Do you wonder what CEOs talk about behind closed doors? How they bring their vision to reality? How do they overcome and succeed through adversity? We share that and so much more with each episode of What CEOs Talk About.
Twenty-five years ago, Holly Carinci founded a personal publicity firm specializing in advising actors. She worked alongside Seth MacFarlane, William Shatner, Leonardo DiCaprio, and many others during that time. Ms. Carinci's strength has always been getting behind a client's vision and bringing in brilliant people to help them succeed. When the pandemic arrived, it triggered a re-think in her approach to life and business. She chose to pivot, to do something with more meaning. Holly decided to focus on working with senior executives in areas such as technology, business, medicine, and societal causes. On November 1st, 2022, Holly launched HwP PR Inc., a leadership communications team comprised of top-ranked experts across North America from establishments such as Bloomberg, Disney, PWC, and more.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:What pushed Holly Carinci to switch from actor to publicist.The show she first realized success withWhat Holly got William Shatner to host (for his first hosting event)Why Holly's switch from acting to PR opened her up to a different mindsetWhat her current firm doesHow she trains the people coming to work in her firm The process Holly uses to help clients build a reputationHolly's perspective on being a boutique companyIn this episode…Holly Carinci began her PR career not in PR at all, but in acting. It was while pursuing acting jobs and competing for LA-based jobs as a Canadian that she realized she needed someone representing her, making her name known. So she pivoted from acting to publicity and began offering the PR services she had needed as an actor.Despite wonderful success in Hollywood, Holly realized she wanted to do work with a little more meaning and had been recognizing, in the last few years, how CEOs were attracting a lot of hate. So when the film industry largely closed up for COVID, Holly explains that she pivoted again and began doing PR for CEOs. She has a new firm and shares exactly what it's about with Martin.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Holly Carinci discuss the large pivots in Holly's career, what forms a reputation and how to bolster it, the types of things CEOs need to publicly address, and how Holly ensures her firm has experts in every aspect of PR to address anything a client may need. Holly has great insight into seeing a need and filling it by making a change, and how to really focus on what is important to employees and clients. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInHolly Carinci on LinkedInHwP PR“All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony DoerrMaster and CommanderThe Last of the MohicansRecommended resources for CEOs:Monday.comBambooHRSponsors For This Episode:“I Need To F**king Talk To You!” by Ken Cameron and Russell Stratton: Learn more and buy the book.Flow 2 Freedom: Sustainable period-friendly activewear.Altruvest: Empowering Charities. Enriching Communities.Sponsor For This Podcast:This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
In an industry not known for change, identical twins Marnie and Rena Schwartz have remained laser-focused on creating an inclusive and performance-based dance school and community that teaches more about life than dance. Since 2002, the inspirational dancing sisters are the business owners of a large, non-competitive, and accessibility-focused recreational dance studio in Canada, impacting tens of thousands of kids and teens and their families. As professional dancers and certified teachers, role models, and moms of two children each, these transformational leaders also invented a researched cartwheel mat that helps kids of all ages learn to cartwheel. They also wrote two interactive kids' books about cartwheeling, drawing, and confidence, all currently available on Amazon. They are currently in the process of writing a memoir with a self-help and business focus to be launched in 2023. Turning their passion to purpose, their entrepreneurial journey will inspire readers to examine and readjust their mindsets, lead by example, set and reach goals, and most importantly, learn to move forward with optimism and confidence, creating good vibes.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Marnie and Rena fell in love with danceWhy they created VIBE studioWhat benefits come from danceHow Marnie and Rena's business weathered the COVID shutdownsThe significant family loss that impacted their livesWhy positivity and being good role models are important to themWhat product they created to help kids learn to cartwheelThe value of positive leadership to your staffTheir Jennifer Lopez storyIn this episode…Marnie and Rena Schwartz are identical twins and the owners of VIBE studio. Marnie and Rena, former Raptor dancers, created VIBE to be the dance studio they felt was missing in the dance world. Their focus with VIBE is on inclusivity, accessibility, recreation, confidence, and optimism. VIBE is not just the name of their studio, it is their entire philosophy in life. Truly they vibe on an energetic and positive level, radiating warmth.Despite the emotional struggles of losing their father and helping their mother through lymphoma, Marnie and Rena were determined to retain their optimistic spirit and this positive mindset helped them maintain VIBE's connection to their student dancers through COVID shutdowns. The stories they share remind listeners how important it is for leaders to set the tone for employees and the business at large. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guests Marnie and Rena Schwartz talk about Marnie and Rena's upcoming book, the Cartwhirler mat they created, why positivity is a vibe they maintain, where they find support, and what their acronym WIN stands for. It's a conversation that will energize you to not only include dance in your life but to find positive vibes even in difficult situations. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInMarnie and Rena Schwartz on LinkedInVIBE StudioVIBE Studio on FacebookCartwhirlerMarnie and Rena's books on AmazonShark TankThe SecretNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Canada): 1-800-273-8255Talk Suicide Canada988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (USA): 988 or chatResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Marc Henein joined ScotiaMcLeod in 2004. He has been working with entrepreneurs and professionals since 2001. His expertise includes the management of significant liquidity events for clients. Working in partnership with clients' tax and legal professionals, Marc manages portfolios focused on capital preservation and tax-efficient income generation. Marc has written investment and financial planning-related articles for the Globe & Mail, sharing his knowledge to help Canadians with their wealth management.Marc graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University where he spent three years as President of the Wilfrid Laurier University's Alumni Association. Marc spent ten years involved with the Georgetown Hospital Foundation, including two years as Chair. Currently, Marc is on the Board of Easter Seals Ontario. He has achieved some of the highest designations within the Investment and Financial Planning Industry. He has obtained Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) designation, is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI), and the Chartered Professional (Ch.P.) Strategic Wealth designation.He currently resides in Georgetown and has two pre-teens keeping his hands full. In his free time, Marc enjoys riding the Peloton, golfing, running, playing squash, and traveling.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Marc became interested in wealth management as a careerThe values Marc's family instilled in himWhat financial literacy people should have at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of understandingThe number one rule of business for CEOsThe definition of “three-bagger” and “ten-bagger” and which one Marc prefers to seeWhy an exit plan is something CEOs need at the start of their company journeyHow automation gets missed in business developmentThe value of a wealth advisor in terms of reaching your money goalsThe joy Marc derives from his workIn this episode…Marc Henein, Wealth Advisor at Scotia McLeod, knew from the age of 16 that he wanted to be a financial advisor. That's when he was first introduced to stocks and the stock market and it sparked a passion in him that has endured. What Marc values is being able to simplify things for his clients, speaking to them about what they want and need, and not simply handing them a sales pitch.Marc explains that there is a lack of financial literacy in society today. Though he is happy to share his knowledge with his clients, he does also believe that there are basic things everyone should learn. He details exactly what people should understand and why. Especially in business, as wealth management pertains to entrepreneurs and CEOs.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Marc Henein break down the ins and outs of wealth management, the meaning of wealth, what a successful CEO will need to prepare for, the best kind of business growth to achieve, and how to factor philanthropy into your wealth plan. Marc has great insight into financial matters and, what's more, he truly enjoys his work and sharing his wealth knowledge with others.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInMarc Henein on LinkedInThe Henein Group at ScotiaMcLeod‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen R. Covey‘The 4-Hour Work Week' by Tim Ferriss‘The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne‘Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon HillResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Mauro Porcini is PepsiCo's first ever Chief Design Officer. He joined the food & beverage corporation in 2012 and in said role, he is infusing design thinking into PepsiCo's culture and is leading a new approach to innovation by design that impacts the company's product platforms and brands, which include Pepsi, Lay's, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Sodastream, Doritos, Lifewtr, Bubly, Aquafina, Cheetos, Quaker, 7Up, Mirinda, amongst many others. His focus extends from physical to virtual expressions of the brands, including product, packaging, events, advertising, fashion and art collaborations, retail activation, architecture, and digital media. He leads teams based in New York City, Purchase, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, London, Dublin, Moscow, Il Cairo, New Delhi, Shanghai, Bangkok, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, and Cape Town. Mauro is the host of his own successful video podcast “In your shoes - with Mauro Porcini” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, where he interviews inspiring personalities from the creative community worldwide. Since 2020, he has been a presenter and judge on the TV show “New York by Design” and “America by Design”, airing on CBS and Amazon Prime Video. In 2021 his first book was published, in Italian: “L'età dell'eccellenza – Come innovazione e creatività possono costruire un mondo migliore” (Il Saggiatore). His first book in English, “The Human Side of Innovation. The Power of People in Love with People” (Berrett-Koehler), focusing on innovation, design, and leadership, launched in October 2022.Prior to joining PepsiCo, Mauro served as the first ever Chief Design Officer at 3M, where his mission was to build and nurture a design-sensitive culture in a technology-driven global corporation. His teams, based in the U.S., Italy, China, and Japan, won many of the world's most prestigious design and innovation awards. Mauro began his professional career at Philips Design and then created his own design firm, Wisemad Srl, in Italy with the celebrated entertainment producer and music star Claudio Cecchetto. His work on wearable technologies has been showcased at the Louvre in Paris as well as the Seoul Art Center. Over the years he has been on the board of directors for several organizations. Currently, he is the President of the Politecnico of Milan Foundation in the United States (Fellows of Politecnico), sits on the board of directors of the Design Management Institute of Boston, and on the advisory council of other design, art, innovation, and business institutions. Mauro is a fashion lover, but not a fashion addict – regardless of his collection of more than 300 pairs of shoes. He lives between New York City and the Hamptons with his wife Carlotta, with their daughter Beatrice, and with their two Pomeranians, Leone, and Bella.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Mauro grew upThe values instilled in him by his parentsThe artistic and cultural impact of his childhoodThe people who had the greatest influence on Mauro's life journeyHow dimensions of design and innovation fuse with humanity in Mauro's bookWhat drives his work at PepsiCoHow Mauro refers to conflict as dialogue and the meaning it holdsThe importance of both storytelling and cultureWhich type of books most inspire MauroIn this episode…Mauro Porcini grew up in a town called Baris in Italy, about one hour from Milan, in a family obsessed with both culture and knowledge and the idea of kindness. This led him to study design in university with dreams of becoming a writer. Today, he has a wide-ranging career that involves both design and authorship.Mauro worked in design in companies from Milan to Minnesota before eventually landing at PepsiCo to become their Chief Design Officer. The kinds of values important to him, imbued from childhood and his own expansive life journey, involve dreaming, innovating, being kind and resilient, all these themes that he explores in his book “The Human Side of Innovation”. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Mauro Porcini discuss Mauro's celebrated career, his thoughts on design and innovation, the journey to always achieve something larger, choosing the right people for a company, and how love is a vital ingredient for success. The conversation reveals the depths of Mauro's insight and passion: it's both inspirational and aspirational.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInMauro Porcini on LinkedInMauro Porcini Pepsico Design + InnovationMauro Porcini on Instagram‘In Your Shoes with Mauro Porcini' podcast‘The Human Side of Innovation: The Power of People in Love with People' by Mauro Porcini‘The Village Saturday Night' poem by Count Giacomo Leopardi‘Leonardo da Vinci' by Walter Issacson‘Einstein: His Life and Universe' by Walter Issacson‘Steve Jobs' by Walter Issacson‘Losing My Virginity' by Richard Branson‘Finding My Virginity' by Richard Branson‘Shoe Dog' by Phil KnightResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Martin Hunter is not afraid to roll his sleeves up and into the guts of a business. Martin has the exceptional ability to translate vision into frontline operations. He is an energetic, authentic, and engaging leader who lives to inspire people of all ages and walks of life. His strengths in leadership were learned through 10 years of active military experience where he learned the implementation of KAIZEN systems. As the managing partner of URGEO, Martin is the driving force behind what it means to succeed, not only for URGEO's clients but also for URGEO's team.Ken Cameron has worked extensively in the corporate and non-profit fields. He has focused on some of the continent's largest non-profits, including the Calgary Stampede, the National Arts Centre of Canada, and United Way Worldwide. More than 50% of Ken's work is with corporate clients like Volker Stevin Construction or start-ups such as CreativeSparQ. What unites all of this work is a passion to help individuals transform their ordinary workplaces into extraordinary organizations that can maximize their impact.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How What CEOs Talk About got its titleMartin Hunter's personal storyWhat Martin values about being “purposefully curious”Why guests choose their own episode titles on What CEOs Talk AboutMartin's four favorite episodesWhat it means to put your mask on firstWhy Martin's catchphrase “Leaders are learners, not readers.” is so important to himHow Martin views hierarchy, loyalty, and leadershipWhat equality means versus what inclusion means and the importance of working towards inclusionMartin's future plan for What CEOs Talk AboutIn this episode…To celebrate the 100th episode of What CEOs Talk About, the tables are turned: Ken Cameron steps in to host Martin Hunter as a guest on his very own podcast. It's all about what Martin thinks about What CEOs Talk About and his journey for this milestone episode.Ken finds out how Martin feels about reaching 100 episodes and asks the questions listeners have probably always wanted answers to. Why does Martin let the guests choose the episode titles? And what is Martin's personal biographical journey? Finally, the pieces of Martin's story that have been glimpsed through 100 episodes are laid out in order, including some very personal glimpses into Martin's military background.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, guest-host Ken Cameron and host-guest Martin Hunter explore the ins and outs of Martin's four favorite episodes of WCTA, the necessity of self-care, unpacking privilege, how to better work towards equality and inclusion, Martin's thoughts on leadership, and so much more. Don't miss the pivotal 100th episode journey into Martin Hunter's motivation and insight.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInKen Cameron on LinkedInCorporate Culture SHIFT‘Put Your Mask On First' with Ryan Hindmarsh‘I'm Not a CEO… I Just Work Really, Really Hard' with Ute Preusse‘It Takes Intentional Solutions For Intentional Problems' with Jason Mercer‘If You Don't Have Inclusion, You Don't Have Anything' with Katarina PolonskyResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Greta Sanchez is the Director of Administration at URGEO and a professional photographer. Greta is originally from Mexico and immigrated to Canada in 2017. With over 20 years of experience in finance, business administration, customer service, and management consulting, she is thoughtful, kind, and enjoys helping others and learning new things every day. She believes that anything you set your heart and mind to do is possible and that perseverance is key to success.When not at work, Greta loves photography, hiking, going to the beach, and spending time with her loved ones.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Greta Sanchez's family decided to move to CancunWhat compelled Greta to study Business AdministrationHow the family business helped Greta pay tuition and fulfill her course financial hours requirementWhat prompted Greta to open a new location of the business on her ownThe saying by Greta's father that has stuck with her through all decisionsWhat she learned by leaving entrepreneurship for working at a companyHow she moved past the fear associated with emigrating to a new countryThe job path that led her to meeting Martin and working at URGEOWhat book has inspired Greta's mindset and outlookIn this episode…Greta Sanchez's family moved from Mexico City to Cancun when she was very young. Cancun was where she graduated from university and became an entrepreneur in the family business. It wasn't until after she left entrepreneurship to work as the operations manager of a hotel that she and her husband decided to move to Canada. They planned for five years but when the confirmation came, the move happened quickly.Greta shares how the decision to move to Canada and the very fast transition into their new life up north defined an act of faith in her life. Rather than fearing the unknown or the difficult, Greta has always embraced opportunity and met challenges head-on. She speaks about how faith in a new future can propel you forward in life. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Greta Sanchez discuss Greta's story, from working her way through university to opening another branch of the company business on her own to emigrating to Canada. At every step of her journey, Greta has a positive outlook, one that Martin is grateful for in her work alongside him at URGEO now. This episode instructs us all to examine fear and not let it paralyze us, because faith may just have something better in store.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInGreta Sanchez on LinkedInUniversidad LaSalle CancunAmanda Mungal, It's Your Time Business Services‘Eliminate FEAR From Your Life' Bob Proctor video‘The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom' by Don Miguel RuizResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Tammy Heermann is an award-winning leadership expert sought out by some of the world's top companies for her programs that accelerate women's advancement. In 2021, she published 'Reframe Your Story: Real Talk for Women Who Want to Let Go, Do Less and Be More-Together', urging women to challenge the current narratives reinforced by society, systems, and those of their own making. For over twenty years, she has helped change thousands of mindsets around what it takes to lead, both self and others. While having an impact in the C-suite, nothing makes her happier than pushing up-and-coming leaders to break through organizational and self-imposed barriers to reach their potential. Tammy transforms her audiences with alternating moments of humor and heartache as she shares stories of her own journey from senior consultant to senior vice president. She is a perennial mentor with Women in Communications and Technology and is also addicted to Peloton, Pilates, and perogies. She lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Tammy Heermann's leadership development career historyHow Tammy became inspired to promote the advancement of womenHer moment of revelation about wanting to become an entrepreneurWhere Canada falls on the gender pay gap scaleWhy the “think manager, think male” mindset needs to changeHow the skill of empathy in women is often misinterpreted What the chapter in Tammy's book about “rule that meeting” is aboutHow changing mindsets can lead to success and advancementTammy's number-one go-to reference book In this episode…Tammy Heermann has spent twenty-five years in leadership development, from her start as a software trainer to working with a global consulting firm, before she became a leadership entrepreneur. Tammy's passion and focus is on empowering women within organizations. She wants women to reframe their power and accelerate their development.Tammy explains how 1970s research spurred the stereotype “think manager, think male” which tended to match leadership characteristics with masculine traits. She is on a mission to remove that stereotype and change thinking to “think leadership, think female”. She details how perceptions about women's traits lead them to tend to be penalized. Such as for their empathy, as an example, but that empathy skill is actually a key strategic crisis management skill.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Tammy Heermann discuss all the ways in which women's behavior is seen to undermine their strength, male assertiveness drowns out women's voices, and how mastering mindset is key to reframing the power imbalance. Tammy shares advice from her book and her research on how women can unlock their potential in this vital episode.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInTammy Heermann on LinkedInTammy Heermann websiteTammy Heermann on Instagram‘Reframe Your Story' by Tammy HeermannWhat CEOs Talk About episode ‘Own Your Potential' with Josephine Kwan‘Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle' by Emily Nagoski PhD & Amelia Nagoski DMAResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
As the president & CEO of Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc, Lindsay Recknell closes the skill gap for professionals, up-leveling their careers by teaching them the mental health skills they need to know to feel knowledgeable and confident about mental health at work. A CMHA-Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor, Lindsay works with Leaders & HR Professionals to give them the language to know what to say about mental health at work, how to help while considering the moral, ethical, and legal considerations and how to make mental health-related decisions in the best interest of the company, their individual teams and, most importantly, themselves.She also has a bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership and has started and grown four entrepreneurial businesses in the last 12 years. With 15+ years of experience in facilitation, speaking, leadership development, podcasting, and content creation, Lindsay ensures all content meets her exacting standards and is designed to engage and educate in the most impactful ways possible.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Why Lindsay is proud to be a third-generation CalgarianWhat service her business, Paradigm Corporate Wellness, offersThe wider definition of mental health and how necessary it isWhy Lindsay says that “hope without action is wishing”.The psychology leaders that Lindsay studied under and their philosophiesHow lack of control leads to feelings of hopelessnessHow to change thinking to re-discover what can be controlledAdvice on how to set habits that lead to mental wellness and hopeThe books Lindsay is most inspired byIn this episode…Lindsay Recknell is an Expert in Hope and the founder of Paradigm Corporate Wellness Inc. The messages of taking action in hope and workplace mental health education that Lindsay shares on her podcasts - Hope Motivates Action and Mental Health for Leaders - are the insights she brings to the discussion today.Lindsay didn't start her career in the entrepreneurial positive psychology space. Instead, she initially went to school for accounting, switched to HR, and even had a wedding business before she pursued her passion for spreading hope and mental health awareness. Lindsay's definition of hope is “The future will be better than today by taking action over the things we can control” and it is the action element that separates hope from wishing.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Lindsay Recknell break down everything that surrounds the science of hope, from positivity and optimism to strategy and setting goals. Lindsay enlightens us on precisely why hope is a science and a strategy and imparts advice on how to pursue and reclaim hope in our own lives. Hope isn't an idle thing but something that Lindsay believes contributes greatly to mental wellness and goal setting.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInLindsay Recknell on LinkedInLindsay Recknell: Expert in Hope website‘Hope Motivates Action' podcastParadigm Corporate Wellness Inc.‘Mental Health for Leaders' podcastDr. Martin Seligman - the “father of positive psychology”Dr. C.R. (Rick) SnyderDr. Shane Lopez‘A Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor E. Frankl'Salutation to the Dawn' by Kalidasa‘Atomic Habits' by James Clear‘The Book of Joy' by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu‘The 5AM Club' by Robin SharmaResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Professional bartender Sother Teague is the partner and Beverage Director of Overthrow Hospitality group which includes renowned bitters bar Amor y Amargo and in addition to several other venues, the newly opened Tequila and Mezcal bar Eterea in New York City. He's also the charismatic co-host of the award-winning show ‘The Speakeasy' on Heritage Radio Network. He was named Mixologist of the year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine 2019 and has been featured as a cocktail expert in countless outlets including Esquire, The New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Out, BuzzFeed, and more. He has written two books (all on his iPhone as he's always on the go!) about cocktails and cocktail culture, ‘I'm Just Here For The Drinks' and ‘Let's Get Blitzen' and is currently working on a third.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Why Sother Teague became a chefWhen and why Sother moved to the front of house and never moved backThe particular allure of bartending in New YorkAll the things Sother expects bartenders to be to their customersThe in-depth knowledge the bartenders at Amor Y Amargo possessThe difference between simply drinking and having a cultural drinking experienceWhy trying different drinks is so important to experienceThe unique aspects of all twelve bars Sother works with through OverthrowHow social media has changed the bar industryThe why of Sother's involvement in bitters creationHow his book came to beIn this episode…Sother Teague - bartender, Beverage Director of Overthrow Hospitality Group, podcast co-host, cocktail expert, and author - started his career journey as a chef. He was an instructor at the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont for two years at the time when that school was rated the number one culinary school in the country. Sother moved to the front of the house for a friend when he moved to New York, though, and never went back.Sother's background in the culinary arts has informed his bar and cocktail expertise in certain ways. He points out that people would not eat the same food every day, but will try things at different restaurants. Yet they insist on having the same drink over and over. Sother's attention to cocktail and drink crafting goes hand in hand with trying new things, finding a drink to match your mood, and finding a drink that meets your evening experience. Many of the bars owned by Overthrow have very specific themes and drink menus to curate very considered experiences. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Sother Teague discuss how bartenders are concierges of their neighborhoods, the emotional connection people seek with experiences and purchases, the importance of ambiance, and how attention to these things create value flow in bars. Sother explains how some of the bitters he created came to be, how social media assists his business, and why he wrote his books. This episode dives into all the best that bars have to offer and shines a light on the pure creativity behind cocktails on offer.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInSother Teague on LinkedInSother Teague (Creative Drunk) on Instagram‘The Speakeasy' podcastOverthrow HospitalityAmor Y Amargo‘I'm Just Here For The Drinks' by Sother Teague‘Let's Get Blitzen' by Sother Teague‘On Food and Cooking' by Harold McGee“Imbibe!' by David Wondrich‘Meehan's Bartender Manual' by Jim MeehanResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Anthony Mongiello, CEO and Co-Founder of the Bulls and Apes Project (B.A.P.), is an Operations and Technology Leader with almost 20 years of experience driving broad culture change, sharp business intelligence, strategic transformation programs, and technology road mapping. Today, Anthony is transforming the NFT industry with a generative 3D NFT project, the Bulls and Apes Project. As a doxed founder, Anthony sets a new standard for what NFT collectors should expect and demand. With his other two co-founders, Manny Coats and Guillermo Puyol, Anthony is de-risking the NFT buying experience with an industry-changing 6 Month Money-Back Guarantee built right into the smart contract.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:The values Anthony Mongiello's parents instilled in himWhere Anthony worked in the corporate world before launching his businessWhat the Bulls and Apes Project offersThe definition of NFTsHow blockchain worksWhy community is so vital to the success of NFTsWhy cryptocurrency is viewed as speculative and riskyWhere Anthony went for trusted advice on NFTsThe benefits and education the Bulls and Apes Project offers membersAnthony's advice for entering the crypto space safelyIn this episode…Anthony Mongiello, co-founder and CEO of the Bulls and Apes Project, shares not only his corporate journey with Martin but the ins and outs of NFTs. Anthony has a very clear vision for the Bulls and Apes Project and the community aspect of NFTs, something he is keen to communicate to people unsure about NFTs and blockchain overall. From his hard-working and respectful upbringing through to Bulls and Apes, Anthony has no illusions about what matters most to any business: the culture. The community aspect of Web3 spoke to him right away. The Bulls and Apes Project sells NFTs but also opens up an Inner Circle community to members. That community focuses on living your best life and helping people grow health, wealth, relationships, and fulfillment, which Anthony describes as the four pillars. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Anthony Mongiello dive into the world of NFTs and Anthony breaks down exactly what they are, their value to individuals and in the realm of Web3, and the research he put into stable NFT businesses before launching his own with his partners. Anthony discusses the positive benefits of NFTs as well as some cautionary advice for avoiding the negative aspects of the NFT business space. This episode with Anthony is a great place to get answers to your questions about NFTs.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInAnthony Mongiello on LinkedInAnthony Mongiello on TwitterBulls and Apes ProjectBulls and Apes Project on LinkedInBulls and Apes Project on InstagramMark Cuban blogGary Vaynerchuk‘Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies' by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras‘Leadership is an Art' By Max DePree‘The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction' by Rebecca Z Shafir MA CCCResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Michael Bach is the founder of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and the CEO of CCDI Consulting Inc. He is nationally and internationally recognized as a thought leader and subject matter expert in the fields of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, bringing a vast knowledge of leading practices in a live setting to his work. He is the author of the best-selling and award-winning books ‘Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right' and ‘Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work'.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Michael Bach's past as Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for KPMG globallyWhen and why Michael founded CCDIWhy LGBTQ+ inclusion is a sound business decisionThe differences between sex, sexuality, and genderActions CEOS and leaders can take to make workplaces more inclusiveHow common language - such as maternity leave - is gendered and exclusiveHow opposite-sex spouses are the default assumption in a workplaceWhere behaviors such as homophobia, transphobia, and biophobia stem fromThe movie Michael found most impactful in his life In this episode…Michael Bach, the founder of CCDI and author of ‘Alphabet Soup', joins the podcast to speak with Martin about LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace. Inclusion isn't just acknowledging that people have different preferences and lives but is giving them psychological safety and a place to belong exactly as they are.The differences between equality, diversity, and inclusion are explained by Michael Bach as they relate to the workplace. It is the ability to feel safe at work, safe to live authentically, that is at stake. Michael points out examples such as being asked about opposite-sex spouses as a matter of assumption that chip away such safety, or addressing gatherings with “ladies and gentlemen”. He encourages deeper thought about the language being used. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Michael Bach have a frank and educational conversation about 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion and how CEOs and leaders must facilitate that. Michael explains the importance of gender-neutral language, the differences between sex terms and gender identity, the learned behaviors of homophobia, and why these issues are important to get right in any workplace.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInMichael Bach on LinkedInCanadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI)CCDI Consulting IncMichael Bach websiteMichael Bach on Instagram‘Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right' by Michael Bach‘Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ+ Inclusion at Work' by Michael BachWhat CEOs Talk About episode ‘When Business Doesn't Make Money' with Matthew Smedley 'The Long Walk Home' movieResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Dr. Bill Howatt, founder, and CEO of Howatt HR refers to himself as a behavioral scientist with a keen curiosity for how employees and employers can work together to reduce mental harm and promote mental health in the workplace. He is known internationally and is one of Canada's top experts in workplace psychological health and safety. Dr. Bill is on the CSA OHS Standards Steering Committee and Chair of the CSA Standard Z1008: Management of Substance-Related Impairment in the Workplace. He is the co-creator of the Psychologically Safe Workplace Awards.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Dr. Bill Howatt's personal experience with mental illnessThe percentage of the population with a mental illness and how many get helpMartin's dyslexia and how that affected his youth Why Dr. Howatt works toward workplace inclusion for the neurodivergentWhat Bill means by “positivity toxicity”How implicit bias affects leadershipThe importance of being a leader who respects employees and considers psychological safetyHow important it is to have a support system in your lifeWhy caring for yourself is important regardless of status or earningsWho or what is your north star?In this episode…Dr. Bill Howatt is an expert in workplace mental health. He has an impressive educational background with a BSc, BA, MEd, MSc, Ph.D., EdD, Post Doctorate in Behavioral Science, is the author of over 50 books, and is the founder and CEO of Howatt HR. He candidly speaks about his own mental health, about growing up with ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety. These challenges have fuelled his drive to address psychological health and safety in the workplace. Dr. Howatt and Martin have a frank discussion about their respective mental health challenges and how they have had to work through them. Dr. Howatt's work focuses on greater inclusion for employees with mental illness, changing the statistics of how many Canadians feel comfortable approaching employers and how many are supported when they do. He shares statistics and facts about the behavioral aspects of workplaces that negatively impact employees.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Dr. Bill Howatt address the challenges leaders must face in terms of workplace inclusion for psychological safety. Bill Howatt discusses the reality of how morale is built, the conversations CEOs need to have with direct reports, and how companies need to slow down so individuals can take care of themselves. Dr. Howatt's expansive knowledge and experience give him a clear understanding of what's at stake for people, employees, and CEOs, and his insight is not to be missed in these stressful times.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInDr. Bill Howatt on LinkedInHowatt HR Consulting on LinkedInHowatt HRDr. Bill Howatt website Dr. Bill Howatt's booksGoogle's Project Aristotle‘Good to Great' by Jim Collins‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen R CoveyResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
After a decades-long career advising leaders in some of the largest companies in America and beyond, Dr. Gena Cox concluded that the pace of workplace inclusion change was unacceptably slow. She harnessed her organizational psychology and executive coach insights, her understanding of c-suite dynamics, and her personal workplace experiences to write a book, ‘Leading Inclusion'. Her book helps leaders connect unfamiliar dots to drive inclusion from the top of their organizations. Gena asks her clients to remember one simple idea: “Inclusion tops diversity!”Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Gena Cox's childhood in Barbados before moving to the United StatesWhat events spurred Gena to write her bookHow personal revelations drove her writingWhat behavioral-based leadership meansWhy inclusion is more vital than diversityThe difference between a passive and an active leaderThe meaning behind Gena's acronym REDITwo pieces of terminology Gena uses to describe effective leadershipGena's thoughts on positive leadership trends moving forwardGena's favorite chapter in her book ‘Leading Inclusion'In this episode…Dr. Gena Cox is a corporate advisor and executive coach who recently authored a book titled “Leading Inclusion”. Along with her professional coaching certification, Gena holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Dr. Cox works to set the standard for building inclusive work environments, the ones everyone deserves.The events of 2020 involving Ahmed Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd proved a trigger point for Dr. Cox, affecting her profoundly, and leading to the writing of her book. She explains how the book is composed of insights and experiences she's had for decades, driven by a new desire to work towards solutions to the events engulfing the country. Inclusion, rather than diversity, is what Dr. Cox stresses and she breaks down the differences in the terms. Gena and Martin discuss how much more vital inclusion and belonging are to employee safety and satisfaction in the workplace.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Dr. Gena Cox dive into the insights that formed her book, ‘Leading Inclusion', and the necessity of leaders who put inclusion over diversity. Their conversation includes experiences around privilege, behavioral-based leadership, and key terminology Dr. Cox uses to explain the foundation of inclusive leadership. This honest and insightful episode with the wonderful Dr. Gena Cox will inspire every leader it reaches.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInGena Cox on LinkedInGena Cox, PhD website‘Leading Inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel' by Gena Cox, Ph.DBreonna Taylor informationAJ HarperWhat CEOs Talk About Episode ‘If You Don't Have Inclusion, You Don't Have Anything' with Katarina Polonsky‘Leadership Reckoning' by Thomas Kolditz, Ph.D, Libby Gill, and Ryan P Brown, Ph.D‘The Warmth of Other Suns' by Isabel Wilkerson‘Caste' by Isabel WilkersonRecommended resources for CEOs:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor For This PodcastThis podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Mike hit the ground running from a young age, steadily working jobs from the first chance he got at 14 years old and making his way through high school with a focus on business and fine art. He then made the move to New York to attend the School of Visual Arts, spending those years freelancing and developing the knowledge and skills that would lead to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in computer art. Countless projects later, the desire came to move away from creating commercial content for others and channel his energy, enthusiasm, and expertise into something more tangible, to build something from the ground up that inspires and empowers people and makes their nights at home special and memorable. Intrigued by the format of wildly popular meal subscription services, Mike—something of a craft cocktail hobbyist himself—drew up the plan that would lead to the founding of Shaker & Spoon. From this moment of conception, all the way through to today, Mike's long-fostered skills in design, video editing, packaging, branding, networking, and management have found their rightful home at S&S. And after just a few short years, this company—scaled 100% via bootstrapping and having taken on no debt before 2021—had already garnered many corporate partnerships, countless all-star collaborations, an ever-growing subscriber base, and a fiercely dedicated social media community, even before the cocktails-at-home craze of 2020.Having overcome a tumultuous childhood amid unrest in the former Soviet Union, Anna Gorovoy's drive for achievement and self-starting nature emerged quickly upon her family's move to the US. Her high school's valedictorian and a graduate of Yale University, she immediately applied her skills in detail-driven design and her love of the written word throughout a series of internships, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, before an impressive stint designing best-selling books at Macmillan Publishers. Lured away from office life by an exciting chance at entrepreneurship and determined to challenge herself by building something new, Anna stepped into the role of Chief Brand Officer and Co-founder of Shaker & Spoon. Her years in publishing, during which she flexed her creative muscles and trained and mentored new hires, equipped her with a valuable skill set for molding the company's fun, educational, and approachable brand identity. While Shaker & Spoon's delicious drinks in a way speak for themselves, it took Anna's sharp, disciplined eye and cheerful spirit to create a fully cultivated, professional, and trustworthy voice and visual style from day one. And as the company has grown, so too have the teams she leads, now including customer experience, distinct experience (bulk and corporate sales), and all matters of marketing, copy, and content. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Mike Milyavsky's art and entrepreneurial backgroundAnna Gorovoy's fine art and graphic design backgroundHow they created Shaker & SpoonThe services they offer through Shaker & SpoonWhy they operate on a vertical integration modelThe production and supply fulfillment challenges in their businessThe artistry of the cocktails and how that affects ingredient sourcingHow award-winning mixologists factor into their companyWhat Mike and Anna have planned for Shaker & Spoon in the futureIn this episode…Mike Milyavsky and Anna Gorovoy were born in the same city, in Minsk, Belarus, and both their families emigrated to America when they were young. But the two wouldn't meet until arts high school in Maryland, Baltimore. They started Shaker & Spoon, their cocktail subscription service, in 2015 based on an entrepreneurial idea of Mike's.Both Mike and Anna were and are artists. Mike pushed his creative expression into the business endeavor while Anna still uses much of her artistic instincts in the brand work. They explain how art still greatly informs Shaker & Spoon and how exactly they combine the artistry with the business side of the company. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guests Mike Milyavsky and Anna Gorovoy discuss the technical structure of Shaker & Spoon and how it was built to make it profitable. Mike and Anna explain the demands of sourcing unique ingredients, how the production team expands with seasonal labor, and they speak to the future of pushing Shaker & Spoon farther into the B2B space. The structure of vertical integration and the demands of in-house production are explored in detail in this not-to-be-missed episode.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInMike Milyavsky on LinkedInAnna Gorovoy on LinkedInShaker & SpoonShaker & Spoon on FacebookShaker & Spoon on YouTubeHow I Built This podcastRecommended resources for CEOs:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor For This PodcastThis podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Abhishek Garg has more than 17 years of professional experience. More than 12 of those years were with Deloitte in multiple roles across various business and strategy functions that focused on the key business geographies of the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Abhishek has been famously known as someone who “Gets work (s**t) done”, builds long-lasting interpersonal relations, and engages across multiple and complex business stakeholder groups.Abhishek earned his MBA in Marketing and MIS and is a qualified Engineer (in Electronics) who continues to balance these interests by being involved in ongoing conversations with thought and industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and like-minded hustlers.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Abhishek moved from engineering to business investmentsThe business niche his company provides private market stakeholdersThe definitions of a VC, private equity, angel investor, and family officeThe compliances required in the world of venture capitalWhy looking at problems as opportunities is part of a growth mindsetThe differences between fund managers going it alone or as part of a teamHow the “wartime CEO versus peacetime CEO” analogy fits the industryPositive trends happening today in the investment worldDetails on the anti-money laundering spaceIn this episode…Abhishek Garg first qualified as an engineer when he started his career journey but he found his heart lay with business. So he earned his MBA in marketing and MIS before joining the corporate world with Deloitte. The time with Deloitte fuelled his interest in the private market ecosystem and led him to his current company, Capital Net. Abhishek moves through the worlds of private equity, angel investors, and venture capital, and how they require support on their journey through business operations. He speaks to the need to have a balance between the mathematics and science of the industry with the artful side of leadership, relationship building, and oversight on a large scale.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Abhishek Garg discuss the current positive trends in the investment landscape and the areas which are darker and need improvement. They address collaboration and values and how those ideals need to be worked into innovation to succeed for stakeholders. The world of VCs and investment funds is opened up in an enlightening conversation with Abhishek Garg, one not to be missed.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInAbhishek Garg on LinkedInThe Capital NetAbhishek Garg contact email: getabgarg@gmail.comVessi‘Dream With Your Eyes Open' by Ronnie Screwvala‘Ikigai: The Japanese Art of a Meaningful Life' by Yukari MitsuhashiResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Born and raised in Arizona, Dave Dickert sharpened his operational skills in the restaurant industry for 15 years in Southern California prior to co-founding Branded Bills in 2016. He is driven by a passion for building companies that leave a memorable experience with the customer, and by the unique opportunity to build a brand that is disrupting the standards of premium customized apparel. Dave is an avid traveler and outdoorsman and best enjoys these activities alongside his wife and two young kiddos.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Dave Dickert and three friends built Branded BillsReasons why Dave was looking to leave the restaurant industryHow the four co-owners share the business and divide rolesWhy making conscious decisions about your brand mattersThe power saying “no” has to define your brandThe key ingredients for customer satisfaction and retentionWhy equal care must be taken to retain employeesMartin's advice on business continuityHow Dave protects his family time from too much work takeoverIn this episode…Dave Dickert emerged from the restaurant industry to be one of four co-founders of the company Branded Bills. The four friends have managed to retain co-ownership while building a successful brand for seven years now, a true testament to cooperation. Dave shares some of the reasons for that success with Martin.A key factor in their business growth was that every one of the four friends naturally fell into a role they felt strong in, there were no “let's draw straws for CEO” moments. They each play to their strengths. Importantly, they also understand exactly what the business is within the headwear industry, and what it isn't. Dave breaks down exactly what is so powerful and necessary about saying no.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Dave Dickert discuss the often hard lessons Dave learned in the restaurant industry, why checking yourself and your role along the way is important to do, and why Dave believes that building a brand goes hand in hand with experiential purchases. They address what customer retention looks like, the importance of quality, and balancing fatherhood with business. Building your brand reflects your values and the choices you make about serving your customers, and Dave has valuable insight to share.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInDave Dickert on LinkedInBranded BillsBranded Bills CustomBranded Bills on InstagramResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
One of Ken's clients gave him the title “Facilitator of Thinking Differently”, and he's proudly hung onto it ever since. Ken helps companies achieve exceptional performance by leveraging their organizational culture. Thinking Differently began in Ken's first career as one of Canada's most successful playwrights, directors, and festival programmers. In the world of theatre, fostering a culture of teamwork is the key to success. You must take a diverse group of self-employed contractors (actors) align them to a single vision (the play) and meet a date-certain deadline (opening night) with limited resources (public arts funding). These lessons are the same, no matter the industry.The unique combination of an artist, entrepreneur, and high-performance coach gives Ken a unique perspective on what makes groups great.As the “Leadership Champ” Russell helps leaders EXCITE their teams about their work. He believes that every leader has the potential to improve individual and team performance in the workplace. However, during his work with leaders over 30 years across a range of businesses, Russell has found that there is one particular challenge that holds them back - being able to have difficult conversations with team members, co-workers, or even their boss. Russell uses live actors in a stop/start forum theatre for a business approach and a combination of dynamic experiential learning techniques to allow people the opportunity to practice their skills in a safe environment that they can then implement back in the workplace. He is an Internationally Certified Trainer, Leadership Coach, and Conference Speaker with a Master's Degree in Human Resource Management. Russell has a passion for developing Leaders including those transitioning into Management roles, by building their capability and confidence using a blend of simulations, dynamic experiential learning, and workplace coaching. He is a Master Facilitator for Bluegem Learning's groundbreaking “Leadership Success” workshop series, co-author of the book 'I Need To F***ing Talk To You - The Art of Navigating Difficult Workplace Conversations', and co-host of the podcast 'I Need To F***ing Talk To You'. He has a proven track record over the past 30 years of success internationally in HR and Operations Management, in a wide range of organizational cultures including small, medium, and large enterprises including construction, engineering, manufacturing, hospitality, law enforcement, local and national government, non-profits.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Russell Stratton's varied career historyKen Cameron's very different career historyHow Ken's former career as a playwright and administrator contributes to his current workThe need to be known as a great leader, not a terrible bossWhere a lack of good communication comes fromHow to reframe feedback so it's well receivedWhat incremental feedback means in a workplaceWhy Ken recommends “management by walking around”Why culture is as important as leadership and how the two fit togetherHow Russell presents their training sessions so people embrace involvementThe benefits of learning to communicate well and practice that with your teamIn this episode…Ken Cameron and Russell Stratton come from very different life and work backgrounds, but when they met a strong bond of personal and business friendship was born. Russell's background in UK customer service and leadership training for law enforcement and Inland Revenue is very different from Ken's background as a prominent playwright and theatre administrator, yet both work together seamlessly to form a motivational team.Ken and Russell are passionate about creating exceptional leaders and leaving behind bad bosses and toxic workplaces. They emphasize that learning how to communicate directly and frequently with everyone on staff is one of the keys to great culture and effective leadership. People are afraid to address issues directly. Ken and Russell tackle this fear in their training sessions and in their book called “I Need To F***ing Talk To You”.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guests Ken Cameron and Russell Stratton discuss the pitfalls of settling for ordinary leadership, how leadership can elevate the mundane to a cultural level, and how learning the art of effective feedback can change workplaces for the better. They describe the use of actors in their training sessions and illustrate how practice in such a safe environment prepares attendees to address such conversations in real life. Don't miss Ken and Russell's informed and invaluable insights on leadership and elevating communication in your organization. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInKen Cameron on LinkedInRussell Stratton on LinkedInI Need To F***ing Talk To You website‘I Need To F***ing Talk To You' book‘I Need To F***ing Talk To You' podcastKen Blanchard books‘Think Again' by Adam GrantAdam Grant's ‘Work Life' podcast‘It Worked For Me' by Colin PowellResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Andrea Spiegel is an operations and management consultant based in Vancouver, BC, with 15 years of experience in leadership management spanning multiple industries, including entertainment, wellness, service, trades, and manufacturing. She enjoys working with visionary founders, helping them define long-term goals, identify gaps in current systems, and map out tangible strategies for sustainable growth. One of Andrea's greatest passions is bringing order to chaos and witnessing the freedom her clients feel as their business becomes aligned with their vision. When she is not strategizing with clients, you might find Andrea engaging with her community in one of her favorite not-for-profit organizations or skiing Whistler with her family.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Some of the favorite job titles Andrea Spiegel has been calledWhat Andrea learned from the LA film industryWhy she left entertainment to work in yogaAndrea's thoughts on maternity leave and women's careersThe beauty and challenge of working in a smaller companyWhy she was drawn to yoga after LAWhat she means by doing “good” business versus “nice” businessWhere leaders need to place their prioritiesWhat specific thing she learned from Kevin Lang that Andrea valuesThe value of process when coupled with innovative thinking and what people need to be successfulIn this episode…Andrea Spiegel took what she calls a “not straight pathway” to her current career at URGEO. Born in Calgary, AB, she first moved to LA to work at a literary agency in the film industry. From there she moved up to Vancouver, BC, to work in yoga. She started teaching at YYoga and went on to become the Regional Operations Manager. After her maternity leave, she went to the lighting design company McCormick Studio which is where she was introduced to Martin as a mentor. And that led her to URGEO.The through line in all Andrea's career moves is a love of creative industries and her ability to create very elegant systems that allow people to be creative. She also realized that many things that appear definitive are actually negotiable, that companies are composed of people whose decisions can be questioned by the curious and confident. What Andrea also saw was the inversion of performance management: instead of caring about the performance of the people being managed, the care was about the performance of a manager. She took these things to heart.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Andrea Spiegel discuss leadership and managing people, the value of redirection over criticism, and how the best process is developed with the people using it in mind. Andrea is clear that the value of elegant systems is not simply efficiency and revenue, but that people can work in them. She wants CEOs and entrepreneurs to be able to get back to doing the thing they started the business to do, instead of spending all their time doing the business.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInAndrea Spiegel on LinkedInYYogaMatthew McCormick‘Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know' by Adam Grant‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable' by Patrick Lencioni‘Getting Naked: A Business Fable' by Patrick LencioniResources recommended for CEOs and leaders:Monday.comBambooHRSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO, Operational excellence in action through the Are you Ready Program!Are you READY to free up your time?Optimize your Organization?Grow revenue and reduce costs?Build your leadership team?Partnering with organizations like yours, we work with you to implement our proven methodology designed to transform your operations, while providing accurate advice and support for real success.Translating strategy into frontline operations, URGEO helps leaders and the people within their organization excel at safe, on-time, on-budget and on-spec delivery. Let's touch base so we can learn how we can level up your business. Contact us today.
Igor Gasanov was born in Belarus and traveled to America at the age of 3 in search of a better life. He has always had an entrepreneurial spirit for as long as he can remember. With a passion for helping brands grow, Igor has successfully invested in and led companies in the consumer and financial services industry, such as Canon Cigars and Life Capital. In 2020, Igor saw an opportunity to bring his consumer and financial service expertise together and co-founded BOND, a price comparison site for auto and homeowners insurance. With his pulse on the volatile insurance industry, he is working to set a new standard for the industry overall, starting with the customer experience. With Igor at the helm, BOND has successful partners with all of the major insurance brands to provide customers with instant quotes.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Igor Gasanov's mother has inspired himWhat his first entrepreneurial endeavor wasHow Igor persevered in cold calling despite setbacksWhat thinking outside the box really looks likeWhy honesty has been the best policy for IgorThe piece of advice Igor's mother gave him that drove himWhat it is that BOND offers within the insurance industryWhat set Igor and BOND apart enough that corporations would work with himThe ins and outs of insuranceWhy Igor and BOND embody Martin's theory of transactional versus transformationalIn this episode…Igor Gasanov says that from a young age he was always motivated to be a problem solver. He credits his mother for believing in him and supporting the ideas that led him away from school and into entrepreneurial ventures. What he learned by pounding the pavement, cold calling for customers, and convincing institutions to believe in his business taught him to think outside the box and go the extra mile for customers.Igor's mindset is to be different, to not do what everybody else is doing. He started his company, BOND, by being very honest with customers, and by telling them exactly how insurance would work. Though he began to question this process at first, when customers would walk away, he realized the value in his principles when those same customers would return and thank him for his honesty. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Igor Gasanov break down exactly what BOND does in the world of insurance and how they are customer-focused. Igor explains the nuances of the insurance world and how it operates. He chose the show's title because his company is a small differently-thinking little business in a world of corporate giants. But he is proving that putting customers first and having an inclusive, supportive place for employees to work does make all the difference.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInIgor Gasanov on LinkedInBONDThe story of David and GoliathSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Clarke Murphy is a leadership expert who advises the world's top companies on leadership strategies that fuel profitable growth and value for all stakeholders. Known for his authenticity and integrity, he is a trusted advisor on issues of diversity, sustainability, board formation, and succession. He has particular expertise in helping boards include sustainable competencies and track records in multi-year CEO succession processes.As the former CEO of Russell Reynolds from 2011-2021, he spearheaded a purpose-driven approach to business and led the firm through its greatest period of growth.In his new book, ‘Sustainable Leadership: Lessons of Vision, Courage, and Grit from the CEOs Who Dared to Build a Better World,' Clarke tells the stories of dynamic business executives who are using their position to solve the most complex social and economic challenges of our time. Since 2021, Clarke has co-hosted the Redefiners podcast, interviewing courageous leaders who are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to deliver extraordinary results.He is a regular speaker at business schools and headline leadership events, including the United Nations Global Compact Leaders' Summit and the World Economic Forum's Sustainable Development Impact Summit. His insights have also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, the Economist, and Financial Times.Before joining Russell Reynolds in 1988, Clarke was a commercial banking officer at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company (now part of JPMorgan Chase) in New York.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:What Clarke Murphy's youthful dream was (and how many times he's done it)How his recruitment by Russ Reynolds led to a prosperous careerWhat Russell Reynolds doesWhat the OODA Loop isThe inspiration behind Clarke's book ‘Sustainable Leadership'How the book is laid out with practical takeaways in every chapterHow Clarke defines sustainabilityWhy LQ is the new important measure of corporate transformation, over IQ or EQMartin's four key components for leadersWhat are ecosystems are defined as among industriesWhy Clarke recommends reading about Ernest ShackletonIn this episode…Clarke Murphy has worked with Russell Reynolds Associates in various capacities for the bulk of his career, through different roles and countries, and currently serves on the Board and as Leadership Advisor, focused mostly on succession or governance issues and the sustainable competencies of executives. This inspired Clarke's recently written book, titled ‘Sustainable Leadership: Lessons of Vision, Courage, and Grit from the CEOs Who Dared to Build a Better World'.Clarke Murphy says the most satisfying thing about his job, for him, is twofold: one, watching leaders make an enormous difference, and two, seeing a bright young star become a partner in the firm. He shares exactly what it is that he looks for in leadership, the skills that he sees as the most valuable, and also the traits that will incline a leader towards sustainability.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Clarke Murphy define exactly what sustainability means and how it can be applied at a corporate level. Clarke explains the behavioral attributes that define successful sustainable leaders and pinpoints what he believes is the top quality they should possess. He and Martin discuss curiosity, LQ, specific chapters in Clarke's book, and how to define your own leadership. This episode shines a light on how to be successful and sustainable with brilliant insights from Clarke Murphy. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInClarke Murphy on LinkedInRussell Reynolds'Sustainable Leadership: Lessons of Vision, Courage, and Grit from the CEOs Who Dared to Build a Better World' by Clarke MurphyRedefiners podcast‘South: The Endurance Expedition' by Sir Ernest Shackleton‘Shackleton's Boat Journey' by Frank Arthur WorsleySponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Nicholas Longano is a leading entrepreneur, and video game and Fintech expert with over 28 years of experience launching successful consumer brands, Fintech products, ground-breaking games, and startups. Starting his career in the beauty and beverage arena, Nicholas has launched highly successful brand campaigns, including Pepsi, L'Oreal, Evian, Sunkist, and Calvin Klein. After working on the consumer side, Nicholas entered the gaming space as the Senior Vice President of Publishing and Marketing with Vivendi-Universal Games/Blizzard, heading worldwide franchises, including Diablo, World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and more. Most recently, Nicholas' passion for gaming and consumer brands launched Scuti, the world's first in-game advertising network and GCommerce platform. With a team of video game veterans, Longano brings gamified advertising to the metaverse and beyond to best service players, game makers, and brands alike.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Where Nicholas Longano grew up and went to schoolThe various corporations that Nicholas worked for in fashion and beautyMilestones of Nicholas' careerThe games Nicholas worked on through BlizzardThe moment when Nicholas felt like a master of the universeWhy respect for customers is so importantHow Nicholas founded Scuti partly based on respect and ads done rightNicholas' advice to his son on following his passionWhy Nicholas considers the way some ads are done as disrespectfulThe value of choiceHow finding the right team is also about hiring mindsIn this episode…Nicholas Longano claims that his successful and storied career thus far has been the product of a kind of luck, of being in the right place at the right time. As he moved through the corporate world from beverages (launching Pepsi in Australia) to beauty (launching Excellence in the US for L'Oreal), to Calvin Klein (launching Calvin Klein cosmetics globally) it seems that it is far more than luck at work. When Nicholas left those industries for video games in 2000, he realized similar success with Vivendi Universal.Now the Founder and CEO of Scuti, the world's first g-Commerce platform, Nicholas understands keenly that customers are the drivers of success behind every venture. In beverage, fashion, beauty, and gaming, the takeaway lesson for him is that customers and consumers should be respected above profit. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Nicholas Longano break down what respecting customers looks like, from asking permission to gather their information to presenting ads into their game in a non-disruptive or reward-driven manner. Nicholas shares the impetus behind Scuti and how they work to offer customers choice and he draws on examples gleaned from organizations throughout his career. Martin introduces the question of whether a company is transactional or transformational and he and Nicholas discuss being a David company among Goliaths, finding the right team members, and why leaders need the ability to iterate and bend. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInNicholas Longano on LinkedInNicholas Longano on WikipediaScuti‘Atlas Shrugged' by Ayn RandSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Kevin Lang is the Director of Operations and a partner at URGEO. Kevin is a 25+ year entrepreneurial veteran. Kevin has developed and sold multiple businesses holding deep experience in industrial manufacturing and processing and strong team development. As a 14-year member of EO, including sitting on the Regional Canadian Board, he is a seasoned and sought-after expert in EOS implementation with a wide scope of entrepreneurial businesses. Kevin also continues to develop a real estate investment portfolio of single-family homes, condos, and industrial buildings.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Kevin's 20-year career in the manufacturing business and why he leftHow remote work enabled Kevin to become a better leaderWhy Kevin considers himself less of a doer and more inclined to work through peopleWhat Kevin and Martin identify as each other's strengthsWhat prompted Kevin's move to VancouverKevin's advice regarding perfectionismWhat Martin identifies as the four cardinal rules of leadershipWhy a high EQ, emotional intelligence, aids Kevin in listening and management successThe book that Kevin finds so useful, he has taught pieces of it to his childrenKevin's views on positive capitalism and how profit can be maintained with dignity and graceIn this episode…Kevin Lang grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and moved to Vancouver in 2010. After 20 years managing the business he took over from his parents, 3 years running an entirely different business on his own, and traveling the world after that, he met Martin in 2021 and through that meeting and interview became part of URGEO.Kevin and Martin realized they had similar mindsets and complementary skills that would work well together in a business environment. Kevin has an innate ability to keep to scheduling timetables, to stay on track, and resilience in how he works. Kevin shares what he has learned about managing through people as his career has unfolded and part of it has to do with allowing people to learn and grow.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Kevin Lang discuss the nuances of leadership. Kevin maintains that there is no failure if you lead people correctly: if you manage risk and allow people to grow on their own - and to have room to fail - then failure becomes fundamental to success. They talk about Martin's four cardinal rules of leadership, Kevin's identification of the value of emotional intelligence, how to work in ways that serve you, and Kevin's passions in life which, besides leadership, include parenting. The insights found in this episode are not to be missed.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInKevin Lang on LinkedInContact email: kevin@urgeo.com‘The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership' by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Klemp“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” - quote attributed to Theosophist Mabel CollinsSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Starting his career in finance and acquisitions, Peyton Jenkins pivoted in the midst of 2008's tumultuous financial market to pursue his passion in suiting and custom wear. Attributing his drive to his own need for custom fitting, Peyton co-founded Alton Lane, a leader in premium custom menswear that brings luxury craftsmanship and personal style to suiting, formalwear, sportswear, footwear, accessories and more. Creating a unique process that celebrates individual style and pioneering a virtual custom fit algorithm, Peyton and his team at Alton Lane turn customers into designers with “Made For You” trimmings, fabrics and fits—precisely tailoring down to the millimeter and servicing clients from the comfort of their homes. Peyton is a proud Virginian and loves exploring the rich history and happenings of his home in Richmond, where he lives with his wife and kids.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Peyton Jenkins' formative years in VirginiaThe things Peyton learned teaching in England in his early twentiesThe course Peyton taught in England on the Reality of Warfare Through Film and how it led to a visit to Auschwitz-BirkenauMental health struggles Peyton went through with depression in collegeHow finding a psychologist contributed to Peyton's mental health stabilityWhy suffering is important in refining who we areHow COVID reshaped what people wearHow Peyton's clothing company, Alton Lane, is shifting to meet custom clothing needs remotelyWhy a good blazer is a key item of clothing for menThe book inspiring Peyton right now and whyIn this episode…Content Warning: Discussion of the Holocaust, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and child deaths in war.Peyton Jenkins has experienced many things that inform how he approaches his business now. From his start in Virginia and through formative experiences in his early twenties teaching history overseas, he has a very thoughtful approach to entrepreneurship.Peyton Jenkins shares his struggle with mental health and how he views suffering through a lens of positivity as a result. It is through suffering that the most important skills are learned. Peyton speaks candidly about the very clear view his therapist gave him at the start of therapy and how it anchored his progress.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Peyton Jenkins discuss exactly how COVID shifted clothing expectations and how Peyton's company Alton Lane is rising to meet the new expectations. Peyton shares clothing design perspectives, Alton Lane's advances in custom fitting, how a blazer works for any occasion, and why understanding your needs is so important, both personally and professionally. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInPeyton Jenkins on LinkedInAlton LaneAlton Lane on InstagramEnoshima IslandAuschwitz-Birkenau‘His Truth Is Marching On' by Jon MeachamSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Alinka Rutkowska is the CEO of Leaders Press, a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling press, where she creates books for entrepreneurs from scratch and launches them into best-seller with a 100% success rate. She runs a hybrid publishing house with traditional distribution (via Simon & Schuster) through which more than 500 entrepreneurs have been able to share their stories with the world. Alinka has been featured by Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, Entrepreneurs on Fire, and numerous other outlets. Her mission is to help 10,000 entrepreneurs share their wisdom with the world by 2030.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:The success of Alinka's primary school newspaper ventureThe influence and support Alinka's scholarly family impartedWhat the impetus for leaving the corporate world was for AlinkaHow self-publishing worked for her first bookWhy you should decide to tell your own storyThe process Leaders Press takes a book idea throughInsights into bestseller list selectionsThe difference between lead generation and lead conversionHow explosive growth was a challenge for Alinka at the start of this yearIn this episode…Alinka Rutkowska, a five times USA Today bestselling author, is originally from Poland and she recalls her first entrepreneurial venture in primary school there: putting together a school newspaper to compete with the existing paper she didn't like. That likely signaled her ultimate future in books and authorship. Though Alinka went through business school and worked in multinational corporations to great success, she ultimately returned to her founding passion of books and publishing. Today she is the CEO of Leaders Press which has 198 authors on the USA Today bestseller list. Alinka aligns her passion for entrepreneurship with her publishing savvy by largely launching and promoting books on business and publishing. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Alinka Rutkowska discuss how Alinka came to self-publish her first book and how its success allowed her to step away from the corporate world to start her business. She details exactly how her company, Leaders Press, assists entrepreneurs in taking their books from idea to bookstore success, why it's important to tell your own story, how books are chosen to be on bestseller lists, and how lead generation from books works. You will want to hear Alinka's story and the insights she has on how you could be an author.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInAlinka Rutkowska on LinkedInLeaders PressLeaders Press Blog: ‘Who Is The Highest-Paid Author?'Leaders Press / DiscoverLeaders Press: ‘How to Write a Book'Leaders Press: ‘How to Get a Book Published'‘Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill‘The first draft of anything is s**t.' - Ernest HemingwaySponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Cassandra Hui, founder, and CEO of Heal Mary, has a background in data science and 10+ years in marketing and community building, Cassandra was also part of the Scotiabank financial hackathon winning team in 2016. Heal Mary, a digital health platform using AI to close the gap in clinical trial participation was started after Cassandra began looking into treatment options when her mom and two sisters were diagnosed with cancer.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Cassandra Hui's childhood in Calgary, Alberta, and Toronto, ONWhen she first fell in love with tech as a careerThe impact Cassandra's mother's cancer diagnosis had on her familyThe reality of clinical trials and how many are currently runningHow to connect with clinical trials and why options are so important to patientsThe memory of the first patient Cassandra was able to helpThe KPIs that are useful in Heal Mary's business modelCassandra's goals for her company's futureHow diversity metrics are underrepresented in clinical trialsThe books Cassandra is drawing inspiration from this monthIn this episode…Cassandra Hui was inspired to found her company, Heal Mary, after her mother and two sisters were diagnosed with cancer. Her mother's diagnosis with stage four breast cancer came when Cassandra was just ten years old. Then in 2017, two sisters were diagnosed with cancer within months of each other, right around the age their mother had been, and Cassandra decided there had to be a better way to approach options and maintain optimism.Cassandra founded Heal Mary to make clinical trials available to patients. She explains that more than 370,000 clinical trials are happening globally today and to expect doctors to be versed in all of them is impossible. She wants to provide options for patients to find potential trials themselves that they can then bring to their health care practitioners.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Cassandra Hui discuss the reality of how short life is and what matters most to you in using the time you're given. They address how what you fear can answer the question of what you should focus on, and they dig into the details of KPI on Heal Mary, what qualifies as outstanding success for Cassandra's app, pursuing studies and scientific breakthroughs, and how the company is set up to be compensated. This is both an emotional and detailed conversation you won't want to miss.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInCassandra Hui on LinkedInHeal MaryHeal Mary app‘Atomic Habits' by James Clear‘Scaling Up' by Verne Harnish‘Mastering the Rockefeller Habits' by Verne HarnishMaster and Commander‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen R. CoveySponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Dylan Jones is the Head of Growth at URGEO. He is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, and outdoorsman who loves launching new products and businesses. He is an advocate for a more efficient and more effective transition to the green economy. He is an entrepreneur-in-residence with the Canadian cleantech accelerator program, Foresight.Dylan's philosophy of balancing operational excellence, problem-solving, and need development began with his previous career in the mineral exploration industry. He worked on the development of mining projects to incorporate considerations for both environmental and First Nations groups. Dylan transitioned from the field to finance operations, raising money for mining projects, advising on M&A opportunities, and developing innovative investment channels for the largest private land-holder in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Which five things Dylan Jones advises considering for recession planning this yearWhy number one is employee transformation and growthHow to be innovative in maintaining employees through a recessionHow numbers two and three are both about marketing and why it's not the first to be cutHow to consider value and investment when making purchasesDylan's thoughts on managing number four, supply chain managementThe intrinsic value of Excel, even in larger companiesDylan's strategies for what he calls “demand planning”Why number five, cash flow management, is the base of every considerationThe book Dylan recommends you readIn this episode…Dylan Jones is Martin Hunter's business partner and the Head of Strategy for URGEO. Dylan started in operations in the mining industry before switching to finance and building projects in that same industry. He tired of the corporate world, however, and switched to being an entrepreneur where he was in tech CPG and now consulting. He has a vast knowledge base and shares from this on the topic of recession.Dylan outlines five key things to think about for recession planning and discusses how they factor into business health and help sustain a company through recession. Recession, market collapse, lean times, these are all things that will happen, not might, and Dylan believes it's vital to have a strategy for weathering that outlined now.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Dylan Jones talk about the vital business ingredient of employee value and growth, why marketing should be sustained in some form during a recession, how to approach fiscal savings measures, supply chain issue preparation, and the through-line of cash flow management in this episode. Dylan imparts logical, sound advice on how to work towards recession-proofing your business today.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInDylan Jones on LinkedInSimon Sinek“Give away the best of the best of your information, and charge well for its implementation.” - Lucas RubixPeter DruckerHarvard Business Review‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion' by Robert B Cialdini, PhD
Ryan Weiss is a global executive with decades of experience spanning the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He has successfully founded three companies and worked as a global executive leading hundreds of people, managing a $500 million product portfolio, and developing a passion for organizational change. As an author, speaker, founder, CEO, and consultant, he serves on multiple boards of educational, profit, and non-profit institutions.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:The first business Ryan created at age 15 and how it's thriving nowHow many places Ryan and his family moved for his jobThe personal moment that helped Ryan decide to return to entrepreneurshipThe wild story of orangutan Fu ManchuWhat the three legs of the stool are in terms of successHow hiring good people isn't enough if the culture is poorThe business Ryan started for himselfRyan's book ‘From Orangutan to Rocket Scientist' and where the rocket fits inThe importance of moraleIn this episode…Ryan Weiss started a lawn care business at fifteen that he passed down to his younger brothers - that business has expanded and is still thriving today. Meanwhile, Ryan worked for a multinational that moved him and his family seven times in seventeen years, including to Asia and back twice. It was after a proposed move to Germany that Ryan decided it was time to start his own business again and dove back into entrepreneurship. Ryan details the personal impetus that prompted his decision and also tells the story that inspired this episode's title. The story involves an orangutan named Fu Manchu that acted like an epiphany for Ryan, revealing three vital things any person or company needs to be successful in any venture. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Ryan Weiss discuss the qualities that define good leadership in terms of creating a mindset of success within employees. Ryan shares personal stories that taught him how key it is to foster good morale, what entrepreneurial tools to develop, how to foster unity of purpose amongst diverse staff, and the truth about showing up as yourself to your team.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInRyan Weiss on LinkedInEffective Performance Strategies‘From Orangutan to Rocket Scientist' by Ryan Weiss‘Ingredients for Success: 10 Best Practices for Business and Life'”by Joseph James SlawekSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Celeste Berke Knisely, a B2B Consultant, Growth Strategist, and Trainer, is a natural collaborator and partner to executives who easily pinpoints gaps in strategy, and creates road maps to implement plans and achieve targets. She is passionate about creating cross-functional collaboration, team development, and delivering results across top-performing teams.Celeste and her team have a two-fold focus; consulting with high-performing teams to create robust employee advocacy and social selling programs and coaching Executives to tap into the digital landscape to scale their business. She is known in many circles as a LinkedIn Expert and prides herself on her ability to power network.Celeste has over nineteen (19) years of experience within the non-profit and for-profit arenas; holding both a B.S and M.S. degree. In her last corporate role, Celeste held the position of Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for a privately held hospitality management company overseeing 19 properties, a sales team of 50+, and $105M in annual sales. Her accolades include: the Director of Sales of the Year award, 2x Manager of the Year, named 40 under 40 for the Triad Business Journal, and she holds certified sales designation from Marriot International.In early 2020, Celeste branched out on her own to scale her own business and pursue JV partners and Fractional Projects. Celeste resides in Colorado with her husband and daughter and spends her free time with family and friends - poolside with margaritas and lots of chips and salsa.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Celeste Berke Knisely's family of professionals drove her competitive spiritWhat inspiration and lessons Celeste drew from her fatherHow as a child Celeste was encouraged to put 3% from every paycheque away, and how Martin encourages his kids to put 10% awayWhy Celeste felt a drive to reinvent herself near age 40The way Celeste's partner inspired the title of this episodeWhy people should be a CEO's most valued assetWhat percentage of B2B leads LinkedIn drivesWhat percentage of traffic to your company website LinkedIn drivesSome specific LinkedIn tips Celeste shares In this episode…Celeste Berke Knisely, a partner in consulting firm TLR Consulting Group, works with executives on boosting their visibility, primarily on the LinkedIn platform. She has nineteen years of corporate experience in executive-level sales and marketing in the hospitality industry, is frank about the hard work business requires, and is hitting her stride at age forty.Celeste has always been driven and competitive, drawing inspiration from her MD father who, at 77 years old, just completed his last Ironman. She applies that drive to juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship, marriage and health goals, setting her sights on helping others, especially women, break the mold and advance in their marketing effectiveness.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Celeste Berke Knisely discuss why CEOs need to be approachable and view people as their most valuable asset. Celeste shares impressive statistics about the effectiveness of LinkedIn for business leads and breaks down exactly how to use it to your organization's greatest advantage. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInCeleste Berke Knisely on LinkedInTLR Consulting GroupWhat CEOs Talk About Episode 26 ‘Put Your Mask On First' with Ryan HindmarshField of DreamsPlanes, Trains, and AutomobilesKalidasa, The Supreme PoetSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Kevin Tighe is the Founder & CEO of San Diego-based Beachly Brands, which builds subscription and digitally native brands rooted in beach, outdoor and active lifestyles. Under Kevin's leadership, Beachly has been selected twice to the INC 500 – INC Magazine's annual list of the fastest growing private companies in America. Kevin is a passionate entrepreneur, startup mentor, and non-profit volunteer. Born in Washington DC, Kevin migrated to the West Coast to attend the University of Southern California. While at USC, he started his first business and has been a serial entrepreneur ever since. He has over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, eCommerce, subscription commerce, and entrepreneurship. Kevin is among the select few who qualify as both a visionary and integrator. This quality gives him the unique ability to dream big and then distill his vision into an actionable and achievable plan. Kevin serves on the Board of Directors of Sustainable Surf, a non-profit focused on promoting and restoring ocean ecosystems. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of San Diego Sports Innovators. During his free time, you will likely find Kevin at the beach or in the ocean, surfing, paddle boarding, or racing outrigger canoes.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How surfing and entrepreneurship were in Kevin's blood from a young ageWhat Kevin loves about surfing and the oceanThe alignment between the idea of the next big wave and life's next opportunityKevin's two failed businesses and what they taught himHow much the right people and values matter to a solid businessWhy Kevin says “authenticity is extremely important to build brand”Why Kevin chose a self-funded launch for Beachly BrandsThe angel investors and subscribers who made the difference for KevinWhy Kevin is targeting healthy growth over the “growth at all costs” mindsetIn this episode…Kevin Tighe is an entrepreneur, passionate surfer, and Co-Founder/CEO of Beachly Brands. He is doing well, living in a home near to his thriving business, which is similarly near to the ocean. But Kevin's message is that good business takes patience, and he learned through failures that the people you choose and the values you share matter to choosing your next wave of opportunity. Kevin gives Martin insight into his two entrepreneurial ventures that failed in his mid-twenties, opportunities he thought were really going to work. When he made his next move into his current business, he focussed more on building around his passions and finding the right partner who would share his focus on building authenticity into the brand.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Kevin Tighe discuss the details of how Kevin funded Beachly Brands and why he felt strongly about putting his own money in after the experience of losing other people's money with his earlier companies. They break down Kevin's choice of investors, his mindset on sustainable growth, and what he sees in his company's future. This episode gives invaluable insight into a seasoned entrepreneur's path to success.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInKevin Tighe on LinkedInBeachly BrandsMark HealeyBlue StartupsHawaii AngelsLighter CapitalVessi‘The Hard Thing About Hard Things' by Ben Horowitz'The Man in the Arena' quoteSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Chris McPhee is a Professional EOS Implementer®. He implements the Entrepreneurial Operating System® to help entrepreneurs get what they want from their businesses. EOS® is a management operating system that harnesses human energy — delivering better results for businesses and more fulfilling lives for the people who run them.Chris' passion is helping entrepreneurial, growth-oriented business leaders connect their visions with day-to-day operations to take their company to the next level. He has experienced first-hand the ups and downs of a high-growth entrepreneurial business and how difficult it can be to balance dedication to employees, family, and customers. He has used EOS® with great success and has seen the results in businesses when these simple, practical tools are applied. You have vision and passion, but you also need structure and organization to truly see your vision come to life.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Chris McPhee's foundation in an entrepreneurial familyHow EOS implementation made a difference to Chris' businessHow Chris was noticed for living out the core value of customer serviceWhy Martin says “traction before vision” stands out in EOSWhat is meant by “rocks”Chris' explanation of the visionary integrator mindsetHow Chris breaks down riskWhat is meant by a “lagging indicator”How to approach the question “what do you want from your business?”In this episode…Chris McPhee emerged from an entrepreneurial family and, in time, started his own consulting company. Throughout his business career, he came across the book “Traction” and the Entrepreneurial Operating System, and the implementation of that system made the eventual sale of his company more attractive to the acquiring buyer. Today he works as a Professional EOS Implementer, bringing his wealth of experience and knowledge to assist other entrepreneurs.Chris has learned that customer service, the people in any business, are what really matter and it has become part of both his EOS and personal journey to coach and mentor young entrepreneurs. He leans into how growth is important but not just growth for the business, but personal growth as well. What are the goals you personally want to reach through your business?In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Chris McPhee talk about the tools of EOS and how those tools affect a business positively if the implementation is something an entrepreneur leans into. They discuss risk, results, being people-driven, being visionary, and how entrepreneurship can benefit from the three practical tools found in EOS, identified as vision, traction, and health. This is a key episode for all entrepreneurs.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInChris McPhee on LinkedInEOS Worldwide - Chris McPhee‘Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business' by Gino WickmanSeth GodinSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
AJ Harper is an editor and publishing strategist who helps authors write foundational books that enable them to build readership, grow their brand and make a significant impact on the world. AJ is a writing partner to business author, Mike Michalowicz. Together they've written six books, including Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, and their latest, Fix This Next. Through her Top Three Book Workshops and Retreats, AJ empowers authors with insider publishing knowledge and guides them through the book development, writing, and editing process. Along with Mike Michalowicz (Profit First) and book launch expert, Amber Vilhauer, AJ is the co-founder of AuthorUpLive, a one-of-a-kind book launch workshop. As a ghostwriter and developmental editor, AJ has worked with newbies to New York Times bestselling authors with millions of books sold. Her author's books have received national and international recognition, including multiple awards each year, starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and inclusion in “Best of” lists in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. AJ is the Head Writing Coach for Heroic Public Speaking, the premier public speaking training program founded by Michael and Amy Port, and developed their online speech development curriculum. She is part of the coaching team for TEDx Cambridge, one of the longest-running and largest independently organized TED events in the world. AJ lives with her wife and son in New York's Lower Hudson Valley.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:AJ Harper's formative Gen X years in librariesHow her son inspired her to turn away from theater into freelance writingThe particular skill set that a good ghostwriter needsWhy fast publishing is a discredit to authorsWhy a learning disability won't stand in the way of someone writing a good bookThe different editors at each stage of the editing process and what they doWhy a good nonfiction book really needs to consider the reader and what they needHow to tell a really good book recommendation from a perfunctory oneWhat trade review publications to trustAJ's seventeen-item checklist that walks you through up-leveling your manuscriptAll the books AJ would recommend in a specific situation and whyIn this episode…AJ Harper is a current editor and publishing strategist who teaches workshops to help authors write transformational books and is the head writing coach for Heroic Public Speaking. AJ understands writing and books so the title of this episode, Write Better Books, is exactly on point and she leaves Martin and listeners with a lot to ponder.Inspired to write by the character of Jo March in Louisa May Alcott's “Little Women”, AJ eventually went freelance in the world of ghostwriting where she says her theater background helped her find author's voices. What she also learned about the nonfiction genre is that people want to be moved to make a change. To that end, she considers a book's promise to a reader as a sacred contract. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter receives amazing writing encouragement from guest AJ Harper. AJ assures Martin that his dyslexia would not prevent him from writing a great book and explains the various editors and what they give to a book's journey to print. AJ advises on how to find connection with your reader, why editors are there to discuss your motivations with you, and what book recommendations to trust. Dive into this episode and prepare to be inspired.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInAJ Harper websiteAJ Harper LinkedIn‘Write A Must Read' by AJ HarperMichael PortTim Ferriss booksRyan Holiday booksSimon Sinek books‘Love Medicine' by Louise Erdrich‘Intuitive Editing' by Tiffany Yates Martin‘Illusions' by Richard Bach‘The War of Art' by Steven PressfieldSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Josephine Kwan is the Founder and CEO of Flow 2 Freedom Apparel. Josephine's passion is to empower people to explore every opportunity by pushing through all uncertainties to unleash their potential. It's the reason she created Flow 2 Freedom Apparel and why she loves working with entrepreneurs at Spring Activator. Whether to ensure fair opportunities to participate by breaking down barriers for women and girls in sports or helping new immigrants successfully adapt their businesses in North America, it's watching others achieve their potential that drives her.Josephine's mission is to change the perception of periods through menstrual education and our line of patent-pending, eco-friendly leakproof activewear by providing tangible solutions to give women and girls the peace of mind and confidence to own their potential. Focus on the game and never let your period dictate what you can and cannot do.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Josephine Kwan's love of sports, business, and desire to leave a legacy combined to create Flow 2 FreedomThe truth about the distinct lack of menstruation education How fear shapes what we will and won't talk about in societyWhy ‘own your potential' fits as the tagline for Flow 2 Freedom and the title of this episodeStatistics on how many period-havers suffer from heavy periods and their isolation despite how common it isThe pervasive negative popular media casts on periods and period productsHow dads and male coaches can help break the taboo and keep girls and young menstruators in sportWhy Martin believes in giving these topics space on his platformJosephine's advice on how to treat and track periods and symptoms holisticallyIn this episode…Josephine Kwan was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, and graduated with a degree in kinesiology from her hometown. She worked as a strength and conditioning coach, spent thirteen years in the commercial real estate industry, and though she was doing well, she felt something was missing. She wanted to contribute to society. And that's when she drew on her personal history of heavy periods to develop the sports menstruation apparel line Flow 2 Freedom.Josephine struggled through her formative years with a heavy period and little to no education about her cycles from any source. She had been humiliated by a volleyball coach openly shaming her for needing to leave the court during a game, so she chooses to devote her efforts to ensuring young menstruators stay in sports and have education and support surrounding them.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Josephine Kwan talk about the taboo surrounding the topic of menstruation and how to combat that innate fear. Martin shares his views on the importance of inclusion and Josephine details physiological realities for women and menstruators, how education and nutrition can help combat period symptoms, and why regarding periods holistically and without shame will benefit everyone.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInJosephine Kwan on LinkedInFlow 2 Freedom ApparelFlow 2 Freedom InstagramWhat CEOs Talk About Episode 63 ‘If You Don't Have Inclusion, You Don't Have Anything' with Katarina PolonskyDr. Georgie BruinvelsWild AI appFitr Woman appSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Jayesh Parmar was born in Saskatoon, Canada and now calls Vancouver, British Columbia home. He was the former CEO/Co-Founder of Picatic.com, which was acquired by Eventbrite in 2018. Jayesh is an active investor, a lifelong student, and has jumped back into being a Co-CEO/Co-founder of Gunkii, the world's sexiest tongue scraper. Gunkii incorporates his Indian roots and the Ayurveda system of medicine while embracing his teaching background and love of helping children. Giving back to the community and those in need has always been at the heart of what drives Jayesh's passion, alongside his mission is to build profit and purpose companies with team cultures that are immersed in giving, cheekiness, fun, and adventure.Jayesh is married to an amazing partner, Nicole. Together they are the proud parents to an incredible tiny human, Jai. When not spending time on building businesses, Jayesh loves spending his “off-time” coaching and hanging with his family.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Jayesh Parmar's pride in being born in SaskatchewanHow Picatic sprang from a problem Jay wanted to solve for himselfWhat the term ‘value consideration' means to JayHow Martin defines ‘operational excellence'What shifted for Jay during COVID that led to founding GunkiiThe lessons about failure that Jay learned in San FranciscoWhy Jay advises to “chop wood and carry water”What Jay is focused on now and what it means to himIn this episode…Jayesh Parmar is a proud native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan who now resides in Vancouver. His entrepreneurial spirit was evident right from university when he started a party company with a BDC $3,000 student business loan in 1997. Eventually that little company started doing their own events, and those events led to a problem Jay wanted to solve: namely, how to streamline the then-burdensome record store physical ticketing system. This is how he came to found the online ticketing and management company, Picatic. Picatic was eventually acquired by Eventbrite, in 2018. Jay is currently co-founder of Gunkii.com - the world's sexiest tongue scraper - with his wife, Nicole. He learned a lot of valuable lessons about leadership and operational excellence through his business journey, and he carries those lessons with him today. During his time at Picatic, he valued customer experience so much that in the early years he'd help organize events and work the door, and his presence at events continued as the company grew. He always wanted to know if the customer was happy.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Jayesh Parmar delve into why failure is, to quote Jay, “a data point” and something that imparts valuable information about your process and growth. Jay explains some of his own failures and how he is proud of them, despite their difficulty. He speaks to the importance of perseverance, radical candor, and redefining what success looks like for him. His sincerity and insightfulness are not to be missed.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInGunkii.comJay Parmar on LinkedInJay Parmar email: j@gunkii.comSadhguru‘Atomic Habits' by James ClearHarvard Business Development course: The Authentic LeaderSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Founder and Principal of Better Your Best Business Performance Specialists for over 12 years, Carolyn de Voest works with leaders to achieve and exceed their best. Through coaching, consulting, training, and speaking, Carolyn and her team of associates equip organizations to enhance their leadership, optimize their teams, and get results. She believes that to be successful, businesses need to put their people first, foster cultures of ongoing learning, and continuously engage in courageous conversations. Carolyn has a degree in Education from McGill University and numerous coaching certificates, including the Co-Active Coaching Certification through the Coaches Training Institute. She is the past chair of the Strachan Hartley Foundation and is a current volunteer coach for West Vancouver Field Hockey, as well as instructor in the local Junior Achievement program.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Carolyn de Voest's first business venturesWhat everyone's purpose in life should beHow Carolyn defines the word coachWhy Carolyn likes to ask questions of leaders and clientsThe three questions she likes bestWhy wanting to earn money, in the context, according to Martin and Carolyn, is not evilTactical ideas for creating a coaching cultureThe coaches Carolyn looks up toThe books Carolyn recommends to feed the head, heart, and soul of leadersIn this episode…Carolyn de Voest was instilled with an entrepreneurial and independent spirit by her father in childhood. She learned to make her own opportunities and incorporated her first business, called Play Like A Girl Athletics, at age 21. She translated that natural passion to lead, and to coach others to achieve their best into Better Your Best: Performance Business Specialists.Carolyn chose the title Walking Each Other Home because she believes it's important to remember that it's our humaneness that connects us and that our purpose is to help and serve each other. Through coaching, she strives to empower people, to lead them into the autonomous ability to solve their own problems and face their own challenges. She asks questions of leadership: What do you want? Who are you? How are you going to make it happen?In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Carolyn de Voest discuss leadership and coaching, why connectedness and a sense of service are important to retain, and how she views the responsibilities of coaching in a business context. Martin and Carolyn explore the values of personal awareness, how to quantify Walking Each Other Home, and the realities of caretaking one's health and wellness in this vital conversation.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInBetter Your BestCarolyn de Voest on LinkedInCarolyn de Voest on TwitterCanada Suicide Prevention ServiceTracy Hutton, LululemonKathy McLaughlin, McLaughlin & Associates‘Dare to Lead' by Brené Brown‘Measure What Matters' by John Doerr‘The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership' by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, & Kaley Warner KlempSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Kasey Jones is founder of A Better Jones and a growth consultant, executive coach, and leadership trainer to entrepreneurs and their teams. She has consulted, coached, mentored, or trained 100s of Founders to help them grow their revenue and themselves. She has a knack for doing big things with limited resources and helping people find their purpose and unlock their potential.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Insight into Kasey Jones' childhood and tumultuous teenage yearsHow she went from graduating Reed College to sales before eventually landing in marketingThe experience two years ago that landed Kasey in hospitalThe kinds of trauma we can experience in lifeHow Kasey healed from her experience and what she learnedWhy Kasey views telling your story as positive and healingHow social media can help get your story into the worldWhat the podcast title means to her personally and professionallyIn this episode…Kasey Jones, founder of A Better Jones, joins Martin Hunter to explore the topic of “Get Your S**t Together”. Kasey shares some of the early life experiences, like changing schools three times in three years, that shaped choices her parents made in response to her acting out. She reveals how ultimately the experiences made her independent and very gritty. Kasey shares how an experience she had two years ago that gravely injured her, actually gave her time to address her life and heal not only from that major Trauma, but from all the cumulative “little t” traumas she'd gathered in life and not dealt with. She and Martin discuss the revelations of her journey and what she learned.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Kasey Jones break down how traumas and personal trials can accumulate if we don't learn to deal with them. They discuss the positive power of social media, not being afraid to identify your message and share it, and how self awareness is not only personally healing but professionally powerful. Kasey Jones' story and advice is profound and directly applicable to whatever stage of life's journey you're on.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInA Better JonesKasey Jones on LinkedInKasey Jones on Instagram‘Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less' by Greg McKeown‘Who Not How' by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan‘Rocket Fuel' by Gino Wickman and Mark C. WintersSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Martin Hunter is the managing partner of URGEO and host of What CEOs Talk About. He is not afraid to roll his sleeves up and get into the guts of a business. Martin has the exceptional ability of translating vision into frontline operations. He is an energetic, authentic, and engaging leader who lives to inspire people of all ages and walks of life. His strengths in leadership were learned through 10 years of active military experience where he learned the implementation of KAIZEN systems.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:The intent behind meetingsWhy being transformational in relationships is importantHow meetings factor into relationship building and maintenanceWhat message your unexplained lateness or absenteeism sendsHow to factor an attention refresh into your meeting preparationFostering respect through communication in regards to unavoidable latenessWhy your intention in meetings must be deliberateBeing thoughtful in regards to timeSponsors for This EpisodeThis episode is sponsored by STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services.In this episode…Host Martin Hunter addresses punctuality and calendars to examine what messages you may be sending through lateness or breaking appointments without communication. Martin takes the time to break down why schedules matter to both parties involved and how relationships are both built and maintained through mutual respect.Martin asks vital questions of everyone in this episode. Are you putting your meetings back to back and therefore not giving yourself time to be transformational in your relationships? Do your meetings actually matter? Even in a Zoom meeting, he points out that there is an actual person on the other end of that meeting with their own desire to talk and listen. Respect for that time is key.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter breaks down what sharing information is all about and why respecting the time and humanity involved in meetings is important. He asks listeners to consider what message being late sends, how to schedule time for preparation between meetings, and why notice of emergent circumstances that may disrupt your schedule is key to respecting relationships.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInWhat CEOs Talk AboutLet Martin know what tools you use to manage your time. Share your thoughts.Sponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Greg Moser is an E-Commerce professional with over 20 years of experience in Online Marketing, Operations, Software & Fulfillment for E-Commerce businesses along with more traditional brands & retailers in aiding their transition online. In his role as President & CTO of ShipCalm, an E-Commerce Fulfillment company, and 3PL, he oversees all activities of ShipCalm's leadership team and works with hundreds of small and midsize business owners to help them optimize their operations and scale.ShipCalm is an E-Commerce fulfillment company and third-party operations & logistics provider for small and midsize businesses. With a modern approach to technology, and fulfillment facilities strategically located on both the east and west coasts, ShipCalm is the perfect partner to scale your company's operations.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How a birthday present changed a 12-year-old's lifeWhy he had to “ground” himself to build software after he made a recommendation that floppedHow hard lessons open new doorsWhy adversity builds bright futuresWhat laser-focused meansWhy you need to have milestones in businessWhy do you need to hear 100 “No”sWhy you need to understand your valuesSponsor for This EpisodeThis episode is sponsored by STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services.In this episode…Greg Moser was that surfer kid that grew into running a successful company ShipCalm. He explained that acting was never going to be his career; however, his laser focus brought him to software programming and building ShipCalm into a successful company. Greg talks about why tenacity and milestones in place will help you stay on track with clear direction.Greg talks about ShipCalm's values as a company and the importance of understanding the people who are working for you. Your top-level executives have different needs than your factory and front-line workers. Workers need various incentives.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Greg Moser, the President & CTO of ShipCalm, discuss the importance of having tenacity in business. Greg talks about why you need to pick a north star, grind through, and inspire your team to join you on the journey. One of the questions is: “How do you build a subculture within your organization?”Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInShipCalmGreg Moser on LinkedInHarland Sanders - The KFC Founder and A Story of Being Rejected 1009 TimesVolodymyr ZelenskyyMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Brenda Chamulak joined Tekni-Plex to lead the company's newly created Packaging Products division. She has nearly 30 years of packaging industry experience and brings a strong reputation for leveraging both growth-oriented and talent strategies to deliver double-digit returns for businesses. She is well versed in the broader packaging market. She has developed long-term relationships with key brands in several sectors – including healthcare, beauty, and food – to foster a spirit of partnership through a market- and solution-centric mindset.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How strength and warmth is the common denominator among inspiring leadersWhy you should embrace your natural abilitiesWhat is your common purposeHow to define yourself, your market, and drive growthWhy asking the right questions is essential, and listening for the answersWhat is the difference between transformational and transactional changeWhat are people's motivators?Change can be difficult for some peopleSponsors for This EpisodeThis episode is sponsored by URGEO.In this episode…Brenda Chamulak explains how being influenced by strong leadership from a young age and her career helped build her as a leader. When she joined Tekni-Plex she discovered that their customers did not know who Tekni-Plex was or how to ask them for help. Brenda moved Tekni-Plex from a customer-responsive organization to understanding the need of the markets by creating a strong guiding light for everyone in the Tekni-Plex organization to follow.Brenda and Martin discuss that when driving transformational change, you need to build trust, create clear direction, and provide regular transparent updates about the positives and negatives. Why do organizations need to have a flexible mindset when seeking to grow their businesses? Ultimately, by investing in transformation components, you make the entire organization so much better.In this episode of what CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Brenda Chamulak deep dive into transformational change. Brenda explains how giving everyone a seat at the table can add value and be part of the organization's alignment to help everyone see where they are going. Brenda tells us about fighting for the right acquisition to fill gaps in the organization and how it turned into the largest acquisition for Tekni-Plex.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInTekni-PlexTekni-Plex on LinkedInTekni-Plex on YouTubeTekni-Plex on TwitterConnect, Then Lead' Servant Leadership: A Journey Into the Nature of Legitimate Power' by Robert K GreenleafSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Arun Vijayaraghavan is a software leader in Broadcom Software, leading a central engineering group responsible for the DevOps infrastructure and Machine learning services. Over the past decade, Arun has led engineering, and product management teams focused on modernizing traditionally legacy products used in mission-critical areas such as supply chain management and core infrastructure software.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Why legacy software is still relevantWhat DevOps developers doWhat is the Modernization of technologyWhy you would want to modernize technologyWhy people and culture is an integral piece to modernizing techniquesThe impact of AI on modernization practicesHow COVID affected digital infrastructureThe connection between speed and simplicityThree key points to modernizing technologySponsors for This EpisodeThis episode is sponsored by STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services.In this episode…Would you rebuild a train station or airport? Or would you build and improve upon the current facilities? It is similar to legacy software. Sometimes it is better to build on to the current system instead of starting from scratch. There is always a way to expand what you have with modernized technology without disrupting its core. Arun Vijayaraghavan the R&D Director at Broadcom Software uses his experience in supply chain software and interest in machine learning to help teams move towards technology goals from a development operations (DevOps) perspective.Businesses who have specific goals and metrics in mind when looking at technology will have better success if they work backward from that goal or metric. Arun explains how legacy infrastructure can be modernized with current technologies allowing for expansion and protection, which can significantly speed up processes and simplify the experience for the consumer. Arun discusses that AI and COVID are pushing companies to seek technology modernization.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Arun Vijayaraghavan discuss the importance of modernizing legacy software to serve consumers better. Modernization is about improving and investing in what you have. Arun summarizes what he thinks is essential to this process; having a goal in mind, not assuming software can't be modernized, and the importance of people and company culture.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInArun Vijayaraghavan on LinkedInBroadcomBroadcom on LinkedInBroadcom on TwitterWhat Do CEOs Need To Know and Do For Cyber'The 4 Hour Workweek' by Timothy FerrissSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Sam Chang is a serial entrepreneur who started his journey as a door-to-door meat salesman in college. After making nearly $2000 on his fourth day on the job, Sam decided to drop out of school and work with a door-to-door sales company. While he was there, he helped grow that team from 25 agents to 300 agents selling for one of Canada's largest telecom companies. Since then, Sam has helped scale companies of all industry types and sizes, including the most recent company he started, VTMEMBER, which he scaled from 0-65k a month in monthly recurring revenue in 6 months.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Why the dog-eat-dog mindset will be the downfall of the corporate worldHow VTMEMBER combats taking advantage of lesser income countriesWhy cold calling is a superpowerHow leading from the front produces the best resultsWhen was the last time someone told you noHow failure and success correlateHow Sam's business plan builds loyalty and accountabilitySponsors for this episodeThis episode is sponsored by STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services.In this episode….How does being a door-to-door salesman inspire someone to start their own business and earn over $65,000 a month in their first six months? Sam Chang, a Taiwanese Canadian out of Vancouver, did just that. After dropping out of university at 19, he used his sales experience to climb the corporate ladder. He now uses his expertise in sales and cold-calling to guide his company VTMEMBER, a virtual assistant company, to new heights.Sam recalls two instances where the dog-eat-dog way of the corporate world caused him to snap and leave. The corporate world's structure employs what Sam termed the “Golden Handcuffs”. However, through this adversity, he rose and built VTMEMBER. By creating opportunities for employees within the company, he has created a space that encourages career development and growth.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Sam Chang discuss how the corporate world keeps people within its clutch with Golden Handcuffs. VTMEMBER extends worldwide and was built with both employees and consumers in mind. Applications like Zoom have allowed businesses to take on global expansion. Sam and Martin discuss how his unique business structure challenges global inequalities and builds loyalty within his company.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInVTMEMBERSam Chang on LinkedInSam Chang on InstagramSam Chang on Facebook'The 4 Hour Workweek' by Timothy FerrissBook: Wolf of Wall StreetMovie: Wolf of Wall StreetSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Liz's workshops and book are for people wrestling with the big questions of life. They may be on a healing journey already, or maybe they're feeling lost and yearning for something more. They might have anxiety or depression - or perhaps they're just thinking, “There's GOTTA be more to life.”Her core message is that our childhood coping mechanisms are not meant to be permanent.Liz wrote this book because it took her fifty-eight years to figure out most of her shit. And that's okay. She definitely doesn't have everything sorted out. But, Liz learned a few things that she wanted to share. Things that will help other people figure out their own stuff sooner.When Liz was six years old, her favorite aunt, Linda White, disappeared at the age of nineteen. As Liz's mother moved into the role of crisis management, she completely checked out of parenting. They moved into her grandparents' house, and Liz grew up in Linda's bedroom. They all endured five very long years of not knowing if she was even alive. And today, more than fifty years later, Linda's case remains unsolved.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: A tale from Liz's childhoodWhat Liz terms “Victimtown” and the places withinMartin's implementation of “fear-setting” as a CEOUse of our “heart-voice” to talk back and calm fearConversation techniques to destigmatize talking about mental healthTools to dealing with stressors and strugglesHow visiting “Victimtown” can be beneficialIdentify root causes to recognize and fix problemsSponsors for this episodeThis episode is sponsored by STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services.In this episode….Liz Long is about to turn 60 and is in the beginning of her third career, where she feels she is finally meant to be. She started out in accounting with other entrepreneurial experiences over the years. Liz then moved to her second career of managing a team of agents in the residential industry. Now she is a mental health advocate by sharing her story through writing and publishing a book about her mental health journey.Liz shares an excerpt from her book Victimtown, an Unavoidable Destination, and the Gifts it Offers, prompting the overall discussion of what “Victimtown” is and the places within. Through this Liz, and Martin are able to hit on key tools CEOs can use to discuss and deal with mental health in both the workplace and personally.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Liz Long discuss mental health and how, through her analogy of “Victimtown” talking about mental health in the workplace can be less daunting. Liz highlights how childhood development can greatly affect coping mechanisms and tools to deal with stressors. Liz and Martin discuss how therapy can help in recognizing and fixing negative coping mechanisms.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInLiz Long WritesLiz Long on LinkedInLiz Long Writes on FacebookLiz Long Writes on InstagramMelody Beattie - BoundariesSTS Capital PartnersAltruvest Charitable ServicesSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Hailing from London, UK, and having lived across Slovakia, Russia, Italy, Spain, Brazil, the UAE, and now living in Vancouver, Canada, Katarina Polonsky has a Masters in Gender Studies from the University of Oxford. An experienced Diversity, Equity and Inclusion professional, her specialism is bringing DE&I to corporations to foster better working environments, happier employees, and more efficient teams.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Katarina Polonsky explains the difference between inclusion and diversityHow when you only focus on diversity in day to day operations can isolate employees and breed resentmentWhy inclusion produces happier and more productive employeesHow to drive behavioral changeUnderstanding and celebrating where people come from and how to apply it to businessHow to build your awareness of yourself and recognize the different things in life that have given you a leg upWhat are you giving up by helping others?Why entitlement breeds resentment and angerSponsors for this episodeThis episode is sponsored by STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services.In this episode….Katarina Polonsky brings a worldly viewpoint to her work with businesses and organizations looking to bring a breath of fresh air to their companies. Following the me too movement, the events surrounding the death of George Floyd, and a worldwide pandemic. Businesses and organizations are having to look at how to move forward in this rapidly changing world.Companies that are using logic, reason, compassion and empathy to create psychological safety workspaces to guide people are finding that their productivity and worker retention is higher. People are happier where everyone wins and a community is strong. There is now hope in a once bleak looking world.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and guest Katarina Polonsky talk about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Katarina explains why business and organizations need to be working more on inclusion and less on diversity. Keep your employees sane, happy and more productive. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInKatarina Polonsky on LinkedInMindGymPrevious Episode: It Takes Intentional Solutions For Intentional Problems with Jason MercerDolly ChughSTS Capital PartnersAltruvest Charitable ServicesSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
In 1996, Jay and his team launched a website design division which eventually landed the Backstreet Boys band as a client. They knew from that point on, they'd always "Want it That Way" and in 2001, spun-off the division as a separate company.Today, Firespring has thousands of clients in all 50 states and all over the world. It became Nebraska's first Certified B Corp in 2014 and was named by Inc. Magazine in 2016 as one of America's "50 Best Workplaces." Jay has invested in more than 50 startups and is a passionate advocate for the Silicon Prairie having served on the Nebraska Angels BOD since its inception.Jay and his wife, Tawnya, have a goal to "have a meaningful experience together in 100 countries." He sits on several nonprofit boards and is an avid supporter of programs that embolden our youth to become servant leaders. Jay has appeared on CNN and other news outlets discussing the evolution of purpose-driven companies and is considered a leading authority on social entrepreneurship, modern marketing practices and the nonprofit sector.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Jay Wilkinson's youth surrounded by entrepreneurs in NebraskaHow he came to found Firespring, and the name transition it went throughWhy Jay believes capitalism doesn't have to be an evil influenceHow Firespring is structured to be an evergreen companyWhat the Power of 3 meansHow Firespring will transition towards an ESOP model (and what that is)The purpose of the 11 minute Firestarter meetingHow The Do More Good Movement came aboutThe accountability and beauty of being a B CorpThe one quote that inspired everything behind Do More GoodSponsors for this episodeThis episode is sponsored by STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services.In this episode….Jay Wilkinson grew up in Nebraska, in a family of entrepreneurs that stretches back to his great grandparents. His first business mentor was his grandmother who lived to be 103 and was friends with Buffalo Bill. Jay took the hard work rooted upbringing to heart and worked it into his entrepreneurial wiring, starting several businesses in college, many of which failed, all of which taught him a lot. Today he is the Founder and CEO of Firespring, a marketing agency that is a certified B Corporation known for the good work they do in their communities.Jay has structured Firespring to be an evergreen company that is transitioning to ESOP, an employee stock ownership program. He is passionate about doing good, doing right by employees and stakeholders, and about serving people more than simply lining pockets with profit. To that end he has also founded the Do More Good movement: a movement whose purpose is to help companies “evolve on their path to purpose and become Benefit Corporations”. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Jay Wilkinson discuss how corporations can redirect focus towards people to upend the “evils of capitalism” belief permeating today's culture. Jay discusses key strategies Firespring employs to engage with communities and ensure all employees are not only valued but active in giving back alongside the company. Jay and Martin share visions for the future and Jay's “focused, powerful, positive energy”, as described by Martin, is both inspiring and encouraging. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInJay Wilkinson on LinkedInFirespringDo More Good MovementROI of Why podcast‘Firms of Endearment' by Raj SisodiaStephen Grellet quoteSTS Capital PartnersAltruvest Charitable ServicesSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Matthew Newman is a driven, results orientated individual that embodies, passion, determination and pride in every aspect of life. He excels at creating/capitalizing on networks, liaisons and business connections, while negotiating/managing joint ventures and strategic partnerships with customers. He is an expert at partnering with all core business operations to significantly increase the company's footprint, while expanding market share and generating sustainable revenue gains. With an M.A. in Organizational Leadership, he is a team builder with strong strategic ability and management skills.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:What servant leadership meansThe value of culture in a corporate environmentHow Matthew builds culture within his team during COVID times and remote workWhy Matthew values empowering people through his leadershipHow Alpha Foods has thrived despite the challenges of COVIDWhat leadership course Matthew went through and recommendsWhy it's important to encourage people not to be afraid of decisions and mistakesSome of the authors Matthew has learned fromIn this episode….Matthew Newman is the Senior Vice President at Good Foods Group LLC. His 22+ year career has taken him through a wide array of management and sales roles and given him great experience with and insight into effectively leading people. From his early days of earning a Masters Degree while working and parenting three young children, Matthew has learned that empowering people is the key to success.Matthew follows a model called servant leadership in his management career. The philosophy behind it is simple: to put others first and empower others to succeed. There is a cascade effect that comes with a servant leadership mentality, one that resonates from leaders out into teams: it brings everyone together and into greater unified interaction. Part of building culture is empowerment and connection, especially in the disconnect of COVID times when much of our interaction becomes focused on a screen instead of person to person.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Matthew Newman discuss the benefits of a servant leadership philosophy on a company's success and how it can translate into greater fiscal return. Matthew stresses the importance of empowering your people, of building a culture based on who people are and not just what work they do, and how coaching and mentorship encourage greater success than simply delegating or handing out solutions.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInGood Foods GroupMathew Newman on LinkedInSimon Sinek - ‘Circles of Safety'Franklin Covey - ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'Green MondayJohn MaxwellSponsor for this podcast...This podcast is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need toget in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Styron Powers' favorite earned title is Dad. He is the proud father of a beautiful, intelligent black woman! Styron Powers, a former Vice President, Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability Global executive (BP, ExxonMobil, Lockheed Martin, etc),has led teams in ~30 countries. He took his parent's mentoring on the power of education to heart and graduated from Harvard University Advanced Management; Rutgers University – MBA; and North Carolina State University BS in Chemical Engineering and Biological Science. In 2017, Styron retired from industry and today dedicates his time and investment expertise to assisting his blog readers in achieving financial freedom. He manages his family's multi-million-dollar rental property business and stock investment portfolio with his wife and daughter and authors the financial literacy blog WealthBuildingPowers.com.While happy to share his finance and investment lessons, he is NOT a licensed financial advisor or planner. Please do not construe suggestions in his blog or today's talk as recommendations for your situation. For individual financial advice, please seek your licensed CPA or financial advisors or, even better, improve your financial literacy. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Styron educated himself on financial mattersWhy he started his blogThe importance of delayed gratification and how it helps save moneyWhat a Roth IRA isHow planning for the future is a necessary considerationHow COVID exposed America's collective lack of savingsWho Styron sees coming to him for financial helpAlternate post secondary institutions to consider that don't incur Ivy League expensesThat it's not too late to learn to manage your moneyIn this episode….Styron Powers worked in health and safety for some very large corporations. His job, as he put it, was to protect life: the health, wellness, and physical safety of employees. Throughout his career he was able to work in 30 different countries and he met a lot of wonderful people. He also made a lot of friends who would tell him that they'd be working for the rest of their lives and when he asked why, they said they couldn't afford to retire. That's when he started reading about US financial management and how poorly many American manage their finances. Styron discovered that about 60% of Americans cannot afford a $400 emergency bill - be it car, heating, medical, or any other sudden cost. So he started writing a blog to help Americans understand how he had personally chosen financial freedom and how to achieve it for themselves. He also does coaching and mentorship - though he's careful to tell folks he's not a replacement for a licensed financial advisor - and passes forward the insights that financially helped him.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Styron Powers talk about a fundamental path to financial freedom; that of not spending more than you earn. Styron shares how he was raised to value money and instructed to always save a portion of it. He and Martin discuss delayed gratification, really thinking through purchases, and the vital necessity of planning for your future. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInPowers Investments Management, LLCStyron Powers on LinkedInWealth Building Powers on Instagram'The Millionaire Next Door' by Thomas J. Stanley Ph.D. and William D. Danko Ph.DRoth IRASuicide Prevention and Crisis Services in BCSuicide Prevention and Crisis Services in Canada'The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life' by Alice SchroederSponsor for this episode...Episode sponsors: STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services.This episode is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Known as the CISO Whisperer, Yael Nagler is trusted by CISOs because of her ability to ‘read the room' and to navigate corporate culture. She leads Yass Partners which delivers tools used by Security Leaders to amplify their impact. Over the course of her 20+ year career, Yael architected a framework for understanding the management operating system of organizations and explains it in ways security professionals understand and can operationalize.Yael begrudgingly admits that she has over 20 years of experience that spans startup and enterprise tech companies (Priceline, SAP-Ariba), as well as Financial Services (JP Morgan, BlackRock) and recently Health Tech. She has played leadership roles through corporate crises, acquisitions and divestitures as well as business growth and transformations. Over the course of her career, her roles continually increased in scope and responsibility. She's built and led teams across Information Security, Tech Risk, Procurement, Financial Planning and Analysis and Consulting. She attributes her success to having quickly figured out how to navigate each management operating system and understanding what was necessary to be successful. Yass Partners has quickly become the trusted partner for many enterprise and high impact CISOs and Security Programs. Yael is a contributor to the World Economic Forum's 2022 Global Cyber Outlook and is a frequent guest speaker to leadership circles and various industry roundtables. She is actively engages in various Security & Women Executive Networks and is an investor and advisor to a variety of technology and cybersecurity start-up companies.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:Yael Nagler's career trajectoryWhat Yael learned from early supportive bossesWhat the acronym DEAL stands forHow Enron taught Yael how to handle crises effectivelyWhat situational awareness is and how it plays into hiringKey components of cybersecurityHow important cybersecurity is in 2022How to assess your risk threshold and what to expect from your boardIn this episode….Yael Nagler was born internationally but grew up in the United States and graduated from Cornell University where she studied hotel management. After graduating she started working at Priceline and from that beginning, she entered a 20+ year career spanning startup and enterprise tech companies as well as financial services. The breadth of her experience and ability to understand what clients and employers alike need while navigating corporate culture have led her to wonderful success.Currently head of Yass Partners, Yael is a cybersecurity leader with solid advice for all CEOs and corporate executives. She has a keen insight into what strengths led her through her career journey and how to develop situational awareness in every workplace. She and Martin discuss the experience and understanding that each company and challenge offered her as well as how she effectively communicates her knowledge to the benefit those working with her.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Yael Nagler link situational awareness to cybersecurity and explore how understanding the fears, needs, and motivators for employees and clients alike assists in defining risk and mitigating it. Yael explains three key components in developing effective cybersecurity strategy and breaks down the reasons behind the need in a simple but memorable analogy.Sponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
José Azpiri was born in the city of Puebla, Mexico and immigrated to Canada in 2002. During his very successful career with Canada's top luxury tour operator, José noticed an opportunity to offer first class tours coupled with outstanding service in the Vancouver area. Evergreen Adventures was born! José established his own private sightseeing tour business focused on customer needs. “It was a natural fit, I knew I could bring something to the table that didn't exist in the city; luxury vehicles, the best tour guides and drivers in the city, proper uniforms and outstanding food made by gourmet Chef Marianne”. José , who is fluent in English and Spanish, loves spending time with his beautiful family; Marianne, an exceptional wife and mother, and his two energetic boys Sebastian and Esteban.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How José was first introduced to Canada as a boy growing up in Puebla, MexicoThe first impressions José had of Vancouver, BC during Expo 86The process José and his wife Marianne went through to immigrate to CanadaWhat companies José found work with and how they shaped his careerHow the luxury tourism industry became such a niche for JoséHow simple everyday interactions, as with a neighbor, can shape your futureWhy Martin refers to the journey José took with his career as a flow more than a linear progression and how that is beneficialWhat philosophy José maintains in dealing with employees and clientsWhy “value in intentionality” mattersWhat is the secret of the cookies?In this episode….José Azpiri grew up in Puebla, Mexico, but the seed of the dream of living in Canada was planted young. His family sent him to learn English by living with a family in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan for a summer. That exchange gave him friends and a place for his family to head back to together in 1986. From Prince Albert, Saskatchewan the family drove out to Vancouver, BC for Expo 86 and José told himself that one day he'd return. Years later, he and his wife Marianne started the process of immigrating to Canada, to Vancouver, and the dream came true. They started from nothing: they left family, friends, and work behind in Mexico and José immediately pushed to find a job in his new home.Within a month after that momentous move, José had his first job interview with Kiwi Collection and that would start him on a long, sometimes winding career in the Vancouver-based tourism industry. José started building on what he learned of the luxury travel business as well as aspects of the other companies he worked for to put in motion what would ultimately become his own luxury tour company. Today, alongside his wife Marianne who is a chef, he owns and operates Evergreen Adventures. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and José Azpiri discuss what Martin terms the “flow” of how José built his company from the ground up. José explains how he treats his customers, how each one matters individually, and how he works to make a memorable experience for each customer through special details. He and Martin explore what it means to have a dream and how to put in the patient and steady work to achieve it. José understands how to capitalize on opportunity and lean into personal strengths as well as the value of generous interactions with insightful people.Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInEvergreen AdventuresJosé Azpiri on LinkedInEvergreen Adventures on InstagramEvergreen Adventures on YouTubeKiwi CollectionSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Danielle Putnam, recognized by The News as The Top 40 Under 40, and Service World Expo as the 2021 Woman of the Year, is President of The New Flat Rate, Advisory Board Member and Past President of Women in HVACR, and is the Executive Director of her non-profit, Family Frameworks. Danielle has a personal connection with the home service industry. Her first job was passing out flyers door-to-door for her father's electrical business. She was 7 years old. In high school, she moved up to being an office dispatcher and parts runner. After college, she became the marketing director for an HVAC company in Oregon.Danielle knows home service, but she is also no stranger to big business. Before co-founding TNFR, she was the director of business development for a large digital services firm, pitching to C-level executives for big name companies. As part of her job, she also stood before multi-million-dollar investors, seeking capital for the publicly-owned company that she worked for.Danielle is dedicated to help grow the industry she grew up in and loves. As a public speaker, she promotes careers in the home service industry. When not in the office, she spends time with her husband and three children and enjoys hiking, snowboarding, reading and fine wines.Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn:How Danielle started The New Flat Rate in her father's garageHow entrepreneurial guilt at time off manifests in leaders and CEOsWhy Danielle views not delegating certain things as enabling complacent behaviorsMartin's advice surround the four cardinal rules of leadershipWhat Danielle's parents instilled in her and what she hopes to instill in her childrenHow to carve out and retain important family timeWhat Martin's immediate ‘no' isWhat “stagecoach leadership” means and how it can be used in your businessWhat Danielle hopes her immediate ‘no' will be in 2022In this episode….Danielle Putnam is no stranger to the home service industry or big business and she puts all that earned knowledge to work as President of The New Flat Rate. She started TNFR quite literally in her father's garage. She grew up in the family business of contracting before leaving for 11 years. She returned with solid training in business work environments and she credits that time with founding a solid peer aspect to her relationship with her father, respect that served both well in working together.From a young age Danielle learned to hone her entrepreneurial spirit; she got a job cleaning for a neighbor at age 12 so she could buy her own clothes, a move encouraged by her mother. Now with her tech company, The New Flat Rate, she provides the sales platform needed to increase cash flow for small businesses in the heating, air, electrical and plumbing home services industries. TNFR is rolling out beta for chimneys and launched an indoor air quality app last year. But Danielle is looking to learn more about leadership and wants to lean in to saying no to distracting opportunities so she can focus on enabling employees with challenges and zeroing in on what her business truly needs to grow. In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Danielle Putnam explore all the ways in which saying yes to too many things, such a necessary attribute in the starting years of business, must evolve into saying no to more things once the business is stable. They discuss how they keep devoted family time in balance while leading busy work lives and Danielle shares her recent gains in the art of saying ‘no' for the right reasons. Resources mentioned in this episode:URGEOContact email: info@urgeo.comMartin Hunter on LinkedInDanielle Putnam on LinkedInThe New Flat Rate WebsiteThe New Flat Rate on LinkedInJohn Maxwell‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen R. Covey‘How To Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale CarnegieMoneyball Master and CommanderSponsor for this episode...This episode is brought to you by URGEO.URGEO is the Latin for urge: A strong desire to drive change, stimulate thought, incite feeling, and encourage action. Martin Hunter and his team provide liberation for the CEO and Board of a company through their fractional COO services.URGEO's fractional COO services help to move you through growing pains so that your company can flourish and improve its profits.They have worked with a multitude of companies in SaaS, CPG, mining, and transportation, from start-ups to large multinational corporations. They specialize in helping companies avoid roadblocks and stay on the right strategic and operational track for growth.If you are a visionary and want an integrator to get everything done for you, then you need to get in touch with URGEO today.To learn more about their services, visit https://www.URGEO.com or email them directly at info@urgeo.com
Melanie Pump is an accomplished CFO, Director and business leader. She is also the author of ‘Detox: Managing Insecurity in the Workplace'. In the book, she shares her learnings and experiences on the impacts of toxic work environments. Melanie has appeared on CTV, FOX, ABC and Sirius XM. Her website, melaniepump.com, includes more helpful insight on how businesses and employees can reach their full potential.In this episode….Melanie Pump rose from receptionist to CFO, her current position with Brane Inc, but the journey that sets her apart is the one she traveled through and out of personal setbacks, childhood trauma, and grief. Throughout her struggles she experienced insecurity and doubt as well as the positive potential that a healthy workplace could inject into her situation. It is the combination of her life experiences and personal understanding of both healthy and toxic workplaces that led her to write her book, ‘Detox: Managing Insecurity in the Workplace' during the pandemic.Melanie understands the great impact a healthy workplace can have on employees from within the structure itself. While she followed the finance path in her career journey, she always had a keen interest in the people and HR side of things. She has experienced and observed how insecurity can be bred in the workplace through a variety of overt and subtle ways and, in contrast, how a workplace can instead uplift and support employees and bring them to a place where they feel safe both physically and psychologically.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter and Melanie Pump discuss the insights and lessons her book imparts. Melanie explains how low transparency in a job setting can lead to employees feeling insecure both in the role they play and in their overall job security. She advocates for clear and consistent communication as well as setting the “tone from the top” of positivity and inclusivity. She and Martin examine how C-Suite leaders can truly encourage staff and lead by creating healthy and productive workplaces.
Shamil Hargovan is an entrepreneur, CEO, and brand leader who has built award-winning products and services, consumer devices, B2B platforms, and applications generating over $4B in direct revenues. As STS Managing Director, Shamil leads sell-side M&A deals, supporting business owners and founders on their journey to a strategic exit.Shamil also co-chairs the STS Capital Success to Significance™ pillar focusing on social impact and legacy potential. He serves as CEO of Altruvest Charitable Services, an affiliated foundation of STS and a global not-for-profit organization that provides training and tools to improve the governance of community-based charities. Prior to STS, Shamil co-founded Wiivv Wearables, and as CEO, grew the company 68x in three years to become the largest supplier of custom 3D printed footwear worldwide.In this episode….Shamil Hargovan was born in Australia and spent his formative childhood years in Tanzania, before the family moved to Cupertino, California when he was a teenager. He laughs about what culture shock it was to go from sometimes not having reliable power supplies to the heart of Silicon Valley in a single move. Now a resident of Seattle, he has forged a successful career as an entrepreneur, CEO, and brand manager who currently works for STS Capital Partners and Altruvest Charitable Services. The idea of using his success and skills to give back to communities and those in need is one of his passions.Shamil notes that 85% of charities are underserved, unknown, or working as pillars in communities but without necessary visibility and that during the pandemic 66% of these small charities either went under or entered financial difficulties. Altruvest started with having heavy hitter consultants and executives going into charities to help with governance to improve process and assist in the ability to run in a sustainable manner. He now works to bring entrepreneurs, corporations, and individuals into Altruvest to pair them with charities of their choice as board members to facilitate stable growth and sound practices.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, host Martin Hunter talks with Shamil Hargovan about their shared passion for investing in the business of nonprofits with time, energy, and support as well as money. They discuss how there is a perception that people don't believe they have the skills to offer to a charity but that non-profit businesses are exactly that - businesses who still need finance experts, IT and marketing professionals, and leadership just as any other business does.
Jodi-Tatiana Charles is the founder and “Brandographer™” of LCG Brands, a unique brand and marketing consulting firm dedicated to educating entrepreneurs, small/medium businesses (SMB/SMEs), and international professionals on the importance of growing their personal and corporate brands.She brings 30+ years of executive leadership in marketing, branding and communication successes with high profile organizations, including the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, MassChallenge Inc., Massachusetts Governor's Office, Massachusetts Conference for Women, NBC Universal/Comcast TV, and Clear Channel Communications/iHeart Radio. When not absorbed with all things marketing, Jodi-Tatiana dedicates her time to children, elderly and cancer causes, through road races, mentoring and volunteering.In this episode….Jodi-Tatiana Charles is a Marketing Strategist, Global Speaker, Podcast Host, and Author. She founded LCG Brands and is passionate about educating entrepreneurs and business owners about growing their brands and thinking about their legacies, both personal and professional. Born in Haiti to Haitian parents, she is immensely proud of both her Haitian heritage and the endless sense of curiosity she was born with that matched the devotion to seeking knowledge and learning instilled in her by her parents.When Jodi-Tatiana was a child and wanted new clothes, her tailor father brought home sewing machines. He maintained that every day you wake up and learn something. This thirst for knowledge and profound sense of needing to learn and share what she's learned has driven her from a young age. She has earned nine degrees and pushed for success not just for her own career but so she can pass on what she knows to share her growing legacy with others. This is the message she stresses, as well: to learn and share what you know.In this episode of What CEOs Talk About, Martin Hunter and Jodi-Tatiana Charles talk about what a legacy truly means, how to expand your legacy by sharing what you know based on what your passions are, and how to design your own path on your own terms. Jodi-Tatiana encourages the pursuit of personal legacy and Martin relates how every inspiring thing she says can be applied directly to your business as a CEO.
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