ATL Connectors

My guest for Episode 56 is Stacy Borocz , who is the owner of etuHOME.  She has an incredible story about courage and perseverance from her start in New York to college at UGA and ultimately owning her current business.  She always demonstrated creativity and a passion for the arts.  In addition, Stacy loves to travel and that not only created inspiration through her college years but later provided a platform for etuHOME.  Her career has taken her through several industries but I love the fact that Stacy never shied away for a challenge or the opportunity to learn new things.  Some of my takeaways from our conversation were to trust your gut and to gain wisdom by listening and learning from others.  Stacy has a retail stores in both Atlanta and Charleston and I can't wait to visit!  I hope you enjoy our conversation.You can learn more about Stacy on LinkedIn or her company website EtuHome

My guest for the 55th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Jacqui Chew, who is known as an innovation enthusiast and has been a successful presence in the Atlanta start up community.  She has more than two decades of experience delivering creative, data-driven strategies for venture-backed, high-growth companies.  Jacqui is also a TEDx Licensee, active mentor, and board member of several organizations.  Her career journey started in Singapore, landed in Hawaii for school and a start in the music business, then found her way to Atlanta and the growing technology industry.  Jacqui shared some keys to success, including being curious, remaining open to new experiences, and taking risks when you are young.  You can learn more about Jacqui on LinkedIn.

My guest for this episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Amanda Anderson, who is the owner and executive producer at Circa Twenty Four Pictures.  I first met Amanda when she was in IT recruiting and she had already explored a couple of careers.  She started out wanted to be a doctor, wound up working as a researcher and then realized she missed social interactions that are core to her personality.  She wound up working in the staffing industry that led her to Atlanta and then pivoted to start a production company with her husband.  She has always been incredibly smart, motivated, and has a genuine thirst for knowledge.  It's been a blessing to watch her career evolution I hope you enjoy this episode!You can learn more about Amanda on LinkedIn or her company website.

My guest for Episode 53 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Laura Hunnicutt, who is a User Experience Lead at EY.  I met Laura at Manheim but we also spent time at Delta Air Lines.  We talked about how her college experience as well as trip through Europe changed her perspective on life.  We also talked about what user experience actually is and how she got her start.  Along with being a great human being, Laura is great at what she does and I was happy to have her share her experiences!You can learn more about Laura on LinkedIn.

My guest for Episode 52 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Jackie Hoffman, who is the Founder and Managing Director of CMB Associates.  I worked with Jackie at Manheim on some projects in their digital space and saw her work ethic and customer focus in action.  She took a couple of different paths before her corporate life took shape and now she's leveraging those experiences as a small business owner.  Jackie shared some of her keys to success that include knowing your strengths, recognizing your weaknesses, and trusting your instincts.  She also credits being flexible, taking action, and embracing change that have helped her to navigate the changing business landscape.You can learn more about Jackie on LinkedIn.

My guest for Episode 51 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Steven Julian, who is an Independent  Financial Advisor as well as a Radio and Podcast Host.  I met Steven through a mutual friend and he gave me some great advice when I started this podcast.  Steven's career journey has several chapters and he walked me through the ups and downs to get where his is today.  We also discussed some valuable career advice, including the importance of mentors, honoring commitments, and knowing the value of hard work.  I learned a lot from this episode and hope you enjoy it!You can learn more about Steven on LinkedIn.

Welcome to the 50th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast!  Today's guest is Missy Pitcher, who is Co-Owner and President of CMIT Solutions of Atlanta Northeast.  I've worked with Missy twice in my career at EarthLink and at Equifax and we both got started early in the project management arena.  Her original dream was to be a lawyer but her career went through a few iterations before she settled in corporate life.  Missy ultimately wanted to be a business owner and she and her husband made that dream a reality a few years ago.  Some of her keys to success are to work hard, trust in your abilities, and to embrace the hardships that will give you life lessons to ultimately succeed.  We also discussed some important social issues and Missy provided some great advice on allyship.  I really enjoyed our conversation on a number of levels and hope you do too!You can learn more about Missy on LinkedIn.

My guest for Episode 49 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Daniel Guelzo, who is the Regional Recruiting Director at Optomi.  I met Daniel at a networking event and was very impressed with his knowledge of the recruiting industry as well as his knowledge of social media networking.  He hosts the recurring "What's Your Plan B" networking event and is always willing to share his knowledge and genuinely cares about helping people succeed.  Daniel has taken an interesting journey to get where he is today.  Starting from a crossroads in college, he took some "walkabout" time, then joined the military before finding his passion in the recruiting industry.  Daniel shares a wealth of best practices for finding your niche in work and in life.  I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!You can learn more about Daniel on LinkedIn.

Welcome to Episode 48 of the ATL Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Jonathan Salkoff, who is responsible for Business Solutions at ServiceMax.  I've known Jonathan for over 25 years since we worked together at Sprint.  Jonathan is smart, hardworking, customer focused, and a great servant leader.  He's a Naval Academy grad / military veteran, podcaster, and has recently gotten into voice-over work for audiobooks and corporate projects.  We discussed the importance of networking, taking jobs for the right reasons, and live your life without regrets!You can learn more about Jonathan on LinkedIn.

My guest for Episode 47 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Doug Isenberg, who is the founder of the GigaLaw Firm.  Doug and I worked together at the International Olympic Committee when we were part of Meridian Management.  He was one of the few people there that really understood technology and the potential legal implications that the internet could pose.  I always found Doug to be incredibly smart, humble, hardworking, and insightful.  He had a great way of breaking down complex situations into simpler concepts to understand.  Some of Doug's advice for young professionals is to focus more on your interests, less on the money, and don't be distracted by other people's career paths.  Your job satisfaction will increase and that will drive your ability to succeed. You can learn more about Doug on LinkedIn or his website giga.law.

My guest for Episode 46 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Chris Day, who is VP of Operations at ADP.  Chris and I met while we were at Equifax and led software development teams in their Commercial division.  We helped bring several groups into the work of agile development and really enjoyed working with him.  Chris is smart, hardworking, and is willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.  Some of his tips for success include taking risks, being confident, speaking up, and adapting to change. You can learn more about Chris on LinkedIn.

My guest for Episode 45 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Kelly Vogel, who is a Product Manager at Rali.  I first met Kelly when I was at Manheim and we worked together in their online division.  I found Kelly to be smart, collaborative, and extremely customer focused.  We took different paths into our Product Management careers and Kelly was generous enough to share her journey.  She shared her tips for success that include taking risks, obtaining mentors, deliver high quality work, and growing your network.  I enjoyed catching up with Kelly and hope you enjoy our conversation as well.You can learn more about Kelly on LinkedIn.

Welcome to Episode 44 of the ATL Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Jed Fearon, who is a Director of Content Marketing at ProviDyn.  I met Jed when I was working with the International Olympic Committee and his company sold us managed IT services to help run our online applications.  In addition to being smart, driven, creative, Jed understands the value of a sales partnership with his customer.  We discussed the pros and cons of changing jobs and how the power of your network can increase the potential for new opportunities.You can learn more about Jed on LinkedIn.

Welcome to Episode 43 of the ATL Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Lauren Feldhaus, who is happily retired now but was previously a Senior Scrum Master and Agile Coach.  Lauren and I worked together at Assurant to help transform their software development team to embrace agile and lean principles.  She is a tireless worker, understands the big picture between the business and IT, and truly cares about her customers and teams.  Lauren shared some of her insights for creating great agile teams.  You can learn more about Lauren on LinkedIn.

Today's guest is Nicole Siokis, who is Partner and Chief Operating Officer at TechCXO.  I first met Nicole when we worked together at Sprint and she was one of our amazing military veterans that Sprint hired.  I remember her having such a great work ethic, very motivated, highly customer focused, and demonstrated servant leadership.  Her career progressed in telecom before pivoting to focus on executive recruiting.  She eventually became owner and operator of Mom Corps Atlanta before joining TechCXO in her current role.  Nicole shared some of her best practices for success that includes the importance of networking, leveraging her military leadership experience, and being open to acting on new ideas.You can learn more about Nicole on LinkedIn.

Welcome to Episode 41 of the ATL Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Tom Fucci, who is the  Division Captain at Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.  Tom and I grew up in Fort Lauderdale and I've made him an honorary member of the ATL podcast community.  He started his career in law enforcement and eventually pivoted to fire rescue and investigation.  We talked about the paths that led him to each of these careers, his experience working with the Miccosukee Indian Tribe, and how his love of solving puzzles led him to excel in fire investigation.  It was great to catch up with one of my lifelong friends and hope you enjoy this podcast.You can learn more about Tom on LinkedIn.

Welcome to this episode of the Atlanta Career Journey podcast. Today's guest is Angela Nation, who is Chief Executive Officer at Silver Hammer Systems.  I first met Angela when she was an executive in the talent acquisition industry and always found her to be smart, dedicated, hardworking, and very customer focused.  Her career in the recruiting and technology community eventually led to launching her current cybersecurity firm.  Angela and I talked about the importance of networking, active learning, and travel can help identify opportunities when least expected.You can learn more about Angela on LinkedIn or her company Silver Hammer Systems.

My guest for Episode 39 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Anne Game, who is the Managing Director and Head of the Atlanta Market at North Highland Consulting.  Anne is incredibly smart, she's a strategic thinker, and understands business at every level.  She's delivered amazing results at North Highland and I truly enjoyed my time working with her.  In this episode, Anne talks about the importance of mentors, leveraging your intuition, and not being afraid to ask for help.  She also provided some great advice for college students in their post-graduate careers.You can learn more about Anne on LinkedIn or her company North Highland Consulting.

This 38th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Molly Mazzolini, who is a Partner and Brand Integration Director at Infinite Scale sports marketing and design firm.  Molly and I met when we were working in brand management for the US and International Olympic Committees.  I found her to be smart, engaging, humble, customer focused, and just a lot of fun to work with.  She taught me a lot about sports marketing and brand management and went on from the USOC to help start up Infinite Scale.  She's done some amazing things in the sports world and one of the coolest people that I've worked with over the years.  Molly talked about her travel experience growing up gave her confidence to try new opportunities through college and into professional life.  One of her keys to success has been a keen eye for observation, collecting that data, and then taking action on that information. You can learn more about Molly on LinkedIn or her company Infinite Scale.

My guest for the 37th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Svein Romstad, who is the Vice President of Sales and Leasing for the Loudermilk Companies. My friendship with Svein dates back to 1997 when we both worked at Meridian Management. I was brand new to the Olympic Movement and Svein was an Olympic veteran who had been a coach for the US Luge team as well as the Secretary General of the Luge Federation. Svein was gracious enough to educate me about sponsorships, activation, and how much work it takes to put together the Olympic Games. He's a great servant leader, hardworking, and one of the most humble individuals given his life experiences. Svein shared some of his keys to success, including networking, giving 100% to everything you do, and the power of language. I had a great time catching up with Svein and hope you enjoy our conversation! You can learn more about Svein on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for the 36th episode of the ATL Career Journey podcast is John Verret, who is the Regional Director for Matrix Resources. John and I have known each other for over 10 years and I've found him to be an excellent sourcing partner regardless of the industry or job type. We have collaborated a lot over the years while he's been a Matrix and he's been a great partner, friend, and genuine human being. John and I discussed the importance of networking, communication, and dealing with failure as a part of career progression. We also talked about some important social topics around diversity and inclusion and what actions we can take as allies to help support this effort.    You can learn more about John on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 35 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Dr. Dale Lawson, who is an emergency medicine physician at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center based in Americus, Georgia. I've had the privilege of knowing Dale for over 30 years and is one of the most amazing humans that I know! We met at Georgia Tech through the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and I saw back then how multi-faceted she is. Incredibly smart, tireless worker, great athlete, excellent wife and mother, and just a genuinely good person. In 1988, Dale became the only the second female driver selected to drive Georgia Tech's Ramblin' Wreck car. She graduated with a business degree and worked in the telecom industry for several years before engineering a major career pivot into medicine. Some of Dale's keys to success are to be curious, be patient, and be open to opportunities. We also talked about the impact of COVID and the challenges that she's faced in the ER. #podcast #medicine #erdoctor You can learn more about Dr. Lawson on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 34 is Laura J. Downey, who is the Executive Editor at WebMD. Laura and I connected on LinkedIn and I found her career journey fascinating. She is a very successful journalist whose career moved up the ranks in print magazines, transitioned to be a professor at her alma mater, and is now overseeing all facets of content for WebMD Magazine. Some of Laura’s keys to success have been to recognize and take opportunities as they present themselves and push yourself to be your best. We discussed her passion for mentoring and giving back to the community. Laura and I also touched on some really important social, educational, and medical issues that have affected the Black community. Laura gave me some great advice on how to take action through conversations, donations, and mentoring, to help bridge the current racial gap and make a real difference in people’s lives. I truly enjoyed our conversation and hope you do too! You can learn more about Laura on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 33 of the ATL Career Journey is Kevin Donovan, who is currently the Development Director for POWER 10 Capital Campaigns. I initially met Kevin through my wife Julia during Delta's 1996 Olympic Games sponsorship efforts. He's worked in corporate America, been an Olympic consultant, and also a successful writer. Kevin talked about his early career in sales and how it prepared him for marketing and Olympic bids. He outlines some of his keys to success including patience, hard work, and being open to new challenges.  You can learn more about Kevin on LinkedIn or his personal website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 32 of the Atlanta Career Journey podcast is Scott Margulis, who is a Senior Systems Engineer at SAIC. I've known Scott since we were in middle school and have kept in touch for over 40 years! As a career Navy veteran, he initially followed his passion for flying and became a Naval Aviator. After a decade of flying, Scott decided to pivot and focus on computer science and cyber security. He leveraged educational opportunities while in the military to obtain two graduate degrees. Scott's keys to success include vision, setting small goals, and be willing to take on new challenges. I really enjoyed catching up with my old friend and hope you enjoy it too! You can learn more about Scott on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 31 of the ATL Career Journey podcast is Scott Wollam, who is the owner of Wollmoor Properties. I've known Scott for most of my life and consider him to be more of a family member but also a great friend. Both of our dads became friends in the late 1950's in Ft Lauderdale and the rest, as they say, is history. Scott has led a very interesting journey from the west coast of Florida to Yale University to corporate life and then ultimately a small business owner. We talked about the challenges of starting a business, taking risks, and recognizing opportunities when they present themselves. This was a great episode for me to learn more about Scott and I hope you enjoy it as well! You can learn more about Scott here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 30 is Kacie Lett Gordon, who is happily taking time off right now! I met Kacie when she led the strategy team at Three Five Two, which is an innovation and growth firm. Kacie's LinkedIn bio describes herself as a connector and problem solver and I can't agree more. She's smart, professional, a great servant leader, and can read the room as well as anyone. I was lucky enough to have her interview me for one of their Off the Record events and today I have the privilege to interview her in return! She just launched her own podcast F*** It All that explores the challenges women have while trying to have "it all".  Learn more about Kacie on LinkedIn or listen to her podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 29 is Trenton Carson, who is the Owner/President of TC Productions. I met Trenton last year at a Buckhead Business Association event and struck up a conversation. We talked about his journey from studying film production in college to working for others to starting his own business. We discussed the importance of networking, being aware of your strengths, and finding mentors. We also talked about some important social issues and how to be an ally for change. I really enjoyed my conversation with Trenton and hope you do too! You can learn more about Trenton on LinkedIn or his company TC Productions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 28 is James Ray, who is Managing Director, Dragonfly Growth Partners. James and I worked together at Manheim in their online services division. I valued his professionalism, business ethics, and the ability to think strategically while maintaining focus on the customer. He always kept his cool in high pressure situations and am eager to hear how he cultivated that demeanor throughout this career. We talked about the importance of life lessons, learning from failures, and being honest with yourself. James has excelled in multiple industries from startup to enterprise level organizations and I was glad to have him on the podcast.  You can learn more about James on LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode 27 is Steve Woodcock, who is a Principal Partner at SOF-ONE. Steve and I worked together at Sprint over 20 years ago when he just retired from the Navy. He immediately made a big impression on the team with his calm demeanor, leadership, and can-do attitude. He talked about his initial career phase in the financial services industry but something led him down a different path to serve our country. Steve talked about his transition back into the private sector, the advantages of large versus small companies, and what his new venture is focused on. We also discussed the value of traveling abroad and how embracing diversity and other cultures can provide valuable insights to your personal and professional life. I have appreciated Steve's friendship over the years and really enjoyed our conversation.   You can learn more about Steve on LinkedIn or his company SOF-ONE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Episode 26 of the ATL Career Journey. My guest is Jessica Cohen, Senior Customer Success Manager at Slack. I worked with Jessica at Macys and was always impressed with her analytical approach to solving complex problems. We shared a common passion for technology solutions and she has worked for some great companies to help customers work smarter. She also started off her path studying geology with a dream of working for NASA. As life offered up alternate opportunities, Jessica turned her focus to organizational behavior and customer experience. We talked about the valuable lessons of living overseas as well as recognizing those "change moments" that can take your career in unexpected directions. I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did! You can learn more about Jessica on LinkedIn or her company Slack.

My guest for Episode 25 is Bonny Block, who is the Co-Founder of Wripple. Bonny is passionate about the new path forward and helping clients, talent and agencies alike with digital marketing and experience solutions. Wripple is the answer to bringing more transparency and efficiency to a broken industry model … and she’s determined to make sure you know it. Bonny has employed her deep expertise in the digital space to get to the heart of innovative, results-driven solutions for her clients. As such, she not only leads client relationships, account strategy and growth, she also mentors a team of professionals that provide the highest caliber of overall client satisfaction. She and I discussed the need to be agile with your career and the ability to work through your fears to achieve success. You can learn more about Bonny on LinkedIn or her company Wripple.

My guest for Episode 24 is Rob Phillips, who is an Enterprise Solutions Architect at Atlassian. Rob has been passionate about Agile Development and Business Agility since we met at Equifax. We both have Georgia Tech backgrounds and he's taken on some interesting roles with agile since Equifax. Rob is a rare Georgia native and we talked about growing up in this football-passionate state, his path to Georgia Tech, and the value of enjoying your college experience. His journey took him from a co-op student to consulting before landing in the financial services industry. Rob discusses his best practices for success which including a bias for action, learning from your setbacks, giving back, and enjoying the ride that life presents. I hope you enjoy this episode! You can learn more about Rob on LinkedIn or his company Atlassian.

My guest for Episode 23 is Kevin Abel, who is a consultant as well as a former candidate for the United States Congress. I've known Kevin for over 20 years and have enjoyed collaborating with him on technology ideas to solve business problems. Kevin is smart, has a gift for strategic vision, he definitely has a bias for action, and has always been willing to give back to the community. He shared his journey from growing up in South Africa to moving to Dallas, Texas and how he wound up in Atlanta. He's always had an entrepreneurial spirit and explained how taking risks, pursuing interests, and being adaptable to what life puts in front of you. I also learned about the similarities between running a business and running a political campaign! I hope you enjoy this episode! You can learn more about Kevin on LinkedIn.

My guest for Episode 22 is Garry Capers, who is General Manager of Cloud Solutions at Deluxe Corporation. I met Garry at Equifax when we worked together in their commercial division of the company. Garry has had a very successful career, first as a consultant and then made the transition to industry work. I have always been impressed with Garry's intelligence, analytical decision making, and his ability to stay calm in high pressure situations. He shared some of his steps to success, including knowing your strengths, being patience, and then taking action when the situation presents itself. We also talked a little bit about today's social issues and Garry offered up some advice on being an ally for positive change. I enjoyed our conversation and I hope you do as well! You can learn more about Garry on LinkedIn or his company Deluxe.

Today's guest is Paulette Corbin, who is the Founder of Corbin Executive Coaching and Executive Director of ChapterTwo. She's had an extraordinary career in the airline and executive coaching industries. Paulette first got her start at Delta Air Lines and worked her way up from in-flight to reservation sales to ultimately starting up Delta Express (the airline within an airline). She has always been passionate about customer experience and that has been a key driver to her success. Paulette shares how communication, honesty, and creative problem solving can resolve even complex issues. We also talked about the importance of networking, personal branding, and being curious. I highly respect her both personally and professionally and hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did!   You can learn more about Paulette on LinkedIn, her coaching website, or her company ChapterTwo.

My latest guest is Danny Presten, Chief Methodologist for Digital.ai (formerly CollabNet VersionOne). I originally met Danny at Equifax but our paths were similar through both Georgia Tech and Cox Enterprises.  Danny is one of the most positive and energetic people that I know. He walked me through his journey from working in non-profit, healthcare and supply chain to his current role as a Chief Agile Methodologist. Danny picked up some valuable lessons on change management and how to apply those to software development and business agility.  We discussed our experiences in implementing agile methodologies into an organization and how to make that successful. I always enjoy talking with Danny and today was no different! You can learn more about Danny on LinkedIn or his company Digital.ai.

Today's guest is Debi Creasman, who is responsible for Client Engagement at Strive Consulting. I've known Debi for a few years now and she's impressed me with her experience in the consulting industry and her tremendous work ethic. She's fearless, hardworking, multi-lingual, and has a great ability to connect with professionals at all levels. Debi shares some insights into her success, including the power of being curious, building your professional network, and how working for a startup can expedite your career growth. We also discussed her life lessons of living abroad and how that experience provides incredible perspective, both personally and professionally. We had such a great conversation and hope you enjoy this episode! You can learn more about Debi on LinkedIn or her company Strive Consulting.

This week's guest is Carlos Duralde, Lead Mobile Game Designer at BroadbandTV. I first met Carlos when we worked together at ShopVisible in Atlanta. We both graduated from Georgia Tech but what I found most interesting about him was that he was already developing video games as a side hobby. Since that time, Carlos relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia and has transformed his hobby into a full time profession. He shares some of his insights into being successful in the video game landscape and what influences drove his passion into a career. I found my conversation with Carlos fascinating and hope you enjoy it as well. You can learn more about Carlos on LinkedIn, his personal website, or his company BroadbandTV.

My guest today is Pam Askerneese Henry, Owner of Pam's Magic Cauldron. Pam and I are connected through my wife Julia's network and found her career story fascinating. She always had a passion for the culinary arts but started her journey as a teacher in California. Pam found a way to blend her talent for cooking while still in education but found a way to culinary school and ultimately starting her own catering business. She shares how combining her love for learning, asking the right questions, networking, and taking action gave her the recipe for success. We also touched on today's social issues in America and I learned some important lessons on being an ally for social change and coming together as a community. You can learn more about Pam on LinkedIn or at Pam's Magic Cauldron.

Today's guest is Fibia Gee, Co-Founder and CEO of Found Professionals. I met Fibia through some mutual friends from PM Technologies and we discovered a shared interest in travel and culture. She has gone on to do some great things in the staffing industry and created her own recruiting firm. Fibia has always been an entrepreneur at heart and it was great to hear about her journey from Romania to starting her own boutique recruiting firm. Hard work, saying yes to opportunities, and acting on your dreams were keys to getting where she is today. You can learn more about Fibia on LinkedIn or at Found Professionals.

My guest this week is Alex Fraser, General Manager of Pivet, which is part of Cox Automotive Mobility Group. I first met Alex at Manheim when we worked together in their online division and he's just an all-around great human being. He's always had a passion for the automotive industry but his servant leadership is what stands out to me. There is never a job too big or too small for him to lead or support. He approaches every day with intelligence, creativity, and a true bias for action. In this episode, Alex talks about the importance of taking risks, embracing change, and the benefits of networking. There is a lot of valuable life lessons in this pod so I hope you enjoy! You can learn more about Alex on LinkedIn or at Pivet.

My guest for this episode is Lori Winters, who is the Founder and CEO of Thread. I first met her at Concert about 25 years ago and Lori has been a great friend over the years.  She's become a successful business owner and I've always admired her intelligence, strong work ethic, and competitiveness.  Lori shared her experience of starting out in a large manufacturing company which helped her develop management skills and the importance of a great company culture.  We talked about the importance of being flexible, taking risks, servant leadership, and not being afraid to take risks early in your career. You can learn more about Lori on LinkedIn or her company Thread.

My guest today is Doug Norwood, who is Director of Enterprise Sales at Yext. I first met Doug at ShopVisible and was always impressed with his ability to see the business side of software development. He always keeps the customer in mind throughout the life cycle of a product and truly understands that sales is about building and maintaining relationships. I admire his character, work ethic, and ability to connect with every level of the business. Doug shared some of his keys to success that include being flexible, adaptable, and always be willing to learn. We also talked a lot about building your network and the importance of asking questions. You can learn more about Doug on LinkedIn or about his company Yext.

Dean has been a great friend over the years and has had an interesting sports career before taking his talents to the business world. He is currently Sr. Vice President, Business Development at LakePoint Sports, which serves over 30 sports year-round as the premier youth sports destination in the country. Learn more about Dean as he explains how his coaching success transferred into the business world. Certain behaviors such as self-discipline, adaptability, and humility can be applied successfully in almost any environment. You can learn more about Dean on LinkedIn or his company LakePoint Sports.

This week's guest is Will Devlin, Vice President of MessageGears. Will and I worked together at a small eCommerce company called ShopVisible. He was instrumental in getting our clients set up with an online strategy, marketing plan, and best practices. He has since moved into the world of email marketing and has demonstrated his leadership in that industry. He offered up some great advice about knowing your strengths and being open to new opportunities. We both highly value integrity and character and his strategy for embracing your current path can be applied to all of us. I always learn something new when I chat with Will and today was no different. You can learn more about Will on Linkedin or at MessageGears.

This week's guest is Cindy Peterson, who is a Leadership and Business Agility Consultant at Peerless Partners. She and I worked together at Macy's Technology and she was one of the best managers that I've had in my career. She has that rare ability to see the big picture as well as dig into the details and make data-driven decisions. I enjoyed hearing about the underrated benefits of world travel and following a non-linear path in your life. We discussed the advantages of passion versus curiosity and how to determine what culture works best for each of us. You can learn more about what Cindy does at Peerless Partners.

Cooper has led an amazing life over the 40 years that I've known him. Since our time at Georgia Tech, Cooper has been an active learner at every phase of his life. From private attorney to legal consultant, he has been successful through every professional transition. On this episode, Cooper shares his experiences and strategies as well as the mindset needed to recognize new opportunities when they may not be obvious. We also discuss the power of identifying and leveraging your strengths and how that can elevate your personal life and professional career. You can learn more about Cooper at his website or at Cartography Consulting.

Dorothea is a fascinating person and truly a citizen of the world. Born in New York City to French and Italian parents. Her Father’s passing caused her family to move to Europe where she became somewhat of a nomad. She has lived in Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. She studied neuro-linguistic pathology and artificial intelligence to become a hostage negotiator. It is no wonder her journey has taken her from polyglot global law enforcement strategist to working with Fortune 500 brands in her own strategic digital & social media marketing firm. Dorothea has served as a subject matter expert on CNN and CBS. She is also an avid skateboarder who tweets to relax. You can follow Dorothea on Twitter & Instagram and has also presented at TEDxNYIT.

Terrence has always been one of my favorite people to work with. He has charted an amazing journey in the Olympic world as both a marketer and a bid committee consultant. Sharp, driven, and a quick wit have been his trademarks and was demonstrated on this episode. Terrence talks about his spending his early career at Delta Air Lines and how hard work and attention to detail set him up for success with the Olympic movement. His ability to define "why" cities should host the Games was a huge shift from the past and paved the way for many successful bids. His advice for the young listeners is to be bold and don't be constrained by social norms. We also agree on the benefits of world travel and how that can make us all better humans! I enjoyed this interview with Terrence and I hope you do too. You can also learn more about Terrence at his website or blog.

Sugra has been a constant presence on the Atlanta technology landscape and I'm glad to call her my friend. I first met her at a Women in Technology (WIT) event and always admired her work ethic and bias for action. I've watched Sugra move from business development to business owner to her current role as a senior sales executive. She has managed her career transitions with professionalism and a "can-do" attitude. On this week's podcast, Sugra shares her work experience as well as successful strategies for charting your own career path. I really enjoyed chatting with Sugra and hope you like the podcast! You can learn more about Sugra at Advocate.