Rebel Leadership®: Recent Episodes
Allison Minutillo
A podcast guaranteed to trigger your next ah-ha moment. Changing how leaders lead and smashing the status quo with each story we unfold. How will you be remembered?
Rubes, Hammer, & James invite special guest CSO BJ Kito to talk about our shared love of having an inability to focus in life and...sorry, bird is outside the window. What was I writing?....Oh ya, the description. This poddie ep was all about the ins & outs of ADHD in life and the workplace, how we cope, and some savory stats from Sammy Rubes to make us sound less foolish. OH MY GOD, THAT CAR IS BLUE!!!!!
First in a series about making transitions in your career and breaking into new jobs amidst a questionable market, the team talks with VP of Accounts Sam Barrett -- who made the jump from Army Ranger to agency strategist, using his skills at kicking down doors to help brands grow. Makes total sense. Enjoy!
Hammer, Rubes, & James are joined for this poddie ep by Director of Digital Experience, Nate Szymanski to talk about crazy marketing stunts and how brands can maybe, possibly, hopefully go viral. Beyond that, what did they talk about? Who can remember?!?! We recorded this weeks ago and James forgot! Dummy. Oh well, enjoy!
Rebellion designer, Larissa Topalis, aka Weirdo Larry Topgolf, joins the poddie to derail us completely. We barely talked about marketing, but also rarely stopped laughing. Breaking from our norm, we focused this episode on data apps and the current state of dating in this weird world. Listen and enjoy!
In another poddie, Rubes conspired with the sinister sensation, Gail Zaharek, to talk about authentic brand advertising and the workplace. Meanwhile, James reminds everyone he's dumb by quietly taking an online quiz for way too long, creating great silent podcast content. Enjoy!
Recorded live in the Rebel Studio, Rubes, Hammer, & James hang out with guest Russ Martonis -- a writer, content creator, eater of food, and game-changing marketer for Amex and other major brands. The topic was supposed to be food marketing, but they goof around, drink Snoop wine, and play a random game to see who is normal (spoiler: none of these weirdos are normal). Enjoy the poddie!
In this episode, Emmy-award winning television production executive Dennis Denniger takes us on a journey through the evolution of sports broadcasting. Currently a Professor at Syracuse University, Dennis was named Falk College Faculty Member of the Year in 2014 and played a key role in founding the sports communications graduate program at the Newhouse School. With a 25-year tenure at ESPN, he led production teams for studio programming, live remote events, and digital video platforms, witnessing and contributing to ESPN's transformation from startup to a household name.
Beyond academia and broadcasting, Dennis is a prolific author, sharing insights into sports television in "Sports on Television" and exploring the Super Bowl's evolution in "The Football Game that Changed America."
Dennis Denniger is not just an educator and author; he's a technological innovator. He introduced the digital instant review technology "Shot Spot," now ubiquitous in major tennis tournaments and known as "Hawkeye" in various professional sports leagues.
Join us for a captivating conversation as Dennis Denniger reflects on his career, the evolution of ESPN, and the intersection of technology and sports broadcasting that has shaped the industry we know today.
Sammanz is back! The first-ever return guest! Why? Cause she made us. (This is to see if she reads these and gets mad at us for saying that) In this very special episode, we talk about the Pink Tax and how it's pure bullshit. Pour your Snoop wine, relax, listen, learn, enjoy!
Join us for an exciting conversation with Rebel's Chief Strategy Officer BJ Kito and Bernt Ullmann, who is often referred to as “The Man Behind the Brands.” Mr. Ullmann has been the trusted business acceleration expert by top fashion moguls and CEOs such as Daymond John, Eddie Lampert, and Tommy Hilfiger.
You'll hear first-hand how Bernt went from a pizza entrepreneur to one of the world’s leading experts in celebrity brand development, brand management, licensing and distribution, and monetization having contributed to the successful launches of brands for clients including Jennifer Lopez, Adam Levine, Nicki Minaj and many others. The brands he has worked with have generated over $6 billion in global sales.
This episode gets at the heart of understanding what a "brand" really is, why you should think BIG, and how seeing through the noise is the best pathway to reaching your vision.
Rubes & James are joined by VP of Strategy, Mark Anderson, to talk about how brands leverage (sometimes foolishly) holidays to market themselves. From Guinness on St. Patrick's to Reece's on Halloween, hear all about how brands are winning (and losing) with their holiday marketing. As usual, little was planned, chaos ensues, drinks be drank. Enjoy!
Apologies. This was the most unhinged episode yet. Fueled on Four Lokos, we recorded 3 hours of stories and then cut out 2 of them to not embarrass our parents. These lost hours may be released in the future if you ask aggressively. Until then, experience gross energy drink expert Dr. Jones and his connoisseur-like deep-dive into the infamous brand story of Four Loko.
Paid media magician Julio Amaro joins Sammy Rubes & James to talk about tokenization vs representation, how brands sometimes try and fail to connect with different cultures, and how agencies fail to create true access to multicultural voices. Sam spit stats and James said he was afraid he'd say something culturally insensitive. Let's see how he did. Enjoy!
In this special episode, it's a public service announcement on mental health management for the creative mind. Why? Cause when you create, you expose yourself -- your thoughts, ideas, emotions, and energy -- for all to see and judge. And, when it's broken or burned out, it can be crippling. It's a scary world out there in agency life! That's why the legendary V (Veronika Zhikhareva) explores creative burnout, psychological safety, and learning how to adapt to the modern workplace (with old people like James). Enjoy!
Sam & James dig into generational marketing with legend and VP of Marketing Strategy Craig Wilson. As three generations of marketers, the team digs into how brands and consumers have evolved over decades. It's so interesting that James finally shuts up to learn something. Enjoy!
Join us on an exciting journey with Rebel's Chief Strategy Officer BJ Kito and VP of Strategic Marketing & Impact Steve McLoughlin as they sit down with Pete Tucci, the founder and CEO of Tucci Lumber Co. He's gone from being one of minor league baseball's top prospects to all-star business exec, and his journey is nothing short of inspiring. Major league lessons on the reality that a missed goal does not equate to failure and how training for one path actually provides unique perspective when forced to focus in a different direction.
For Pete, what felt like shoot-from-the-hip decisions as a business owner, was ultimately rooted in his ability to make calculated split-second decisions as an athlete - the real-time scanning and evaluation of the pitcher, field, game scenarios, etc. from the batter’s box. This transition of batter’s eye to business world is what gave him the insight to see a pathway to building a high-end baseball brand embraced by the most elite players in the MLB.
If you’re a fan of great baseball stories or looking for ways to improve the hard-hit percentages of your decision-making, this conversation will get everyone to pause and think what truly drives our “gut” decisions
James went full chaos in this episode. We had a wonderful, brilliant guest in content creator Josie Capozzi, but James simply refused to stay on topic. Over an hour had to be edited out because he couldn't be contained. This is what we have to deal with every day, people! Well, enjoy what remains as Josie & Sam talk about the psychology of marketing, PR disasters, and how James is clearly insane.
We’d be considered “late” to the Barbie trend, but it’s not a trend. Barbie has permanently altered our culture.
In Episode 2 of the Rebelations podcast, ‘Living in a Barbie (Marketing) World,’ we break down the global sensation of the Barbie movie with guest host and all-around amazing CMO Meaghan Morelli.
Listen in as we unpack the power of brand collaborations, earned media, and the role of young women in driving pop culture.
In ep. 3 of Rebelations, Sam & James are joined by Director of Brand Experience Sam Manz (Yes, another Sam!) to talk about brands today, including how being unhinged and using an ugly aesthetic is helping them appeal to Gen Z, who are tired of typical brands trying to be their best selves.
Get your baked beans suit on and enjoy!
Today is all about Social Media, or "Socials" as Sam calls it. We're diving into each platform and where it's going, including how different generations (James is old) are driving usage, innovation, and value. From new ways to create socials content to new ways to look at socials themselves, one thing is for sure: brands are doing it alllllllllllllllllllllllllllll WRONG.
Links:
James & Sam
Rebel
That Article James Mentions
It’s SuperBowl Sunday this weekend — but no, we’re not talking about commercials or the halftime show. The NFL is filled with parallels to life and leadership lessons. On this episode, Allison Minutillo interviews one of the NFL’s most seasoned quarterbacks… Matt Hasselbeck. He reflects on lessons learned under Andy Reid & Mike Holmgren, advice in amplified pressure, locker room trust, the receipt of hard feedback, learning the lingo, and how to work on you when it matters most.
Matt is an NFL Analyst on ESPN’s signature Sunday morning pregame show, Sunday NFL Countdown, and contributes to Pro Bowl and Super Bowl coverage. A three-time Pro Bowler, Hasselbeck played for the Green Bay Packers (1998-2000), Seattle Seahawks (2001-10), Tennessee Titans (2011-12) and Indianapolis Colts (2013-15) during a career that spanned nearly two decades. He threw for 36,638 yards and 212 touchdowns. In 2021, the Seahawks inducted him into their Ring of Honor.
On this episode, host Allison Minutillo had the privilege of talking with Daymond John and Brian Lamb about some of the most important topics of our time. You'll hear their raw reflection on success, failure, and the impact diversity and inclusion has on leadership today. Daymond John is an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. He is the founder and CEO of FUBU, a pioneer in the fashion industry, a Shark on the 4-time Emmy Award-winning Shark Tank, a New York Times bestselling author, branding guru and highly sought-after motivational speaker. Brian Lamb is a Managing Director and Segment Head for Middle Market Banking & Specialized Industries (MMBSI) covering the Northeast for JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking. Previously serving for two years as the firm’s global head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Brian has been instrumental in driving forward the firm’s $30 billion commitment to racial equity.
Being a leader is about discovering and owning your strengths and having the ability to lean into them in any work situation. For example, a leader hones the intellectual and rational strength to recognize patterns and can de-escalate potentially problematic situations before they erupt. They’ve learned that what may seem normal to someone else might throw up red flags for an experienced leader. As a leader, you are constantly in the driver’s seat—you need to have the strength to control the speed, the direction, and the destination of your team. On today's episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, Allison Minutillo talks to Owner of Emphasis Consulting, LLC Ryann Leonard about teaching aspiring leaders to find and lean into their strengths, and about her role in creating culture and developing talent. So, buckle in as we drive right into the heart of what it takes to lean into your strengths as a leader.
Resilience isn’t necessarily an inherent trait. For most of us, it’s learned. As we face challenges and problems, we often assume the worst. But if we can stop and take the time to assess the importance of an issue—is it small, medium or big?—and respond from a pragmatic place, as opposed to emotional, we can create better outcomes for our teams and our clients. Each time we practice this, we take our learnings into the next challenge. It’s not easy, but if you’re willing to learn, the more you go through the reps that build resilience, the more you reveal yourself and work to create the version of yourself that you, and everyone else, deserves. On today's episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, Allison Minutillo talks to Account Director Stephanie Sales about building resilience. In her experience as a leader, she’s found that learning resilience is a continuous process requiring giving yourself grace, rising above negativity, understanding that your actions constantly model leadership and that choosing resilience is an hourly, daily intentional choice. Get ready to immerse yourself in what it takes to become resilient.
Workplace negativity can have a snowball effect: Once it starts, it can grow until it gets past your ability to handle it. So, how can leaders effectively mitigate negativity? On today's episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, Allison Minutillo talks to Dr. Benjamin Finlayson (he/him), PhD, MFTC, Regis University Assistant Professor in the Division of Counseling and Family Therapy and expert on LGBTQIA identity, solution focused therapy, suicide and medical family therapy (MedFT), and Account Supervisor Sam Manz about countering negativity in the workplace. As leaders, like almost anything else, workplace negativity challenges us to build new skills. Whether it’s about showing up as honestly as possible, listening more effectively, actively seeking feedback or creating space for people to air grievances and responding effectively, the fact is that negativity should be treated as an opportunity. When we create a space where we challenge each other, listen to and act on disagreement (and be willing to live with disagreement), we create a better, more validating workplace environment. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. So, get ready to immerse yourself in the issues surrounding—and solutions to—negativity in the workplace.
Leaders are essentially mental athletes with no off-season. You're expected to perform on such a high level, in every interaction. Always on display. Always in the game. As leaders, our audience expects us to evolve and upgrade ourselves every day. We're mental athletes, competing, adapting — in Ron & Chris' case, they have someone they're actively playing against (cybersecurity threats). Chris Cochran is the CEO, Executive Producer and Ronald Eddings is the CPO, Executive Producer, both of Hacker Valley Media. In many ways, threat intelligence and many other life experiences have taught them how to challenge yourself and your mental toughness to compete in the big game of life and leadership day in, and day out.
Overcoming the initial anxiety that providing and receiving feedback brings takes courage, trust, and accountability. In receiving feedback in particular, once you get past the potential defensiveness or taking it personally, and understand how to execute on it, you’ll find you have the opportunity to grow exponentially in your career and personal life. Being able to provide and receive feedback goes hand-in-hand with leadership. You shouldn’t be afraid to provide feedback in order to level up those around you. On today’s episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, Allison Minutillo talks to VP of Client Services Lora Olivieri and Chief Strategy Officer BJ Kito about the importance of providing and receiving feedback—and overcoming the anxiety that can come with it. When it comes to aspiring leaders giving difficult feedback, you don’t have to be emotionless: try to make it as human as possible and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, and always deliver it in a kind and strong manner. We’ll explore the process of recognizing when someone is ready to—or needs to—receive feedback and understand that it shouldn’t be taken personally, but that it’s coming from a place of care. Listen to it, learn from it, and act on it in order to grow stronger in your career. Receiving feedback from someone who has experienced both wins and losses—and learned from both—can be a critical part of your growth. Remember, you’re not a leader until you’ve built that foundation of trust and respect for others to learn from you. Ready to get inspired?
Working remotely has become the norm for a lot of people, but what about when it comes to overseeing an entire department from 22 hours away? What may feel impossible to some is thrilling for those who thrive on problem-solving. On today's episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, Allison Minutillo talks to Vice President of Client Delivery & Technology Solutions David Givens about the importance of trust and building that trust. For David, it’s not always about seeing an individual's impact from a personal perspective, but about how they impact an entire team from within to do more. We take a dive deep into the passion of problem-solving, working on other people’s time, accepting interruptions, building relationships first, and engaging on the regular. While you’ll hear many stories—insights from David’s life as a line cook and learning the importance of leadership from his head chef is moving—what we see from that story are the very core values he instills in his entire team today. So buckle up, get inspired, and prepare to “trash the trash.”
Change is never easy, but reinvention is another subject entirely. Rebuilding yourself professionally from the ground up takes a level of commitment and belief in yourself that you may not have even known you possess. But if you take on that challenge, the rewards and opportunities can be tremendous. On today's episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, Allison Minutillo talks to Content Manager Jon Feld and Content Creator Kyle Wood about the risks and rewards associated with their respective reinventions. Jon came from a non-agency background and Kyle had a long-term retail management career. Both took a love of writing and desire to make a change as the basis to reinvent themselves, to take their own 180-degree professional turns. Together, we explore how the ability to overcome their fears and change, learn, and grow have been key to success and fulfillment they never thought possible. Prepare to learn what it takes to reinvent yourself.
How much does family come into play when developing leadership skills? What about when you’re 1 of 12 kids? Yep, you heard that right — a dozen. For Bryn Tindall, growing up in that big family helped shaped the leader he is today. On today's episode of the Rebel leadership podcast, Allison Minutillo talks to Bryn Tindall, his wife and Rebel’s Chief Legal Counsel & HR Jen Tindall, and Bryn’s mom — the one who raised 12 kids — Mama D. We explore how Mama D’s steady hand, inability to sit still, work ethic, selflessness, and constant ability to love and live in the moment gave Bryn the right foundation to lead Rebel.
What does intimidation mean? How do leaders intimidate (whether they know it or not)? And how can intimidation be overcome? On today’s episode of the Rebel leadership podcast, Allison Minutillo and Content Strategy Specialist MaryKate Caron, discuss the impacts of intimidation—of feeling inferior or “less than”—and what it takes to break down that wall. Self-awareness, authenticity, displaying self-confidence, showing belief in others, mentoring, transparency… they’re all factors in keeping intimidation in check.
Leaders need to have many things…They need resilience. They need vision. They need strength. They need confidence and conviction. But above all else, one thing has hit home hard lately… and that’s the power of belief. On today’s episode of the Rebel leadership podcast, Allison Minutillo and Bryn Tindall get real and very personal about some recent moments of doubt that led them to fully appreciate the power of believe and the role it plays in being the leaders we strive to be.
Teams are incredibly complex to build. To inspire. To coach. To lead. So we decided to take a break from the day to day and reflect back on one of our highest performing teams at Rebel interactive group: new business.
Bryn Tindall, the CEO & Owner of Rebel Interactive and Joe Martin, the Senior Director of Business Development at Rebel Interactive sit down with me to break down the anatomy of our high performing new business team. Everything from constant feedback to live coaching, communication format and trust, team culture and authenticity — leaders of all industries can apply the learnings on this episode to whichever team they lead, or aspire to.
Which words come to mind when you think of a salesman? Car sales? Aggressive? Annoying? Sneaky? On today’s episode of the Rebel leadership Podcast, we’re talking to someone we consider to be a Caring Salesman. Yep, it’s possible. Scott Donofrio is one of our senior business development leads at Rebel Interactive Group and has built a reputation of authenticity, honesty, kindness, trust, and compassion for both his peers and his clients. He not only crushes it from a new business standpoint, but he builds relationships that are real and flourish over time.
Above all the work you produce or professional successes you have, your invisible reputation means the most. This topic hits home for Lora Olivieri, Rebel Interactive Group's VP of Client Services.
It's defined in how you make people feel behind the scenes, when no one else is watching.
It's the Slack messages you send when you think no one will know.
It's how you treat people in moments of stress or crisis.
It's the time and attention you give to others; the credit you take (or don't) for their work.
It's the texts you send asking how they're doing after you saw them struggle in a meeting.
Sometimes career acceleration has more to do with the human than the professional wins. Ask yourself, how will you be remembered?
Add leadership to the mix of life’s great balancing act? And It’s a daily game of where to place your time and energy. On today’s episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, we’re talking to Michael Diamond, the Academic Director of the Integrated Marketing Communications department at NYU's School of Professional Studies, within its Division of Programs in Business.
Between balancing team dynamic, personal & professional shifts, responsibility and training, unlearning and relearning… The juggle is real.
“So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.” ― Dr. Seuss said it best.
Ahhhh the blank sheet of paper. The blank Google Doc. The blank email. The PowerPoint you have yet to start. The paralysis that overcomes us when seeing it.
There’s a tool that exists that’s consensus building, an ideas ignitor, a physical place to capture perspectives and challenge them… the whiteboard.
On today’s episode of the rebel leadership podcast, BJ Kito, Rebel Interactive Group's Chief Strategy Officer, geeks out with me about the power of the whiteboard.
Of all the emotions that come with leadership, one is most important: courage.
When it feels hard. Scary. Daunting.
When you feel doubt, uncertainty, stress, unknown.
Something inside you draws you in — to lean into that moment and have the courage to do what’s right.
On today’s episode, we’re talking to Bess Freedman, the CEO of Brown Harris Stevens. She oversees 55 offices and more than 2,300 agents across New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida. Under her leadership, Brown Harris Stevens has grown into one of the largest and most successful privately held real estate companies in the United States.
Bess gets raw and real and shows her true courage on this episode.
Vulnerability.
It’s a tough topic to understand and even harder to embrace. Especially at work.
Vulnerability at work isn’t about sharing your deepest darkest personal secrets — it is at the root of what fuels empowerment, honesty, authenticity… it is a core rebel leadership principle that I explore with our very own Rebel, Nikki Cassells.
She’s on our Client Services team and recently joined our company in the fall of 2021. Quickly she has excelled in her role and had a very vulnerable moment on a live podcast recording with our whole company there to watch.
We get real about vulnerability and leadership, and the potential impact it can have on all who witness it.
It starts with a moment of courage. It feels like you’re about to drop a bomb on someone you care about. But it’s your ultimate responsibility to give it to them.
Hard feedback.
It’s a gift. And delivering it can be easier with a simple formula.
Dave Jakubowski is the CEO of Ureeka and an avid investor and advisor to growth-stage companies. He is a lifelong learner and storyteller and gets real with us about some actual hard conversations he’s had and has to have soon.
He shares his formula for delivering hard feedback and even triggered an ah-ha moment of my own at the end of the episode.
If you’re skeptical about whether or not Rebellious Leadership can truly make an impact or change an organization, this episode will change your mind.
We recorded this episode live on our agency-wide Town Hall meeting one day — 95 Rebels were gathered and get real, get vulnerable, and reflect on the force multiplier that is perpetual optimism.
Special thanks to Emmy Gray, Eric Mayrhofer, Warren Hershkowitz, Elianna Reyes, David Givens, Mike Walker, Nikki Cassells, and Jonathan Mumby for sharing their raw perspectives in this safe space, in front of their peers. Your courage resonates.
Mentions in this episode:
Brene Brown's Dare to Lead
Matthew McConaughey Greenlights
Can you imagine hiring 100 people in a year?
Now picture hiring 100,000.
On today’s episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, I’m talking to Dan Black. He’s the Global Leader for Talent Attraction & Acquisition at Ernst & Young. And yep, he oversees the recruitment of EY’s global operations — that 100,000 number is his reality.
We dig deep into rebel leadership at big business — how to speak truth to power, how to challenge status quo, how to have hard conversations for the good of the organization and for the people in it. We talk about how hard it is to instill rebellious leadership principles into a growing business at that magnitude when new hires come in with their own styles and experiences.
In late 2016, a 6-year old boy named Alex Myteberi wrote a letter to President Obama offering to help a five-year-old Syrian refugee boy — if you recall, the iconic image of the horrific conflict in Syria showed a young boy covered in blood and dust in an ambulance after his house in Aleppo was destroyed in a blast.
Obama not only read Alex’s letter — but he celebrated his kindness at the White House, and as part of an international refugee speech.
His mom, Val Myteberi, held back tears and disbelief as she got the call from the White House that day. She may not have realized the tremendous impact her positive influence at home had on her son then, but she’s reflecting on it today — right here on this episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast.
Val is the Associate Dean of Graduate, International & Online Programs at Cardozo Law in New York City. She is as kind as she is smart, determined as she is radiant, positive as she is impactful. Her story of immigrating to the US begins washing dishes to learn English, and can be fast-forwarded to influencing lives through education. We reflect on all things positivity, and the role leaders play in shaping future generations.
Hard work. It’s often connected to producing things you can see or feel — it’s tangible. When you’re shifting from the ultimate producer of things, to leader of people… it’s uncomfortable. What you once described as hard work — physically producing deliverables and tangible things — now becomes putting in the time and effort onto becoming a better person, a better leader of people.
In today’s episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, I’m talking to Colleen Luby, the Director of Brand Strategy at Rebel Interactive Group. She is actively experiencing a cerebral transformation going from the producer of the great things to the leader of great people.
Her story is relevant and real.
On this episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, the host mic is being flipped around.
Following a meteoric rise within Rebel Interactive Group, Allison Minutillo will continue to help direct the cutting-edge digital marketing agency’s explosive growth as a partner in the firm.
Rebel's Shannon King sits down with Allison to talk about her journey within Rebel, what co-ownership of the agency means, and why leadership can’t be taught, but can only truly be learned and experienced.
Has anyone ever told you to just come up with a few ideas? To some…easy peasy. To others… the most terrifying task ever.
On today’s episode of the Rebel leadership podcast, I’m talking to Paul Pita, Chief Experience Officer at Rebel Interactive Group. He used to own his own agency and has been a creative all his life. We dive deep into the world of creativity and as leaders, how to unleash it in your organization.
Every experience along your journey is worth it, whether you realize it or not. Who you are today doesn’t define who you will become tomorrow. If we get into the habit of pausing to reflect and listen to what those around us are trying to tell us — so we believe in it ourselves — opportunities will open and true transformation starts to happen.
In this episode of The Rebel leadership podcast, we’re talking to two developers at different stages of their journey. Kyle Sheldon, a senior SaaS product developer explains how moments In his life changed the trajectory of his career — and helped shape his outlook on life. We also talk to Garret Weinberg who’s expanding his skillsets every day and navigating his path to realize his true potential.
It’s filled with personal stories and ah-has, in hope that you’ll have one of your own.
The cold hard truth? There's no map for this. There's no GPS that tells you exactly what you need to do to get from your current position to the next level. For all of our listeners who aspire to be more, affect more, lead someday...this episode explores the details, work, and dedication it takes on the journey to becoming a leader.
I guess you could consider this episode a map.
The art of the ah-ha moment is a tricky thing. You can see it happening.
A lightbulb. A revelation. A rebelation.
But to arrive there requires self-reflection, a pause moment.
Katy McGrath, our VP, Client Services at Rebel Interactive Group, tells her powerful story on today’s episode about the ah-ha she just experienced, and how she arrived there.
When someone is in their sweet spot, magic happens.
Leaders have a tremendous responsibility in finding the sweet spots of their employees.
It’s a choice. They can either seek to understand each employee on a human level in order to learn what truly drives and motivates them, or they can simply have them do the job they were hired to do.
When you allow people the freedom to work on what fills their cup — lights them up — it’s a movement that can take businesses to greater heights they could never imagine.
In this episode, Bryn Tindall — the CEO & Owner of Rebel Interactive Group — and I talk about the intricacies of the sweet spot and how leaders play a big part in that cultural choice. We also tackle the idea of prioritizing your time so that the urgent to-dos don’t get in the way of that sweet spot.
One simple question managers or leaders can ask that has the power to change the dynamic between themselves and those around them:
“What motivates you in the day to day?”
I sent a quick email back to Emmy Gray the other day, boosting her up for handling a very complex client communication with poise and clarity. She’s a strategic client relationship lead in our company — and that job is very intense. It’s filled with a lot of emotions and complexities and pressure from all angles — internal and from our clients. But what I didn’t realize was that the one little email acknowledging her written communication went further for her than I could have imagined.
So let’s dig into affirmation and some other love languages.
Listen, reflect, and embrace your next ah-ha moment.
Raise your hand if you’re in a leadership role and you’ve said these words: “Don’t tell anyone, but…” That’s the line. It’s a tightrope. The balance between leadership and friendship is complex and ever-changing. The dynamic is subtle and nuanced — and one that is worth talking about.
Listen, reflect, and embrace your next ah-ha moment.
Vibe. According to the dictionary, it’s a person's emotional state or the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others.
Technically, It’s intangible; but as working professionals, we all feel it and sometimes, see it. Interviewing candidates, especially in a Zoom world, is a difficult task. There are so many subtleties people give off that show who they really are and it’s the vibe they give off that’s most important — whether they know it or not, leaders are really interviewing for people and humans and potential, and then it’s about the role at hand.
On today’s episode, Bryn and Jen Tindall share years of experience and perspective around interviewing and vibe. It’s the first interaction business owners and HR leads have with prospective employees to start to understand who they truly are at their core.
One of our exceptionally talented new business development leads, Joe Martin, asked me a question the other day. It stopped me in my tracks. It was right after a company-wide meeting where we talked with 75 people about big picture themes and vision.
He said, “But Allison, what’s the end goal? How will we know we’ve reached it?”
He was on the verge of an ah-ha moment; one that would teach him to see life and work differently. That it’s not about hitting a certain number of employees or a revenue target or getting the next award….it’s about enjoying the small stuff, finding a way to power through the hard days, and appreciating the micro-moments on a human level.
Joe and I go deep about work and life and “the finish line” — and hopefully this episode allows you to pause, reflect, and embrace your next ah-ha moment.
Process. Operations. Two terms that sound so daunting — so heavy — so… boring. But leaders know that successful operations have the power to transform a business and people’s lives — customers, employees, and partners.
Mike Minutillo has been a leader in the auto body collision repair industry for more than 40 years. Now retired for 5 years, he had owned and operated Master Auto Body in southern Florida — a multimillion, three-location autobody business. Master Auto Body was recognized as one of the most efficient, if not the most efficient, collision repair facilities in the entire country by many of his direct-repair program (DRP) partners.
He also happens to be my father-in-law.
Mike and I talk in-depth about how implementing Toyota’s infamous Lean Six Sigma program completely transformed his business — tripling his bottom line and improving the lives of those who worked for and with him forever.
Listen. Reflect. And embrace your next ah-ha moment.
Hustle. It's really the fuel that drives leaders forward when pursuing their vision, but it's hard to keep that energy up every day, especially on the hard ones.
Gurps Rai is the founder and CEO of Dropp. The company’s patented See It, Want It, Get It technology allows users to click on products within video and purchase it. Dropp has successfully launched its beta and the results have been tremendous.
His background is more than impressive — from being a prominent figure in the global Carbon Market to being an early investor in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency to being the creator of the world’s most expensive piece of footwear to being intertwined in the hip hop and music industry — Gurps has always been a leader who strives towards making a positive impact on the world, and making those around him successful. It was his hustle on the hard days that led to the good ones.
You know the feeling when you’re in the thick of a winning streak? The pressure is on. The momentum is real. The emotions run high. As the leader in that situation, it’s a complex pressure cooker to keep it all together and to make sure complacency doesn’t get in the way of success.
Coach Paul Assaiante is joining Allison Minutillo on today’s episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast. He’s the Men’s Squash and Tennis coach at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. No name school you might say to yourself? Think again — they are 17 time National Champions and during the thick of their winning streak, won 252 consecutive matches. That makes Coach Paul the winningest coach in college sports history.
We’ll get into personal stories about some of Coach A’s friends coach — like the infamous Coach K from Duke or Bill Belichick of the Patriots — all the way through the intricate moments of coaching college kids mid-championship match. The parallels to leadership are endless.
When an organization is completely aligned and collaborating with each other towards a common direction and purpose — that's when the magic really happens. Leaders must persistently reinforce the best thinking and the best ideas, no matter where or whom they come from. Because when it's less about the pride of ownership of one's individual idea, and more about collective ownership of the best idea, innovation will be the norm.
Paul Pita, Rebel Interactive Group's Chief Branding Officer, and Craig Wilson, Rebel's VP of Marketing Strategy, explore the role rebel leaders play in drawing innovation out of their organization, allowing it to purvey their brand and culture.
Today we have the pleasure of talking to Hamlet Batista, the CEO of Ranksense. He has years and years of experience as a computer engineer and holds several US patents on innovative SEO technologies. Hamlet is a conference speaker, award-winning blogger, writing for numerous publications, including Moz, Search Engine Land, Entrepreneur.com, Quartz, and more.
He’s the trustest form of what it means to be a thought leader.
His story is extraordinary. Before gaining his US citizenship, he held an American EB-1 Genius visa. To get such a coveted visa is very difficult to win because the standard is so high. On today’s episode, Hamlet replays his story all the way back to seeing things differently in elementary school — and how that played a huge role in becoming a rebellious thought leader who immigrated to the United States with a vision.
Leadership can arguably be boiled down to two things: have great ideas, make exceptional decisions. But sometimes those decisions require taking risks. Risks are often associated with a negative connotation. It seems like you’re making a bold move that hasn’t been founded in data but when you really think about risks, sometimes it’s an emotional connection or need to do something different because all of the signs are pointing in that direction. There have been compelling lies fed to us as a society when it comes to entrepreneurship and risk-taking so in the spirit of the podcast, let’s smash ‘em.
Co-hosts Allison Minutillo and Jess Reilly have the pleasure of speaking with Rand Fishkin (Twitter @randfish), currently the co-founder and CEO of SparkToro and previously co-founder of Moz and Inbound.org. He’s dedicated his professional life to helping people do better marketing through his blogging, videos, speaking, and his book, Lost and Founder. When Rand’s not working, he’s most likely to be in the company of his partner in marriage and (mostly petty) crime, author Geraldine DeRuiter. If you feed him great pasta or great whisky, he’ll give you the cheat code to rank #1 on Google.
Rebel Leadership happens in the most unexpected places. We convinced a heart surgeon — yup, you heard it right — to talk to us about the inner-workings of leadership in the complex heart surgery operating room where patients' lives are at stake. We have the honor of speaking with Dr. Igor Gosev, one of four cardiac surgeons at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He’s a key opinion leader for mechanical circulatory support — in other words, he performs and educates nationally on his innovative surgical techniques in heart surgery.
Amy Quinlan, a Nurse Practitioner with years of experience specializing in heart failure, elaborates on the magnificent team dynamics in heart surgery.
Think back to when we used to fly on airplanes regularly. The flight attendant comes on and instructs you to put your oxygen mask on first, before assisting others. It's a pretty simple concept: if you run out of oxygen, you can’t help anyone else.
Being a leader is rewarding, challenging, and meaningful, but it can also be mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. On today’s episode of the Rebel Leadership Podcast, we’re talking to Ilana Traeger, a Certified Health Coach from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. After years of battling painful symptoms and misdiagnosis from countless physicians, Ilana took her health into her own hands by learning to investigate and treat the root cause of symptoms to heal our bodies. She’s giving leaders a healthy dose of reality in this episode.
Here's a chicken and egg scenario for you: which drives which... culture or leadership? Culture is far more than team outings and fancy furniture. Company culture is rooted in leadership. Jeff Johnson, the Chief Operating Officer at C-4 Analytics in Boston, and Allison Minutillo, the President & COO at Rebel Interactive Group, break down tactical strategies leaders can embrace to change the trajectory of their company's culture.
How do you become a more rebellious leader? According to Francesca Gino, there are 8 Principles of Rebel Leadership which she explores in her book, Rebel Talent: Why It Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life. Cate Clark, the Associate Dean of Adult & Graduate Admissions at Regis University and Allison Minutillo, the President & COO of Rebel Interactive Group reflect and share stories about each one in this episode.
The higher a leader rises, the more impact their increased power has on their personal and professional relationships. The impact of power is significant and requires an incredibly delicate tightrope to be walked every day.
Ever feel like you're playing problem whack-a-mole at work? What if you just took a step back to solve issues upstream?
One word that changes cultures: "YES." Carly Benedetto Bova and Allison Minutillo explore why leaders are so afraid of saying yes, but the tremendous impact it can have on their organization.
Two millennials have a heart to heart with other millennials and leaders who don't know what to do with them. They're not just the "everyone gets a trophy" generation. Jess Reilly & Zack Hummel get real and raw in this episode.
Ever stop to think what's actually on a CEO's to do list? In this episode, you'll find out why Bryn Tindall, the CEO & Owner of Rebel Interactive Group, constantly asks the dreaded question, "where are we with this?"
TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast episode contains information about suicide which may be upsetting to some people. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States: 1-800-273-8255.
Mel Nardiello shares her personal story about tragedy and intense grief, and how personal transformation emerged as a result.
Ever felt the energy in a room deflate when you're less than thrilled after a "big reveal" presentation? In a business environment, for some reason, people feel as though their thoughts and ideas need to be perfectly packaged in a beautifully crafted presentation before they can share their perspective with leaders. This is a story about Kyle Minerley's ah-ha moment where he realized the value comes from the pursuit, not the perfection itself.
Why are we so afraid of being passionate at work? Sometimes, it takes leadership to allow others to get their emotions on the table — the anxiety, the excitement, the uncertainty, the anger — in order to lead them forward and gain alignment. This story explores why all leaders should allow for a safe space to be mad.
We’re all dying to know how Bill builds championship teams. Because in reality, coaching is a lot like leadership. This episode explores why expectations are critical to success.
Katy McGrath & Bryan Czajkowski, two leaders of large teams within the same organization, participated in what was supposed to be a fun social experiment. They swapped roles for two business days and truly felt what it was like to walk in the shoes of the other person. The results were far deeper than they had imagined, and their ah-ha was worth sharing.