Podcasts about austin under

EP:141 Hey THRIVE Community!   It's been four years since Jonathan passed. And in this episode, I'm bringing you into what healing has really looked like—not the polished version, but the real one. From turning my home into a space that finally feels calm… to raising two kids alone… to building a business while still navigating grief—I've done a lot of rebuilding. And it hasn't been linear. I'm sharing: What it felt like to film a vlog on the anniversary of Jonathan's death Why my Austin Under 40 nomination brought up way more than pride My recent Prenuvo health scan (and why I did it for more than just information) And how the team I've built at Thrive has helped me stay grounded—even when life still hits hard This episode isn't about having it all figured out. It's about continuing to show up for your life—even when it breaks you open. I hope it reminds you: you're allowed to take your time. And you don't have to do it alone. XOXO, Dr. B #ThrivelikeaParent #Grief #Healing #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #WomenEntrepreneurs #LifeAfterLoss #MindfulLiving Links & Resources:

In this week's episode of The Venue RX podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Cassie LaMere, founder of Cassie LaMere Events. Cassie opens up about her journey in the event planning industry, sharing how her personal experiences ignited a passion for crafting meaningful, impactful events. She explores the evolving world of corporate events, offering insights into how venues can tap into opportunities beyond weddings. Cassie also highlights the power of networking, the value of distinctive event spaces, and shares practical strategies for venue owners to boost their visibility and appeal. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the creative potential of nontraditional spaces and how the industry continues to shift toward more personalized, experience-driven gatherings.About Our Guest: Cassie LaMere is the Founder and Creative Director of Cassie LaMere Events, a premier luxury event planning firm known for creating extraordinary experiences with precision and style. With over 15 years in the industry, Cassie blends her passion for celebration with an eye for detail, designing bespoke events that reflect each client's unique vision.Driven by a philosophy of personalization and authenticity, Cassie leads a talented team dedicated to elevating every aspect of the guest experience. From intimate gatherings to high-profile corporate affairs, her events are known for their seamless execution, thoughtful design, and unforgettable moments.Cassie's influence extends beyond planning—she's a recognized leader in the industry and an active community advocate, serving on the board for the Center for Child Protection and earning nominations such as Austin Under 40. Her work continues to inspire, redefine standards, and leave a lasting impact.Find Her Here: Tel: 323.369.2432Email: cassie@cassielamereevents.com Website: https://www.cassielamereevents.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassielamereevents/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassielamereevents/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassielamereevents?lang=en

 Creativity through the lens of a founder and creative director of luxury events"For me creativity is very organic, there's an intuitiveness withing me."Blending a lifelong passion for exceptional event curation with a keen eye for detail, Cassie LaMere stands as a paragon in luxury event planning. As the Founder and Creative Director of Cassie LaMere Events, she has redefined the art of creating memorable experiences, merging meticulous design with a flair for the extraordinary. From her early days, Cassie was destined to dazzle. Her innate desire to transform every occasion into a cherished memory has been the cornerstone of her 15-year career. This journey has seen her evolve from a zealous entertainer into a venerated architect of bespoke events, celebrated for her commitment to excellence and innovation.The philosophy of personalization and authenticity is at the heart of Cassie LaMere Events. Each event is a tapestry of unique experiences woven with the threads of Cassie's diverse expertise across various sectors. This holistic approach ensures that every aspect of the event, from conception to execution, resonates with the client's vision and exceeds their expectations.Cassie's leadership extends beyond the realm of event planning. Her firm, a namesake testament to her dedication, is a collective of skilled designers and coordinators who share her enthusiasm for crafting joyous moments. Their work transcends the ordinary, creating luxury experiences that not only meet but anticipate the discerning standards of their clientele.Under Cassie's guidance, the team at Cassie LaMere Events has mastered the art of hospitality, ensuring that each gathering is marked by unparalleled attention to detail and a deep understanding of the guest experience. This commitment has culminated in events that are not just occasions but lifetime highlights, leaving an indelible impact on all who attend.Cassie's influence extends into the community through her active involvement and recognition in various prestigious circles. Her accolades include being a finalist and nominee in the Austin Under 40 Awards, a Center for Child Protection board member, and a celebrated participant in numerous philanthropic and industry events.Cassie LaMere Events, under Cassie's visionary leadership, continues to set new standards in the event planning industry. Each project is a testament to her ability to blend creativity with practicality, turning the impossible into the unforgettable. For Cassie, every event is not just a project but a canvas to paint memories that last a lifetime. Visit www.cassielamereevents.com for more information. https://www.instagram.com/cassielamereevents/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassielamereevents/https://www.cassielamereevents.com/Send us a text

Makenzie Stokel is the Co-Founder of EVA, an innovative platform that automates the process of booking entertainment for events. Makenzie has been a young leader in the events and entertainment industries since starting EVA while attending Belmont University. With degrees in Music Business and Entrepreneurship, she is passionate about creating paid performance opportunities for up and coming artists. She has been recognized as a leader in the Austin community on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and at the Austin Under 40 Awards. She currently serves on the boards of ILEA (International Live Events Association) and STEP (Society of Talent and Entertainment Professionals).During the chat with Karen and Jack you get to understand where that passion and drive came from. You will also here how the business has evolved over the years when faced with both challenges and opportunities. Keep a track of all that's going on with the Podcast via; www.theeventsinsight.com/www.linkedin.com/company/the-events-insight-podcast/www.instagram.com/the_eventsin/ See more about our Season Sponsor RedBox Events via;https://www.redboxevents.com/Find out more about our Shoutout Sponsor The Hospitality Partnership via;https://www.hospitality-partnership.com/Our Season Quickfire round Sponsor is Fuchsia Exhibition & Conference Services; https://www.fuchsia-exhibition-services.com/Our partnership with Standout Magazine is also worth following;https://standoutmagazine.co.uk/Music Credits go to;Artist: Cathrine RannusTitle: The Events Insight Theme MusicMusic from #Uppbeat:Forever - Sega Williams https://uppbeat.io/t/sega-williams/foreverLicense code: 7F5KY293FYDFNVEVFly Away - Mountaineerhttps://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/fly-awayLicense code: EKN0IYNUKGUXMCTWClarity - Zoohttps://uppbeat.io/t/zoo/clarityLicense code: GL25RXVDXIBQWSWL 

Let us delve deep into the transformative power of compassionate and strategic leadership in driving positive social change! In this episode, we explore the dynamic synergy between empathy and authenticity, uncovering their pivotal role in driving substantial impact within non-profit organizations and communities. Today, we converse with Alyssia Palacios-Woods, the Executive Director at Capital IDEA, who sheds light on harnessing these twin forces for meaningful change. Alyssia boasts over ten years of experience fostering workforce development initiatives in Central Texas, embodying the roles of a community builder and non-profit leader. With a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation, she remains steadfast in adhering to the highest standards of non-profit operations and fundraising. Notably, before her tenure at Capital IDEA, she led the Austin Young Chamber as its President & CEO, advocating for regional cooperation, fostering entrepreneurship, nurturing talent, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Alyssia's dedication extends to her involvement in various initiatives, including the Opening Central Texas for Business Task Force during COVID-19 recovery, the Austin Homelessness Task Force, and the National YP Week Advisory Council. Also, her contributions have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her nomination for the Austin Business Journal Profiles in Power in 2019 and her recognition as a finalist for Austin Under 40 in 2023.   In this episode, you will be able to: Discover strategic planning and community engagement tactics used by non-profits. Recognize the hurdles and triumphs in leading an established non-profit. Learn practical ways to form genuine connections with donors and stakeholders. Understand sustainable methods for securing long-term funding. Adapt to change and maintain resilience in challenging circumstances. Appreciate the value of empathy in organizational leadership. Develop strategies for navigating uncertain times while staying mission-focused. Get all the resources from today's episode here.  This week's episode is sponsored by NeonOne.  NeonOne is revolutionizing the way nonprofits connect with their communities. Their platform isn't just about technology; it's about crafting unforgettable generosity experiences. Learn more about how they're empowering nonprofits like yours at neonone.com/mallory Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point

259: How Do You Know if Nonprofit Leadership is for You? (Alyssia Palacios-Woods)SUMMARYAre you a nonprofit leader looking to enhance your strategic networking and professional development skills? In episode 259 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Alyssia Palacios-Wood, CEO of Capital Idea in Austin, TX, shares invaluable insights ranging from strategic networking and fundraising tactics to the significance of professional development and personal growth. Alyssia discusses the transformative power of board service in shaping leadership perspectives and the strategic advantages of pursuing certifications like CFRE. From navigating the complexities of fundraising to mastering calendar management, she offers practical strategies for success. Discover how she leverages strategic networking to forge meaningful connections and drive organizational growth. Through candid discussions on strategic networking, fundraising strategies, professional and personal growth, this podcast offers a wealth of actionable advice for nonprofit leaders navigating the complexities of their roles.ABOUT ALYSSIAAlyssia Palacios-Woods is a community builder and nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience supporting workforce development initiatives in Central Texas. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) dedicated to best practices in non-profit operations and fundraising. Prior to joining Capital IDEA, Alyssia served as the President & CEO of the Austin Young Chamber, where she championed regional collaboration, entrepreneurship, talent development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has been a member of the Opening Central Texas for Business Task Force for COVID-19 rebuilding, the Austin Homelessness Task Force, and the National YP Week Advisory Council. Alyssia was recognized as an Austin Business Journal Profiles in Power Nominee in 2019 and an Austin Under 40 Finalist in 2023. She received her bachelor's degree from St. Edward's University and her master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESEvicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew DesmondLearn more about Alyssia here.Ready for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!Have you read Patton's book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic SectorCheck out our new website, PMAnonprofit.com!

A native of Austin, Matt Fajkus holds a Master in Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where he completed his thesis work with Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rafael Moneo. Before going independent in 2010 and establishing MF Architecture, Fajkus achieved significant experience in architectural practice. While working for the world-renowned firm Foster + Partners in London for several years, he worked on the design of numerous high-profile, international large-scale projects. Starting at firms in 1998, he also worked on numerous small-scale award-winning projects while with Max Levy Architects in Dallas, Brinkley Sargent Architects, and Julie Snow Architects in Minneapolis. In 2012, Fajkus was awarded two AIA National Emerging Professional Awards.In addition to leading MF Architecture, Fajkus is a Tenured Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, where he teaches courses in design, technology, daylighting and integrated sustainability. He was awarded the 2022-2023 Faculty Award for Outstanding Studio Teaching in addition to being recognized with the University of Texas System Regents' 2013 Outstanding Teaching Award - the highest teaching honor awarded by the entire school system. Additionally in 2013, Fajkus was presented with the Faculty Scholarship Award for Innovative Practice, and the ACSA/AIAS National New Faculty Teaching Award. He has co-authored a book titled Architectural Science and the Sun [More info here], published by Routledge Publishers. Fajkus is a LEED Accredited Professional, a licensed architect, and a registered interior designer in the State of Texas. Fajkus was named the winner of the Engineering, Architecture and Design category at the 17th Austin Under 40 Award in 2015, and the winner of AIA Austin's Emerging Professional Achievement Honor Award in 2017. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://www.youtube.com/live/jcxoW-Qs5xM?feature=share Angel J Fajardo Angel's one true joy lies in the chaotic but collaborative process of filmmaking. You can find him behind the camera designing the shot or calling the shots as an AD or Producer. His directorial debut, Ward, won the Audience Choice for the 2022 Austin Under the Stars Film Festival. Ward will also be screening at the 2023 Garden State Film Festival. Description of the film: Upcoming Film: On his 18th birthday, Peter is forced to leave the safety of his foster home and reconcile with the past. EDWARD B. KESSEL: Composer / Producer / Director Multi-award-winning Composer/Producer/Director, Edward B. Kessel, founded Sound Imagination | Imagination Video, a music, video and audio production company in 1986. Ed was inducted into the NJ Advertising Hall of Fame in 2016 and has been producing music, commercials and entertainment projects for over 30 years. He has composed, orchestrated and produced music for Broadway, movies, TV, songs for major artists, jingles and commercial scores.  Konstantin Soukhovetski: 2019 Innovation Award Winner from Music Academy Of The West Konstantin has a singular artistic voice that communicates with and engages audiences the world over. Konstantin's creative output continuously innovates, frequently involving multidisciplinary projects with dance and film. In 2020 Konstantin joined the adjunct faculty of his alma mater The Juilliard School, where he received his BM, MM, and AD with Jerome Lowenthal. In 2022 Konstantin was named Director of Pedagogy and Narrative Musicianship at Bronx School For Music. This Season Konstantin's performances include return to NYC's Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

Heather's mission is to change food by strengthening local food systems so everybody wins: the community, our health, and our planet! In 2016, she founded Prep To Your Door in an effort to make that a reality. The company serves Austin and Houston organic, farm-to-table meals in zero-waste packaging. All products are plant-based, gluten and dairy free. Heather has spent the last 17 years rebuilding her life after being incarcerated for one year. Her promise upon release was to grow, be honest, and do good things. She's been named on Forbes, Austin Under 40, and graduated from Harvard University in 2020. For more information visit Prep To Your Door. To try out a meal click here!Connect with Heather! Instagram: Heather EmersonInstagram: Prep To Your DoorConnect with Mary!InstagramFacebookLinkedinTwitterWebsite

With more than two decades of experience leading branding and marketing campaigns for local and national clients, Maria is the Co-founder and CCO at MODintelechy as well as the Founder of Four Wings Marketing. Her work has earned over 85+ industry awards and Maria is passionate about giving back to the Austin community. She is a long-time supporter of Ballet Austin and Austin Sunshine Camps. She is on the Board of Directors for the Girls Empowerment Network and Center for Child Protection, where she is a founding member of the Guardian Angel Society.Maria has no shortage of wisdom to share."I wanted this and there was no plan B." "If you want something bad enough, you can make it happen." "I get inspired by seeing people doing big things and thinking bigger." "So much of life is about moving forward." "If your procrastinating about something start on it for 10 minutes and see how fast it can flow" "So many people don't get started because of a fear. I think starting eliminates a lot of the fear or at least it shows you what do be afraid of." "Fear is okay and being afraid to so something is okay, but you still have to do it if you want to reap the benefits." "There is so much more and wonderful when you focus on the good." " We just love to live." "Planning for the future is fine but what are you doing today?" "Everything at it's right time."Die with memories, not with dreams."I'm sure we've missed some...listen in to find your own inspirationJoin me and my guest, Maria Orozova, president and creative director of The MODintelechy as we talk about leading, branding, and marketing for local and national businesses. She shares her journey from immigrating to America from Bulgaria with her family to starting a small graphic design firm of her own to merging companies with her husband, and truly enjoying life.  In this episode, you will learn:·       Maria's immigrant story of moving to America·       Private and business relationships·       Maria's process of making big decisions·       Renovation and transfer of the company to a historic building·       True partnerships with clients·       And much more!~About Maria Orozova:As the Founder and CCO of MODintelechy, Maria has over two decades of experience leading branding and marketing campaigns for local and national clients. Her work has earned over 85+ industry awards, with special recognition as one of Graphic Design USA Magazine's “People to Watch.” She was named an Austin Under 40 Awards winner, an honor granted annually to Austin's emerging business and community leaders, as well as a winner in Austin Woman Magazine's Woman's Way Business Awards. Maria is also a featured writer for elite publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine and the Austin Business Journal. A dedicated philanthropist, Maria is passionate about giving back to the Austin community and is a long-time supporter of Ballet Austin and Austin Sunshine Camps. She serves on the Fashion Marketing Advisory Board for The Art Institute of Austin as well as on the Board of Directors for the Girls Empowerment Network (GEN) and Center for Child Protection, where she is a founding member of the Guardian Angel Society. In addition to her professional and volunteer duties, Maria has a wide range of personal interest

For more creative musings, come hang out with me on instagram @amyinfullcolorBook a free guided visualization with me here.Access Your Creative Night In for FREE.Learn more about Creative Action and get involved: www.creativeaction.orgKaren LaShelle is the executive director of Austin Together, an organization dedicated to strengthening nonprofits in Central Texas through sustained collaborations that increase capacity and maximize impact. Karen is a highly respected nonprofit leader and was instrumental in the success of Creative Action where she currently serves as part-time executive director of strategic initiatives. During her 20-year tenure at Creative Action, the organization grew from a grassroots startup into one of the largest arts education organizations in Texas, reaching more than 20,000 students every year. Karen has received many accolades for her leadership, including being named 2015 Mission Capital Executive Director of the Year, being recognized as a finalist for the 2012 and 2013 Ernst and Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year and receiving the 2011 “Austin Under 40” Award. Karen was a 2015 board member of the National Guide for Community Arts Education Leadership Institute and a co-chair of their Race Equity Committee where she is currently the Board Chair. She is also on the Board of The Thinkery. She holds a holds a BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MA in Community Based Arts from New York University.Discover more about me and my work: amyinfullcolor.com

On this episode Blessing and Andrea deep dive into the effects of a terrible work environment on the mental health of employees, how important it is for the workplace to be inclusive and how beneficial it is for employers to create a workforce that is intentional about retaining working mothers and caters to the needs of parents. They are joined by Sherrie Nguyen - Senior Manager, Product Marketing at Indeed & Stacy Peters - Manager of Learning Operations at Indeed who chat with them about the programmes and policies that indeed has in place to make sure that they create a workplace that promotes mental health, reduces burnout and absenteeism, increases productivity and provides adequate benefits for Indeedians and the global workforce Indeed caters to.   Sherrie Nguyen is a long-time Austinite, wife to her high school sweetheart Andy, and mother to 5-year-old Amaya. Originally from Houston, TX, Sherrie is the proud daughter of Vietnamese immigrants and first in her family to graduate college. She is an activist for working parents and caregivers, and she's on a mission to re-imagine a world of work centered on care. Sherrie has worked in tech for over a decade and is currently employed with Indeed as a Product Marketer and also Founder and Co-Chair of the Parents & Caregivers Inclusion Resource Group. She is the recipient of the 2021 Austin Under 40 Award for Technology. Sherrie mentors with the Young Women's Alliance and Breakthrough of Central Texas. Her happy place is swimming at Barton Springs or skateboarding. In her downtime, you can find her devouring a book or sharing deep belly laughs with her family. Stacy Peters is a Manager of Learning Operations at Indeed. Her role leads a Learning Operations group that drives effective learning experiences. They partner with Learning and Development teams to deliver learner-centered communication, innovative technology solutions and processes to help Indeedians learn and grow.  Additionally, Stacy is the Co-Chair of Indeed's Black Inclusion Group (BIG), Americas Region. Their mission is to foster an environment of growth and belonging for members of the African Diaspora and allies to promote a diverse and inclusive work culture and support business objectives. Stacy is also doing the single-mom life with her brave, intelligent and beautiful 13-year old. They both enjoy roller skating, good music, and tasty Trinidadian dishes! Sometimes, you can find Stacy on stage sharing one of her life-long passions - singing.   This podcast is in partnership with Indeed, the world's number one job site, a company committed to helping women find better work. Visit www.indeed.com/betterwork and join us as we #LevelUpWithIndeed. Become a member of the Mother Honestly Private Network by visiting www.motherhonestly.com/membership and if you are a Company seeking support for your employees and their families, visit www.motherhonestly.com/atwork to provide real solutions at home and at work. The Motherboard launched last month! Get feedback, coaching, and advice on big decisions with the nation's leading thought-leaders on the homefront and workfront, visit www.motherhonestly.com/motherboard to get personalized guidance tailored to you. You can also expense this cost as a stipend, Learning and Development, and or Professional Development You can visit our guest today at https://www.linkedin.com/company/indeed-com/  

How can you eat better and remain environmentally conscious?  How can you eat more sustainably?  How can I eat more healthily?  How can eating healthy be easier?  How can you care for your body and care for the planet? In this episode of Love Always, Self, Shyra and Karista welcome a guest, Heather Emerson, to share Prep To Your Door, a company co-created by Heather and her spouse, to bring good-for-you food straight to your door in environmentally conscious packaging, with a goal of also being good for the planet.   Heather's mission is to change food through strengthening local food systems so that everybody wins: the community, our health, and our planet.  In 2016, she founded Prep To Your Door in an effort to make this mission a reality. The company serves the Austin and Houston areas with organic, farm-to-table meals in zero-waste packaging.   Heather has spent the last 15 years rebuilding her life after being incarcerated for one year. Her promise upon release was to grow, be honest, and do good things. She graduated from University of Texas with degrees in Mathematics and Linguistics, and with her Masters from Harvard University in 2020.   Her proudest accomplishments are winning : "FAVE Sustainable Business" in 2019,The prestigious Austin Women's Way Award for “Business to Watch,” and named as Forbes Next 1000 for 2021.  She was also a finalist for Austin Under 40 Awards in 2020 and the winner for Austin Under 40 Awards in 2021. : Guest Links: Prep To Your Door: - Website: https://preptoyourdoor.com/ - Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/PTYD - Instagram: @preptoyourdoor : Episode Suggestions: Episode 41: What Causes Judgment Towards Yourself and Others? Episode 38: Finding a Balance Between the Spiritual and the Physical Episode 37: Intuitive Living and Connecting Deeper with Self Episode 31: Connect w/Source by Connecting w/Self Episode 27: Are You A Victim of Your DNA? Episode 21: Is It Spiritual or Is It Science? // A Correlation Between Science and Spirituality : Social Media:  Website - https://www.lovealwaysself.com/ Linktree - https://linktr.ee/lovealwaysself Have a topic you'd like us to discuss? Email Us!: contact@lovealwaysself.com  : #PrepToYourDoor #wasteless #eatbetter #sustainable #healthconscious #earthconscious #health #wellness #environmentallyconscious #wholefoods #loveself #loveearth #earthlove #selflove #delivery #lovealwaysself #lovealwayselfpodcast

This is a must-listen conversation with the inspiring Amir Husain, where we discuss his extensive knowledge and experience in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We dive deep into topics such as the evolution of machine learning, AI systems used in National Security Defense, and how AI can be used to mediate problems such as global conflicts. Hope you guys really enjoy this one. Amir Husain is an experienced entrepreneur who has founded and served as CEO of two groundbreaking AI companies, SparkCognition and SkyGrid. Amir has been recognized as Austin's Top Tech Entrepreneur of the Year and was awarded the Austin Under 40 Technology and Science Award. He has authored two books, The Sentient Machine and Hyperwar, which gives detailed insight into the real-world implications of AI Technology. Amir also serves on the Board of Advisors for the University of Texas at Austin Department of Computer Science. Website: https://amirhusain.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/amirhusain_tx   A note about our sponsors: A big thank you to Experian, whom you may know as the credit bureau, but they are at heart a data company. When you are buying a car or a home, sending your kids to college or borrowing to grow your business, Experian is most likely helping you behind the scenes. They unlock the power of data, to make better decisions, get access to financial services, and to prevent crime, unlocking a whole world of opportunities for individuals and organizations. Learn more at https://Experian.com.

Episode 102 features a great conversation with Lauren Kaufman, President of the Young Women's Alliance & Austin Under 40 Awards. You can learn more about YWA at https://youngwomensalliance.org/ Podcast music by www.bensound.com

Elisabeth and I are joined by two incredible women from the Truth Be Told program, Angie Hijl and Heather Emerson. Truth Be Told provides transformational programs through self discovery for women who are or who have been incarcerated. Resulting in increased self worth, accountability, and positive contributions to society. They focus on making women's time behind bars more meaningful. They break generational traumas so mothers and daughters don't repeat history. We will be hearing vulnerable stories from Angie, Heather, and Elisabeth today.   In this episode, we discuss: A program created by women for women  Breaking generational trauma and generational incarceration  Heather's sexual assualt and incarceration story in the military Elisabeth shares some of her story of trauma and addiction Angie shares her traumatic younger years and incarceration story Helping the youth with their trauma Guidelines and programs for women in prison Increasing self worth and accountability Healing is a collective effort Work with Jennifer Get 25% Off a Private Coaching Session with me Sign-up for the Newsletter and stay up to date on my latest workshops, services, and speaking events.  Become a Member & Support the Illuminated Podcast on Patreon FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use My exclusive offer: AthleticGreens.com/Illuminated    Work with Truth Be Told Truth Be Told is an organization, providing transformational trauma healing and programming for women behind and beyond bars. Let's raise each other up! I Want To Donate! Truth Be Told VIP In Person or Virtual Story Gathering - Wednesday, Dec.8th Get My Ticket Here About Angie Hijl Originally from Orlando, Florida, with a professional background in corporate event planning, Angie created A Soiree by Angie to channel her personal style and passion for design and creativity. A Soiree has grown from designing events to custom dried floral arrangements and consulting for local Austin businesses – ranging from brand development, graphic design, photography, community relations, and social media management. With that passion for connecting people and building community, Angie co-founded a local Women Empowerment group called Glam Soiree. Glam Soiree is a flourishing and intentional community where women of all different backgrounds and professions come together to celebrate life, support and inspire each other, set intentions for the future – and be glam while doing it. Pre-covid, Glam Soiree hosted bi-monthly events at the top restaurants and venues throughout Austin. Angie is proud to be a Board Member of Truth Be Told. Truth Be Told is a nonprofit organization based in Austin, TX that provides transformational programs to women behind bars. Being formerly incarcerated herself, Angie is a strong supporter of women that are currently and have been involved in the criminal justice system who are working to rebuild their lives. She believes that we all have the ability to use our voice, discover our true selves, heal from past traumas, and create the life we want to live.   About Heather Emerson Heather's mission is to change food through strengthening local food systems so that everybody wins: the community, our health, our planet. In 2016, she founded Prep To Your Door in an effort to make that a reality. The company serves Austin and Houston organic, farm-to-table meals in zero-waste packaging. All products are plant-based, gluten and dairy free. Heather has spent the last 15 years rebuilding her life after being incarcerated for one year. Her promise upon release was to grow, be honest, and do good things. She graduated from University of Texas with dual degrees in Mathematics and Linguistics, and in 2020 with her Masters from Harvard University. She is currently co-leading a team of 30 people and her proudest accomplishment is winning "FAVE Sustainable Business" in 2019, being invited to the board of Truth Be Told in 2020, and named as Forbes Next 1000 for 2021. Heather was also a finalist for Austin Under 40 Awards in 2020 and 2021, and won the prestigious Austin Women's Way Award for “Business to Watch.” Connect with Jennifer Website Patreon YouTube Facebook Instagram   Connect with Truth Be Told Website     Facebook Instagram  @truthbetoldtexas @asoireebyangie @glamsoiree  @angiemunchkin @theheatheremerson

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 329 with John and Kendall Antonelli. John Antonelli is Founder and CEO of acclaimed Austin business Antonelli's Cheese Shop, which he founded in 2010 with his wife Kendall after a honeymoon decision to quit his job in search of a passion with purpose. Through their award-winning retail shop, e-commerce sales, wholesale distribution across Texas, and 400+ yearly events, the Antonelli's Cheese team daily lives its mission: Do Good. Eat Good. For that, they've been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. John is both a CPA and CCP (certified cheese professional), Past President of the American Cheese Society, President of Austin Children Museum the Thinkery, and on the advisory board of non-profit accelerator Philanthropitch. John has been recognized as "one of the top ten individuals impacting his industry" by Deli Business Weekly, and he is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. John was awarded Best Small Business CEO by the Austin Business Journal in 2018 and an Austin Under 40 distinction for Hospitality in 2020. John most enjoys a shared cheese and charcuterie board while traveling with his two kids Everett and Elia. John is also known for saying “awesome” a lot. Kendall Antonelli owns and operates Antonelli's Cheese Shop, alongside her husband John and awesome team. A previous AustinUnder40 Awardee and Austin Business Journal Profile in Power, Kendall is also a Certified Cheese Professional, which comes in handy when trying to impress the palates of her two kiddos Everett and Elia and find the perfect cheese that makes them do a happy dance. As an entrepreneur and a depression survivor now on a personal mission to spread joy, Kendall often speaks about work/life balance and finding passion with purpose. For that and her work on various boards, she has been named a NAMI Mental Health Community Champion and recognized with the McMahon Children's Advocacy Award. Kendall is past president of Les Dames d'Escoffier Austin, a women's group of industry professionals dedicated to philanthropy, currently serves on the national American Cheese Education Foundation, and an inducted member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Antonelli's Cheese, named one of the best cheese shops in America by Travel + Leisure Magazine, includes a cut-to-order shop that also offers cheese trays, 400+ in person and virtual events and tastings per year, and a wholesale program distributing cheese throughout Texas. In 2020, Antonelli's Cheese earned two distinctions for their early move to virtual tastings, bringing 15K+ folks together over a shared experience of cheese. They've also been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. Through life and business, the Antonelli family and team endeavor to live their mission: Do Good. Eat Good.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 329 with John and Kendall Antonelli. John Antonelli is Founder and CEO of acclaimed Austin business Antonelli's Cheese Shop, which he founded in 2010 with his wife Kendall after a honeymoon decision to quit his job in search of a passion with purpose. Through their award-winning retail shop, e-commerce sales, wholesale distribution across Texas, and 400+ yearly events, the Antonelli's Cheese team daily lives its mission: Do Good. Eat Good. For that, they've been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. John is both a CPA and CCP (certified cheese professional), Past President of the American Cheese Society, President of Austin Children Museum the Thinkery, and on the advisory board of non-profit accelerator Philanthropitch. John has been recognized as "one of the top ten individuals impacting his industry" by Deli Business Weekly, and he is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. John was awarded Best Small Business CEO by the Austin Business Journal in 2018 and an Austin Under 40 distinction for Hospitality in 2020. John most enjoys a shared cheese and charcuterie board while traveling with his two kids Everett and Elia. John is also known for saying “awesome” a lot. Kendall Antonelli owns and operates Antonelli's Cheese Shop, alongside her husband John and awesome team. A previous AustinUnder40 Awardee and Austin Business Journal Profile in Power, Kendall is also a Certified Cheese Professional, which comes in handy when trying to impress the palates of her two kiddos Everett and Elia and find the perfect cheese that makes them do a happy dance. As an entrepreneur and a depression survivor now on a personal mission to spread joy, Kendall often speaks about work/life balance and finding passion with purpose. For that and her work on various boards, she has been named a NAMI Mental Health Community Champion and recognized with the McMahon Children's Advocacy Award. Kendall is past president of Les Dames d'Escoffier Austin, a women's group of industry professionals dedicated to philanthropy, currently serves on the national American Cheese Education Foundation, and an inducted member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Antonelli's Cheese, named one of the best cheese shops in America by Travel + Leisure Magazine, includes a cut-to-order shop that also offers cheese trays, 400+ in person and virtual events and tastings per year, and a wholesale program distributing cheese throughout Texas. In 2020, Antonelli's Cheese earned two distinctions for their early move to virtual tastings, bringing 15K+ folks together over a shared experience of cheese. They've also been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. Through life and business, the Antonelli family and team endeavor to live their mission: Do Good. Eat Good.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 329 with John and Kendall Antonelli. John Antonelli is Founder and CEO of acclaimed Austin business Antonelli's Cheese Shop, which he founded in 2010 with his wife Kendall after a honeymoon decision to quit his job in search of a passion with purpose. Through their award-winning retail shop, e-commerce sales, wholesale distribution across Texas, and 400+ yearly events, the Antonelli's Cheese team daily lives its mission: Do Good. Eat Good. For that, they've been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. John is both a CPA and CCP (certified cheese professional), Past President of the American Cheese Society, President of Austin Children Museum the Thinkery, and on the advisory board of non-profit accelerator Philanthropitch. John has been recognized as "one of the top ten individuals impacting his industry" by Deli Business Weekly, and he is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. John was awarded Best Small Business CEO by the Austin Business Journal in 2018 and an Austin Under 40 distinction for Hospitality in 2020. John most enjoys a shared cheese and charcuterie board while traveling with his two kids Everett and Elia. John is also known for saying “awesome” a lot. Kendall Antonelli owns and operates Antonelli's Cheese Shop, alongside her husband John and awesome team. A previous AustinUnder40 Awardee and Austin Business Journal Profile in Power, Kendall is also a Certified Cheese Professional, which comes in handy when trying to impress the palates of her two kiddos Everett and Elia and find the perfect cheese that makes them do a happy dance. As an entrepreneur and a depression survivor now on a personal mission to spread joy, Kendall often speaks about work/life balance and finding passion with purpose. For that and her work on various boards, she has been named a NAMI Mental Health Community Champion and recognized with the McMahon Children's Advocacy Award. Kendall is past president of Les Dames d'Escoffier Austin, a women's group of industry professionals dedicated to philanthropy, currently serves on the national American Cheese Education Foundation, and an inducted member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Antonelli's Cheese, named one of the best cheese shops in America by Travel + Leisure Magazine, includes a cut-to-order shop that also offers cheese trays, 400+ in person and virtual events and tastings per year, and a wholesale program distributing cheese throughout Texas. In 2020, Antonelli's Cheese earned two distinctions for their early move to virtual tastings, bringing 15K+ folks together over a shared experience of cheese. They've also been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. Through life and business, the Antonelli family and team endeavor to live their mission: Do Good. Eat Good.

This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 329 with John and Kendall Antonelli. John Antonelli is Founder and CEO of acclaimed Austin business Antonelli's Cheese Shop, which he founded in 2010 with his wife Kendall after a honeymoon decision to quit his job in search of a passion with purpose. Through their award-winning retail shop, e-commerce sales, wholesale distribution across Texas, and 400+ yearly events, the Antonelli's Cheese team daily lives its mission: Do Good. Eat Good. For that, they've been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. John is both a CPA and CCP (certified cheese professional), Past President of the American Cheese Society, President of Austin Children Museum the Thinkery, and on the advisory board of non-profit accelerator Philanthropitch. John has been recognized as "one of the top ten individuals impacting his industry" by Deli Business Weekly, and he is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. John was awarded Best Small Business CEO by the Austin Business Journal in 2018 and an Austin Under 40 distinction for Hospitality in 2020. John most enjoys a shared cheese and charcuterie board while traveling with his two kids Everett and Elia. John is also known for saying “awesome” a lot. Kendall Antonelli owns and operates Antonelli's Cheese Shop, alongside her husband John and awesome team. A previous AustinUnder40 Awardee and Austin Business Journal Profile in Power, Kendall is also a Certified Cheese Professional, which comes in handy when trying to impress the palates of her two kiddos Everett and Elia and find the perfect cheese that makes them do a happy dance. As an entrepreneur and a depression survivor now on a personal mission to spread joy, Kendall often speaks about work/life balance and finding passion with purpose. For that and her work on various boards, she has been named a NAMI Mental Health Community Champion and recognized with the McMahon Children's Advocacy Award. Kendall is past president of Les Dames d'Escoffier Austin, a women's group of industry professionals dedicated to philanthropy, currently serves on the national American Cheese Education Foundation, and an inducted member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Antonelli's Cheese, named one of the best cheese shops in America by Travel + Leisure Magazine, includes a cut-to-order shop that also offers cheese trays, 400+ in person and virtual events and tastings per year, and a wholesale program distributing cheese throughout Texas. In 2020, Antonelli's Cheese earned two distinctions for their early move to virtual tastings, bringing 15K+ folks together over a shared experience of cheese. They've also been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. Through life and business, the Antonelli family and team endeavor to live their mission: Do Good. Eat Good.

In this episode, Hall welcomes David J. Neff of Neon Syndicate. Neon Syndicate is a privately held real estate and investment company run by Chelle and David J. Neff in Austin, TX, with investments in Veritas Beauty, Peace Love and Betty as well as real estate holdings.  David has 20 years of creating experiences that impact people's lives, from his work in eCommerce, marketing, and digital strategy with the American Cancer Society, to his work with consulting companies like Southwest Airlines, Pepsi, Lululemon, Dell, Office Depot, Build.com, Wolverine Worldwide, Discover Card, Jack-in-the-Box, Kingfisher, Tesco, Gatehouse Media, and tech companies like Hulu. He is also supporting/leading another recent startup acquisition as a go-to-market lead inside of Accenture for Creative Drive. David currently works as the VP of the data-driven consulting practice at Clearhead (acquired by Accenture Interactive), and also works with Fortune 500 brands on their eCommerce, organizational strategy, and building culture. He is the author of three books, and in 2014 he was named the top person in Austin by the Austin Under 40 Awards for the Community Service and Nonprofit category. A much-in-demand speaker and trainer, he has spoken at places like TEDx, SXSW (6x), The University of Texas, St. Edward's University, Texas State University, Social Media Club, Social Media Breakfast, The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Planned Practical Giving Conference and NTEN's national technology conference. Outside of work you can find him gardening, advising, investing in startups, planning an amazing Halloween party, and experimenting with single-board computers and computer vision.  David shares with Hall how he sees the industry evolving and discusses some of the challenges startups face.  David can be contacted via email at , via LinkedIn at , and via Twitter at .  Music courtesy of . 

Alexis Ferguson is an entrepreneur, non-profit leader, advertising executive, and mentor of the year finalist by Austin Under 40. She is also a volunteer for newly elected District 2 City Council Woman Vanessa Fuentes. In this episode, Alexis stopped by in order to talk about the importance of venturing out of our own echo chambers and being open to new perspectives during the pandemic.   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/alex-strenger/support

In this episode, Hall welcomes back Joy Schoffler, Partner at Ascendant Industries. Ascendant Industries is a New York-based investment management company that focuses on opportunities where they can support senior management to drive rapid growth and profit improvement through capital infusion, technology, innovation, and organizational expertise. They invest across a number of key verticals, including industrials, defense, cyber, digital enterprise, and special advisory.  Led by a team of seasoned finance, operations, marketing and holding company executives, backed by extensive capital resources, Ascendant Industries plays an active role enhancing value. More than just a capital partner, they bring vast knowledge in acquisitions and financing and offer informed guidance and market intelligence. Their strong networks enable them to place powerful board members and advisors. Ascendant Industries brings impactful consulting resources and technology partners to quickly scale operations and build powerful teams. Their holding company structure enables them to execute and support mid to long-term growth strategies, affording the opportunity to resolve business hurdles with an eye towards maximizing value and revenue growth. Ascendant Industries is dedicated to helping exceptional entrepreneurs accelerate growth and achieve dramatic results. Joy is a Partner at Ascendant Industries where she sits on the investment committee and works with holding company leadership helping accelerate growth through strategy, systems and team development. Her investment portfolio spans across real estate, cyber security, blockchain, accounting technology, online investing technology, energy and biotech – with multiple exits along the way. Previously Joy served as Chief Strategy Officer for CRE investment firm Casoro Capital. There she raised capital for direct investments ranging in value from $18-$80 million. She additionally served on the buy side, as Director of Acquisitions for The PPA Group, acquiring $250m in real estate, helping grow the firm from 4 to 75 employees and making the “Inc. 5000” list, twice. Outside of the real estate sector, Joy started and sold FinTech focused, brand strategy firm, Leverage PR. At Leverage, Joy represented brands like SXSW, The Economic Ministries of Japan and Brazil, and developed a specialty FinTech practice. Joy additionally ran media and events at the White House, US Capitol, UN, and a Shark Tank casting call among others. A sought-after speaker and media contributor, Joy has won numerous awards including Women Communicators “Outstanding Communicator”, CEO Magazine “Entrepreneur of the Year” and Austin Under 40 award. Joy served as an officer in the Army Reserves & Texas State Guard and has a B.A in Economics from Pacific Lutheran University. Joy shares her thoughts on COVID-19's impact on the sector, where Ascendant Industries is currently focusing its efforts, some challenges the cyber sector experiences, and some new applications within the cyber and defense industries.  You can visit Ascendant Industries at , via their LinkedIn page at and via their Twitter page at .   Joy can be contacted via LinkedIn at , and via email at . 

JOBE CORRAL ARCHITECTS specializes in the design of well detailed and highly crafted structures using authentic materials. We work with the knowledge that a great project springs from a deep understanding of the site, a respectful and transparent relationship with our clients, and a full comprehension of the program. Paying close attention to these factors, and to how our clients actually live and use a space, informs our process and allows us to create a unique concept for every project. Construction quality is paramount in every Jobe Corral project, and a strong contractor-team collaboration is integral to the overall process, resulting in structures that are built to last. Jobe Corral Architects is 100% women-owned-and-operated and based in central Austin. BIOS CAMILLE U. JOBE, AIA Principal Camille Jobe has practiced architecture for over 25 years, and her experience ranges from commercial and educational spaces, to hospitality and lifestyle projects. A native Texan, Camille’s awareness of architecture came early in her life, having grown up in a house designed by a great architect. Her formal journey to the drawing board began at Texas A&M, where she received her degree in Environmental Design, and later at The University of California at Berkeley where she earned a Master’s Degree in Architecture. Her training in San Francisco influenced Camille’s mature eye for design and keen understanding for how complex and challenging ideas can be built. Camille is a registered architect in Texas and an active leader in the community, including Leadership Austin, The Junior League of Austin, and The Austin Rowing Club. Currently she is serving as the 2020 Treasurer for the AIA Austin chapter. Outside the office, Camille is an avid cook, enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, and rowing on Ladybird Lake with her crew. ADA I. CORRAL, AIA Principal Ada Corral grew up in Puerto Rico where she began her architecture studies. She graduated with high honors and received a Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Texas at Austin. Ada is a registered architect in the state of Texas since 2005, and received the 2018 Austin Under 40 award for the category of Architecture, Engineering and Construction. In addition to practicing architecture, Ada has held teaching positions at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture and at Austin Community College. A natural leader who was brought up to value service, Ada works professionally and personally to improve the quality of life and the built environment in Austin. She is an alumnus of Leadership Austin’s Emerge program, serves on the Ballet Austin Board of Directors, and is a member of the City of Austin Board of Adjustment. She loves spending time outdoors with her husband and three kids, and her favorite things to do are read and dance ballet. http://www.jobecorral.com/solarium.htmlSocial Media: Instagram @jobe_corral_architects Facebook: @jobecorral Website: Jobecorral.com Contact: info@jobecorral.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As CEO of Casoro Group, Yuen is responsible for the overall management of operations including business development and investor relations. A true savant in his field, Yuen brings a wealth of experience across a broad range of disciplines, among them: finance, investment management, capital raising, wealth planning, venture capital, portfolio management, alternative investments, commodities, strategic planning, leadership and training, sales and organizational structuring. Prior to joining Casoro Group, Yuen was the founder and CEO of the franchisor How Do You Roll? a fast-casual sushi restaurant. In 2013, he appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank and received the highest investment offer in the history of the show from investor Kevin O’Leary. Yuen previously spent 13 years in the investment management and advisory industry a Managing Partner of Kenty, Yung, Ozias & Associates, where he oversaw advisors and was responsible for the capital raise and management of more than $300 million in funds raised from high-net-worth individuals, families, corporations, and charitable organizations. In his earlier years, he developed 27 commercial retail sites as an entrepreneur. He currently sits on the board of Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, and previously the Board President of Austin-based non-profit The Thinkery and he has served on the Board of Directors for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He also volunteers as a mentor for Ignite Accelerator, an Austin-based business incubator as well as Founders Firm. Yuen was named as a finalist for an Austin Under 40 award in 2013 and was honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award from The University of Texas Professional Development Center in 2006. Yuen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. He is also a graduate of MIT’s Entrepreneurship Masters Program and has professional certifications as a Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC®) and Board Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuenyung/ http://theblindgrind.com/ https://casorogroup.com/

Today's episode features Nhat Ho, Vice President of Austin-based Civilitude Engineers & Planners. The firm recently celebrated its 10th year anniversary and Nhat discusses (virtually) their growth and development philosophy with Bingham Group CEO A.J. As VP of Public Sector Work, Nhat manages multiple projects and clients, develops new business, and oversees Building Information Modeling and construction document production. His integrated civil and structural knowledge ranges from stormwater management systems, wet utilities, sports running tracks to retaining structures, building spatial arrangement and site integration. His land development experience includes site feasibility studies, zoning changes, subdivisions, and commercial site plans. In the Austin community he is a Past Chair of the Mueller Neighborhood Association, Board Member on the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, and a Commissioner on the City's Water and Wastewater Commission. Nhat holds a BS in Architectural Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He is a 2020 Austin Under 40 Awards finalist in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction category. This episode was recorded on August 14, 2020. REFERENCE LINKS: Nhat on LinkedIn -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/nhatho/ Civilitude Engineers and Planners -> https://civiltude.com/ Civilitude (IG)-> @civilitude Civilitude (Twitter) -> @Civilitude Civilitude (Facebook) -> https://www.facebook.com/Civilitude For feedback, questions, or comments email us at: info@binghamgp.com ABOUT THE BINGHAM GROUP, LLC The Bingham Group, LLC is minority-owned full service lobbying firm representing and advising clients on government affairs, public affairs, and procurement matters in the Austin metro and throughout Central Texas. Learn more at -> https://www.binghamgp.com You can listen to this episode and previous ones on all streaming platforms. We'd appreciate a review, comment and re-sharing. Subscribe today!

 “No one wants a boring facilitator, right? It's about being effective. It's about getting their goals accomplished. But if someone's going to be in a room with you for four to eight hours, to an extent it would be nice if you can entertain.”  -Harold Hardaway I'm excited to have Harold Hardaway with me on the Control the Room podcast today. Harold is the co-founder and CEO of Cardigan, a branding and internal communications company that "Inspires Brands that Inspire Employees." Cardigan has deep expertise in working with companies with non-desk employees, multiple-location businesses, retail brands, and professional companies with remote workers.   Harold started his career in banking and found his way as the Director of Corporate Communications and Culture for H.E.B. before co-creating Cardigan. He currently oversees research and strategy for all client projects at Cardigan, and he is also a speaker and thought leader on corporate communications and culture.  On today’s episode, Harold and I talk about how to utilize quiet during facilitation, how to bring subjects and jokes back around when presenting, and how to have a "full circle" moment. Listen in to find out how Harold uses ingratiation in his facilitation, how to use equifinality, and why acknowledgment is so powerful.     Show Highlights [01:58]  Harold’s genesis story. [03:33] How personality traits assist Harold in his career. [06:42] Creating a better experience for clients. [09:07] Planning ahead of time and getting to know your client. [14:03] How to change your language to fit your audience. [16:15] Harold shares about facilitating and racial unrest. [18:27] How professionalism has crept into the workplace as a form of insensitivity. [21:35] The power of acknowledgement for yourself and others.  [30:22] Advice from Harold about facilitating during COVID and into the future. Links and Resources Harold on LinkedIn Cardigan CG on the Web About the Guest   Dr. Harold Hardaway is a speaker and thought leader on corporate communications and culture. He believes that everyone should “Chase the Good” and centers his work on helping organizations create spaces wherever possible. Today, he serves as Co-Founder and CEO of Cardigan—an internal communications and employer branding firm—and he was previously the Director of Corporate Communications and Culture for H-E-B. Harold has been featured in San Antonio Magazine and Business.com, and his writings have been featured in the Austin Business Journal, SHRM’s People & Strategy Blog, and Recruiter.com. He was recently recognized as a Finalist for the 2019 Austin Under 40 Awards, and he is on the Board of Directors for Leadership Austin, Creative Action, and Equality Texas.  About Voltage Control Voltage Control is a facilitation agency that helps teams work better together with custom-designed meetings and workshops, both in-person and virtual. Our master facilitators offer trusted guidance and custom coaching to companies who want to transform ineffective meetings, reignite stalled projects, and cut through assumptions. Based in Austin, Voltage Control designs and leads public and private workshops that range from small meetings to large conference-style gatherings.  Share An Episode of Control The Room Apple Podcasts Spotify Android Stitcher Engage Control The Room Voltage Control on the Web Contact Voltage Control   Intro: Welcome to the Control the Room Podcast, a series devoted to the exploration of meeting culture and uncovering cures for the common meeting. Some meetings have tight control, and others are loose. To control the room means achieving outcomes while striking a balance between imposing and removing structure, asserting and distributing power, leaning in and leaning out, all in the service of having a truly magical meeting. Douglas: Today I’m with Harold Hardaway, CEO of Cardigan, where they’re cultivating brands that inspire employees. Welcome to the show, Harold. Harold: Thank you for having me. I’m excited to be here. Douglas: Excellent. Well, I wanted to start off by hearing a little bit about your history. I’m always fascinated by how facilitators find their way to their roles, because, let's just face it, there's no degree at any college where you go to become a facilitator, so there’s always a fascinating journey. And especially when we're looking at all these different silos and different methodologies, people come from totally different worlds. So I'm really curious to hear how you got here. Harold: Yeah. I probably stumbled into it like most people, like you're saying. So no degrees here to kind of get there. So when I first started out in my career, I worked at a mortgage bank, and they didn't have a training department. It was a new division, and so in the absence, with no one raising their hand, to develop training, I raised my hand, and I was the trainer for that particular group. And so I think through that I kind of learned how to explain things two, three different ways to someone. And at the same time, I was in a group with business analysts, and through that process, they were working on developing systems, and then I would have to sort of train the system. But I would be in the room when they would start working on what that was going to look like, how it was going to operate, and so being able to really translate how the business was using the tool versus how they were designing it. So between the business and I.T. and translating there and being able to speak both languages really helped a lot.  After that, I worked at a large grocery retailer here in Texas—so I’m sure everyone can probably guess who that is—in the I.T. department, and H.R. was my customer. So you can imagine with developing technology with them, there was a lot of translation needed. Like, “I want this.” And then I.T. saying, “Well, we can't necessarily do that.” And it’s like, “Well, what they're really asking for is this. And can you live with this, because I think it'll still get you the business outcomes that you want.” And so being able to hear both sides and translate and help them negotiate an 80 or 90 percent solution was really important.  And then, once I got taken off of H.R. technology, H.R. just kind of hired me to go work in that department. And through the rest of my career, there was a lot of translating and taking big ideas, which is how I ended up in communications, taking big ideas and being able to kind of translate that down and then navigate people through a process to get to a business outcome. So honestly, most of the times it's because someone didn't raise their hand, and in that space, I did, and figured I'd give it a shot. And I learned a lot, and I ended up facilitating.  I also am a little bit of a ham and an extrovert, and I don't mind being upfront. Douglas: We talked about that a little bit, the importance of being this unbiased third party that’s kind of coming in and helping the team be the heroes. But there is still an element of performance you have to prepare, be on your game, get up there, and even if you’re kind of stepping off to the side a bit at times or a lot of times, there is still that moment of, hey, the show’s on, and I’ve got to be there. And before we started recording, you were mentioning that you had some experience in standup comedy, etc. And so just curious to hear how those experiences related, if you've actually dipped into any of that when you’ve been planning sessions. Harold: Yeah. You know, a lot of times when you're up there, no one wants a boring facilitator, right? It's about being effective. It's about getting their goals accomplished. But if someone's going to be in a room with you for four to eight hours, to an extent it would be nice if you can entertain.  So, way back when I kind of was living in Dallas, it was this mortgage banking crisis, and they laid off all support functions. So, like, 600 of us kind of in one day. And in that space, I was like, “What are some things I've always wanted to try?” And it was standup comedy. So I did that. Actually got paid to do it, so I am a paid standup comedian. It was just 100 bucks, but I'll take it and I'll claim it any day of the week.  But I think what that really allows me to do is pay attention to what's happening. Timing is important to kind of like lay down the joke. And I think timing is also really important when it comes to facilitation, right? So when are you quiet? When do you give space? When do you step in and say something? Also, listening to what other people are saying, and how do you bring things back around? So part of a comedy, right, you'll say something, and then you'll navigate people through a process, and then, you bring the joke back around, and then it hits harder the second time because people kind of feel it. So with facilitation, you'll set something up at the beginning, and then you’ll kind of have, hopefully, this full-circle moment where the light bulb goes off for everyone.  So I think not being afraid to be in front of people, some comedic timing, understanding sort of that cycle of bringing things back and helping people kind of understand and the light bulb goes off helps a lot when it comes to facilitating. Douglas: So I want to double stitch on that bringing things back, because you talked about in the preshow kind of prep conversation, you talked about this notion of cultural inside jokes or the words they use or getting to know them. And so I thought that was really, really neat, and how can I not only come in as an unbiased outsider and be that person that doesn't necessarily have any stake in this decision so that I'm not going to influence it, but at the same time, how can I be a friend, an ally to, then, so that everyone feels comfortable and vulnerable? So how much does that bringing it back, the timing, the improv comedy stuff, align with that ability to kind of like dissect the culture and then imbibe that into the experience? Harold: Yeah. I think it's really important. I think they're equally important. So timing is huge, but also, if you're an outsider, you need people to trust you, to your point. You need them to open up. You need them to be vulnerable. So ingratiation is actually kind of an impression-management technique. So part of it is—I’m also a teacher at some of the universities, so you'll hear some nerdy stuff come out of my mouth every once in a while. But how can I ingratiate myself to someone quickly? So I can do it with a smile. I might be able to say, “Oh, look, I've done this for so many people,” but at the same time to say, “Hey, I did my homework, and I know a little bit about you. I know the words that you use. I know what's important to you.” Makes people think, “Oh, wow,” and you can see it in their face, where they start paying a little bit more attention.  So an example of that. I had a facilitation. I was actually speaking, just speaking. But it was a little bit like some workshop fun activities in there. And so I was like, “Well, give me three—” we were talking about personal brand. “Give me three words that you would say describe who you are, or someone would say, ‘That Harold. He’s blank, blank, and blank. How would you want them to fill that in in terms of personal brand?’” And they had this whole thing called “more.” They were like, “Well, if we were to do more,” you know. And so I said, “I'm asking you for three. But if you'd like to do more, you could do four.” And everyone in the room burst out laughing and thought it was the funniest thing ever. But it's just because I asked, “What are some things you say culturally? What are some things that you do? What are the inside jokes? What are you working on? What's important in terms of an initiative? If you’ll share some of the last emails that have gone out, if you want to, then I can kind of work all that in.” And so it doesn't feel so much like an outsider, but a continuation of where their organization is really headed. And so that was just kind of a fun example that always sticks out in my head. Douglas: Yeah. I love this notion of not only adding levity to the situation, but also getting people to really resonate with these broader themes and these broader objectives, or how does it tie back to whatever the business outcomes are? And you mentioned the importance of that in this notion of planning. And the purpose of the planning is to have the plan, but we want to be skilled enough that we can deviate from that.  So we often talk about antifragile agendas. We want to build our agenda so that we can blow them up if we need to. And I strongly believe that if you're not focused on the outcomes, you can't do that. So that got me really excited when you were talking about those things. So I'm curious to hear how you think about plans, how you think about outcomes, and as that relates to just having a great facilitation. Harold: Yeah. So, from a client perspective, I will always say, like, “What are one or two things that, at the end, if we accomplish this, you would be like, ‘Wow, I didn't waste my money on this guy’?” Right? Or if it’s my partner, Shannon on Cardigan. And be very clear about those and come up with the plan about how we're specifically going to get there. And what that really does is, I think as a facilitator, allows you to number one, not get frazzled and know that you have a path to get there. And I'm going to say a path because you know what I'm going to bring up in a second. You have a path to get there. And if there's a process and you've planned for it, I always say, if something goes wrong, if I planned enough, plan A, plan B, then it's going to be easy for me to pivot. And so I've also been responsible for corporate events with 2,000 people in a room. And so I'm like, “We are going to kill ourselves to try to make this ‘perfect.’” And I always say, “It doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to have the appearance of perfection.” But once we got started, I was like, “If the roof falls in, oh well. At least we exhausted every opportunity.” So to me, the plan is an outline, is a structure. You have to be able to—like we talked about comedy—read the room. What's going to work? What's not working? And be willing to say, “It's not going to work.”  The other thing, though, with the plan—and I love this concept that I learned in school called equifinality, and there can be infinite ways to get to the same ending. So just because I had this one particular way I thought we can navigate people through the process, if I've done a good job creating space, if I've done a good job aligning people, getting people to open up and speak up, then maybe someone else is going to throw something out, it's going to spark some sort of creativity, and my plan is no longer the best one. But just recognizing and realizing that there's multiple ways to get there. The plan is a framework to kind of keep you on track, and, also, to get your customer to understand where you're going as well. But throw it away if it doesn't work. So don't stick to it, and don't feel like you have to cleave to it, because I've seen so many facilitators do that, and then at the end, you didn't accomplish anything you want to accomplish, but you stuck to your plan. And that's not what you were really getting paid to do. Douglas: When you started talking about equifinality earlier, my brain started doing this thing because it's kind of meta, if you think about it, because when we're planning, we want to make sure that we don't have this fixed mindset, that we can be adaptable and willing to adjust on the fly as needed. But also, all of these facilitation approaches, no matter if you're in design land or liberating-structures land or wherever, they're kind of based off this concept of equifinality, right, because you want to make sure we bring everyone to the table, and what happens in the room happens. So there's these emergent qualities that we're there to seek out. And so if we come in with this fixed mindset around what the outcomes going to be specifically, then the session’s not going to be very valuable. Or the deep work doesn't happen that we’re kind of seeking for. So I thought it's really interesting that that concept works on multiple levels. It’s, like, at the participant level, it's at the facilitator level, and we all have to embrace that if we want to really get the interstellar outcomes. Harold: Yeah. And I think that comes from, to your point, the process. I think it also comes from language. And I'll give you an example. You know, we've recently done a lot of webinars on navigating through crises, etc., because there are multiple going on at one time now. And then we're like, “How do you talk to your people that relates to your brand?” And so one example we'll use is, “Do you talk to them like a cheerleader? Do you talk to them, like, familial?” But that was when we were talking to H.R. leaders. When we were speaking to people maybe in oil and gas, we were like, “Do you talk to people like a coach?” You know what I mean? When you start changing language, because words matter and people can receive them. So are they all men? Are they primarily women? Are they CPAs? Are they advertising people? And kind of getting that understanding that the exercise changes the words, the language that you use changes, so it can be received well by the receiver, because that's the point, right? You don't want to alienate someone with language as well. So language, also, is a big part. Douglas: It also, I was beginning to think about, like, not only what's happening in the room, what's happening to your agenda, to how you're just even approaching the facilitation, what's happening in the room with the participants, but also what's happening to all the participants outside the room. So all the stuff that they're dealing with and the baggage they bring in, the trauma, the stress, etc. And I think that has an element of equifinality to it as well, because, those things are going to have a way of resolving themselves, and all this lives in this ecosystem. It’s like Russian nested dolls or something, right?  Harold: Yeah.  Douglas: And so it brings me back to this thing you mentioned around acknowledging and creating space for these things that everyone's dealing with, whether it be racial unrest or whether it be some bomb just blew up at work. Like, there's a production outage. People are bringing stuff into the room, emotions into the room. I loved your word acknowledge because I think a lot of facilitators will say holding space. And that's kind of a very facilitator-centric term, whereas, acknowledge, that’s a term everyone can understand. And we just want to take some time and honor it and let people have that transition moment, because we can’t expect them to flip a switch and just throw this stuff to the side.  So, I know you had a recent moment that felt kind of special around giving people the ability to acknowledge. Harold: Yeah. I was in a meeting—and I borrowed this from someone, so it’s not a Harold Hardaway original, as I like to say—everyone was, I realized, feeling some type of way about something, with all the racial unrest. And knowing you have introverts and extroverts, and maybe some people want to talk; some people don't want to talk. And it was on a Zoom meeting, and we've been on so many of those recently. The thing was, “Hey, think of one, maybe two words that describe how you feel, and type it into the chat. And you don't have to say it,” but as the facilitator, she read them out loud. And when I did it and borrowed it from her, I read it out loud. And people were like, “tired,” “exhausted,” “hopeful.” And there's just something really powerful about reading those things out loud, acknowledging where people are in the space, and so you as a facilitator kind of know what people are bringing with them. And at the same time, I'm opening it up and thanking everyone, acknowledging where people are, and then saying, if there is someone who wants to expand on how they're feeling, give them the opportunity and invite them to do so. Some people, at one meeting, a few people really chose to do that, to the point of tears. And another meeting, no one did, but they were saying, “Thank you for at least allowing us to say this and acknowledge where we are,” and how that really is kind of the lens and the emotions that people are kind of bringing to the work, “Even though we're all there for the same purpose, this is where we are and how we feel.” And sometimes just the act of acknowledging something is really powerful and gets it out there. Douglas: You know, it's like recently ran into this concept of silence breakers. And I instantly fell in love with it because it's so easy to be silent because it's the safe thing to do. And also, I think in, definitely in my career, just this reinforcement of what professionalism is and professionalism became this thing that was so inhuman. Like, we weren’t supposed to bear our feelings or touch on some of these sensitive issues. And I think we do our best work when we're the most human we can be, and, to your point, creating these moments of acknowledgment can get us there.  And I wanted to just observe something that I've been tracking on, whether it's appreciative inquiry, or there's a really great Liberating Structure called seen, heard, and respected, and this moment of reading those feelings out loud means that the people that wrote those, they're feeling heard. And I was recently in an alternate relating workshop, and a gentleman pointed out how emotional it was to hear his story repeated back. And really struck me because I do a lot of this work, and so I'm around this type of stuff a lot, and went back to that moment. And I put myself in that gentleman’s shoes and thought, “Wow, if that is an emotional moment, the reason that's emotional is that it doesn't happen much. So that means that he’s experiencing hearing someone really empathize, really unders—there's evidence that he was heard, and that was touching.” And if we can create more moments like that, I think we can drive much more business value. But the problem is everyone focuses so much on the business value, they can't set the initial conditions to where that stuff can thrive and become outside. Love this notion of acknowledgment. Harold: It doesn't 100 percent relate to business facilitation, but I went through a leadership development sort of class process. And there was this moment where it was like, “What's one thing that you would like someone to acknowledge you for,” or something. And so you write it on a sheet of paper. And you didn't even know why you were writing it, right? “Who would you want that person to be?” And so I remember I wrote down that I was a good dog dad because my dog had passed away. And I would want it to be my pet, right? Douglas: Sure. Harold: And the interesting thing was, hours later, she picked them up and she read them, and then I had to choose someone to play the role of my pet and acknowledge me for being a good parent, a good pet parent. To him—because I was carrying a lot of guilt. Don't get me wrong. We went to all the vets. I got all the medication. I did everything. But I couldn't change this outcome. And, you know, it's like a type A person, who is so used to making things happen for everybody, for companies, I couldn't save, you know. And so someone acknowledging me like they were my pet broke me down, you know? But it was the most healing thing I think I had experienced in so long. I slept like a baby. I forgave myself. So that idea of acknowledging and kind of hearing things back—I know it's a little bit off topic from business work, but there is a lot of power in that. And I think even from an employee perspective, you want to be acknowledged for certain things from certain people. I mean, how do we allow that to be expressed in some sort of way? So sorry for making a baby left turn there, but it was really powerful. Douglas: I agree. And these powerful moments are critical if we're going to build really resilient and really strong teams. And that's the kind of stuff that I think that I'm willing to invest in my team. The trust falls and the rope courses, yeah, whatever. But if we can authentically come together and be there for each other, if there is some weight on your shoulders about the end of life around the dog, them taking the 30 seconds over the—or the two minutes or whatever it took to say that—it’s, like, a very small investment that could have huge ramifications on your ability to work more closely together and drive those outcomes. And so if we focus on the health of the team first, we can have these profound impacts versus just trying to utilization, like treating everyone like a factory and just like, go, go, go, go. And so I think that, in a lot of ways, this is the best stuff we could be doing for business outcomes. Harold: I think so. No one in the room picked anything business related. Douglas: Right. Harold: Not a single person. It was like, “I said this to my grandmother, and I didn't have a chance to say something else before she died.” This is, like, where people were going, and this was like a three-month process, two weeks but three months apart. But that's kind of, to your point, what people were bringing in, right? What they were carrying. What needed to be acknowledged. And then after that—I'll speak for myself. I can't speak for everybody—but I know I felt dramatically better, and I felt sort of like healed, and I wasn't, to your point, carrying that around with me all day and trying to do that and still facilitate for other people. Douglas: You know, it brings me back to this notion of human connection. And when we held the big workshop, right at the beginning of the lockdown, for facilitators to kind of have a conversation on the future of facilitation, the one big, big thing was human connection. It was interesting that on the spectrum, some folks were really concerned about losing it to the in-person human connection. Like, “We're really good at this digital stuff. Will we ever be able to come and have these moments we love?” And so it was kind of like this fear of this dystopian future. Then, the other side was just this notion of like, “Well, are we actually going to be able to do it? Can these tools support real human connection?”  It's interesting. We talked about this acknowledging and unburdening and supporting each other. But it really does come down to this human connection, and that's where we are most creative. That's how we solve stuff together, is when the connections exist. And so I’m curious to hear about your journey through the virtual space and how you've been able to maintain human connection. And do you have any tricks up your sleeve? Are you still experimenting with things? Just kind of what's there for you as far as human connection in this virtual world? Harold: Yeah. So, I mean, I'll be honest with you, personally. So all my friends will do Zoom things multiple times a week. But then I actually saw one of my friends and got a hug. And I was like, “Oh, my gosh, I haven't had a hug in eight weeks.” And I freaked out at first because just not used to it. So I don't think there's necessarily a substitute. But one of the things we've been doing is, from a facilitation standpoint, trying to mix it up. So there’re random breakout rooms and maybe prompts that you can send people and bring them back in. There's videos. There's shorter timeframes. All of that stuff has been working, but you're still sitting there, behind your computer. So those things have kept it more interesting for people. Also, limiting the size of groups. So I know there are the webinars, but also being able to see someone's face. And I know one of your articles that I think you just posted to LinkedIn, I read it earlier. It was, like, cameras have to be on. If your camera's not going to be on, then you don't need to be on the call for certain things. But usually we try to limit—because we do focus groups and research as well, and it actually has worked out pretty well to make them engaging, but I can't say that there's necessarily the human connection.  I think part of it is that thing about being an invitation, looking for the connection that I have with someone. So whenever I have an interview for a focus group or research, do a little bit of what I call appropriate stalking, meaning I went to LinkedIn, I read some articles on folks, and they try to figure out, did we go to similar schools or do we have… and try to make that connection and really talk about all of that first. So you know how sometimes at work, what would happen in a meeting is everyone talked about their weekends and all the things that had nothing to do with the meeting because everyone needed that. On Zoom calls, I try to facilitate that, and I’ll do my homework, even if it’s someone I don’t know for sure, do my homework and figure out, well, how can we make that connection, and how can I recreate that sort of experience where we waste the first 10 minutes? It just—it's not a waste, right? It really does establish that human connection, and we laugh and we joke. And then we're able to easily transition into work because I know something about you, you know something about me, and it kind of gets back to sort of ingratiating yourself to someone else. So I just try to think, how can I recreate that first 10 minutes of every meeting that we all sit through, over Zoom? And that requires a little bit of homework, and I’m okay with that. Douglas: Yeah. It kind of parallels this kind of researching their cultural norms, the words they use, so that if you can relate to them and make them feel like you care and you spent some time, that's a great way to open. Really love it. And I agree, having that time up front, whether it's the weather report or some sort of way for them to transition in, sometimes people just need boot-up time. They’ve been running from meeting to meeting, and just kind of just jumping straight into it, that's not always the best place to be. Harold: And I will say, the extrovert in me will write down, and someone, one of my coaches—I feel like I've had a lot of coaches in my life, Douglas—but one of my coaches would say write “Wait” on a sheet of paper. It stands for Why Am I Talking? I don’t know if you’ve heard this or not. I will usually write that, Wait. Why am I talking? And it's another way of saying hold space for people. But I don't have a problem talking, so if I just, like, shut up for a minute, usually someone's going to speak, or they'll keep talking, or so... Yeah. Wait. That's another little technique that I have. Douglas: You know, it's such a powerful facilitation technique just to use silence. And I was recently facilitating one of our weekly facilitation practices. So we'll host a free event every Thursday, where facilitators can come in and just try stuff out. We used to do it once a month, but now that everyone's virtual and trying to figure out this virtual stuff, we just started doing it every week. It's been really fun because we’ve got a global audience and everything. But I was facilitating something, and while I had folks doing solo work and adding stickies to this MURAL, I was telling some stories just to kind of entertain folks. And then, when we did the critique, because we always do a critique. After people go, we’ll do a Rose, Thorn, Bud, just so that people can kind of learn because that's the whole point: come, practice, learn. One lady's feedback was, “Your stories were so interesting that I couldn’t think of what I wanted to write.” And I thought, oh of course, I should shut up.  Harold: Well, but you have great stories. And nothing else, she’ll remember the stories, right?  Douglas: That’s right.  But, yeah. I love this acronym, WAIT. This sounds so important. I haven’t heard that one before.  So other tips? I guess from just navigating this crazy virtual world and launching out on your own, building your own company, what advice might you have for the facilitators out there that are following in your footsteps? Harold: You know, I always try to think of any meeting as an experience. And so to me that's really important, whether it's the music that's playing when someone comes in. I mean, even when we've hosted webinars, we'll have music playing to kind of like set the tone and let people know we're about to have a good time today. Some of the questions at the beginning. So I think if anyone can think about it as an experience and walk people through it and navigate them through the process, that would be my first tip for anyone getting into this space.  Number two, I would say think of yourself as a quarterback. For our company, we do a lot of work with culture as well, branding, etc., and we're always like, hey, we’re a quarterback. We need a team, and nothing's going to get done without the people in the room. So even if you're at the front, reading the room, reading the defense, calling the next play is really important. And so those two things, you know.  And I would also say—oh, gosh. Well, where I said knowledge feelings, but also kind of getting people centered is another thing, in terms of the podcast. Not podcast, but meeting. Get people moving. If you can get people moving, that's fun. And so, I mean, we've done things by daring people to stand up, because most people have on random shorts, even though you’re business on the top and, like, party on the bottom. Well, work-appropriate party on the bottom. But, you know, like what kind of PJs are you wearing? And to your point, I mean, in the practice that you all they're doing and getting together with ideas. I've had friends who've done things from, like, quarantine kitchen, and it's like a random kind of a game.  So like, I think this idea of prototyping. I think that's what I want to settle on. I’ve probably rambled. So prototyping is the one thing that one of my friends mentioned to me, and he's the person I call all the time. You know, he's very good at games and gamification. And we brought him in on projects. And the idea of thinking, just try it and prototype something and see if it works, and if it doesn't work, scrap it. But sometimes perfect just gets in the way of progress. And for me, I want things to be perfect. But once I just tell myself, “It's just a prototype,” then, I'm able to move quickly and get feedback on it. And then, I have the next iteration. And so for me, I think that's really important. And in this space, and I know my company and my business partner, what we've done is, let's try this, let's try this, let's try this. And I just tell myself, “It's just a prototype. It's just a prototype. It doesn't have to be perfect,” because that has been the enemy of progress, for me personally, in a space where you have to respond quickly. So that would be my one big thing that I’ve learned in the middle of COVID, specifically, in transitioning to virtual is prototyping. Douglas: Awesome. I love it. As you know, I'm a big fan of prototypes.  Harold: Yes.  Douglas: And so I will double down on that answer. Absolutely. If you're curious about something, afraid of something, a prototype can be really powerful because it can give you the confidence to go give it a spin and see what works, see what doesn't work. Definitely, perfection can be paralyzing and prevent it from trying and making that first step.  So, Harold, it's been a pleasure chatting with you today and hearing about the importance of timing, acknowledging, ingratiating your participants. Such an awesome concept. And then, equifininity, equifinality— Harold: Equifinality, yeah. Douglas: —is now in my vocabulary. I love the word. It is a— it is something that explains something that I've known to be true, but in a way that packages, I think, it up in a really nice little box. I love it.  And so, just in closing, how can folks find you? How can they get in contact and potentially work with you? Harold: Thank you for that. So Harold Hardaway on LinkedIn. I'm pretty active on there. I work at Cardigan, so you can find us at cardigancg.com. We help organizations with branding; internal communications, whether that's campaigns, change management, been getting a lot of calls, obviously, for the DEI space. You know as well. Find us there. You can email me at harold@cardigancg.com. And so, yeah, find me in all of those places.  Thank you so much for having me on the show. I was excited and honored when you reached out, wanted to know what little ole me had to say about anything, so thank you for that. Douglas: Yeah, absolutely. It's been a pleasure chatting today, Harald, and I look forward to talking more soon. Harold: Yes, we will. Thank you. Outro: Thanks for joining me for another episode of Control the Room. Don't forget to subscribe to receive updates when new episodes are released. If you want more, head over to our blog, where I post weekly articles and resources about working better together, voltagecontrol.com.

Chelle Neff is the owner of Urban Betty in Austin TX. Urban Betty is one of the most well-known salons in Austin. Urban Betty made Inc’s 5000’s list of the fastest growing privately held companies throughout the country and was one of the only hair salons to make the list. Urban Betty was named one of the top 200 salons in the US by Salon Today 9 times, from 2011 – 2020. Chelle has been in the industry for over 20 years and in 2016 was named as Entrepreneur & Startup of the Year by Austin Under 40.

Joining me on today’s show is TiWanna “TK” Kenney the Founder of Astounding Auctions and Fundraising Strategies. Along with her team they lead fundraising for nonprofits across the country. After courageously serving our country, she decided to swap her combat boots for heels and change lives in the community, one person at a time. This multitalented mom does it all: bid calling, teaching future auctioneers, hosting fundraising master classes, speaking to fundraising organizations, All while championing diversity for the auction industry. Leveraging her passions for storytelling and helping others, TiWanna “TK” Kenney consults organizations to increase their fundraising results. TK has been nominated for the Austin Under 40 Awards in the category of Innovation and Start Up. Article https://atxwoman.com/woman-to-watch-tiwanna-tk-kenney/?utm_content=120033601&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-327187980958744 FB page https://www.facebook.com/astoundingauctions/ Website astoundingauctions.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

On today's episode of On The Spot, we sit down with the Founder & Chief Creative Officer of MODintelechy (modintelchy.com), a full-service, data-driven creative marketing agency. Together with her team, they create smart solutions, optimizing marketing programs that strengthen profitable relationships between client and customer. "I’ve always known that I would be entrepreneur. I remember When I was a kid, I used to always tell my parents ‘well one day when I have my own company… you know, I’ll do x, y, and z.’" Maria has more than a decade of experience developing advertising and branding campaigns for local and national clients. _"I started the Mod Studio in 2008. When everyone said don’t quit your jobs, we’re going into a recession, so I thought it was the genius thing to do to just quit my job."_ Soon after she joined forces with her entrepreneur husband to create what is now known as MODIntelechy. "I wasn’t planning on starting my business at 25, but it just kind of happened." She was named an Austin Under 40 Awards winner, which is awarded to Austin's emerging business and community leaders. Maria also serves on the board for The Art Institute of Austin and the Board of Directors for the Girls Empowerment Network. Maria calls herself "unemployable," saying she always had gut feeling there was "something else" for her, as she's always had an entrepreneurial spirit. She started her business so that other enterprising leaders could launch their careers, projects of impact work to make a discernible difference, and is a place she wants to be every day. Key Takeaways: In everything that I do, I just want to make the most impact. Any opportunity that I get, I always say yes and then figure out how to do it on the back end. ICYMI: Make sure to check out Maria's On The Dot #WomanToWatch feature on our website OnTheDotWoman.com (https://onthedotwoman.com/woman/maria-orozova) and on our daily newsletter and podcast Four Minutes With On The Dot! (https://fourminutes.fireside.fm/292) On our website, OnTheDotWoman.com, Maria shares with us her five tips to prepare yourself to be a successful entrepreneur (https://onthedotwoman.com/tips/prepare-yourself) as a prequel to the other lists out there and a means to prepare you to market your business and for the success that follows. _"There are tip lists all over the internet on how best to market your business. Be it five 'powerful', 'low-cost' or 'fun' ways to do so, regardless of this saturation of advice, many business owners struggle to make themselves heard. Often, it’s because they’re not mentally prepared for success and, therefore, unprepared to make use of the advice." _ Looking for more inspiration, advice and direction? Subscribe to our daily email newsletter and podcast Four Minutes with On The Dot (https://fourminutes.fireside.fm/) where we provide you with the tools and motivation you need to get out there and be the badass babe you were meant to be. Sign up here! (https://signup.onthedotwoman.com/) Tune in next Thursday when we sit down with Lolis Garcia-Baab, the Movement Media Director and Spokesperson for Girls Scouts USA! We are focused on your success, so let us know what you think by chatting with us at @onthedotwoman on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We’d love to hear your voice! Special Guest: Maria Orozova.

David Messier is a  multi-talented artist and music industry powerhouse based in Austin, Texas. A Trustee of the Recording Academy, Messier is an accomplished producer, entrepreneur, singer and songwriter hailed as “ a hurricane force of music.”   He has served as President of the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy and as a Governor of the Academy. Messier was the front man of the Boston-based band Papermoon, and after moving his studio and himself to Austin and working both in music and in philanthropy, received the “Austin Under 40 Award” in the category of Arts and Entertainment. He recently released his new album, the self- reflective Time Bomb, which took only 22 days to write and record at his recording studio in East Austin, Same Sky Productions.  Always alert to music and the workings of his lyrical mind, the album’s guitar heavy title  track is based on a Wurlitzer lick from one of Messier’s many phone recordings. The Living Roomers , a new punk band comprised of Tru, Lucky and Rico,  started in the living room of the band’s home in LA in late 2017 and just self-released their first single, “Screw You” along with a video for the track. Influenced by the Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Ramones, Velvet Underground, X, The White Stripes, Joy Division and Courtney Barnett among many others. The trio calls their title song, “Screw You” a call to action. It pushes back against those who try to put people, women in particular, in boxes, something totally foreign to the fresh sound and deep energy of this trio making a name for itself in LA.

Amir Husain(@amirhusain_tx) is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, and author based in Austin, Texas. He was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award, has been named Austin's Top Technology Entrepreneur of the Year, and received the Austin Under 40 Technology and Science Award. Husain is the founder and CEO of SparkCognition, an award-winning artificial intelligence company.Since its founding in April 2013, SparkCognition has received widespread recognition, including the 2017 CNBC Disruptor 50, being named the fastest-growing company in Central Texas by Austin Business Journal in 2017, and ranking on the CB Insights AI 100 list in both 2017 and 2018.Husain is a prolific inventor with 27 U.S. patents awarded and over 40 pending applications. His work has been featured in outlets such as Foreign Policy, Fox Business News, and Proceedings from the U.S. Naval Institute. His book “The Sentient Machine: The Coming Age of Artificial Intelligence” was published in 2017.Husain served as a founding member of the Board of Advisors for IBM Watson and serves on the Board of Advisors for The University of Texas at Austin Department of Computer Science. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Center for a New American Security Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and National Security.Amir is also the author of The Sentient Machine: The Coming Age of Artificial Intelligence which you can get from Amazon here or FREE here from Audible."Software is eating the world, and A.I. is eating software"​You can listen right here on iTunesIn our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including: * The nature of intelligence * Why we need to start having mature discussions around artificial intelligence to avoid disaster * How Amir and AI researchers think about consciousness and ethics * What people are not talking about when it comes to AI * Why Amir is optimistic about the future * The reason technological progress is inevitable * How humanity may (or may not) interact and co-exist with AI * The reason we must try to embed human values into AI/robotics * How the shift from public to private space companies is transforming industry * The other political and economic systems which autonomy may necessitate * How AI and big data have the tendency to accelerate inequality * Why the term artificial intelligence doesn't really mean anything * Which industries will most benefit from AI--Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Support FringeFMFringeFM is supported by the generosity of its readers and listeners. If you find our work valuable, please consider supporting us on Patreon, via Paypal or with DonorBox powered by Stripe.Donate

Have you ever been frazzled, afraid, or felt like you were not enough? If that is the case, you are in the right place, my friend, to receive some inspired and totally doable action steps. Joining me this week is one of my mentors, Chelsea Collier. Chelsea is wicked smart. Her mission is to unite the public and private sectors to create smarter cities and more connected communities. Here is more professional cred: She’s the Founder of Digi.City, Editor-At-Large for Smart Cities Connect, and Co-Founder of Impact Hub Austin. She’s a 2018 Marshall Memorial Fellow and a 2016 Eisenhower Fellow. Her work has been published through Inc.com, Venture Beat, the Chicago Tribune and more. She is also an Advisor to the St. Edwards’ University Business School, the Austin Technology Alliance, and the Austin Forum. Chelsea has won an Austin Under 40 Award and has a masters and a bachelor degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. Whew! All of that - well, it just scratches the surface of what Chelsea is all about. I connected with Chelsea at SXSW in Austin. If you’ve never been to SXSW, put it on your bucket list and go. I’ve made so many amazing connections at this conference. The advice I received there - from folks like Chelsea - have led to some major professional breakthroughs and unexpected support. Plus, it’s helped me introduce you to amazing women doing some impactful work, so we can learn from them.In today’s episode, we touch on some big concepts in the world of technology. Have no fear! Chelsea breaks things down in a way that is super easy to follow, so stick with us. We talk about figuring out what you want to do when you grow up and making it happen. No job description for your dream job? No problem. We talk about what to do if you don’t fit into a nice, neat box. Plus, we geek out a little on sustainable fashion. Check out the full show notes for this episode at: https://www.vitalcorpswellness.com/blog/lvcs-0042-chelsea-collier

EPISODE SNEAK PEEK: "I went to pawn shops to sell my gold jewelry in order to fund my first website. And I didn't tell that story for years, because I thought that made me look so desperate. But now I'm like, well damn, I was desperate!" with Jessica Honegger LISTEN! WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE? In this episode, I sat down with Jessica Honegger, the founder and co-CEO of Noonday Collection. If you haven't heard of Noonday before, they design and sell jewelry and accessories made by artisans around the world. And by doing so, they're making a difference in some of the world's most vulnerable communities. They're changing the world! And six years into building this business, things are going really well. Jessica and her co-CEO just won an Entrepreneur of the Year award from Ernst and Young. But things haven't always been this way. At all. For a long time. And I love this conversation so much, because Jessica is super transparent about that. From not paying herself a salary for 3 years to pawning her gold jewelry in order to have enough cash to build her first website (she also shares why she didn't tell this part of her business story for years), she shares about so much. SUBSCRIBE + LISTEN iTunes Stitcher WHO IS JESSICA HONEGGER? Jessica Honegger is the Founder and Co-CEO of Noonday Collection, a business that uses fashion to create meaningful opportunities around the world. Noonday Collection creates economic opportunity for artisans in the developing world by connecting them to a growing marketplace in the United States. In 2015, Inc Magazine named Noonday Collection as the third fastest growing privately held company owned by a woman in the nation. Jessica has been featured in numerous publications, including Better Homes and Gardens, and she has been nominated twice for Austin Under 40 in Entrepreneurship. She has also been a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year two times, and was the featured cover story of Austin Woman.  Jessica founded Noonday Collection in 2010 with the dream of using entrepreneurship to alleviate poverty in vulnerable communities. Shortly after, she launched the Ambassador Opportunity, which gives women the opportunity to become stylists, storytellers, and social entrepreneurs who sell Noonday products at Trunk Shows across the U.S. In just six years, Noonday has become one of the largest fair trade retailers in the world. The company partners with 30 artisan businesses in 13 countries, creating meaningful opportunities for thousands of artisans. Plus, almost 2,000 women have joined Honegger’s vision by becoming Noonday Collection Ambassadors. Jessica can be found in Haiti or Ethiopia on even given day of the month, but her favorite spot to be found is swinging on the porch with her three kids and husband in their artist centric neighborhood of Austin’s east side. She will happily tell you where to get the best tacos, margaritas, and massages in town.  And she is always, always, planning her next adventure, preferably one where she brings her family along with her. Next on the horizon: Uganda and Italy. MORE OF JESSICA Jessica on Instagram Noonday Collection on Instagram and Facebook www.noondaycollection.com LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE: "Yes Please" by Amy Poehler (psst.. this is an affiliate link, so if you purchase the book or other things using this link, I may get some cash money! thank you!) "Year of Yes" by Shonda Rhimes (this is an affiliate link, too)

Chelsea Collier (@ChelseaMcC) is dedicated to fostering collaboration across the public and private sector in order to connect and engage communities to solve civic challenges. Her current focus on Smart Cities unifies her experience in tech, policy, social impact, civic engagement and entrepreneurship. Chelsea is a Zhi-Xing Eisenhower Fellow and will travel to China this Fall to study Smart City innovation. She documents her research on a community platform she created, Digi.City, and is a contributor to RCR Wireless and Industrial IoT 5G. Chelsea is a Co-Founder of Impact Hub Austin, a local co-working and community space for social and civic enterprises that is a part a global network of more than 80 Impact Hubs around the world. She is also co-Founder of two other start-ups, Wake Up, a professional and personal development company and Mable, a social enterprise that produces modular furniture from sustainable materials manufactured in the USA. Through her consulting company, Intercambio, she advises multiple startups and projects that seek to make a positive impact on the world. From 2012-2015, Chelsea was the Executive Director Texans for Economic Progress (TEP) and now engages as a Strategic Advisor where she continues to facilitate dialogue between the statewide technology community and elected officials, advocating for greater access to tech education, entrepreneurship and infrastructure. Prior, she served as the Founding Director for RISE, an annual Austin-based entrepreneurs conference, Marketing Director at Rev Worldwide. a mission-focused fintech start-up; and served in the Texas Governor's Office in Economic Development. She is active in several organizations that encourage economic solutions to global challenges including St Edwards' University's Dean's Advisory & Development Council for The Bill Munday School of Business, an Executive Committee member of The Seton 50, Advisor to the World Economic Forum Global Shapers, UnltdUSA and Food + City. She served as Vice Chair and Commissioner for the City of Austin Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission from 2013 - 2015. She is a Leadership Austin graduate (2010); Austin Under 40 Award recipient in Science & Technology (2015) and a BPE Ascendant Award recipient (2013), and an ABJ Profiles in Power Finalist (2013).  Chelsea has masters and bachelor degrees in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. In this episode, we discussed: what "Smart Cities" are and how they are making cities more livable and citizen-friendly. examples of ways in which cities are using next-generation technology to improve law enforcement and city services. key political, regulatory and political challenges cities face as they seek to apply smarter uses of technology. Resources: InterCambio Group Digi.City YouCanBook.me (scheduling app) Full Contact (contact management) Give and Take by Adam Grant TECH POLICY NEWS US officials are investigating a potential Russian effort to disrupt this year's US presidential elections, according to Dana Priest at the Washington Post. The investigation was precipitated by alleged Russian hacks into the Democratic National Committee and Wikileaks release of 20,000 hacked DNC emails. Russia has denied the accusations, although, as Bloomberg notes, Russian President Vladimir Putin did say the DNC hacks were a public service. Julian Hattem at The Hill noted last week that Department of Homeland Security Chief Jeh Johnson attempted to downplay the Russian threat. Johnson said the vastness of all of the nation's dispersed local and state voting systems would make it difficult for any hack to alter the ballot count. But officials are still worried that even a hint of the ballots being compromised could cause unrest.----The FCC has proposed rules that would open up the set top box market to competition. Currently, subscribers are paying an average of $231 per year to lease set top boxes from cable providers. And these set top boxes aren't required to list content from over-the-top competitors like Netflix. The new rules would clear the way for cable subscribers to buy a set top box of their choice, they would also require cable providers to develop free apps that enable consumers to download all their programming to their chosen devices. The cable industry is obviously incensed. The Commissioners will vote on the new rules at the next Open Meeting on September 29th at the FCC. If you want to file comments, it's proceeding 16-42. In the meantime, you can check out my interview with Brian Woolfolk on episode 36 to get caught up on the basics of this proceeding.----According to a new FBI report, Hillary Clinton and her staff were lackadaisical about keeping confidential communications secure while Clinton served as Secretary of State, even though Clinton herself had authorization to decide which communications were confidential and which weren't. But former Secretary of State Colin Powell also indicated last week that his communications weren't kept all that secure either, stating that he had used a separate internet connection over a private phone line to communicate about State Department business off the State Department's servers. Sean Gallagher at Ars Technica and Quartz have the coverage here.----President Obama has announced the appointments of the nation's first Chief and Deputy Chief Information Officers.  Retired Brigadier General Gregory J. Touhill, who currently serves as a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications at the Department of Homeland Security, will take the helm as CISO and Grant Schneider, current Director of Cybersecurity on the National Security Council staff at the White House will serve as Deputy.---- Finally, another Obama administration staffer is leaving the White House to join the tech sector. Rachel Racusen, who last week ended her stint as White House strategic communications adviser, will join Snapchat's New York team next week to serve as Director of Communications at the growing social media company.  Juliet Eilperin at the Washington Post notes that Racusen joins a long line of former White House officials to join the tech sector, including former press secretary Jay Carney who went to Amazon and Dan Pfeiffer at GoFundMe.