationships is the fastest way to turn promising biomedical research into life-saving cures. She’s a PhD biologist who trained at Harvard Medical School and had the opportunity to be coached by “super connectors” who taught her how to build human relationships to solve problems. To make that easier, she developed Curious Reactor, a life science-focused networking tool that helps participants make the most of conferences by creating a personalized match list that is short, targeted, and relevant. That way, participants can spend their time at the conference connecting with warm leads, instead of crossing fingers with cold contacts. By injecting science into human networking Curious Reactor can predict who should meet who. Please join me in welcoming Jenny Ro. In this episode we discuss: her thoughts on leadership: “Good leaders have the mindset of servant leadership. They also have really contagious vision and are able to instill that passion into other people through that vision.” that as a child she was an introvert and very much a tomboy catching bugs with her group of friends. the difference in her growing up in South Korea. the experience of being at a science conference and how it is different than attending any other kind of conference. her passion for wanting to help people in science, technology, and innovation engage with others by helping them break the ice to have a meaningful interaction built on a common foundation. the genesis story of Curious Reactor and how it evolved from simply connecting people to tech to connecting people to people. the process of how people are matched in the innovations ecosystem. how the pandemic has affected how she matches people and pivots constantly to ensure her network is supported. how she manages and nurtures her network with a dating guru mentality and how to strengthen work relationships. Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 232.

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Today’s guest has been called “the undisputed champion at helping small businesses land big clients” by Inc. Magazine.

She developed a proprietary framework, based on her two decades of experience navigating all sides of the corporate buying table. This framework has been leveraged by thousands of small businesses across 72 countries to secure multi 5-, 6- and 7-figure+ corporate contracts. INSIDE EDGE, her global conference brings small and diverse business owners together with major brands like AT&T, IBM, and Coca-Cola to help them work together more effectively.

She has been named an Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine, has been featured in numerous publications including Entrepreneur, Forbes, and the Washington Post, as well as on ABC, NBC, and CBS. She is a regular panelist on Yahoo! Finances show YFi PM.

Please join me in welcoming Angelique Rewers.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership seeing a gap and jumping in to fill it. They honor that role with courage and strategic thinking.”
how being a narrator at age 6 for a Christmas play was her first leadership experience.
how growing up in the 80s really helped shape who she was growing up and who she wanted to be.
the discrimination she felt as a woman when she was not promoted in title or salary while performing the role of a leader.
the experience of spending her 20s working at the helm of a company with the top decision makers.
what led her to build her business after meeting a very persistent potential client at a conference.
her frustration with people not taking action and not building relationships.
her strategy to nurture and sustain the outer layers of her network by creating experiences.
her mantra of doing the things that give her energy and not the things that deplete her energy.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 231.

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Today’s guest is a Growth Strategist who helps small business owners grow their companies without sacrificing the other parts of their lives. When business owners feel overwhelmed by the amount of work they have to do, he helps them create the right strategies, execute the right tactics, and build the right sort of team. As a serial entrepreneur, he has developed a five-step system for helping entrepreneurs build their businesses strategically. After building his first business for twenty years, he sold it and now devotes himself full time to coaching and consulting other small businesses to choose the right strategies and tactics they need to grow their business. He is a Certified Executive Coach and a Book Yourself Solid ® Certified Coach. Please join me in welcoming Ron Tester. In this episode we discuss: his thoughts on leadership “Leadership is serving people and helping them to see what’s possible and helping them achieve what they want.” how watching people take advantage of others lit a fire in him to help others to find justice. how he started his own business with no entrepreneurship background but a passion for helping others. his ability to speak up for the underdog. the fight in his mom to push forward and do everything she could for their family and how that affected him growing up. how hard the first 5 years of his business were to really get started. why he decided to become a certified coach. his process for selling his first business. how he nurtures and sustains the outer levels of his network. his red velvet rope mindset and how he is selective about who he works with. Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 230.

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Today’s guest is passionate about promoting gender equality within the workplace, empowering women to express confidence, and helping them build a winning career game plan.

After experiencing many career pivot points of her own, she now is focused on promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace as a keynote speaker and executive coach. She holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, is a Certified Master Coach, and is a certified unconscious bias trainer.

She is a TEDx speaker, host of the Next Pivot Point podcast, and author of three books “Pivot Point: How to Build a Winning Career Game Plan,” “ONE: How Male Allies Support Women for Gender Equality,” and “Lead Like an Ally: A Journey Through Corporate America with Strategies to Facilitate Inclusion.”

Please join me in welcoming Julie Kratz.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is not a positional authority. It’s the influence you gain in getting people to buy into your vision by asking about the things that they care about.”
how a riddle she heard at 8 years old created feelings that propelled her into her mission of helping women.
how her time in DECA was her first taste into business in 5th grade.
the importance of listening to others and how that can help provide safe spaces for others at work.
the importance of allyship.
the impact of taking chances and making connections with people.
her recommendation to others to find the thing that lights their soul on fire suggesting going back to your childhood for clues.
her folder of strategic contacts and how reviewing that often has helped her be intentional in contacting them.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 229.

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Today’s guest is an expert at enhancing the capacity of leaders, to build high performing teams, and exponentially increase bottom-line results. She helps catalyze shifts in thinking and eliminate mental/emotional blocks to rapidly rewire their brain for greater confidence and success. Her unique Rapid RewiringTM approach is the culmination of years of study in the realms of emotional intelligence, neuroscience, organizational psychology, and Rapid Transformational Therapy. She helps her clients achieve quantum leaps in their success and get paid what they’re worth. She is the Founder and CEO of Nectar Consulting Inc., where she brings over 25 years of experience, intuitive insights, and strategic business savvy to support the success of the executives and entrepreneurs she works with. She has co-authored 3 books, “Breakthrough Healing,” “A Guide to Getting It: A Clear, Compelling Vision,” and “Bite Size Tips For The New Entrepreneur.” Please join me in welcoming Michele Molitor. In this episode we discuss: his/her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about who you’re being and how you show up and inspire others to do good work.” her childhood of always being small and shy which made her tenacious. how her old Humanities teacher was the person that recognized her talents and helped her own them. how she has come full circle back to psychology in her coaching. how she was bullied out of her Creative Director position at a tech company. her studies at Landmark Education and how that became a launchpad to her getting established. her strategy to stay in touch with the outer layers of her network. Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 228.

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Today’s guest didn’t start life with many advantages, but his parents taught him that resourcefulness is a FAR greater asset than resources.

Please join me in welcoming Brandon Fong.

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Today’s guest helps business owners and stakeholders make wise decisions.

As a savvy entrepreneur, she started her first company at the young age of 15 and sold it to a major competitor just four years later.

She started her programming journey very early and quickly discovered her love for tech and a knack for building tech businesses. Her passion extends to changing the conversation in the tech world for women and gender minorities by helping more people get into and stay in tech. The more gender minorities are represented in tech over a longer period of time, the more the conversation will shift for future generations.

She developed the curriculum for the Raika Technologies and GotAnAppIdea.com Startup Program to help new app and tech entrepreneurs spend as little time and money as possible evaluating their idea, helping them get to a go-no-go decision quickly and efficiently.

Please join me in welcoming Cynthia Del'Aria.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is when you can step into your purpose and go boldly from that space.”
her journey from coding when she was 8 years old and started her company at the age of 15.
how watching her mother love her work and pour herself into her business inspired her as a child.
how a prestigious deal at 18 caused a bidding war for her company by two of her competitors.
how she earned and lost 7 figures and ended up living in her car.
how she rebuilt, moving to Denver and developing download technology for the internet in it’s early days.
how she discovered the missing link for more women to be hired in the technology field.
her KPI consists of impact conversations to help people get over a hump, referrals, and sharing her story.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 226.

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Today’s guest turns consultants into celebrities by making them thought leaders.

He is a speaker for international audiences spanning from the northeastern United States to the southeastern coast of China. As the creator of MicroFame Media, a marketing agency that specializes in making idea-based companies famous in their fields, some of his clients have included eBay, LinkedIn, and Citrix. His writing has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Inc, Psychology Today, and Huffington Post.

He is the author of “The Hype Handbook: 12 Indispensable Success Secrets From the World’s Greatest Propagandists, Self-Promoters, Cult Leaders, Mischief Makers, and Boundary Breakers.”

Please join me in welcoming Michael F. Schein.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is not about commanding people. A leader is someone who gets people excited about new ideas.”
his theory about learning disabilities drawn from his own personal experience.
his lifelong goal to be a writer and not to be in business.
how he turned his call center position back into writing.
the creation of his business and it’s clever name.
his suggestion to do things for people that are cheap for you but valuable for them.
his reclaiming of the word/action of “hype”.
his strategy for keeping in touch with his network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 224.

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Today’s guest is a leading expert on friendship and how we can create healthier and more fulfilling relationships in our lives.

She speaks across the country and facilitates events for connection. She’s been quoted in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and Reader’s Digest, and has been interviewed live on over a dozen TV shows, including the TODAY Show and The Steve Harvey Show. She was selected by Facebook to be their media spokesperson and friendship expert for Friends Day 2018.

Her previous books include “Friendships Don’t Just Happen!” and “Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness.” She’s taken her expertise about friendship into the workplace in her latest book, “The Business of Friendship: Making the Most of Our Relationships Where We Spend Most of Our Time.”

Her TEDx talk, “Frientimacy: The 3 Requirements of All Healthy Friendships” has been viewed over 400,000 times.

Please join me in welcoming Shasta Nelson.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is influence and having the influence to help people maximize who they are.”
her journey of leadership goes back to when she was 8-years-old and her sisters were her followers.
her original plan to become a war correspondent but how she ended up becoming a pastor and studying divinity in college.
her passion to encourage and promote having healthy relationships.
how she built a “match.com” but for friendship.
how important it is to know your strengths and weaknesses in whatever industry you are in.
how positivity, consistency, vulnerability are the basic requirements for strong and meaningful relationships.
how the pandemic has changed the way friendships are cultivated and nurtured.
her transition from pastoring to coaching.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 223.

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Today's guest has a passion for creating and sustaining successful business cultures.

She believes that by having a committed and passionate workforce, your organization will create a better world. She began her education with a BA in Psychology and a pledge to deliberately learn about human behavior every day. She took a deep left turn and received an MBA in accounting and spent decades learning about how businesses function.

With these two areas of expertise, employee engagement and culture building were a perfect fit. She has also earned the title of Certified Laughter Leader Expert by studying the research and science of laughter and humor.

A research nerd, she piloted a podcast called Businesses that Care and spoke with over 60 C-Suite leaders, including franchisors, about their effective cultures. It was these inquiries that led to her newest book titled, Catalysts of Culture, How Visionary Leaders Activate the Employee Experience.

Please join me in welcoming Julie Ann Sullivan.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “A really great leader can see aspects of a person that they may not even see themselves.”
her first experience as a leader in her 40s despite hesitation to take on the role.
the importance of being a great listener and how that prepared her to be an entrepreneur.
her pivot into professional speaking even though she had no idea what it meant.
her “Fuzzy File” to help keep her motivated throughout her journey.
what Toastmasters taught her in her early life which she has now transferred over into her business.
how she gets in and out of her own way in her business and how important that is to be successful.
how she transitioned her network to her new entrepreneurial endeavour and how they helped her get started.
how she nurtures her network with great joy and intention as the self-titled “Queen of Networking” using her head and her heart to stay in touch with people.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 222.

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Today’s guest is a corporate relationship expert that turns problems into progress. He has devoted his adult life to understanding what makes people tick and how to bring out the best in people (including ourselves).

Whether addressing our hidden biases, helping navigate disruption and change, or providing leaders with skills that make them indispensable, he provides practical solutions that align with people’s real world experiences.

He has worked with hundreds of corporations and government agencies including the U.S. Secret Service, The Department of Homeland Security, Chase Bank, Estée Lauder, and N.A.S.A.

He is the author of “The Force Multiplier: How to Lead Teams Where Everyone Wins” and shared his expertise in a TEDx talk titled, “How to Stop Settling for Less.”

Please join me in welcoming Tony Chatman.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “True leadership is about making everyone around you better.”
his start as a smart, invisible kid growing up.
how an invested teacher in high school changed the trajectory of his life.
how he met his mentor and eventually became his peer.
his transition from corporate America, to non-profit, to entrepreneurship.
how he went from a Sunday night hangout with his “Advisory Board” to opening for Les Brown in three weeks.
what he had to learn about business and marketing to establish his business.
how he built his business, survived a recession, and continued to thrive.
his sheer love for the art of speaking.
his start in speaking about unconscious bias, diversity, and inclusion.
how he nurtures his network from the heart and very organically while using a spreadsheet.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 221.

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Today’s guest has spent almost two decades building companies focused on delivering innovative approaches to leadership and organizational development.

She has served as a CEO and key decision-maker, a board member for national organizations, a sought after consultant helping organizations plan and implement strategy, and a leadership development content creator assisting individuals and organizations as they grow and train their workforce. She has also been a key partner to corporations, nonprofits and philanthropic institutions including TSNE MissionWorks where she currently sits as the President of the Board of Directors.

A major focus of her work is to provide leadership and workforce development executive coaching, consulting and training focused on Gen Z. This work will be featured in “Looking Forward: Finding Your Leadership Path” a book she will release in 2021.

Please join me in welcoming Tammy Dowley-Blackman.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the idea of wanting to make an impact. A leader cannot be described in one way.”
how she discovered the joy of leadership at a math and science camp when she was 14 years old and how she is still in contact with the director of that camp.
the impact her mom had on her life and her mindset which set her up for success at a young age.
what she learned while working at the Brooklyn Academy of Music about community development and leadership development.
her networking tip with an easy ask for her connections and how it helped her land her first two clients before her company even opened. Networking does not need to be only transactional.
how she rebuilt and adapted her business model during a difficult health crisis.
her rule for networking: If they come to mind once, it means you’re thinking of them. If they come to mind again, say hello!

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 220.

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Today’s guest is a champion of female empowerment and gender equality.

With her 20 years of experience in the finance industry, she has been a FINTECH industry leader at companies such as Credit Suisse First Boston, Lazard Freres, and Equity Growth Partners.

She has been a catalyst for positive change serving as a senior-level executive and leading numerous corporate turnarounds of VC-backed portfolio companies. She has served as Vice Chairman of the Serious Game Institute at George Mason University which has a focus on women and girls in technology and coding.

She founded Angelink, the first social crowdfunding platform inspired and powered by women. Angelink is a purpose-driven community to empower people around the world, transform lives, and restore faith in humanity.

Please join me in welcoming Gerry Poirier.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leaders are courageous and sympathetic. They have to make decisions based on imperfect information. Good leaders are not scared to make mistakes.”
her trip around the world for over four months with her little brother and friend, taking charge and building her self-confidence.
her background in finance and how she landed a job in finance at the interview based on how risky her resume was.
her passion to be an entrepreneur and do something that would help women, especially who were under-represented in the world of finance.
her reason to start AngeLink and how her background in gaming and coding helped her build community.
the challenges of building AngeLink outside of the main tech hubs in the United States and how her network helped her get some (back) doors open.
her bucket list wish to meet Sara Blakely, inventor of Spanx.
her strategy to nurture her network and the risk-taking required to make the first move.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 219.

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Today’s guest has built his career on the power of building high-quality relationships with world-renowned authors and global thought leaders like Marshall Goldsmith, Ron Kaufman, and Brian Tracy.

He is the Chief Energizing Officer of Right Selection Speakers, a global speakers management and marketing company that works with international high-profile celebrity speakers, regional speakers, and industry experts.

He’s built an impressive network with clients in Europe, the Gulf, India, and Asia. He partners with entrepreneurs and corporate professionals to build meaningful, long-lasting relationships by applying his 'breaking bread' philosophy so that they can make a difference to their lives, and transform their companies to achieve greater heights of success.

Please join me in welcoming Gautam Ganglani.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership “Being a good leader is about relationships. Families that eat together, stay together.”
the really great advice passed down to him from his father.
his experience of being bullied at a young age and a mindset changing conversation with his father.
how he handles hardship and his belief that once you accept the situation it is easier to move past it.
his thoughts on being globally minded and how his subconscious plays an important role in helping people feel comfortable with him.
the origin story of his business.
how his business model keeps evolving and his tips to get better and be flexible in his business.
his thoughts about nurturing his network and theory about breaking bread even if it’s only in an email.
the newly named Gautam Challenge!

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 218.

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Today’s guest is a super connector. Nothing makes her happier than connecting people who could mutually make each other's lives more enjoyable.

She is the founder and chief networking officer of Six Degrees Society, a female-focused networking organization that handpicks who you meet while networking. It has been called one of “The Best NYC Networking Events If You Want To Find A New Job” by Refinery 29 and “Where To Meet Women Who Are As Obsessed With Their Career As You” by Girl Boss. In 2020, Six Degrees Society held over 80 events virtually and has an IRL presence in NYC, SF, LA and Chicago. They have partnered with brands such as Ann Taylor, Rebecca Taylor, Rebecca Minkoff, Kendra Scott, Vince, Theory, Velvet, and many more.

As a business coach for solopreneurs, she has helped her clients launch their businesses, create communities, raise their prices, streamline their messaging, and cross the six figure mark. She has also built an event career in Special Events and Marketing at Ralph Lauren, Club Monaco, Tory Burch, and INTERMIX.

If you like what you hear today, tune into her podcast The Sixth Degree.

Please join me in welcoming Emily Merrell.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leaders are people who can go past their own doubts and are able to stand up for others.”
her desire to learn and hear the stories of adults when she was a child.
her experience and thoughts with having au pairs growing up.
her experience moving to Argentina after college and networking while living there for 9 months.
her desire to be uncomfortable and building a connection from scratch.
the very first networking event that launched the entrepreneurial bug in her heart.
her strategy for matching people at events.
her conflict of charging for her virtual events.
her strategy of nurturing her networks.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 217.

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Today’s guest’s personal mission is to inspire ambitious leaders to connect to their bigger purpose so that they can lead with intention and leave a legacy that feels good.

She is the founder and President of The Roundtable, a company that helps leaders navigate change, disruption, and growth. The Roundtable is best known for its group and peer-based coaching and mentoring programs that help organizations galvanize culture and accelerate business performance all while building leadership capability.

In 2014, The Roundtable was awarded a Gold Award by the Canadian Awards for Training Excellence and in 2016 they were named Best External Consulting Advisory in Canada at the Canadian HR Awards. In 2018, she was named one of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurs of the Year.

She is the author of “The Grassroots Leadership Revolution” and “Did I REALLY Sign Up for This?!”

Please join me in welcoming Glain Roberts-McCabe.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “A leader is a person that has followers. Leaders unlock other people’s potential.”
her beginnings as a leader at the young age of 2 when she became a big sister AKA the boss.
her 10 year period of diversion after leaving home at 17 to her return to teaching.
her belief that there are patterns in everyone’s life that repeat until you take action.
her pattern of leaving jobs/moving through employers every 2 years.
how she came up with the idea for the Roundtable and the first 18 months of struggle to get it off the ground.
how she learned to follow the path including all the zig zags.
how she uses LinkedIn to maintain her network and leverage her network more.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 216.

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Today’s guest believes that not all innovation will be obvious and your business must be ready before it becomes your disruption.

He is the Founder and CEO of Travelocity.com which he led from a team of six to a three-billion-dollar public company. He retired from Travelocity when it was taken private and then helped found Kayak.com where he was chairman for seven years until it was sold to Priceline for $1.8 Billion dollars.

His career path has established him as a thought leader on innovation and disruption in our increasingly digital world. As a speaker, author, venture capitalist, and board member he shares the tools and techniques he’s developed to keep up with rapid changes.

He has presented in over 25 countries to 300+ companies. His programs on innovation, leadership, and customer relationships leave attendees with inspired ideas and concrete action items to implement in their companies.

He is the author of two books, “ON Innovation: Turning On Innovation in Your Culture, Teams, and Organization” and “Disruption OFF: The Technological Disruption Coming For Your Company and What To Do About It”.

Please join me in welcoming Terry Jones.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “A leader knows how to create a powerful team and tease the skills out. This is what makes you a powerful leader.”
his dream of buying a camp at 21 and how he has accomplished that goal.
his experience travelling the world and how that opened his eyes to the world of travel and how wonderful the world is.
his time in a travel start-up where he worked as a receptionist.
the beginnings of Travelocity inside of AOL and CompuServe.
how he handled difficult leadership challenges and how he brought unexpected value to his teams.
how he uses his LinkedIn profile to help nurture the outer levels of his network.
how his business has changed in this new virtual world.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 215.

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Today’s guest is an engineer by education and an entrepreneur by passion.

She left corporate America to pursue her own business as a health coach, delivering the message of health through public speaking in various community centers and corporations. Her business took off after one of her books became an international Amazon bestseller in several categories. With a small email list and a very limited marketing budget, she was featured in major publications like the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Forbes, and was invited to be a guest on ABC Arizona.

Since then her career took a detour as a publisher and publicist and so far she has helped over 200 thought leaders, entrepreneurs, CEOs to write their books, achieve bestseller status, and land in mainstream media. She has written and contributed to more than six books herself, is a TEDx speaker, and is the founder of a cutting-edge business consulting platform, serving professionals who seek to reinvent themselves and leave a legacy.

Please join me in welcoming Parul Agrawal.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is all about bringing like-minded people together and working on a common mission.”
her self-awareness at a young age knowing she had the skills to lead.
her strategy of knowing the people she was leading and how that helped her lead her peers in high school.
how she failed her first year of engineering in college mostly due to the culture shock after graduating high school in a small town to attend college in one of India’s biggest cities.
her transition into health coaching after her father’s major heart attack and her own weight struggles.
having to deal with the mixed messages of “be an engineer” and “be an entrepreneur”.
how she learned to self-publish her book with incredible success and the effort she recommends all authors make when launching a book.
her high-touch way of staying in touch with her network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 214.

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Today’s guest is a serial entrepreneur and inspirational speaker with a passion for helping others build their capacity.

He is CEO of a global partner marketing agency, Acceleration Partners, and the co-founder and Chairman of BrandCycle. He has been recognized as a global leader in the affiliate marketing industry, receiving numerous industry and company culture awards, including: Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards (2 years in a row), Ad Age’s Best Place to Work, Fortune’s Best Small & Medium Workplaces (3 years in a row), and Boston Globe’s Top Workplaces (2 years in a row).

He is the author of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, “Elevate,” the international bestselling book, “Performance Partnerships,” and just released “Friday Forward: Inspiration and Motivation to Help End Your Week Stronger Than It Started.”

He is a sought-after speaker by companies and organizations around the world and is the host of The Elevate podcast.

Please join me in welcoming Robert Glazer.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the combination of having a vision, rallying people towards that vision and having the whole be greater than the sum of the parts.“
how his “repressed” childhood skills are what have made him a successful entrepreneur today.
his initial dream of wanting to be a lawyer and how that evolved over time and two internships.
his start as an online entrepreneur as a strategy consultant focusing on high growth business.
his strategy to invest in people to help his business grow sustainably and still be a great place to work.
his deep dive into building a business to sell vs. founder based businesses.
his strategy for hiring to take things off his plate.
his style for nurturing the different levels of his network and his three tips for networking.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 212

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Today’s guest embodies the term “young at heart.” Anyone who encounters her would describe her as joyful, funny, and spontaneous.

She calls herself a porcupine trainer - her term for the sticky situations and prickly people we all have to face on a daily basis. She is a columnist, humorist, and broadcaster.

Her Beacon Award-winning TV Show, My Home Town, formed the basis for her best selling book, “True Tales of Puget Sound.” Her podcast, Swimming Upstream, airs on the SOB Network. (SOB stands for Spunky Old Broads. The hosts are women over fifty.)

She has been an award-winning broadcaster, columnist, and speaker for the past 40 years so to call her an expert is an understatement. She has come a long way from the “unemployable” widow with six kids who couldn’t drive on the freeway on her own.

Please join me in welcoming Dorothy Wilhelm.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “The ability to move forward even when you’re not sure you’re right and the understanding that if you lead and take people with you, you’re responsible for them.”
her beginnings of leadership raising 6 kids who are all successful and believe she had nothing to do with it.
how being an army wife taught her to do what you’re told to do.
how becoming a sudden widow gave her the push to monetize her skills.
her early goals of wanting to be a cowgirl or a singer on the radio.
her start in radio as a creative living expert “I was Martha Stewart before she ever thought of it … AND she was a guest on my show.”
her career beginnings in the middle of her life.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 210

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Today’s guest is an entrepreneur who built three multi-million dollar businesses by age 40. His coaching and consulting methodologies are in practice in over 35 countries.

He has written multiple books on the subject of business strategy, leadership and sustainable growth. He co-authored “Blueprint for Success” with Stephen R. Covey and Ken Blanchard; and his best-selling book, “The 7 Stages of Small Business Success,” lays out the formula for HyperGrowth. Each week, he co-hosts Quit and Get Rich on iHeart® radio and shares his insights from working with top companies from around the world.

As a keynote speaker, he engages his audiences and keeps them on the edge of their seat by combining practical and impactful content with real-world experience. His content is original, profound, and battle-tested.

Please join me in welcoming Carl Gould.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Doing the right thing even if it’s unpopular.”
how his little league coach empowered him to to build his leadership and decision skills at the young age of 12 years old.
his belief that deep down we are all a heart and a soul that essentially want the same things out of life.
how his upbringing in a large, diverse family helped prepare him to be self-aware and be open to a global interaction.
his early entrepreneurial ventures; a landscape company and then a construction company.
how he filled his schedule with different jobs while he made a name for himself in the coaching industry.
his 4 aspects of successful coaching; the coach, the consultant, the mentor, and the advisor.
how he views his network in two categories: “Are you a client now? Or will you be a client later?”

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 209

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Today’s guest helps her clients communicate more powerfully in today’s digital age.

Her PUB method is an award-winning system that has helped thousands of sales, marketing and leadership professionals type, text and post more persuasively. It helps them communicate more dynamically so they can attract attention, increase influence, and sell their ideas in a smarter way.

She founded Socialite Agency, the world's only social media firm specializing exclusively in live events. For the last decade, Socialite has helped Fortune 100 brands catapult their social media success via award-winning digital activations and campaigns. Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) awarded Socialite's work with FreemanXP as "Best Social Media" across the entire meetings industry.

She is the author of “Digital Persuasion: Sell Smarter in the Modern Marketplace”, an international keynote speaker, and a three-time entrepreneur who has been hired by The Academy Awards, The United States Navy, ABC/Disney, and Nelson Mandela’s Legacy of Hope.

Please join me in welcoming Erin King.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership “A leader helps us see our bigger mission, a bigger purpose, and feel inspired to go for it.”
how being bullied in middle school made her realize the world doesn’t really want you to be yourself.
the impact of her dad’s “4 + 1” pep talk after high school and how it affected her life.
the start and fail of her very first business and her thoughts on failure.
her brilliant idea, a subscription service for women, and why it didn’t work.
how working for the Oscars completely changed the path of the Socialite Agency.
her PUB method - being personal, useful, and brief when connecting with new people and potential clients.
how altering your reality into believing the things you want are going to happen can change the trajectory of your business.
her realization that the pandemic has put people into two categories; waiting for things to be over/get better or creating new things.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 208

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Today’s guest is a two-time Emmy® and Peabody Award-winner. Her credits read like a Who's Who of network television: ABC News, Good Morning America, CBS News and CNN.

She is founder and CEO of Berenson Communications where she Powers Up the Performance of top professionals - whether facing the Press, a Presentation or a Pitch - virtually or IRL (in real life).

Her client list ranges from the Fortune 500 C-suite to Non-profits and from Members of Congress to Entrepreneurs. She coaches clients to "up their communications” game: verbally, vocally and visually. A must — in this Zoom era.

Please join me in welcoming Heidi Berenson.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership “Leadership is three keys for me; the emotional quotient [EQ], IQ, and communication. Communication is the cornerstone of leadership.”
her experience working with high-level leaders and the sense of accomplishment she received from her impact.
her journey from being a Channel 5 intern to being connected to staff in the White House.
how thinking ahead and having an entrepreneurial mind helped her be successful.
her shift from working at the networks to creating her own company and the transformations her business made in the very beginning.
how creating a fun space in your business has transformed how she is seen by clients and potential clients.
how she nurtures her many professional connections.
how her networking style has transformed during the pandemic.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 207

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Today’s guest helps companies stop wasting time chasing leads and instead attract only their ideal customers.

For most of his career, he was one of the most sought-after portrait photographers in the United States. Today, he coaches his clients on how to make people feel seen, heard and understood like a photographer sees their subject.

He is a brand message consultant, a TEDx speaker, host of the very popular Creative Warriors podcast (over one million downloads!), and bestselling author of “LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customers Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible.”

Please join me in welcoming Jeffrey Shaw.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the responsibility of impact whether positive or negative.”
how he learned at a leadership retreat that he was no longer afraid of heights and had the power to lead while walking across a cable high in the air.
his feelings while growing up always knowing he could rule the world but never showing up that way.
how an experience learning how to gift wrap a candle made him realize he needed to know his ideal client on a deep level.
his turning point from photographer to the success he is living today as a speaker, coach, podcast host, and author.
how one line in a poem changed his life.
how he is sharing his bandwidth with others during the pandemic.
the phenomena that is “Waffle Sundays”

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 206

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Today’s guest is a whirling dervish of action, energy and results.

For 20+ years she has been developing sales strategies and delivering customized sales training to companies nationwide, across virtually every industry and in firms ranging in size from solopreneurs to Fortune 500 organizations.

She is also the author of “The Blatant Truth: 50 Ways to Sales Success” and her byline can be found in many business and trade publications.

She is a powerhouse when it comes to networking, gathering contacts and connections wherever she goes and then proactively and eagerly connecting people together. She thinks in terms of synergies and alliances and opens doors where you would least expect them to be open.

She believes networking is a circular adventure, not a linear activity. She looks for the endless possibilities that exist in a wide circle of connections and then helps to facilitate contacts and meetings and helps people to join hands and see the opportunities that lie ahead.

For this reason she created Adrian’s Network, an immensely successful business networking community that regularly hosts highly facilitated gatherings.

Please join me in welcoming Adrian Miller.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “I define leadership with a couple of keywords; vision, passion, and grit.”
her realization that leadership came to her in nursery school.
her thoughts on leading committees and dealing with committee members not pulling their weight.
how her single mom’s tenacity to hustle was a huge inspiration to her.
her original goal of being an urban planner in Boston.
her gap year and the beginning of her business.
the beginnings of Adrian’s Network during an economic downturn.
Her three I’s: Introduction, Invitations, and Information - a way to keep up with 2nd and 3rd level networks.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 205

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Today’s guest excels at teaching entrepreneurs how to turn interested prospects into excited clients who say, “Yes! I can't wait to work with you!”

She has 20 years of experience in sales, relationship coaching, and communication studies so she understands what it really takes to inspire people to take decisive action. As a result of her expertise, she’s sold over $14 million in products in ten years in corporate sales, working for world-leading multi-million and multi-billion dollar biotech and medical equipment companies.

She left her highly lucrative corporate sales job to start her own business teaching high-end sales and sales training to coaches, trainers, healers and niche service providers. Her “One Call Blueprint” sales consultation system enabled her to grow a multi-six figure coaching business in less than 2 years.

That same system has helped her clients - entrepreneurs, small business owners, and mission-driven corporations - to package, position, and sell their services for premium pricing.

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer Diepstraten.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is clarity of vision and being willing to share it. You are doing things you have not done before and making a difference for people in a real way.”
how her desire to help others and make a difference heavily outweighed her shyness and fear of talking to people.
how her leadership style is listening.
how she avoided sales into her mid career before realizing that it was very deeply ingrained in her and she was very good at it.
how selling is a learnable skill and most people don’t understand sales.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 204

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Today’s guest works with sales professionals and business owners to integrate social selling and social media into their business.

He knows SALES. He's a sales speaker, a sales expert, a sales trainer, a sales leader mentor, a sales podcaster, and a sales coach. He's written 5 books, more than 3000 articles, and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Daily Globe and Mail, Financial Times, Investor's Business Daily, Inc., and many other publications.

He trains his clients on the power of connection, leveraging the reach of social media, combined with the deeply personal work of nurturing 1:1 relationships, growing profitable long-term clients, transforming businesses, and boosting revenue.

Please join me in welcoming Phil Gerbyshak.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership “Leadership is tension. The tension between learning and sharing. The tension between going first and going last. And the tension between being confident and being vulnerable.”
his history of being bullied as a kid shaped him and started his fire to be the best of everything.
how a massive car accident changed his entire life.
one of his driving motivational forces - a guidance counselor telling him he would be pumping gas for the rest of his life - and how that motivated him to success.
the people who fundamentally have changed his life and helped make him who he is today.
his passion for teaching and empowering others to try something new.
his mindset when it comes to building and maintaining relationships.
his insights about adding value to his network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 203

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Today’s guest has made a career out of helping others build connections. In particular, she teaches introverts how to have a sense of self-worth, find their tribe, and make strides toward the career of their dreams.

Growing up she was painfully shy and felt like an outsider. She didn’t believe it was possible to deeply and authentically connect with large numbers of people, so she rarely tried. That began to change as she stepped into leadership roles and a more outgoing part of herself started to emerge.

Since then, she’s been on a mission to reframe what it means to be an introvert, initially leading by example and now helping others. She founded Confident Introvert, a training and development company helping introverts with their networking skills through corporate workshops and webinars as well as private one-on-one networking strategy coaching.

To share her message, she recently published, the “Confident Introvert: A Practical Guide to Connecting with Others at Networking Events and Beyond.”

Please join me in welcoming Stephanie Thoma.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership “I learned from an early age to lead by example and figuring things out as I go.
how she teaches her clients to have a level of self-awareness while not living in a vacuum.
her journey from high school cross country captain to actively seeking out leadership opportunities in college.
her insight on how she feels her 8 year old self would think about her success.
her turning point in her business when she spoke at a friend’s event and how that transformed her business.
her habits when it comes to nurturing connections.
her advice when it comes to empowering introverts to network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 202

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Today’s guest is an experienced on-air host and communication strategist whose credits include numerous national television networks, such as HBO, PBS, and most recently QVC, where she single-handedly launched the fastest growing brand in the entire network for 2019.

She has combined her skills in marketing, production, and hosting with her personal passion for helping nonprofit organizations to create Spotlight On Giving - a full-service company specializing in Corporate Social Responsibility and Spotlight On TV - which offers celebrities the chance to shine their spotlight on causes dear to them.

She wears many other hats, including as a marketing strategist who works with individuals to help them find their voice, as Executive Producer and host of ABC Coast to Coast, which creates sizzle reels, and as Chief Empathy Officer of A Pebble in the Road, which specializes in effective video story telling for broadcast, marketing, and online content.

Please join me in welcoming Amber Browning-Coyle.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership “Leadership is teamwork. I think a leader is only as strong as their team.”
how her mother was her first influence to being a great leader.
her passion to be a multi-faceted and competitive learner in everything she sets her mind to.
how her stint working as an emcee for Nascar was the turning point of her career.
how she wanted to be in a show to highlight causes/non-profits but because it didn’t exist - she created it - a trait that has been consistent throughout her career.
how she has stopped focusing on the outcome while still being goal-oriented, focusing instead on the process and helping others.
her thoughts on social media and how it helps her keep in touch and network with her connections.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 201

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This week's On the Schmooze episode is the 200th episode - wow.

That means I’ve produced 50 episodes a year for four years. I almost gave this all up two years ago and I’m so grateful I stuck with it.

For this special episode, my friend Laurie Guest (whom I interviewed in OTS 177) interviews ME. That’s right, the tables were turned so you can learn about the host behind the mic.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership “Leaders have followers. There’s influencers, connectors, and people who host. I lean into leadership helping others connect.”
his first experience as a leader organizing a movement to ban steel jaw traps for animals.
his podcast beginnings and inspiration to begin his show and how he almost ended On the Schmooze at the two year mark.
the importance of the first question you ask in an interview.
his selection process for his podcast guests.
his excitement for virtual events and the future of that facet of networking events.
his future message to his children.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 200

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Today’s guest focuses on the communication side of leadership.

Through her warmth and humor, she helps people to become better communicators, influencers and leaders. They recognize gaps, build on strengths, and become more effective professionals.

Over the last 10 years, she has worked with clients across a variety of sectors to enhance their performance and workplace influence. Her clients have included AirBnB, Bank of America, Microsoft, Nestlé, and Visa.

She is the founder of Forte Consulting inspiring extraordinary performances from individuals and teams.

Please join me in welcoming Hope Timberlake.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is three things: having a clear purpose, thinking about the team, and how they lead”.
how being a leader has been a consistent theme in her childhood development from being the oldest child to being tapped in the 8th grade to teach Latin to kindergarteners.
her mentor who entrusted her with a phenomenal career opportunity at the young age of 23.
her baby boot camp franchise which helped her nurture her entrepreneur spirit while being a mom to small children but made her feel very vulnerable.
how having children really showed her how much she needed community connections to be a great parent and an even better entrepreneur.
how she put herself out there despite her vulnerability in order to be seen.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 199

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Today’s guest is a passionate connector who helps people find their natural communication and networking style.

She is driven by connecting people and helping them grow their own networks organically by being present in conversations, finding ways to connect to others, and looking for opportunities to collaborate. While her corporate career has been very diverse, including military, telecom, healthcare, legal, and financial, every position she has held has been people-centric and solution-oriented.

She founded Mindful Mingling to help her clients gain insights and practical tips on what networking REALLY is and how to tap into its power in a way that feels comfortable and authentic.

Please join me in welcoming Megan Hudson.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership “I’ve always believed in the philosophy of servant leadership prioritizing service rather than taking charge”.
her experience of having a special needs sibling helped her be more in tune to the needs of others and ensure people are included.
how her military career honed her leadership skills by teaching her to to follow first, then lead.
her core belief that having authentic conversations that lead to connections that lead to collaborations is the core of her networking philosophy.
how she is still figuring out how to structure and scale her business.
how networking is never a waste of time. Maybe she can make someone smile? Or recommend a connection to someone else.
her core belief that servant leadership is at the core of all her networking decisions.
her tried and true tips for maintaining connections and nurturing relationships.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 198

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Today’s guest believes that the best leaders develop strengths instead of highlighting weaknesses.

He is a corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist for Fortune 500 companies. He is the only Canadian recipient of a TED Education - Huffington Post International Education Award for Creating Innovative Learning Environments.

He is a certified grapho-therapist whose TEDx talk: “How to Spot a Leader in Their Handwriting” has been viewed over 2 million times. His unique and unusual ability to analyze people’s handwriting in less than 60 seconds has been called “impressive and a bit frightening” by Forbes. His gift allows him to help spot a person’s strengths and weaknesses in ways they may not be aware of themselves.

He has worked behind-the-scenes for Saturday Night Live and has appeared on CNN, CTV’s The Morning Show, and Forbes as a featured commentator on topics ranging from leadership, personality assessment through handwriting, parenting, and value-based goal setting.

Please join me in welcoming Jamie Mason Cohen.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is using your strengths in service of those you serve.”
how he learned to lead as a teacher in economically challenged areas of Toronto and Malaysia.
how his mother analyzing his handwriting helped him shift from being affected by a stutter to knowing he could grow and realize his own potential.
his early dream to be a filmmaker/creative and how that desire led him to call Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live 25 (twenty-five!) times before getting a 1-on-1 meeting with him.
how books and movies provide the inspiration to persevere.
how he almost got kicked out of teacher’s college for being too creative.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 197

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Today’s guest is a technology strategist and certified futurist.

She is known for her ability to take complex technology topics and make them accessible to everyday professionals, across multiple generations.

She works with organizations that want to leverage social media, apps, smartphones, and the web to increase profits and productivity. She has entertained and educated audiences around the globe, including at Google, Microsoft, and GE.

She is the author of two books, “One Tech Action” and “The Social Media Why” and has appeared in numerous publications including Entrepreneur, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Forbes.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership “someone able to gather people as a team and accomplish the goals.”
her building her first business in a recession.
overcoming her addiction about being nice and being seen as nice.
her closing her marketing business to become a full time speaker.
how making genuine connections can help nurture your network.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 196

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As an Olympic and World Championship rower, today’s guest learned firsthand what makes a championship team versus simply a team of champions.

She's spent 20 years helping individuals, leaders, and teams resolve difficult conflicts and create strong, thriving relationships that create great results. Over the years, she’s worn many hats, including Boeing flight test engineer, a manager at Arthur Andersen, and a Principal Consultant at Patrick Lencioni’s The Tablegroup.

In 2002, she co-founded Thrive! to share her unique perspective about making relationships matter as much as business results. She did a TEDx talk with her co-founder, “Conflict Use It, Don't Defuse It!”

She has given presentations on conflict resolution, communication, teamwork, and creative problem-solving at Fortune 100 companies like Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, and AT&T. She is the author of two books, “The Beauty of Conflict” (for business teams), and “The Beauty of Conflict for Couples”, and co-host of the podcast The Beauty of Conflict.

Please join me in welcoming CrisMarie Campbell.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership “Leadership is about standing for something and inviting other people to come along.”
how being on a college rowing team helped her develop her leadership skills.
how growing up as an army brat helped her nurture her empathy for those who feel like they don’t fit in.
how watching a made for TV movie opened her eyes and passion to rowing.
how an Olympic loss brought her to her lowest point and propelled her to where she is now.
when attending graduate school she made herself referable to big names after graduating by networking and building relationships.
that building a tolerance for your own discomfort and being messy can be the best tool to help you hang in during conflict.
how zooming out and seeing the big picture can be self-motivating and inspiring.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 195

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Today’s guest is an educator, author, and entrepreneur who is on a mission to reimagine business and transform education.

As the founder and CEO of Mirasee, a business education company, he has developed innovative training programs that have raised the bar for online education. Some of his most popular training programs include the Course Builder’s Laboratory, the Business Ignition Bootcamp, and the ACES Club. Over 5,000 value-driven entrepreneurs have enrolled in these programs.

His own entrepreneurial journey has had many twists and turns. He built Mirasee after his previous startup imploded in 2008, leaving him quarter million dollars in debt. But he’s fond of saying that “failure is only failure if it happens in the last chapter; otherwise, it’s a plot twist.”

Today, Mirasee is a seven-figure business with 20 employees distributed all over the world. It’s no wonder that many top leaders in his industry reach out when they need help with their business or strategy.

He is the author of 10 books including “Teach and Grow Rich” and “Leveraged Learning.” His latest book, “Teach Your Gift” was just released.

Please join me in welcoming Danny Iny.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership “A leader’s job is to direct the focus for other people in terms of what they should be thinking about and what they should be focusing on feeling. It’s not a role, but an action or responsibility.”
his humble beginnings as a middle school entrepreneur/rebel and how his boredom as a student has led him down a path to run a seven-figure business.
how a company imploding is like a really bad breakup.
the transformation from a blog to Mirasee which is NOT a family business even though his entire family bought into his dream and works there.
his innovative approach to hiring.
how building and nurturing relationships can lead to success.
using systems that play to your uniqueness.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 194

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Today’s guest is on a mission to disrupt the way we approach empowerment.

A lifelong entrepreneur, she is the founder and CEO of IMPERIA™, an incubator for women creating social impact projects across seven continents.

Her methodology of Self-Directed Empowerment is showcased in her keynotes around the world from Abu Dhabi to Harvard University and the United Nations and she is a featured expert on women’s entrepreneurship for the U.S. State Department. When she isn’t on stage, she is at IMPERIA’s headquarters atop the World Trade Center in NYC, where she and her team have dedicated themselves to building resilient female leaders.

She is the author of two books, her most recent is “No One is Coming: An Empowerment Manifesto” and she has been featured in international media including Bloomberg Businessweek and the documentary Eat.Drink.Cook.

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer Iannolo.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about character. It’s about who you are when things get really tough.”
how she went from a “bossy” child to a leader through learning radical empathy.
the question she has asked several clients over the last few weeks about who they want to be known as once this pandemic is over.
how she is a first generation American and how her experiences and successes are directly from her dad, who was raised under Mussolini rule, and her mom, who was raised under the rule of Winston Churchill.
how she learned about resilience.
her methods for networking, including having group dinners when she is traveling.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 193

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Today’s guest’s driving purpose is to empower and help others overcome mental obstacles in order to live healthy, happy lives and reach their maximum potential.

She is the visionary behind Muse, the award-winning headband that makes meditation easier. Before co-founding InteraXon, the makers of Muse, she was not only trained as a neuroscientist and psychotherapist but also started her own international clothing line.

With her creativity, entrepreneurial drive, and fascination with the brain, it’s not surprising that her startup allows people to control computers with their minds.

She and her team have been featured in over 1000 media pieces, including TED, CNN, Forbes, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, and they are recipients of multiple innovation awards.

She is the host of Untangle podcast, keynotes around the world on technology, mindfulness and entrepreneurship, and supports and advises a variety of start-ups.

Please join me in welcoming Ariel Garten.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “A leader is someone who is able to see a direction and is also so compelling that other people want to follow them.”
how having loving entrepreneur parents shaped her belief in her abilities and her desire to be an entrepreneur.
her childhood experience with leading, where she was considered bossy, and her journey to being a strong leader at 22, while operating a successful clothing line.
the value she places on helping improve other people and the world, and how that led to her developing Muse.
how being a female founder in a male-dominated industry, before there was a strong push for equality, had both positives and negatives.
her large network and how she networks and connects with others.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 192

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Today’s guest is a dynamic speaker who inspires audiences to feel they can conquer the world and make tons of great new connections while doing it.

For over 25 years, he has been a top sales performer, keynote speaker, and performance mentor. He is the CEO of Thrive, a company focused on helping businesses, leaders, and brands become even more amazing through the power of connection.

He is the best-selling author of “Master the Art of Connecting” and host of the Thrive LOUD podcast, which is dedicated to inspiring people to reach their peak potential in every facet of their life.

Please join me in welcoming Lou Diamond.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leaders are those who are able to connect people, ideas, technologies, and organizations together. Leadership is connecting and great leaders are master connectors.”
how he views leadership and connecting as synonymous.
various roles he has taken from consulting to sales and marketing, to coaching, and the thread that ties them all together.
the power of “and.”
a coaching lesson and what he learned about listening levels.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 191

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Today’s guest is credited with convincing Guy Kawasaki and thousands of tech execs that Twitter would have real business value.

In 2009, she founded the Twitter App Store oneforty.com, bringing order to the chaos of Twitter’s nascent app ecosystem. Just two years later, she sold it to HubSpot where she worked for many years on influencer relations and the INBOUND event.

As an Inbound Marketing Evangelist, she has shown companies how to grow by helping people buy instead of cramming marketing messages down their throats.

She is a professional speaker, lead author of “Twitter for Dummies,” and was one of the first to evangelize Twitter’s significance for business, culture, and beyond. She has lectured at Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management, has been quoted in dozens of national publications, and raised $25,000 for Charity: Water in December 2008 in the first-ever “donate by tweeting” charity campaign.

Building on her environmental science and policy degree, she founded the Enough Company to explain and evangelize market-driven shifts that can bring speed and scale to the climate crisis fight.

Please join me in welcoming Laura Fitton aka @Pistachio.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is discovering what unique perspective you have that resonates with other people. It is also about being in the right place at the right time, with the ability to speak up.”
how she associates leadership with when ideas are propagated in the world.
her experiences with being bullied and how she sees empowerment in it now.
how active blogging gave her recognition in the tech and marketing world and how that led to her sharing of Twitter’s business value with some of the top names in the marketing world.
her experience at Hubspot and with Inbound.
the throughline of environmental activism in her career.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 190

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Today’s guest is dedicated to training people to let go of obstacles and live and work with courage, commitment, and confidence.

Over the last 25 years, she has built her business one relationship and one speech at a time - motivating and inspiring audiences to get out of their comfort zone and get a front-row seat in life. She believes that everyone will have more success at work and in life by following 4 simple strategies that she calls Front-Row Success.

She is a CSP, a Certified Speaking Professional, which is the highest earned designation in the speaking profession, with only 12 percent of speakers worldwide holding this designation. She was also inducted into the CPAE Speaker Hall of fame.

She is the author of 4 motivational books, some have even described them as ‘life-changing,’ including her latest on goal-setting called “Is There A Hole In Your Bucket List?”

Please join me in welcoming Marilyn Sherman.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “A leader is someone who is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. When they walk in their power and authenticity, they can’t help but illuminate the path for others.”
how she got into speaking and realized it was a passion of hers, before even graduating high school.
how her dad and several other key people influenced her career and life trajectory and why they were significant.
her decision to serve within the National Speakers Association.
some of the lessons she has learned about networking from mentors and close friends.
what S.E.A.T means.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 189

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Today’s guest isn’t your typical Life Coach.

After working in sales for two decades, he became a certified Life Coach in 2005. In a world filled with "woo-woo" life coaches, his opinionated and direct approach is refreshing and gets results.

Eight years later, he launched Coach the Life Coach because he had learned how to build a successful coaching practice and he was tired of watching new Life Coaches struggle to survive. He helps them build a coaching practice that is sustainable and profitable.

He has written over 1,500 self-development articles and is the author of 11 books, including “The Clarity Method: Tap Into What Motivates Your Clients, Your Colleagues, and You.”

Please join me in welcoming Tim Brownson.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “To me leadership is about integrity, doing the right thing when no one is looking. You can lead by coaching loudly or through a quiet determination.”
his experience in sales and how it shaped his views on solving problems and offering solutions instead of trying to “win” a customer.
how he describes his first couple of years of coaching as a blueprint for how to not start a coaching business.
how he balances writing and coaching and makes both a priority.
his understanding that he doesn’t take well to being confined by a structure and what he does instead.
his practices surrounding networking and the value he places on Facebook groups.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 188

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Today’s guest believes every voice deserves to be heard.

As an internet and digital marketing pioneer, she helps content creators grow and monetize a loyal, rabid fan base through understanding connection and the power of influence. She has worked on the branding and messaging for large corporations such as Comcast and Subaru, as well as with hundreds of bloggers, podcasters and online entrepreneurs. She specializes in personality-driven social media and sales strategy.

She is the co-host and co-founder of the She Podcasts brand, founded on the belief that women have a unique challenge in getting their voices to be heard. She Podcasts currently supports over 14,000 female podcasters and has a digital marketing reach of over 55,000 content creators. It is known for its diversity, education, integrity, and community.

When she’s not planning the next She Podcasts LIVE event, you can find her offering education to independent podcasters on marketing, growth, and sponsorship.

Please join me in welcoming Jessica Kupferman.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “I define leadership as being able to make decisions for a group and for the groups’ greater good even if that decision is uncomfortable.”
her recollection that she was called bossy as a child.
her ability to define areas of her life, forge a new path, and gain meaningful connections along the way.
how she co-founded She Podcasts and how it has grown.
how being introverted influences her in both networking and leadership.
the value she places on conscious connection at networking events.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 187

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Today’s guest teaches strategies to succeed no matter what the economy does - turning uncertainty into a competitive advantage.

Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts to watch by Currency Fair, she is an author, business strategist, keynote speaker, and growth expert, creating ownership at every level and helping people create profits at every turn.

Her career expands over several industries including banking, healthcare, and finance. She worked her way up from an entry-level position to earn her seat at the C-Suite table. She is a Certified Speaking Professional, a designation held by less than twelve percent of professional speakers, and is a member of the Forbes Coaching Council.

She is the author of several books, including her latest, “The Best Sales Book Ever.”

Please join me in welcoming Meridith Elliott Powell.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “I would define leadership simply. You are a leader when people follow you.”
why she credits her mom for her networking skills because her mom encouraged her to seek out the people who were alone.
how her willingness to talk to people and expand her network influenced her incredible jobs and what the through-line is of her career.
why 40 was a powerful age to her and why she went out on her own then.
how she prioritizes hand-written notes and why they are important to her.
why it is important to make sure your networking focuses on your target audience and the value she places on giving more than receiving.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 186

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Today’s guest’s philosophy is to work with what you’ve got and build as you go along.

That philosophy has helped thousands of people graduate from his Booked and Paid to Speak Training Course ready to start and build their own speaking businesses - transforming their passion project into a paycheck.

A nationally known speaker, he has given nearly 1,000 live presentations and has spoken to over 500,000 people in 47 different states through leadership conferences, conventions and other events.

He is the host of The Speaker Lab, which is a podcast with nearly 300 episodes that focus on speaker training and interviews with speakers who will help listeners grow their business.

His first book, “Reality Check,” is taught in 400 high schools around the country. He is also the author of “The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform.”

Please join me in welcoming Grant Baldwin.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is influence and the ability to get other people to follow you and trust you in the direction you are leading them.”
his journey from youth pastor to professional speaker, including many side hustles.
a wealth of information about learning from people who are just a few steps ahead of you in order to grow in both business and life.
the importance he places on connecting with other people.
his networking strategies including prioritizing in-person connections and growing with peer masterminds.
his most important goals for the next year in business and growing as a husband and father.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 185

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Today’s guest is a wellness leader who is known as a beacon of authentic happiness.

A two-time cancer survivor, she is passionate about waking people up to the precious gift of time. Her mission is to inspire people to move more and fear less, helping them stretch their dreams, strengthen their courage muscle, and build an inspired life, full of joy and gratitude.

She is a speaker, author, mindset coach, podcast host, and DJ. As a keynote speaker, she inspires people around the globe to stand up for their lives and live profoundly from their hearts. Her work is rooted in the science of positive psychology and she coaches individuals and teams on how to get unstuck to become unstoppable.

She is the author of “The Perfection Detox: Tame Your Inner Critic, Live Bravely and Unleash Your Joy” and host of The Perfection Detox Podcast.

Please join me in welcoming Petra Kolber.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “I define leadership as anyone who can see the potential in others before the other can see it. It is someone who has the skills, methods, heart, and grace to coach others into that potential. It could be anyone.”
how she spent her time in the fitness world not recognizing her leadership role until she realized people were inspired by her.
the difference between her childhood near Liverpool, where standing out was discouraged, and how her thoughts about leadership changed when she met her first Americans.
some of the fitness classes she led and how they impacted others.
how meeting Dorie Clark shifted her life and where she has gone since then.
her methods for networking as an introvert, always entering rooms with the desire to give instead of receive.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 184

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Today’s guest embraces inclusion as a true beacon for her career.

An award-winning diversity and inclusion leader, consultant, and speaker, she is committed to diversifying the workplace and training women and emerging leaders to take true leadership positions in all aspects of their lives. She is the CEO of her company, a certified minority, and women-owned business enterprise.

Her background includes over two decades in corporate America. Her strong project management acumen allows her to educate and create transformational results for her clients. She teaches diversity and inclusion, conscious inclusion, and project management.

She is the author of multiple books, including her latest “52 Tips for Owning Your Career: Practical Advice for Career Success.”

Please join me in welcoming Simone E. Morris.

In this episode we discuss:

her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is getting others to follow you, a way of motivating others to see your vision.”
how she shifted from a shy and introverted youngest child into a person who makes herself visible and is a leader.
her college experiences that helped lay the foundation for future leadership.
her experience with a career sponsor and how it helped her in her career.
how she left the corporate world not planning to pursue entrepreneurship and then ended up finding success doing it.
networking and how she originally struggled but then eventually found great success in putting herself out there.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 183

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Today’s guest is a renowned entrepreneur on a mission to democratize automation and create an immersive work experience for enterprises of all sizes.

Founder and CEO of OrangeScape, makers of Kissflow, a disruptive SaaS-based enterprise-level work automation and collaboration platform with more than 10,000 customers across 160 countries, he has three US patents to his credit.

He co-founded SaaSBoomi, Asia’s number one and largest SaaS conference and he spends a significant amount of time in the startup ecosystem mentoring young founders.

Please join me in welcoming Suresh Sambandam.

In this episode we discuss:

his thoughts on leadership: “My own understanding of leadership is when one goes out on a mission that is larger than they can achieve alone, and they get a lot of people following and seeing the same vision and those people join in to accomplish that mission.”
how his understanding of leadership began around 7th grade when he gave his first speech.
his experience growing up in a town with only one computer, one that was shared with the whole town, and how that led him to open his own computer training center.
his three U.S. patents.
the SaaS conference he has been organizing for the last 5 years.
his personal goal for the next year, working on influence in government and policies.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 182

On the Schmooze: Recent Episodes

Robbie Samuels