Podcasts about brainstation

The Data Product Management In Action podcast, brought to you by executive producer Scott Hirleman, is a platform for data product management practitioners to share insights and experiences. In this episode, host Frannie Helforoush talks with our host Nick Zervoudis, Head of Product at CKDelta and founder of Value from Data and AI, about his new course designed to help data teams deliver maximum impact. Nick discusses the growing importance of being value-focused amidst economic challenges like inflation and layoffs. Tailored for data product managers and consultants, the cohort-based course emphasizes opportunity discovery, valuation, and aligning data initiatives with business profitability. Hosted on Maven, the interactive format fosters peer learning. Check out Nick's course on Maven and tune in to learn how to ensure your data and AI efforts deliver tangible results. About our host Frannie Helforoush: Frannie's journey began as a software engineer and evolved into a strategic product manager. Now, as a data product manager, she leverages her expertise in both fields to create impactful solutions. Frannie thrives on making data accessible and actionable, driving product innovation, and ensuring product thinking is integral to data management. Connect with Frannie on LinkedIn. Meet our Guest Nick Zervoudis: Nick is Head of Product at CKDelta, an AI software business within the CKHutchison Holdings group. Nick oversees a portfolio of data products and works with sister companies to uncover new opportunities to innovate using data,analytics, and machine learning.Nick's career has revolved around data and advanced analytics from day one,having worked as an analyst, consultant, product manager, and instructor for startups, SMEs, and enterprises including PepsiCo, Sainsbury's, Lloyds BankingGroup, IKEA, Capgemini Invent, BrainStation, QuantSpark, and Hg Capital. Nick is also the co-host ofLondon's Data Product Management meetup, and speaks and writes regularly about data & AI product management. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn. Core offerings delivered by Value from Data & AI: Data product management training Fractional Data Product Manager Data startup advisory 1:1 coaching One-off data and AI discovery projects Data monetization advisory All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect their employers or anyone else.  Join the conversation on LinkedIn.  Apply to be a guest or nominate someone that you know.  Do you love what you're listening to? Please rate and review the podcast, and share it with fellow practitioners you know. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable insights! 

S1 Ep#30: From Engineering to Data Strategy: Driving AI and Decision-Making The Data Product Management In Action podcast, season 1, is brought to you by Soda and executive producer Scott Hirleman, is a platform for data product management practitioners to share insights and experiences. Our guest this week is Theo Bell, a data product manager. She chats with host Nick Zerviudis and shares her transition from mechanical engineering to roles at Goldman Sachs and Palantir, emphasizing the importance of data integration in strategic decision-making. She discusses how Palantir helped a manufacturer prioritize client orders during raw material shortages and explores the challenges of convincing stakeholders to adopt new data models, advocating for production-ready pilots over proof-of-concepts. Theo also offers insights on fostering AI adoption within organizations, using a news summarization tool for a CEO as an example. She recommends the GTD framework and Surrounded by Idiots for enhancing productivity and communication. About our Host Nick Zervoudis: Nick is Head of Product at CKDelta, an AI software business within the CK Hutchison Holdings group. Nick oversees a portfolio of data products and works with sister companies to uncover new opportunities to innovate using data, analytics, and machine learning. Nick's career has revolved around data and advanced analytics from day one, having worked as an analyst, consultant, product manager, and instructor for startups, SMEs, and enterprises including PepsiCo, Sainsbury's, Lloyds Banking Group, IKEA, Capgemini Invent, BrainStation, QuantSpark, and Hg Capital. Nick is also the co-host of London's Data Product Management meetup, and speaks & writes regularly about data & AI product management. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn and through his newsletter, Value from Data & AI. About our Guest Theo Bell: Theo is the Head of AI Product at Rimes, where she leads the company's efforts to leverage AI technology in order to provide cutting-edge data management solutions to clients. Previously, Theo held key roles at Palantir Technologies and Goldman Sachs, where she enabled various industries to leverage data through AI/ML-driven software, notably Airbus' Skywise platform, the NHS, and the UK Ministry of Defense. Theo is dedicated to using AI and technology for global challenges, particularly in improving health, enhancing society, and fostering sustainable businesses. She holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge.  Connect with Theo in LinkedIn. All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect their employers or anyone else.  Join the conversation on LinkedIn.  Apply to be a guest or nominate someone that you know.  Do you love what you're listening to? Please rate and review the podcast, and share it with fellow practitioners you know. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable insights!    .

The Data Product Management In Action podcast, brought to you by Soda and executive producer Scott Hirleman, is a platform for data product management practitioners to share insights and experiences.  In Episode 24 of Data Product Management in Action, our host Nick Zervoudis is joined byTefi Trabuchi, Data Platform Product Manager at SumUp, to discuss her experience transforming a reactive data platform team into a user-focused, strategy-driven powerhouse. Tefi shares how she tackled challenges like burnout, prioritization struggles, and resistance to product practices such as user research and OKRs. She highlights the pivotal role of user interviews in shifting mindsets and the delicate balance between reducing risk, ensuring compliance, and driving innovation. Tefi also emphasizes the value of clear communication and curiosity when working in highly technical domains. This episode offers practical insights for product managers navigating the complexities of data, AI, and machine learning. About our host Nick Zervoudis: Nick is Head of Product at CKDelta, an AI software business within the CKHutchison Holdings group. Nick oversees a portfolio of data products and works with sister companies to uncover new opportunities to innovate using data,analytics, and machine learning.Nick's career has revolved around data and advanced analytics from day one,having worked as an analyst, consultant, product manager, and instructor for startups, SMEs, and enterprises including PepsiCo, Sainsbury's, Lloyds BankingGroup, IKEA, Capgemini Invent, BrainStation, QuantSpark, and Hg Capital. Nick is also the co-host ofLondon's Data Product Management meetup, andspeaks & writes regularly about data & AI product management. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn. About our guest Tefi Trabuchi:Tefi is a Data Platform Product Manager at SumUp, where she focuses on making sure our data tools are not only secure and efficient but also provide a smooth user experience for our internal teams. Before this, she led the development of an in-house Data Observability tool at Glovo, introducing governance rules and SLAs for key datasets. Tefi enjoys working closely with teams to create practical solutions that make accessing and using data easier and more intuitive, so everyone can make more informed decisions faster. Connect with Tefi on LinkedIn. All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect their employers or anyone else.  Join the conversation on LinkedIn.  Apply to be a guest or nominate someone that you know.  Do you love what you're listening to? Please rate and review the podcast, and share it with fellow practitioners you know. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable insights!              

The Data Product Management In Action podcast, brought to you by Soda and executive producer Scott Hirleman, is a platform for data product management practitioners to share insights and experiences.  In Season 01, Episode 20, Nick is back and this time he is chatting with Ganesh Prasad. They dive into Ganesh's background as a data product manager and his journey from data science to product management. The discussion leads into the differences between internal and external products, the importance of user interviews and discovery, and the challenges and advantages of working in big tech and financial industries. Follow along as Ganesh shares some valuable tips and explains the importance of having a product mindset. About our host Nick Zervoudis: Nick is Head of Product at CKDelta, an AI software business within the CK Hutchison Holdings group. Nick oversees a portfolio of data products and works with sister companies to uncover new opportunities to innovate using data, analytics, and machine learning. Nick's career has revolved around data and advanced analytics from day one, having worked as an analyst, consultant, product manager, and instructor for startups, SMEs, and enterprises including PepsiCo, Sainsbury's, Lloyds Banking Group, IKEA, Capgemini Invent, BrainStation, QuantSpark, and Hg Capital. Nick is also the co-host of London's Data Product Management meetup, and speaks and writes regularly about data and AI product management. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn.   About our guest Ganesh Prasad: Ganesh is a Senior Product Lead in the Data Analytics division at Salesforce, bringing over 5 years of experience in data product management from both Salesforce and Mastercard. He has a proven track record of successfully launching and scaling products that meet customer needs. Ganesh has successfully managed and developed analytics, ML, and AI products across various domains, including marketing analytics, fraud detection, revenue forecasting, and platform optimization. Transitioning from a data scientist to a product manager, Ganesh is passionate about the intersection of data and product development. He leads the PM Community of Practice for the Data Analytics division at Salesforce and dedicates his spare time to mentoring others in the field. Connect with Ganesh on LinkedIn.  All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect their employers or anyone else.  Join the conversation on LinkedIn.  Apply to be a guest or nominate someone that you know.  Do you love what you're listening to? Please rate and review the podcast, and share it with fellow practitioners you know. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable insights!   

The Data Product Management In Action podcast, brought to you by Soda and executive producer Scott Hirleman, is a platform for data product management practitioners to share insights and experiences.  In Season 01, Episode 16,  we introduce another one of our amazing hosts, Nick Zervoudis. Nick is the head of Products for Data and AI at CKDelta. He shares his journey into product management and discusses his dual roles, managing data monetization products and consulting for sister companies. We will discuss Nick's career highlights, key successes, and challenges. Get to know Nick and learn about journey into the field of Data Product management!  About our host Nick Zervoudis: Nick is Head of Product at CKDelta, an AI software business within the CK Hutchison Holdings group. Nick oversees a portfolio of data products and works with sister companies to uncover new opportunities to innovate using data, analytics, and machine learning. Nick's career has revolved around data and advanced analytics from day one, having worked as an analyst, consultant, product manager, and instructor for startups, SMEs, and enterprises including PepsiCo, Sainsbury's, Lloyds Banking Group, IKEA, Capgemini Invent, BrainStation, QuantSpark, and Hg Capital. Nick is also the co-host of London's Data Product Management meetup, and speaks & writes regularly about data & AI product management. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn.   All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect their employers or anyone else.  Join the conversation on LinkedIn.  Apply to be a guest or nominate someone that you know.  Do you love what you're listening to? Please rate and review the podcast, and share it with fellow practitioners you know. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable insights! 

The Data Product Management In Action podcast, brought to you by Soda and executive producer Scott Hirleman, is a platform for data product management practitioners to share insights and experiences.  In Season 01, Episode 17, host Nick Zervoudis ( Head of Product at CKDelta) talks to Grace Talem (Product Manager with Power Digital Marketing). In this episode Grace shares her career journey and highlights the importance of diverse experiences in shaping a successful product manager. She discusses the value of empathy, strong relationships with engineering and data teams, and the role of curiosity in asking the right questions. Listen to Grace as she shares her plans for a career break to explore new projects!  About our host Nick Zervoudis: Nick is Head of Product at CKDelta, an AI software business within the CK Hutchison Holdings group. Nick oversees a portfolio of data products and works with sister companies to uncover new opportunities to innovate using data, analytics, and machine learning. Nick's career has revolved around data and advanced analytics from day one, having worked as an analyst, consultant, product manager, and instructor for startups, SMEs, and enterprises including PepsiCo, Sainsbury's, Lloyds Banking Group, IKEA, Capgemini Invent, BrainStation, QuantSpark, and Hg Capital. Nick is also the co-host of London's Data Product Management meetup, and speaks & writes regularly about data & AI product management. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn.   About our guest Grace Halim: Grace is a seasoned product leader with a passion for building innovative products. With over 12 years of product management experience, Grace has honed her skills in leading high-performing product teams and delivering exceptional customer experiences. From crafting engaging data products to optimizing complex enterprise systems, Grace has a proven track record of success in the product management field. Grace is currently on a career break traveling around Australia in a caravan with her young family. Having been a product leader in the last two roles she held, Grace excelled in building and scaling product teams, fostering a culture of innovation, and driving business growth. Her teams' focus on customer focus and strategic thinking have been instrumental in delivering successful products that resonate with customers and drive bottom-line results. Beyond her corporate experience, Grace is an entrepreneur at heart. As co-founder of a data platform, she demonstrated her ability to turn a vision into a paying customer. Stay up to date with Grace's adventure on LinkedIn.  All views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect their employers or anyone else.  Join the conversation on LinkedIn.  Apply to be a guest or nominate someone that you know.  Do you love what you're listening to? Please rate and review the podcast, and share it with fellow practitioners you know. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable insights!              

Guest: Raisul Kabir, Founder & CEO Brainstation 23 Join us in this captivating episode as we sit down with Kabir, the visionary Founder and CEO of Brainstation 23, to explore the multifaceted world of tech entrepreneurship. From fostering critical thinking to assembling stellar teams, and from sage advice for budding entrepreneurs to the debate between freelancing and traditional jobs, this episode is a goldmine of insights for anyone interested in the tech industry. What's Inside: Meet Kabir: An introduction to Kabir's journey, highlighting his path to becoming the CEO of Brainstation 23 and his ethos as a tech leader. The Essence of Tech Entrepreneurship: Kabir shares his perspective on what it takes to succeed in the tech world, discussing the importance of innovation, resilience, and vision in the fast-paced tech sector. Cultivating Critical Thinking: Insight into how critical thinking plays a crucial role in tech entrepreneurship and how it can be developed and nurtured. Team Building Strategies: Kabir discusses the art of assembling and leading effective teams, focusing on communication, diversity, and shared goals. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Practical tips and motivational advice for new entrepreneurs entering the tech space, covering everything from ideation to execution. Freelancing vs. Traditional Jobs: A deep dive into the pros and cons of freelancing versus traditional employment in tech, offering valuable perspectives for both career paths. Listener Q&A: A segment where Kabir answers questions from the audience, providing personalized insights and sharing his experiences. Looking Ahead: Kabir talks about the future of Brainstation 23, upcoming tech trends, and his vision for the industry.

Do you believe in the power of entrepreneurship and community building?Joining us today is Juha Mikkola, an entrepreneur originally from Finland but with a deep connection to the vibrant city of Miami, where he has lived for the past decade. His passion for building things and connecting with others has led to some remarkable achievements.In this episode, we'll delve into Juha's journey, his commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in South Florida, and the passions that drive him outside of work.Juha is the founder of Usko, a company dedicated to helping Amazon sellers grow their businesses. Before this, he founded Wyncode Academy, the largest coding and digital design educator in the Southeast, which was later acquired by BrainStation in 2020. His accolades as a community leader are numerous, including being selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur in 2015 and winning the South Florida Business Journal's H. Wayne Huizenga Startup of the Year Award in 2016.

I invited on 4 graduates from the coding bootcamp, BrainStation, to share their experiences with the program - good and bad. Enjoy!Sorry for the low quality. I used Riverside to record 3 episodes - all of which had audio or video issues. I ended up having the worst technical issues with this one but managed to salvage it.David Le (guest):Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-huynh-leAjay Singh (guest):Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/singhajayWebsite - https://www.ajaysingh.caNathalie Barreto (guest):Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaliebarreto---------------------------------------------------

Aaron sits down with William Johnson, the creator of Vancouver Tech Journal, to discuss technology, business and leadership. Specifically, the two explore technological innovations taking place in the health and agriculture sector. They also talk William being brought into a family in Canada from an orphanage in Kingston. William is a Vancouver-based writer who's contributed to local, regional and national publications. He is currently general manager of the Vancouver Tech Journal, which was recently named the top newsletter for technology news in Vancouver by the Georgia Straight. With a focus on business and technology, William's writing has been featured in outlets including Billboard, BCBusiness, Maclean's, The Globe & Mail, Daily Hive, BetaKit, Ottawa Magazine, and University Affairs. In addition, William has been a speaker on communications and innovation at events like the #BCTECHSummit, Uniting the Prairies, TechVancouver, Marketing Connect, and BC AMA's Vision conference. William previously combined his editorial work with full-time in-house jobs, most recently as director of marketing and communications at Innovate BC and head of communications at the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association. He is actively engaged in the B.C. business community, currently serving in volunteer roles with the BrainStation and the Business Council of B.C. William also studied political science at Carleton University and public relations at the University of Toronto. He is active on Twitter @notionport. You're invited to subscribe at www.vantechjournal.com Subscribe on Substack: https://aaronpete.substack.com/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jl39CsCYhImbLevAF6aTe?si=dc4479f225ff440b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/bigger-than-me-podcast/id1517645921 Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMDc3MjYyLnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiA8JKF2tT0AhUPmp4KHR2rAPkQ9sEGegQIARAC

Johanna Mikkola is the Co-Founder and CEO of Wyncode Academy, recently acquired by BrainStation, whose project-based programs have helped over 100,000 professionals launch new careers in the tech industry. Chad talks with Johanna about creating a digital skills training bootcamp, the hiring and training market and challenges, and prioritizing inclusion and diversity in the student population. BrainStation (https://brainstation.io/) Follow BrainStation on Twitter (https://twitter.com/brainstation), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BrainStation), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brainstation/), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/school/brainstation/). Follow Johanna on Twitter (https://twitter.com/JoMikkola) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanna-mikkola/). Follow thoughtbot on Twitter (https://twitter.com/thoughtbot) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/150727/). Become a Sponsor (https://thoughtbot.com/sponsorship) of Giant Robots! Transcript: CHAD: This is the Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots Podcast, where we explore the design, development, and business of great products. And with me today is Jo Mikkola, the Co-Founder, and CEO of Wyncode Academy, recently acquired by BrainStation, whose project-based programs have helped over 100,000 professionals launch new careers in the tech industry. Jo, thank you for joining me. JOHANNA: So excited to be here. Thank you. CHAD: I actually think that the weather we're calling from today might not be so different. It's very warm and sunny, and everything in Boston. So I'm pretty happy today. How are things where you are? JOHANNA: That's great. We're coming to you live from the 305 in Miami, and it's turning into summertime here, which means it's pretty hot and sticky. But I'm originally from Finland, so I can't complain. CHAD: [laughs] JOHANNA: The novelty after eight years of living here has not worn off on me. I do enjoy the sunshine and the palm trees. CHAD: That's great. So we'll definitely circle back and talk about Miami and the tech industry there and everything. But before we do that, I'm curious; you have recently been acquired by BrainStation. Let's rewind a little bit to getting started with Wyncode and what brought you to creating a digital skills training bootcamp. JOHANNA: It's been quite the journey. It all started back in 2013, and at the time living in Toronto. I, at that point, had been working at the National Hockey League in Toronto for eight years and had just joined the management there on the hockey operations officiating team, which was an amazing chapter of my professional journey, and I love all the individuals that I worked with there. But I got to a point in that career where I didn't quite know what the next step would be professionally, and I was looking at getting an MBA. But at the same time, while I was working at the NHL, I was helping lead an internal software build project. And it kept coming to the forefront for me that wow, hockey is being disrupted by technology or technology is being very integrated into something I thought, you know, I didn't think I would see that happen. And at the same time, my co-founder, who's also my husband, we're both from Finland. His name is Juha. He was an entrepreneur in the e-commerce sporting goods space, and he actually had joined a coding bootcamp in Toronto, an early one. And as he was going through the process, we were both kind of at this inflection point professionally about what we were going to do. And so everything he was learning, the transformation of individuals he was witnessing first-hand, him experiencing that himself, and me being a non-technical business person leading a technical project at the NHL, we were like, wow, we're on the cusp of some serious change in the world, and we want to be part of that wave. So we were like, where can we go and be first to market to provide this life-changing, career-changing education and, in turn, really dive into not only education but also the technology space? And ultimately, we landed on Miami. We had actually looked at Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles as options as well. But we arrived here in Miami, and it was very like a Hollywood thing. We were sitting at the coolest cafe in Miami at the time. We were here on Christmas holiday. And we, on a napkin, started writing ideas and brainstorming. You know, founders get very excited about logos and brainstorming names, or at least I do. CHAD: [laughs] JOHANNA: And it all came together really quickly. That was December 2013. We attended a startup meet-up here. We met four key players in this ecosystem, some of which are major drivers today, like the Knight Foundation and Endeavor. We heard their vision, and what they were doing, and how much funding was being put at the time into building a tech ecosystem in Miami. And we were like, wow, we want in. So we went from concept to launch in three months' time. And it was a pretty exciting ride. I mean, so much happened in that time [laughs], and obviously, the acquisition came early last year. And so we've kind of seen it go full circle. And for me professionally, I went from being a startup founder working very regionally, being somewhat nationally known but being a strong regional player, to being a global player overnight with BrainStation. So that also has been really exciting. CHAD: At thoughtbot, we helped create a web development bootcamp around the same time actually. JOHANNA: Love that. CHAD: And that was for Kaplan, and they ended up purchasing Dev Bootcamp and then shutting it down. So I have some experience, and not only that, but thoughtbot has hired a lot of people from bootcamps into our apprentice program. JOHANNA: Love that. CHAD: So, from a hiring and training perspective, I think it's great. From a business perspective, it seems to have been a very challenging market. How did you weather that? JOHANNA: Oh yeah. I mean persistence, unwavering commitment to the people we worked with, and the people we were helping gain these skills to change their careers. And like with any startup, there are moments where it's like, wow, you know, this is a big challenge. How are we going to overcome this? But we've always had the mentality of if there is a will, there is a way. And don't get me wrong, it doesn't always work out. But fortunately, now that I have hindsight, I can say that that mentality resulted in where we are today, and it was very positive. And I have the really fortunate position of looking back on those stressful moments and seeing the lessons now, which is such a gift and maybe also alludes to me being old, I don't know. [laughter] But it really was a great journey. And I mean, the challenges started in the beginning for us, which is turns out it was a federal offense to operate without a license in the state of Florida, you know, lots of details to talk about there. But come full circle, we ended up being the first coding bootcamp to be licensed by a State Department of Education in the entire country. So even though other people were operating in their states, it was different statutes, different legal requirements. And so, we were the first to be licensed. And as a result, we actually helped advise some of those other big names that we all see in the coding landscape to explain how it worked for us. And shout out to the Florida Department of Education and Commission for Independent Education for working with us to make it all come together. But it started off with a very exciting beginning getting that letter, which was essentially telling us to shut down before we had even begun. [laughter] And it all worked out. And we have a great relationship with them. And we learned a lot there. And I will say just in the coding landscape, what ended up happening and what's happened with a lot of for-profit education is there was a huge opportunity, and there still is. People really genuinely need these skills. They really need this vocational training, and the companies hiring really need this talent, as you know firsthand. And so a lot of people jumped in and saw that there was money to be made because professionals and maybe also people who can afford it...there are a lot of financing companies that came in. And so the thing that started wavering is the quality in terms of the training. And that's one of the things that you just, you know, one of the things we were unwilling to compromise at Wyncode and also why BrainStation, I like to say, is our soulmate because they feel the same way. To go from zero to software engineer or zero to UX designer (We also teach data science and digital marketing.), it really takes high-quality education, high-quality educators, and a high-quality network to do that at the level that we want to do that. And then the other thing that a lot of people fell into is this desire to scale really quickly, so take in too many students which quality goes down, open too many locations, quality goes down. And to be the best, you got to learn from the best, and that means learning from software engineers, product designers, individuals who are really highly sought after right now. So, in the same way that software companies are facing talent issues, for us, that was also a key piece for us to solve and work out. We're really fortunate that in the space of education, this is such rewarding work. We build such amazing relationships with the people coming through the programs and, in turn, are contributing so much to our local ecosystems that it hasn't been that hard to attract amazing talent to be our educators because it is so rewarding. They're getting an opportunity to apply their craft to something they love and really shape the minds of future technologists. And it's just a wonderful thing to watch and be part of, so really fortunate to be in that space. CHAD: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's one of the things that has made the space challenging is you come into it with the desire to have that really high quality, but there's a cost to that. And if you don't scale the number of students, you might have trouble covering that cost. How did you balance that? JOHANNA: In the early days of Wyncode, it was easy because we were self-funded, and we were growing organically. So we were quite conservative about how we scaled and how many people we took on, and we stayed very true to that. And honestly, we stayed very focused on the state of Florida. So at one point, we actually had three locations; we had Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, and we scaled them down to have a large HQ in Miami. Because we saw that when the team was together, and the community was together, the overall experience from network to learning was better because we were self-funded. And then, later, when we had partners who were committed to quality, we were able to make decisions for the sake of quality instead of profitability. And then now with BrainStation, I mean, BrainStation is an incredible company. It's been around for ten years. It has been very successful. And right now, what we've been able to do is invest. BrainStation is in a position where we're investing in different pilots to see what things will make learning even better than it already is, although I will say it's at a really high quality right now. And so we're in a fortunate position where, of course, it still needs to make sense. The unit economics needs to make sense. But we're also doing everything we can to continually iterate and make it a great environment for people to learn in. And I think that has come with taking the approach that we're in a long-term marathon. We're not in a sprint with what we're building right now. And I think a lot of the companies in this space that ran into issues were really sprinting to a certain scale, which is a way of operating that we haven't operated. CHAD: Well, so based on what you've said so far, I can make certain assumptions about how you answer this next question. JOHANNA: [laughs] CHAD: But I think it's an important topic, and so I want to make sure even if it's obvious that we talk about it and that's how to bring in students, how to scale the business while still prioritizing inclusion and diversity in the student population, in your organization. What sort of attention did you put on that? JOHANNA: Yeah, so this is a really key one. I mean, in the early days of Wyncode, we were able to do things in a different way than we are now with BrainStation. But I would say Miami is naturally a very diverse and international ecosystem. And so, from the beginning, we really wanted to see that reflected in the people who were in our programs because I knew that would, in the long term, provide so much value to building a great ecosystem. And so, in the beginning, we partnered...we worked very hard to partner with The Knight Foundation to launch what was called The Future Leaders of Tech Fellowship. This is an example of something we did with different groups throughout all the years and continue to do today, but I'll use Knight as the example, which essentially was a full-ride scholarship for underrepresented individuals in technology. So the first iteration we ran of that was a full-ride scholarship because we thought that was the main barrier. Then we realized that a lot of these individuals who hadn't had the means before and didn't necessarily have the educational training needed a little extra training, and they needed to start working right away. So what we created was a pre-program for them. It was a full-ride scholarship, and then it was a guaranteed three-month paid internship at a tech company. And of all the people who went through that program, the majority transitioned, with the exception of two, transitioned into full-time salaried roles. And those are incredible stories that are truly life-changing. But I think the important thing there and what we learned over time is people need support, financial and educational, and they need time. So obviously, in an accelerated learning program, you want things to go as quickly as possible but through the help of partners and making it work for certain communities, we were able to do that. We also partnered with the YMW...it's the Women's...YMCA for women. I cannot remember the acronym right now. CHAD: WYMCA. JOHANNA: Thank you. Thank you. We provided a program in-house for them specifically. CHAD: No, it would be the YWCA. [laughter] JOHANNA: Yeah. CHAD: Sorry to interrupt you. JOHANNA: I'm sorry. I'm not doing you all a good service here. But it's an amazing organization here in Miami. And that was geared specifically towards women from disadvantaged backgrounds, giving them the education they needed. And with that group, we had actually a 70% success rate, which was wonderful. Those are individuals who had no options for any type of white-collar position, many of whom we still keep in touch with today. So, in the beginning, with diversity and inclusion, we were doing things at a smaller scale, very specialized, and very catered to make sure that they were successful in the hope of eventually building more momentum to do this. And the work very much continues. So BrainStation, larger company, we have a lot more firepower in terms of what we're able to do. So we've partnered with companies like Ernst & Young, Shutterstock, Microsoft with our Impact Scholarship, which is also full-ride scholarships for the underrepresented communities in technology, and that's been really successful as well. And, again, education is really rewarding, but it's also really rewarding to see, in particular, those success stories. CHAD: Yeah, one of the things when I speak at bootcamps or when I talk to apprentices who are joining us, I often reinforce or remind them that they bring something to the table, which is really special. I started programming when I was in middle school. I went to school for computer science. Aside from a brief stint as a dishwasher and a checkout person at a grocery store, this is all I've ever done. And I recognize that that has pros and cons. Like, I just don't have the same perspective and diversity of experience, let alone actual demographic diversity that many of our team members bring to the table. And there's something special in that, whether it be from your experience working in another industry like hospitality or something like that. You bring a perspective. There are so many hospitality startups, for example, that would love to bring a new developer onto their team who actually has industry experience. It makes it very powerful for people. JOHANNA: Yeah, absolutely. And I think oftentimes, people in anything when you're transitioning a career, there's maybe a little bit of imposter syndrome or a lack of confidence. And I see oftentimes not only minority groups but everyone shying away from their previous professional backgrounds. But technology is built for us, for humans who are very diverse in background experience and the products and services that we need. And so we really try to emphasize at Wyncode and at BrainStation to lean into your past profession. Because if you can bring that through and really focus on the things you learn there, you can provide so much firepower to what you're building with technology, and it's super important. And I will say healthtech is big in South Florida. And so we have had various people with some type of health background, whether they were an assistant or worked in a medical office, or we've had a few doctors go through the program. They were, as you can imagine, really sought after for the healthtech companies because not only do they bring technology skills, but they have this understanding that no one else does. So it's really unique. CHAD: You're part of the tech industry now. [laughter] How has that diversity of background...you mentioned at the beginning, at the top of the episode that you were originally at the NHL, to starting to lead software projects there. How have you leveraged that for yourself and for your business? JOHANNA: Oh yeah, 100%. So we do an exercise at BrainStation where you have a chart, and you plot out your past professions, and you look at the things that you learned, and the mistakes you made, and the things you didn't like, to start to build a thread of what are things carrying over? And for me, the thing that has come to the forefront is technology or not...and I feel like anyone investing is also saying this all the time, and maybe founders say it too. But it always comes down to people and relationships and how you are listening and taking in the information to then digest it and deliver something. And so, I think my ability to connect with people and mobilize people around common goals is something that has been a common thread throughout my career. It's interesting. I'll say some of the best things I learned as a founder came from engineers, the first being agile. Like, we weren't operating like an agile company in the beginning because we weren't a software company. And our very first hire was a guy named Ed Toro, an MIT graduate. Shout out to Ed. It's actually his birthday. CHAD: [laughs] JOHANNA: Incredible, incredible engineer originally from Boston. He was our lead educator for software for so long. And he just brought so much knowledge to us about how software is built and works. And we integrated that into how we operated as business people and organized the company. I mean, it's amazing. I actually don't remember what it's like to not be organized in that manner anymore. Although I can tell you going from the NHL to Wyncode was a huge jump because NHL, even though we were using and leveraging technology, was still organized very traditionally. And so I'll give you a simple thing, some software teams...I know a lot of software engineers appreciate transparency. So, in addition to organizing in a very agile method in terms of how we operated the business, we also pivoted to be extremely transparent as a team as well in terms of how the company is doing, which is something that is not common in a multibillion-dollar industry like the NHL. Although you see that more and more with tech companies, which is interesting. CHAD: How long ago did you join up with BrainStation? JOHANNA: So we were introduced to the founders and owners of BrainStation really because they were potentially looking at coming to Florida. And a mutual friend, a mutual business person, had said, "Hey, you know, if you guys are looking at Florida, probably you guys should meet Jo and Juha. They built something called Wyncode. You're going to get to know them anyway." And so I would say a little bit over a year and a half ago, we started chatting. And we realized that we had a lot in common in terms of how we had built the businesses, where we wanted to see the business go. And the rest isn't history because we're a year and a half in. CHAD: [laughs] JOHANNA: So you know what happened. It all worked out. It's really great but also really excited for the future. Because now with the BrainStation acquisition comes a lot of firepower in terms of experience on the team, much larger team, capital, reach of team. We have students in over 100 countries. So I'm very excited for what we're going to do in the future as well because we can have so much more impact, and that is really exciting as well. Mid-Roll Ad: I wanted to tell you all about something I've been working on quietly for the past year or so, and that's AgencyU. AgencyU is a membership-based program where I work one-on-one with a small group of agency founders and leaders toward their business goals. We do one-on-one coaching sessions and also monthly group meetings. We start with goal setting, advice, and problem-solving based on my experiences over the last 18 years of running thoughtbot. As we progress as a group, we all get to know each other more. And many of the AgencyU members are now working on client projects together and even referring work to each other. Whether you're struggling to grow an agency, taking it to the next level and having growing pains, or a solo founder who just needs someone to talk to, in my 18 years of leading and growing thoughtbot, I've seen and learned from a lot of different situations, and I'd be happy to work with you. Learn more and sign up today at thoughtbot.com/agencyu. That's A-G-E-N-C-Y, the letter U. CHAD: You mentioned before you had a very Florida-specific focus previously. Is part of this next stage to be working across BrainStation and really working more globally? JOHANNA: Yeah, so working regionally with a focus on South Florida but with the know-how and the resources of a global team for sure. And being on the senior leadership team here, I am still 100% focused on Florida, but I get to have perspective from all the other markets. We have five campuses in New York, Toronto, Vancouver, London, and now Miami. So that's very interesting. And I have to say, when we were running Wyncode, we were always like, man, I wonder, how it's going in New York? CHAD: [laughs] JOHANNA: Or I wonder how it's going in Vancouver. Well, now I know. So it is really interesting because it also gives you not only a perspective in terms of bootcamps and how that's going but also a perspective on those ecosystems and how the tech companies there are growing and hiring. Because we're at that really interesting spot where we always know everyone's closed a round of funding because they go on a hiring spree. And then we see the bigger companies who are continually hiring. So we always kind of have a little bit of a pulse on what's going on in all of the ecosystems. And also really, before, we were primarily American students in the southeast, but now as BrainStation, I mean, it's global. So seeing how different everyone is but also still so similar in terms of their end goals and collaborative, it's really special. And yeah, it's been great. CHAD: So you have the campuses, the geographic locations, and then you have the global students. Are they in different silos, or do the two groups of students interact with each other at all? JOHANNA: Yeah, great question. So we do execute our..., and we call them diploma programs for the bootcamp programs, both online and in person. So as you can imagine, students in over 100 countries we're executing in all the time zones because of online delivery. But much of that, if they're outside of the geographic region of one of our campuses, they're likely an online student. CHAD: Are they being taught by an instructor in one of the campuses, or is it a separate thing? JOHANNA: Yeah, our educators are located in our campuses geographically. CHAD: How did the pandemic change or not change the experience of students, and what you needed to offer? JOHANNA: Wyncode, at the time, we were still Wyncode when the pandemic hit. I'll never forget having an all-hands meeting in our conference room and being like, hey...it was a Thursday. We're like, come Monday; we're going fully remote. We weren't a remote educator at that time. Everybody needs special permissions and licenses to also have remote teaching, which most governments made exceptions for because of the pandemic. So we were all good there. But we were thinking at the time, oh, maybe it'll be a month. Well, two years later, we're just about to have our grand reopening of the space in Miami. Our other campuses have already opened. And it was pretty exciting. When the pandemic hit, there was definitely an oh no moment. Like, people paused their enrollments, understandably. That was March. But as we got into early summer, we actually saw enrollment skyrocket. So huge success was pivoting to go remote. We were very fortunate that we had a pretty seasoned senior team on our software and UX side. And they had been through the world of remote learning and just being on tech, you know, Yahoo, Google. They had worked at Yahoo, Google, so they knew remote, and they were able to help us and bring that expertise. So the transition to remote was easy. And then we got all these students. And actually, that started a wave which has continued to this day of really people having an appetite for online learning and continuing to want to pivot careers into technology, both out of individuals' interests for technology but also because of the demand. So the pandemic was terrible. Business-wise for sure, there have been challenges, but there have, I would say, been a lot more successes and opportunities as a result of the pandemic. And for me personally as an entrepreneur, the pandemic got us, you know, we were doing well and having a lot of success, so the pandemic also got us on the radar for BrainStation. We started that conversation, and that was really exciting. And, again, here we are as a global educator now. CHAD: I've talked to a lot of people and seen it in our applications as well, like, it was really two things: people losing their jobs because of the pandemic and then getting that opportunity to take a look around and say, you know what? I'm not going back to that industry, and I want to learn to code. And then a lot of other people saying, you know, sort of the great resignation kind of stuff saying like, I want to change and actively switching as well. And you can see it in our applications the number of switchers, the number of people who have taken the last year, year and a half to do a remote bootcamp and make a career transition. It was always high. It's even higher now. JOHANNA: Yeah, totally agree, like, very respective of what we see as well. And we've had a great relationship with CareerSource South Florida as well. And they fund workforce transformation. And so initially in the pandemic...we're not seeing those layoffs now, but initially, a lot of those people who were getting laid off many of them were able to qualify for CareerSource as well, which also really fueled people's ability to take part in this education. And South Florida is interesting. I think 65% of the workforce before the pandemic...a lot has changed. Tech has moved in, a lot of big names have moved in. But before the pandemic, 65% of people professionally here were working in hospitality or real estate so it was definitely a big pivot for some people to go into the direction of technology. CHAD: That's great to hear that they were able to be helped by that because that can be a big impediment to this. I believe that the cost of an average bootcamp for what you actually get and for the impact it can have on your salary or your compensation is worth it. But if you can't afford the tuition, then it's a non-starter. JOHANNA: Yeah, yeah, exactly. And then it goes without saying, but there are some people...there are a lot of opportunities. There are a lot of jobs. There are a lot of ways to get in, but it doesn't mean that it's for everyone. And I think for us, some of the work that's required to get into the program in our admissions process and our advisors who spend a lot of time with people considering this are also helping people guide this thought process of what they go into and what they're going to do to decide if it's the right direction for them. And I think ultimately, the large majority who come in have done good research and good work and have really thought it through, and it's a good fit. But again, it's not for everyone. So it goes without saying it's good to go online, do some coding. Download Figma if you're going to go into UX. Tinker around with some stuff. Ask some people, go to some meetups, and then start looking into the education piece. CHAD: Yeah. Are there ways in which you're exploring how either through partnerships or that kind of thing like it sounds like you've done to make it more accessible to people? JOHANNA: Yeah, so we put, again, Wyncode and BrainStation now puts a lot of importance on building a diverse, inclusive environment. And the most important thing is just collaborating also with organizations in our various regions that serve communities that are underrepresented in tech so that we can provide certain pathways to this. And one of the key things that we're doing with our Impact Scholarships, I think we've committed over $1.2 million just as BrainStation to giving those pathways. The other thing that we're piloting right now is what we're calling Tuition Free. So we piloted in London. Miami is the only other city we're testing it with in-person learning, not online, but it being completely tuition-free for the individual coming into the program, which we're calling a trainee. And then working with some amazing partners here in South Florida, in London who essentially, if they opt to hire someone for the program, are going to be paying a percentage training fee for hiring that individual. So we're really excited to be piloting what's called a reverse model. But more so, training people in a very specific skill set that companies need, eliminating financial barriers as much as possible, and then also providing a very robust, rapid pathway for this incredible talent to then join companies. And maybe we'll do a synopsis in about a year, and I'll let you know how it all went. CHAD: [laughs] That'd be great. That'd be great. So a common thread throughout this conversation has been Miami, and it's come on my radar recently in terms of the ecosystem there and how it's expanded and grown significantly over the last several years. You mentioned you picked up and moved there because you identified it as a great market. What has it been like for you? JOHANNA: It's been a whirlwind. I mean, #Miamitechisonfire, literally. CHAD: [laughs] JOHANNA: It's a pretty exciting time to be here. I got to say, when we moved in 2014, our campus was and still is based in Wynwood, which is a wonderful creative space but also mixed in with tech companies. CHAD: Is that why it's called what it's called, Wyncode? JOHANNA: Yeah, that's right. [laughs] Wyncode and Wynwood, yep. So the landlords knew they really had all the leverage, right? But we have had, and I've always had, an amazing space here. And when we first opened, the biggest complaint we got from people who took the program was there were not enough places to eat. And for anyone who's listening who's from Miami and spent time in Wynwood, that sounds crazy because now all the hottest restaurants are here in Wynwood. And that's happened in the span of, you know, I know we've been here for eight years, but that's happened like in the last five years. So a lot has changed. Wynwood is kind of an analogy to what's happened in the rest of Miami. It was kind of like a little bit quiet and slow, known for hospitality, awesome partying, real estate, not really known for all of this other stuff. The pandemic, again, was horrible from a business standpoint, terrible for some people, amazing for others. It was amazing for Miami. The state of Florida remained relatively open throughout the pandemic. So that attracted people here. The tax situation, no income tax, has also been very appealing, particularly for anyone who's made a lot of money in tech and crypto, in particular from Miami. And then we have this incredible Mayor, Mayor Francis Suarez, who, long before what's happening now, has been an advocate and supporter of the tech ecosystem and startup founders here, which I've personally had experience with. He's been amazing. You know, in Silicon Valley, there was some social media going on for anyone who saw it on Twitter, and he tweeted back, and he said, "Hey, Miami would love to have you, guys. How can we help?" And so there's this tagline in Miami which is how can we help? Trying to be an ecosystem that's here to help that's open to all. And that's been going on now for almost two years. And as a result, there's been a huge number of people in technology in particular who have moved here, both big names like Jon Oringer, Founder of Shutterstock, Keith Rabois, Founders Fund. There are so many people to name down to founders who are like; I'm starting a new startup. I don't want to do it in New York or Silicon Valley. I want to do it in Miami. So that's really exciting. I can tell you; there's more going on here than I could...before I could keep an Easy Calendar, I knew everyone. I knew what events were going on when and now it's just...there are multiple events, meetups, multiple companies to meet. So it's really, really an exciting time. I think Mayor Francis Suarez has said this, too but definitely making a play to be the capital of crypto. So there's a lot going on in the crypto space here, a lot going on in Web3. Like Web3 being at the beginning, this is still at the beginning. This is a moment that we're hoping to turn into a movement, and I think it's really, really exciting. I don't think everyone is going to stay here. I don't think Miami is going to be the next Silicon Valley or New York. It has its own character. It has its own vibe. It has its own way of functioning, and that's what it is. Its original kind of environment is also what's attracting people. So it's an evolution right now. It's going to change. The people who have come here and who have been here are all in the process of evolving to what the next chapter of Miami tech is. But it's definitely an exciting time. It was a place for me where I came to professionally reinvent myself as well and really be a part of building an ecosystem. And that's very much true today for anybody who is coming here. And I think that type of opportunity is really, really exciting. There's definitely an energy, yeah. CHAD: The state of Florida has passed laws like the Woke Act recently, which can present a challenge to employers strictly speaking. You're not allowed to ask certain questions around diversity or inclusion in interviews now. And that can be uncomfortable or difficult to do business in or to say, "Hey, we're the most welcoming company. Come here. Come to Miami." Is that something that's, you know, I'm not there. So is it a challenge on the ground, or does it not really affect people day-to-day? JOHANNA: I mean, that's a really good question. I would say I haven't encountered it personally or even on the professional side with how we've been hiring. So it's hard to say from my perspective. I think certainly there are some things going on in Florida that Florida and California are very different. I myself I'm not an American. I'm not as involved in the politics. But it'll be interesting to see what happens in the future and how these things shape. I will say that employers have a lot of power because they're the ones who are bringing in a lot of money into a state. They're hiring people. And so some of the responsibility is also on the companies and employers who are in their respective areas to advocate for the things that they want to see. And one of those things is diversity, inclusion, which not everybody has made that a number one priority. And the one thing that I've said in the past is creating an inclusive and diverse ecosystem is the opportunity I think that Miami has because it is a less established tech ecosystem. The canvas isn't fully painted over, so we have an opportunity to be unique and be different and to try to avoid maybe some of the biases that have existed in other tech ecosystems. But at this point, while there has been progress made and there are some amazing individuals doing amazing things like Leigh-Ann Buchanan leading Tech Equity Miami and JPMorgan Chase coming in to support that in a really big way and Knight Foundation, we're still at a state where the minorities are advocating for the minorities. And that's something I hope to one, personally contribute to changing but as an ecosystem as a whole hope to see that happen. Because, like I said, Miami is attracting people for a certain reason, and that's great. And I think if we could build a diverse ecosystem, that would also attract certain people and retain certain people. And I am a firm believer, and, I mean, there are also stats to back it up, but the best products are built by the most diverse teams. So it goes without saying that the most diverse ecosystem is going to result in the best companies, best environment, et cetera. And I think that's the big opportunity for Miami, but we still have a lot of work to do to get there. CHAD: Yeah. Well, if folks want to follow along with you or get in touch with you or learn more about BrainStation, where are all the places that they can do that? JOHANNA: Yeah. I would love to connect with everyone. On LinkedIn, we have all of our respective social handles just at BrainStation. Even our Wyncode handles are still alive, so that's great. My parting words would be if you know someone amazing, a professional who wants to pivot careers and learn in person, now is an amazing opportunity to apply to BrainStation for incredible education and network. And I'm really looking forward to seeing amazing professionals come through the program. CHAD: And I assume if you're in a position where you're hiring talent that you should also check out BrainStation. JOHANNA: Yes, thank you, Chad. We 100% the thing we take the most pride in is connecting this amazing talent with awesome companies. I always like to tell everyone to keep a very wide lens on the type of talent you're hiring for your technology teams because some of the best individuals have very non-traditional tech backgrounds but bring so, so much to the table. Our team does a lot of work in terms of once we get to know a partner, which I would love for you all to reach out and join; we do a lot of work to make sure that we are connecting curated talent to companies. And if you go to brainstation.io/hiring-partners, you'll be able to sign up there. CHAD: Wonderful. Jo, thank you so much for joining me. I really appreciate it. JOHANNA: Great. Thank you so much. Great to be on. CHAD: You can subscribe to the show and find notes and a transcript for this episode at giantrobots.fm. If you have questions or comments, email us at hosts@giantrobots.fm. And you can find me on Twitter at @cpytel. This podcast is brought to you by thoughtbot and produced and edited by Mandy Moore. Thanks so much for listening, and see you next time. ANNOUNCER: This podcast was brought to you by thoughtbot. thoughtbot is your expert design and development partner. Let's make your product and team a success. Special Guest: Johanna Mikkola.

Jugendliche und Kinder haben viele kreative Gedanken und Ideen. Diese Ideen werden dann besonders spannend, wenn man sie in die Tat umsetzen kann! So entsteht Innovation – so entsteht Zukunft! Ein Ort, an dem eben dieses Ausprobieren, Umsetzen Testen von Ideen, Visionen und Gedanken geschehen kann, sind die Fututelabs in der Brainstation in Lauda-Königshofen. In der aktuellen Podcast-Folge erzählt @Laura Straub, Geschäftsführerin der @Brainstation, über die Entstehung, das Konzept, den besonderen Ort und die Zukunftspläne der Brainstation. Gesellschafter der Brainstation ist Dr. Gunther Wobser, Investor, Autor und Geschäftsführer von @Lauda. Gemeinsam mit Lisa habe ich über folgende Themen gesprochen: ➡️ Wie aus einem alten Bahnhof ein Ideen- und Zukunftslabor (und noch viel mehr) wurde? ➡️ Wie es gelingt, junge Menschen und Unternehmen aus der Region zusammenzubringen und gemeinsam an Ideen und Challenges zu arbeiten? ➡️ Ausprobieren, arbeiten, lernen, vernetzen, wohlfühlen - all dies ist möglich unter einem Dach! ➡️ Hierzu sind folgende Bereiche entstanden: Futurelab, Eventflächen, Kreativzonen, Co-Working Areas, Café, Boarding-House, Büros und das Technologiemuseum. Es lohnt sich, einen Blick auf die Internetseite der Brainstation zu werfen oder einfach mal vorbeizuschauen. Und wer jetzt noch mehr erfahren will, der hört direkt mal rein in den Podcast. #innovation #zukunft #talente #einfachmachen Link: https://www.brainstation.online/ Folge direkt herunterladen

Jugendliche und Kinder haben viele kreative Gedanken und Ideen. Diese Ideen werden dann besonders spannend, wenn man sie in die Tat umsetzen kann! So entsteht Innovation – so entsteht Zukunft! Ein Ort, an dem eben dieses Ausprobieren, Umsetzen Testen von Ideen, Visionen und Gedanken geschehen kann, sind die Fututelabs in der Brainstation in Lauda-Königshofen. In der aktuellen Podcast-Folge erzählt @Laura Straub, Geschäftsführerin der @Brainstation, über die Entstehung, das Konzept, den besonderen Ort und die Zukunftspläne der Brainstation. Gesellschafter der Brainstation ist Dr. Gunther Wobser, Investor, Autor und Geschäftsführer von @Lauda. Gemeinsam mit Lisa habe ich über folgende Themen gesprochen: ➡️ Wie aus einem alten Bahnhof ein Ideen- und Zukunftslabor (und noch viel mehr) wurde? ➡️ Wie es gelingt, junge Menschen und Unternehmen aus der Region zusammenzubringen und gemeinsam an Ideen und Challenges zu arbeiten? ➡️ Ausprobieren, arbeiten, lernen, vernetzen, wohlfühlen - all dies ist möglich unter einem Dach! ➡️ Hierzu sind folgende Bereiche entstanden: Futurelab, Eventflächen, Kreativzonen, Co-Working Areas, Café, Boarding-House, Büros und das Technologiemuseum. Es lohnt sich, einen Blick auf die Internetseite der Brainstation zu werfen oder einfach mal vorbeizuschauen. Und wer jetzt noch mehr erfahren will, der hört direkt mal rein in den Podcast. #innovation #zukunft #talente #einfachmachen Link: https://www.brainstation.online/ Folge direkt herunterladen

Narsingh Dixit is the Digital Growth Marketing Manager at Unilever, while also teaching digital marketing to young as well as experienced professionals, at BrainStation.  Narsingh has focused on marketing throughout his career, but going out of his way to diversify the industries and the approaches he's taken. This has allowed him to get a holistic view of what it takes to run a business, understand and respond to an audience, and always look to evolve your brand. His Shiny New Object is personalisationm along with its many benefits to businesses when it's done right. Listen to Narsingh talk about the importance of personalisation and all his other marketing tips in our latest podcast episode. 

Check out the latest episode with longtime friend of Bast Amron, Juha Mikkola, Co-Founder of Wyncode Academy South Florida's premier coding school, recently acquired by BrainStation.Juha talks about his experience as an entrepreneur in an emerging space, how a passion project in Toronto led him and co-founder Johanna (Kytola) Mikkola to the bustling arts hub of Wynwood, to open a coding school, and how they built Miami's top tech academy for training coders & product designers.  Juha discussed the Tech space in Miami and how it has transformed in the past eight years since Wyncode first made its way into a growth industry and the opportunity that Miami presented. He shares how the company evolved and how each year they help change lives by transforming students of all ages into competent & confident web developers. Listen to the full episode and learn more about Juha and Brainstorm.Follow Juha on LinkedIn and check out Brainstorm's website:https://www.linkedin.com/in/juhamikkola/https://brainstation.io/Episodes are available at YouTube, Spotify, Google, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, or listen through any podcast streaming app.

Joel Hansen is the Head of Marketing for LOI Venture and author of PersonalBrandBrief.com. LOI Venture is a $20M seed-stage venture fund investing in Canadian founders under 30. Joel has participated in over 100+ events for organizations like Microsoft, UBC, University of Toronto, LA Staples Centre, Rogers Arena, Brainstation, and Linkedin HQ.  Joel has also given 2 TEDx talks. Creators Mentioned: Li Jin, Shane Parrish, Balaji Srinivasan, Shaan PuriLinks:Joel's Cohort Based Course: https://maven.com/joel-hansen/linkedin-masterclassJoel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/joelshansenJoel on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelshansen/Special Thanks To Our Sponsor, espresso Displays:Espresso Displays are the thinnest portable touch screen monitor in the world. Recently recognized as one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2021, espresso Displays give us the power of two screens anywhere we go and seriously improve our portable productivity. Learn more about espresso here: http://espres.so?utm_source=D2C&utm_medium=Podcast-Email&utm_campaign=Louis&utm_id=Channels&utm_term=Louis&utm_content=LouisHelp The Louis and Kyle Show:If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or leave a review!→ Leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-louis-and-kyle-show/id1504333834→ Reach out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouisKyleShow→ Drop us an email: LouisandKyleShow@gmail.com→ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louiskyleshow/→ Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/65567567/→ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb6qBiV1HAYcep87nKJmGhA→ Get email updates: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/LouisandKyle?via=twitter-profile-webview

Today, Brit is joined by Digital Product Manager at Citi, Zoia Kozakov! Zoia's path hasn't exactly been linear, but the common thread through it all is that she starts every new endeavor by setting goals and asking herself what she wants to learn from each experience. Zoia and Brit discuss how her military experience has influenced her varied career, her top tips for setting yourself up for financial freedom, and how she navigates being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Tune in to hear more of their conversation about lighting your own path to success.  IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: The importance of taking every opportunity to learn from and to grow from How Zoia transitioned out of the fashion industry  Taking true project ownership within corporations  The decision to create her will before the age of 30  Zoia's advice for getting a handle on your finances  The best financial apps for budgeting and investing   RESOURCES Text GIRLFRIENDS to 310-496-8363 for updates and a chance to be featured on the show!   CONNECT WITH ZOIAWebsite: zoia-kozakov.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zoia-kozakovInstagram: instagram.com/zoia.kozakov Kozakov Foundation: kozakov.coListen to WIN/WIN: Women in Innovation podcast CONNECT WITH BRIT Instagram: @britdrisc Squeeze: @squeeze  CONNECT WITH LORI Instagram: @loriharder Lite Pink: @drinklitepink Earn Your Happy: @earnyourhappy Listen to Earn Your Happy:  CONNECT WITH ALLI Instagram: @alliwebb Becket & Quill: @becketandquill Squeeze: @squeeze  GUEST BIO In her day job, Zoia Kozakov is a Vice President, Digital Product Manager at Citi, working on building out digital payment platforms and apps with (and for) other major companies, such as Google. Zoia is responsible for both the vision and the strategy behind her digital products, as well as the day-to-day execution, developing new offerings with a team of designers, engineers, marketers, and other business partners. By night, Zoia focuses on disseminating and sharing her knowledge in a variety of capacities: as a lead instructor at Brainstation (a digital education company), as a founder of her own nonprofit, Kozakov Foundation, and as an advisor to other start-ups and nonprofits. She is also Global Product Lead at the 501c3 nonprofit WIN: Women in Innovation, where she hosts the WIN/WIN: Women in Innovation podcast (30,000+ downloads in 30+ countries). The podcast features senior-level women innovators from companies such as PepsiCo, Oracle, EY, Pantone, Omnicom, IDEO, and others. Prior to working at Citi, Zoia spent several years overseeing digital advertising campaigns for companies like Richemont (Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre), EY, Shiseido, and others. She also spent two years as a Chief of Staff in theSpecial Operations unit in the Israeli Intelligence and as a Product Lead at an early stage blockchain company, Yup, where she helped the company raise a 3.5-million-dollar venture capital seed round. Zoia got her MS at Columbia University and her BBA at Parsons School of Design, where she graduated with honors, as the commencement Student Speaker.

2021 was another rollercoaster of a year for coding bootcamps! From $1B in fundraises to ISA regulation to helping workers reskill – we're rounding up all of the biggest coding bootcamp news that happened in 2021. Plus, predictions for 2022 from Gautam from Springboard, Maggi from Operation Code, Jason from BrainStation, and Dan from CIRR & Launch Academy as well as our own!

South Florida Tech Hub Interim CEO Nikki Cabus and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Maria Russo (Director of Community @ Florida Funders) on finding and funding Florida's tech driven startups.

In this episode, Zoia Kozakov joins the Cryptocurrencyteens podcast, revealing details of her career journey as well as offering valuable financial wellness insights for high school students. Tune in to hear what the WIN/WIN: Women in Innovation podcast is about, advice for those interested in getting into product management, Zoia's experience in Columbia's blockchain club (Blockchain at Columbia), and the importance of financial wellness and investing, especially for women. Zoia's background is impressive— She's VP, Product Manager at Citi working on Google Pay with Citi Plex, a co-branded banking experience. Additionally, she is part-time faculty at Columbia University and BrainStation and a non-profit organization leader -- she's Global Marketing Lead at WIN: Women in Innovation, founder of the Kozakov Foundation, and an advisor to multiple non-profits and start-ups. In tandem with changing the conversation around innovation, Zoia is a founder of and hosts the “WIN/WIN: Women in Innovation” podcast which features senior women innovators from companies such as PepsiCo, Google, Oracle, EY, Pantone, Omnicom, IDEO and others. Prior to Citi, Zoia led Strategy and Product Marketing at Yup, a crypto social network, spent two years creating digital advertising campaigns for brands such as Cartier, CHANEL, EY, Tiffany & Co, and Paravel. She was also a Chief of Staff in the Israeli Intelligence Special Operations. Learn more: Zoia Kozakov (guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoia-kozakov Abigail Li (host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/cryptocurrencyteens About Cryptocurrencyteens: https://www.cryptocurrencyteens.com/ About Zoia's Win/Win: Women in Innovation Podcast: https://womenininnovation.co/podcast

Tech Hub South Florida Interim CEO Nikki Cabus and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Jeff Ransdell (Founding Partner @ Fuel Venture Capital) on fueling South Florida's tech startups.

Faisal Abid is a serial entrepreneur and currently the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at Eirene Cremations, a direct-to-consumer service that helps families plan affordable and high-quality cremation services. Faisal is also currently a Google Developer Expert, CTO at Bitstrapped.com and Instructor at Brainstation. Prior to founding Eirene Cremations, Faisal was the CTO at Zoom.ai where he led engineering including overseeing its machine learning infrastructure. Faisal has also held senior software engineering roles at health-tech platform, League, and e-reader platform Kobo Inc. (acquired by Rakuten). On this episode, you will learn about: How Faisal knew what he wanted to do with his career at the young age of 7 How a book called “The Mom Test” helps Faisal create better products The “Death Tech” industry and key trends How to think about money when making career decisions Learn more about Eirene Cremations at https://eirene.ca/ Follow Faisal on Twitter at https://twitter.com/faisalabid

Der (familiengeführte) Mittelstand zählt als Rückgrat der deutschen Wirtschaft. Viele Unternehmen verfügen über eine lange Tradition. Doch Tradition alleine ist kein Geschäftsmodell. Daher stellt sich die Frage, wie es Familienunternehmen und Mittelständler schaffen, innovativ und wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben. Dies ist notwendig, da sich der Wettbewerb im Zuge der zunehmenden Digitalisierung und Globalisierung verschärft hat (the story will continue in an exponential pace). Kürzere Lern- und Innovationszyklen sind die Folge. Gemeinsam mit @Dr. Gunther Wobser, Geschäftsführer von @ Lauda Dr. R. Wobser GmbH & Co. KG, einem mittelständischen Familienunternehmen aus Lauda Königshofen in Baden-Württemberg, habe ich über dieses Thema gesprochen. Auf der Suche nach übertragbaren Ansätzen, um Innovation und Fortschritt erfolgreich in einem mittelständischen Unternehmen zu implementieren, hat Dr. Gunther Wobser ein Jahr im Silicon Valley gelebt und gearbeitet. In der aktuellen Folge des Podcast erfahrt ihr u.a.: Welche Erfahrungen und Learnings Dr. Gunther Wobser aus dem Silicon Valley mitgenommen hat? Wie Start-ups und der Ansatz der „Ambidextrie“ den Innovationsprozess fördern können? Warum die Leidenschaft zu experimentieren und lebenslanges Lernen von elementarer Bedeutung sind? Wir haben zudem über die Förderung junger Talente gesprochen. Dr. Gunther Wobser engagiert sich in diesem Zusammenhang für Kinder und Jugendliche und möchte einen Beitrag dazu leisten, deren Stärken und Talente sichtbar zu machen. Hierzu baut er den Bahnhof in Lauda zur „Brainstation“ um (Link https://www.facebook.com/watch/brainstation.online/ ). Mehr Informationen gibt es in Kürze ebenfalls im Podcast. Hört unbedingt rein! Es lohnt sich! #Innovation #Mittelstand #Zukunft #Brainstation #SiliconValley #Startup #Bildung #Lernen #Leidenschaft Folge direkt herunterladen

Der (familiengeführte) Mittelstand zählt als Rückgrat der deutschen Wirtschaft. Viele Unternehmen verfügen über eine lange Tradition. Doch Tradition alleine ist kein Geschäftsmodell. Daher stellt sich die Frage, wie es Familienunternehmen und Mittelständler schaffen, innovativ und wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben. Dies ist notwendig, da sich der Wettbewerb im Zuge der zunehmenden Digitalisierung und Globalisierung verschärft hat (the story will continue in an exponential pace). Kürzere Lern- und Innovationszyklen sind die Folge. Gemeinsam mit @Dr. Gunther Wobser, Geschäftsführer von @ Lauda Dr. R. Wobser GmbH & Co. KG, einem mittelständischen Familienunternehmen aus Lauda Königshofen in Baden-Württemberg, habe ich über dieses Thema gesprochen. Auf der Suche nach übertragbaren Ansätzen, um Innovation und Fortschritt erfolgreich in einem mittelständischen Unternehmen zu implementieren, hat Dr. Gunther Wobser ein Jahr im Silicon Valley gelebt und gearbeitet. In der aktuellen Folge des Podcast erfahrt ihr u.a.: Welche Erfahrungen und Learnings Dr. Gunther Wobser aus dem Silicon Valley mitgenommen hat? Wie Start-ups und der Ansatz der „Ambidextrie“ den Innovationsprozess fördern können? Warum die Leidenschaft zu experimentieren und lebenslanges Lernen von elementarer Bedeutung sind? Wir haben zudem über die Förderung junger Talente gesprochen. Dr. Gunther Wobser engagiert sich in diesem Zusammenhang für Kinder und Jugendliche und möchte einen Beitrag dazu leisten, deren Stärken und Talente sichtbar zu machen. Hierzu baut er den Bahnhof in Lauda zur „Brainstation“ um (Link https://www.facebook.com/watch/brainstation.online/ ). Mehr Informationen gibt es in Kürze ebenfalls im Podcast. Hört unbedingt rein! Es lohnt sich! #Innovation #Mittelstand #Zukunft #Brainstation #SiliconValley #Startup #Bildung #Lernen #Leidenschaft Folge direkt herunterladen

Der (familiengeführte) Mittelstand zählt als Rückgrat der deutschen Wirtschaft. Viele Unternehmen verfügen über eine lange Tradition. Doch Tradition alleine ist kein Geschäftsmodell. Daher stellt sich die Frage, wie es Familienunternehmen und Mittelständler schaffen, innovativ und wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben. Dies ist notwendig, da sich der Wettbewerb im Zuge der zunehmenden Digitalisierung und Globalisierung verschärft hat (the story will continue in an exponential pace). Kürzere Lern- und Innovationszyklen sind die Folge.Gemeinsam mit @Dr. Gunther Wobser, Geschäftsführer von @ Lauda Dr. R. Wobser GmbH & Co. KG, einem mittelständischen Familienunternehmen aus Lauda Königshofen in Baden-Württemberg, habe ich über dieses Thema gesprochen.Auf der Suche nach übertragbaren Ansätzen, um Innovation und Fortschritt erfolgreich in einem mittelständischen Unternehmen zu implementieren, hat Dr. Gunther Wobser ein Jahr im Silicon Valley gelebt und gearbeitet. In der aktuellen Folge des Podcast erfahrt ihr u.a.:Welche Erfahrungen und Learnings Dr. Gunther Wobser aus dem Silicon Valley mitgenommen hat?Wie Start-ups und der Ansatz der „Ambidextrie“ den Innovationsprozess fördern können?Warum die Leidenschaft zu experimentieren und lebenslanges Lernen von elementarer Bedeutung sind?Wir haben zudem über die Förderung junger Talente gesprochen. Dr. Gunther Wobser engagiert sich in diesem Zusammenhang für Kinder und Jugendliche und möchte einen Beitrag dazu leisten, deren Stärken und Talente sichtbar zu machen. Hierzu baut er den Bahnhof in Lauda zur „Brainstation“ um (Link https://www.facebook.com/watch/brainstation.online/ ). Mehr Informationen gibt es in Kürze ebenfalls im Podcast. Hört unbedingt rein! Es lohnt sich! #Innovation #Mittelstand #Zukunft #Brainstation #SiliconValley #Startup #Bildung #Lernen #Leidenschaft

Another inspiring conversation on the Zero to 5000 Podcast today. We were joined by Juha Mikkola, the Co-Founder and President of Wyncode Academy. We discussed: - Changing industries resulted in success. - Enjoying the constant challenges of entrepreneurship. - "Trusting those instincts". Thanks for Listening. Be sure to join our monthly email. One life-changing email to help you with your mindset, your methods, and your mission each month.

How does one ensure that data models are performing the right tasks as the right time? We've heard a lot about MLOps and in particular Responsible AI. In this episode, I speak with Sabina Stanescu on a number of applications she has worked on in Product Management address many of these points using MLOPs tools and techniques. Besides being the Director of Product Management and Data Analytics at Altair, she enjoys being a lead instructor of Data Analytics at BrainStation, has generously volunteered her time to mentor at a number of Coding Hackathons and Ladies Learning to Code events and speakers regularly at multiple conferences and meetups.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events! Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeAltairMLOpsData ScienceNatural ScienceDevOpsDevOps to MLOpsSeldon CoreMulti-armed BanditA/B TestingMoneyball (film)Khan AcademyCode.orgHour of CodeEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

Guest Host Michael Fowler, Vice President of IT at FPL and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview John Stecher (CTO @ Blackstone) on building stronger communities.

Im zweiten Teil meines Gesprächs mit Dr. Gunther Wobser geht es vor allem um seine Firma LAUDA. Besonders hat mich interessiert, wie Gunther seine Geisteshaltung aus dem Silicon Valley mit in den Main-Tauber-Kreis transportiert hat. "Wenn man Großes erreichen will, muss man andere inspirieren!" Ein Satz, der bei mir besonders hängengeblieben ist. Denn genau das lebt Gunther vor. Mit seinem Fokus auf Innovation und Digitalisierung treibt er die Erfolgsgeschichte von LAUDA weiter voran. LAUDA ist Weltmarktführer für Temperiergeräte und -anlagen. Das globale Familienunternehmen genießt regional sowie in Fachkreisen einen hervorragenden Ruf und ist für seinen fairen Umgang mit seinen Mitarbeitern und Mitarbeiterinnen bekannt. Viel Spaß mit dem zweiten Teil unseres Talks. Wenn du auch Interesse an den Themen Brainstation, Traumfabrik oder alles rund um Gunthers Firma LAUDA hast - schreib mir gerne über die Sozialen Kanäle! --> Facebook: fb.me/jasminwildmentoring --> Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmin_wild_mentoring --> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminwild --> Website: http://www.jasminwild-mentoring.de -------------------- Gunther Wobser: "Neu erfinden: Was der Mittelstand vom Silicon Valley lernen kann" https://beshu-books.com/products/neu-erfinden Die Firma LAUDA: https://www.lauda.de/de/

Tech Hub South Florida CEO, Joe Russo, and special guest Juha Mikkola Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Dmitry Kozko (CEO @ Motorsport Games) on connecting people globally.

How is this Leader of the Year named by Marketing News Canada making the competition irrelevant? While most people know that consultant-type businesses don't scale, this marketing agency owner isn't too concerned with scaling right now, instead he's focusing on what he calls building a defensible model. In other words, he would rather be in an uncontested marketplace solving a unique challenge for his clients than compete in a crowded one solving the same problems as everybody else. He's carved out a healthy portfolio of B2B clients in travel, tech, and retail but scaling isn't his focus right now. Conner Galway is the President of Junction Consulting – a digital consultancy in Vancouver, BC. Junction Consulting's recent work includes helping to create a digital learning platform for Destination BC, and training for Lululemon. Conner was most recently named Leader of the Year by Marketing News Canada for his support of Canada's tourism industry through the COVID-19 pandemic.  Conner is one of Canada's premiere digital business educators, teaching and developing curriculum at schools like Brainstation, Simon Fraser University, and Capilano University. He shares his latest thinking in a weekly email called The Brief that's read by leaders at many of North America's most respected brands.On this episode of Small But Mighty Agency: 2:41: How Conner started his first agency4:45: Why the marketing consultant agency model over a traditional marketing agency that does implementation8:50: The team structure he uses to run his marketing consultant agency11:14: Why say “no” to the execution and implementation of marketing strategy and what to focus on instead12:44: The “bias” and why it may not best serve clients best interest14:39: What is the concept of digital from the inside out19:15: What is Junction doing to productize and systematize a consultant-agency business21:22: Why scaling is over-glorified and what is more important than scaling for Conner 26:41: What is and isn't working to grow the business? Show LinksWebsite: wearejunction.comTwitter: @Conner_GLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/connergalwayThe Brief weekly newsletter: brief.wearejunction.com This episode is brought to you by the FREE Strategic Connections RoundtableJoin the free Strategic Connections Roundtable where creatives, consultants and service-based business owners can meet new business connections without the awkwardness of traditional networking. It's a curated experience where the group fit is curated so that connections and conversations thrive.That means that every month, a strategic connections roundtable will bring together a group of service based business owners in similar stages of business who can benefit from knowing each other SO that you canMake connections easierShare what your business offersDiscover new resourcesAnd have an opportunity to mastermind a challengeSave your free seat right hereThanks for listening to the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, if you enjoyed this episode please leave a review on iTunes or send a screenshot on Instagram while tagging me  @audreyjoykwan

Tech Hub South Florida CEO, Joe Russo, and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Martha Poulter (CIO @ Royal Caribbean Cruise Line) on technology advances in the cruise industry.

Tech Hub South Florida CEO, Joe Russo, and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Bobby George (Chief Digital Officer @ Carrier) on the digital transformation of a newly independent giant.

Tech Hub South Florida CEO, Joe Russo, and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Michael Udine (Vice Mayor @ Broward County) on branding South Florida as a Tech Hub.

Tech Hub South Florida CEO, Joe Russo, and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Kelly Merbler (Principal @ The Kelly Merbler Company) on her journey from solo entrepreneur to Prestigious Women Award winner.

Emily Leung is the founder of cannabis lifestyle brand Ohai, a collection of cannabis goods that are curated with the same beautiful, careful intention that as you observe her operate from. To say she's smart is an understatement. Emily is a brilliant marketing mind in every sense of the word, having cut her teeth at brands like Vega and the Vancouver Canucks - all while teaching digital marketing at Brainstation (she still does). Building the Ohai brand was to answer her own desire for well-designed tools to administer the benefits of cannabis, for her own self-care. In this conversation, we explore Emily's experience with being a female entrepreneur, living with anxiety, growing up in an immigrant family, and tending one's own figurative garden. Emily is a powerhouse with a whole lot of soul - and she champions a future that is female.   

Jason Field is the Founder and CEO of BrainStation, the global leader in digital skills training. Since 2012, BrainStation has […]

Tech Hub South Florida CEO, Joe Russo, and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Francis X. Suarez (Mayor, City of Miami) on Miami tech and growing the ecosystem.

Tech Hub South Florida CEO, Joe Russo, and Johanna Mikkola, CEO & Co-Founder of BrainStation interview Chris Stegner (CEO @ Very Big Things), serial entrepreneur, CTO, and VC firm partner.

This week's special guest co-host: Johanna and Juha Mikkola from Wyncode!Topics discussed:Wyncode being acquired by BrainStation Coding Bootcamp's role in a tech communitySoftbank's $100M Miami Fundand more....Follow us on Twitter

I invited 3 graduates on to talk about their experience at Brainstation (coding bootcamp). With Jessica’s pro Linkedin tips, Nikki’s insight into unpaid internships, and Kate’s attempt to demonetize my video to keep us on our toes, I think this episode ended up turning out really well. Let me know what you think.Guests:Jessica Kwok - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-kwokNikki Noriega - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-noriegaKatelin Cook - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelin-cook-----------------

Back to school looks a little different in 2020 for most people. Jason Field is the Founder and CEO of Brainstation, an education centre for digital skills. He discusses how they switched to online education during COVID-19 and how they could reach additional markets due to the online switch. They offer 400 instructors - not a small team by any means. Jason explains how they handle company culture, hiring, and management with such a huge team.Support the show (https://www.floatorfounder.com/partners)

Das ist eine Folge für alle, die sich mit den Auswirkungen von Homeoffice, mit den Veränderungen aus Corona, vor allen Dingen aber mit der Transformation von Unternehmen in neue Geschäftsmodelle beschäftigen. Viel Vergnügen! Verwandte Folgen: #120a – On- und Offline-Kanäle mit ERP in Zeiten von Corona: Ein Interview mit dem Gründer und Vorstandsvorsitzenden der plentysystems AG Jan Griesel Teil 1 #120a – On- und Offline-Kanäle mit ERP in Zeiten von Corona: Ein Interview mit dem Gründer und Vorstandsvorsitzenden der plentysystems AG Jan Griesel Teil 2 #124 – Home, Sweet Home – ein kritischer Blick auf das Home Office Video: Homeoffice ist Bullshit! digital& GmbH: Die Software-Strategen Verschiedene Innovationskonzepte: SAP an der TU München Viessmanns „Maschinenraum“ in Berlin Lauda-Könighofens „Brainstation“ im Laudaer Bahnhof InnoHubs an der Universität Würzburg Wenn Ihnen unsere Folgen gefallen, dann freuen wir uns über eine 5-Sterne-Bewertung, damit auch andere auf diesen Podcast aufmerksam werden und wir das Angebot weiter verbessern können. Zeitaufwand: 1-2 Minuten. Link zur Seite hier. In diesem Sinne: keep connected. Herzlichst Ihr Axel Winkelmann

Kyle Treleaven is the Vice President and General Manager at BrainStation, a global technology school offering corporate training, Diploma programs, and certificate courses. These programs are built around the most important components of the ever-evolving digital product lifecycle which are data, design, development, marketing, and product. Kyle calls into the podcast to talk with Jordan and Cal about the power of online education systems, data-driven learning, how various industries are adjusting to COVID-19, and what's next for BrainStorm.

Jason Field is the Founder & CEO of BrainStation, the global leader in digital skills training and workforce transformation. BrainStation offers diploma programs, certificate courses, events and corporate training through online and in person learning in state-of-the-art campuses in cities such as New York, Chicago, Toronto, Boston and Vancouver.

Annie Zhang is a product manager at Facebook, working on the Facebook Watch team. Before that she was a PM at Shopify and the first employee at Brainstation. Annie graduated from Western with a Philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) degree after declining her acceptance into the Ivey business school program at Western University. We talk about how she landed the Facebook and Shopify PM roles and being the first employee at a high growth startup. What it was like working inside Facebook during the fake news controversy, why she declined her acceptance into prestigious Ivey HBA program and chose a regular Western degree, how to develop self-awareness and much more. Here are some highlights of the interview. Note: This transcript has been summarized for brevity, if you would like to help transcribe the full interview, edit videos or help Atila TV in any way, please send an email to tomiwa@atila.ca. Timestamps What were you like in high school? [1:24] Why did you decide not to go into Ivey? [7:45] How did the Shopify opportunity come about [14:37] How did you get the job at Facebook? [35:05] How to prepare for product manager interviews and the best books to use? [39:07] What's it like inside Facebook during the fake new controversy? [43:29] What is Annie currently obsessed with? [58:14] How to develop self awareness and reduce cognitive bias [1:04:10] Final piece of advice [1:02:00] Links: Annie's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-zhang-ab254472 Annie's blog post about her Shopify Role: https://medium.com/inside-shopify/shopify-you-mean-spotify-1-2-b7469e9d7e4d The PM Book Annie mentioned during the episode to help her prepare for the interview: Decode and Conquer: Answers to Product Management Interviews by Lews Lin: https://www.lewis-lin.com/decode-and-conquer/ Decode and Conquer on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2sXQMZX Cracking the PM Interview: http://www.crackingthepminterview.com/ Cracking the PM Interview on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Bdtd3S Charlie Munger's 25 cognitive biases to help develop self awareness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqzcCfUglws Summary of Charlie Munger's talk: https://www.allencheng.com/25-cognitive-biases-charlie-munger/

Ever thought about running an influencer marketing campaign? In this episode of Growth Marketing Today, I have the Richard Wong, VP Marketing of #Paid, one of the biggest influencer marketing platforms in the industry. They've recently raised $9M in Series A funding to fuel their platform's expansion with AI. Learn why you should consider running an influencer marketing campaign, how to run a successful campaign and how to measure the success of that campaign. For quotes and episode outline of this episode, go to https://growthmarketing.today/025 What You'll Learn in This Episode How has marketing in tech changed in the last 5-10 years The history and impact of influencer marketing One winning influencer campaign they ran in an unsexy industry (hint: it's the financial/bank field) What #Paid's marketing team looks like How to run a successful influencer marketing campaign How to measure the success of influencer marketing campaigns Tips for recent marketing grads on how to get their first job About Richard Wong Richard Wong is a Toronto-based marketing leader who is currently the head of marketing at #paid having previously worked at Google, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble. His work has been featured in AdWeek, DigiDay, Media in Canada, Strategy Magazine, the American Marketing Association (AMA) blog, DX3, and other publications. He also teaches the digital marketing classes at tech schools—Brainstation, RED Academy, and Camp Tech.  

We're back with Sarah Stockdale, former Director of Global Community Growth at Tilt.com (acquired by AirBnb) and principal at Sarah Stockdale Growth Consulting. In this episode, learn the fastest way to grow your startup-up, the story behind the acquisition of Tilt.com's by AirBnb and Sarah's tips for doing growth experiments. She also shares her tips for anyone trying to get into growth marketing. For quotes and episode outline of this episode, go to https://growthmarketing.today/024 What You'll Learn in This Episode The northstar metric that the Tilt.com growth team looked at The fastest way to grow (hint: it’s not a spray and pray approach) The story behind the acquisition of Tilt.com by AirBnb An experiment that really worked well for Tilt.com Sarah’s tips for growth teams who are doing experiments Tips for anyone trying to get into growth marketing About Sarah Stockdale Sarah Stockdale is a growth veteran, with 7 years of experience growing and scaling early stage technology companies. With experience working at venture-backed companies out of both Toronto and Silicon Valley, Sarah has grown companies from scratch and led large growth teams. Past experience includes Product Marketing and Business Development at Wave and most recently, Sarah led a multi-national growth team at Tilt as the Director of Global Community Growth. Sarah mentors with Venture for Canada and 500 Startups, and has taught and spoken at Ryerson, Queen's, Brainstation, HackerYou, McMaster, George Brown and Mohawk College.

Sarah Stockdale, former Director of Global Community Growth at Tilt.com (acquired by AirBnb) and principal at Sarah Stockdale Growth Consulting, is a growth veteran who has experience growing and scaling early stage venture-backed companies out of both Toronto and Silicon Valley. In this episode, Sarah shares the growth process at Tilt (before they got acquired by AirBnb), what she looks for when hiring for a growth team and how to get users addicted to your app. For quotes and episode outline of this episode, go to https://growthmarketing.today/023 What You'll Learn in This Episode Sarah’s career progression (hint: she didn’t start in growth or marketing.. ahem MTV). The growth process at Tilt before they got acquired by AirBnb. What Sarah looks for in hiring growth marketers (hint: it’s not sexy resume!) How to hire for your #growth team How you get users addicted to your app   About Sarah Stockdale Sarah Stockdale is a growth veteran, with 7 years of experience growing and scaling early stage technology companies. With experience working at venture-backed companies out of both Toronto and Silicon Valley, Sarah has grown companies from scratch and led large growth teams. Past experience includes Product Marketing and Business Development at Wave and most recently, Sarah led a multi-national growth team at Tilt as the Director of Global Community Growth. Sarah mentors with Venture for Canada and 500 Startups, and has taught and spoken at Ryerson, Queen's, Brainstation, HackerYou, McMaster, George Brown and Mohawk College.  

At the corner of King & Spadina in Toronto, there used to be a big brownstone-y building that housed a back packer’s hostel.  Visitors to the city shacked-up there and used it as a pivot point to explore the local scene, meet interesting people and ultimately gain new experiences.    A few years ago, this hostel was replaced by an entirely new kind of business, one that hoped to offer visitors a different kind of knowledge, but as I found out the differences were not that big. Brain Station is a company that hopes to empower 1 million people in the next 10 years to learn the skills necessary to live in a fast-paced digital world, economy and workforce.  The company’s co-founder, Jason Field, saw that there was a huge gap in his own knowledge and thought he should do something about it.  The rumour I heard was that the idea for the start-up hit Jason and the other founders during one of their workouts. Sweat and business is very linked in his world.  He credits sports and working out regularly as a huge contributor to the success of Brain Station and building a great team over the years.  In 2013, he issued a challenge to himself to “sweat” every day that year. He did that and more: running, walking, yoga-ing and CrossFitting more than 365 times and charting his progress online via a blog.  Before Brain Station, Jason backpacked through Asia gaining an appreciation for the challenges and opportunities that travel offered. When he returned home from travel, he knew he wanted to be a leader and work on something big.  It’s fitting that his company eventually found its home in the old backpacker’s hostel. The building on the corner of King & Spadina still offers visitors a chance to explore, but in a very new and digital way.  Hope you enjoy this episode. ------------------ Jason Field / Co-Founder of Brain Station / @field37 / www.brainstation.io

Just because you’re not an expert doesn’t mean you can’t play the game. Jason Field learned this important lesson when he started BrainStation, a digital learning facility with locations in Toronto, Vancouver, and New York.  “In order to be a successful entrepreneur, always be looking... The post Abandoning the Comfort Zone with Jason Field – July 12, 2016 appeared first on Startup Canada.

This week's special guest is Kyle Treleaven, General Manager of Brainstation, the third bootcamp in town that we're talking about. The show starts, as usual, with looking at Vancouver's tech events that were going on last week and those that will come up next.