490: Elevating your personal brand using LinkedIn (with Judi Hays)

Welcome to an episode with scientist, inventor, writer, speaker, and entrepreneur, Alex Bäcker. Get Alex's book here: https://amzn.to/3HqNfZu In this episode, Alex spoke about the main ingredients of a successful life and the key to happiness. He discussed why he wrote his book, 101 Clues to a Happy Life, and shared how having children exponentially changed his life and perspective. Alex also elaborated on the role of sunlight in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and the potential role of vitamin D. In this conversation, he shared valuable advice related to business, finding business partners and investors, and the practical steps that should be implemented to attain success and happiness. Alex Bäcker is the founder and CEO of QLess and co-founder at Drisit. He holds 11 patents and in 2021 was named among the top 100 MIT alumni in technology. His seminal papers on COVID and sunlight were picked up by the press around the world. Alex is a National Champion of Informatics and holds a degree in Biology and Economics from MIT, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Computation and Neural Systems and Biology from the California Institute of Technology, where he was awarded the Dean's Award for "great contributions and outstanding qualities of Leadership and Responsibility." He has held positions at McKinsey & Co.; the Center for Computation, Computers, Information and Mathematics of Sandia National Labs; and Caltech. Alex devised the idea of QLess while standing in a line. Prior to starting QLess, Alex was also the founder of a pioneer of search engine marketing technology, the invention factory, that has boosted the reach of search engine marketing campaigns by up to 580% while simultaneously reducing their cost per action by up to 78%. It is a semantic people search engine with machine vision, which beat Google and every other search engine tested 3 to 1 or more in results relevance in a blind people search comparison, and the first resume- or file-based search engine. Alex was appointed by the President to serve in the California Institute of Technology's Information Sciences and Technology Board of Advisors. In 2013, Alex was named the Gold Stevie Winner of IT Executive of the Year and Silver Stevie Winner of Innovator of the Year by the International Business Awards. In 2011, Alex was honored as the keynote speaker at LA County's Tech Week, an honor that was previously accorded a Nobel Prize winner, the CEO of Cisco, the CEO of Adobe, the Chairman of Deloitte, and an astronaut. In 2010, Alex was honored as one of "40 under 40" for the inaugural 40 Under 40 M&A Advisor Recognition Awards. Alex's research on neural coding and artificial intelligence has been published in the world's leading publications such as Nature and Neural Computation. Get Alex's book here: 101 Clues to a Happy Life. Alex Bäcker: https://amzn.to/3HqNfZu Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

31 Aug 202251min

For this episode, let's revisit one of Strategy Skills classics where we discuss something that affects every consultant in the world: the issue of confidence – or even arrogance – and its role in getting results on a consulting engagement. We discuss the role that confidence plays in your career and look at what actually creates a competitive advantage in your career. We also look at an example that showcases the limited value of confidence in a consulting engagement.  Click here to see the full study and here to see the merger study and market entry study. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

29 Aug 202216min

Welcome to an episode with best-selling author, lawyer, and art historian, Amy Herman. Get Amy's book here: https://amzn.to/3R4z14s In this episode, Amy spoke about how art can renew our sense of vision and approach to problem solving. This method proves that everyone sees and interprets things differently, which shows that we need to become better communicators to solve our problems. She stressed that effective communication has a renewed significance now because we are communicating with our stakeholders in a virtual environment. For leaders of organizations, the most difficult thing for them to do is rethink their communication skills and make them as effective as they were before, which involves agility. Amy also spoke about confirmation bias – wherein people only hear what they want to hear – and how to realize that we are trapped in this way of looking at information. Building on the conversation, Amy spoke about well-known artists who reflect characteristics that a great leader can impersonate. Amy E. Herman is the founder and president of The Art of Perception, Inc., a New York-based organization that conducts professional development courses to leaders around the world, including at the FBI, CIA, Scotland Yard, and the Peace Corps. Herman was also the Director of Educational Development at Thirteen/WNET, the educational public television station serving New York and New Jersey, and the Head of Education at The Frick Collection for over ten years, where she oversaw all of the Collection's educational collaborations and community initiatives. An art historian and attorney, Herman holds a BA in International Affairs from Lafayette College, a JD from the National Law Center at George Washington University, and an MA in Art History from Hunter College. She is a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. Herman channeled her dual degrees in art and law to create the successful Art of Perception program, and now trains thousands of professionals from Secret Service agents to church fundraisers. Herman is a world-renowned speaker who frequently presents at national and international conventions. She has been featured on the CBS Evening News, the BBC, and in countless print publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The London Times, New York Daily News, Smithsonian Magazine, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Get Amy's book here: Fixed.: How to Perfect the Fine Art of Problem Solving. Amy Herman: https://amzn.to/3R4z14s Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

24 Aug 202248min

Welcome to an episode with a renowned food journalist, Dan Saladino. Get Dan's book here: https://amzn.to/3QHLfQu In this episode, Dan talks us through a very interesting topic: food extinction. He elaborated on the value of food diversity through factual examples and stories, and he explained the risks of homogeneity or genetic uniformity of crops, livestock, poultry, or other food supply, which adds more vulnerability to preserving these resources during a crisis. Dan Saladino is a renowned food journalist who has worked at the BBC for 25 years. For more than a decade, he has traveled the world recording stories of foods at risk of extinction—from cheeses made in the foothills of a remote Balkan mountain range to unique varieties of rice grown in southern China. His work has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation, the Guild of Food Writers, and the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards. Get Dan's book here: Eating to Extinction: The World's Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them. Dan Saladino: https://amzn.to/3QHLfQu Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

22 Aug 202258min

Welcome to an episode with a sought-after strategist and advisor, Kian Gohar. Get Kian's book here: https://amzn.to/3wdoonJ Many organizations have been caught flat-footed by disruptive changes – especially in the pandemic era – which has forced a lot of businesses to rethink their priorities to stay competitive in the post-pandemic world. Having the ability to identify trends that allow organizations to leverage potential threats and changes in the future will turn into great opportunities. But many organizations don't think this way and instead focus on what there is today and react to the changes later. In this episode, we discussed with Kian the key things that the pandemic taught us individually and as an organization. He spoke about the mindset and best practices of leaders and teams who were able to keep up, adapt, and remain competitive and advantageous during disruptions and continuous change. Kian also pointed out the key steps that leaders and organizations need to take and implement to build a competitive and thriving business. Kian Gohar is the CEO of innovation advisory firm Geolab and the former executive director of the XPRIZE Foundation and Singularity University. Kian has coached the C-suite of over 50 companies in the Fortune 500 and regularly keynotes, facilitates, and emcees major business conferences like the World Economic Forum, SXSW, the Tokyo Motor Show, and many others. His research on the Future of Work and innovation has been featured on CNBC, Axios, HBR, and other media. He inspires the world's leading organizations to harness innovation and moonshots to solve complex problems. He coaches entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders to make their impossible, possible. He is the co-author of Competing in the New World of Work with Keith Ferrazzi, published by Harvard Business Review in 2022, which is based on a global research project with 2,000+ global leaders to reveal the best leadership practices that helped the most successful teams thrive in the pandemic, and is a roadmap for any team at any organization to future-proof their way to success in the post-pandemic era. He is passionate about the intersection of innovation and impact, and his career spans venture capital, academia, and startups around the world. He is a member of the Transformational Leadership Council. Get Kian's book here: Competing in the New World of Work: How Radical Adaptability Separates the Best from the Rest. Kian Gohar & Keith Ferrazzi: https://amzn.to/3wdoonJ Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

17 Aug 20221h 1min

Welcome to an episode with workplace loneliness experts and thought leaders, Ryan Jenkins and Steven Van Cohen. Get Ryan's book here: https://amzn.to/3SOSwiY In this episode, Ryan and Steven discuss a vital, sensitive, and very interesting topic: loneliness. Oftentimes, loneliness and emotional pain is taken lightly compared to physical pain. But physiologically, the effect is nearly the same. The conversation revolved around answering why do we feel lonely and how we can battle and address this issue. Ryan and Steven talked about the significance of awareness, connection, a sense of safety and belonging, and mental health, which largely contributes to resolving loneliness and is the key to developing a healthy personal and professional environment. Ryan Jenkins CSP® (Certified Speaking Professional™) is an internationally recognized keynote speaker and three-time published author. He speaks all over the world to companies such as State Farm, Salesforce, Wells Fargo, FedEx, Liberty Mutual, and John Deere. For a decade, he has been helping organizations create engaged, inclusive, and high-performing teams by lessening worker loneliness and closing generational gaps. Ryan's top-ranked insights have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and The Wall Street Journal. He is also co-founder of LessLonely.com, the world's first resource fully dedicated to reducing worker isolation and strengthening team connections. Ryan lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife, three children, and yellow Labrador. Steven Van Cohen is a global leadership consultant, author, and executive coach. Steven has spent 12 years working with hundreds of leaders from organizations like Salesforce, The Home Depot, Komatsu, and Bridgestone, helping them improve worker well-being, reduce employee isolation, and boost team belonging. Dubbed "The Leadership Whisperer," Steven has inspired thousands through his workshops, keynotes, and virtual events. He is co-founder of LessLonely.com (the world's first resource for addressing loneliness at work) and CEO of SyncLX (a consultancy that works with many Fortune 500 companies.) Steven holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development from Pepperdine University and a BA from The University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Steven lives in San Juan Capistrano, CA with his wife and two daughters. Get Ryan & Steven's book here: Connectable: How Leaders Can Move Teams From Isolated to All In. Ryan Jenkins & Steven Van Cohen: https://amzn.to/3SOSwiY Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

15 Aug 202250min

Welcome to an episode with the CEO of Meetup, David Siegel. Get David's book: https://amzn.to/3QqTkJ6 In this episode, David talks us through his epic journey of becoming and remaining the CEO of Meetup in spite of the challenges that the organization faced and, later on, conquered. He also spoke about Investopedia – which he was the CEO of prior to joining Meetup. David also highlighted and elaborated on what a community is, how it works, and the value that it brings. David Siegel is the CEO of Meetup, the largest platform for finding and building local community. He has over 20 years of experience as a technology and digital media executive leading organizations through innovative product development, rapid revenue growth, and digital traffic acceleration. Prior to joining Meetup, David was CEO of Investopedia. Before that, he was president of Seeking Alpha. He hosts the podcast Keep Connected, which is dedicated to the power of community. David holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia University where he teaches strategic planning and entrepreneurship. He lives in White Plains, New York with his wife and three teenage children. In his spare time, he likes to pop in on Meetup events. Get David's book here: Decide and Conquer: 44 Decisions That Will Make or Break All Leaders. David Siegel: https://amzn.to/3QqTkJ6 Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

10 Aug 202259min

Welcome to an episode with Ravin Jesuthasan, a global thought leader and best-selling author, and John Boudreau, a Professor Emeritus of Management and Organization at the University of Southern California. Get John's book here: https://amzn.to/3BJRiiY In this episode, John and Ravin lay out the core principles of work operating systems, and their views about the future of work and jobs that are rapidly evolving through the emergence of alternative work arrangements, diversity, accelerating automation, and the underlying challenges and opportunities that leaders and organizations are battling to overcome. Ravin Jesuthasan is the global leader of Mercer's Transformation Services business. He is a recognized global thought leader, futurist, and author on the future of work and workforce transformation. He has led multiple research efforts on the global workforce, the emerging digital economy, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the transformation of work. Ravin has led numerous research projects for the World Economic Forum, including many of its ground-breaking studies on the transformation of work and the global workforce. He is a regular participant and presenter at the World Economic Forum's annual meetings in Davos and Dalian/Tianjin and is a member of the forum's Steering Committee on Work and Employment. Ravin has been a featured speaker at conferences in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America. He has also been featured and quoted extensively by leading business media, including CNN, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Fortune, FT, The Nikkei (Japan), Les Echoes (France), De Telegraaf (Netherlands), South China Morning Post, and Dubai One TV among others. Ravin was also an advisor to and featured prominently on PBS's widely acclaimed documentary series The Future of Work. Ravin is a frequent guest lecturer at universities around the world, including Oxford University, Northwestern University, New York University, and the University of Southern California. John Boudreau is recognized worldwide as one of the leading evidence-based visionaries on the future of work and organization. Through breakthrough research on the bridge between work, superior human capital, leadership, and sustainable competitive advantage, John W. Boudreau, Ph.D. is much sought after by organizations, businesses, and the academic world for his insight and innovation in the fields of Human Resources, Human Capital Management, and Executive Development. Dr. Boudreau is Professor Emeritus of Management and Organization and a Senior Research Scientist with the Center for Effective Organizations at the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California. His large-scale research studies and focused field research addresses the future of work and the global HR profession, work automation, HR measurement and analytics, decision-based HR, executive mobility, HR information systems, and organizational staffing and development. A strong proponent of corporate/academic partnerships, Dr. Boudreau helped to establish and then directed the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS) at Cornell University, where he was a professor for more than 20 years. Get John and Ravin's book here: Work without Jobs: How to Reboot Your Organization's Work Operating System (Management on the Cutting Edge). John Boudreau & Ravin Jesuthasan: https://amzn.to/3BJRiiY Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

8 Aug 202253min